Category: Freedom of Expression

Multiple Arrests Made at Armita Geravand’s Funeral

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ali Sookhtehza, Armita Geravand, Asghar Seyed-Faraji, Hamid Abbaspour, Hashem Mehr-Alian, Iman Miri, Majid Hooshang Kian Pour, Masoud Zeynal-Zadeh, Mehran Haji Hashemi, Mohammad Fazlollahi, Mohammad Geravand, Mohammad-Reza Fakhim-Avar, Nasrin Sotoudeh, Niloofar Mirzaie, Ramtin Bandeh, Siamak Masih Pour, Yousef Hooshyar

During the funeral of Armita Geravand, the 17-year-old girl who fell into a coma and subsequently passed away following an encounter with a hijab enforcement officer, security forces arrested at least 16 individuals. The funeral was held at a cemetery in Tehran.

HRANA has identified sixteen detainees as follows:

1. Hamid Abbaspour
2. Hashem Mehr-Alian
3. Majid Hooshang Kian Pour
4. Mohammad-Reza Fakhim-Avar
5. Mehran Haji Hashemi
6. Asghar Seyed-Faraji
7. Ali Sookhtehza
8. Ramtin Bandeh
9. Iman Miri
10. Siamak Masih Pour
11. Yousef Hooshyar
12. Mohammad Fazlollahi
13. Masoud Zeynal-Zadeh
14. Mohammad Geravand (a teacher and relative of Armita Geravand)
15. Nasrin Sotoudeh
16. Niloofar Mirzaie

Nasrin Sotoudeh, the lawyer among them, has been transferred to Qarchak Prison in Varamin. The first fourteen individuals in the list are currently being held in the quarantine section of Evin Prison. Iran’s Students’ Union also reported the arrest of Niloofar Mirzaie, a student at Alzahra University, during the funeral.

Notably, Sotoudeh, Masih Pour, Mirzaie, and Zeynal-Zadeh had previously faced arrests and legal challenges due to their activism.

On October 1, 2023, Armita Garavand, a 17-year-old student, sustained a head injury while on her way to school at a metro station in Tehran. She was hospitalized and tragically passed away after 28 days in the hospital. Iranian authorities claim that she suffered a head injury due to a “pressure drop” and falling to the ground. However, some media outlets and human rights groups consider her a victim of harassment and an altercation with a hijab enforcement officer.

Sakineh Parvaneh’s Prison Sentence Confirmed on Appeal

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Freedom of Expression, News
irgc, Mashhad, Razavi Khorasan Province, Sakineh Parvaneh

The Court of Appeal in Razavi Khorasan Province has upheld the seven-year, six-month prison sentence of Sakineh Parvaneh, as reported by Kurdpa.

In early October of this year, the Mashhad Revolutionary Court initially sentenced Parvaneh to seven years and six months in prison on charges of “assembly and collusion against national security,” “propaganda against the regime,” and “insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran.”

Parvaneh was taken into custody in April 2023 by IRGC Intelligence agents after her visit to the burial site of Ali Mozafari, one of the protestors killed during the nationwide protests in 2022, in Quchan. Following 12 days of detention, she was subsequently transferred to Vakilabad Prison.

It is important to note that Parvaneh has a prior arrest and conviction related to her activism. In her previous encounter with the security institutions, she was detained by IRGC Intelligence forces in the winter of 2020. Subsequently, she received a five-year prison sentence and a two-year prohibition from participating in political groups. However, in February 2023, she was granted amnesty and released in accordance with a general “pardon and commutation” directive.

Amir Askari Bajestani Receives One-Year in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Amir Askari Bajestani, Mashhad

Amir Askari Bajestani, a resident of Mashhad, has been sentenced to one year in prison by the Mashhad Revolutionary Court. This sentence also includes his detention period.

Askari Bajestani has been convicted of “spreading propaganda against the regime,” with his advocacy for monarchist opposition and membership in related social media groups cited as evidence for this charge.

Notably, Askari Bajestani was previously detained during the 2022 nationwide protests and was subsequently released on bail. However, his case was later declared closed after he received a pardon in accordance with the general pardon and commutation directive.

Shahab Bayat Sentenced to Six Months in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Hamadan, Judge Esmaeili, Shahab Bayat

Shahab Bayat, a former political prisoner and a student at the Islamic Azad University of Hamadan, has been handed a six-month prison sentence by the Hamedan Revolutionary Court.

Presided over by Judge Esmaeili, the court found Bayat guilty of “propaganda against the regime,” with specific reference to his social media posts as evidence.

On May 24, 2023, Bayat was summoned before the Public and Revolutionary Court and subsequently released on bail, amounting to 300 million tomans (approximately 6,000 dollars).

It is worth noting that Bayat had previously received a three-month sentence, alongside a two-year and nine-month suspended prison term, in connection with his involvement in the 2022 nationwide protests. He was released later in the same year from Hamedan Prison.

Mahsa Yazdani Sentenced to 13 Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Mahsa Yazdani, Masoumeh Yazdani, Mohammad Javad Zahedi, Sari

Masoumeh (Mahsa) Yazdani, the mother of Mohammad-Javad Zahedi, who lost his life during the 2022 nationwide protests at the hands of regime forces, has received a 13-year prison sentence from the Sari Revolutionary Court.

Yazdani’s attorney, Meysam Mousavi, has publicly disclosed the details of her sentencing. She was given a five-year term for  “blasphemy”, an additional five years of “incitement against national security,” two years for “insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran,” and one more year for “spreading propaganda against the regime,” culminating in a total of 13 years, with five years to be served without parole.

Mousavi has confirmed that Yazdani was acquitted of the charge of “disseminating false information on the Internet” by the Sari Crimiinal Court.

On August 22, 2023, Yazdani was taken into custody by security forces in Sari. She was granted release on bail after spending 45 days in detention.

Her son, Zahedi, tragically lost his life during the protests on September 22, 2022.

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Eight Film and Media Practitioners Face Legal Charges

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Freedom of Expression, News
Hanieh Tavassoli, Hengameh Ghaziani, Maryam Boubani, Milad Alavi, Mojgan Ilanlou, Omid Tousheh, Sadegh Zibakalam, Sahar Valadbeigi, Sara Massoumi, Tahmineh Rezaie Milani, Taraneh Alidoosti

The Tehran Prosecutor’s Office has brought charges against seven film practitioners, including Taraneh Alidoosti, Mojgan Ilanlou, Hengameh Ghaziani, Tahmineh Rezaie Milani, Sahar Valadbeigi, Maryam Boubani, Hanieh Tavassoli, and media activist Omid Tousheh.

They are accused of “disseminating false information on the Internet,” as reported by IRNA.

Notably, just a day before, the Tehran Prosecutor also indicted Sadegh Zibakalam, an Iranian academic and writer, Sara Massoumi, Milad Alavi, and the administrator of a Telegram Channel on the same charge.

Among these eight individuals, Alidoosti, Ilanlou, Ghaziani, Milani, and Tavassoli have previously faced arrests and convictions.

Student Sepideh Rashnu Receives Six-Month Prison Sentence and Additional Penalties

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Freedom of Expression, News
compulsory hijab, Sepideh Rashnu

Sepideh Rashnu (Rashno), a student widely recognized for her opposition to compulsory Hijab, has been sentenced to six months in prison, along with additional penalties.

Rashnu publicly announced on social media that she has been sentenced to six months in prison, fined, and prohibited from using Instagram for one year. Furthermore, the court has ordered the permanent removal of her Instagram page.

The court session, held in absentia on October 2, 2023, addressed charges of “propaganda against the regime” and “incitement to immorality and indecency.”

Prior to this sentencing, Rashnu had already been suspended from the university for two semesters for alleged “non-compliance with the Islamic dress code.”

Her activism has previously led to arrests and convictions.

Four Sunni Religious Students Detained in Zahedan

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Freedom of Expression, News, Other, Religious Minorities
Makki Grand Mosque, Zahedan

On October 26, 2023, reports emerged that security forces apprehended four Sunni clerical students from the Makki Grand Mosque of Zahedan, taking them to an undisclosed location, according to Haal Vsh.

The arrests occurred shortly after the individuals had left the Mosque, and they were reportedly taken into custody by plainclothes agents.

As of now, the identities of these students, their current locations, and the specific charges against them remain undisclosed. The situation is being closely monitored for further developments.

Sarveh Pour-Mohammadi Receives a Ten-Year Sentence

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Freedom of Expression, News
Sanandaj, Sarveh Pour-Mohammadi

The Sanandaj Revolutionary Court has issued a ten-year prison sentence to Sarveh Pour-Mohammadi, according to a report by Kurdpa.

Judge Karami has notified Pour-Mohammadi’s lawyer of the verdict, sentencing her to ten years for “establishing groups with intentions to disrupt national security.”

Pour-Mohammadi, a member of the Nozhin Socio-Cultural Association, was apprehended by security forces on January 29, 2023. After spending 13 days in detention, she was released on bail from the Sanandaj Correctional Center.

Edris Menbari Receives 10-Year Prison Sentence

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Freedom of Expression, News
2022 nationwide protests, Edris Menbari, Nozhin Socio-Cultural Association, Sanandaj

In a recent court ruling, the Sanandaj Revolutionary Court handed down a ten-year prison sentence to Edris Menbari, who was detained during the nationwide protests of 2022.

Judge Karami informed Menbari’s attorney that he has been sentenced to ten years for “establishing groups aimed at undermining national security.” The court session took place on October 1, 2023. He and his attorney were not allowed to attend.

Notably, the Criminal Court of Sanandaj had previously issued a verdict, sentencing Menbari to one year in prison and 40 lashes for his involvement in “disturbing public order”.

On December 18, 2022, security forces apprehended Menbari at his residence in Sanandaj amid the nationwide protests. He was subsequently released on bail in February 2023.

It is important to mention that Edris Menbari holds the position of a board member at the Nozhin Socio-Cultural Association.