Three Weeks of Silence from Imprisoned Labor Activist in Sanandaj; Sharifeh Mohammadi's Family is Worried

Reports from Iran indicate continued silence regarding Sharifeh Mohammadi, a labor activist imprisoned in Sanandaj. "Bidar Zani," a media outlet of a group of women’s rights activists, wrote on Saturday, January 27, that this imprisoned labor activist, who was arrested over 50 days ago in Rasht by government forces, has had no contact with her family for over three weeks. Mohammadi had previously made only a few short calls to her mother and her 12-year-old child. According to the report, recent news about visible signs of beating on Sharifeh Mohammadi's face and an infection on her finger in Sanandaj prison has raised concerns for her family. Bidar Zani noted that despite recent promises made to the family of this labor activist regarding visits and contact, she has not had any communication with the outside world from Sanandaj prison for the past three weeks. Sharifeh Mohammadi, a resident of Rasht, was arrested on December 5 in that city and later transferred to Sanandaj prison for interrogation. Bidar Zani emphasized that 'the investigator of Branch Four in Rasht has deprived Sharifeh Mohammadi of all her legal rights' and stated: 'The responsibility for her life and any incidents rests with the judicial authorities, the prison organization, and the security forces of Gilan province.' Sanandaj intelligence has pressured Sharifeh Mohammadi to obtain a 'forced confession.' A labor organization stated that Sharifeh Mohammadi is being held in Sanandaj Central Prison 'in uncertainty.'