Ilam – Zakerifard brothers sentenced to 65 years in prison and 148 lashes in “Woman, Life, Freedom” case

Hengaw – Wednesday, August 6, 2025

Amirali Zakerifard, a Kurdish civil activist from Ilam and a detainee of the “Woman, Life, Freedom” (Jin, Jiyan, Azadi) uprising who was recently rearrested, has been sentenced along with his brother, Emad Zakerifard, to a combined total of 65 years in prison and 148 lashes.

According to a report received by Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, 44-year-old Amirali Zakerifard was sentenced by Branch 104 of the Ilam Criminal Court to three 10-year prison terms and an additional one-year sentence—amounting to 31 years in total. Emad Zakerifard received two 10-year sentences, two five-year sentences, two two-year sentences, and an additional one-year sentence—adding up to a total of 34 years in prison.

The brothers have been charged with several offenses, including “insulting Islamic sanctities,” “insulting Ali Khamenei,” “propaganda against the Islamic Republic of Iran,” “unauthorized possession of firearms and ammunition,” “carrying and storing pellet guns,” “assembly and collusion against national security,” “disturbing public order,” “possession of alcoholic beverages,” and “possession of satellite receiving equipment.”

As additional penalties, Amirali was also sentenced to 74 lashes, a fine of 6.25 billion rials payable to the state treasury, and another 1 million rial fine. Emad received 74 lashes and the same 6.25 billion rial fine.

Amirali Zakerifard was arrested for the second time on Saturday, July 19, 2025, by agents of the Islamic Republic’s security forces. He was accused of “propaganda against the state, spreading false information, insulting Khamenei, and engaging in online media activities against the regime.”

He had previously been arrested during the “Woman, Life, Freedom” uprising in Ilam in November 2022 and was later temporarily released on bail.