The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom called for sanctions against officials who issued the prison sentence for Golrokh Iraei.

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom issued a statement condemning the double sentencing of imprisoned civil activist and writer Golrokh Ebrahimi Iraei.

The statement of the commission, which was released on Monday, May 26, states: "While being held in Amol Prison, Ms. Iranian has been sentenced to an additional year in prison, a ban on membership in political organizations, and a two-year travel ban, without attending the hearing or having access to a lawyer."

"The additional year of imprisonment for Golrokh Irai is a flagrant violation of religious freedom. The United States government should sanction and hold accountable the officials responsible for such unjustified punishment under the Magnitsky Act," said Gil Mansion, chair of the commission.

In the past ten years, two successive US administrations, citing the Magnitsky Act and issuing several presidential executive orders, have added individuals who have violated the rights of the Iranian people to practice their religion to the sanctions list, the most recent of which include Abolghasem Salavati and Mohammad Moghiseh, two judges of the judiciary of the Islamic Republic of Iran who are known for issuing harsh sentences against political activists, journalists, and human rights activists in Iran.

The statement by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom also referred to the imprisonment of Golrokh Iraei's husband, Arash Sadeghi, who has been diagnosed with cancer in prison. Another member of the commission called the imprisonment of these two civil society activists and other civil society activists a cowardly disregard by the Islamic Republic for its international obligations to ensure freedom of religion and belief.