Mina Soltani Zareh, the justice-seeking mother of Shahriar Mohammadi, one of the victims of the 2022 nationwide protests in Iran, has been sentenced to eight months in prison and a monetary fine by the Iranian judiciary.
The verdict issued by Branch 101 of the Criminal Court 2 of Bukan convicts Mina Soltani on charges of “propaganda against the state” and “appearing in public without hijab”, resulting in a sentence of eight months in prison and a fine of one million tomans. The ruling was verbally communicated to her lawyers.
Arrest Without a Court Warrant
Mina Soltani was arrested on the night of September 11, 2024, when security forces raided her home without presenting any legal warrant. She was detained for 21 days and was temporarily released on October 1, 2024, from Urmia Prison.
Shahriar Mohammadi: A Young Man Killed by Government Forces
Shahriar Mohammadi, a 29-year-old from Bukan, was shot and killed by government forces during nationwide protests on November 18, 2022.
Like many grieving mothers seeking justice in Iran, Mina Soltani has spent the past two years trying to be the voice of her lost son. Her conviction is yet another example of the continued pressure on families of victims, who persist in their demand for justice.
