Violation of Separation of Crimes Principle; Sheila Manfred’s Strike in Qarchak Prison, Varamin

Hrana News Agency – Sheila Manfred, a political prisoner held in Qarchak Prison in Varamin, went on strike today, Thursday, March 3rd. Ms. Manfred’s strike comes in response to officials’ negligence regarding threats made against her by a common criminal inmate and in protest of the violation of the principle of separation of crimes.

According to Hrana News Agency, the news organ of the Iranian Human Rights Activists Coalition, today Thursday, March 3rd, 2022, Sheila Manfred, a political prisoner held in Qarchak Prison in Varamin, went on strike.

Ms. Manfred’s strike is in protest of officials’ unresponsiveness and negligence regarding her being threatened by a common criminal inmate and the violation of the principle of separation of crimes.

An informed source told Hrana in this regard: “A common criminal inmate threatened Ms. Manfred with a tin can lid and intended to assault her. Due to these threats, the consultation room and other prison halls were not opened yesterday.”

Sheila Manfred was arrested on September 1st, 2020, when leaving her home by security forces in Tehran and was transferred to one of the IRGC Intelligence Organization’s detention centers in Tehran. It is said that the arrest of this citizen took place without a court order. On September 10th, 2020, after the end of interrogation, she was transferred to the quarantine ward for women in Evin Prison and finally on September 15th, 2020, she was temporarily released from Evin Prison upon posting a 4 billion toman bail until the completion of legal proceedings.

The court hearing to consider the charges against Sheila Manfred, Arsham Rezaei, and Mohammad Abolhasani regarding a joint case was held on January 20th, 2021, in Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court. After the court hearing ended, Ms. Manfred was arrested by IRGC Intelligence agents and transferred to prison.

She was sentenced by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, headed by Judge Iman Afshary, to 6 years of imprisonment and 4 months of mandatory labor in agricultural jihad on the charges of “propaganda activities against the system and insulting Islamic sanctities.” Finally, Branch 36 of the Tehran Province Court of Appeals sentenced Ms. Manfred to 4 years and 2 months of definitive imprisonment.

Sheila Manfred was previously sentenced by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court to 2 years and 8 months of imprisonment and a monetary fine regarding a case filed against her during her imprisonment.

Ms. Manfred was previously sent on furlough on August 23rd and returned to Qarchak Prison in Varamin on September 7th after the end of her furlough period.

Hrana previously reported on Ms. Manfred’s deprivation of proper medical care despite her illness. Despite suffering from gastrointestinal disease and severe stomach pain, her transfer to a hospital outside the prison and her assignment to medical furlough have been opposed.