On Wednesday, July 10, 2024, Zohreh Dadras and her sister, Zahra Dadras, women’s rights activists in Gilan, were arrested by security forces and transferred to Lakan Prison in Rasht to serve their prison sentences.
According to reports, on the morning of Wednesday, Zohreh Dadras was arrested at her family home in Rasht without prior summons or notice and transferred to Lakan Prison. Additionally, Zahra Dadras was arrested at noon on the same day after appearing at the criminal enforcement branch and was also transferred to Lakan Prison.
Abolfazl Ghorbani, the defense lawyer for the two women’s rights activists, stated: “At 9 AM today, Zohreh Dadras was arrested without prior summons or notice and transferred to the enforcement of sentences. Zahra Dadras was also arrested at noon today, and both sisters have been transferred to Lakan Prison in Rasht.”
The case involving these two women’s rights activists, along with nine other activists in Gilan named Forough Samii Nia, Sara Jahani, Yasamin Hashdari, Shiva Shah Siah, Negin Rezaei, Azadeh Chavoshian, Matin Yazdani, Hooman Taheri, and Jelveh Javaheri, was referred to the enforcement branch of the Rasht Prosecutor’s Office in the latter half of June this year. Other defendants in this case were also summoned by phone to the enforcement of sentences at the Rasht Revolutionary Court and are required to report to Lakan Prison in Rasht by Saturday, July 13.
Zohreh Dadras was initially arrested on August 16, 2023, by intelligence agents and was released on bail from Lakan Prison on October 1 of the same year. Zahra Dadras was also arrested on August 17 last year after her home was searched and some personal belongings were confiscated by intelligence agents. She was released from Lakan Prison on September 17.
The trial for the charges against these individuals in a joint case was held on March 1, 2024, in the third branch of the Rasht Revolutionary Court, and the preliminary verdict was issued to them in early April this year. The sentence was upheld on May 29, 2024, by the 11th branch of the Gilan Province Court of Appeals.
According to the issued verdict, Zohreh Dadras was sentenced to 6 years and 1 day for “forming an illegal group against security” and 3 years, 6 months, and 1 day for “assembly and collusion,” totaling 9 years, 6 months, and 2 days of imprisonment. Under the law of cumulative sentences, the most severe sentence will be enforceable.
Zahra Dadras was sentenced to 3 years, 6 months, and 1 day for “assembly and collusion with the intent to disrupt national security” and 2 years, 7 months, and 16 days for “membership in an illegal group,” totaling 6 years, 1 month, and 17 days of imprisonment. According to the law of cumulative sentences, the most severe sentence, equal to 3 years, 6 months, and 1 day, will be enforceable.
Additionally, other defendants in this case were sentenced to imprisonment. Forough Samii Nia, Sara Jahani, Yasamin Heshdari, Shiva Shah Siah, Negin Rezaei, Azadeh Chavoshian, and Matin Yazdani were each sentenced to six years, one month, and seventeen days in prison. Jelveh Javaheri and Hooman Taheri were each sentenced to one year in prison.
