human rights defender

Shakila Monfared

HRD's year of birth

1993

HRD's Gender

Woman

Type of HRD

  • Social and community leader

HRD's thematic area of engagement

  • Civil and political rights
  • Women's rights

Current Status

In prison (sentenced)

HRD's bio and work

Shakila Monfared is an Iranian political activist and prisoner of conscience who was arrested and sentenced due to her civil and human rights activism in Iran. She was detained on charges including 'propaganda against the regime' and 'insulting sacred values.' Shakila Monfared is known for her protests against the human rights situation in Iran and her support for victims of political repression. During her detention, she has repeatedly faced physical and psychological pressures and has gone on hunger strike several times in protest against these conditions.

Detained since

Jan 20, 2021

Charge(s)

  • Anti-government propaganda
  • Blasphemy
  • Creating disturbances
  • Damage to public property
  • Other
  • Spreading fake news

Sentence

16 years and 1 month in prison

Latitude: 35.79735164706754

Longitude: 51.38608608798995

Geolocation of detention

Country or area of detention

Region of detention

  • Asia: Southern Asia

Location of detention - City/Town

Tehran

Location of detention - Facility

Tehran, Evin Prison

Allegations / reports of ill-treatment

Shakila Monfared, currently imprisoned in Evin Prison, has faced restrictions regarding contact and visits with her family and lawyer. She has been denied telephone contact with both for 20 days and was previously prohibited from in-person visits for five weeks.

Recent case update / evolution

Shakila Monfared has been sentenced in various instances to a total of 16 years and 1 month in prison, 10 lashes, a fine of 10 million Tomans, and 2 years of exile. The details are as follows. Ms. Monfared was sentenced by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, to a total of 9 years and 11 months in prison, a fine of 10 million Tomans, and 2 years of exile. She was also sentenced by Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals, presided over by Judge Abbasali Houzan, to a total of 5 years and 2 months in prison. Additionally, in her latest sentence, she was sentenced to 1 year in prison and 10 lashes.

Any other relevant documents

Shakila Monfared – USCIRF Profile https://www.uscirf.gov/religious-prisoners-conscience/forb-victims-database/shakila-monfared

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