Jina Muderîs Gurcî, a Kurdish journalist and women’s rights activist arrested in Sanandaj (Sine), Iranian Kurdistan (Rojhilat), during the “Jin, Jiyan, Azadî” (Woman, Life, Freedom) uprisings and later released on substantial bail after 84 days in detention, shared an Instagram post today announcing that Iranian authorities have now enforced her sentence, compelling her return to prison.
In her post, Jina wrote: “Today, I am going to a prison where marginalisation and discrimination are amplified threefold. Sanandaj Women’s Prison stands as a symbol of gender, class, and nationality-based discrimination. Yet, while preparing my belongings for prison, I made sure to pack hope first. I am going there with my hope.”
Iran’s judiciary from the fourth branch of the Sanandaj court, through letters issued on 22 October, summoned her to report to prison by 2 November.
Initially sentenced to 21 years in prison by judge Mohammad Karmi, Jina was later acquitted of charges related to “collaborating with a hostile government” and “propaganda against the regime” at her appeal hearing. However, her final sentence includes one year in prison, with an additional 16 months for “forming an illegal organisation with the intent to subvert the system”.
The allegations levelled against the women journalist include “establishing the Jivano Association with a feminist ideology aimed at subversion,” “participating in gatherings and chanting subversive slogans”, “affiliating with anti-revolutionary elements”, “attending international conferences and workshops” and “publishing content online and giving interviews to foreign media to defame the Iran’s image and incite social tension following the death of Jina Amini.”
