Iran protests: Ali Davari on Trial for Allegedly ‘Enmity against God’ and ‘Spreading Corruption on Earth’

On December 24, 2022, the Rasht Revolutionary Court held the first court session against Ali (Makan) Davari, accused of the charges of ‘enmity against God’ (Moharebeh) and ‘spreading corruption on earth.’ Davari, a resident of Langarud, was arrested over protests and is currently in pre-trial detention at Ezbaram Lahijan Prison, Gilan Province.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on December 24, 2022, Ali (Makan) Davari’s trial began by the Rasht Revolutionary Court.

An informed source close to his family told HRANA: “In the first week of nationwide protests, on the way returning home from the gym, Makan helped several women in rescuing themselves from the assault of a group of men who later he found out that they were plainclothes security agents.”

According to this informed source, Davari’s mother, who is suffering from leukemia, was physically pushed and assaulted by the agents in the Langarud courthouse, where she had been to inquire about his son’s condition.

“In the first days following his arrest, they promised him and his family to drop the charges on the condition his family would not publicize his arrest and the charges. However, after three months, they did not keep their promise,” the informed source added.

In recent months, many protestors have faced charges such as Moharebeh and “spreading corruption on earth,” which can result in death.

HRANA has detailed the legal cases of 58 citizens sentenced to death or under the impending threat of death sentence over protests. Read this report here.

 

Iran Protests: Two Protestors Face Charge of Moharebeh in Rasht

Omid Bahrami Goor Masuleh and Rahmat Nowruzi, arrested at recent protests in the city of Rasht, faced the charge of “enmity against God” (Moharebeh), which can result in severe punishment, even the death penalty.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Omid Bahrami Goor Masuleh and Rahmat Nowruzi were indicted with the charge of “enmity against God” (Moharebeh).

An informed source told HRANA that these individuals faced these charges for their alleged participation in setting a Basij base on fire. The only evidence for this allegation is based on the torture-tainted confessions they made during detention, as Omid Bahrami informed his family that he had been beaten to confess.

In recent months, many protestors have faced charges such as Moharebeh and “spreading corruption on earth,” which can result in death penalty.

HRANA has detailed the legal cases of 58 citizens sentenced to death or under the impending threat of death sentence over protests. Read this report here.

Former Political Prisoner Soheil Arabi Arrested

Yesterday, January 2, 2023, security forces arrested former political prisoner Soheil Arabi at his home in Tehran and transferred him to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on January 2, 2023, former political prisoner Soheil Arabi was arrested.

An informed source told HRANA that Arabi suffers from several diseases and should have access to his essential medicines.

Soheil Arabi faced several arrests and convictions on prior occasions.

Iran Protests: Journalist Mehdi Ghadimi Arrested

On January 1, 2023, security forces arrested journalist Mehdi Ghadimi in Karaj and took him to an undisclosed location.

Ghadimi was arrested at his parents’ home in Karaj. The agents searched the house and confiscated some of their belongings.

The reason for his arrest and the charges are unknown so far.

Since the outbreak of nationwide protests, about 19200 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 Soroush Al-Mohammad Sentenced to Imprisonment and Flogging

The Semnan Court of Appeals recently sentenced Soroush Al-Mohammad to one year in prison, 74 lashes, banned from leaving the country and other social deprivation. Also, he previously received a one-year sentence for another part of his legal case.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Soroush Al-Mohammad, age 23, a student at Kharazmi University, was sentenced to one year and 74 lashes for “disturbing public order through participating in protests.”

Moreover, on November 12, 2022, Al-Mohammad received one year in prison for “propaganda against the regime.”

On September 26, 2022, IRGC’s intelligence agents arrested Al-Mohammad at his home in Semnan. According to an informed source, he was in solitary confinement and interrogated on suspicion of association with oppositional groups outside Iran. Then he was released on 400-million-toman bail.

Since the outbreak of nationwide protests, at least 683 students were arrested. At the time of writing, so far, 667 people were convicted over protests. For more details and statistics on the nationwide protest across Iran, read HRANA’s comprehensive report here.

 

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18-Year-Old Mehdi Mohammadi-Fard Sentenced to Death over Protests

The Revolutionary Court of Sari sentenced Mehdi Mohammadi-Fard to death on the charges of “spreading corruption on earth” and “enmity against God (Moharebeh).” He was previously arrested at protests in Nowshahr.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Mehdi Mohammadi-Fard, age 18, was sentenced to death (two times for two counts).

Along with this death sentence, Mohammadi-Fard received six months for “propaganda against the regime,” two years for “inciting people to murder and disrupt national security,” and one year for “insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran.”

According to a report obtained by HRANA, Mohammadi-Fard has been denied the right to choose his lawyer. Also, an informed source told HRANA that all his confessions had been extracted under torture and ill-treatment.

Mohammadi-Fard was arrested at protests on September 30, 2022, in Nowshahr.

HRANA has detailed the legal cases of 58 citizens sentenced to death or under the impending threat of death sentence over protests. Read this report here.

 

 

 

Student Sepideh Ahmadkhani Sentenced to Imprisonment and Flogging

The Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Sepideh Ahmadkhani, a student at Shahid Beheshti University, to six years in prison, 74 lashes and additional punishment.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Iranian Students Union, Sepideh Ahmadkhani was sentenced to five years for “assembly and collusion against national security,” one year and 74 lashes for “disturbing public order.”

As additional punishment, Ahmadkhani is banned from leaving the country and from membership in civil and political groups for two years. As Social Work Penalty, she must work for free in a nursing home for three months. Moreover, as an attempt to indoctrinate her, she also has to conduct research about patriotism.

If the verdict is upheld on appeal, five years for the first count will be enforceable to her.

On September 23, 2022, Ahmadkhani was arrested at protests and, after a while, released on a 600-million-toman bail until the end of legal proceedings.

 

Two Inmates Executed in Rajai-Shahr Prison

On December 29, 2022, Rajai-Shahr Prison officials executed two inmates convicted of murder.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Iran Human Rights Organization, on December 29, 2022, two co-defendants of a murder case, Hamidreza Nejati and Mohsen Nejati, were executed in Rajai-Shahr Prison.

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, two 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.

 

 

Writer Sepideh Salarvand Sentenced to Two Years in Prison

The Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Sepideh Salarvand to two years in prison, barred her from leaving the country and membership in civil and political groups for two years. As additional punishment for the purpose of indoctrination, she also has to conduct research about patriotism. She is an anthropologist, writer and children’s rights activist.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Sepideh Salarvand to years in prison on the charges of “assembly and collusion to act against national security.”

In early October 2022, security forces arrested Salarvand and jailed her in Ward 209 of Evin Prison. She was released on bail on October 17 until the end of legal proceedings.

 

Four Inmates Executed in Karaj and Shiraz

On December 28, 2022, three inmates convicted of drug-related crimes were executed in the Central Prison of Karaj. Also, on the same day, an inmate previously convicted of murder was executed in Adel-Abad Prison, Shiraz.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, three men, of which two have been identified by HRANA as Davood Yousefi and Ebrahim Ajalli, were executed in the Central Prison of Karaj.

Iran Human Rights Organization also reported the execution of an Afghan national Davood Rahmat-Ali in Adel-Abad Prison on the same day. Three years ago, Rahmat-Ali was arrested and sentenced to death for murder and carrying illegal weapons.  

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.