Revolutionary Court Announces Mahdieh Golroo’s Charges

Committee of Human Rights Reporters

On Sunday April 4, 2010, The court hearing for student activist Mahdieh Golroo took place in branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court with judge PirAbassi.

Golroo did not have prior notice of the court order and her lawyer was not present during the hearing.

Mahdieh Golroo was charged with “propaganda against the system,” “assembly and conspiracy to disrupt national security,” and “connections and involvement with *hypocrites.” Mahdieh Golroo has denied any ties to the MKO.
[*the regime's deregatory term for the Mujahedin-e Khalgh Organization]

Reliable sources report judge PirAbassi did not allow Mahdieh Golroo to defend herself against the “connections and involvement with hypocrites” charge. Golroo did defend herself on the other two charges. She stated that her interview with foreign media was a result of a “lack of resources” [to freely express herself in Iran].

On the charge of “assembly and conspiracy to disrupt national security,” Golroo said that the gatherings held by the Council to Defend the Right to Education “were organized as a group and their [goal] of seeking justice for students deprived of education was in line [with the laws of the country].”

Mahdieh Golroo’s husband Vahid Lalipour pointed out that the court hearings for his wife, Zia Nabavi, and Majid Dorri were very similar. Zia Nabavi and Majid Dorri are also members of the Council to Defend the Right to Education. Their sentences were issued earlier also by branch 26 (Nabavi received 15 years and Dorri received 11 years).

Lalipour had also protested against the secretary of the court’s “rude conduct” toward Golroo’s family. [the secretary] did not allow the family to enter the court, even when they presented their authorization forms.

Mahdieh Golroo is a banned Allameh University student. On December 3, 2009. Golroo and her husband were arrested in their home.

Last year, Mahdieh Golroo participated in a sit-in protest against the banning of students. She was consequently arrested and taken to Evin prison.

Mahdieh Golroo is also a member of the Committee for Civil Defense, the headquarters of Mehdi Karroubi’s campaign during the election. Currently Zia Nabavi, Majid Dori, Shiva Nazar Ahari, Peyman Aref, and Mahdieh Golroo are the imprisoned members of the Council to Defend the Right to Education.

Translation by: Maneli M. | Persian2English.com