Sara Nasseri faces detention in violation of the separation of crimes principle
Farzaneh Zilabi, an attorney at law, has been handed a verdict by the 4th Branch of the Revolutionary Court in Ahvaz, resulting in a one-year and six-month prison sentence. The charges against Farzaneh Zilabi include “anti-regime propaganda” and “insulting the leadership.”
While Farzaneh Zilabi did not personally attend the court hearing, her defense brief was submitted, and one of her lawyers was present during the proceedings.
Similarly, the case of Sara Nasseri, a 41-year-old resident of Mashhad, adds to the growing alarm regarding human rights abuses. Nasseri was arrested during the nationwide uprising on December 6, 2022, and after spending 20 days in the Intelligence Department’s detention center, she was transferred to Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad. Despite five and a half months since her arrest, Nasseri remains detained without trial.
Adding to the concerns surrounding Nasseri’s case, prison authorities recently violated the principle of separation of crimes by relocating her from the women’s ward 5, which houses prisoners of conscience, to the general ward. Her situation is further exacerbated by the fact that her case, accused of propaganda against the state, is currently being investigated in Branch 904 of the Mashhad Prosecutor’s Office.
These incidents highlight the ongoing challenges faced by individuals in Iran who express dissenting opinions or engage in activism. The continued arrests, detentions, and harsh sentencing underline serious concerns regarding human rights and the state of freedom of expression in Iran.
