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Civil Rights Activist Hamid Haj-Jafar Kashani Arrested

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News, Other
Evin Courthouse, Fariba Fereidooni, Hamid Haj-Jafar Kashani, Iranian Futsal Referee, Rajai Shahr Prison

On January 16, 2023, civil rights activist and futsal referee Hamid Haj-Jafar Kashani was arrested when he went to Evin Courthouse to inquire about a relative’s legal case. Currently serving his sentence in Rajai-Shahr prison, Haj-Jafar Kashani was spending his medical furlough before his arrest at Evin.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on January 16, 2023, civil rights activist Haj-Jafar Kashani was arrested.

An informed source told HRANA, “Kashani accompanied Fariba Fereidooni who was summoned to Evin Courthouse. Security forces apprehended him violently and took him inside the courthouse. After a few hours, they handcuffed him and took him to Evin Prison.”
According to this source, Kashani was on medical furlough to undergo surgery for his lumbar disc.

In the fall of 2020, security forces arrested Kashani and jailed him in Evin Prison. Subsequently, the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced him to three years and six months in prison for “assembly and collusion against national security” and six months for “propaganda against the regime.” He was also sentenced to additional punishment.

In August of this year, he faced new charges following the complaint of the head of the Tehran Prisons and Security and Corrective Measures Organization.

Workers’ Rights Activist Maziar Seyednejad Sentenced to Three Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
irgc, Maziar Seyednejad, Tehran Revolutionary Court

The Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced workers’ rights activist Maziar Seyednejad to three years in prison and additional punishments.

According to this verdict, Seyednejad received two years for “membership in Communist groups” and one year for “propaganda against the regime.” He is also banned from leaving the country for two years and from membership in political groups and social activities on the Internet.

If the verdict is upheld on appeal, based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, two years in prison for the first count will be enforceable.
Taking his previous three-year sentence into account, he has to serve five years in prison.

On June 7, 2021, security forces arrested Seyednejad at his home in Tehran and took him to IRGC’s detention facility in Evin Prison, known as Ward 2-A. On August 16, 2021, he was released on 600-million-toman bail until the end of legal proceedings.
Seyednejad faced other arrests and convictions on prior occasions for his civil activities.

 

Report on Protestor Maryam Esmailzadeh’s Death

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Freedom of Expression, News
Babak Esmailzadeh, Maryam Esmailzadeh

On December 15, 2022, Maryam Esmailzadeh was shot dead by security agents in Tehran. HRANA has obtained documents and evidence about her death. Based on these documents and eyewitness statements, this report sheds light on this example of the regime’s atrocities and following cover-ups.

On Thursday, December 15, 2022, security forces killed Maryam Esmailzadeh, age 39, a resident of Tehran. They delivered her body to her family to bury her in Behesht Zahra cemetery under tightening security measures.

The cemetery officials as well as Tehran forensics mentioned in the burial permit the “struck by hard object” as the cause of Esmailzadeh’s death.  

Her brother, Babak Esmailzadeh, told HRANA, “My sister left home located in Niavaran district in Tehran and after a while, they informed us that she had been killed. On that day, there was no protest in Niavaran. However, since my sister had participated actively in protests days before, we suspect that the security agents had identified her and hunted her down.”

“My sister was killed by three bullets in the chest and heart. They wrapped her body in a plastic cover and buried her in that wrap without allowing us to see the body. They forced us to announce cardiac arrest as the cause of her death on social media,” he added.

According to her brother, Esmailzadeh had contracted breast cancer. She worked as a nail implant designer.

HRANA estimates that at least 525 people have been killed at recent protests. For more details and statistics on the nationwide protest across Iran, read HRANA’s comprehensive report here.

Children’s Rights Activist Mahya Vahedi Arrested

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Freedom of Expression, News, Women
Imam Ali's Popular Students, Mahya Vahedi, Meisam Vahedi

On January 15, security forces arrested children’s rights activist Mahya Vahedi.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Mahya Vahedi was arrested.

Her brother, Meisam Vahedi, wrote on his page on social media, “My sister was arrested at her workplace without giving any explanation. The agents confiscated some of her electronic devices.”

Mahya Vahedi is a children’s and women’s rights activist and former voluntary member of Imam Ali’s Popular Students Relief Society.

The reason for this arrest and her whereabouts are still unknown.

Since the outbreak of nationwide protests, about 19400 people, including journalists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, have been arrested. So far, at least 724 people have been convicted over protests. For more details and statistics on the nationwide protest across Iran, read HRANA’s comprehensive report here.

 

Reporter Ahmadreza Halabisaz Sentenced to Two Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ahmadreza Halabisaz, Evin Prison, Tehran

Reporter and photographer Ahmadreza Halabisaz was sentenced to two years in prison. He was also ­banned from practicing journalism and leaving the country. Initially, he had received five years in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, reporter Ahmadreza Halabisaz was sentenced to imprisonment and social deprivations.

Recently, he was summoned to Evin Prison to start his prison sentence.

In September 2022, Halabisaz was arrested amid nationwide protests in Tehran and released on bail after 27 days. The charge against him is still unknown at the time of this writing.

Since the outbreak of nationwide protests, about 19400 people, including journalists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, have been arrested. So far, at least 724 people have been convicted over protests. For more details and statistics on the nationwide protest across Iran, read HRANA’s comprehensive report here.

 

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Iran Protests: Bita Haghani Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Bita Haghani, Majid Kaveh, Qaem Shahr, Sari

The Sari Revolutionary Court sentenced Bita Haghani Nasimi, arrested at recent protests, to 18 years in prison. She was also banned from leaving the country for two years and sentenced to the “seizure of the means of committing the crime.”

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Bita Haghani Nasimi, arrested at protests, was sentenced to 18 years in prison.

According to this verdict, Haghani has been acquitted of “spreading corruption on earth.” However, she received 18 years for other counts. If this verdict is upheld on appeal, based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, five years in prison for one count will be enforceable.
Confirming the issuance of this sentence, her lawyer, Majid Kaveh, stated that the appeal is admissible.

On October 18, 2022, security forces arrested 22-year-old Haghani in Sari and jailed her in Qaem Shahr Prison after ending the interrogation. She had been charged with “spreading corruption on earth.”

Since the outbreak of nationwide protests, about 19400 people, including journalists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, have been arrested. For more details and statistics on the nationwide protest across Iran, read HRANA’s comprehensive report here.

 

Student Samaneh Asghari Still Detained after Three Months

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Freedom of Expression, News, Students
Erfan Karim-Veisi, Evin Prison, Kharazmi University, Qarchak Prison, Samaneh Asghari

Samaneh Asghari, a student at Kharazmi University, is still detained in Qarchak Prison, Varamin, for over three months. The Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office of Shahr-e-Rey recently filed an indictment against her.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, student Samaneh Asghari is still detained for over three months.

Her lawyer, Erfan Karim-Veisi, announced, Asghari has been charged with “assembly and collusion against national security, disturbing public order, inciting people to commit violence and murder, propaganda against the regime and provoking women to be present in public without Hejab, membership in groups to act against national security and spreading falsehood.”

He also stated that the court refused to grant a release on bail.
On October 11, 2022, security forces arrested Asghari and jailed her in Ward 209 of Evin Prison. After a while, she was relocated to Qarchak Prison.

Lawyer Behzad Hakimizadeh Arrested

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Freedom of Expression, News
Behzad Hakimizadeh, Saqqez

On Monday, January 9, security forces arrested attorney at law Behzad Hakimizadeh at his home in Saqqez and took him to a detention facility in this city.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on January 9, 2023, lawyer Behzad Hakimizadeh was arrested in Saqqez.

The reason for his arrest and the allegations against him are still unknown.

Since the outbreak of nationwide protests, about 19400 people, including journalists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, have been arrested. For more details and statistics on the nationwide protest across Iran, read HRANA’s comprehensive report here.

Baha’i Citizen Nabil Movafaghi Arrested

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News, Religious Minorities

On Thursday, January 12, security forces arrested Baha’i citizen Nabil Movafaghi, a resident of Sari, at his relatives’ house in Gonbad-e Kavus, Golestan Province. The agents searched the house, confiscated some of his belongings, and took him to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on January 12, 2023, Baha’i Nabil Movafaghi was arrested in Gonbad-e Kavus, Golestan Province.

Movafaghi is 24 years old and a resident of Sari, Mazandaran Province.

The reason for his arrest and the allegations are still unknown.

According to unofficial sources, it is estimated that more than 300,000 Baha’is live in Iran, but the Iranian Constitution recognizes only Islam as the official religion, in addition to Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism. Bahai faith is not considered legitimate by the authorities, and the rights of Baha’is in Iran have been systematically violated for years.

 

Two Inmates Executed in Rasht and Gorgan

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Executions, News
Gorgan Prison, Milad Ashoob, Rasht, Shahram Mortazavi

On January 11, 2023, an inmate convicted of murder was executed in Lakan Prison, Rasht. HRANA has identified the inmate as Milad Ashoob.

Also, another inmate, identified as Shahram Mortazavi, was executed in Gorgan Prison on the same day. An informed source close to his family told HRANA that he committed murder during a fight.

None of the official sources and media outlets inside the country has reported these executions at the time of writing.

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.