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Reporter Nasim Soltan Beigi Arrested

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Freedom of Expression, News
Iran Jalili, Nasim Soltan Beigi

Yesterday, security forces arrested reporter and former student activist Nasim Soltan Beigi at the airport and took her to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on January 11, 2023, Nasim Soltan Beigi, a reporter and former student activist, was arrested by security forces at the airport while leaving the country.

Her mother, Iran Jalili, wrote on social media, “last night, my daughter was arrested at the airport while she was leaving the country. Her cell phone went off when she went to get her boarding pass. After a few hours, in a short phone call, she informed us that she was arrested and her belongings were confiscated.”
Soltan Beigi faced other arrests and convictions on prior occasions.

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

 

Six Inmates Executed in Arak and Karaj

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Executions, News

On January 11, 2023, five inmates convicted of drug-related crimes were executed in Arak Prison. Also, on the same day, the Central Prison of Karaj officials executed an inmate for “enmity against God (Moharebeh) through armed robbery.”

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on January 11, 2023, five inmates were executed in Arak Prison. HRANA has identified one of them as Ali Geravand. All five people were previously sentenced to death for drug offences.

Also, an inmate identified by HRANA as Reza Haji was executed in the Central Prison of Karaj. According to an informed source close to his family, he was sentenced to death for armed robbery.

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.

13 People Arrested for Allegedly Espionage

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News, Other
Espionage, Golestan, Isfahan, Mizan Online, Tehran, West Azerbaijan, Yazd

Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence announced the arrest of 13 people accused of “espionage” in Tehran, Isfahan, Yazd, Golestan and West Azerbaijan Provinces.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Mizan Online News Agency, 13 individuals were arrested for allegedly “espionage.”

The Ministry of intelligence claimed that in Tehran, Isfahan, Yazd, Golestan and West Azerbaijan Provinces, 23 individuals working for Mossad (the intelligence agency of Israel) were detected, of which 13 people residing inside the country were apprehended before they could take any action. The Ministry claimed that the “head of this spy network” has been identified as “Sirus,” residing in one of the European Countries. This report did not disclose the detainees’ identities.

Although the prosecution of individuals for espionage is not considered a violation of human rights, there are concerns about the validity of these allegations due to the frequent use of such accusations by Iran’s regime in order to suppress its political dissidents and due to the ambiguities in legal proceedings and the lack of transparency about such legal cases.

Translator Nazanin Keynejad Sentenced to Four Years Imprisonment

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Freedom of Expression, News
Babak Rezakhani, Evin Prison, Nazanin Keynejad

The Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced translator Nazanin Keynejad to four years in prison, banned from leaving the country and other social deprivations for two years.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, translator Nazanin Keynejad was sentenced to imprisonment.

According to her spouse, Babak Rezakhani, the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided by judge Salavati, sentenced Keynejad to four years in prison. She was also banned from leaving the country, membership in political parties and groups, and activities on social media for two years.

On October 8, 2022, security forces arrested Keynejad at her house in Tehran and took her to Evin Prison. After a while, she was transferred to Qarchak Prison in Varamin.

Belgian Olivier Vandecasteele Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison and Flogging

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News, Other
flogging, HRANA, Olivier Vandecasteele, RTL News

Iran’s judiciary announced that the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Belgian Olivier Vandecasteele to 40 years imprisonment and 74 lashes.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Mizan Online news agency, jailed Belgian aid worker Olivier Vandecasteele was sentenced to imprisonment, flogging and paying a fine.

Vandecasteele received 12.5 years for “spying on the Islamic Republic of Iran for foreign intelligence services,” 12.5 years for “collaboration with the USA, as a hostile country against Iran’s regime,” 12.5 years for “money laundering half a million dollars,” as well as forfeiting this money and its revenues, and 2.5 years for “smuggling half million dollars.” He was also sentenced to a one-million-dollar fine and 74 lashes.

Appealing, reportedly, is admissible within 20 days.

At odds with this verdict, on December 14, 2022, quoting Vandecasteele’s family, RTL News reported that he had received 28 years.
Vandecasteele’s whereabouts are still unknown.

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Iranian Jewish Citizen El Nathan Masih Israelian Released from Evin Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News, Religious Minorities
El Nathan Masih Israelian, Evin Prison, Iranian Jewish Citizen

On January 7, 2023, Iranian Jewish citizen Elnathan Masih Israelian was released on bail from Evin Prison. In Late October 2022, security forces arrested him.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, an Iranian Jewish citizen, identified by HRANA as Elnathan Masih Israelian was released on bail.

The reason, the charges for Israelian’s arrest and the security intelligence responsible for his arrest are still unknown. However, in early November, Kaan News Agency reported the arrest of three Jewish-Iranian individuals during nationwide protests. Israelian is likely one of the three people mentioned in Kaan’s report.

Due to the Iranian regime’s hostility to Israel, the Iranian Jewish community is living in constant fear of vindictive prosecution from the regime. Consequently, since the 1979 revolution, the Jewish community population has been reduced from one hundred thousand to below ten thousand.

 

 

Journalist Ehsan Pirbornash Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Behnaz Mirmotahharian, Ehsan Pirbornash, Sari

The Sari Revolutionary Court sentenced journalist and humour columnist Ehsan Pirbornash to 18 years in prison. If the verdict is upheld on appeal, based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, ten years in prison for one count will be enforceable.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, journalist Ehsan Pirbornash was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment.

His wife, Behnaz Mirmotahharian stated: “despite having a certificate of penal intolerance, Pirbornash was sentenced to 18 years in prison, of which 10 years is enforceable.”
On October 28, 2022, security forces arrested Pirbornash and after 12 days jailed him from a detention facility in Qaemshahr Prison.
The charges against Pirbornash are still unknown.
 
 

Workers’ Rights Activist Keyvan Mohtadi Sentenced to Six Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Anisha Asadaollahi, Evin Prison, Keyvan Mohtadi, ward 209

The Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced workers’ rights activist Keyvan Mohtadi to six years in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, workers’ rights activist Keyvan Mohtadi was sentenced to five years on the charge of “assembly and collusion against national security” and one year for “propaganda against the regime.”

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

On May 9, 2022, security forces arrested Mohtadi and his partner, Anisha Asadollahi, at their house and transferred them to Ward 209 of Evin Prison in Tehran.

Anisha Asadollahi and Keyvan Mohtadi had been arrested and convicted before for their civil activities. On May 1, 2019, with many other workers and worker’s rights activists, Anisha Asadollahi was arrested at a gathering for the celebration of international workers’ Day. Subsequently, the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced her to one-year imprisonment (of which six months were suspended) and 74 lashes on the charge of “disturbing the public order”. She was jailed in Evin prison for sentencing on January 4, 2020, and was freed on January 21 of that year.

Baha’i Citizen Badi Khazei Sentenced to Five Years in Prison

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News, Religious Minorities
Badi Khazei, Baha'i citizen

The Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Baha’i citizen Badi Khazei to six years in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Baha’i citizen Badi Khazei was sentenced to six years in prison.

According to this verdict, Khazei received five years for “assembly and collusion against national security” and one year for “propaganda against the regime.” If the verdict is upheld on appeal, based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, five years in prison for the first count, as the severest punishment, will be enforceable.

His lawyer has appealed against the decision to the court of appeals.

Khazei was arrested in Tehran by security forces. An informed source told HRANA that, last week, Khazei travelled to Tehran from Bandar Abbas for some administrative work. On October 7 or 8, several plainclothes agents arrested him in the street and took him to Great Tehran Penitentiary. Khazei was released on bail from Evin Prison on December 21, 2022.

 

Three Death Sentences and 58 Years Imprisonment for Five Protestors

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners

In a legal case over protests in Isfahan, Saleh Mirhashemi, Majid Kazemi, and Saeed Yaghoubi were sentenced to death and a total of 30 years in prison on several charges, including “enmity against God” (Moharebeh). Also, two other co-defendants, football player Amir Nasr Azadani and Soheil Jahangiri, were sentenced to 26 years and 2 years, respectively.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Mizan, Saleh Mirhashemi, Majid Kazemi, and Saeed Yaghoubi, were sentenced to death.

On November 16, 2022, during Isfahan protests in Mahallah Khaneh and Malek Shahr districts, Colonel Esmail Cheraghi and two Basij Militia Forces Mohammad-Hossein Karimi and Mohsen Hamidi were killed.

 

According to these verdicts, each of these individuals was sentenced to death on “enmity against God” and ten years for “membership in illegal groups to act against national security” and “assembly and collusion against national security.”

The fourth-row defendant Amir Nasr Azadani was sentenced to 16 years for “assisting in enmity against God”, 5 years for “membership in illegal groups to act against national security,” and 5 years for “assembly and collusion against national security.”

The fifth-row defendant Soheid Jahangiri was sentenced to two years for “assembly and collusion against national security.” The sixth-row defendant Jaber Mirhashemi was acquitted of all counts.