Iranian-Kurdish journalist and blogger Zhina Modares-Gorji is serving a two-year and four-months sentence in the Sanandaj Central prison, in Kurdistan province.
On May 25, 2024, Branch 1 of the Islamic Revolutionary court in Sanandaj initially sentenced Modares-Gorji to 21 years in prison on charges of “forming an illegal group and colluding with the intent to overthrow the system,” “collaboration with hostile states,” and “spreading propaganda against the system.” The sentence was reduced to two years and fourth months on appeal on September 25, 2024, when she was acquitted of the charge of “collaboration with hostile states,” according to Iraqi-Kurdish human rights organization Hengaw. The journalist did not begin serving her sentencing until November 2, when she was arrested at a bookstore she owns.
In a statement on Instagram before she began serving her sentence, she wrote: "Today, I am going to a prison where marginalization and discrimination are multiplied by three: Women's ward in Sanandaj Prison. Marginalization and discrimination based on gender, class, and nationality. Yet, as I was packing my things for prison, more than anything, I placed hope in my suitcase. I am going there with hope,” exile-based IranWire reported.
Modares-Gorji was first arrested on September 21, 2022 for her coverage of the nationwide protests in Iran following the death in police custody of Mahsa Amini in September 2022, as well as related events, and released on bail after 40 days. The journalist was arrested again over her coverage on April 10, 2023, in her bookstore and detained for more than 80 days and was released on bail temporarily on July 5, 2023. Authorities also shut down the bookstore.
CPJ could not determine the status of her health in custody.
CPJ emailed Iran’s mission to the United Nations in New York city in December 2024 for comment on the case of Modares-Gorji and other imprisoned Iranian journalists but received no response.