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Family of Fallahi Faces Eleven-Year Sentence on Political Charges

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Ardavan Fallahi, Arghavan Fallahi, Evin Prison, Iman Afshari, Nasrollah Fallahi, Parvin Mirasan, Tehran, پروین میرآسان, نصرالله فلاحی

In a recent verdict from the Tehran Revolutionary Court, Parvin Mirasan and Nasrollah Fallahi, alongside their children, Ardavan and Arghavan, have been collectively sentenced to 11 years in prison on political charges.

Presiding over Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran, Judge Iman Afshari delivered the verdict, condemning Parvin Mirasan and Nasrollah Fallahi to four years each for charges including “assembly and collusion against national security” and “propaganda against the regime.” Meanwhile, Arghavan received a two-year sentence and Ardavan, one year.

According to a source close to the family, Parvin Mirasan and Nasrollah Fallahi are currently held in Evin Prison, while their children, who had previously been released on bail, have already served their terms, factoring in their detention period.

Reports obtained by HRANA indicate that this legal case involves 12 defendants, yet their identities and specifics remain undisclosed.

Ardavan Fallahi was apprehended in Isfahan on November 3, 2022, followed by the arrest of a family member the subsequent day. On February 12, 2023, they were transferred to Evin Prison in Tehran. Ardavan and Arghavan were granted release on bail pending legal proceedings, on January 3, 2024, and March 12, 2024, respectively.

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.

Journalist Dina Ghalibaf Arrested

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Freedom of Expression, News
Dina Ghalibaf, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, دینا قالیباف

Dina Ghalibaf, a journalist and student at Shahid Beheshti University, was arrested by security forces on April 16 and transported to an undisclosed facility.

The arrest took place at Ghalibaf’s residence, with the responsible security institution currently unidentified.
However, Ghalibaf revealed on social media yesterday that she had been apprehended by the police at a metro station in Tehran, where she was taken to a room, subjected to electric shocks, and sexually assaulted.

Previously, Ghalibaf had been summoned by the university’s disciplinary committee for her involvement in a protest against the execution of several individuals in the “House of Isfahan” legal case.

Ghalibaf has contributed to various news agencies, including ISNA and Eghtesad Online.

Execution of Inmate in Hamedan Prison for Drug Offenses

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Executions, News
Arsalan Hashemi, Drug Offenses, Hamedan prison

On April 14, 2024, Hamedan Prison carried out the execution of an inmate convicted of drug offenses.

According to HRANA, the inmate was identified as Arsalan Hashemi. He had been sentenced to death for drug-related crimes three years prior.

No official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have provided coverage of this execution at the time of writing. 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.

The reports from the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists for the year 2023 reveal 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.

Five Executed for Drug Offenses in Mashhad

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Executions, News
Citizen executed, Mashhad, Vakilabad prison

In a recent development, five individuals convicted of drug-related offenses faced execution in Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad, on April 15, 2024, according to Haal Vsh.

The identities of the executed individuals were withheld from the report. However, it was noted that four of them hailed from Mashhad, while one was identified as an Afghan national.

No official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have provided coverage of these executions at the time of writing. 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.

The reports from the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists for the year 2023 reveal 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.

Couple Executed in Zanjan Prison for Drug Convictions

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Executions, News
Esmaeil Hosniani, Marjan Hajizadeh, Zanjan Prison

According to the Iran Human Rights Organization, on April 11, 2024, two inmates were executed in Zanjan Prison for drug-related offenses.

The individuals executed were Esmaeil Hosniani, 29, and his wife, Marjan Hajizadeh, aged 19.

The couple had been sentenced to death for drug offenses three years prior. It was reported that Marjan Hajizadeh was arrested at the age of 16, though the Iran Human Rights Organization was unable to verify documentation confirming her status as a minor at the time of arrest.

The reports from the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists for the year 2023 reveal 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.

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Reza Rasekhi Sentenced to Prison and Exile on Political Charges

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News, Prisoners
HRANA, Karaj's Central Prison, Reza Rasekhi, Seyed-Musa Asef-Al-Hosseini, رضا راسخی

Reza Rasekhi, currently incarcerated in Karaj’s Central Prison, has been sentenced to one year in prison and two years of exile in Bostanabad, East Azerbaijan province, by the Revolutionary Court in Karaj. Subsequently, his prison term was reduced to nine months after entering a plea of no contest.

Presiding over Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court in Karaj, Judge Seyed-Musa Asef-Al-Hosseini found Rasekhi guilty of “propaganda against the regime,” citing his social media activities.

A source close to Rasekhi’s family, confirming his conviction, informed HRANA that Rasekhi was notified of this verdict ten days prior. However, he has been acquitted of “assembly and collusion against national security.”

Rasekhi was apprehended by security forces in November 2023 and subsequently transferred to Karaj’s Central Prison.

The 31-year-old resident of Karaj had previously been arrested during the nationwide protests of 2022. However, he was granted pardon under a “general pardon and commutation” directive.

Civil Rights Activist Atena Farghadani Arrested

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Freedom of Expression, News
Atena Farghadani, Qarchak Prison, Varamin, آتنا فرقدانی

Atena Farghadani, a prominent civil rights activist and cartoonist, was arrested by security forces on April 13, 2024, and confined in Qarchak Prison located in Varamin, as reported by Voice of America Persian News Network.

Farghadani’s refusal to provide bail for her release, as a form of protest against her arrest, reportedly led to her transfer to Qarchak Prison. Following her arrest, she was subjected to physical violence, resulting in visible bruises on her face.

HRANA received information from a source close to her family indicating that she was arrested for publicly displaying one of her paintings on a street in Tehran. For this, she has faced the charges of “blasphemy, disturbing public order and propaganda against the regime.”

This is not the first instance of Farghadani facing arrest and legal action for her activism. Previously, on June 7, 2023, she was arrested at Evin Courthouse and subsequently detained in Qarchak Prison. After several days, she was charged with “disturbing public order” and released on bail.

Baha’i Educator Keyvan Rahimian’s Nine-Year Sentence Sustained on Appeal

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News, Religious Minorities
Abbasali Hoozan, Appellate Court of Tehran, Bahais, Keyvan Rahimian, Tehran, کیوان رحیمیان

The Appellate Court of Tehran Province has maintained a nine-year sentence and additional penalties for Baha’i educator Keyvan Rahimian.

In a verdict issued by Branch 36 of the Appellate Court of Tehran Province, presided over by Judge Abbasali Hoozan, Rahimian was sentenced to five years for “educational activities and propagating against the Islamic Sharia” and four years for “assembly and collusion against national security.” Alongside the prison term, Rahimian has been stripped of social rights and fined.

Per Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, five years of the prison term will be enforced.

Rahimian was apprehended by security forces in Tehran on July 18, 2023, and subsequently detained in Evin prison. His detention has been extended for four consecutive months, with Rahimian granted leave from November 25 to 29, 2023, to attend his mother’s funeral.

This is not Rahimian’s first encounter with legal repercussions for his activism. In August 2017, he was released from Rajai Shahr Prison after serving a five-year sentence. The current sentence raises concerns about the continued suppression of Baha’i individuals involved in educational and community activities.

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.

 

Saman Oveisi Arrested by IRGC Intelligence in Mahabad

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Mahabad, Saman Oveisi, سامان اویسی

According to a report by Kurdpa, Saman Oveisi was summoned by IRGC Intelligence in Mahabad, West Azerbaijan province, in recent days and subsequently arrested after his arrival. He was then taken to an undisclosed location.

Oveisi, aged 21, was reportedly summoned via phone. The reason for his arrest, his current whereabouts, and the allegations against him remain unknown at this time.

Data compiled by the Department of Statistics and Publications of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) reveals that IRGC Intelligence has been implicated in 392 cases of human rights violations, including arbitrary arrests.

Latest Developments on Baha’i Citizen Mina Karami’s Legal Situation

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News, Prisoners, Religious Minorities
Adelabad Prison, Bahais, Mina Karami, Seyed Mahmood Sadati, Shiraz, مینا کرمی

Baha’i citizen Mina Karami continues to serve her five-year prison term in Adelabad prison after the Appellate Court of Fars Province, influenced by the Ministry of Intelligence, recently rejected her request to complete her sentence outside prison with a monitoring ankle device.

A source close to Karami’s family has confirmed to HRANA the repeated denials of Karami’s release requests. Additionally, the Supreme Court rejected her plea for a retrial.

On April 13, 2021, security forces raided Karami’s residence, conducted a search, and subsequently summoned and interrogated her at the Ministry of Intelligence detention facility known as House No. 100. She was later released on bail.

In August-September 2022, the Revolutionary Court of Shiraz, presided over by Seyed-Mahmood Sadati, found Karami guilty of “engaging in education and propaganda activities against Islamic Sharia,” resulting in a five-year imprisonment, a fine, social restrictions for ten years, and a two-year ban from leaving the country. This verdict was upheld on appeal.

On February 13, 2024, security forces arrested her in Shiraz and transferred her to Adelabad Prison to commence serving her sentence.