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Baha’i Citizen Masoud Mahmoudi Detained in Shirvan

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News, Religious Minorities
Bojnurd, Masoud Mahmoudi, Shirvan, مسعود محمودی

Yesterday, on November 13, security forces arrested Baha’i citizen Masoud Mahmoudi in Shirvan, North Khorasan province. He has been transferred to an undisclosed location.

According to a source closely connected to Mahmoudi’s family, six intelligence agents from Bojnurd searched his residence in Shirvan before apprehending him, confiscating some of his belongings in the process.

The source also revealed that Mahmoudi suffers from a skin disease that requires medication and medical treatment, heightening concerns about his well-being among family members. The reasons for Mahmoudi’s arrest and his current whereabouts remain unknown. The incident underscores ongoing challenges faced by Baha’i citizens in the region.

Zahra Saeedianjoo Detained in Izeh

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Freedom of Expression, News
ahvaz, Izeh, Milad Saeedianjoo, Sepidar Prison, Tehran, Zahra Saeedianjoo

Zahra Saeedianjoo was arrested in Izeh by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location, according to a source close to her family. The arrest occurred on Monday evening, coinciding with the approaching first anniversary of her brother Milad Saeedianjoo’s death, who was killed by regime forces during the 2022 nationwide protests.

The specific allegations against Zahra Saeedianjoo remain unknown at this time. It’s worth noting that she had been previously arrested in Tehran on July 9, and subsequently released on bail from Sepidar Prison in Ahvaz after a month in detention.

Milad Saeedianjoo, aged 26, tragically lost his life on November 16, 2022, when he was fatally shot by regime forces during the protests in Izeh. The circumstances surrounding his death continue to be a source of concern and scrutiny.

Confirmation of Death Sentence for Protester Milad Zohrehvand

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Executions, News
Ali Nazaei, Malayer, Milad Zohrehvand, میلاد زهره وند

Mizan, the judiciary’s news agency, has reported the Supreme Court’s confirmation of the death sentence for Milad Zohrehvand, an individual arrested in connection with the 2022 nationwide protests.

Zohrehvand, approximately 20 years old, has been convicted of the killing of Ali Nazari, 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 released a statement stating 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 brink of being identified and apprehended.

Tehran Resident Shaghayegh Moradi Detained by Security Forces

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Freedom of Expression, News
Bukhara, Shaghayegh Moradi, Tehran, شقایق مرادی

Shaghayegh Moradi was arrested by security forces in Tehran on Sunday, November 12, and subsequently taken to an undisclosed facility.

A source with ties to her family shared the news of Moradi’s arrest, which reportedly took place at her residence in Tehran. The reasons behind her arrest and the specific allegations against her are currently undisclosed.

Moradi is known for her work with the art-cultural magazine Bukhara in Tehran.

Three Sunni Prisoners Executed in Zahedan

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Executions, News
Citizen executions, Edris Bilrani, Mohammad Brahui Anjomani, Mohammad-Karim Barakzai, Zahedan

The chief of Justice of Sistan and Baluchestan Province announced on November 13 the execution of three Sunni prisoners in Zahedan.

The individuals, Mohammad-Karim Barakzai Akson (28), Mohammad Brahui Anjomani (28), and Edris Bilrani (31), were convicted of “spreading corruption on earth” and engaging in what the Zahedan Revolutionary Court labeled as “terrorist acts.”

The chief justice disclosed that the Supreme Court had upheld their death sentences after dismissing their appeals twice on grounds of “ineligibility.”

The trio had been detained by security forces in August-September 2020 on charges of being involved with anti-regime groups and were held in Zahedan Prison. After spending 18 months in detention, they were sentenced to 15 years for “membership in a rebellious group” and received the death penalty for “spreading corruption on earth through involvement in terrorist acts.”

According to the chief justice, the verdict implicated the individuals in various actions, including “destruction of public property, smuggling bomb-making equipment, and attempting to explode a police patrol vehicle, resulting in injuries to several police officers.”

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Mahnaz Tarah Arrested in Tehran

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News, Other
Evin Courthouse, Farzin Rezaie Roshan, Mahnaz Tarah, مهناز طراح

Security forces in Tehran detained Mahnaz Tarah on November 13, transferring her to Evin Courthouse. Reports indicate Tarah was violently apprehended in the streets, and her companion, Farzin Rezaie Roshan, was reportedly assaulted during the arrest.

The motive behind Tarah’s arrest remains unclear. Notably, the residence of Rezaie Roshan, a former political prisoner, was subjected to a search by agents in September.

Tarah, who has previously encountered security and judicial challenges, was granted amnesty in February of this year, leading to her release from prison under a “general pardon and commutation” directive.

Baha’i Citizen Zabihi Moghadam Recevies Eight Years in Prison

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News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i resident, Mashhad, Sirus Zabihi Moghadam

The Mashhad Revolutionary Court has handed down an eight-year prison sentence to Sirus Zabihi Moghadam, a Baha’i resident of Mashhad.

Zabihi Moghadam was convicted of seven years for “membership in anti-regime groups” and an additional year for “spreading propaganda against the regime.” Should the verdict be upheld on appeal, Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code mandates the enforcement of the harshest punishment in cases involving multiple charges, resulting in a seven-year prison term for Moghadam.

Arrested in September 2022, Zabihi Moghadam was released on bail after two months.

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.

 

Political Activist Abdollah Momeni Sentenced to One Year in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Abdollah Momeni, Evin Prison, Judge Mazloum, Tehran, Tehran Revolutionary Court, عبدالله مومنی

Modara reports that the Tehran Revolutionary Court has imposed a one-year prison term on political activist Abdollah Momeni.

Presided over by Judge Mazloum from Branch 29, the court convicted Momeni of “spreading propaganda against the regime,” ordering the seizure of his cell phone and other electronic devices.

During the trial, a speech delivered by Momeni at a conference on political issues was presented as evidence for the aforementioned charge.

Intelligence agents arrested Momeni at his residence in Tehran on April 27, 2023, taking him to Ward 209 of Evin Prison, which is controlled by the Ministry of Intelligence. After three days, he was released on bail.

Momeni, a prominent former student activist and former spokesperson for the Alumni Association of Iran (Advar-e Tahkim Vahdat) organization two decades ago, had previously served a five-year sentence and was released from Evin Prison in March 2014.

Actress Mojgan Khaleghi Taken Into Custody in Isfahan

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Freedom of Expression, News
Isfahan, Mojgan Khaleghi, مژگان خالقی

Mojgan Khaleghi, a movie and theater actress, was apprehended in Isfahan on November 11, according to Shargh Newspaper. The incident unfolded at the Isfahan Courthouse.

The 39-year-old actress had visited the courthouse to reclaim her confiscated belongings. As of now, the grounds for her arrest remain undisclosed, and information regarding her current detention site remains elusive.

Ali Akvani and Ebrahim Armish Detained Following Memorial Event in Izeh

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News
Ali Akvani, Ebrahim Armish, Izeh, Kian Pirfalak, Milad Saeedianjoo

On November 9, 2023, security forces arrested Ali Akvani and Ebrahim Armish in Izeh after they participated in the annual memorial for Kian Pirfalak and Milad Saeedianjoo.

As of now, the location of Akvani and Armish’s detention and the specific allegations against them remain unknown.

The 2022 protests in Izeh on November 16 resulted in the regrettable loss of at least seven lives, including Kian Pirfalak, who was fatally shot by regime forces. His father’s testimony indicates that security forces opened fire at their vehicle, leading to the devastating loss of his son.

On the same day, Milad Saeedianjoo, aged 26, was also shot dead by regime forces amid nationwide protests in Izeh. The circumstances surrounding the arrests and the ongoing developments in this situation are yet to be clarified.