IRAN NEWS))))))

On Monday May 27, during Iran Accountability week which is held annually in the Federal Parliament in Ottawa, a conference was held by Judy Sgro, chair of the Standing Committee on International Trade and former Minister of Citizenship and immigration. In this conference Struan Stevenson the  Coordinator of the change campaign for Iran and former Member of European Parliament, and members of Iranian communities participated and spoke. Iran Accountability Week is an annual event in the parliament which checks and discuss Iranian regime's violations of human rights, and it's regional destructive activities. After the closure of the Iranian regime's embassy in Ottawa in 2012, June 5 was recognized by the Parliament as a day of Solidarity with the Iran's victims of 1988 Massacre and Sept 1, solidarity with the Iranian political prisoners. On Monday and Tuesday May 27 an 28, the Iranian Canadians under rainy days, held a gathering calling on the Liberal Government to uphold the Parliament's decision to black List the IRGC, the Iranian regime's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp.

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The Revision Court of Gilan in Iran, upheld the sentences of more than 60 years of imprisonment for eleven women’s rights activists in this province. The verdict issued by Branch 11 of the Revision Court of Gilan Province, was communicated to the activists on Tuesday, May 28, 2024. Zohreh Dadras was sentenced to 9 years and 6 months in prison on charges of “forming a group with the aim of disrupting the country’s security” and “assembly and collusion with the aim of disrupting national security.” Eight others, Forough Sami Nia, Sara Jahani, Yasamin Hashdari, Shiva Shah Siah, Negin Rezaei, Azadeh Chavoshian, Zahra Dadras, and Matin Yazdani, were each sentenced to six years, one month, and seventeen days in prison. Jelveh Javaheri and Houman Taheri were each sentenced to one year of imprisonment. The National Council Resistance of Iran's Women’s Committee strongly condemns the issuance of these criminal sentences by the judiciary of the misogynist clerical regime. Security forces arrested these eleven women’s rights activists in the cities of Rasht, Lahijan, Anzali, and Fooman, on August 16, 2023, on the eve of the anniversary of the 2022 uprising and during a spree of arrests in Gilan province and throughout the country. The detainees were released on bail after spending some time in Lakan Prison of Rasht. https://tinyurl.com/mt43tjj5

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Somayeh Akhtarshomar, an experienced English teacher with a 17 year experience in city-level schools, has been dismissed following a series of contentious allegations. The case has sparked debate and concern within the educational community. According to reports, the Administrative Offenses Committee of the province’s employees accused Somayeh Akhtarshomar of several offenses, including:

- Publishing Offensive Content: Allegedly, she spread offensive material and false news against the clerical regime.

- Membership in Online Teachers’ Union Channels: Akhtarshomar was accused of actively participating in illegal teachers’ union channels in virtual spaces.

- Provocative Content: The teacher allegedly posted provocative content in the union channels of Marivan and Sarv Abad teachers and Iranian educators.

- Designing Exam Questions Related to the 2022 Uprising in Iran: Her involvement in creating exam questions related to the 2022 Uprising in Iran was also cited.

- Supporting Kurdish Opposition Groups: Akhtarshomar faced accusations of supporting Kurdish opposition groups critical of the Iranian regime.

- Posting Pictures Without Hijab: The Marivan Department of Education accused her of sharing pictures of herself without wearing a hijab, which is a violation of the compulsory dress code.

- Pictures of Students Without Hijabs: Akhtarshomar allegedly posted images of her students without hijabs, further contributing to the accusations against her.

- Child Wearing Kurdish Clothes: Additionally, she was charged with posting pictures of her child wearing clothing associated with Kurdish opposition parties. https://tinyurl.com/542rf7un

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Zhina Modarres Gorji, a Kurdish journalist and women’s rights activist from Sanandaj- Iran, has faced significant challenges due to her activism. Gorji who was arrested during the 2022 nationwide protests in Iran, has been sentenced to 21 years in prison. Additionally, she has been exiled to Hamedan Central Prison by the Iranian regime.

The charges against Zhina are serious and include various allegations related to her activism. According to the verdict issued by the 1st branch of the Sanandaj Revolutionary Court, she has been found guilty of the following offenses:

1. Forming an illegal group and aiming to overthrow the regime: This charge carries a 10-year prison sentence.

2. Collaboration with hostile groups and countries: For this offense, she has been sentenced to another 10 years in prison.

3. Propaganda against the regime: She faces an additional 1-year prison term for this charge.

Despite the heavy sentence, Zhina Modarres Gorji’s lawyers have officially registered their objection and sent the case to the provincial appeals court for re-examination. The application of the Consolidation of Sentences Law means that the most severe punishment—10 years of penal servitude with deportation to Hamedan prison—may be implemented. https://tinyurl.com/23vryhz3