Category: Freedom of Expression

Mehdi Mohebi Sentenced to Five Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Iman Afshari, Mehdi Mohebi, The Tehran Revolutionary Court

Mehdi Mohebi, arrested during the 2022 nationwide protests, has been sentenced to five years in prison by the Tehran Revolutionary Court, as reported by HRANA, Human Rights Activists News Agency.

Mohebi was arrested by security forces during the nationwide protests and subsequently incarcerated at the Great Tehran Penitentiary following the indictment process.

Iman Afshari, the judge presiding over the case, sentenced Mohebi to five years for “assembly and collusion against national security.”
An informed source told HRANA that Mohebi was denied access to a lawyer throughout the entire legal proceedings.

Background on the 2022 Nationwide Protests

The arrest of Mahsa Amini by Tehran Morality Police for her improper hejab and her suspicious death on September 16 sparked protests sweeping across Iran. Protesters came to the streets with the central slogan “Women, Life, Freedom” in protest against the performance, laws and structure of the regime.

 

Four Citizens Sentenced to Imprisonment and Flogging for Opposing Compulsory Hijab

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Freedom of Expression, News
Abdolbagher Amani, HRANA, Mahsa Amini, Maryam Bani-Razi Motlagh, Mohammad-Reza Rostami, Reza Rashidi

Maryam Bani-Razi Motlagh, Abdolbagher Amani, Reza Rashidi, and Mohammad-Reza Rostami have been sentenced to over 17 months in prison and 148 lashes combined, along with additional punishment, by the Criminal Court of Qom.

Amani, Rashidi and Rostami each received 91 days and were prohibited from taking a public service profession for two years. This punishment is for hindering religious vigilantes from carrying out their religious duty of “enjoining good and forbidding wrong,” which includes enforcing compulsory hijab.
As HRANA earlier reported, Bani-Razi was sentenced to over eight months, 148 lashes and additional punishments for not complying with the compulsory Hijab.
The four individuals were reportedly arrested during the 2022 nationwide protests and were later released on bond.

About the 2022 Nationwide Protests

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

Iran Protests: Ramin Alinia Tazeh Kand Sentenced to Six Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
ardabil prison, azerbaijani activist, Ramin Alinia Tazeh Kand

HRANA, Human Rights Activists News Agency- Azerbaijani activist Ramin Alinia Tazeh Kand has been sentenced to six years in prison and social deprivation by the Tehran Revolutionary Court. He was arrested amid the nationwide protests of 2022.

Judge Salavati presided over the case and sentenced Alinia Tazeh Kand to five years in prison for “assembly and collusion against national security” and one year for “propaganda against the regime.” He has also been banned from political party and group memberships on social media, as well as leaving the country for two years.

Under Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, if the verdict is upheld on appeal, the five-year prison sentence for the first count will be enforceable.
Alinia Tazeh Kand was arrested by security forces on November 8, 2022, and was released on bail 22 days later from Ardabil Prison.

About the 2022 Nationwide Protests

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

 

 

 

French-Irish Citizen Bernard Phelan Freed from Jail in Iran

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Freedom of Expression, News
Bernard Phelan, Mashhad, Vakilabad prison

French-Irish citizen, Bernard Phelan, has been released from prison in Iran after being held in custody for several months. The Iranian embassy in Ireland has confirmed that his release was the result of diplomatic negotiations between Ireland and Iran.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting IRNA news agency, jailed French-Irish citizen Bernard Phelan was released from jail in Iran.

The Iranian embassy in Ireland stated that Phelan’s release was due to amnesty for humanitarian reasons and for showing goodwill in diplomatic relations between Iran and Ireland.

Phelan, who is 64 years old, was arrested by Iranian security forces during his last trip to Iran on October 3, 2022. He was later identified by the Irish Times as being held in Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad.

Phelan’s sister has previously stated that he was sentenced to six years and six months in prison for allegedly “providing information to another country,” among other charges.

Masoumeh Soleimani Arrested in Khorramabad

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Freedom of Expression, News
Khorramabad, Masoumeh Soleimani

On May 10, 2023, security forces arrested Masoumeh Soleimani, a wrestling coach and referee, and took her to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Masoumeh Soleimani was arrested in Khorramabad.

The reason for her arrest, the place of her confinement, and the accusations against her are presently unknown. Soleimani has previously been detained for her activism.

 

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Fatemeh Tadrisi Arrested in Tehran

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Freedom of Expression, News
Baharestan, Fatemeh Tadrisi, Kachooie Prison, Mojgan Tadrisi, Qarchak Prison

On May 9, 2023, Fatemeh (Mojgan) Tadrisi was arrested by security forces and taken to Qarchak Prison in Varamin.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on May 9, 2023, Fatemeh Tadrisi was arrested by security forces in Tehran.

According to an informed who spoke to HRANA, to participate in a teachers’ rally, Tadrisi went to Baharestan Square, where she was arrested by security forces. In a phone call, she informed her family that she had been detained in Qarchak Prison in Varamin. This marks Tadrisi’s third arrest since the start of the nationwide protests in 2022. She was previously detained for a month in Kachooie Prison and spent some time in Evin Prison.

The reasons for Tadrisi’s arrest and the allegations against her are currently unknown

 

Arash Sadeghi Sentenced to over Four Years

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Freedom of Expression, News
Arash Sadeghi, Tehran

The Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced former political prisoner Arash Sadeghi to four years and three months, with three years and seven months being enforceable.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, former political prisoner Arash Sadeghi was sentenced to four years and three months in prison.

Sadeghi’s lawyer revealed that in a retrial, Branch 26 of the court sentenced Sadeghi to three years and seven months for assembly and collusion against national security and eight months for propaganda against the regime.

If the verdict is upheld on appeal, based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, three years and seven months for the first charge will be enforceable.

Sadeghi had previously been sentenced to five years and eight months in late-January 2023, along with additional punishment for the same court branch. The retrial was held on April 11, 2023, following Sadeghi’s lawyer’s objection.

Amid the 2022 nationwide protests, on October 12, 2022, security forces arrested Sadeghi and took him to Ward 209 of Evin Prison. On January 21, 2023, he was released on bail.

Sadeghi faced other arrests and convictions in the past.

Ghafar Rezaian Arrested in Tehran

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ghafar Rezaian, Tehran, zanjan

On May 7, 2023, security forces arrested Ghafar Rezaian, a resident of Zanjan, in Tehran and took him to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on May 7, 2023, Ghafar Rezaian was arrested in Tehran.

According to an informed who spoke to HRANA, the arrest was allegedly due to Rezaian’s online activism, as he had been previously threatened with arrest by security forces.

The institution responsible for the arrest and Rezaian’s current whereabouts remain unknown.

Ghafar Rezaian faced other arrests and convictions for his activism.

 

 

 

Student Majid Shia Ali Sentenced to Two Years and Six Months

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Freedom of Expression, News
IRGC detention facility, Majid Shia Ali, Mashhad, Vakilaad Prison

Majid Shia Ali, a PhD student at the Islamic Azad University of Mashhad, has been sentenced to two years and six months in prison, with one year and six months being enforceable, according to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code.

The Court of Appeals of Razavi Khorasan Province handed down the verdict, sentencing Shia Ali to one year and six months for ‘membership in groups inside the country to act against national security,’ six months for ‘propaganda against the regime,’ and six months for ‘insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran.’ The Mashhad Revolutionary Court had initially sentenced Shia Ali to six years and six months for these same charges.

According to reports obtained by HRANA, Shia Ali faced this legal case for publishing a post online about the 2022 nationwide protests.

In November 2022, Shia Ali was arrested and spent 56 in detention, including 40 days in solitary confinement in an IRGC detention facility. He was later released on bail from Vakilaad Prison in early February 2023.

Sepideh Gholian Sentenced to Two Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Dezful, Evin Prison, Mehdi Gholian, Sepideh Gholian

Civil rights activist Sepideh Gholian has been sentenced to two years in prison, according to her brother Mehdi Gholian.

Gholian was re-arrested on March 15, 2023, shortly after being released from Evin Prison while on her way from Tehran to Dezful. She was taken to Ward 209 of Evin Prison and then transferred to the Women’s Ward of Evin Prison four days later.

The allegations against Gholian, a prominent civil rights activist, remain unknown at this time.

Gholian has previously been arrested and convicted for her activism.