Iranian woman jailed for three years over comment on Netanyahu social media post

Azar Yahu, a 39-year-old Iranian woman, received a three-year prison sentence, with one year to be served and two suspended, for engaging with social media posts by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former US President Donald Trump. The sentence was handed down by Branch 4 of the Revolutionary Court in Mashhad.

Human rights organizations report that Yahu was initially arrested by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in March. Her charges reportedly include "cooperation with Israel" stemming from a single comment on Netanyahu's post. Additionally, she is accused of "acting against national security" for using heart emojis on posts by Trump and Netanyahu, and for allegedly expressing happiness over the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

During her pre-trial detention, Yahu was allegedly denied all contact with the outside world, including her family. This isolation reportedly followed an attempt to release a statement about her detention conditions. Sepideh Gholian, an Iranian human rights activist, described Yahu's ward as having "inhumane conditions," characterized by constant locking, lack of hygiene, poor ventilation, and deprivation of kitchen facilities and adequate food.

Despite posting bail, Yahu remained in detention at the Central Prison of Mashhad. Reports from human rights groups suggest that security officials and prison authorities obstructed her release. The Hengaw Organization for Human Rights and Dadbaan, an Iranian legal advocacy network, provided information on her case.

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The cell is locked 24 hours a day, and there is no possibility of movement to other cells. Inhumane conditions mean that hygiene is not observed, there is no proper ventilation, and they are deprived of a kitchen and healthy and basic food. Inhumane conditions mean that you are considered a prisoner of some rank, and if you protest, they will send you to solitary confinement.