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Maryam Mehrabi Initiates Hunger Strike in Dolatabad Prison, Isfahan

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News, Prisoners, Women
Dolatabad Prison, HRANA, Isfahan, Mahmoud Mehrabi, Maryam Mehrabi, مریم مهرابی

Maryam Mehrabi, a teacher imprisoned in Dolatabad Prison, Isfahan, who is being held in solitary confinement, has gone on a hunger strike.

A source close to Mehrabi’s family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “Family inquiries revealed that Ms. Mehrabi is being held in Dolatabad Women’s Prison in Isfahan. She was transferred to solitary confinement some time ago and has gone on a hunger strike to protest the psychological pressure, poor conditions, and separation from her children. She has been hospitalized in the prison infirmary several times. The inability to meet or contact her has increased her family’s concerns.”

This citizen was arrested by security forces in Isfahan on June 18.

Mehrabi was previously arrested in March 2023 while pursuing her brother Mahmoud Mehrabi’s case. She was detained by security forces at the Mobarakeh County Prosecutor’s Office and transferred to Dolatabad Prison in Isfahan. She was released on bail three days later. Last September, she was sentenced by Branch 102 of the Criminal Court Two of Mobarakeh City to seventy-four lashes and three months in prison, which was later converted to a fine.

Mehrabi’s brother, Mahmoud, a political prisoner, has been sentenced to death on charges of “spreading corruption on earth.” He is currently held at Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan.

Journalist Salaheddin Khalaj Asadi Sentenced to Flogging

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRA, Markazi Province, Salaheddin Khalaj Asadi, خلج اسدی

Journalist Salahuddin Khalaj Asadi has been sentenced to forty lashes by the Appeals Court of Markazi Province.

This journalist reported that the case was filed following a complaint by Masoud Pirayesh, Director General of the Sports and Youth Department of Markazi Province. Mr. Khalaj Asadi was sentenced to forty lashes on the charge of insulting a government official.

Khalaj Asadi also announced that he was acquitted of the charges of “personal insult, defamation, and spreading falsehoods.”

It is crucial to note that the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights prohibits flogging as a form of cruel and inhumane punishment.

In 2023, the Department of Statistics and Publications of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) documented 2,380 cases in which citizens, including journalists and civil rights activists, faced legal and security consequences for exercising their freedom of expression and thought. These incidents resulted in the arrest of 3,130 individuals.

Report on the Latest Status of Neda Fotoohi in Evin Prison

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News, Prisoners
Iman Afshari, Neda Fotoohi, Neda Fotouhi, Tehran Revolutionary Court, ندا فتوحی

Neda Fotoohi, a prisoner of conscience, is serving her sentence in Evin Prison. She has been sentenced to a total of six years and eight months in prison by the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

Initially, Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, sentenced Ms. Fotouhi to three years in prison for “propaganda against the regime and membership in the Erfan-e Halgheh group (believing in interuniversal mysticism),” and to three years and eight months for “assembly and collusion against national security through her presence and encouragement of others in Mahsa Amini’s protests and its anniversary.”
Mohammad-Zaman Daryabari, the defense lawyer for this political prisoner, also published an update on the latest status of her case, stating: “Branch 39 of the Supreme Court issued a retrial request for my client, Fotouhi. However, Branch 54 of the same rank Revolutionary Court rejected Ms. Fotoohi’s retrial request, and she was sentenced to a total of six years and eight months in prison.”

Under Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the most severe punishment, which is three years and eight months in prison, was enforceable for her.

Neda Fotoohi, a resident of Tehran, was arrested by security forces at her friend’s house in September-October 2023.

Reports from the Department of Statistics and Publication of HRA in 2023 indicate a total of 193 cases in which Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, has been involved in issuing verdicts that infringe upon the human rights of defendants.

Continued Detention and Uncertainty of Nasim Gholami Simiyari in Evin Prison

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News, Prisoners
Ali Harati Mokhtari, Amin Sokhanvar, Amir Shah Velayati, Baghi, Ehsan Ravazjiyan, Evin Prison, Hamidreza Sahlabadi, Hossein Ardestani, Hossein Mohammad Hosseini, Nasim Gholami Simiyari

Nasim Gholami Simiyari, aged 36, facing the charge of armed rebellion (Baghi), remains in an uncertain state in Evin Prison despite 425 days having passed since her arrest.

Based on information received by HRANA, Ms. Gholami has been in detention for nearly fourteen months. Despite a court session held on June 30 in Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, no verdict has been issued for her on the charge of “armed rebellion.” Gholami Simiyari remains in an uncertain state in the women’s ward of Evin Prison. She is part of a joint case with seven other defendants: Hamidreza Sahlabadi, Ehsan Ravazjiyan, Amin Sokhanvar, Ali Harati Mokhtari, Hossein Mohammad Hosseini, Amir Shah Velayati, and Hossein Ardestani.

Gholami Simiyari was arrested on May 18, 2023, by IRGC intelligence agents on a street in Tehran. She was transferred to Ward 1-A of the IRGC, held in solitary confinement, and interrogated. After two months, she was transferred to Ward 2-A and eventually to the women’s ward of Evin Prison on September 26, 2023.

After five months in detention, she was charged with “assembly and collusion against national security,” “propaganda against the regime,” and “armed rebellion (Baghi).”

According to a friend of Ms. Simiyari, “She was subjected to psychological and physical torture during her detention, and forced confessions were obtained from her in front of a camera at the detention facility. The confessions were dictated and forced by the interrogator.”

Baha’i Citizen Mojgan Salmanzadeh Detained in Urmia Prison

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News, Religious Minorities
HRANA, Mojgan Salmanzadeh, Urmia prison, مژگان سلمان زاده

Mojgan Salmanzadeh, a Baha’i citizen, remains in a state of uncertainty in Urmia Prison for over twelve days.

A source close to the family confirmed this news to HRANA, stating: “Ms. Salmanzadeh was arrested by security forces on July 4th in the city of Maku and recently informed her family in a phone call that she has been transferred to the public ward of Urmia Prison. Also, temporary release has not yet been possible for this Baha’i citizen.”

As of the time of this report, no information has been obtained about the reasons for her arrest and the charges against her.

Mojgan Salmanzadeh is a Baha’i citizen and a researcher in the field of physiological psychology.

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.

 

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Amjad Bakhtiari Sentenced to Imprisonment and Flogging

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Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News
Amjad Bakhtiari, Dehgolan, امجد بختیاری

Amjad Bakhtiari, a teacher residing in Dehgolan and one of the detainees from the 2022 nationwide protests, has been sentenced by the criminal court of Dehgolan to one year of imprisonment and 74 lashes, according to the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations.

The report states that Mr. Bakhtiari was arrested by security forces during the 2022 nationwide protests and was released on bail shortly after.

Ali-Allah Veisi Arrested by Security Forces

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Freedom of Expression, News, Other
Ali Allah Veisi, Kurdpa, Sanandaj, علی الله ویسی

On Sunday, July 14, Ali Allah Veisi, a former political prisoner, was arrested by security forces in Sanandaj and taken to an undisclosed location, as reported by Kurdpa.

According to this report, the agents arrested the former political prisoner without presenting a judicial warrant and transferred him to an undisclosed location.

At the time of this writing, no information has been obtained about the reasons for his arrest or the charges against him.

It is worth noting that in May 2022, Veisi was sentenced by Branch 1 of the Sanandaj Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Saeedi, to two years in prison on charges of “propaganda against the regime and cooperation with one of the political opposition parties.” Branch 4 of the Kurdistan Court of Appeals eventually sentenced him to four years of suspended imprisonment and five months in prison.

This Sanandaj resident began serving his sentence in September 2022 in the city’s prison. He was released five months later upon completing his sentence.

Political Prisoner Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb Sentenced to Imprisonment and Exile

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Ghezel Hesar prison, HRANA, Karaj Revolutionary Court, Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb, زرتشت احمدی راغب

Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb, a political prisoner held in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj, has been sentenced to one year in prison and two years in exile in connection with a new case opened against him during his imprisonment.

Based on a verdict issued in absentia by Branch 1 of the Karaj Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Seyed Musa Asef Al-Hosseini, and recently communicated to Mr. Ahmadi Ragheb in Ghezel Hesar Prison, he has been sentenced to one year in prison and two years of exile in Qeydar, located in Zanjan province, on charges of “propaganda against the regime.”
A source close to the family of this political prisoner confirmed to HRANA: “Mr. Ahmadi Ragheb was recently transferred to solitary confinement and, upon returning to the public ward last week, was notified of the new sentence. This case was initiated during his imprisonment following a complaint by Ghezel Hesar Prison officials against him.”

Ahmadi Ragheb’s arrest took place in March 2023, leading to his incarceration in Evin Prison. In May 2023, the Revolutionary Court of Tehran imposed a five-year and eight-month prison sentence along with additional penalties. Notably, five years of this term are currently enforceable.

In September of the same year, he, along with several other political prisoners, was transferred to Ghezel Hesar Prison. Ahmadi Ragheb has a history of previous convictions and imprisonments due to his commitment to peaceful activism.

Ongoing Detention and Lack of Information on Marzieh Rigi Khalas’s Whereabouts

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News, Prisoners
Davood Rigi, Fazelabad, Golestan province, HRANA, Marzieh Rigi Khales, Zahedan, مرضیه ریگی خالص

Marzieh Rigi Khales, a resident of Zahedan, remains in detention and incommunicado 44 days after her arrest. Security forces have cited her husband’s activities on social media as the reason for her detention and have demanded that her husband surrender to the security authorities.

A source close to the family confirmed to HRANA: “This citizen traveled from Zahedan to Fazelabad city in Golestan province on June 1st to attend a relative’s wedding and was staying at her father’s house. Agents from the Ministry of Intelligence in Gorgan raided the house and arrested Ms. Rigi Khales. The agents stated that the reason for her detention was to compel her husband to surrender to the security authorities, claiming that he had been active on social media against the regime.”

According to HRANA reports, during her detention, Rigi Khales has contacted her family twice by phone, but her whereabouts remain unknown, heightening her family’s concerns.

Rigi Khales, aged 28, is a mother of two children. HRANA has verified the identity of her husband, Davood Rigi from Zahedan.

Six Women’s Rights Activists Arrested to Serve Prison Sentences

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Freedom of Expression, News
Azadeh Chavoshian, Forough Saminia, Gilan, Hooman Taheri, Jalveh Javaheri, Matin Yazdani, Negin Rezaie, Shiva Shah Sia, Zahra Dadras, Zohreh Dadras

On Saturday, July 13th, Matin Yazdani, Forough Saminia, Jalveh Javaheri, Negin Rezaie, Shiva Shah Sia, and Azadeh Chavoshian, women’s rights activists in Gilan, were arrested to serve their prison sentences and transferred to Lakan Prison in Rasht.

Based on this report, these women’s rights advocates were arrested to serve their sentences and transferred to Lakan Prison in Rasht. Their cases, along with those of five other women’s rights activists in Gilan named Sara Jahani, Yasamin Hashdari, Zahra Dadras, Zohreh Dadras, and Hooman Taheri, were referred to the Enforcement of Judgments department in late June of this year.

These eleven women’s rights activists were separately arrested by security forces in Gilan on August 16 and 17, 2023. Zahra Dadras was released on bail from Lakan Prison on September 17 of last year, and Zohreh Dadras was released on October 1 of the same year.

On February 29, 2024, a court session was held to address the charges against them in a joint case at Branch 3 of the Revolutionary Court of Rasht, presided over by Judge Mehdi Rasekhi. Their initial verdicts were issued by this branch in early March of this year.

Their sentences were confirmed on May 28 of this year by Branch 11 of the Gilan Provincial Court of Appeal, presided over by Judge Mohammad Sadegh Iran Agideh.

According to the issued verdict, Zohreh Dadras was sentenced to nine years, six months, and two days in prison for “forming a group to disrupt national security” and “assembly and collusion against national security.” Zahra Dadras was sentenced to six years, one month, and seventeen days in prison for “membership in a group and assembly and collusion with the intent to disrupt national security.”

Additionally, other defendants in this case were also sentenced to prison. Farough Samiei Nia, Sara Jahani, Yasmin Hashdari, Shiva Shah Siah, Negin Rezaei, Azadeh Chavooshian, and Matin Yazdani were each sentenced to six years, one month, and seventeen days in prison, while Jelveh Javaheri and Hooman Taheri were each sentenced to one year for “propaganda against the regime.”