Civil Activist Mary Mohammadi Sentenced to Suspended Imprisonment and Flogging

Mary Mohammadi’s trial was held on Tuesday, April 14, 2020, at Branch 1167 of the Tehran Criminal Court.

Speaking to IHR, Mary said: “For 46 days, I endured all types of torture and was held under appalling conditions at the Vozara Detention Centre and Qarchak Prison. And now, I’ve been sentenced to three years and one day and 10 lashes for protesting against the killings, for sympathising with the families of the victims of the Ukrainian plane crash and for defending human rights.”

"There was no evidence of the alleged charge in my case," the activist added. “I should have been acquitted even in accordance with the laws of the Islamic Republic, but now I have been sentenced to imprisonment and flogging. Even before the judgement was handed down, me and my family endured all types of torture, which have not only been cited anywhere but are in fact considered criminal acts themselves. If I had been acquitted, it would not have been a real acquittal. Now that the Courts of Appeal have become Courts of Confirmation, I will not be appealing the verdict."

Mary Mohammadi was beaten and detained by plainclothes forces near Azadi Square on Sunday, January 12, 2020, during a protest rally against the downing of the Ukrainian plane by the Revolutionary Guards. Security officials first transferred her to the Vozara Detention Centre and following 24 hours of interrogation, handed her over to the Evin Prosecutor's Office.

Ms. Mohammadi was transferred to Qarchak Prison after being charged at Branch 6 of the Evin Interrogation Unit. She was finally released from Qarchak Prison in Varamin on February 27, 2020, on bail.