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Student Arzhang Mortazavi Sentenced to Prison and Social Restrictions

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Freedom of Expression, News
Alborz province, Arzhang Mortazavi, Damghan University, Kharazmi University, ارژنگ مرتضوی

Arzhang Mortazavi, a student at Kharazmi University, has been handed a one-year sentence by the Revolutionary Court of Alborz province.

Issued by Judge Asef Al-Hosseini, the verdict finds Mortazavi guilty of “spreading propaganda against the regime,” with the detention period subtracted from the prison term. In addition to imprisonment, he faces restrictions such as a ban on joining social media communities, limited use of social media, and a two-year prohibition from leaving the country.

Security forces apprehended Mortazavi in Karaj on October 7, 2023, leading to his detention. After approximately one month, he was released on bail.

His initial arrest occurred on December 17, 2022, at the university entrance. However, on February 21, 2023, he was released from the Central Prison of Karaj under a general “pardon and commutation” directive.

In a separate development, Mortazavi faced a university suspension for four semesters and was mandated to transfer to Damghan University late last month.

Christian Convert Esmaeil Nariman-Pour Arrested in Dezful

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News, Religious Minorities
Christian convert, Dezful, Esmaeil Nariman-Pour, Esmaeil Narimanpour, اسماعیل نریمان پور

Esmaeil Nariman-Pour, a Christian convert, was apprehended by security forces in Dezful county, Khuzestan province, on Sunday, December 24, as reported by Mohabat News.

According to sources, Ministry of Intelligence agents raided Nariman-Pour’s residence on the eve of Christmas without presenting an arrest warrant. During the arrest, a thorough search was conducted, leading to the confiscation of some of his belongings.

Despite inquiries made by Nariman-Pour’s family to the Ministry of Intelligence office in Dezful, there has been no response. On Monday, he was permitted to make a brief phone call to inform his family about his relocation to Ahvaz, though specific details were not disclosed.

The charges against Nariman-Pour remain undisclosed at this time. Notably, as a Christian convert and a member of the Payam Rahaeee church, he has previously faced arrests.

It is noteworthy that despite Christians being officially recognized as a religious minority according to law, security apparatuses persist in monitoring their religious activities, resulting in prosecution and judicial confrontations.

It is crucial to emphasize that such actions stand in blatant violation of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. These international instruments affirm the right of everyone to freedom of religion, the freedom to change their religion or belief, and the freedom to express these beliefs individually or collectively, openly or in private.

Three Political Defendants Face Varied Penalties Following Convictions

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ehsan Ghadiri, Evin Prison, Hamed Mohagheghi, Sajjad Bakhsh-Ali, Sajjad Bakhshali

In the wake of political charges, Ehsan Ghadiri, Sajjad Bakhsh-Ali, and Hamed Mohagheghi have received a range of sentences, including imprisonment, exile, fines, and additional social restrictions.

As per the Tehran Revolutionary Court’s verdict, delivered under the authority of Judge Iman Afshari, the trio has been sentenced to a one-year prison term, mandatory two-year exile, and a prohibition from engaging in online activities and social media.

The charges against these political figures include assembly and collusion to commit crimes, as well as propagating against the regime.

Ghadiri, taken into custody by security forces at his residence on September 14, 2023, was subsequently transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison. The arrests of Bakhsh-Ali and Mohagheghi occurred during August and September 2023, marking a significant development in the ongoing legal proceedings.

Political Prisoner Zeynab Jalalian Denied Vital Medical Care, Faces Risk of Blindness

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News
HRANA, Yazd Prison, Zeynab Jalalian

Zeynab Jalalian, a political prisoner, is currently enduring her sixteenth year of a life sentence at Yazd Prison, where she is housed alongside inmates convicted of violent crimes. Despite grappling with health issues, she continues to be deprived of proper medical attention within the prison.

A credible source disclosed to HRANA that due to pterygium, Jalalian’s eyesight has significantly deteriorated. Information from additional sources further affirms that she is now at a heightened risk of blindness. Additionally, she is suffering from kidney and digestive diseases, yet she remains without adequate medical care.

Jalalian is confined to a ward with inmates convicted of violent crimes, and her location in an exiled city results in infrequent family visits.

In 2007, Iranian intelligence arrested Zeynab Jalalian, leading to a death sentence by the Revolutionary Court on charges of “enmity against God through membership in an anti-regime group” and an additional year for illegal departure from the country. The sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment on appeal.

Throughout her detention, Jalalian has undertaken hunger strikes on multiple occasions. She has endured torture, including flogging on her feet, physical beatings, and threats of sexual violence. The denial of essential medical care adds to the urgent concerns for her well-being.

Azerbaijani-Turk Activist Karim Esmaeil-Zadeh Receives Six-Month Imprisonment

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Ethnic Minorities, News
Abdullah Ansari, Azerbaijani Turk activist, Ebrahim Rezaie, Karim Esmaeil Zadeh, Tabriz Prison

The Tabriz Revolutionary Court has sentenced Azerbaijani-Turk Activist Karim Esmaeil Zadeh to six months in prison. Co-defendants Abdullah Ansari and Ebrahim Rezaie have been acquitted of charges in this legal case.

The verdict finds Esmaeil-Zadeh guilty of “inciting people to violence on the Internet,” with the detention period to be subtracted from the overall prison term.

On August 16, 2023, security forces arrested these individuals as they entered a football stadium in Tabriz. Three days later, they were released on bail from Tabriz Prison. Subsequently, Esmaeil-Zadeh was re-arrested on August 27 in Tabriz, only to be released on a second bail from the city’s prison.

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Execution of Three Prisoners for Drug Offenses in Isfahan

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Executions, News
Reza Keshavarzi, Saman Mogooye, Shirali Saeedi

Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan has executed three death-row prisoners convicted of drug offenses in separate legal cases, according to the Iran Human Rights Organization.

The executed inmates are identified as Shirali (Shir-Ali) Saeedi (36), Saman Mogooye (31), and Reza Keshavarzi. Reza Keshavarzi faced execution on December 15, while Shirali Saeedi and Saman Mogooye were executed on December 23.

At the time of writing, no official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have covered these executions. The absence of official information raises concerns about transparency and accountability in the execution process.

These executions bring attention to the controversial issue of capital punishment for drug-related offenses in Iran. 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. Many of the defendants were denied access to a fair trial and due process. For details and statistics, read HRANA’s report.

 

Supreme Court of Iran Upholds Death Sentence for Reza Rasaei

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Executions, News
diya, Gholamreza Rasaei, HRANA, irgc, Kermanshah province, Nader Beyrami, Reza Rasaei, Reza Rasaie, Sahneh County, Yarsan follower, رضا رسایی

The Supreme Court of Iran has recently affirmed the death sentence for Reza Rasaei (Rasaie), arrested in connection with the 2022 nationwide protests.

In October of this year, Rasaei was condemned to death for his alleged involvement in the killing of Nader Beyrami, the head of IRGC Intelligence, during the protests in Sahneh County, Kermanshah province.

A family member of Rasaei, who spoke to HRANA, confirmed that Judge Barani presided over the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the death sentence. Notably, the court’s ruling appears to have been influenced by a confession obtained under duress during Rasaei’s detention.

In addition to the capital punishment, Rasaei faces other charges, including non-fatal injury, threatening with a knife, and disturbing public order by causing unrest. Initially, he received additional penalties such as Diya (wergild), a year sentence, and 74 lashes.

Rasaei was apprehended on November 24, 2022, by the police and subsequently detained in Sahneh County. Following the completion of the interrogation process, he was transferred to Dizel-Abad prison in Kermanshah.

Several other protesters involved in the November 18, 2022 demonstration are also confronting charges related to their alleged role in the death of the IRGC’s intelligence officer. This protest resulted in the deaths of several protestors at the hands of police and security forces.

Reza (Gholamreza) Rasaei, aged 34, is known as a Yarsan follower and resides in Sahneh County.

Execution of Two Inmates in Khorramabad Prison for Drug-Related Crimes

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Executions, News
Hossein Musivand, Khoda-Karam Lorestani, Khorramabad, Khorramabad Prison, prisoner executed, خرم آباد

On Saturday, December 23, Khorramabad Prison executed two individuals convicted of drug-related offenses, as reported by the Iran Human Rights Organization.

The executed prisoners have been identified as Khoda-Karam Lorestani, aged 50, and Hossein Musivand, known as Papi, aged 40. Both individuals reportedly originate from Borujerd, Lorestan province.

Musivand and Lorestani received death sentences for separate drug-related cases, five and four years ago, respectively. The executions took place amid ongoing concerns surrounding the application of capital punishment for drug offenses.

No official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have provided coverage of these executions at the time of writing. The lack of official information raises concerns about transparency and accountability in the execution process.

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. Many of the defendants were denied access to a fair trial and due process. For details and statistics, read HRANA’s report.

 

Activist Couple Laleh Zari and Ahmad-Khan Beigi Receive Combined 10-Year Prison Sentence

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Freedom of Expression, News
ehfar Laleh Zari, Evin Prison, ezvaneh Ahmad-Khan Beigi, Iman Afshari, Qarchak Prison, بهفر لاله زاری, رضوانه احمدخان بیگی

In a recent development, the Tehran Revolutionary Court has handed down a five-year sentence to each of Behfar Laleh Zari and Rezvaneh Ahmad-Khan Beigi, a couple currently held in Evin Prison.

Presiding over the court, Judge Iman Afshari issued this ruling, sentencing each member of the couple to four years for “assembly and collusion against national security” and an additional year for “propaganda against the regime.” If the verdict is upheld on appeal, Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code mandates that the four-year sentence for the first charge will be enforceable.

The arrest of Laleh Zari and Ahmad-Khan Beigi took place at their residence on September 18, 2023. Following seven days of solitary confinement in the detention facility of the Public Security Police, Laleh Zari, a former political prisoner, was transferred to Evin Prison. Meanwhile, Mrs. Ahmad-Khan Beigi was initially detained in Qarchak Prison and later moved to Evin Prison after a few days.

This couple has a history of activism, having faced prior arrests and incarceration. This latest sentencing adds to their ongoing legal challenges in their pursuit of social and political advocacy.

Executions of Two Inmates Reported in Taybad and Khorramabad Prisons

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Executions, News
Citizen executed, HRA, Khorramabad, Mohammad-Saleh Amini, Razavi Khorasan, Taher Do Abi, Taybad

The Iran Human Rights Organization has reported the execution of two inmates in separate incidents.

Mohammad-Saleh Amini, 35 years old, was executed in Taybad Prison, situated in Razavi Khorasan Province, for his involvement in drug-related crimes, a conviction dating back two years.

Additionally, the organization documented the execution of Taher Do Abi, 43 years old, in Khorramabad Prison, Lorestan province. A resident of Sabzevar and a married father of two, Taher was found guilty of murder three years ago.

No official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have provided coverage of these executions at the time of writing. The lack of official information raises concerns about transparency and accountability in the execution process.

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. Many of the defendants were denied access to a fair trial and due process. For details and statistics, read HRANA’s report.