According to reports received by Iran Human Rights Monitor (Iran HRM), severe punitive measures have been imposed on female political prisoners in Evin Prison. These measures include suspending phone calls and in-person visits for 17 inmates, lasting from one to three months. Additionally, a new case has emerged involving the sentencing of an Iranian woman, Elham Ostadi.
According to the latest updates, 17 female political prisoners in Evin Prison’s women’s ward have faced the suspension of their phone calls and visitation rights. This action follows two protest movements within the prison on July 23 and August 6, 2024, in response to the issuance of a death sentence for Pakhshan Azizi and the execution of Reza Rasaei.
The 17 prisoners affected by this suspension include:
- Elaheh Fouladi
- Pakhshan Azizi
- Narges Mohammadi
- Zahra Safaei
- Maryam Asadollahi
- Azam Khezri Javadi
- Sarina Jahani
- Mahboubeh Rezai
- Reyhaneh Ansari
- Sakineh Parvaneh
- Varisheh Moradi
- Golrokh Iraee
- Pariyoush Moslemi
- Samaneh Asghari
- Houra Nikbakht
- Maryam Yahyavi
- Sanaz Yekta
Among these prisoners, Elaheh Fouladi has been subjected to the longest period of deprivation, with a three-month suspension of both phone calls and in-person visits starting from August 17, 2024. Others, including Pakhshan Azizi, Reyhaneh Ansari, Narges Mohammadi, Mahboubeh Rezai, and Golrokh Iraee, have received two-month suspensions, while the remaining prisoners have been subjected to a one-month suspension.
Sentencing of Elham Ostadi:
On the same day, reports also surfaced regarding the sentencing of Elham Estadi, a 30-year-old woman from Iranshahr. Ostadi was convicted and sentenced to one year in prison by Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court in Zahedan. Her charges stem from a post she made on Instagram protesting against the rape of a Baloch girl, an act that the authorities deemed as spreading dissent.
Ostadi had originally posted on her Instagram account on August 21, 2023, expressing solidarity with the protesters who condemned the rape of a 15-year-old girl. Although she did not participate in street protests, security forces arrested her in Chabahar without a judicial warrant. Her arrest was marked by violence, and she was initially detained in a secret intelligence facility before being transferred to the central prison in Zahedan, where she spent 10 days in solitary confinement.
She was temporarily released on September 2, 2023, after posting bail of 200 million tomans. The charges against Ostadi included “propaganda against the regime” and “disturbing public opinion,” for which she was sentenced to one year of imprisonment and a fine, respectively. Before her arrest, Ostadi was an English language tutor.
