Woman human rights defender Maryam Karimbeigi on travel ban

On 1 August 2022, the lawyer of Maryam Karimbeigi announced that branch 26 of Tehran Revolutionary Court has sentenced the woman human rights defender to three years and seven months in prison on the charge of “gathering and colluding against national security;” one year in prison on the charge of “propaganda activities against the state;” and one year in prison, a fine and 74 lashes for keeping alcoholic beverages at home. After the application of article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the most severe single sentence of three years and seven months in prison would be applicable.

The lawyer of the woman human rights defender also stated for the court to find Maryam Karimbeigi guilty on the charge of “gathering and colluding against national security,” there should be a second defendant complicit in the case as it is a crime of collective nature, however, he did not see any other names in the court verdict, except from the name of a singer in exile, with whom the woman human rights defender took a selfie after a concert in Turkey. The human rights defender and her lawyer will appeal this sentence.

On 28 June 2022, woman human rights defender Maryam Karimbeigi, who has been held in Ward 209 of Evin prison since 14 June 2022, announced to her family that she has ended her hunger strike. She had started the hunger strike to protest the judicial harassment and charges of “gathering and colluding against national security” and “propaganda activity against the state”, which were brought against her because of her justice seeking activities.

On 14 June 2022, the house of the woman human rights defender was raided, her laptop was confiscated, together with that of her friend who was visiting, and Maryam Karimbeigi was arrested.

On 14 June 2022, the house of woman human rights defender Maryam Karimbeigi was raided, her laptop was confiscated, together with that of her friend who was visiting, and Maryam Karimbeigi was arrested. The human rights defender was transfered to Evin prison and had a hearing on the charge of “propaganda activity against the state.” Consequently, on a telephone call to her mother she announced that she will start a hunger strike in protest against the judicial harassment. She has been interrogated on several occasions since February in relation to her pursuit of justice and campaigning against solitary confinement in Iran.

On 21 February 2022, the house of Maryam Karimbeigi was also raided by security officials looking for the woman human rights defender while she was not home. During the raid, three mobile phones, two laptops, books, her masters dissertation and a memorial table with pictures of individuals persectuted for protesting since 2009 were confiscated. In April, the security department of the Islamic Azad University Science and Research Branch in Tehran, where she is currently pursuing a masters degree in sociology, telephoned and threatened her with expulsion from the university.

On 21 February 2022, Iranian security officials raided the house of woman human rights defender Maryam Karimbeigi looking for the woman human rights defender, while she was absent. The security officials, who had in their possession a search and an arrest warrant, left a court summons, according to which Maryam Karimibeigi should be present at Shahid Moqadas (Amniat) Court, Branch 33 of Tehran Revolutionary Court, within five days. The nature of charges against Maryam Karimbeigi is still unknown.

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Maryam Karimibeigi is a woman human rights defender who since 2009 has peacefully sought justice for the killing of peaceful protesters in Iran. She is the sister of the well-known Moustafa Karimbeigi, a 26-year-old protester who was shot and killed by Iranian security forces in 2009 during the widespread protests against Iran’s presidential election results. Maryam Karimbeigi has been advocating for the rights of political prisoners, against the use of solitary confinement and other abusive treatment and precarious conditions of prisoners in Iran. Together with her mother Shahnaz Akmali, they have made numerous attempts to seek justice for Moustafa Karimbeigi and other victims of protests in Iran, resulting in repeated threats by the Iranian government against the family.

On 21 February 2022, the house of woman human rights defender Maryam Karimbeigi was raided by security officials looking for the woman human rights defender, while she was absent. During the raid three mobile phones, two laptops, books and a memorial table with pictures of the victims of protests since 2009 were confiscated. The security agents left a court summons, according to which Maryam Karimibeigi should show up in front of Shahid Moqadas (Amniat) Court, Branch 33 of Tehran Revolutionary Court within five days. The nature of charges against Maryam Karimbeigi is still unknown.

This is not the first time that Maryam Karimbigi and her family have been targeted due to their involvement in seeking justice and campaigning in Iran. Maryam Karimbeigi has not been able to work since she was terminated from the Iranian Chamber of Guilds in 2015 because of her human rights work. Additionally, in September 2019, Shahnaz Akmali, the mother of the woman human rights defenders was sentenced by the Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court to one year in prison on the charge of “propaganda against state” on account of her peaceful activities as a member of the Mothers of Laleh Park, a group of grieving mothers seeking justice for the victims of political violence.

Front Line Defenders is deeply concerned about the on-going harassment against Maryam Karimbeigi. It believes the woman human rights defender and her family are being targeted as a result of their legitimate and peaceful human rights work in defence of prisoners’ rights and of victims of protests in Iran.