Seven Arrested for Inciting Public Dancing in Rasht

In Rasht, Gilan Province, seven individuals were arrested and taken to an undisclosed location for allegedly inciting public dancing and propaganda against the regime.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Khabar Online, seven people were arrested in Rasht.

The detainees were apprehended for allegedly inviting and encouraging people to dance in public, removing hijab, and engaging in immodesty.
Khabar Online did not mention the identities of these detainees and the location of their detention.”

Two Individuals Arrested in Bukan

Security forces recently arrested Alan Daghdar and Siamak Hayasi in Bukan and took them to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, on April 18, 2023, Alan Daghdar was arrested in Bukan.

On April 19, Siamak Hayasi was also arrested in this city.

During the arrests, the agents reportedly did not show any arrest warrant. They also searched Hayasi’s house and seized some of his belongings.

The reason for these arrests, the location of their detention and the allegations are currently unknown.

 

 

Political Activist Keyvan Samimi Arrested

Keyvan Samimi, a political activist and the editor of Iran Farda Magazine, was arrested by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Shargh Newspaper, political activist Keyvan Samimi was arrested by security forces on charges of allegedly associating with an anti-regime group outside the country.

In January 2023, Samimi was released from Semnan Prison after serving a three-year sentence. However, he had to provide a bond to be released due to a new legal case opened against him while in prison.

On August 18, 2022, Samimi was indicted for “assembly and collusion” under Article 10 of the Islamic Penal Code.

Samimi has a history of political activism and has previously been imprisoned for six years in 2009 for questioning the outcome of the disputed 2009 presidential election, participating in protests, and writing articles critical of the government. He has also been imprisoned for his political activities prior to the 1979 Revolution.

Azerbaijani (Turk) Activist Mahmood Ojaghlou Indicted on New Charges

On April 19, 2023, Azerbaijani (Turk) activist Mahmood Ojaghlou was indicted by the Tehran Public and Revolutionary Court on new charges. He has been in custody since his arrest on December 11, 2022, and is currently being held at Evin Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on April 19, 2023Azerbaijani (Turk) activist Mahmood Ojaghlou was indicted on charges of “membership in Azerbaijan National Awakening group” and “disturbing public opinions to cause unrest.”

Ojaghlou has also been charged with “propaganda against the regime” and “assembly and collusion against national security” on December 12, 2022.
Ojaghlou has faced other arrests by security forces in the past.

 

Lawyer Sina Yousefi Sentenced to Imprisonment and Paying a Fine

Branch 112 of the Tabriz Criminal Court sentenced Sina (Hossein) Yousefi, attorney at law, to 91 days imprisonment and paying a 15-million-toman fine.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, lawyer Sina Yousefi was sentenced to three months imprisonment.

Yousefi received this sentence for “spreading falsehood on the Internet.”

“Giving unrealistic statistics” on arrests over recent protests in a tweet was presented to the court as an example of this charge.

For another part of his legal case, Yousefi has been sentenced to six months and a ban from leaving the country for two years.
Yousefi, who is the vice chairman of the human rights commission of the Azerbaijan Province bar association, clarifies, “Since so many people came to the commission asking for representing the arrestees over protests, we decided to establish a ‘defense committee’… Now, for doing my job, I have faced the charge of forming an illegal group.”

Yousefi, age about 38, was arrested by security forces on October 15, 2022. Twelve days later, he was released on bail from Tabriz Prison.

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Foad Choobin Arrested in Izeh

On April 11, 2023, security forces arrested Foad Choobin in Izeh and took him to an undisclosed location. His nephew, Artin Rahmani, was killed by regime forces during the 2022 nationwide protests in Izeh.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on April 11, 2023, Foad Choobin was arrested in Izeh, Khuzestan Province.
Hengameh Choobin, his sister and Artin Rahmani’s mother, stated that the agents did not show any arrest warrant and arrested him violently.

The allegations against Choobin remain unknown.

Choobin’s relative, Artin Rahmani, was fatally shot in the head by security forces during the protests in Izeh.

About the 2022 Nationwide Protests

The arrest of Mahsa Amini by Tehran Morality Police for her improper hijab 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.

Three Individuals Arrested in Bukan

Recently, security forces arrested three citizens, Abubakr Mamzadeh, Razgar Beygzadeh Babamiri and Ahmad Mamzadeh and took them to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kolbarnews, on April 17, 2023, Abubakr Mamzadeh, age 52, and Razgar Beygzadeh Babamiri, age 38, were arrested in Bukan.

The next day, security forces arrested Abubakr’s brother, Ahmad Mamzadeh, age 63.

The reason for their arrests, whereabouts and allegations against them are still unknown.

 

Journalist Hassan Abbasi Faces Legal Action for Report on Retired Sailors

Hassan Abbasi, a journalist, is facing legal action after the Bandar-Abbas Ministry of Cooperatives, Labour, and Social Welfare filed a complaint against him regarding his report on retired sailors. The report in question dealt with the issues faced by retired sailors of the Hormozgan Shipping Company.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Hassan Abbasi faced legal action for making a report on the issues of retired sailors of the Hormozgan Shipping Company.

Abbasi stated that he has also been summoned to the police station for allegations that include disturbing public order, insulting individuals, causing terror, destroying government properties, filming a government facility, and publishing it online.

Moreover, in March 2023, the prosecutor of Bandar-Abbas filed a complaint against Abbasi for his criticism of the judiciary.

Abbasi has previously faced other legal actions for his work as a journalist.

Two Individuals Arrested in Zahedan

Hamed Kahrazeh and Naeem Bijarzahi, both residents of Zahedan, were arrested on April 12 by intelligence agents and taken to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Baloch Activists Campaign, on April 12, 2023, security forces arrested Hamed Kahrazeh and Naeem Bijarzahi in Zahedan, Sistan and Baluchestan Province.

According to sources, the two individuals were arrested violently on a street in Zahedan. Baloch Activists Campaign reported that during a phone call to their families, they mentioned filming the arrest of Mohammad Narooie as the reason for their arrest. The Ministry of Intelligence identified them through CCTV cameras.

The whereabouts of Kahrazeh and Bijarzahi remain unknown.

Mohammad-Reza Morad Behroozi Goes on Hunger Strike in Protest against New Charges

Mohammad-Reza Morad Behroozi, who is currently serving his sentence in Qazvin Prison, has recently started a hunger strike to protest against new charges brought against him while in prison. He is also being denied phone calls and family visitation.

In this new legal case, Branch 102 of the Criminal Court of Mohammadiyeh has sentenced Morad Behroozi to ten months for “disturbing public opinions” and eight months and ten days for “inciting people to act against public modesty.” He has also been banned from leaving the country for two years, and his cell phone has been confiscated.

His wife, Soori Babai Chegini, has also been sentenced to one month for “demonstrating a Haram act” and six months for “inciting people to act against public modesty,” and her cell phone has been confiscated as well.

The charges against them stem from publishing pictures without wearing Hijab on their personal pages on social media.

If these verdicts are upheld on appeal, Morad Behroozi will serve ten months in prison, while Babai Chegini will serve six months, in accordance with Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code.

According to an informed source, Behroozi is facing a charge of “propaganda against the regime” in the second part of his legal case. He has also been charged with spreading falsehoods due to the dissemination of his voice recording from prison. This same source stated that Behroozi had been beaten by prison officials.

In protest against these new charges, Behroozi started a hunger strike.

Behroozi was arrested on August 21, 2021, at his house after posting a video on social media in which he criticized the Supreme Leader for banning Covid-19 vaccines from other countries.
In a trial held in absentia, Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court of Qazvin, headed by Judge Esmail Amini, sentenced Behroozi to one year in prison on the charge of “offensive statements against the Supreme Leader of Iran.”