Category: Freedom of Expression

Eight Protesters Facing Serious Charges in Izeh

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Freedom of Expression, News
Abbas Korkori, ahvaz, Bahman Bahmani, Behrooz Salahshoor, Esmail Mousavi, Izeh, Mohsen Ahmadpour, Mojahed Korkori, Rasoul Bodaghi, Reza Arabpour, Sadegh Ghasemi, Sheyban Prison, Vahid Abbasi

Eight individuals who were arrested during the nationwide protests in Izeh in 2022 have been indicted on charges of “enmity against God (Moharebeh)” and “spreading corruption on earth.” Their cases have been referred to Branch 4 of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court for trial.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, in Izeh, eight protestors were indicted for charges carrying the potential for severe punishments.

An informed source told HRANA, that in one legal case, Bahman Bahmani, Mohsen Ahmadpour, Behrooz Salahshoor, Rasoul Bodaghi, Vahid Abbasi, Reza Arabpour, Sadegh Ghasemi and Esmail Mousavi were indicted for “enmity against God (Moharebeh)” and “spreading corruption on earth.”

It is currently unknown which actions led to the charges being filed against them.

These individuals were arrested by IRGC intelligence agents and imprisoned in Sheyban Prison in Ahvaz following their interrogation.

These charges are very serious, as was demonstrated when Abbas (Mojahed) Korkori, a resident of Izeh, was recently sentenced to death by the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court on similar charges.

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.

 

Mohsen Ghoreishi Imprisoned in Great Tehran Penitentiary

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Freedom of Expression, News
great tehran penitentiary, Mohsen Ghoreishi

On April 19, Mohsen Ghoreishi, arrested amid the 2019–2020 Iranian protests, was imprisoned in Great Tehran Penitentiary to start serving his three-and-a-half-year sentence.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Mohsen Ghoreishi was arrested in Shahriar County, Tehran province, and imprisoned in Great Tehran Penitentiary to start serving his sentence.

The Shahriar Revolutionary Court previously sentenced Ghoreishi to five years for “assembly and collusion against national security.” This verdict was reduced to three years and six months on appeal.

Security forces arrested Ghoreishi on November 20, 2019, amid the nationwide protests and released him after one month until the end of legal proceedings.

About 2019–2020 Iranian protests

In November 2019, an increase in fuel prices sparked a wave of protests in dozens of cities across the country. The spokesperson of the Parliamentary National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, Seyed Hossein Taghavi, announced that 7000 people were arrested during these protests. According to reports from human rights organizations, hundreds were killed by the security apparatus.

 

Seven Arrested for Inciting Public Dancing in Rasht

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Freedom of Expression, News
Gilan province, Hijab, HRANA, Khabar Online, Rasht

In Rasht, Gilan Province, seven individuals were arrested and taken to an undisclosed location for allegedly inciting public dancing and propaganda against the regime.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Khabar Online, seven people were arrested in Rasht.

The detainees were apprehended for allegedly inviting and encouraging people to dance in public, removing hijab, and engaging in immodesty.
Khabar Online did not mention the identities of these detainees and the location of their detention.”

Political Activist Keyvan Samimi Arrested

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Keyvan Samimi, Semnan prison, Shargh Newspaper

Keyvan Samimi, a political activist and the editor of Iran Farda Magazine, was arrested by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Shargh Newspaper, political activist Keyvan Samimi was arrested by security forces on charges of allegedly associating with an anti-regime group outside the country.

In January 2023, Samimi was released from Semnan Prison after serving a three-year sentence. However, he had to provide a bond to be released due to a new legal case opened against him while in prison.

On August 18, 2022, Samimi was indicted for “assembly and collusion” under Article 10 of the Islamic Penal Code.

Samimi has a history of political activism and has previously been imprisoned for six years in 2009 for questioning the outcome of the disputed 2009 presidential election, participating in protests, and writing articles critical of the government. He has also been imprisoned for his political activities prior to the 1979 Revolution.

Lawyer Sina Yousefi Sentenced to Imprisonment and Paying a Fine

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Freedom of Expression, News
Azerbaijan Province, Sina Yousefi, Tabriz, Tabriz Prison

Branch 112 of the Tabriz Criminal Court sentenced Sina (Hossein) Yousefi, attorney at law, to 91 days imprisonment and paying a 15-million-toman fine.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, lawyer Sina Yousefi was sentenced to three months imprisonment.

Yousefi received this sentence for “spreading falsehood on the Internet.”

“Giving unrealistic statistics” on arrests over recent protests in a tweet was presented to the court as an example of this charge.

For another part of his legal case, Yousefi has been sentenced to six months and a ban from leaving the country for two years.
Yousefi, who is the vice chairman of the human rights commission of the Azerbaijan Province bar association, clarifies, “Since so many people came to the commission asking for representing the arrestees over protests, we decided to establish a ‘defense committee’… Now, for doing my job, I have faced the charge of forming an illegal group.”

Yousefi, age about 38, was arrested by security forces on October 15, 2022. Twelve days later, he was released on bail from Tabriz Prison.

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Foad Choobin Arrested in Izeh

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Freedom of Expression, News
Artin Rahmani, Foad Choobin, Izeh

On April 11, 2023, security forces arrested Foad Choobin in Izeh and took him to an undisclosed location. His nephew, Artin Rahmani, was killed by regime forces during the 2022 nationwide protests in Izeh.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on April 11, 2023, Foad Choobin was arrested in Izeh, Khuzestan Province.
Hengameh Choobin, his sister and Artin Rahmani’s mother, stated that the agents did not show any arrest warrant and arrested him violently.

The allegations against Choobin remain unknown.

Choobin’s relative, Artin Rahmani, was fatally shot in the head by security forces during the protests in Izeh.

About the 2022 Nationwide Protests

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

Journalist Hassan Abbasi Faces Legal Action for Report on Retired Sailors

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Freedom of Expression, News
Bandar-Abbas, Hassan Abbasi, Hormozgan

Hassan Abbasi, a journalist, is facing legal action after the Bandar-Abbas Ministry of Cooperatives, Labour, and Social Welfare filed a complaint against him regarding his report on retired sailors. The report in question dealt with the issues faced by retired sailors of the Hormozgan Shipping Company.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Hassan Abbasi faced legal action for making a report on the issues of retired sailors of the Hormozgan Shipping Company.

Abbasi stated that he has also been summoned to the police station for allegations that include disturbing public order, insulting individuals, causing terror, destroying government properties, filming a government facility, and publishing it online.

Moreover, in March 2023, the prosecutor of Bandar-Abbas filed a complaint against Abbasi for his criticism of the judiciary.

Abbasi has previously faced other legal actions for his work as a journalist.

Mohammad-Reza Morad Behroozi Goes on Hunger Strike in Protest against New Charges

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Mohammad-Reza Morad Behroozi, Qazvin prison, Soori Babai Chegini

Mohammad-Reza Morad Behroozi, who is currently serving his sentence in Qazvin Prison, has recently started a hunger strike to protest against new charges brought against him while in prison. He is also being denied phone calls and family visitation.

In this new legal case, Branch 102 of the Criminal Court of Mohammadiyeh has sentenced Morad Behroozi to ten months for “disturbing public opinions” and eight months and ten days for “inciting people to act against public modesty.” He has also been banned from leaving the country for two years, and his cell phone has been confiscated.

His wife, Soori Babai Chegini, has also been sentenced to one month for “demonstrating a Haram act” and six months for “inciting people to act against public modesty,” and her cell phone has been confiscated as well.

The charges against them stem from publishing pictures without wearing Hijab on their personal pages on social media.

If these verdicts are upheld on appeal, Morad Behroozi will serve ten months in prison, while Babai Chegini will serve six months, in accordance with Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code.

According to an informed source, Behroozi is facing a charge of “propaganda against the regime” in the second part of his legal case. He has also been charged with spreading falsehoods due to the dissemination of his voice recording from prison. This same source stated that Behroozi had been beaten by prison officials.

In protest against these new charges, Behroozi started a hunger strike.

Behroozi was arrested on August 21, 2021, at his house after posting a video on social media in which he criticized the Supreme Leader for banning Covid-19 vaccines from other countries.
In a trial held in absentia, Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court of Qazvin, headed by Judge Esmail Amini, sentenced Behroozi to one year in prison on the charge of “offensive statements against the Supreme Leader of Iran.”

 

 

Iran Protests: Eleven Defendants Sentenced to a Total of 79 Years

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ali Moazzami Goodarzi, Amin-Mehdi Shokrollai, Amir-Mohammad Jafari, Arian Farzamnia, Farzaneh Ghareh-Hassanlou, Hamid Ghareh-Hassanlou, hayan Charani, Hossein Mohammadi, Karaj, Mehdi Mohammadi, Mohammad Hosseini, Mohammad-Amin Akhlaghi Savojbolaghi, Mohammad-Mehdi Karami, Reza Aria

The Chief Justice of Alborz Province announced that eleven defendants of a legal case, known as “the murder of a Basij militia force Ruhollah Ajamian,” have been sentenced to a total of 79 years in prison. The charges against three other co-defendants were dropped, and they were released after being pardoned. These people were previously arrested over the 2022 nationwide protests.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Tasnim news agency, 11 people, arrested amid the 2022 nationwide protests, were sentenced to a total of 79 years in prison.

Without mentioning the charges, the Chief Justice of Alborz Province stated that according to this verdict, Hamid Ghareh-Hassanlou was sentenced to 15 years, Reza Aria, Hossein Mohammadi, Mehdi Mohammadi and Arian Farzamnia to ten years, Mohammad-Amin Akhlaghi Savojbolaghi, Amin-Mehdi Shokrollai and Farzaneh Ghareh-Hassanlou, to five years, and Shayan Charani, Amir-Mohammad Jafari and Ali Moazzami Goodarzi to three years.

With re-examination, the charges against three other defendants, Behrad Ali Kenari, Javad Zargaran and Reza Shaker Zavardehi were changed from “spreading corruption on earth” to “assembly and collusion against national security” and “propaganda against the regime.” Consequently, these defendants were granted pardons and set free.

“These verdicts are not finalized and defendants can bring an appeal to the Supreme Court within the deadline period,” he added.

On January 7, 2023, two other defendants of this legal case, Mohammad Mehdi Karami and Mohammad Hosseini were executed.

These individuals were arrested in Karaj over the murder of a Basij militia force Ruhollah Ajamian” during the protest.

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.

 

 

 

Former Political Prisoner Mosayeb Raisi Yeganeh Arrested

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, HRANA, Mosayeb Raisi Yeganeh

On April 17, 2023, security forces arrested former political prisoner Mosayeb Raisi Yeganeh in Tehran and took him to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on April 17, 2023, Mosayeb Raisi Yeganeh was arrested in Tehran.

The location of his detention and allegations are still unknown.

Yeganeh was also arrested by security forces over protests, for a short time on February 25, 2023.

The Ministry of Intelligence agents previously arrested Yeganeh in September 2017. Subsequently, the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced him to six years imprisonment for “propaganda against the regime, blasphemy, insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran.” This verdict was upheld on appeal. Ultimately, on February 4, 2020, he was jailed in Evin Prison to serve his sentence.

After the fire incident at Evin Prison on October 15, 2022, Yeganeh was relocated to Rajai Shahr Prison, and after a while, he was released from jail without prior notice.