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Ariana Akbari Arrested in Tehran

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ariana Akbari, Armita Garavand, Behesht-e-Zahra, Tehran

On December 6, 2023, security forces apprehended Ariana Akbari, a resident of Tehran, immediately after his participation in the memorial ceremony for Armita Geravand on the 40th day since her passing. Akbari was escorted to an undisclosed location by the arresting agents.

HRANA’s reports confirm that the arrest occurred at Behesht-e Zahra cemetery where the commemoration ceremony had been held.

It is noteworthy that Akbari had previously experienced arrest during the nationwide protests in 2022.

On October 1, 2023, Armita Garavand, a 17-year-old student, sustained a head injury while on her way to school at a metro station in Tehran. She was hospitalized and tragically passed away after 28 days in the hospital. Iranian authorities claim that she suffered a head injury due to a “pressure drop” and falling to the ground. However, some media outlets and human rights groups consider her a victim of harassment and an altercation with a hijab enforcement officer.

Report on Abolfazl Pour-Hosseini’s Condition in Central Prison of Karaj

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News, Prisoners
Abolfazl Pour-Hosseini, Abolfazl PourHosseini, Central Prison of Karaj, Erfan-e-Halgheh, HRANA, irgc, Karaj, Qom, ابوالفضل پورحسینی

Abolfazl Pour-Hosseini, a follower of Iranian mysticism known as Erfan-e-Halgheh, has recently been sentenced to three years in prison with an additional two years of suspended imprisonment by the Revolutionary Court. He is currently imprisoned in the Central Prison of Karaj.

A source close to Pour-Hosseini’s family provided HRANA with details about this verdict. Moreover, Pour-Hosseini faces charges of “propaganda against the regime and inciting people to act against national security” in a separate case under review by the Karaj Revolutionary Court.

According to this source, Pour-Hosseini has rejected the charges and declined to sign the charge sheet.

On June 13, 2023, IRGC Intelligence forces in Karaj arrested Pour-Hosseini, detaining him in the Central Prison of the city. According to a statement from one of his friends to HRANA, Pour-Hosseini was distributing a leaflet about Erfan-e-Halgheh at the time of his arrest.

Pour-Hosseini had previously been arrested in 2022 for attending a meeting of this mysticist group in Qom, being released on bond after a period of detention. Aged approximately 47, Pour-Hosseini is the father of one daughter and anticipates becoming a father once again.

Notably, concerns persist about the violation of freedom of religion in Iran, exemplified by cases like Pour-Hosseini’s. This incident adds to ongoing apprehensions regarding the protection of religious rights in the country.

 

Sepideh Rashnu Faces Four-Month Sentence on Appeal Amidst New Legal Challenges

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Freedom of Expression, News
compulsory hijab, Milad Panahi Pour, Sepideh Rashnu, Tehran Court of Appeal

Sepideh Rashnu, a student and vocal opponent of compulsory hijab, has been handed a four-month prison sentence by the Tehran Court of Appeal, as reported by Shargh Newspaper. Her lawyer, Milad Panahi Pour, disclosed that she is concurrently grappling with yet another legal case.

Rashnu was found guilty of “disseminating vulgar images on the Internet.” Panahi Pour clarified that, following the initial verdict, they filed an appeal. However, yesterday they were notified about the appellate court’s decision while en route to present their defense.

In addition to the ongoing legal proceedings, a new case has been initiated against Mrs. Rashnu, triggering the activation of a previously suspended three-year, seven-month sentence. Consequently, she is now facing a cumulative prison term of three years and eleven months.

This isn’t the first time Rashnu has encountered legal challenges stemming from her refusal to adhere to hijab rules. She had previously received a two-semester suspension from the university. Moreover, on July 16, 2022, security forces arrested her following an altercation on a city bus, during which she was harassed and physically assaulted by a woman who deemed her hijab improper.

Workers’ Rights Advocate Sharifeh Mohammadi Arrested in Rasht

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Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News
Rasht, Sharifeh Mohammadi, Workers' Rights Advocate

On December 5, 2023, the Ministry of Intelligence in Rasht arrested workers’ rights advocate Sharifeh Mohammadi, as reported by the Independent Iranian Workers Union.

Mohammadi was taken from her residence and subsequently transferred to an undisclosed location.
The reasons for her arrest, her current whereabouts, and the charges against her remain unknown at this time.

Four Inmates Executed for Drug Offenses in Central Prison of Karaj

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Executions, News
Central Prison of Karaj, HRANA, Karaj, Manouchehr Nourabad, Mojtaba Amiri, Sasan Maleki

On December 5, 2023, the Central Prison of Karaj carried out the execution of four inmates convicted of drug offenses.

HRANA has identified three of the executed inmates as Sasan Maleki, Mojtaba Amiri, and Manouchehr Nourabad (Barzgar). These individuals had been transferred to solitary confinement in anticipation of their impending executions. HRANA is actively working to identify the fourth inmate involved in the execution.

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

 

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Nine Oshnavieh Residents Sentenced to a Total of Over 27 Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Bahman Mahmoudi Azar, Farhang Keramat, Khezr Abdollahi Amirabad, Khoshnav Ayni, Mohsen Azizi, Oshnavieh, Othman Hamzeh Zadeh, Priot Tabnak, Yaghoub Mahmoudi Azar, Yousef Rahmani

The Oshnavieh Revolutionary Court has recently issued sentences totaling 27 years and five months in prison for nine individuals in the city, as reported by Kurdpa.

The individuals and their respective sentences are as follows:

1. Yaghoub Mahmoudi Azar: Seven years; Arrested on June 27, 2022, and released on bail on August 18, 2022.
2. Bahman Mahmoudi Azar: Seven years; Arrested on June 27, 2022, and released on bail on August 4, 2022.
3. Priot Tabnak: Two years; Arrested on June 27, 2022, and released on bail on August 18, 2022.
4. Mohsen Azizi: Two years; Arrested on June 27, 2022, and released on bail on July 24, 2022.
5. Khoshnav Ayni: Two years; Arrested on July 13, 2022, and released on bail on July 24, 2022.
6. Farhang Keramat: Two years and six months; Arrested on July 13, 2022, and released on bail on August 18, 2022.
7. Yousef Rahmani: Two years and five months; Arrested on July 13, 2022, and released on bail on August 17, 2022.
8. Khezr Abdollahi Amirabad: One year; Arrested on July 9, 2023, and released after a while on bail.
9. Othman Hamzeh Zadeh: One year and six months; Arrested on July 9, 2023, and released after a while on bail.

Among the charges brought against these individuals was “membership and collaboration with one of the political opposition parties.”

Zeinab Khenyab Pour Receives Three-Month Prison Sentence

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Freedom of Expression, News
ahvaz, Bahar Khenyab Pour, Bebahan, Mahshahr, Sajjad Chatr Sefid, Sepidar Prison, Zeinab Khenyab, زینت خنیاب پور

The Mahshahr Revolutionary Court has imposed a three-month jail term on Zeinab (Bahar) Khenyab Pour, a resident of Bebahan.

Sajjad Chatr Sefid, Khenyab Pour’s lawyer, confirmed that his client has been found guilty of “spreading propaganda against the regime.” Khenyab Pour is also currently contending with an additional charge, which is under consideration by the Bebahan Criminal Court. The court session for this particular aspect of her legal proceedings took place on October 9, 2023.

Previously, on December 5, 2022, Khenyab Pour’s garment shop was closed due to her participation in the general strike in support of nationwide protests. Following the closure, she sought clarification from judicial authorities and was subsequently detained for six days in Sepidar Prison, located in Ahvaz.

 

Three Baha’i Citizens Receive Prison Sentences and Social Sanctions in Sari

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News, Religious Minorities
Behrooz Rahmani, Saha Sabeti, Sanaz Alizadeh, Sari, Sari Revolutionary Court

The Sari Revolutionary Court has recently issued a 33-month prison sentence along with additional penalties to Baha’i citizen Saha Sabeti. Two other Baha’i individuals, Behrooz Rahmani and Sanaz Alizadeh Rooshankoohi, have also been fined and subjected to bans on educational and cultural activities.

As per the verdicts issued on November 28, 2023, Saha Sabeti has been sentenced to 33 months in prison for charges of”membership in groups acting against national security” and “engaging in educational activities and propaganda against Islamic Sharia.” Additionally, she faces a fine and a 13-year prohibition from participating in educational and cultural pursuits.

Behrooz Rahmani has been fined and sentenced to a ten-year ban on educational and cultural activities for similar charges. Likewise, Alizadeh Rooshankoohi, found guilty of “engaging in educational activities and propaganda against Islamic Sharia,” has received a parallel punishment to Behrooz Rahmani.

These individuals were indicted in August-September of this year and granted release on bail.
Saha Sabeti, who was arrested by security forces in Sari on July 31, 2022, spent 14 days in detention before being released on bail. In late July of this year, security forces conducted searches of the residences belonging to these citizens.

HRANA’s annual report has highlighted a concerning trend where, in 2022, 64.63% of reported human rights violations against religious minorities are directed toward the Baha’i community.

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.

Sivan Ebrahimi Receives an Eleven-Year Prison Sentence

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Freedom of Expression, News
Kamyaran, Mohammad Karami, Nojin, Sanandaj, Sivan Ebrahimi

Sivan Ebrahimi, one of the individuals detained in connection with the 2022 nationwide protests, has been sentenced to eleven years in prison by the Sanandaj Revolutionary Court, as reported by Kurdpa.

According to the verdict issued by Judge Mohammad Karami on December 2, 2023, Ebrahimi was found guilty of “forming groups to act against national security,” resulting in a ten-year prison term if the decision is upheld on appeal. Additionally, he received a one-year sentence for “propaganda against the regime.”

In a separate facet of his legal case, the Sanandaj Criminal Court had previously imposed an additional one-year imprisonment in exile and 40 lashes.

Ebrahimi, a Kurdish language teacher and a member of the cultural association Nojin, faced his second arrest on January 18, 2023, in Kamyaran. Following this arrest, he was released on bail in February of the same year.

Four Inmates Executed in Birjand for Drug-Related Offenses

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Executions, News
Ahmad Shahoo-Zahi, Birjand, Hamid Sarani, Maziar Narooie, Mohammad Naeimi Far, South Khorasan province

On December 3, 2023, the Birjand Prison in South Khorasan province carried out the execution of four individuals convicted of drug-related crimes, as reported by Haal Vsh.

The executed prisoners were identified as Mohammad Naeimi Far (Brahui), 44 years old, Ahmad Shahoo-Zahi, 40 years old, Maziar Narooie (Narui), 31 years old, and Hamid Sarani, 27 years old.

The first three inmates had received death sentences three, four, and five years ago, respectively, while Sarani was sentenced to death 14 months ago by the Birjand Revolutionary Court.

Tragically, these individuals were denied the opportunity for a final visit with their families before the execution.

As of the current writing, there is no official confirmation or coverage of these executions from domestic media outlets or official sources within the country. The absence of verified information raises concerns regarding the transparency and accountability of 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. Concerningly, many of the defendants were denied access to a fair trial and due process. For details and statistics, read HRANA’s report.