Zhina Modares Gorji
Zhina Modares Gorji | |
|---|---|
| Born | Iran |
| Other names | Jina Modares Gorji |
| Occupation(s) | Feminist podcaster, bookseller |
| Known for | Feminist activism, podcasting, bookselling; recognized as one of BBC's 100 inspirational women in 2024 |
Zhina (also known as Jina) Modares Gorji is an Iranian feminist podcaster and bookseller residing in Sanandaj. She attracted global attention following her detention on charges widely regarded as politically driven. In 2024, she was recognized as one of the BBC's 100 inspirational women.
Life
A member of the Baroch community, Gorji was initially detained in September 2022. By June 2023, she was prohibited from sitting for sociology examinations at Islamic Azad University. In May 2024, the Sanandaj Revolutionary Court imposed a twenty-one-year sentence on her for purported collaboration with hostile foreign entities and for actions considered a threat to national security. This sentence was subsequently reduced on appeal to 28 months.
Her situation has garnered backing from notable human rights figures, including Mary Lawlor, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights, who maintains that the accusations are linked to Gorji’s initiatives encouraging girls to establish book clubs and engage in blogging. Iranian officials have been subjected to international criticism from groups such as Hengaw, the Coalition For Women In Journalism, and Frontline Defenders.
Gorji’s activism echoes that of fellow Baloch advocate Karima Baloch, who was honored by the BBC in 2016 for her political engagement prior to her premature passing.