New Wave of Pressure on Civil Activists; Three Women’s Rights Activists Summoned to Evin Prosecutor’s Office

Three women’s rights activists named “Maryam Mohammadi,” “Esrin Darkale,” and “Narges Khormei” have been summoned to the Evin Prison Prosecutor’s Office for Tuesday.

According to the Human Rights in Iran website, on Sunday, June 16, security forces visited and searched the personal residence of Maryam Mohammadi, a member of the Iranian Women’s Voice Association, and confiscated two of her mobile phones. She was summoned to the Evin Prosecutor’s Office for Tuesday, June 18.

According to this report, security forces also delivered a summons that had been issued for “Esrin Darkale,” another women’s rights activist, to Maryam Mohammadi due to Darkale’s absence from her residence.

On Wednesday, June 12, security forces also entered the residence of “Narges Khormei,” conducted a search of her home, confiscated several personal items including her mobile phone and tablet, and summoned her to the Evin Prison Prosecutor’s Office for Tuesday, June 18.

This is not the first time a member of the Iranian Women’s Voice Association has been summoned or arrested. Previously, “Nahid Shagaghi,” a women’s rights and children’s rights activist who gave speeches in seminars of the Iranian Women’s Voice group over the past few years about violence against women, was arrested on Wednesday, April 15, following a raid by security forces on her personal residence and the breaking down of her door. She was transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison.

Akram Nasiryan, another member of the Iranian Women’s Voice Association, who was arrested by security forces on the street on Monday, March 30, and transferred to Evin Prison, was temporarily released on June 5 pending bail until the end of legal proceedings.

Last December, Amnesty International in a report called 2018 “a year of shame” for the Islamic Republic and announced that 112 women’s rights activists were arrested in Iran during that year.

Source: Voice of America