Author: . .

Journalist Saeed Seyf-Ali Arrested

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
Asal Esmailzadeh, Didban Iran news outlet, Evin Courthouse, Saeed Seyf-Ali

Saeed Seyf-Ali, the managing editor of the Didban Iran news outlet, was arrested by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, journalist Saeed Seyf-Ali was arrested by security forces.

Asal Esmailzadeh, Seyf-Ali’s wife, stated that her husband went to the courthouse on Tuesday, April 11, to inquire about his case, but was subsequently arrested. She added that she has not been informed about his whereabouts or the security institutions responsible for his arrest.

Earlier on January 7, 2023, Seyf-Ali was arrested after an appearance at Evin Courthouse and was released on bail of one billion Toman after eight days.

The reason for his arrest, his current location, and the specific allegations against him are still unknown.

 

Golrokh Iraee Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison and Additional Punishments

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
Golrokh Ebrahimi Iraee, golrokh iraee, Iman Afshari

Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced former political prisoner Golrokh Iraee to seven years and additional punishments.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Golrokh Ebrahimi Iraee was sentenced to imprisonment and additional punishments.

Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided by Judge Iman Afshari, sentenced Iraee to six years in prison for “assembly and collusion against national security” and one year for “propaganda against the regime.” In addition, she has been banned from leaving the country, travelling to Tehran, and joining political and civil groups for two years. Her cell phone has also been confiscated by the court.

If the verdict is upheld on appeal, based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, six years in prison for the first charge will be enforceable.

An informed source close to her family told HRANA, “the Judge sentenced Golrokh to six years despite the maximum five years sentence for the charge of assembly and collusion, determined in the Islamic penal code. The judge cited the possibility of reoffending as the reason for the longer sentence, even though Iraee has never been convicted of this crime in her previous legal cases.”

“Iraee and her family were told by security and judicial officials that the only way to avoid incarceration is to submit a written request for a pardon, which Iraee has repeatedly refused to do. As a result, Judge Afshsari has refused to grant her bail,” the source added.

On September 26, 2022, security forces arrested Iraee violently at her home in Tehran.

Iraee faced other arrests and convictions on prior occasions. In the last case, the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced her to three years and seven months, which was upheld later on appeal. Applying Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, two years and one month was enforceable.

Also earlier, in April 2021, the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced her in absentia to one year and additional punishments for “propaganda against the regime.” She was released on Amol Perison on May 9, 2022.

 

Masoud Eslaminasab Jailed in Evin Prison

Posted on by . .
News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, iran protests, Masoud Eslaminasab, moharebeh, the 2022 Nationwide Protests

Masoud Eslaminasab, arrested at the 2022 nationwide protests, was transferred to Evin prison to start serving his seven-year sentence. He was arrested in October 2022 and detained in Great Tehran Penitentiary.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Masoud Eslaminasab (Bakhtiari) was jailed in Evin prison for sentencing.

Earlier, the Tehran Court of Appeals sentenced Eslaminasab to seven years in prison and four years of exile for multiple charges, including “arson and destruction of public property,” “assembly and collusion against national security,” and “membership in anti-regime groups.” On trial, he was acquitted of the charge of “carrying a cold weapon.”

Initially, Eslaminasab had received 21 years and six months for these charges.

On October 15, 2022, security forces arrested Eslaminasab at his house. The agents also searched his house and confiscated some of his belonging.

Eslaminasab was held for about one month in solitary confinement at Great Tehran Penitentiary. During detention, he reportedly was forced to make confessions to accept allegations such as ” enmity against God (Moharebeh) through assaulting a police officer.” However, the court dismissed the charge after the injured officer testified that Eslami-Nasab did not have any role in this incident.

It is noteworthy that along with Eslaminasab, dozens of other political prisoners and prisoners of conscience were relocated from Great Tehran Penitentiary to Evin Prison.

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.

 

 

Iran Protests: Yasin Moghadam Still in Detention for Over Four Months

Posted on by . .
News
iran protests, Mazandaran, Sari, the 2022 Nationwide Protests, Tirkala Prison, Yasin Moghadam

Yasin Moghadam, arrested at the 2022 nationwide protests, is still detained for over four months in Sari Prison with an unclear status of due process.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Yasin Moghadam has been detained for over four months in Sari Prison, Mazandaran Province.

An informed source told HRANA, “Moghadam is held in a ward of prisoners of violent crimes in Tirkala Prison, Sari, for 133 days, with an unclear status of due process.”

On November 29, 2022, 20-year-old Moghadam was arrested by security forces. After 26 days, he was transferred from a detention facility to Sari Prison.

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.

 

 Imprisoned British-Iranian National Mehran Raoof: Double Nationals Denied Their Citizen Rights in Iranian Prisons

Posted on by . .
News, Prisoners
British-Iranian National, Evin Prison, irgc, Mehran Raoof

In an open letter, political prisoner Mehran Raoof sheds light on how he and other political and double national prisoners are denied their fundamental rights in Iranian prisons.

He highlights that governments often use double national prisoners as leverage in negotiations with other countries, so the recent pardon and commutation directive does not include them.

Raoof further speaks out against the violations of his rights during detention, stating that the IRGC intelligence unit held him in detention for eight months without any furlough or access to a lawyer, which is a clear violation of Iranian law. Moreover, for several months, his family was kept in the dark about his condition and whereabouts, and he was not even allowed to contact them.

He ends his letter with these statements:
“This clear discrimination and oppression are not unfamiliar to us, who have lived under the rule of the Islamic Republic for over 40 years. Many of us, including political prisoners, women’s rights activists, environmental activists, and workers’ rights activists are imprisoned on charges of having different beliefs and opinions and protesting against wrong and dictatorial policies and laws. We stand in solidarity with the nationwide protests, demanding the unconditional release of all political prisoners.”

In October 2020, IRGC intelligence agents arrested this 65-year-old British-Iranian national and held him for eight months in a detention facility known as Ward 2A in Evin Prison. Later, he was relocated to Ward 1. In August 2021, Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Iman Afshari, sentenced him to ten years and eight months in prison, which was later reduced to seven years and six months.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Now is definitely not the time to stop reading!

Teacher Mohammad Ghanati Arrested in Arak

Posted on by . .
Labor and Guilds, News
Arak, Mohammad Ghanati

On April 10, 2023, Mohammad Ghanati, a teacher and resident of Arak, was arrested after an appearance at the Public and Revolutionary Court of Arak.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations, on April 10, 2023, teacher Mohammad Ghanati was arrested in Arak.

Ghanati reportedly was arrested after he was summoned and appeared at the Public and Revolutionary Court of Arak. He was summoned for accusations of “disturbing public order and propaganda against the regime.”

 

 

Lawyer Mohammad Najafi Sentenced to Three Years and Paying a Fine

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
Ali Khamenei, Arak, Mohammad Najafi, Sattar beheshti

The Criminal and Revolutionary Courts of Arak have sentenced lawyer Mohammad Najafi to a total of three years in prison and a fine for two parts of a legal case.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Mohammad Najafi, an attorney at law, was sentenced to three years and paying a fine for a legal case opened against him while he was in prison.

Najafi stated that he was sentenced to two years in prison and a 15-million-toman fine by Branch 106 of the Arak Criminal Court for “spreading falsehood” and to one year in prison by Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court for “propaganda against the regime”.

Najafi clarified that he did not attend the court and did not object to the verdict nor submit a plea of no contest for any part of the legal case. He stated that the reason for this legal case was due to his submission of a voice recording in prison showing support for the nationwide protests, which led to charges against his sister and brother as well.

Najafi has faced several other legal cases on prior occasions. In his last legal case, for the first part, he received three years in prison for insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran and four months for spreading falsehood. In December 2018, for the second part of this legal case, he was sentenced to 13 years in prison for “propaganda against the regime,” “insulting the Supreme Leader,” and “collaborating with hostile foreign countries by giving interviews with the Voice of America and Persian BBC.”

For the first part, he was pardoned and released from jail under a “pardon and commute” directive approved by Iran’s Supreme Leader. However, four days later, he was re-arrested and jailed in Arak Prison for the second part of this case.

In another legal case, Najafi received two years in prison and a fine for spreading falsehood to disturb public opinion after writing an open letter addressing Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran. This verdict was upheld on appeal. He was given this sentence while he had already been sentenced to one year in prison for the same charges in December 2018.

Furthermore, in February 2020, Najafi received six months in prison for attending and giving a speech at a ceremony in commemoration of Sattar Beheshti, a blogger who was tortured and killed in custody.

Ultimately, from all the above charges, Najafi received 10 years in prison for the charge of “collaboration with hostile foreign countries by giving interviews with the Voice of America and Persian BBC,” which was the charge with the severest punishment. This sentence was later reduced to four years and six months.

 

 

 

Jina Modarresi Gorji Arrested in Sanandaj

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
Jina Modarresi Gorji, Sanandaj

On April 10, 2023, security forces arrested Jina Modarresi Gorji in Sanandaj and took her to the Sanandaj Correctional Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, on April 10, 2023, Jina Modarresi Gorji was arrested by security forces in Sanandaj.

Security forces arrested Gorji violently and took her to the Sanandaj Correctional Prison. In recent days, she reportedly had been summoned to appear in Sanandaj Court, both in writing and via phone.

On September 21, 2022, Gorji was arrested during nationwide protests. On October 30, she was released on bail from the Sanandaj Correctional Prison. She has been reportedly accused of “forming a group to overthrow the regime” and “assembly and collusion against national security.”

Citizen Killed by Police During Arrest in Qods County

Posted on by . .
News, Other
Mohsen Maleki

On April 8, a citizen identified as Mohsen Maleki was fatally shot in the back of the head by police during a chase in Qods County.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on April 8, 2023, a citizen, identified by HRANA as Mohsen Maleki, was killed by the police in Qods County, Tehran province.

An informed source told HRANA, “At 1:00 AM on Saturday, several police agents raided Maleki’s house to arrest him. The police killed him while he was trying to run away. He was unarmed and did not intend to confront the police.”

HRANA’s annual report indicates that in 2022, 845 people were shot by police or military forces, and at least 571 of the victims lost their lives.

Over 100 Schoolgirls Hospitalized following Poison Attacks; Several Parents Arrested at Protests

Posted on by . .
Children, News, Other
Poison Attacks, Saqqez

On April 9, 2022, six schools in Saqqez, Kurdistan Province, were targeted by poison attacks, resulting in over 100 schoolgirls being hospitalized. Additionally, security forces arrested several parents who were protesting the attacks.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations, on April 9, 2022, more than 100 schoolgirls fell ill due to the poison attacks. Among them, 24 are in critical condition.

Security forces used tear gas to disperse the parents who had gathered outside these schools. The report did not provide information on the number of arrested parents or their detained location.

This incident is part of a larger trend of serial poison attacks on schools with toxic gas in Iran, primarily targeting girls’ schools. For further details and statistics, please refer to the HRANA report.