Three Prisoners, Three Cases | Tomaj Salehi Acquitted of Two Charges, Shakila Monfared's Appeal Court, Mahdi Maskinnavaz Transferred to Another Prison

News sources reported the formation of an appeal court for Shakila Monfared and the acquittal of Tomaj Salehi from the charges of 'spreading falsehoods and inciting violent acts.' An informed source also told Voice of America that Mahdi Maskinnavaz was 'unexpectedly and without notice' transferred to Bandar Anzali prison just before Nowruz. An informed source regarding the latest situation of Mahdi Maskinnavaz, a political prisoner who was hospitalized for over a month after a protest self-immolation in Evin prison, told Voice of America that prison officials informed his family a week after returning him to prison, while he was in poor health, that he was supposed to be released, but suddenly and without prior notice, he was transferred to Bandar Anzali prison. According to the informed source, this transfer occurred on Thursday when it was supposed to be 'a suspension of his sentence,' and his relatives were waiting for his release on Wednesday, just before Nowruz. 'His mother said she saw his name on the list of those to be released at the execution branch, but no matter how long the family waited, he was not released.' A close source to Mahdi Maskinnavaz also pointed out the critical condition of this political prisoner, stating that 'his wounds still require daily dressing changes' and 'he needs a hygienic and safe environment for recovery,' adding: 'At 1:30 PM on Thursday, Mahdi Maskinnavaz called his brother and said that he had been transferred to Bandar Pehlavi (Anzali).' Mahdi Maskinnavaz, a constitutionalist political prisoner, self-immolated on January 17 in protest against the cutting of contact with his daughter by 'pouring boiling water over himself' and was transferred to Motahari Hospital in Tehran. He was returned to Evin prison last week. Previously, an informed source had told Voice of America that judicial officials were preventing his medical leave in exchange for bail. Additionally, according to Hahrana, the news agency of the Human Rights Activists in Iran, the appeal court for Shakila Monfared, a political prisoner in Evin, was held on Saturday, March 17, in Branch 36 of the Tehran Provincial Appeal Court. Shakila Monfared has been sentenced to 15 months in prison, two years of exile, and supplementary punishments in a case opened against her during her imprisonment, and the formation of the appeal court was to review this sentence. This is the third case that has been opened against this constitutionalist political prisoner during her imprisonment. The primary court for this case, which is a joint case with Narges Mohammadi, was held in late December with the charge of 'propaganda against the regime' in Branch 26 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Tehran, presided over by 'Iman Afshari,' and the verdict was issued 'in absentia' at that time. Furthermore, Amir Reysian, the defense attorney for Tomaj Salehi, announced that this imprisoned artist was acquitted of the charges of 'spreading falsehoods and inciting violent acts' related to a video he released after his temporary release from prison in December. The court session for these two new charges against Tomaj Salehi was held on Saturday, March 17, in a conference format.