Category: Freedom of Expression

Kaveh Amiri’s Eight-Month Prison Sentence Upheld on Appeal

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, Kaveh Amiri, Shahriar

The Tehran Court of Appeal has affirmed an eight-month sentence for Kaveh Amiri, a resident of Shahriar.

Amiri was found guilty of “spreading propaganda against the regime,” and the time served during his detention will be deducted from this prison term.
His arrest took place on September 10 of this year, following summons and interrogation by the Security Police of Shahriar County. Within one day, he was transferred to Evin Prison and subsequently released on bail on September 13.

Aged 39, Amiri is a judo coach and resident of Shahriar. The upheld sentence raises questions about the nature of the charges and the implications for freedom of expression.

Eight Protestors Remain in Detention Amid Legal Uncertainty

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Alireza Barmarz Pournak, Alireza Kafaie, Amir-Mohammad Khosh Eghbal, Arman Aliverdi, Ekbatan, Hossein Nemati, Mehdi Imani, Milad Armoon, Mohammad-Mehdi Hosseini, moharebeh, Navid Najaran, Qezel Hesar Prison, Salavati

Milad Armoon, Alireza Kafaie, Amir-Mohammad Khosh Eghbal, Alireza Barmarz Pournak, Mohammad-Mehdi Hosseini, Hossein Nemati, Mehdi Imani, and Navid Najaran are detained in Qezel (Ghezel) Hesar Prison with an uncertain legal status.

The arrest of these individuals during the 2022 nationwide protests links them to a legal case stemming from an incident in Ekbatan town, Tehran, resulting in the death of Basij Militia agent Arman Aliverdi.

According to a source with close ties to one defendant’s family, the Tehran Criminal Court had previously confirmed the release of two detainees on bail. However, Judge Salavati, presiding over Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court, rejected their release and asserted control over the entire case. Such discrepancies within Iran’s judicial system contribute to legal insecurity and uncertainty, causing distress for the detainees and their families.

Another source reports that, despite multiple court sessions in October and November of this year, the defendants await a verdict. Earlier, it was revealed that the case had been divided between the Revolutionary and Criminal Courts. The Criminal Court initiated proceedings on October 7, 2023, addressing charges of “assisting in murder, assembly and collusion against national security, and enmity against God (Moharebeh).”

The protests in Ekbatan Town in Tehran in 2022 resulted in the death of Basij Militia agent Arman Aliverdi. Subsequently, in November 2022, police and security forces arrested over 50 young residents of the district, with 14 individuals facing legal action. The indictments detail charges such as “enmity against God” for Azmoon, Hosseini, and Imani, while Kafaie, Khosh Eghbal, Barmarz Pournak, and Nemati face charges of “assisting in murder and disturbing public order.” The charges against Najaran, arrested in Ahvaz, remain unknown.

Ariana Akbari Arrested in Tehran

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ariana Akbari, Armita Garavand, Behesht-e-Zahra, Tehran

On December 6, 2023, security forces apprehended Ariana Akbari, a resident of Tehran, immediately after his participation in the memorial ceremony for Armita Geravand on the 40th day since her passing. Akbari was escorted to an undisclosed location by the arresting agents.

HRANA’s reports confirm that the arrest occurred at Behesht-e Zahra cemetery where the commemoration ceremony had been held.

It is noteworthy that Akbari had previously experienced arrest during the nationwide protests in 2022.

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.

Sepideh Rashnu Faces Four-Month Sentence on Appeal Amidst New Legal Challenges

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Freedom of Expression, News
compulsory hijab, Milad Panahi Pour, Sepideh Rashnu, Tehran Court of Appeal

Sepideh Rashnu, a student and vocal opponent of compulsory hijab, has been handed a four-month prison sentence by the Tehran Court of Appeal, as reported by Shargh Newspaper. Her lawyer, Milad Panahi Pour, disclosed that she is concurrently grappling with yet another legal case.

Rashnu was found guilty of “disseminating vulgar images on the Internet.” Panahi Pour clarified that, following the initial verdict, they filed an appeal. However, yesterday they were notified about the appellate court’s decision while en route to present their defense.

In addition to the ongoing legal proceedings, a new case has been initiated against Mrs. Rashnu, triggering the activation of a previously suspended three-year, seven-month sentence. Consequently, she is now facing a cumulative prison term of three years and eleven months.

This isn’t the first time Rashnu has encountered legal challenges stemming from her refusal to adhere to hijab rules. She had previously received a two-semester suspension from the university. Moreover, on July 16, 2022, security forces arrested her following an altercation on a city bus, during which she was harassed and physically assaulted by a woman who deemed her hijab improper.

Workers’ Rights Advocate Sharifeh Mohammadi Arrested in Rasht

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Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News
Rasht, Sharifeh Mohammadi, Workers' Rights Advocate

On December 5, 2023, the Ministry of Intelligence in Rasht arrested workers’ rights advocate Sharifeh Mohammadi, as reported by the Independent Iranian Workers Union.

Mohammadi was taken from her residence and subsequently transferred to an undisclosed location.
The reasons for her arrest, her current whereabouts, and the charges against her remain unknown at this time.

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Nine Oshnavieh Residents Sentenced to a Total of Over 27 Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Bahman Mahmoudi Azar, Farhang Keramat, Khezr Abdollahi Amirabad, Khoshnav Ayni, Mohsen Azizi, Oshnavieh, Othman Hamzeh Zadeh, Priot Tabnak, Yaghoub Mahmoudi Azar, Yousef Rahmani

The Oshnavieh Revolutionary Court has recently issued sentences totaling 27 years and five months in prison for nine individuals in the city, as reported by Kurdpa.

The individuals and their respective sentences are as follows:

1. Yaghoub Mahmoudi Azar: Seven years; Arrested on June 27, 2022, and released on bail on August 18, 2022.
2. Bahman Mahmoudi Azar: Seven years; Arrested on June 27, 2022, and released on bail on August 4, 2022.
3. Priot Tabnak: Two years; Arrested on June 27, 2022, and released on bail on August 18, 2022.
4. Mohsen Azizi: Two years; Arrested on June 27, 2022, and released on bail on July 24, 2022.
5. Khoshnav Ayni: Two years; Arrested on July 13, 2022, and released on bail on July 24, 2022.
6. Farhang Keramat: Two years and six months; Arrested on July 13, 2022, and released on bail on August 18, 2022.
7. Yousef Rahmani: Two years and five months; Arrested on July 13, 2022, and released on bail on August 17, 2022.
8. Khezr Abdollahi Amirabad: One year; Arrested on July 9, 2023, and released after a while on bail.
9. Othman Hamzeh Zadeh: One year and six months; Arrested on July 9, 2023, and released after a while on bail.

Among the charges brought against these individuals was “membership and collaboration with one of the political opposition parties.”

Zeinab Khenyab Pour Receives Three-Month Prison Sentence

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Freedom of Expression, News
ahvaz, Bahar Khenyab Pour, Bebahan, Mahshahr, Sajjad Chatr Sefid, Sepidar Prison, Zeinab Khenyab, زینت خنیاب پور

The Mahshahr Revolutionary Court has imposed a three-month jail term on Zeinab (Bahar) Khenyab Pour, a resident of Bebahan.

Sajjad Chatr Sefid, Khenyab Pour’s lawyer, confirmed that his client has been found guilty of “spreading propaganda against the regime.” Khenyab Pour is also currently contending with an additional charge, which is under consideration by the Bebahan Criminal Court. The court session for this particular aspect of her legal proceedings took place on October 9, 2023.

Previously, on December 5, 2022, Khenyab Pour’s garment shop was closed due to her participation in the general strike in support of nationwide protests. Following the closure, she sought clarification from judicial authorities and was subsequently detained for six days in Sepidar Prison, located in Ahvaz.

 

Sivan Ebrahimi Receives an Eleven-Year Prison Sentence

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Freedom of Expression, News
Kamyaran, Mohammad Karami, Nojin, Sanandaj, Sivan Ebrahimi

Sivan Ebrahimi, one of the individuals detained in connection with the 2022 nationwide protests, has been sentenced to eleven years in prison by the Sanandaj Revolutionary Court, as reported by Kurdpa.

According to the verdict issued by Judge Mohammad Karami on December 2, 2023, Ebrahimi was found guilty of “forming groups to act against national security,” resulting in a ten-year prison term if the decision is upheld on appeal. Additionally, he received a one-year sentence for “propaganda against the regime.”

In a separate facet of his legal case, the Sanandaj Criminal Court had previously imposed an additional one-year imprisonment in exile and 40 lashes.

Ebrahimi, a Kurdish language teacher and a member of the cultural association Nojin, faced his second arrest on January 18, 2023, in Kamyaran. Following this arrest, he was released on bail in February of the same year.

Manouchehr Fallah Receives 22-Month Prison Sentence for Political Charges

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Freedom of Expression, News
Kish Island, Lakan prison, Manouchehr Fallah, Mehdi Rasekhi, Rasht

Manouchehr Fallah has been sentenced to a term of 22 months and 17 days by the Rasht Revolutionary Court, following charges related to his political activities.

Presiding over the court, Judge Mehdi Rasekhi has imposed a one-year, three-month, one-day sentence for the charge of “insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran” and a seven-month, sixteen-day sentence for “spreading propaganda against the regime.”

Sources close to Fallah’s family have disclosed that additional charges are currently under review by the Rasht Criminal Court as part of another aspect of his legal case.

The arrest of Fallah traces back to July of this year when authorities apprehended him at Rasht airport, subsequently incarcerating him in Lakan Prison. In September, he commenced a hunger strike in protest against the uncertainty surrounding his legal status.

Before his arrest, Fallah, a professional tattoo artist, had been residing in Kish Island.

Five Citizens Receive a Combined 20 Years and Fine for Political Charges

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, HRANA, Iman Afshari, Kamran Rezaie, Mohammad-Masoud Moeini, Parastoo Moeini, Tehran Revolutionary Court, Teymour Rezaeian, Zahra Safaie

The Tehran Revolutionary Court has recently sentenced Zahra Safaie, Parastoo Moeini, Mohammad-Masoud Moeini, and Kamran Rezaiefar to five years, totaling twenty years in prison for political charges. Meanwhile, co-defendant Teymour (Timur) Rezaeian has been ordered to pay a fine.

Presiding over the court, Judge Iman Afshari found these individuals guilty of “assembly and collusion against national security.”

The arrests occurred on September 12, 2023, with Rezaeian apprehended one day later. Initially held in Ward 209 of Evin Prison, Later, they were transferred to the IRGC’s detention center, known as A-1.

According to HRANA reports, Safaie is currently held in the Women’s Ward of Evin Prison, while her son, Mohammad-Masoud Moeini, and Rezaiefar are in Ward 4 of the same prison. Two other defendants have been released on bail.

Notably, Rezaiefar has a history of arrests and convictions. In November 2021, he received a death sentence for “spreading corruption on earth,” which was later overturned by the Supreme Court. The current status of his legal case remains uncertain.