UN Special Rapporteur Finds Threats by Interrogators to 'Rape and Kill' Six Female Prisoners in Iran Concerning

The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders has called for the immediate release of six women’s rights activists in Gilan who have recently been imprisoned. Mary Lawlor expressed concern over long prison sentences and reports of violent arrests, torture, and threats from Islamic Republic security forces to rape and kill these detainees during interrogation, demanding an end to the repression of women human rights activists. Six civil and women’s rights activists in Gilan reported to Branch 5 of the Rasht Execution of Sentences on Saturday, July 23, to serve their prison sentences. According to 'Bidar Zani', Forough Samiinia, Jalveh Javaheri, Shiva Shahsia, Negin Rezaei, Matin Yazdani, and Azadeh Chavoshian have been transferred to Lakan Prison in Rasht. In her last Instagram post, Forough Samiinia mentioned the beginning of her and her friends' prison sentences, stating, 'We have not forgotten our dreams and we fight to achieve them.' The prison sentences of Zahra and Zahra Dadras, two other convicts from the case of 11 Gilan activists, were executed on July 20. In this case, 11 civil and women’s rights activists in Gilan have been sentenced to a total of over 60 years in prison. These activists have reported being tortured and beaten during their detention. Zahra (Fatemeh) Dadras was sentenced to 9 years and 6 months in prison for charges of 'forming a group aimed at undermining national security' and 'gathering and colluding,' of which 6 years and 1 day is enforceable. Forough Samiinia, Sara Jahani, Yasmin Hashdari, Shiva Shahsia, Negin Rezaei, Matin Yazdani, Azadeh Chavoshian, and Zahra Dadras were each sentenced to 6 years, 3 months, and 17 days in prison for charges of 'membership in a group' and 'gathering and colluding.' Two other defendants in this case, Jalveh Javaheri and Hooman Taheri, received one-year prison sentences for 'propaganda against the regime.' The issuance of over 60 years of prison sentences for 11 women’s rights defenders and civil activists in Gilan has faced widespread criticism from hundreds of activists and civil and human rights organizations, including the Iranian Writers Association, the Human Rights Defenders Center, and the Iranian Cultural Teachers' Guild. The spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, Matthew Miller, also described these sentences as 'unjust' and 'an attempt to intimidate and silence activists,' condemning them strongly. Labor unions in France and Denmark have called for the cancellation of the death sentence for Sharifeh Mohammadi and her immediate release. Four protesters were arrested on charges of 'slogan writing and destroying advertising banners' in Bushehr province. The wife of Ahmadreza Jalali, a dual-national sentenced to death in Iran, stated that it has been 3,000 days since his abduction. 'Two new cases' have been formed against the imprisoned protest singer; a German sponsor stated: 'The fight for the freedom of Tomaj continues.'