‎Women's rights activist Delaram Ali, who was sentenced earlier this year to 28 months of prison ‎for participating in a peaceful gathering last spring, told Rooz in an exclusive interview that she ‎was surprised by the sentence against her and a court judgment that found police officers accused ‎of beating and assaulting her as not guilty.‎

Asked if she suspected that a lengthy prison sentence would be cut for her, Delaram Ali said, "I ‎did have this suspicion, because of the contacts that were made by security officers in the past ‎few days, especially their second call, which was very threatening. I knew that I was headed for ‎prison, but didn't know how or for how long." ‎

Commenting on the calls she received from security officers, Delaram Ali said, "In their last call, ‎they told me that if I didn't show up at the prison, I would be arrested and intimidated." ‎

When asked how she felt after she was given the court sentence, Delaram Ali responded, "I had ‎thought about prison after the lower court issued its sentence, and before it was upheld by the ‎higher court. I think that this is part of the struggle that women have embarked on. And since the ‎government is threatened by our movement, prison is part of that struggle. I think that this ‎movement, which is propelled forth through multiple campaigns, will not be silenced because ‎one or two people are in prison; actually, women's rights activists will become more passionate ‎and determined, because one of their colleagues is behind bars. Women now know that their ‎colleagues are in prison, and in order to achieve their goals, they must not allow their voice to be ‎silenced." ‎

Delaram Ali also complained about irregularities in her trial: "In general, cases like mine do not ‎follow standard procedure. During this entire time they did not issue a summons or court orders ‎to me in writing. They prefer not to issue anything in writing because what they are doing is not ‎lawful. They issue an oral verdict and implement it." ‎

Delaram Ali's family members have announced that they fully support her in her struggle: ‎‎"Obviously my family was saddened by the court judgment, but they see themselves as ‎participants in this struggle as well. Whenever necessary, they will stand by activists struggling ‎for women’s rights. No matter how things eventually play out, they will be beside me and ‎support me."‎

This women's rights activist, whose 28-month prison sentence caught many by surprise, said that ‎she will begin her sentence on Saturday: "On Saturday I will report to prison. They have not ‎officially announced it but they have told me to do that. Since I have to spend a period of time in ‎prison, even if they don't give me that right, I give myself the right to take care of some personal ‎matters before beginning my prison sentence." ‎