Iranian activist sentenced to 8 years in prison

Shahnaz Gholami, Iranian journalist and women’s rights activists was sentenced to eight years in prison by Iranian judiciary.

Tabriz Revolutionary Court has reportedly convicted her of “publishing falsehoods, advertising against the Islamic Republic, membership and activity in the People’s Mojahedin Organization through collaboration with news agencies.”

Shahnaz Gholami spent five years in prison in the late eighties. The head of Azar Zan Weblog and member of Association of Women Reporters is currently residing in Turkey along with her child.

After the June presidential elections, scores of Iranian journalists and social and political activists were obliged to leave the country and many of them have taken shelter in Turkey.

Many more activists are still in Iranian prisons. International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran reports that children’s rights activist, Maryam Zia is still on a hunger strike.

Reportedly Maryam Zia has been on a hunger strike since March 17 on the grounds that “her arrest is illegal and baseless.”

Her sister, Masomeh Zia, told the Campaign that she is highly concerned for her incarcerated sister’s health.

Ms. Zia was arrested last December following the Ashura Day protests. She was also arrested over three years ago in a gathering organized by women’s activists in protest to discriminatory laws.

Some of the recent political detainees in Iranian prisons had announced that they would go on a hunger strike starting March 21 in protest to deplorable prison conditions. So far there is no confirmed news of their condition.