Officials at Evin Prison in Tehran have prohibited Saeideh Shafiei, a incarcerated journalist, from meeting with her family. A similar restriction has also been imposed on several other women imprisoned in this facility.
Hasan Homayoun, Saeideh Shafiei’s husband, reported this news on his X account, stating: “My mother returned from the prison with tear-filled eyes because they said Saeideh Shafiei is banned from visits. My parents traveled 1,000 kilometers from Marvdasht to see my wife.”
Hasan Homayoun, who is also a writer and journalist, elaborated in his tweet regarding the reason for the visitation ban on Saeideh Shafiei and several other women imprisoned in Evin: “Saeideh Shafiei and several other female inmates in Evin Prison have been denied visits due to singing a song commemorating the anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death.”
Saeideh Shafiei is a journalist and author currently imprisoned in Evin Prison. On Friday, September 6, 2024 (16 Shahrivar 1403), despite her illness, she returned to Evin Prison to continue serving her sentence. She had been released on March 2, 2024 (12 Esfand 1402) to pause the execution of her sentence and pursue treatment for her health condition.
In August 2023 (Shahrivar 1402), the 26th Branch of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, sentenced Saeideh Shafiei to 7 months and 16 days in prison for the charge of “propaganda against the regime,” under Article 500 of the Islamic Penal Code. Additionally, she was sentenced to 3 years and 6 months in prison for “conspiracy and collusion with the intent to act against national security,” according to Article 610 of this law.
As a supplementary punishment, this journalist was also subjected to a two-year ban on participating in political and social groups and a two-year ban on leaving the country. This ruling was upheld in its entirety by Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeal in September 2023. By applying Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, 3 years, 7 months, and 16 days of the prison sentence issued against Saeideh Shafiei will be enforceable.