Journalist and women’s rights activist Zhina Modares Gorji was arraigned last week by the Branch One of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Sanandaj, Kurdistan province, and the investigating judge increased her bail for temporary release to 1 billion Tomans – nearly 20,000 USD.
Modares Gorji was previously accused of “propaganda against the state”, but the charges brought against her have been changed into “acting against national security” through the “formation of an illegal group and membership in it”, Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) has learned.
On 21 September 2022, forces of the Ministry of Intelligence beat and arrested her on Safari Street in Sanandaj.
She was released on a bail of 100 million Tomans – nearly 2,000 USD – on 30 October 2002 after spending 40 days in the women’s ward of the Sanandaj Central Prison.
Before the arrest, the activist had been threatened with arrest many times by security agencies.
They had called and went to the bookstore where Modares Gorji worked, telling her that if she joined the protests and continued her activities, she would be arrested.
