Women and Prison
Mehrangiz Kar-Roozonline
24 Aug 2006

Iranian women have been arrested in numbers after the revolution, both on political grounds as well on issues related to press freedom. Many of the families of political prisoners have been subject to such stress and have endured harsh conditions as a result of unspeakable pressures on them.

Iranian women have been arrested in numbers after the revolution, both on political grounds as well on issues related to press freedom. Many of the families of political prisoners have been subject to such stress and have endured harsh conditions as a result of unspeakable pressures on them. The extent of the pressure endured by women whose husbands or brothers faced detention and torture, and who themselves have been subject to the same fate, is mind-boggling. Today, with the introduction of new press laws concerning journalists, these pressures have escalated to a higher level. Many of these journalists or their associates have been called in by the intelligence and military apparatus of the Islamic Republic.

The most notable of these laws are the current law which prohibits any criticism against the Islamic Republic as an act against national security. This law, clearly states that anyone who criticizes the regime will be prosecuted to the utmost. The article states that: “Anyone who criticizes the Islamic Republic or helps the opponents of the regime will be subject to one month to a year imprisonment.” Mrs. Saghi Bagheri-Nia, the editor of the prohibited Asia Journal, is one of the recent victims of this law. In addition to her, Mrs. Negar Eskandar Far, the editor of the newspaper Karnameh (report card), is another woman facing similar charges; her case has been referred to the high courts.

The common assumption is that prison is prison whether those in it are men or women. However, even in prison, the legal situation of women is quite different from that of their male counterparts as they are subjugated to discrimination; among these women, those who are mothers face even more hurdles.
Women prisoners who are highly educated face even more obstacles and their prison terms are harsher as they are scrutinized much more than other women prisoners. These women and the ones who are editors of newspapers or journals face incredible conditions and they are not allowed to share cells with their colleagues. Mrs. Sagher Bagheri-Nia, a pathology doctor, might be confronted with imprisonment; others like her, including Mrs. Eskandar who also might be incarcerated, is another good example.

The emphasis on the discrimination against women prisoners and especially those who are highly educated is quite noteworthy, as there is only one section of prison which is allocated to women whereas men face totally different and more favorable conditions.Therefore, under such conditions and in the current state of affairs, it is best for the presiding judge to fine women of such stature rather than incarcerating them if and when they are guilty of the presumed charges.

Link to this article and other in English:
http://r0ozonline.com/english/017295.shtml