jina Modares Gorij

Age: 45
Activism/rights: Women’s rights
Status: Releaesd 
Judicial status: 
Violated rights: Arbitrary arrest; denial of access to lawyer; denial of fair trial and due process; prolonged solitary confinement; deprivation of medical care; deprivation of furlough

Jina Modarres Gorji is a Kurdish women’s rights activist, journalist and founder of the Jivana Women’s Association, who has been active in advocating for women’s rights, particularly in campaigning against “femicide”. She was first arrested during the 2022 “Woman, Life, Freedom” nationwide protests in Sanandaj and released on bail 40 days later. Prior to this arrest, security forces had warned her that if she participated in protests in Sanandaj, she “would not see the sun again.” Jina was rearrested again in April 2023. During this period, she was denied family visits, and prison officials and security agents pressured her to make forced confessions. After one month in solitary confinement, she was transferred to the general ward of the Sanandaj Central Prison. She was released on bail after 84 days. On 25 May 2024, Branch 1 of the Sanandaj Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Mohammad Karami, sentenced Jina to 10 years’ imprisonment on charges of “forming an illegal group with the aim of overthrowing the system”, 10 years’ imprisonment for “cooperation with hostile states and groups”, and one year’s imprisonment for “propaganda against the system”. "Establishing the Jivana Association with a feminist ideology aimed at overthrowing the system”, “participation in protests and chanting anti-establishment slogans”, “links with opposition elements”, “attendance at international conferences and training workshops”, and “publishing content and giving interviews to foreign media following the death of Mahsa Amini” were cited as examples of the charges.This sentence was later reduced on appeal to two years and four months’ imprisonment.

Jina was transferred to Sanandaj Prison on 2 November 2024 to serve her sentence and was released on 22 September 2025 after serving her sentence.