Failure to observe the principle of separation of crimes; Shakila Monfared's strike in Qarchak Prison, Varamin

HRANA News Agency – Shakila Monfared, a political prisoner imprisoned in Qarchak Prison in Varamin, went on strike today, Thursday, March 3. Ms. Monfared’s strike was carried out following the authorities’ indifference to the threat she received from a prisoner serving a general sentence and in protest against the failure to observe the principle of separation of crimes.

According to HRANA News Agency, the news agency of the Human Rights Activists in Iran, today, Thursday, March 1, 2021, Shakila Monfared, a political prisoner imprisoned in Qarchak Prison in Varamin, went on strike.

Ms. Monfared's strike was held to protest the lack of accountability and inattention of the authorities regarding the threat she received from a prisoner serving a general sentence and the failure to observe the principle of separation of crimes.

An informed source told HRANA in this regard: “One of the prisoners for public offenses threatened Ms. Monfared with a can lid and attempted to assault her. Due to these threats, the doors to the counseling room and other rooms in the prison were not opened yesterday.”

Shakila Monfared was arrested by security forces in Tehran on September 1, 2020, while leaving her home, and transferred to one of the detention centers of the Revolutionary Guards Intelligence Organization in Tehran. It is said that this citizen was arrested without a judicial warrant. On September 9, 2020, after completing the interrogation process, she was transferred to the quarantine of the women's ward of Evin Prison, and was finally released from Evin Prison on September 14, 2020, after posting a bail of 400 million Tomans, temporarily and until the end of the trial process.

The court hearing to hear the charges against Shakila Monfared, Arsham Rezaei, and Mohammad Abolhasani in a joint case was held on February 26, 2020, at Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court. After the court hearing, Ms. Monfared was arrested by IRGC intelligence agents and taken to prison.

She was sentenced to 6 years of imprisonment and 4 months of forced labor in the Agricultural Jihad by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, on charges of “propaganda against the regime and insulting the sanctities of Islam.” Ultimately, Branch 36 of the Tehran Provincial Court of Appeal sentenced Ms. Monfared to 4 years and two months of imprisonment.

Shakila Monfared was previously sentenced to 2 years and 8 months in prison and a fine by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court for a case opened against her while she was in prison.

Ms. Monfared had previously been sent on leave on September 1, 2019, and returned to Qarchak Prison in Varamin on September 6, 2019, at the end of her leave.

HRANA had previously reported that Ms. Monfared was denied proper medical attention despite her illness. Despite the occurrence of a digestive disease and severe stomach pain, Ms. Monfared was opposed to being sent to a hospital outside the prison and also to being sent on medical leave.