Iranian Writer and Researcher Arrested and Transferred to Prison to Serve Sentence
Mozhgan Kavosi, a writer and researcher, who in recent days published two videos on her Instagram announcing that a summons warrant had been issued against her by Branch 2 of the Nowshahr District Enforcement Court to serve a prison sentence, has been arrested and transferred to Nowshahr Prison to execute this order.
Mostafa Neili, the defense lawyer for this Iranian Kurdish writer and researcher, confirmed the news on his Twitter page, announcing that Mozhgan Kavosi, who has been sentenced to a total of 76 months and 15 days in prison, was arrested on Tuesday, May 20, 2024 (30 Ordibehesht) to serve her sentence. The lawyer also stated that “the Nowshahr enforcement court issued the summons warrant in violation of Article 500 of the Criminal Procedure Code without summoning [the defendant].”
According to the lawyer, based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code regarding the consolidation of sentences, only 36 months of Mozhgan Kavosi’s sentence would be executable.
Ms. Kavosi recently announced through two videos posted on her Instagram that during her period of freedom, she had been under the care of her treating physicians due to certain medical issues, and the doctors had stated that she should receive treatment outside of prison; however, this request was rejected by Branch 2 of the Enforcement Court. On Tuesday, May 12, 2024 (23 Ordibehesht), when her husband visited Branch 2 of the Enforcement Court to follow up on her case and retrieve her personal belongings that had been confiscated by security forces at the time of her arrest, he accidentally discovered during a meeting with a judicial affairs specialist at that branch that a summons warrant against her had been issued that same day.
Mozhgan Kavosi, who was arrested on Monday, November 19, 2019 (27 Aban 1398) by security forces and was finally released from Nowshahr Prison on December 19, 2019 (28 Azar 1398) on bail temporarily until the completion of legal proceedings, was initially sentenced to 69 months in prison by Nowshahr District Court. However, this sentence was increased to 76 months and 15 days by the Mazandaran Province Appeals Court following the prosecutor’s objection that the original sentence was too lenient, and the rejection of the defense lawyer’s arguments.
Previously, Voice of America, citing her Instagram page, reported that her charges were “propaganda against the system,” “incitement to the public to disturb public order,” and “membership in anti-system groups.” According to information released by human rights media, these charges may stem from writing notes about nationwide protests in various Iranian cities and posting images of those killed in Marivan and Javanrud during the November 2019 protests on Instagram, using the hashtag “silence is complicity.”
It is worth noting that posts published by Ms. Kavosi are currently no longer accessible.
The U.S. State Department has repeatedly condemned the violent conduct of the Islamic Republic’s regime towards the Iranian people under various pretexts, including actions against freedom of dress choice, as well as the repeated and continuous violation of Iranian citizens’ rights by regime officials.
Source: Voice of America
