Another Women’s and Children’s Rights Activist Arrested in Iran
Zahra Seyadi, a women’s and children’s rights activist, was arrested in a security forces raid on her home in recent days.
The Campaign to Defend Political and Civil Prisoners announced on Thursday, December 21st, that this women’s and children’s rights activist was arrested on Tuesday, December 19th during a security forces raid on her residence and was transferred to Evin Prison.
According to the report, security forces inspected Seyadi’s home before her arrest and confiscated a number of personal items including a laptop, computer hard drive, and several discs, taking them away.
To date, no precise information is available regarding the reason for her arrest or the charges against this children’s rights activist.
Zahra Seyadi’s sister, Zahra Seyadi, also posted on Twitter with an image of her sister speaking alongside two Baloch women, writing: “This is probably one of those unforgivable crimes my sister committed. Along with Baloch women, she reminded them of their legal documents and identity. Knowing your rights seems to be the greatest crime.”
Recently, Nahid Shagaqi, Akram Nassiryan, Maryam Mohammadi, and Esrin Darkaale, four women’s rights activists and members of the “Voice of Iranian Women” organization, were sentenced by Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Afshahi, each to a total of four years and two months imprisonment on charges of “assembly and conspiracy,” “propaganda against the system,” and “pretending to commit forbidden acts under the guise of appearing without hijab.”
According to Amnesty International’s report, in 2018, more than seven thousand people, including protest participants, students, journalists, women’s rights activists, environmental activists, labor activists, and advocates for ethnic and religious minorities in Iran were arrested and hundreds were sentenced to prison.
The U.S. State Department also states that the Iranian regime has arrested thousands of protesters, civil activists, and representatives of workers and other groups in the past two years.
The United States has repeatedly condemned violent confrontations and widespread suppression of protesters and civil activists in various cases, as well as the repeated and continuous violation of the rights of Iranian citizens by the ruling regime in that country.
Source: Voice of America
