Three Detained Female Journalists Denied Visits Due to Singing Protest Song

Niloufar Hamedi, Elaheh Mohammadi, and Nasim Soltanbeigi, three detained journalists, have been denied visits due to singing the protest song 'Safar-e-Nak' over the phone. Niloufar Hamedi's husband wrote on social media on January 1: 'When asked by prison officials if singing the song was a problem, they said: 'Well, the song is something.' This decision was made despite the fact that they were not summoned to the prison's disciplinary council to notify them of the visitation ban, which is against the law. The phrase 'the song is something,' attributed to prison officials, has sparked a new wave of the hashtag 'something' among social media users as a sign of protest against the visitation ban imposed on these three political prisoners. The song 'Safar-e-Nak,' released on December 18 by Elanaz Mohammadi, Elaheh Mohammadi's sister, has a protest and political theme, with part of the lyrics stating: 'A weapon is my intoxication on this rubble, I am dangerous.' In this, Niloufar Hamedi, Elaheh Mohammadi, and Nasim Soltanbeigi simultaneously sang the song live over three separate phone calls. Iran Jalili, the mother of Nasim Soltanbeigi, also wrote a short note yesterday on January 1 on social media: 'I went to Evin Prison to visit my daughter, but we and the families of Elaheh Mohammadi and Niloufar Hamedi were not allowed to visit.' The mother of this imprisoned journalist added: 'They said the reason for this restriction was the improper use of the prison phone.' She wrote that the visitation ban for these three journalists will continue until the end of January. However, a series of news from the families and Narges Mohammadi's page from Evin Prison strengthens the speculation that the visitation ban for political prisoners in the women's ward of Evin Prison is a reaction from the Revolutionary Court to their protests and slogans during a visit by judicial officials on December 27. Previously, Iran Jalili had announced on December 29 that Nasim Soltanbeigi and 12 of her fellow inmates had been banned from phone contact for a month. She wrote on her social media account: 'This oppressive restriction occurred on December 27, following the presence of Revolutionary Court judges in the women's ward of Evin Prison.' Iran Jalili stated that they made this decision in response to the protests of the imprisoned women regarding the handling of their cases and the issuance of death sentences. Earlier, Narges Mohammadi's Instagram page, a human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner, reported that after the reaction of the imprisoned women and the chanting of slogans, the officials 'fled the ward.' According to a text published on this page, this incident occurred during the visit on December 27 by Revolutionary Court judges and judicial officials to Evin Prison. Additionally, in another report, Ashkan Monfared, the brother of Shakila Monfared, a political prisoner in the women's ward of Evin, reported on social media on December 27 that women who were Shakila's fellow inmates were being dispersed to different prisons across Iran. Mr. Monfared wrote: 'Judge Iman Afshari, by creating tension and conflict during his presence in the women's ward of Evin, has ordered that within a week, the imprisoned women in this ward be transferred to prisons in various cities.' Ashkan Monfared added that the order to transfer his sister, Shakila, to Sistan and Baluchestan has been issued, but he has not yet been able to speak with her, especially since her phone card has been blocked. The brother of this political prisoner noted that he heard this news indirectly from the women's ward of Evin Prison, but his family is seeking confirmation of this news. According to reports published in the media, Iman Afshari, head of Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, Mohammad Reza Amouzad, head of Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, Ali Ghanatkar, head of the Security Prosecutor's Office, Al-Qazi Al-Mahr, head of the Tehran Province Judiciary, and several security officials of the Islamic Republic were among those who visited the women's ward at Evin Prison. Three detained female journalists have been denied visits due to singing this song. The reception of Evin's female prisoners towards judicial officials with the slogan 'Death to the Islamic Republic'; the account of Narges Mohammadi. Narges Mansouri's hunger strike and medication refusal in Evin Prison; she says her life is the responsibility of Ali Khamenei. The brother of Shakila Monfared: Political prisoners in the women's ward of Evin are being sent to various prisons. Narges Mohammadi is being tried for her third case; the Ministry of Intelligence requests her exile. The charge of 'Baghi' for three women in Iran; concerns over the possibility of death sentences for these political prisoners.