Maryam Naghash Zargaran moments after her release
Maryam Naghash Zargaran, a Christian convert who was released from Evin Prison hours ago, was taken to the prison’s prosecutor’s office minutes before her release. There, she was met by a line of prison medical staff, from the ambulance driver to the head of the hospital. There, she was informed that a new case would be opened against her for insulting medical personnel, although this did not prevent her from being released from prison.
According to HRANA News Agency, the news agency of the Human Rights Activists Association in Iran, as time passes, more details of the mistreatment and harassment of Maryam Naghash Zargaran in the minutes before her release are becoming clear.
Maryam Naghash Zargaran, a painter, was released from Evin Prison a few hours ago after serving four years in prison. But this period, even in its final moments, was fraught with harassment and distress for this prisoner of conscience.
It has been reported that while Maryam Naghash Zargaran was awaiting release, prison staff transferred her to Branch 1 of the Moqaddasi Courthouse located in Evin Prison, instead of through the prison's exit door.
At Branch 1, the prisoner unexpectedly encountered a large number of Evin Prison medical personnel, ranging in rank from the head of the medical department to the ambulance driver.
Branch 1 investigator has informed this prisoner of conscience that a new case has been opened against him for "insulting personnel" and a bail of 50 million Tomans has been issued for him.
It is said that the issue of "insulting personnel" goes back to an incident in which Ms. Zargaran's leg was injured in prison, and after being transferred to the infirmary, a verbal argument broke out between the two due to the rude behavior of the infirmary director.
Despite claiming to have filed a case and issued bail, the investigator in the case claims that there is no need to post bail at this time and that he can be released until he is contacted again.
Given the unusual behavior of the prison staff at the time of the release and the illegal behavior of the Branch 1 investigator, including the failure to file a warrant, it is unclear whether this incident is a new case for this prisoner, who had spent the past four years in prison, or simply a form of psychological harassment.
It is worth noting that Abbas Khani, the head of Evin Prison, expressed his displeasure that his actions towards political prisoners had received media coverage and had threatened various prisoners, including Ms. Atena Daemi, with retaliation, reports of which were previously reported in HRANA.
Maryam (Nasim) Naghash Zargaran, a Christian convert whose four-year prison sentence was set to end on June 5 of this year, was finally released from Evin Prison today after a delay of about two months, on the grounds that her absences were being counted during her leave.
Ms. Naghash Zargaran, who had been serving her four-year sentence since the beginning of the summer of 2013, was scheduled to be released on June 5, but her release was delayed due to claims of being absent during her leave.
Prosecutors had informed her family that Ms. Zargaran would be released on August 26 under the title of conditional release. This statement caused the family of painter Zargaran to wait in front of the prison for long hours on August 26, waiting in vain for their child's release.
Finally, after several announcements of different schedules, Maryam Naghash Zargaran, a goldsmith painter, received her release certificate today, marking the end of her imprisonment, and after going through legal formalities, she was released from Evin Prison amidst the welcome of her family and friends.
It is worth recalling that Ms. Zargaran was first summoned to the Ministry of Intelligence's follow-up office and interrogated in March 2020. These interrogations, which were accompanied by threats and harassment of her family members, often continued in informal locations and centered around questions about her home and church.
He was finally summoned and arrested by the security police a few days after the arrest of Saeed Abedini, an Iranian-American citizen. On the same day, his father's house was searched and his religious books, pamphlets, and personal belongings were confiscated.
After being arrested, this Christian convert was taken to Evin Prison for fingerprinting and then transferred to the Ministers' Building without any charges. He was detained and interrogated for 5 days and nights without the most basic sanitary facilities. Most of the questions were about the quality of the ceremonies held in these churches.
Ms. Zargaran was eventually transferred to Evin Prison and charged by Branch 2 of the Shahid Mogadishu Prosecutor's Office. The only charge against her was propaganda against the regime.
Maryam Naghash Zargaran, a painter, was released on bail of 70 million after 19 days of temporary detention in Evin Women’s Ward. She was sentenced to 4 years in prison by Judge Moghiseh, head of Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court, on charges of acting against national security through association and collusion. This is despite the fact that she had never been informed of such charges.
Source: HRANA
