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Iran Protests: Elham Afkari Sentenced to Five Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Elham Afkari, Navid Afkari, Tasnim

The Shiraz Revolutionary Court recently sentenced Elham Afkari to five years in prison and barred her from leaving the country and social activities on the Internet for two years. She was previously arrested during recent protests by security forces in Shiraz.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, IRGC-affiliated news agency Tasnim reported that Elham Afkari was sentenced to five years in prison.

Tasnim’s report mentioned the charges as “intention to cause unrest and disruption via spreading the calls for protests on the Internet.” An informed source, however, told HRANA that Afkari and her lawyer have not yet been notified about the issuance of this sentence.

On November 10, 2022, Afkari was arrested in Shiraz. In protest against her arrest, she went on a hunger strike. She is currently jailed in Adel-Abad Prison.

Elham Afkari’s brother, Navid Afkari is a famous wrestler who was executed on September 12, 2020.

Iran Protests: Non-binary Teenager Raha Ajodani Arrested

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Children, LGBTQ+, News
iran protests, Non-binary Teenager, Raha Ajodani

On December 17, 2022, Raha Ajodani, a non-binary teenager, was arrested by security forces in Tehran and reportedly transferred to a youth detention centre.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on December 17, 2022, Raha Ajodani was arrested in Tehran.
An informed source told HRANA, Ajodani was arrested while leaving her home. The agents searched the house and confiscated some of her belongings.

“Since her registered gender does not match her gender identity, it is unclear in which section for boys or girls, Ajodani has been sent, raising her family concerns,” this informed source added.

Despite frequent family inquiries, the reason for her arrest and the charges are unknown.

Earlier, on October 26, 2022, Ajodani was arrested at recent protests and released after a few hours.

 

Reporter Maryam Ghannad Arrested

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, IRNA, Maryam Ghannad

On December 18, security forces arrested the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reporter Maryam Ghannad in Tehran and detained her in Ward 209 of Evin Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on December 18, 2022, IRNA reporter Maryam Ghannad was arrested by security forces in Tehran.

An informed source close to her family told HRANA that she was once allowed a short call informing her family that she is held in Ward 209 of Evin Prison.

The reason for her arrest and the charges are still unknown.

 

 

Iran Protests: Student Amir-Reza Hosseini Sentenced to Three Years and Seven Months

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Freedom of Expression, News, Students

Recently, the Revolutionary Court of Shahriar sentenced Amir-Reza Hosseini to three years and seven months in prison. Hosseini is a student at the Islamic Azad University of Qods City.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Iranian Students Union, Amir-Reza Hosseini was sentenced to three years and seven months imprisonment on the charge of “assembly and collusion against national security.”

Hosseini was arrested on October 29 during student protests and transferred to Great Tehran Penitentiary.

Since the outbreak of nationwide protests, about 18400, including journalists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, have been arrested. For more details and statistics on the nationwide protest across Iran, read the latest HRANAs comprehensive report here.

 

Violent Crackdown on Prisoners’ Protests in Qaem Shahr and Karaj Prisons

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News, Prisoners

On December 18, 2022, unrest and a clash between inmates and prison guards occurred in Qaem Shahr Prison, Mazandaran Province. Prison guards got into a fight with prisoners when they wanted to take a death-row inmate to carry out his execution.

According to the news agency Young Journalists Club, the clash occurred following the relocation of an inmate convicted of murder to carry out his execution the next day, on Monday, morning.

Chief Justice of Mazandaran claimed one of the prisoners started the fight and the unrest was quelled with prison special forces’ interference.

Also, on December 17, a similar clash occurred in The Central Prison of Karaj following prisoners’ resistance against executing several death-row inmates.

An informed source, however, told HRANA that more than 100 prisoners were injured during the unrest, and prison forces used guns to crush the unrest.

As HRANA already reported that this crackdown most likely has been deadly, the Chief Justice of Alborz stated that one inmate was killed during the clash.

Following this incident, several prisoners’ families gathered before the prison to inquire about the prisoners’ conditions, which remained unanswered by prison officials.

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Baha’i Bardia Basiri Arrested

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News, Religious Minorities
Ayda Rasti, Bahais, Bardia Basiri, Tehran

On December 17, 2022, security forces arrested Baha’i citizen Bardia Basiri at his home in Tehran. His wife, Ayda Rasti, is also detained. The intelligence agents searched his house and confiscated some of his belongings.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on December 17, 2022, Baha’i Bardia Basiri was arrested by security forces in Tehran.

An informed source told HRANA that Aida Rasti got a severe nervous attack and was hospitalized when she found out about his husband’s arrest.

Earlier, Basiri had been interrogated following his wife’s arrest.

Ayda Rasti is still in detention in Qarchak Prison after 81 days. During her detention, she suffered from nervous problems and lost weight.

 

Six Inmates Executed in Rajai-Shahr and Qazvin Prisons

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Executions, News
Qazvin, Rajai-Shahr, Yousef Mirza-Beigi

Five inmates in Rajai-Shahr Prison and one in Qazvin Prison were executed.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on December 14, 2022, Rajai-Shahr Prison officials executed five inmates convicted of murder.

HRANA is working on identifying these individuals.

Also, Kurdpa reported the execution of an inmate identified as Yousef Mirza-Beigi in Qazvin Prison on December 15. He was previously convicted of murder.

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

Iran Protests: Six People Sentenced to a Combined over 18 Years for Protest in Oshnavieh

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Freedom of Expression, News
Abdorrahim Rahimi, Ehsan Safai-Far, Fardin Khosh-Khahesh, Farhad Kazemi, Khaled Dashti, Mohammad Peyghami, Oshnavieh

The Oshnavieh Criminal Court sentenced Farhad Kazemi, Khaled Dashti, Ehsan Safai-Far, Mohammad Peyghami, Abdorrahim Rahimi and Fardin Khosh-Khahesh to a combined 18 years and six months in prison. These individuals were arrested during recent protests and then released on bail.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, six residents of Oshnavieh were sentenced to a total of 18 years and six months in prison.

According to these verdicts, Abdorrahim Rahimi and Fardin Khosh-Khahesh received five years and three months for “disturbing public order, defying government agents, and destruction of public property through participating in protests.” Farhad Kazemi, Khaled Dashti, Ehsan Safai-Far and Mohammad Peyghami each received two years for “disturbing public order and defying government agents.”

These individuals were previously arrested by security forces and released later on bail after the interrogation.

Since the outbreak of nationwide protests, about 18400, including journalists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, have been arrested. For more details and statistics on the nationwide protest across Iran, read the latest HRANAs comprehensive report here.

Civil Rights Activist Shahla Jahanbin Arrested

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Freedom of Expression, News

On December 14, 2022, security forces arrested Shahla Jahanbin at Mehrabad airport in Tehran and took her to an undisclosed location.

An informed source close to her family told HRANA that “Jahanbin was on her way to Mashhad to see her husband, Vahedian Shahroudi. The intelligence agents arrested her at Mehrabad Airport at midnight. So far, she has not called her family, raising her family’s concerns.”

Jahanbin and her husband, Abbas Vahedian Shahroudi, faced other arrests and convictions for their civil activities.

On November 14, 2020, Jahanbin began her 27-month sentence in Evin Prison. On April 5, 2021, she was released early from prison following receiving an imprisonment intolerance certificate.

Three Inmates Executed in Rasht and Karaj

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Executions, News
Amir Abbasi, Hassan Amini, Karaj, Lakan prison, Rasht, Reza Tajik

On December 15, 2022, three inmates convicted of murder and drug-related crimes were executed in Lakan Prison in Rasht and the Central Prison of Karaj.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on December 15, 2022, quoting Iran Human Rights Organization, Hassan Amini and Amir Abbasi were executed in Lakan Prison, Rasht, Gilan Province.

These individuals were previously sentenced to death for murder.

Also, an Afghan national identified as Reza Tajik convicted of drug-related crimes was executed in the Central Prison of Karaj.