Country: Iran
ICHRCANADA strongly condemns the government of Iran for sentencing the civil rights activists Mozhgan Keshavarz, Yasaman Ariani, and her mother Monireh Arabshahi, to 55 years in prison combined. And demands their immediate and unconditional release.
Freedom of choice is basics human rights, and protesting forced hijob is not a criminal act, that the Revolutionary Court of Tehran has sentenced civil rights activists Mozhgan Kshavarz, Yasaman Ariani, and her mother Monireh Arabshahi, to 55 years in prison combined. The three are currently held in Varamin Prison.
The three civil rights activists were trialed and sentenced by Judge Moghiseh on the charges of “conspiracy and assembly to act against national security, propaganda against the regime, and facilitating corruption and depravity. Also they delivered their Sentencing without the presence of their attorney.
“Sentencing these civil rights activists to 55 Yrs in prison combined, on these falls charges with out due process are deliberate act of violation on human rights by the government of Iran.” Said Ardeshire Zarezadeh, Executive Director for Iran, and The Middle East at ICHR Canada.
On March 8th, the International Women’s Day, the three civil activists offered flowers and pastry to passengers in Tehran’s subway. The video of this event went viral on social media which caused an uproar in state media.
Amir Raeesian, the defense attorney for Yasamin Ariani and Monireh Arabshahi announced that “at no point during the process, neither during the interrogation nor even trial sessions were the defense attorneys allowed to attend.”
Mozhgan Keshavarz’s attorney, Mohammad Moghimi also reported that he was not allowed to participate in any stage of the process.
Moghimi announced that aside from the three aforementioned charges, Ms. Keshavarz has also been sentenced to seven years and six months in prison on the charge of “blasphemy”.
In recent months the crackdown on “improper hijab” has intensified due to the requests from the Friday-Prayer Imams across the country.
“The government of Iran must stop harassing, torturing, and imprisoning rights activists, the International Community must strongly call on the Iranian government to stop violating human rights.” Said Ardeshire Zarezadeh, Executive Director for Iran, and The Middle East at ICHR Canada.
ICHRCANADA strongly condemns the government of Iran for sentencing the civil rights activists Mozhgan Keshavarz, Yasaman Ariani, and her mother Monireh Arabshahi, to 55 years in prison combined. And demands the government of Iran to drop all charges, and release them immediately and unconditionally.