Twitter Campaign for the Release of Golrokh Iraee

More than 50 days have passed since Golrokh Iraee's hunger strike in prison, raising concerns about her condition. On Saturday evening, April 10, a campaign was launched on Twitter for her release, with users calling for medical attention and her freedom using hashtags like "Save Golrokh Iraee." Golrokh Iraee was arrested on September 6, 2014, along with her husband, Arash Sadeghi, and in May 2015, she was sentenced to six years in prison for "insulting the sacred and propaganda against the regime" by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, a verdict confirmed by Branch 54 of the Appeals Court. She was accused of "insulting the sacred" for writing an unpublished story. Golrokh Iraee and Atena Daemi, two civil activists, went on hunger strike on February 3, 2016, due to "beatings" by prison guards during their transfer from Evin Prison to Qarchak Prison. Atena Daemi ended her hunger strike on February 15, but Golrokh Iraee continues her strike. Reports indicate that Golrokh Iraee has lost about 20 kilograms and is experiencing severe weakness. Iranian judicial authorities have not yet responded to Iraee's demands or her hunger strike. On March 9, 2018, Amnesty International issued a statement criticizing the treatment of Atena Daemi and Golrokh Iraee in prison and called for their immediate and unconditional release. Philip Luther, director of research for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International, criticized the mistreatment of Atena and Golrokh, stating, "It seems that Iranian authorities deliberately subject them to cruel, humiliating, and inhumane treatment, as they continue to defend human rights even in prison." On March 19, 2018, four senior UN human rights experts expressed concern about the mistreatment of these two prisoners and emphasized that their case is "a prime example of the ongoing pattern of harassment, intimidation, and imprisonment of those who defend human rights and support political prisoners in Iran." The European Parliament's Human Rights Committee has also called for the immediate release of Atena Daemi, Golrokh Iraee, and Arash Sadeghi. The Iran Human Rights website has reported that Golrokh Iraee has recently experienced repeated fainting spells.