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Hossein Hosseinpour Sentenced to Eleven Months in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
2002 nationwide protests, Hossein Hosseinpour, Mahabad, Shiraz

Hossein Hosseinpour, a resident of Mahabad, received an 11-month prison sentence after originally being sentenced to one year, following a plea of no contest. The verdict, based on charges of “spreading propaganda against the regime,” cites Instagram posts as evidence.

Arrested by the Ministry of Intelligence in Shiraz in August 2023, Hosseinpour underwent the interrogation process in a detention facility before being transferred to Adelabad Prison. In January 2024, he was relocated to Prison No. 2 in Shiraz.

During the 2022 nationwide protests, Hosseinpour suffered injuries to his right eye from an airgun bullet fired by regime forces, undergoing four surgeries since then. Despite contracting an infection in his eye during detention, he has been denied access to necessary medical treatment.

In December 2023, he was indicted on charges of “spreading propaganda against the regime,” leading to the initial one-year sentence, later reduced to 11 months. The case highlights ongoing concerns about the treatment of individuals involved in the protests and their access to adequate medical care.

Five Individuals Receive Prison Sentences and Fines on Political Charges

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News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, Kamran Rezaiefar, Mohammad-Masoud Moeini, Parastoo Moeini, Teymour Rezaeian, Zahra Safaie

The Appeals Court of Tehran has issued a verdict sentencing Zahra Safaie, Mohammad Masoud Moeini (Zahra Safaie’s son), and Kamran Rezaiefar to a combined total of 12 years in prison. Parastoo Moeini (Zahra Safaie’s daughter) and Teymour Rezaeian, two other defendants in the case, have been fined.

The recent ruling, issued in early February, allocates five years of imprisonment each for Safaie and Rezaiefar, with Masoud Moeini receiving a two-year sentence. The initial conviction by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Iman Afshari, was for “assembly and collusion against national security.” Notably, Masoud Moeini’s prison sentence has been reduced from five to two years, and Parastoo Moeini’s five-year sentence has been replaced with a fine.

The arrests took place on September 12, 2023, with Rezaeian apprehended one day later. Initially held in Ward 209 of Evin Prison, they were later transferred to the IRGC’s detention center, known as A-1.

As per HRANA reports, Safaie is currently detained in the Women’s Ward of Evin Prison, while her son, Mohammad-Masoud Moeini, and Rezaiefar are in Ward 4 of the same prison. Two other defendants have been released on bail

Baha’i Citizen Iman Rashidi Remains in Legal Limbo, Detained for Over 140 Days in Yazd Prison

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News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i citizen, Iman Rashidi, Yazd Prison

Iman Rashidi, a Baha’i citizen, continues to face a prolonged period of uncertainty as he remains incarcerated in Yazd Prison for over 140 days, according to a source close to Rashidi’s family who spoke to HRANA. Despite the passage of time, authorities have yet to grant him temporary release.

Rashidi’s ordeal began on October 5, 2023, when agents from the Ministry of Intelligence arrested him at his residence in Yazd. The arrest was accompanied by a search of his home, during which the authorities confiscated both his and his wife’s cell phones. Subsequently, Rashidi was transferred from a detention facility to Yazd Prison.

In a concerning development, his latest court hearing in February 2024 proceeded without the presence of his legal representation. Rashidi faces charges of “propaganda against the regime” and “propagating against Islamic Sharia.”

This is not Rashidi’s first encounter with law enforcement, as he has previously experienced arrests and convictions. In February 2018, he was released after serving a sentence. The ongoing legal limbo raises concerns about due process and fairness of his current detention.

Baha’is are subjected to violations of their religious rights, comprising 82% of reports on infringements against religious minorities, according to HRA’s 2023 annual report.

The Baha’i faith is not recognized as a legitimate religion by Iranian authorities, leading to systematic and longstanding violations of the rights of Baha’is in the country. This includes the denial of their fundamental right to practice their religion, which constitutes a clear breach of both Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The United Nations covenant holds that every person has the right to freedom of religion, freedom of converting religion, as well as freedom of expression, individually or collectively; openly or secretly.

 

 

Three Political Prisoners Held in Prolonged Detention for Over 13 Months

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Freedom of Expression, News
Arman Sedghi Sabet, Hafez Forouhi, HRANA, Lakan prison, Mehdi Mirzaie, Rasht

Hafez Forouhi, Arman Sedghi Sabet, and Mehdi Mirzaie have been trapped in legal limbo for over 13 months at Lakan Prison in Rasht.

A source close to one of the individuals’ families informed HRANA that the Rasht Criminal Court held a session on February 14, 2024, addressing multiple charges, including “membership in anti-regime groups.” Despite the court session, the judge dismissed their release on bail, opting to extend their detention further.

They were initially arrested by security forces in Rasht last year and later transferred to Lakan Prison on January 19, 2023.

Dana Lenj-Abadi Arrested in Marivan

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Freedom of Expression, News
Dana Lenj-Abadi, HRA, HRANA, Kolbar News, دانا لنج آبادی

On February 20, security forces in Marivan, Kurdistan province, apprehended Dana Lenj-Abadi, as reported by Kolbar News.

Subsequently, two days later, Lenj-Abadi’s detention period was extended by one month. He faces charges of “spreading propaganda against the regime,” as stated by the Public and Revolutionary Courthouse.

It is worth noting that Lenj-Abadi has a history of previous arrests, convictions, and educational deprivation due to his activities.

According to data collected by the Department of Statistics and Publication of HRA in 2023, Kurdistan Province accounted for 8.3% of reported human rights violations, including instances of arbitrary detentions.

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Political Prisoner Shakila Monfared Receives 15-Month Sentence and Additional Restrictions While Incarcerated

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News, Prisoners
HRANA, Shakila Monfared, Tehran

After her appeal was rejected, 30-year-old Shakilia Monfared was sentenced to a 15-month prison term and additional penalties in a legal case initiated during her incarceration. Monfared is currently serving her sentence in Evin Prison.

Charged with “propaganda against the regime,” Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, sentenced Monfared to 15 months of imprisonment. Additionally, she faces a two-year travel ban, a prohibition from residing in Tehran and surrounding provinces, a ban from joining political/civil groups, and restrictions on using smartphones.

Confirmation of this conviction came from a source close to Monfared’s family who informed HRANA that the verdict against Monfared and her co-defendant, Narge Mohammadi, was issued in absentia in December. She was then notified about this conviction on February 20, after her appeal request was dismissed by the court.

Notably, this is the third legal case she has faced, resulting in a conviction during her incarceration.

Monfared’s ordeal began on August 31, 2020, when security forces arrested her as she was leaving her home. She was transferred to one of the detention centers under the control of the IRGC in Tehran. After 14 days of detention, she was subsequently released on bail from Evin Prison.

Following that, Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, sentenced Monfared to six years in prison and four months of probation work in the Agricultural Jihad on charges of “propaganda against the regime” and “blasphemy.” This verdict was later reduced to four years and two months on appeal.

In January 2022, in a new legal case while imprisoned, Monfared received two years and eight months, this time for the charge of “membership in anti-regime groups” and paying a fine for “disseminating false information.”

It is worth noting that on June 6, 2023, once again, Monfared faced the charge of “assembly and collusion against national security,” and this time the case was closed after a while.

Researcher Ali Ramezani Receives Three Years and Seven Months Sentence on Political Charges

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ali Ramezani, Amirkabir University of Technology, IEEE, Iman Afshari

Ali Ramezani, a researcher at Amirkabir University of Technology and a member of Iran’s Microelectronics Olympiad team, has been sentenced to three years and seven months by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

Judge Iman Afshari presided over the case, ruling that Ramezani must serve a three-year prison term for “assembly and collusion against national security” and an additional seven months for “spreading propaganda against the regime.” If the verdict is upheld on appeal, Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code stipulates that the three-year prison term for the first count will be enforceable.

Ramezani was arrested on October 16, 2023, at his residence by security forces and was later released on bail.

As a distinguished researcher, Ramezani received the best thesis award from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in 2021.

Execution Carried Out in Hamedan Prison for Drug Offenses

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Executions, News
Ahmad Esmaeili, Citizen execution, Hamedan, HRANA

On February 21, 2024, Ahmad Esmaeili, convicted of drug-related crimes, was executed in Hamedan Prison.

A reliable source informed HRANA that Esmaeili was apprehended by security forces in 2018 under suspicion of smuggling 11 kilograms of methamphetamine, leading to his subsequent death sentence.

As of now, there has been no official confirmation of this execution from domestic media outlets or official sources within the country.

In 2023, 66% of HRANA’s reports on executions lacked official announcements by judicial authorities and went unreported by media inside Iran, highlighting a troubling lack of transparency in due process. This report also reveals a concerning prevalence of executions for drug offenses in Iran, constituting 56.4% of the total executions. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s report.

 

Appeals Court Upholds One-Year Sentence for Amir Sheibani Zaveh Linked to 2022 Nationwide Protests

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Freedom of Expression, News
Amir Sheibani Zaveh, Hadi Mansouri, HRANA, Mashhad

The Appeals Court of Razavi Khorasan Province has upheld the one-year sentence against Amir Sheibani Zaveh, citing his involvement in the 2022 nationwide protests.

The initial verdict, issued by the Mashhad Revolutionary Court and presided over by Judge Hadi Mansouri, found Sheibani Zaveh guilty of “propaganda against the regime.” In addition to the one-year imprisonment, he faces a two-year travel ban and two years of restrictions on Internet and social media use.

A source close to Sheibani Zaveh’s family, who spoke to HRANA, revealed that the charge was based on his communication with the families of protestors injured or killed by regime forces during the 2022 nationwide protests.

Sheibani Zaveh was apprehended by security forces in Mashhad in late October 2022 and remained in detention for a period. In January 2023, he received a sentence of eight years and six months, which was later nullified following his inclusion in the “general pardon and commutation” directive.

About the 2022 Nationwide Protests

The arrest of Mahsa Amini by Tehran Morality Police for her improper hejab and her suspicious death on September 16 sparked protests sweeping across Iran. During the nationwide protests, about 19600 people, including journalists, artists, lawyers, teachers, students, and civil rights activists, were arrested.

Journalist Ruhollah Nakhaei Begins Serving Two-Year Sentence Despite Pardon

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Freedom of Expression, News
Mahsa Amini, Parto Borhanpour, Ruhollah Nakhaei, Tehran Revolutionary Court

Journalist Ruhollah Nakhaei has initiated his two-year sentence, despite being included in the “general commutation and pardon” directive issued in the winter of 2023, as stated by his lawyer, Parto Borhanpour.

Arrested during the 2022 nationwide protests, Nakhaei was convicted by Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court for “assembly and collusion against national security” (two years) and “propaganda against the regime” (seven months). The verdict, upheld on appeal, is now enforceable for two years, per Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code.

About the 2022 Nationwide Protests

The arrest of Mahsa Amini by Tehran Morality Police for her improper hejab and her suspicious death on September 16 sparked protests sweeping across Iran. During the nationwide protests, about 19600 people, including journalists, artists, lawyers, teachers, students, and civil rights activists, were arrested.