Tag: Masoumeh Askari

Masoumeh Asgari Sentenced to Three Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, HRANA, Iman Afshari, Masoumeh Asgari, Masoumeh Askari

HRANA News Agency – Masoumeh Asgari, a political prisoner held in Evin Prison, has been sentenced to three years in prison by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, the verdict was issued by Judge Iman Afshari and formally communicated to Asgari. She was convicted on charges of “propaganda through collaboration with anti-state groups” and “membership in opposition groups.”

A source close to Asgari’s family previously confirmed the news to HRANA, stating:
“She is experiencing poor mental health conditions in prison, and her family has submitted her medical records to the court.”

Asgari was arrested by security forces in Tehran in August 2024.

Following two months of interrogation in a solitary confinement cell at Ward 209 of Evin Prison, which is operated by the Ministry of Intelligence, she was transferred to the women’s ward on September 25, 2024.

A source familiar with her case told HRANA:
“Her medical records, which have been provided to judicial authorities and the prison’s medical center, confirm that she suffers from bipolar disorder and severe mental instability.”

Masoumeh (Askari) Asgari, 55 years old, is a retired teacher and the sole guardian of her 20-year-old son. She has previously been arrested and sentenced for her activism.

Political Prisoner Masoumeh Askari Assaulted in Prison

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners, Women
Evin Prison, Masoumeh Askari, Qarchak Prison

Retired teacher and political prisoner Masoumeh Askari was beaten by the prisoners of violent crime in Kachooie Prison. The prison officials purposely hold political prisoners in the same ward as the prisoners of violent crime, which is a violation of prison rules and exposes the political prisoners to life-threatening violence.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, political prisoner Masoumeh Askari was beaten by eight prisoners of violent crime.

An informed source told HRANA that about four days ago, eight prisoners of violent crimes assaulted Askari. She suffers from psychiatric diseases, kidney, liver and diabetes. Prison officials refused to send her to a healthcare facility to assess her condition.

On August 2, 2018, security forces arrested Askari in Tehran and transferred her to Qarchak Prison in Varamin. After a few days, she was released on bail.

Askari was arrested in December of 2018 and was detained for one month in Ward 209 of Evin Prison and later transferred to the public ward. The Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced her to five years in prison on the charge of “assembly and collusion.” This verdict was upheld on appeal. 

Askari is a retired teacher and single mother.