Category: Freedom of Expression

Two Student Activists Kaveh and Yashar Daroshafa Imprisoned

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News, Students
Black Thursday, Evin Prison, Kaveh Daroshafa, Yashar Daroshafa

Two student activists Kaveh and Yashar Daroshafa were taken to Evin Prison to sever their sentences. Previously, judicial authorities had sentenced Kaveh and Yashar Daroshafa to 10 and 15 years respectively.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, two student activists Kaveh and Yashar Daroshafa were taken to Evin Prison for sentencing.

Security forces arrested these brothers during the nationwide Aban protests in 2019. After a few days, there were released on bail. During the arrest, Yashar Daroshafa’s broken foot was infected.

On a prior occasion in 2014, Daroshafa brothers were arrested for the protest against the assault of political prisoners in Ward 350 of Evin Prison, known as “Black Thursday”.

Ali Ensandoost Arrested in Rasht

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Ali Ensandoost, Political Prisoner, Rasht

On August 13, 2022, security forces arrested Ali Ensandoost at his house and transferred him to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on August 13, 2022, former political prisoner Ali Ensandoost was arrested.

The reason for Ensandoost’s arrest, his whereabouts and the charges against him are unknown so far.

Ensandoost had faced arrest and conviction before. On April 28, 2020, security forces arrested him in Rasht for his activities on social media and an interview with opposition media outside the country. He was interrogated in a detention facility until September 2020 when he was transferred to Langerud Prison and held in a ward with prisoners of violent crimes.

The Revolutionary Court of Qom sentenced Ensandoost to eight years in prison on the charges of “collaboration with hostile countries, insulting the Supreme Leader, and propaganda against the regime”.After plea bargaining, the sentence was reduced to four years and six months. On December 26, 2021, Ensandoost was released to serve the rest of his sentence in home detention with an electronic monitoring device.

Eight Members of Erfan-e-Halgheh Association Arrested

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News, Religious Minorities
Al-Qadir, Erfan-e-Halgheh, mystical group, Yazd

The public relations representative of the IRGC in Yazd (Al-Qadir) has announced the arrest of eight members of a mystical group known as Erfan-e-Halgheh. These individuals have not been identified.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting IRIB News Agency, the IRGC has arrested eight members of a mystical group Erfan-e-Halgheh Association.  

In a statement, IRGC’s public relations office claimed that the spiritual psychic healing methods that Erfan-e-Halgheh is using are against the law. This IRGC  called Erfan-e-Halgheh a “deviant group” and claimed their activities “cause mental and emotional injuries and the collapse of families.”

Reza Salmanzadeh Sentenced to Prison

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, Reza Salmanzadeh

The Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced Reza Salmanzadeh to three years and eight months in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced Reza Salmanzadeh to one year on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”, and two years and eight months on the charge of “membership in an unlawful group to act against national security”.

If the verdict is confirmed on appeal, two years and eight months for the second charge will be enforceable based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Cod.

On May 12, 2022, security forces raided Salmanzadeh’s house and took him to Ward 209 of Evin Prison.

Workers’ Rights Activist Kamyar Fakoor Sentenced to Three Years

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News

Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced workers’ rights activist Kamyar Fakoor to three years in prison. If the verdict is confirmed on appeal, based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, two years for one charge will be enforceable.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, workers’ rights activist Kamyar Fakoor was sentenced to two years on the charge of “spreading falsehood” and one year on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”.

An informed source told HRANA that peaceful activities such as protests against the destruction of the environment, defending workers’ rights activists and publishing news about workers’ protests and strikes were presented during the trial as evidence to substantiate the charges.

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Navid Kohnehpushi Arrested in Mariwan

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Mariwan, Navid Kohnehpushi

On August 3, 2022, agents arrested Navid Kohnehpushi after his appearance at the Ministry of Intelligence office in Mariwan.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, Navid Kohnehpushi was arrested in Mariwan.

 Kohnehpushi informed his family that he was detained in a detention facility controlled by the Ministry of Intelligence.

The reason for this arrest and the charges are unknown so far. 

Navid Kohnehpushi, age 31, is an environmental activist and a resident of a village in Mariwan, Kurdistan Province.

Sepideh Rashno Hospitalized Prior to Forced TV Confession

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News, Women
hejab, Sepideh Rashno, Taleghani hospital

An informed source has revealed to HRANA that detained artist Sepideh Rashno had been hospitalized due to the risk of internal bleeding, which raised the question as to whether she was tortured to make confession aired on July 30. 

On July 16, security forces arrested Rashno after a quarrel on a city bus with a woman who harassed and assaulted her for what she deemed improper hejab. 

The informed source told HRANA, “Overnight, a lot of agents took Rashno to the Taleghani Hospital in Tehran for a possible internal bleeding caused by assault.”

A few days after the hospitalisation, Iran’s State TV broadcast Rashno’s forced confession. A picture on social media showing Rashno’s paled face and circles around her eye raised concern about her health condition. So far, she has been denied access to a lawyer and the charges against her are unknown.

Rashno is in custody for her resistance and confrontation against an individual who was enforcing the hejab code in public transportation, a practice which is praised by the Iranian authorities.

Teacher Union Activist Ahmad Taghavi Sentenced to Prison

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Ahmad Naghavi, Ahmad Taghavi

Branch 103 of the Criminal Court of Abhar has sentenced teacher union activist Ahmad Taghavi (Naghavi) to one year in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Independent Iranian Workers Union, teacher Union Activist Ahmad Taghavi was sentenced to one year in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”. Taghavi was arrested on April 25, 2022. 

Civil Activist Farangis Mazloum Imprisoned

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, Farangis Mazloum, Soheil Arabi

On August 2, 2022, civil activist Farangis Mazloum was taken to Evin Prison to serve her 18-months sentence. Mazloum is the mother of former prisoner of conscience Soheil Arabi.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on August 2, 2022, civil activist Farangis Mazloum started her sentencing in Evin Prison.

On October 19, 2021, Mazloum appeared at Evin Judgement Enforcement Unit to start sentencing. However, the deputy prosecutor refused to imprison her due to her old age and asked the forensics for an imprisonment intolerance certificate.

On July 22, 2019, Farangis Mazloum was arrested at her sister’s home and transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison. On October 8, 2019, she was released on bail of 250 million tomans until the end of legal proceedings.

Initially, the Branch 29 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran held the trial in absentia and sentenced Mazloum to six years imprisonment. Six other individuals related to this case were also sentenced to imprisonment. After Mazloum’s objection, in a retrial, Branch 29 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran on August 25 and 28 2020 changed the sentence to 18 months in prison. This verdict was confirmed on appeal.

Teacher and Azerbaijani Turk Activist Shokrollah Ghahremani Fard Arrested

Posted on by A MN
Ethnic Minorities, Freedom of Expression, News
Khoda Afarin, Shokrollah Ghahremani Fard, Yashar Ghahremani Fard

On August 1, 2022, security forces arrested Shokrollah Ghahremani Fard, a teacher and Azerbaijani Turk Activist, in Khoda Afarin County, East Azerbaijan Province. The agents searched his house and transferred him to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on August 1, 2022, teacher and Azerbaijani Turk Activist Shokrollah Ghahremani Fard was arrested.

Ghahremani Fard’s son, Yashar Ghahremani Fard informed the public about the arrest of his father on social media, “Over 8 intelligence agents raided our house, searched and confiscated some of my father’s belongings and took my father. Still, we do not have any information about his whereabouts.”