Narges Sardari Apprehended in Tehran

On August 16, Security forces arrested Narges Sardari at her residence in Tehran, subsequently transporting her to an undisclosed destination.

A source connected to her family, who shared insights with HRANA, disclosed that during the apprehension, she was compelled to bring her three-year-old child along, who was later entrusted to a family member a few hours following the incident at the courthouse.

Furthermore, Narges Sardari’s spouse, Mehdi Saeed Etemad, a well-known actor and comedian, has been under detention for more than two months. Etemad Saeed’s arrest was executed by security forces on June 9, 2023, in Tehran. Intelligence agents conducted a search of his residence and confiscated a portion of his possessions.

The precise reasons underlying her arrest, and her current location are currently unknown.

 

 

Additional Four Individuals Detained in Gilan Province

In a recent development on Wednesday, August 16, security forces apprehended Shiva Shah Siah, Vahedeh Khoshsirat, Hooman Taheri, and Sara Jahani in Gilan Province.

This event follows HRANA’s report of the arrest of seven women’s rights activists on the same day within the province.

Khoshsirat and Shah Siah, both advocates for women’s rights, were taken into custody in Lahijan. Meanwhile, Mr. Taheri and Mrs. Jahani were apprehended separately in Rasht.

The precise reasons underlying their detentions, their current locations, and the specific charges brought against them all remain undisclosed at this juncture.

Blogger Elaheh Askari Detained in Evin Prison Following Arrest

Elaheh Askari, a blogger, was taken into custody by agents from the Ministry of Intelligence on August 16, 2023. She has subsequently been placed in detention at Evin Prison.

Reports indicate that Askari’s arrest occurred outside the Immigration & Passport Police Office, where she had gone to retrieve her passport. Following her apprehension, law enforcement agents conducted a search of her residence.

At present, the precise grounds for Askari’s detention and the specific allegations against her remain undisclosed.

Seven Women’s Rights Activists Arrested in Gilan Province

On August 16, 2023, a total of seven women’s rights activists were apprehended individually in Rasht, Fuman, and Bandar Anzali, subsequently being transported to undisclosed locations. The detained individuals include Zahra Dadras, Zohreh Dadras, Negin Rezaie, Matin Yazdani, Frough Saminia, Jelveh Javaheri, and Yasamin Hashdari.

Zahra and Zohreh Dadras were taken into custody by security forces at their residence in Rasht. However, inquiries made by their family members regarding their condition have gone unanswered thus far. Moreover, Frough Saminia, Yasamin Hashdari, and Matin Yazdani, a photographer, have also been apprehended individually within the same city.

The exact motives behind their arrests, their current locations, as well as the nature of the charges against them, all remain undisclosed at present.

Filmmaker Saeed Roustayi Receives Prison Sentence over “Leila’s Brothers”

Renowned filmmaker and screenwriter Saeed Roustayi has been handed a six-month prison sentence, along with supplementary penalties, by the Tehran Revolutionary Court, as revealed by Didban Iran.

Approximately nine days of this prison term will be carried out, while the remainder has been suspended for a five-year period.

Roustayi’s conviction stems from charges of “propaganda against the regime,” linked to his creation of the movie “Leila’s Brothers”, which he showcased at the Cannes Film Festival.
In addition to the prison sentence, Roustayi has been subjected to various restrictions affecting his career as a director and producer, including limitations on engaging with fellow cinema professionals. Further, he has been directed to complete a 24-hour filmmaking course at IRIB University in Qom.

The 2022 drama film “Leila’s Brothers” garnered significant attention. It secured a spot in the competition for the Palme d’Or at the renowned 2022 Cannes Film Festival and notably clinched the International Federation of Film Critics prize.

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Journalist Nazila Maroufian Re-Arrested Just One Day After Release

On Monday, August 14, journalist Nazila Maroufian was re-arrested by security forces and promptly taken to Qarchak Prison in Varamin. Her recent arrest comes after being granted bail and released from Evin Prison on August 13.

A reliable source close to Maroufian’s family, speaking to HRANA, has confirmed that she is now held at Qarchak Prison.

Maroufian’s ordeal began on October 30, 2022, when she was initially arrested by security forces and incarcerated in Ward 209 of Evin Prison. Subsequently, she was transferred to Qarchak Prison before being granted temporary freedom upon payment of a 600-million-toman bail (approximately $12,000 USD).

In January 2023, the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, handed down a two-year suspended imprisonment sentence to Maroufian. This sentence was related to charges of “spreading propaganda against the regime and disseminating falsehoods to disrupt public opinion through an interview with Mahsa Amini’s father.” Alongside the suspended sentence, she also received a fine and a five-year ban on leaving the country.
On July 4, security forces conducted a raid and search on her residence, subsequently summoning her to Evin Courthouse. Four days later, she was re-arrested and confined once again to Evin Prison, following her appearance at Evin Courthouse. After a period of time, she was charged with “propaganda against the regime.”

Nazila Maroufian, a journalist and student at Allameh Tabatabai University, hails from Saqqez and currently resides in Tehran. With a notable career in media, she has contributed to outlets such as Didban Iran and Rouydad24.

 

 

Activist Mehdi Shaki Mashhadi Detained in Mashhad

Mashhad, August 12 – Security forces took activist Mehdi Shaki Mashhadi into custody on Saturday, with his current whereabouts undisclosed.

According to a reliable course who spoke to HRANA, Mashhadi was arrested at his residence in Mashhad. The precise reasons behind his detainment, his present location, and the nature of the charges remain undisclosed.

It’s worth noting that Shaki Mashhadi has a prior history of arrests linked to his activism. His last arrest dates back to December 2022 when he was apprehended by security forces in relation to the 2022 nationwide protests.

Donya Hosseini Detained by Security Forces in Tehran

On August 12, 2023, Donya Hosseini, also known as Azad, was apprehended by security forces and subsequently transported to an undisclosed facility.

A reliable source within her family, speaking to HRANA, confirmed the involvement of security forces in her apprehension. Presently, the specific reasons for her arrest, the charges against her, and the exact location of her confinement remain undisclosed.

Hosseini, aged 34, was arrested for her activism during the nationwide protests in October-November 2022 and released from Evin Prison after a period of time.

Wrestling Coach and Referee Masoumeh Soleimani Receives One-Year Prison Sentence

Khorramabad Criminal Court has handed down a one-year prison sentence to Masoumeh Soleimani, a wrestling coach and referee, according to a report from Kolbar News.

Presiding judge Mostafa Sohrabi found Soleimani guilty of “inciting violence through the Internet.”

The presiding judge, Mostafa Sohrabi, found Soleimani guilty of “inciting violence through online platforms.”

Soleimani’s arrest occurred on May 10, 2023, in Khorramabad by security forces. After spending four days in detention at an IRGC facility, she was subsequently released on bail.

Notably, Soleimani has a history of arrests linked to her activist involvement.

 

Woman Arrested in Sabzevar After Confrontation Over Hijab

Shakiba Yazdani, a 35-year-old resident of Sabzevar, was apprehended and subsequently incarcerated on Monday evening, August 7, following a dispute with a religious vigilante who confronted her about her hijab.

According to a source connected to the citizen’s family, the incident unfolded when an individual, invoking the religious duty of ‘enjoining good’, confronted Yazdani regarding her attire. Both parties attempted to record the encounter. Subsequently, after a span of two weeks, a group of ten intelligence agents affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), accompanied by the previously mentioned individual, who was a retired IRGC member, detained Yazdani and transferred her to the Sabzevar security police detention center.

The source also revealed that despite being hospitalized for a heart condition, Yazdani was not granted sufficient medical attention, as security personnel hindered her from receiving necessary care and subsequently returned her to the detention facility. On Tuesday, she was transferred to Sabzevar Prison.

As of now, the specific charges against Yazdani remain undisclosed.