In a recent decision by the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad, two political prisoners, Marzieh Nasseri and Sakineh Parvaneh, have been handed substantial prison sentences amidst growing concerns over human rights violations.
After enduring nine months in detention without a verdict, 41-year-old Marzieh Nasseri, commonly referred to as Sara, was sentenced to four years in prison. The charges levelled against her include “propaganda against the state” and participation in “illegal gatherings.” Nasseri, a resident of Mashhad, found herself in custody on December 6, 2022, amid protests rocking the city. Initially held in solitary confinement at the detention center of the Department of Intelligence in Mashhad for 20 days, she was later transferred to the women’s ward of the Central Prison of Mashhad following her interrogations.
Parallelly, the 5th Branch of the Revolutionary Court in Mashhad pronounced a 7.5-year sentence for Sakineh Parvaneh, who currently resides in the same prison, infamously known as Vakilabad Prison. Parvaneh’s charges are grave, including insulting the mullahs’ supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, “propaganda against the state,” and “having contact and cooperation with foreign media.” Judge Mansouri relayed her sentence on September 25, 2023. An additional 2.5 years from her previous imprisonment was added to this latest verdict.
Sakineh Parvaneh’s encounters with the legal system have been frequent and fraught. She was taken into custody on April 4, 2023, mere weeks after a previous arrest on March 7 from which she was released after just four days
At the time of her February 15, 2023 release from Vakilabad Prison, Parvaneh was in the fourth year of a five-year sentence that was handed down on May 25, 2020. Adding to the growing list of concerns is the condition of the prison and the treatment of its detainees. Nasseri, Parvaneh, and another political prisoner, Azam Gholami, are currently confined in Ward 5 of Vakilabad Prison’s women’s ward.
Disturbingly, they are deprived of essential medical facilities and treatment, and the environment is reportedly unsanitary. What’s more, in a blatant violation of the principle of crime separation, these political prisoners find themselves sharing quarters with ordinary and violent offenders. Human rights activists and advocates worldwide are increasingly alarmed by these developments, calling for the international community to condemn such practices and ensure the safety and fair treatment of political prisoners in Iran.
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