Save Massoumeh Senobari, Save political prisoners in Iran
Political prisoner Massoumeh Senobari has been isolated in a cell in Fardis Prison of Karaj (aka Kachouii Prison) for about eight months. She is being detained in restricted conditions isolated from other inmates, and deprived of fresh air on the orders of the judge presiding over her case.
A reliable source has reported that Massoumeh Sanobari deposited nearly one million Tomans into the prison account a few months ago to treat her arm. But despite paying for the expenses of her treatment, prison authorities prevent her from being sent to the hospital for the treatment of her injured arm.
Currently detained in solitary confinement in the women’s ward, Massoumeh Senobari is isolated from fellow prisoners. The judge overseeing her case has imposed this restrictive measure on her. Furthermore, limitations are placed on her ability to contact her family, with authorities even preventing her from recharging her phone card. These infringements occur despite recognizing every prisoner’s fundamental right to maintain communication with their family.
Under the court’s verdict, Massoumeh Senobari, a political prisoner, is prohibited from interacting with other inmates and confined within the walls of a “closed-door” prison. Her access to fresh air is limited to one hour every few days, during which other inmates are temporarily removed from the yard to prevent communication.
Massoumeh Senobari is from Tabriz. She was arrested in Karaj on December 13, 2022, and transferred to the city’s Department of Intelligence. After enduring 40 days of interrogation, she was transferred to the women’s ward of Kachouii Prison on January 4, 2023.
Massoumeh Senobari stands accused of leading protests, leading to her trial at the 1st Branch of the Revolutionary Court of Karaj on March 5, 2023. The court sentenced her to a lengthy prison term of 7.5 years, citing charges of “participation in acts against the state through membership in the PMOI” and “propaganda against the state through participating in illegal gatherings, publicity campaigns, writing graffiti on walls, and distributing pictures of PMOI leaders.”
It is important to note that Massoumeh Senobari’s family remains unaware of her condition and expresses profound concern for her well-being. She is the daughter of Mohammad Ali, born in 1988 in Tabriz, and has a daughter of her own. Previously, she was sentenced to 8 years on charges of “propaganda against the state” and “insulting” the mullahs’ supreme leader, leading to her imprisonment in the women’s ward of the Central Prison of Tabriz.
Prior arrests and instances of severe mistreatment have marked Massoumeh Senobari’s journey. On February 24, 2019, she was arrested and subjected to brutal torture during interrogation in the Intelligence Department of Tabriz. Her inhumane treatment left her unable to walk due to vicious whippings, resulting in broken bones and impaired vision. Despite the suffering, she was released on bail of 600 million tomans until her trial in August 2019.
However, her ordeal continued as she was arrested again without warning on February 5, 2020, at her sister’s house and subjected to further severe torture. In October 2020, she contracted the Covid-19 disease during the coronavirus outbreak at the Central Prison of Tabriz, exacerbating her precarious situation.
Additionally, Massoumeh Senobari suffers from heart problems. Still, the authorities of Tabriz prison prevented her from receiving the necessary medication provided by her family. She was ultimately released from prison in 2021, having endured unimaginable hardships.
The plight of Massoumeh Senobari serves as a poignant reminder of political prisoners’ ongoing struggles and the urgent need for justice and human rights to prevail.
