On April 5, 2023, teacher Fariba Zand Karimi was arrested after an appearance at the Ministry of Intelligence’s office in Sanandaj, Kurdistan Province.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations, on April 5, 2023, teacher Fariba Zand-Karimi was arrested in Sanandaj.
The reason for her arrest and the allegations against her are still unknown.
Zand Karimi, age 35, is a contract teacher working for the Sanandaj Department of Education.
On April 5, 2023, three inmates convicted of drug-related crimes were executed in Adelabad Prison, Shiraz. Also, on March 19, a man and woman convicted of murder were executed in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Iran Human Rights Organization, Adelabad prison officials carried out the execution of three inmates.
These individuals have been identified as Yousef Jome’eh Hosseini (an Afghan national), Kazem Rasouli and Ali Hossein Sadeghzadeh, all convicted of drug-related crimes three years ago.
Also, Iran Human Rights Organization reported that on March 19, 2023, Hassan Bahmani and Maryam Najjar (female) were executed in Dastgerd prison, Isfahan. They were previously convicted of murder in two separate cases.
In 2022, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran registered 457 reports related to the death penalty. This included 92 death sentences, including the conviction of 6 people to public execution and 565 execution sentences were carried out, 2 of which have been carried out in public. Based on the announced identifications of some of the executed individuals, 501 were male and 11 were female. In addition, 5 juvenile offenders were executed in 2022, meaning they were under the age of 18 at the time they committed the crime.
Security forces arrested Ahmad She-Bakhsh and Abdolhamid She-Bakhsh, two residents of Zahedan, and took them to an undisclosed location.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Haal Vsh, on March 29, 2023, Ahmad She-Bakhsh and Abdolhamid She-Bakhsh were arrested by security forces.
The intelligence agents reportedly arrested them on their way from Chabahar to Zahedan and took them to an unknown location in Zahedan. Their family inquiries from security/judicial authorities have remained unanswered so far.
The allegations against these individuals are still unknown.
On April 5, 2023, Javad Heidari’s parents and his brother, Mohammad Heidari, were arrested by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location. Javad Heidari was killed by regime forces amid the 2022 nationwide protests.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on April 5, 2023, security forces arrested three family members of the killed protestor Javad Heidari.
His sister, Fatemeh Heidari informed the public, “They handcuffed my parents and brother, Mohammad, and arrested them. They told my parents that they should change Javad’s gravestone if they want to be released.”
Earlier, on April 3, security forces also arrested Ruhollah Heidari, Javad Heidari’s other brother.
Their detained location and the allegation against them are unknown so far.
On September 22, 2022, his brother, Javad Heidari, age 36, was shot dead at protests in Qazvin.
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.
On April 5, 2023, security forces arrested Mohammad Habibi, the spokesperson of the Tehran Teachers’ Trade Association, at his workplace in Tehran and took him to Ward 209 of Evin Prison. The agents also raided and searched his house.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on April 5, 2023, teachers union activist Mohammad Habibi was arrested.
His wife, Khadijeh Pakzamir, stated, “This afternoon, having an arrest warrant, four agents from the West Intelligence Department of Tehran Province arrested Mohammad Habibi at the school where he works. Then, along with my husband, the agents came to our house for a search. They insulted us and took him to Ward 209 of Evin Prison.”
Habibi had been released from Evin Prison, on February 8, 2023.
On April 30, 2022, Habibi was arrested and detained in Ward 209 of Evin Prison. In October 2022, the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced him to three years and seven months for “assembly and collusion against national security” and one year for “propaganda against the regime.” He was also banned from leaving the country, membership, or participating in civil groups for two years.
In separate incidents on April 3, 2023, Hassan Siahani and Eslam Dorkhani were shot dead by military forces in Sistan and Baluchestan Province.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Haal Vsh, on April 3, 2023, a citizen was killed in an unrestrained shooting by military forces in Saravan County, Sistan and Baluchestan Province.
This individual has been identified as Hassan Siahani, age 40, and a resident of a village in Saravan County. The military forces reportedly began shooting directly at him without any warning.
According to another report, military forces shot dead another citizen, identified as Eslam Dorkhani, in Sistan and Baluchestan Province on the same day.
According to HRANA annual report, in 2022, 845 people were shot by military forces. At least 571 of the victims lost their life. This includes 22 kolbars, 9 fuel carriers, and 540 civilians. 274 people were injured by military forces open fire, including 134 kolbars, 128 civilians, and 12 fuel carriers.
Hadi (Abbas) Mirzaie is still detained for about four months in the Great Tehran Penitentiary with an unclear status of due process.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Hadi Mirzaie, a Master’s student in music at the Tehran University of Art, is still detained for about four months.
An informed source told HRANA, “Mirzaie is still jailed in the Great Tehran Penitentiary, awaiting processing.”
On December 10, 2022, security forces arrested Mirzaie near his office in Tehran. On January 11, 2023, he was transferred to the Great Tehran Penitentiary.
Student Hadi (Abbas) Mirzaie is an electrical engineering graduate at Shahid Beheshti University, a Master’s student in music at the Tehran University of Art, and an expert in stamps and banknotes.
On April 3, security forces arrested Ruhollah Heidari and took him to an undisclosed location. His brother, Javad Heidari, was killed by regime forces amid the 2022 nationwide protests.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on April 3, 2023, Ruhollah Heidari was arrested.
His sister, Fatemeh Heidari informed the public, “After the arrest of my three brothers and firing me from my job, today, they arrested my other brother, Ruhollah Heidari, without giving any reason. My family’s inquiries have remained unanswered so far.”
Heidari’s detained location and the allegation against him are also unknown.
On September 22, 2022, his brother, Javad Heidari, age 36, was shot dead at protests in Qazvin.
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.
On April 3, 2023, Fakhreddin Ebrahimi was arrested by security forces after being summoned to the Investigation Branch of the Urmia Public and Revolutionary Court. On March 17, 2023, his father, Mohyeddin Ebrahimi, a political prisoner, was executed.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, on April 3, 2023, security forces arrested Fakhreddin Ebrahimi in Urmia.
On March 27, Ebrahimi reportedly was summoned to the Investigation branch of the Urmia Public and Revolutionary Court for the allegation of “destructing door of guard room of the Court of Appeal.” He was arrested there by security forces and taken to a detention facility.
Earlier, on March 16, 2023, he was also arrested by security forces and released on bond the next day.
Over the past six months, dozens of journalists have been arrested or summoned for covering news and publishing articles about the 2022 nationwide protests and poison attacks on school students. These arrests exemplify the regime’s attempt to suppress the free flow of information and limit social and civil liberties. This report provides a list of 19 jailed journalists.
According to data collected by HRANA, among many of the journalists who were detained or summoned in recent months, at least 19 are still jailed/imprisoned in different prisons:
Niloofar Hamedi
1- Niloofar Hamedi
Arrest date: September 22, 2022
Place of Arrest: Tehran
Status of due process: defendant with an unclear status of due process.
Latest Condition: Jailed in Qarchak Prison, Varamin city.
Elaheh Mohammadi
2- Elaheh Mohammadi
Arrest date: September 29, 2022
Place of Arrest: Tehran
Status of due process: defendant with an unclear status of due process.
Latest Condition: Jailed in Qarchak Prison, Varamin city.
Alireza Jabbari Darestani
3- Alireza Jabbari Darestani
Arrest date: September 25, 2022
Place of Arrest: Tehran
Status of due process: defendant awaiting trial
Latest Condition: Unknown
Vida Rabbani
4- Vida Rabbani
Arrest date: September 24, 2022
Place of Arrest: Tehran
Status of due process: sentenced to seven years and three months in prison for “assembly and collusion against national security”
Latest Condition: Jailed in Evin Prison, Tehran
Maliheh Doreki
5- Maliheh Doreki
Arrest date: October 26, 2022
Place of Arrest: Abadan
Status of due process: defendant awaiting trial
Latest Condition: Unknown
Farzaneh Yahya-Abadi
6- Farzaneh Yahya-Abadi
Arrest date: October 19, 2022
Place of Arrest: Abadan
Status of due process: defendant awaiting trial
Latest Condition: Unknown
Farkhandeh Ashoori
7- Farkhandeh Ashoori
Arrest date: October 17, 2022
Place of Arrest: Shiraz
Status of due process: defendant awaiting trial
Latest Condition: Unknown
Siamand Mohtadi
8- Siamand Mohtadi
Arrest date: February 11, 2023
Place of Arrest: Bukan
Status of due process: defendant awaiting trial
Latest Condition: Unknown
Ziba Omidifar
9- Ziba Omidifar
Arrest date: December 8, 2022
Place of Arrest: Qorveh
Status of due process: defendant awaiting trial
Latest Condition: Unknown
Maral Darafarin
10- Maral Darafarin
Arrest date: November 1, 2022
Place of Arrest: unknown (a resident of Lahijan)
Status of due process: defendant awaiting trial
Latest Condition: Unknown
Melika Hashemi
11- Melika Hashemi
Arrest date: January 20, 2023
Place of Arrest: Tehran (Evin Courthouse)
Status of due process: defendant awaiting trial
Latest Condition: Unknown
Amir Maskani
12- Amir Maskani
Arrest date: November 22, 2022
Place of Arrest: Sabzevar
Status of due process: sentenced to seven months in prison, nine months of suspended imprisonment and paying a five-million-Toman fine for “propaganda against the regime, inciting people to commit murder and wage war against national security”
Latest Condition: Unknown
Seyed-Ali Pour-Tabatabaei
13- Seyed-Ali Pour-Tabatabaei
Arrest date: March 5, 2023
Place of Arrest: Qom
Status of due process: defendant awaiting trial
Latest Condition: Unknown
Morteza Hagh-Bayan
14- Morteza Hagh-Bayan
Arrest date: August 25, 2019
Place of Arrest: Sanandaj
Status of due process: sentenced to two years and six months in prison for “spreading falsehood on the Internet, disturbing public opinions, insulting and slandering government’ authorities.”
Latest Condition: Since May 19, 2021, he has been serving his sentence in Sanadaj Prison.
Mohsen Ravari
15- Mohsen Ravari
Arrest date: September 23, 2022
Place of Arrest: Jiroft
Status of due process: defendant awaiting trial
Latest Condition: Unknown
Pouria Mahdavi Moghadam
16- Pouria Mahdavi Moghadam
Arrest date: October 22, 2022
Place of Arrest: Borujerd
Status of due process: defendant awaiting trial
Latest Condition: Unknown
17- Iman Behpasand
Arrest date: September 22, 2022
Place of Arrest: Tehran
Status of due process: defendant awaiting trial
Latest Condition: Unknown
18- Mohsen Ahmadizadeh
Arrest date: September 23, 2022
Place of Arrest: Jiroft
Status of due process: defendant awaiting trial
Latest Condition: Unknown
Mohammad Zare Foumani
19- Mohammad Zare Foumani
Arrest date: October 9, 2022
Place of Arrest: unknown
Status of due process: Sentenced by the Court of Appeals to 12 years, paying a 15-million-Tomans fine and two years exile for “spreading falsehood against the regime’s authorities to disturb public opinions, assembly and collusion, and inciting people to act against national security.”
Latest Condition: Jailed in Evin Prison’s special ward for clergies, Tehran.
