In a series of punitive measures aimed at suppressing dissent, Iranian courts have handed down severe sentences to two women for their acts of defiance against the state.
Zeinab Khonyabpour and Farzaneh Barzekar, both caught in the crosshairs of the regime’s crackdown on protest movements, face imprisonment, fines, and social restrictions.
Farzaneh Barzekar, mother of the late 21-year-old Erfan Rezaii, who was killed by security forces in Amol during protests on September 21, 2022, was recently sentenced by the First Branch of the Revolutionary Court and Branch 106 of the Penal Court No. 2 of Amol. She was arrested on September 3, 2023, in the lead-up to the first anniversary of her son’s death, marking a grim reminder of the regime’s relentless campaign against the families of slain protesters. These families, including Barzekar, have faced intimidation, arrests, and various forms of suppression, aimed at quelling any resurgence of uprising on the anniversary of the deaths.
Barzekar, known for her vocal demand for justice for her son, was charged with propaganda against the state and insulting Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Her sentence includes 24 months of suspended jail time, a fine of five million tomans for not covering her hair in published photos, another 15 million tomans for spreading falsities online, and a one-year ban from social media activities. The suspended jail sentence effectively curtails her freedom, as any further dissent could lead to her immediate imprisonment.
Meanwhile, Zeinab Khonyabpour, a clothing store owner from the southwestern province of Khuzestan, a region notable for its protest movements, has been sentenced to two years in prison for unveiling.
The Penal Court No. 2 of Behbahan and the Revolutionary Court of Mahshahr found her guilty of publishing photos without a headscarf and disseminating propaganda against the state, respectively. Khonyabpour’s business was sealed following her participation in a nationwide strike on December 5, 2022. An attempt to unseal her store led to her arrest and a six-day detention in the Sepidar Prison of Ahvaz.
These sentences highlight the Iranian regime’s continued efforts to suppress dissent and control the narrative surrounding the protest movements. By targeting individuals like Barzekar and Khonyabpour, the regime sends a clear message to those who dare to defy its authority. The plight of these women underscores the broader struggle for rights and freedoms in a country where speaking out comes with grave consequences.
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