Woman Imprisoned in Iran for Facebook Posts Conditionally Released

Political prisoner Omolbanin (Nahid) Gorji was conditionally released from Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad, northeastern Iran, on January 9, 2017 after serving more than a third of her sentence, an informed source told the Campaign for Human Rights in Iran.

After being arrested on April 12, 2015, the 50-year-old woman was sentenced to three years in prison for allegedly posting content that was critical of the government on social media, including Facebook, which is banned in Iran.

Branch 3 of the Revolutionary Court in Mashhad sentenced her to five years in prison for “propaganda against the state” and “assembly and collusion against national security.” The Appeals Court reduced the sentence to three years in prison.

According to Article 58 of Iran’s Islamic Penal Code, Gorji became eligible for conditional release after serving a third of her sentence.

Gorji, who was held with common criminals in the Women’s Ward of Vakilabad Prison, was suffering from various health issues throughout her imprisonment including diabetes and heart disease, a source told the Campaign in June 2016.