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Iranian Supreme Court Upholds Death Sentence of Mohammad Ghobadloo

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Executions, Freedom of Expression, News
Abolghasem Salavati, Amir Raisian, Mohammad Ghobadloo, Mohammad Ghobadlou, Supreme Court of Iran, Tehran

The death sentence of Mohammad Ghobadloo has been upheld by the Iranian Supreme Court, his lawyer confirms.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Didban Iran news outlet, the Iranian Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence of Mohammad Ghobadloo, who was arrested during the nationwide protests in 2022.

Ghobadloo is facing two separate legal cases, both of which have resulted in a death sentence issued by the Revolutionary Court and Criminal Court. Ghobadloo’s lawyer, Amir Raisian, confirmed the news, stating, “Our request for a retrial regarding the death sentence issued by the Revolutionary Court is still ongoing, and the Supreme Court has not yet made a decision. However, the request for a retrial regarding the death sentence (Qisas) in the Criminal Court has been denied by the Supreme Court.”

In late January 2023, the public relations department of the Supreme Court announced that Mohammad Ghobadloo’s death sentence would be temporarily suspended following a request from his lawyer.

Initially, Ghobadloo was sentenced to death by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Abolghasem Salavati, for charges including “spreading corruption on earth through crimes against the physical integrity of people.” Additional charges against him include “destruction of public property” and “acting against national security by causing unrest.”

On December 10, 2022, the Tehran Criminal Court also held a trial against Ghobadloo and subsequently sentenced him to death.

Background on 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. Protesters came to the streets with the central slogan “Women, Life, Freedom” in protest against the performance, laws and structure of the regime. During the nationwide protests, thousands of people, including journalists, artists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, were arrested.

Iranian Supreme Court Overturns Death Sentence of Protestor Javad Roohi

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Freedom of Expression, News
Javad Roohi, moharebeh, Nowshahr, Sari Revolutionary Court

HRANA, Human Rights Activists News Agency – the Iranian Supreme Court has overturned the three execution sentences and other punishments previously imposed on Javad Roohi, who was arrested during nationwide protests in Nowshahr.

Roohi’s lawyer, Majid Kaveh, confirmed that Branch 9 of the Iranian Supreme Court responded to Roohi’s request for a retrial and annulled the verdict issued by the Sari Revolutionary Court. The case has now been referred to another court branch for further review.

Back in January 2023, Roohi was handed three death sentences on charges including “spreading corruption on earth,” “enmity against God (Moharebeh)” for burning the Quran, blasphemy, arson and destruction of property, as well as “insulting people to unrest and assembly and collusion against national security.”

One of the main accusations against Roohi was setting fire to a traffic police station using a Molotov cocktail in Nowshahr. The judge further alleged that he played a leading role in the “unrest” and considered his participation in street dancing during the protests as a criminal act. Roohi has vehemently denied all these accusations. Despite presenting a strong defense, the court dismissed Roohi’s arguments as “pointless” and sentenced him to death.

Background on 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. Protesters came to the streets with the central slogan “Women, Life, Freedom” in protest against the performance, laws and structure of the regime. During the nationwide protests, thousands of people, including journalists, artists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, were arrested.

 

Former Political Prisoner Mahboobeh Rezaie Arrested

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Freedom of Expression, News
Adelabad Prison, Borazjan, Bushehr, Mahboobeh Rezaie, Shiraz

On May 22, 2023, Mahboobeh Rezaie, a former political prisoner, was apprehended by security forces and transported to an undisclosed location.

on Monday, May 22, a team of four male and two female intelligence agents raided Rezaie’s father’s residence, taking her into custody. The exact whereabouts of Rezaie remain unknown, and her family’s inquiries have yet to receive a response.
The motives behind Rezaie’s arrest and the specific charges against her are currently undisclosed.

Rezaie, a resident of Borazjan, Bushehr Provnce. It is worth noting that this is not the first time that she is facing arrest and conviction due to her activism. In June 2022, she was released early from Adelabad prison in Shiraz.

Four Inmates Executed for Drug-Related Crimes in Ghezel Hesar Prison

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Executions, News
aeed Geravand, Ghezel Hesar, Karaj, Samad Geravand, Shahab Mansouri Nasab, Shahram Sharghi

On May 20, 2023, four inmates convicted of drug-related crimes were executed in Ghezel Hesar prison, Karaj.

HRANA has identified them as Saeed Geravand, Samad Geravand, Shahab Mansouri Nasab and Shahram Sharghi.
A knowledgeable informant speaking to HRANA revealed that a number of inmates had initiated a hunger strike in protest of the escalating number of executions. Prior to their scheduled executions, these four inmates, along with three others, were relocated to solitary confinement, as reported by HRANA earlier.

At the time of writing, no official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have reported on these executions.

In recent weeks, the number of execution has been alarmingly raised.
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.

 

Lack of Information on Condition of Four Political Prisoners after Ten Months

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Freedom of Expression, News
Hajir Faramarzi, Hazhir Faramarzi, HRANA, Komalah, Mohsen Mazloum, Perjman Fatehi, Pezhman Fatehi, Sumay-ye Beradust, Urmia, Vafar Azarbar

The families and the lawyer of Mohsen Mazloum, Pezhman (Pejman) Fatehi, Vafa Azarbar, and Hazhir (Hajir) Faramarzi remain uninformed about the well-being and legal status of these political prisoners, causing growing concern.

On July 23, 2022, Iran Police Intelligence (FARAJA) arrested them in the Sumay-ye Beradust District of Urmia County.

Despite repeated inquiries from families and lawyers, the whereabouts of these individuals and the specific charges against them remain unknown. Families have sought answers from various prisoners and judicial authorities in Kurdistan, Isfahan, and Tehran, but have faced threats, disrespect, and coerced confessions broadcasted on Iran state TV instead.

Security-institution-affiliated news agency, Tasnim, reported the arrest of “a network of Israeli spies,” referring to these individuals. Tasnim also claimed that they possessed operational and communication equipment, as well as explosive materials, and had crossed into the country from the Kurdistan region with the intention of carrying out unprecedented terrorist operations in secure-sensitive locations.

Approximately 80 days after their arrest, Iran’s state TV aired their coerced confessions, accusing them of spying for foreign intelligence and stating that they had been apprehended in sensitive sites in Isfahan.

In response, Komalah (CPI-a Kurdish oppositional political party) issued a statement denying all these allegations and warned about intelligence institutions’ conspiring against detainees who have been accused of being members of the party.

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Lawyer Farzaneh Zilabi Receives Prison Sentence

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Freedom of Expression, News
ahvaz, Farzaneh Zilabi, Haft Tappeh, Mandanda Sadeghi, Mehrnoosh Tafian, Ronak Rezaie

HRANA, Human Rights Activists News Agency-The Branch 4 of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court sentenced attorney Farzaneh Zilabi to one year and six months in prison.

According to the verdict, Zilabi received one year for the charge of “propaganda against the regime” and six months for “insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran.” The court session, held on April 17, 2023, addressed these charges along with two other charges of “membership in anti-regime groups” and “assembly and collusion against national security.”

It should be noted that Zilabi is also facing the charge of “spreading falsehood” in another ongoing legal case.

Zilabi has been a legal representative for the Syndicate of Workers of Haft-Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company and has represented several recently arrested individuals, including media activist Mehrnoosh Tafian, journalist Mandanda Sadeghi, and student activist Ronak Rezaie. Zilabi has a history of arrests and convictions related to her activism.

 

Two Defendants Sentenced to Public Execution in Shah Cheragh Attack Case

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Executions, News
Fars Province, moharebeh, Shah Cheragh mosque, Shiraz

Two defendants involved in the Shah Cheragh shrine attack have been sentenced to death publicly and are set to be executed soon, according to the Chief Justice of Fars Province.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, as reported by Fars News Agency, two defendants allegedly responsible for the Shah Cheragh mosque attack has been sentenced to death.

The terrorist attack took place on October 26, 2022, at the Shah Cheragh mosque in Shiraz, resulting in the death of at least 13 people. According to Chief Justice Kazem Mousavi, the primary perpetrator was killed during the attack and out of the five defendants in this case, two have received the death penalty and will be executed publicly in the near future.

Earlier, Mousavi stated that the Tehran and Shiraz revolutionary courts have charged the five defendants, all from a neighboring country, with various offenses, including “enmity against God (Moharebeh), spreading corruption on earth, and armed rebellion (Baghi).”

Mousavi also mentioned that in a separate legal case related to this attack, additional defendants will face trial in Fars Military Court for their alleged failure and negligence in providing security.

Shahrooz Sokhanvari Executed in Rajai Shahr Prison

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Executions, News
Rajai Shahr Prison, Shahrooz Sokhanvari

On May 20, 2023, Shahrooz Sokhanvari was executed in Rajai Shahr Prison, Karaj, as reported by Mizan, the judiciary’s news agency. Sokhanvari was found guilty of allegedly “international human trafficking” and “spreading corruption on earth.”

Prior to his execution, Sokhanvari was placed in solitary confinement for three days.
On May 19, 2022, the Iranian police announced the extradition of Sokhanvari, also known as Alex, to Iran. The judiciary accused him of trafficking women for sexual exploitation, stating that he had been apprehended in Malaysia and handed over to the Iranian police by Interpol.
Notably, in recent years, several women who were accused of aiding Sokhanvari have been incarcerated with severe charges.

In recent weeks, the number of execution has been alarmingly raised. According to reports obtained by HRANA, at least 57 prisoners, including two women and two prisoners of conscience, have been executed in various Iranian prisons from April 28 to May 9, 2023.

 

Five Azerbaijani (Turk) Activists Arrested in Tabriz

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Ethnic Minorities, News
Alireza Sabri, Hamzeh Valizadeh, Javad Ahmadzadeh, Ruhollah Ahmadinejad, Tabriz

Security forces in Tabriz arrested five Azerbaijani (Turk) activists on May 18, 2023. The individuals arrested are Davoud Shiri (Derakhshan), Hamzeh Valizadeh, Ruhollah Ahmadinejad, Javad Ahmadzadeh, and Alireza Sabri. They were taken to an undisclosed location following their arrest.

During the operation, the agents conducted searches in their residences and seized some of their personal belongings.

Davoud Shiri had a court session in April 2023 to address the charges against him. It’s worth noting that all these individuals have a history of previous arrests and convictions related to their activism.

At present, the location of their detention and the specific allegations against them remain unknown.

Behrooz Izadi Rad Arrested in Gorgan

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News, Other
Behrooz Izadi Rad, Gorgan, nationwide protests

Behrooz Izadi Rad was arrested by security forces in Gorgan on May 15, 2023, according to HRANA, the Human Rights Activists News Agency.

Izadi Rad was reportedly arrested at his residence in Gorgan. The exact location of his detention remains undisclosed, and the reason for his arrest has not been disclosed either.

In September 2022, amid nationwide protests, security forces arrested Izadi Rad in Golestan Prison and, after a while, jailed him in Amirabad Prison in Gorgan.

On December 19, 2022, the Revolutionary Court sentenced Izadi Rad to four years and one month in prison. However, due to his no-contest plea, his sentence was reduced to nine months for “propaganda against the regime” and 25 months for “inciting people to unrest,” totaling two years and ten months, including the time already served.

Following five months of imprisonment, Izadi Rad was released in February 2023 under the “pardon and commutation” directive. It’s worth noting that he has a history of previous arrests and convictions related to his activism.