Iranian Gilak activist and former political prisoner, Hamideh Zarei, had been released earlier this month from Rasht Central Prison after spending nearly a month behind bars

The Tehran University graduate student has again been hit with a new sentence of 178 lashes and 18 months in prison

Sentence includes nine months of imprisonment and 74 lashes for ‘disrupting public order,’ nine months for ‘resisting law enforcement officers,’ 74 lashes for ‘insulting an officer on duty,’ and 30 lashes for ‘causing non-visible injuries’

Tehran University graduate student’s ordeal began on February 3, when she appeared at the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in Rasht as part of a forced residency sentence

While in custody the last time, she was reportedly physically assaulted by two officers from the Rasht resulting in wrist injuries and severe bruising

She’s now detained for not wearing the mandatory hijab, which led to her latest legal troubles

The long-running history of political persecution for Gilak activist and former political prisoner, Hamideh Zarei, [photo], continues with her latest sentence of 178 lashes and 18 months in prison for defying Iran’s hijab law

A female Iranian activist has been sentenced to 178 lashes and 18 months in prison after being arrested for not wearing a hijab.
Perilous times for Hamideh Zarei, a vocal critic of the mandatory hijab and former political prisoner, comes within days of her release March 3, from Rasht Central Prison after spending nearly a month behind bars.
Her latest sentence includes nine months of imprisonment and 74 lashes for ‘disrupting public order,’ nine months for ‘resisting law enforcement officers,’ 74 lashes for ‘insulting an officer on duty,’ and 30 lashes for ‘causing non-visible injuries.’
The ordeal for the Tehran University graduate student currently exiled to Rasht, began February 3, when she appeared at the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in Rasht as part of her forced residency sentence.
During her appearance, she was detained for not wearing the mandatory hijab, leading to fresh charges.

Hamideh Zarei, [photo], a former political prisoner, had been released earlier this month from Rasht Central Prison after spending nearly a month behind bars

During her time in custody, the activist was reportedly physically assaulted by two officers from the Rasht Prosecutor’s Office Protection Unit, which resulted in wrist injuries and severe bruising.
But this is just the latest chapter in the regime’s relentless targeting of Zarei, whose run ins with Iranian authorities date back three years. 
Her first known arrest took place on November 3, 2022, when she was detained for attending a memorial marking the 40th day since the killing of Hadis Najafi – a young woman shot dead by security forces during the 2022 protests. 
In June 2023, she was arrested after being summoned to Rasht Court and sent to Lakan Prison, only to be released on June 10, after securing a judicial bond. 

Zarei who has had run ins with Iranian authorities since 2022, spent 29 days in detention at Rasht Central Prison before being released on bail on March 3. While in custody, she reportedly was physically assaulted by two officers

She was first detained in Karaj on May 29, 2023 and in November 2023, the Karaj Revolutionary Court, under Judge Mousa Asafolhosseini, sentenced her to one year in prison for ‘propaganda against the Islamic Republic of Iran.’ 
After accepting the verdict, the sentence was reduced to the nine months she served in Kachouii Prison, until her release on February 22, 2024, under a so-called ‘pardon’ directive.
However, she was also banned from traveling for two years, prohibited from social media activity for two years, and forced into exile in Rasht where she is currently facing more trouble with authorities.