On the First Anniversary of the June 12 Presidential Election in Iran, 30 Women Remain in Prison

June 23, 2010

Feminist School: One year has passed since the Iranian presidential election on June 12th 2009, the day that took many lives, the day that the Green Movement was born.

Women were killed, and many were imprisoned. Their numbers are unknown because of discrepancies in information, but given the number of women whom we know to be in prison, the numbers are certainly large.
Among those currently in detention:

Narges Mohammadi: Arrested June 10, 2010

Narges Mohammadi was arrested on June 10, 2010 by security forces raiding her home. Ms Mohammadi has 2 children, who need her full time attention. Narges Mohammadi is a human rights activist, women rights activist, journalist, deputy and spokeswoman of Defenders of Human Rights Center, and head of executive committee of Iranian Peace Council. She was fired from her job because of her cooperation with the association on December 2009. The Scientific Committee of Italian foundation ’’Alexander Langen’’ awarded her the 2009 Alexander Langer Award for human rights.

Azam Veysameh: Arrested June 10, 2010

Azam Veysameh was arrested at midnight of June 10, 2010 by security forces and transferred directly the notorious Evin prison. The reason for her arrest is not yet clear, Before her arrest she was banned from entering the parliament. She is one of the most experienced parliamentary journalists and has been working for the Parliament news, the main organ of the reformist MPs. Her arrest by the government, on the first anniversary of presidential election, is intended to exert pressure on the reformist media.

Mahboubeh Khansari: Arrested June 10, 2010

Mahboubeh Khansari was arrested on June 10, 2010. She has worked for different newspapers such as Kalameh sabz, Ham Mihan, Shargh and also for the cultural heritage news agency. The reason for her arrest is not clear. Security officials arrested her in her home after inspecting her office and confiscating her computer, mobile phone, and some of her personal belongings. Officials had told her family that they would receive a call after 48 hours notifying them of her whereabouts. Khansari has been working for around 10 years with different newspapers and news agencies.

Sara Mahboubi: Arrested June 19, 2010

Sara Mahboubi, a student who has been banned from her studies, was arrested when security officials visited her home at June 19, 2010. At that time she was not home, but the officials searched her home and confiscated two computers, some books, CDs and personal photos. She may have been targeted for her activities campaigning for students who are banned from studying.

Shirin Firouzi: Imprisoned Activist Interrogated Regarding Husband’s Activities

Shirin Firouzi, has been imprisoned because of her political activities, has also been interrogated regarding her husband’s activities. Her husband, Dr. Karami, is imprisoned in Qom and has been sentenced to 3 years on charges of propaganda against the regime and insult to the leader. Other charges against Dr. Karami are pending.

Hamideh Farajzadeh (Pinar): Arrested May 25, 2010

Hamideh Farajzadeh (Pinar), a well known Azeri (Azerbaijani) women’s right activist was arrested on May 25, 2010 in Urmia. According to reports, security officials arrested her while she was leaving her father’s home and then searched the home and confiscated all her books, CDs, and any paper that was written in her native language. They informed her family that she would be transferred to Tabriz and wouldn’t be released for at least a week. Hamideh Farajzedeh graduated from Iran Medical Science University and was also a student activist.

Shiva Nazarahari: Still Waiting for Court Decision

Shiva Nazarahari was one of the many who were arrested in a first wave of massive arrests of political activists and journalist. Within two days after the election, she was released on bail of $200,000. She is a founding member and spokeswoman of Committee of Human Rights Reporters. She was arrested for the second time last year, while on her way to Qom, for attending Ayatollah Montazeri’s funeral. Her mother reported: “They told us that both her cases will be investigated in one court, but as yet there is no news.”

Bahareh Hedayat: Sentenced to Nine and a Half Years

Bahareh Hedayat, member of the central council of Tahkim Vahdat, was sentenced to nine and a half years of prison. She was arrested on December 30, 2009. After receiving her sentence, she was summoned to the Revolutionary Court Branch No.4 for her previous arrest on July 9, 2007.

Mahboubeh Karami: Arrested March 2, 2010

On March 2, 2010, security officials went to Mahboubeh Karami’s home with an inspection and arrest warrant. After the search, her and her brother’s personal belongings were confiscated. Mahboubeh had been under pressure to confess and interview on television. After several months she was transferred to the general ward of Evin Prison. Her situation remains a cause for concern.

Mahdiyeh Golrou: Sentenced and Facing Excessive Bail

Mahdiyeh Golrou and her husband Vahid Lalipour were arrested on November 3, 2009 in their home and transferred to Evin prison. Her husband, who is not a political activist, was released in March. Mahadiyeh Golrou, a student activist and a member of the Education Rights Council, was sentenced to 2 years and 4 months imprisonment on April 4, 2010. The judge agreed to her release on bail at the amount of $700,000, but her family cannot afford it. She had also received a one year suspended sentence for another case in which she was accused of spreading propaganda against the state and interviewing with foreign media.

Hengameh Shahidi: Attacked in Prison

Hengameh Shahidi, a journalist and social activist, was arrested on February 25, 2010. She had previously been arrested after the massive pubic protests against the 2009 election results, and had been released on $90,000 bail on November 1, 2009. After that a 6 years of prison term was confirmed by the provisional court, and she was sent back to the prison. She was attacked by an addict prisoner in the women’s ward on May 29, 2010.

Laleh Hasanpour: Still in Prison After the Payment of $100,000 Bail

Laleh was arrested on March 16, 2010. According to reports, Laleh’s family was told that once the bail was paid, she would be released, but Laleh is still in prison.

Kobra Zaghedoust: Arrested During Funeral of Martyrs and Remains in Prison

Kobra is still in prison, even though her lawyers have informed the courts that the allegations against her are addressed to her husband and not her. Her lawyers have declared that the client has not had any political or social activity, and it is unknown why she has been arrested.

Somayeh Ojaghlou: Arrested March 4, 2010

Somayeh Ojaghlou, human rights activist, was arrested on March 4, 2010 in Isfahan. According to the latest news of her, published in March, she has called her family only once, from an unknown location in Tehran.

Niloufar Hashemi Azar: Arrested on Ashura (December 27, 2010)

Niloufar Hashemi Azar, a Tehran University student, was arrested with her mother Shahrzad Nasiri on Ashura. Her mother was released after a while but Niloufar was transferred to Evin Prison.

Raziyeh Alami: Arrested March 4, 2010

Raziyeh Alami, once a human rights activist, was arrested on March 4th and accused of propaganda against the state.

Sama Bahmani: Sentenced to 1 Year in Prison, 3 Years Suspended Term

Sama Bahmani, human rights activist, was arrested by security officials while she was on her way to Mahabad in a taxi. On March 29, 2010 she was sentenced to one year of imprisonment for propaganda against the state and for her membership in the Iranian Human Rights Activists Organization. Bahmani, who is from Bandar Abbas, was previously arrested with her husband and received a three year of suspended sentence for trying to prepare human rights reports on Kurdistan and also for supporting Farzad Kamangar.

Nafiseh Mojtahedi: In Prison Since March

Nafiseh Mojtahedi and her husband, both human rights activists, were detained during the mass arrests, and they remain in prison in under unclear circumstances. They were allowed to speak to their child for a very short time.

Atefeh Nabavi: Arrested June 15, 2009

Atefeh Nabavi was arrested with her cousin Ziaodin Nabavi on June 15, 2009. Atefeh was transferred to ward 209 of Evin Prison and after 95 days in detention, and then transferred to the general ward. She was sentenced to four years of imprisonment.

Sama Nourani: Arrestee March 3, 2010

Sama Nourani was arrested on March 3, 2010. It was reported on April 8, 2010 that she has been under pressure to confess to government allegations on television.

Zeynab Jalaliyan: Sentenced to Death

A Kurdish woman activist sentenced to death, Zeynab Jalaliyan will remain in Evin prison until the sentence is carried out. According to reports, she was under pressure to confess to government allegations on television. She has nevertheless refused to make false confessions, stating that she has not committed any crimes.

Rozita Vaseghi: Arrested March 15, 2010

Rozita Vaseghi was arrested on March 15, 2010. Reports indicate that she has been under significant pressure. She has been transferred to Mashad Central Prison.

Zahra Jabbari: Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison

Zahra Jabbari, 36 married with one child, was arrested on September 18, 2009.

Masoumeh Yavari: Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison

Masoumeh Yavari, a housewife, was sentenced to seven years of imprisonment in Rajaeeshahr Prison. She was accused of Moharebeh (warring against god), and the prosecutor demanded death penalty for her. She has two children, aged 4 and 11, and her husband was a political prisoner during the 1980s.

Maryam Akbari Monfared: Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison

Maryam Akbari Monfared is one of the prisoners who were arrested on Ashura, December 31 2009. She was transferred to Evin prison, accused of Moharebeh, and sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment. She has three children, the youngest aged 5.

Parvin Javadzadeh: In Prison Since Ashura

Parvin Javadzadeh is one of the women prisoners in Evin Prison, reportedly under dire conditions. Javadzaded, 22 ,was arrested on the street during Ashura, and her situation is unclear. She is the youngest prisoner in the women’s ward, and she was held in solitary confinement for the first three months following her arrest. According to reports, she was abused physically and mentally, and has been accused of Moharebeh. Her case was sent to Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court.

Sahar Ghaseminezhad: In Prison Since February 4, 2010

Sahar Ghaseminezhad was arrested on February 4, 2010. Security officials arrested her in her own home and confiscated her belongings such as her personal computer and books. Her father was executed in the 1980s as a political activist, but she has not been involved in any political activities.

Fatemeh Khoramjou: In Prison Since January 7, 2010

Fatemeh Khoramjou was arrested on January, 2010 and accused of contact with foreign elements. On May 23 she had a meeting with prosecutor, but no further news has been forthcoming.

Mahfarid Mansourian: Arrested February 8, 2010

Environmental activist Mahfarid Mansourian was arrested on February 8, 2010 in her own home. She was shown an arrest warrant that did not specifically name her, and her house was searched and belongings confiscated. Mansourian is 55 years old and was a political prisoner during the 1980s.

Zahra Bahrami: Remains in Prison Following Ashura

Zahra Bahrami, 45, was arrested during Ashura and since then has been held in ward no.209 of Evin Prison. Her family has heard no news of her situation for some months, and as yet they are not allowed to visit her. Zahra Bahrami has dual citizenship, residing in Holland and was visiting he family in Iran at the time of her arrest.

Ozra Ghazi Mir Saeed: In Prison Since June 20, 2009

Ozra Ghazi Mir Saeed was arrested on June 20, 2009, accused of Moharebeh, and sentenced to 3 years of imprisonment. She is in Evin Prison.

Niloufar Lalipour: Arrested on February 2, 2010

Niloufar Lalipour, poet and journalist, was in charge of poem page of the Chelcheragh newspaper and wrote mostly about religious poems and their roots in ancient Persia. According to her friends she has not had any political activities, and she just publicized for Mousavi during the election.

Motahareh Bahrami: Imprisoned, Family Facing Death Sentences

Motahareh Bahrami is one of the detainees from Ashura who was sentenced to death at first and then her sentence was changed to imprisonment. She was arrested during Ashura with her husband Mohsen Daneshvar, her son Mehdi, and two of their friends. She was accused of being involved with the Mujaheddin Khalgh organization. Although and her sentence was reduced, her husband and son remain sentenced to death.

Reyhaneh Hajebrahim

Reyhane Hajebrahim was arrested with Motahareh Bahrami. She was first sentenced to death, but her sentence has since been reduced to imprisonment.

Aliyeh Eghdamdoost: In Prison Since January 2008

Aliyeh Eghdamdoost was sentenced to three years of imprisonment for attending the women’s assembly against discriminatory laws in June 12, 2005 in Hafte Tir Square. She was transferred to Evin Prison in January 2008, and sentenced to solitary confinement because she had read the history of the 8th of March to other women in prison.

Ronak Safarzadeh: Serving 6 ½ Year Sentence

Ronak Safarzadeh was arrested in 2007 and sentenced to 6 years and 7 months. She is in Sanandaj Prison.

Shabnam Madadzadeh: In Prison Since March 2008

Shabnam Madadzadeh in prison since March 2008. Shabnam was arrested because she was the first deputy in the council of Tahkim Vahdat, Tehran branch. She spent 70 days in solitary confinement. Even though the courts have ordered her release, security forces have refused to do so. Shabnam and her brother were both sentenced to five years in exile in Rajayishahr.

Zeynab Bayazidi

Zeynab was arrested in the Kurdish city of Mahabad by security forces and was sentenced to four years. She was charged with spreading propaganda against the Islamic republic and trying to leave the country illegally.

Sahba Rezvani

Memeber of the Baha'i sect, has been imprisoned for one year, and has been transferred from Semnan to Tehran. The reports indicate that her health is deteriorating and needs medical attention by independent doctors, as the doctors in Evin Prison are not treating her properly.

Read the original report in Persian at The Feminist School.