Additional Name(s): شکیلا منفرد

Gender: Female

Perpetrator: Iran

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Unspecified/Other

Health Concerns: Gastrointestinal disease, severe stomach pain

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: Yes

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Blasphemy (General) Blasphemy (Other) Online Activity

Nature of Charges: Blasphemy Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials

Shakila Monfared

Extra Bio Info:

Shakila Monfared is imprisoned for blasphemy.

In August 2020, security forces arrested Monfared as she was leaving home, reportedly in relation to her social media activism.

In September 2020, Monfared was released on bail.

In January 2021, Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran reportedly convicted Monfared for “insulting Islamic sanctities” (Art. 513 IPC) and "propaganda against the state" (Art. 500 IPC). There are conflicting reports of how long she was sentenced with Human Rights Activists News Agency reporting six years and four months in prison and United for Iran reporting five years in prison.

In March 2021, it was reported that an appeals court gave Monfared a new sentence of 50 months in prison, but it is unclear how the sentence was divided among the charges, influencing the actual time she is required to be imprisoned.

On an unspecified date believed to be in 2021, Monfared was taken into custody and sent to prison to begin her sentence. 

In June 2021, several prisoners violently beat Monfared reportedly at the instigation of the prison staff.

In August 2021, Monfared was granted a short leave of absence from prison. She returned in September 2021.

In February 2022, it was reported that Monfared was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison on new charges described as “membership in one of the anti-regime groups and spreading lies.”

In March 2022, Monfared went on hunger strike reportedly to protest the housing of political prisoners and prisoners convicted of violent crimes in the same ward.

In July 2023, Monfared underwent gallbladder surgery and went on medical leave. 

Monfared reportedly suffers from gastrointestinal disease and severe stomach pain, for which she has been denied adequate medical care.

Monfared is serving her sentence in Qarchak Prison.

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