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Tourism Professionals Niloofar Ghazaleh and Mohammad-Ali Moghimi Arrested in Isfahan

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Freedom of Expression, News
compulsory hijab, Hijab regulations, Isfahan, Khur and Biabanak, Mohammad-Ali Moghimi, Mohsen PourBafrani, Niloofar Ghazaleh

Niloofar Ghazaleh and Mohammad-Ali Moghimi (Rahab), a couple actively involved in the tourism industry, found themselves in the custody of security forces in Isfahan.

The arrests were carried out under the directive of Judge Mohsen PourBafrani, who presides over the jurisdiction of Khur and Biabanak County.

At present, the specific reasons for their arrests, their current location, and the charges lodged against them remain undisclosed.
Moghimi is the head of the Union of Tourism Cooperative Companies in Isfahan Province. It is worth noting that Ghazaleh had previously received a five-year prison sentence for “publishing photos without hijab.” Additionally, their tourist accommodation in Khur has faced the brunt of PourBafrani’s orders.

This development coincides with recent efforts by the regime to enforce hijab regulations, leading to the closure of thousands of businesses for non-compliance. The situation raises concerns about the broader implications of these enforcement measures on individuals engaged in various sectors within the country.

Baha’i Nooshin Mesbah Receives Reduced Sentence of One Year on Appeal

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News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i citizen, Mashhad, Nooshin Mesbah, Razavi Khorasan Province

In a recent development, the Court of Appeal of Razavi Khorasan Province has handed down a revised sentence to Baha’i citizen Nooshin Mesbah, a resident of Mashhad, reducing her imprisonment term to one year.

Mesbah had initially been convicted of “membership in groups aiming to endanger national security,” resulting in a three-year sentence. However, the Court of Appeal has now modified this sentence, lowering it to one year.

Moreover, Mesbah has been acquitted of the charge of “spreading propaganda against the regime,” for which she had originally received an eight-month prison term.

HRANA’s annual report has highlighted a concerning trend where, in 2022, 64.63% of reported human rights violations against religious minorities are directed toward the Baha’i community.

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.

 

Two Inmates Executed in Shiraz and Chabahar Prisons

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Executions, News
Adel Damani, Chabahar, Shiraz, Sistan and Baluchestan Province

On November 26, two inmates faced execution in Adelabad Prison in Shiraz and Chabahar (Chah Bahar) Prisons.

Reza Rastkhiz, 37 years old, was executed at Adelabad Prison for drug-related offenses that led to his arrest three years ago, as reported by the Iran Human Rights Organization.

Simultaneously, the Baloch Activists Campaign conveyed the execution of Adel Damani in Chabahar Prison, situated in the Sistan and Baluchestan province. Damani, convicted of murder nine years ago, met the tragic end sanctioned by the legal system.

These executions add to the ongoing discussions surrounding the application of capital punishment in Iran and raise questions about the nature of justice in cases involving drug offenses and murder convictions. The human rights implications of such decisions continue to be a subject of global concern and scrutiny.

According to data compiled by the Center of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA), between October 10, 2022, and October 8, 2023, a total of 659 individuals were executed by hanging in Iran, representing a 24% increase compared to the corresponding period in the previous year. Seven of these executions were conducted publicly. Concerningly, many of the defendants were denied access to a fair trial and due process. For details and statistics, read HRANA’s report.

Journalist Mohammad Mir-Ghasemzadeh Taken Into Custody

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Freedom of Expression, News
Mohammad Mir-Ghasemzadeh, Rasht, Someh Sara

Journalist Mohammad Mir-Ghasemzadeh, a resident of Someh Sara, has been arrested by security forces and subsequently transferred to the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Rasht.

According to a source close to his family, information obtained from unofficial sources indicates that Mir-Ghasemzadeh’s health condition is critical, prompting serious concerns among his family members.

As of now, the reasons behind Mir-Ghasemzadeh’s arrest and the allegations against him remain unknown.

Mohammad Davari Receives Four Years and Six Months Prison Sentence

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News
Bardsir, HRANA, Kerman, Mahmood Sadati, Mohammad Davari, Shiraz

The Shiraz Revolutionary Court has issued a verdict sentencing workers’ rights activist Mohammad Davari to four years and six months in prison. The sentence includes a two-year mandatory residence in Bardsir County, Kerman Province, a two-year travel ban, and additional social deprivations.

Presiding over the court, Judge Mahmood Sadati delivered a three-year prison term, a two-year prohibition from leaving the country, a ban on social media activities, and a two-year mandatory residence in Bardsir County for charges related to “insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran.” Additionally, Davari was handed a one-year and six-month sentence for “propaganda against the regime in favor of anti-regime groups.”

Despite the severity of the charges, a source informed HRANA that the court did not provide any specific examples for the accusation of “insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran.”

Furthermore, Davari is concurrently facing allegations of “disseminating false information” in another pending legal case, currently under consideration by the Shiraz Criminal Court.

Notably, Mohammad Davari has a history of prior arrests and convictions stemming from his activism. He is a civil engineering graduate from Yasuj University and a political science alumnus from Shiraz Payam Noor University.

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Mohammad Boroughani Receives Five-Year Prison Term and Ten Years Exile

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Ghezel Hesar, Isfahan, Karaj, Mohammad Boroughani, moharebeh, Naeen, Pakdasht, Qezel Hesar Prison

The Tehran Revolutionary Court has issued a verdict, sentencing Mohammad Boroughani, a detainee from the 2022 nationwide protests, to five years in prison and ten years of mandatory residence in Naeen County, situated in Isfahan province, as reported by Shargh Newspaper.

Initially facing a death sentence on charges of “enmity against God (Moharebeh) through the use of a cold weapon, altercation with police officers, and setting fire to the Pakdasht governorate building,” Boroughani’s fate took a different turn. The Supreme Court overturned the initial verdict, leading to a retrial in another court branch.

Currently held in Qezel Hesar Prison in Karaj, Boroughani was apprehended during the 2022 protest in Pakdasht, Tehran Province.

Appellate Court Upholds Mohsen Kheirkhah’s Three-Year Sentence

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News
Khuzestan, Mahshahr, Mohsen Kheirkhah, محسن خیرخواه

The Appellate Court of Khuzestan Province has upheld a three-year sentence against Mohsen Kheirkhah, a resident of Mahshahr.

On July 22, 2023, the Mahshahr Revolutionary Court handed down a one-year sentence for “propaganda against the regime” and an additional two years for “insulting the Supreme Court of Iran.”

In accordance with Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, which stipulates that the most severe punishment must be enforced in cases involving multiple charges, Kheirkhah is set to spend two years in prison.

Kheirkhah’s arrest took place during the September-October 2022 nationwide protests, and he was initially released from Behbahan Prison after a period of detainment by security forces. Following his release, he faced an additional eight-month prison sentence for “propaganda against the regime.” However, he was granted amnesty under the “pardon and commutation” directive.

Mahvash Seydal Receives Suspended Sentence and Additional Penalties

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, Mahvash Seydal, Tehran Court of Appeals, Ward 209 of Evin Prison, مهوش صیدال

The Tehran Court of Appeals has issued a verdict against Mahvash Seydal Tadooei, an active participant in social media communities on Clubhouse, sentencing her to one year of suspended imprisonment. In addition to the suspended sentence, Seydal faces a fine, a five-year ban on leaving the country, and five years of restrictions on using social media.

Seydal has been charged with “disseminating false information to disturb public opinions.” Initially, the Tehran Revolutionary Court, under the jurisdiction of Judge Iman Afshari, imposed the same punishment. During the trial, the act of publishing posts on social media was presented as evidence to support this charge.

On June 21, 2023, Seydal, along with several others, was apprehended by security forces in Tehran for their activities in Clubhouse. Subsequently, on July 23, she was granted release on bail from Ward 209 of Evin Prison.

Morteza Nour-Mohammadi Detained for Over 70 days in Legal Limbo

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Morteza Nour-Mohammadi, Shabestar, Tabriz, Tabriz Prison

Morteza Nour-Mohammadi Naradrli (Nazarlu) remains in a state of legal uncertainty, having been detained for more than 70 days in the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Tabriz.

According to a source close to his family, HRANA learned that Nour-Mohammadi has recently been formally charged by the Public and Revolutionary Court. Additionally, the bail required for his temporary release has been escalated to 700 million Tomans, approximately 14,000 dollars.

Initially accused of the political charge of “assembly and collusion against national security,” Nour-Mohammadi now faces an additional legal challenge, being charged with “membership in a group to act against national security.”

On September 9, 2023, Nour-Mohammadi, a resident of Shabestar, was apprehended by security forces at the National Organization for Civil Registration in Sufian city and subsequently detained in Tabriz Prison. After a period, he was moved to a detention facility.

Nour-Mohammadi had publicly revealed that the Civil Registration office had denied issuing a birth certificate for his newborn child with the name “Hunai.” This denial was attributed to the Iranian regime’s stringent restrictions on name selection, particularly those with ethnic or foreign origins.

Milad Zohrehvand Executed in Hamedan Prison Ten Days After Supreme Court Confirmation

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Executions, News
Ali Nazari, Hamedan prison, IRGC Intelligence, Malayer, Milad Zohrehvand, میلاد زهره وند

On November 23, Milad Zohrehvand was executed in Hamedan Prison, merely ten days after the Supreme Court affirmed the death sentence.

A source close to Zohrehvand’s family confirmed the execution, revealing that it occurred without prior notice to his family. As of now, his body has not been handed over to his family.

Zohrehvand, aged approximately 20, had been convicted of the murder of Ali Nazaei, an IRGC intelligence officer in Malayer. In June of this year, Zohrehvand’s case was forwarded to the Supreme Court for confirmation.

In October-November 2022, IRGC officials issued a statement, disclosing that Nazari was killed during a chase. The statement identified nine suspects in Ali Nazari’s murder, with five already in custody and four others on the verge of being identified and apprehended.