Extra Bio Info:

Noushin Jafari was imprisoned for blasphemy.

In August 2019, authorities arrested Jafari, a photojournalist and culture reporter, after accusing her of running a Twitter account that mocked historical religious figures and insulted Islam. She was also accused of making posts opposing the government.

In October 2019, Jafari was released on bail.

In mid-February 2021, an appeals court sentenced Jafari to four years in prison for “insulting Islamic sanctities” (Art. 513 IPC) and one year for “propaganda against the state" (Art. 500 IPC). Jafari is expected to serve four years in prison as the sentences run concurrently. It is unclear if Jafari was sentenced by a previous court.

Following her sentencing in February 2021, Jafari was taken into custody to begin serving her sentence. She was sent to Qarchak Prison.

On February 10, 2023, Jafari was reportedly released from prison after receiving amnesty.

Extra Bio Info:

Monireh Arabshahi was imprisoned for her women’s rights activism against compulsory religious veiling.

In April 2019, authorities arrested Arabshahi for protesting compulsory hijab by handing out flowers on the metro while not wearing a hijab.

In July 2019, a Tehran court sentenced Arabshahi to one year in prison for “propaganda against the state” (Art. 500 IPC), five years in prison for “assembling and colluding to act against national security” (Art. 610 IPC), and ten years for “encouraging people to immorality or prostitution” (Art. 639 IPC).

In February 2020, an appeals court reportedly resentenced Arabshahi to seven months for “propaganda against the state” (Art. 500 IPC), three years and six months for “assembling and colluding to act against national security” (Art. 610 IPC), and five years and six months in prison for “encouraging people to immorality or prostitution” (Art. 639 IPC). Arabshahi is expected to serve five years and six months in prison as the sentences run concurrently.

In May 2021, Arabshahi was granted a medical furlough to have surgery on her thyroid.

In July 2021, Arabshahi returned to prison. 

In August 2021, Arabshahi was granted a medical furlough.

In October 2021, Arabshahi returned to prison reportedly despite not completing her treatment. 

In May 2022, it was reported that Arabshahi had been taken to a hospital outside of prison due to her deteriorating health reportedly linked to her thyroid condition.

On February 15, 2023, it was reported that Arabshahi had been released from prison.

Arabshahi was repeatedly dispatched to outside hospitals for quick treatment without prolonged medical furlough. She was reportedly denied adequate medical care in prison.

Extra Bio Info:

Saba Kord Afshari was imprisoned for her women’s rights activism against compulsory religious veiling.

In June 2019, authorities arrested Afshari for protesting compulsory hijab after a video of her surfaced walking on the street without a hijab.

In the second half of 2019, a Tehran Revolutionary Court reportedly sentenced Afshari to 15 years in prison for “encouraging people to immorality or prostitution” (Art. 639 IPC), seven years and six months for “assembling and colluding to act against national security” (Art. 610 IPC), and one year and six months for “propaganda against the state” (Art. 500 IPC). Afshari was expected to serve 15 years in prison as the sentences ran concurrently.

In late 2019, an appeals court reportedly acquitted Afshari of “encouraging people to immorality or prostitution” (Art. 639 IPC).  Her sentence was furthermore reduced to seven years and six months in prison.

In May 2020, it was reported that Afshari’s acquittal for “encouraging people to immorality or prostitution” (Art. 639 IPC) was overturned.  The court subsequently enforced the original 15-year sentence.

In March 2021, it was reported that Afshari’s sentence had been reduce to seven years and six months in prison.

Afshari reportedly suffers from ulcers and gastrorrhagia and has been denied adequate medical care. She has also reportedly contracted COVID-19 while imprisoned.  Afshari has also gone on hunger strike to protest the arrest of her mother, Rahele Ahmadi.

Afshari has also been subjected to attacks in prison and inhumane living conditions.

In April 2022, it was reported that the Supreme Court acquitted Afshari of “encouraging people to immorality or prostitution” (Art. 639 IPC) and that her sentence was reduced to five years in prison after her sentence was corrected. 

In February 2023, it was reported that Afshari had been released from prison.