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Fifteen Baha’i Women Face Indictment in Isfahan

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Freedom of Expression, News
Azita Rezvani-Khah, Baha'i, Baharestan, Bashra Motahar, Farkhandeh Rezvan Pay, Firoozeh Rastinejad, Isfahan, Maryam Khorsandi, Mojdeh Bahamin, Mojgan (Mozhgan) Pourshafee, Nasrin Khademi, Noushin Hemmat, Roya Azad Khosh, Samira Shakib, Sanaz Rasteh, Sara Shakib, Shola Ashouri, Shurangiz Bahamin

The Isfahan Courthouse has indicted 15 Baha’i residents from Baharestan City in Isfahan County.

Among those indicted are Mojgan (Mozhgan) Pourshafee, Nasrin Khademi, Azita Rezvani-Khah, Shola Ashouri, Mojdeh Bahamin, Bashra Motahar, Sara Shakib, Samira Shakib, Roya Azad Khosh, Noushin Hemmat, Shurangiz Bahamin, Sanaz Rasteh, Maryam Khorsandi, Firoozeh Rastinejad, and Farkhandeh Rezvan Pay.

These women have been charged with “propaganda against the regime” and “assisting in education and propaganda activities against Islamic Sharia.” The indictment was issued on April 8, 2024. Among them, Pourshafee, Khademi, Rezvani-Khah, Azad Khosh, Shakib, Raseh, Ashouri, Bahamin, Rastinejad, Khorsandi, and Hemmat were previously arrested in 2021 and later released on bail.

Furthermore, Bahamin, Rezvan Pay, Motahar, and Shakib’s residences were subjected to raids and searches by Intelligence agents.

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.

Kamal Lotfi Arrested by Security Forces in Dehgolan

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Freedom of Expression, News
Dehgolan, Kamal Lotfi, Kamyaran, Qorveh, Reza Lotfi, رضا لطفی, کمال لطفی

On April 9, 2024, security forces apprehended Kamal Lotfi in Dehgolan, Kurdistan province, transferring him to an undisclosed facility. His 25-year-old son, Reza Lotfi, tragically lost his life at the hands of regime forces during the nationwide protests on September 19, 2022.

Confirming Lotfi’s arrest, a source close to his family informed HRANA that he was taken into custody after receiving a summons from the Revolutionary Court of Qorveh. The specific reasons for his arrest, his current location, and the charges against him remain undisclosed at this time.

This is not Lotfi’s first encounter with law enforcement. On April 17, 2023, security forces detained him through physical force, leading to his imprisonment in Kamyaran Prison. He was subsequently released on bail on July 3, 2023.

Execution of Inmate Alireza Marzban in Adelabad Prison, Shiraz

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Executions, News
Adelabad Prison, Alireza Marzban, Shiraz

Adelabad Prison officials in Shiraz executed Alireza Marzban, a 27-year-old resident of Shiraz, on April 7, 2024, as reported by the Iran Human Rights Organization.

Marzban had been convicted of murder stemming from a group altercation three years prior. The execution took place without a final family visit.

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.

According to HRANA’s data, Adelabad Prison ranks fifth among Iranian prisons in the number of executions, having carried out 49. For a detailed analysis of execution statistics in Iran, refer to HRANA’s report.

Writer and Translator Loghman Ghanbari Arrested by Security Forces in Sarpol-e Zahab

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Freedom of Expression, News
IRGC Intelligence, Loghman Ghanbari, Ofra Bengio, Sarpol-e Zahab

Loghman Ghanbari, a writer and translator, was arrested at his residence in Sarpol-e Zahab, Kermanshah province, by security forces on April 7, 2024, as reported by Kurdpa.

Around 20 IRGC Intelligence agents conducted a search of his residence and seized some of his belongings.

Ghanbari, known for translating the book “The Kurds in a Volatile Middle East,” published in Sweden after Iran’s Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance denied a license, was accused of “association with Israel” based on his correspondence with the book’s author, Ofra Bengio.

After a day of interrogation, Ghanbari was released upon signing a written commitment.

Environmental Activists Taher Ghadirian and Sepideh Kashani Granted Release

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News, Prisoners
Abdolreza Koohpayeh, Amir-Hossein Khaleghi, Morad Tahbaz, Niloufar Bayani, Sam Rajabi, Sepideh Kashani, Taher Ghadirian

On April 9, 2024, environmental activists Taher Ghadirian and Sepideh Kashani were released from Evin Prison, marking the end of over six years of incarceration following a pardon granted ahead of the upcoming holiday.

Yesterday, two other environmental activists, Niloufar Bayani and Hooman Jokar, were also released from the same prison.

In January 2018, Kashani and Ghadirian, along with several other environmental activists, were arrested and detained in Evin Prison. Subsequently, Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Salavati, sentenced them to lengthy imprisonments:

  • Niloufar Bayani and Morad Tahbaz were handed 10-year sentences for “collaboration with the hostile U.S. government.”
  • Taher Ghadirian and Hooman Jokar received eight-year sentences for the same charge.
  • Sam Rajabi and Sepideh Kashani were sentenced to six years for the same charge.
  • Amir-Hossein Khaleghi received a six-year sentence for “espionage.”
  • Abdolreza Koohpayeh was sentenced to four years for “assembly and collusion against national security.”

On February 18, 2020, Gholamhossein Esmaeili, the then spokesperson of Iran’s Judiciary, announced the finalized verdicts against these eight environmental activists at the Appellate Court.

HRANA reported that during interrogations, several of these prisoners, including a female, were subjected to mistreatment and sexual assault to extract confessions.

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Environmental Activists Niloufar Bayani and Hooman Jokar Released After Six-Year Imprisonment

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News, Prisoners
Abdolreza Koohpayeh, Amir-Hossein Khaleghi, Environmental activists, Evin Prison, Gholamhossein Esmaeili, Hooman Jokar, Morad Tahbaz, Niloufar Bayani, Sam Rajabi, Sepideh Kashani, Taher Ghadirian

Environmental activists Niloufar Bayani and Hooman Jokar were granted a pardon and released from Evin Prison on April 8, 2024, marking the end of more than six years of incarceration.

In January 2018, along with several other environmental activists, Bayani and Jokar were detained and held in Evin Prison. Subsequently, Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Salavati, sentenced them to lengthy imprisonments. The sentences were as follows:

  • Niloufar Bayani and Morad Tahbaz received 10 years for “collaboration with the hostile U.S. government.”
  • Taher Ghadirian and Hooman Jokar received eight years for the same charge.
  • Sam Rajabi and Sepideh Kashani received six years for the same charge.
  • Amir-Hossein Khaleghi was sentenced to six years for “espionage.”
  • Abdolreza Koohpayeh received four years for “assembly and collusion against national security.”

On February 18, 2020, Gholamhossein Esmaeili, the then spokesperson of Iran’s Judiciary, reported the finalized verdicts against these eight environmental activists at the Appellate Court.

HRANA had reported that during interrogation, several of these prisoners, including a female, were subjected to mistreatment and sexual assault to extract confessions.

Execution of Inmate at Khorramabad Prison

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Executions, News
Hassan-Ali Mirzania, Khorramabad, Khorramabad Prison

On April 5, 2024, Khorramabad Prison carried out the execution of an inmate found guilty of murder, as reported by the Iran Human Rights Organization.

The inmate, identified as Hassan-Ali Mirzania, aged 30, was convicted four years ago for the fatal shooting of two brothers with a hunting gun.

At present, there is no coverage of the execution from official sources or domestic media outlets within Iran. This absence of information raises significant questions regarding the transparency and accountability of the execution process.

In 2023, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran registered the execution of 767 individuals. Out of these, 7 were carried out in public. Among the executed individuals whose genders were identified, 21 were female. Additionally, 2 juvenile offenders, defined as individuals under the age of 18 at the time of their alleged crimes, were also executed. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s annual report.

University Student Fahimeh Soltani Summoned and Arrested by Ministry of Intelligence

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News
Fahimeh Soltani, Fahimeh Sultani, Isfahan, University of Isfahan, فهیمه سلطانی

Fahimeh Soltani, a law student at the University of Isfahan, was summoned by IRGC’s Intelligence in Isfahan on April 6, 2024, and subsequently detained at an undisclosed location.

Confirming Soltani’s arrest, a source close to her family informed HRANA that “she was summoned by university officials via phone. Since the request was made outside of office hours, she did not go there. Subsequently, the IRGC’s Intelligence in Isfahan summoned and arrested her upon her appearance.”

The reason for Soltani’s arrest remains unknown at this time. This is not her first arrest. Also, in May 2023, the University’s Disciplinary Committee suspended her for two semesters due to activism.

 

Political Prisoner Amir-Nasr Azadani Enters Fourth Day of Hunger Strike

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News
Amir Nasr Azadani, Dastgerd Prison, HRANA, Hunger Strike, Isfahan, Khaneh e Isfahan, Majid Kazemi, Saeed Yaghoubi, Saleh Mir Hashemi, امیر نصر آزادانی

Amir-Nasr Azadani, a former soccer player and political prisoner currently incarcerated in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan, has embarked on a hunger strike for the fourth consecutive day while held in solitary confinement.

On April 4, 2024, Azadani was placed in solitary confinement as a punitive measure following the publication of a voice message from within the prison.

A source close to Azadani’s family disclosed to HRANA his decision to commence a hunger strike in protest against his solitary confinement.

In January 2023, the Revolutionary Court of Isfahan initially sentenced Azadani to five years for “membership in illegal groups to act against national security,” another five years for “assembly and collusion against national security,” and sixteen years for “enmity against God (Moharebeh).” Upon appeal to the Supreme Court, he was acquitted of the first two charges, leaving the prison term for the third charge intact.

During nationwide protests on November 17, 2022, security forces arrested Azadani in connection to the “Khaneh e Isfahan” case. Notably, three co-defendants in the same case, Saleh Mir Hashemi (36), Majid Kazemi (30), and Saeed Yaghoubi (37), were executed on May 19, 2023, on charges of enmity against God (Moharebeh).

 

Azerbaijani-Turk Activist Esmaeil Ahmadi Faces Imprisonment and Flogging Upheld by Appellate Court

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Ethnic Minorities, News
Ahar Prison, Azerbaijani Turk activist, East Azerbaijan province, Esmaeil Ahmadi, Varzeqan, اسماعیل احمدی

Branch 32 of the Appellate Court in East Azerbaijan province has confirmed that Ahmadi will serve nine months in prison and receive 70 lashes for charges including blasphemy, incitement to commit crimes against national security, association with anti-regime media outside Iran, dissemination of false information, and propaganda against the regime.

Ahmadi was arrested by security forces in Varzeqan in August 2023 and detained until August 24, when he was released on bail pending further legal proceedings from Ahar Prison.

The initial verdict was issued during the previous winter.

It’s worth noting that this is not the first time Ahmadi has faced legal repercussions for his activism.