Category: Freedom of Expression

Twenty Seven Civil Activists Acquitted of Charges by Isfahan Public and Revolutionary Court

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Ebrahim Ketabdar, Isfahan, Sakineh Ahmadi, Sardar Asaad Bakhtiar

Branch 18 of the Public and Revolutionary Court of Isfahan acquitted 27 civil activists of the charges brought against them. Some of these individuals were arrested at Sardar Asaad Bakhtiar’s burial site, one of the prominent figures of the Persian Constitutional Revolution of  1905

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the Public and Revolutionary Court of Isfahan acquitted 27 civil activists.

According to this order, 27 citizens have been acquitted of the charges of “propaganda against the regime, offensive statements against the Supreme Leader of Iran and other regime authorities, and disturbing public order.”

On April 7, 2021, the families of those who were killed during the 2019 widespread protests along with civil activists held a gathering at Sardar Asaad Bakhtiar’s burial site in Isfahan. The police raided and arrested some of them. They were released one day later.

During the police’s raid and arrest, Sakineh Ahmadi, one of the individuals who was arrested, lost consciousness. She is the mother of Ebrahim Ketabdar who was killed by security forces in Karaj during the November 2019 protests.

Ahad Moloodi and Hossein Khelyani Sentenced to Imprisonment by the Revolutionary Court of Naqadeh

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Ahad Moloodi, Hossein Khelyani, Naqadeh

Recently, the Revolutionary Court of Naqadeh sentenced Ahad Moloodi and Hossein Khelyani to five months in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa News Outlet, Ahad Moloodi and Hossein Khelyani, the residents of two villages in Naqadeh County located in West Azerbaijan Province were sentenced to five months imprisonment.

In this report, an informed source stated that the citizens have been charged with “propaganda against the regime in favor of an anti-regime political party.”

On January 4, 2022, these individuals were arrested by security forces and released on bail six days later from a detention center in Naqdeh.

Political Prisoner Zahra Safai Denied Urgent Medical Treatment by Prison Officials

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners, Women
Parastoo Moeini, Zahra Safai

On Tuesday, April 12, 2022, despite prior agreement and a set appointment, prison officials denied dispatching the political prisoner Zahra Safai to a hospital. The denial was under the pretext of her disagreement with transfer with handcuff and foot cuffs. According to the State Prisons and Security and Corrective Measures Organization’s rules, transferring the prisoners with foot cuffs except for prisoners of violent crimes is forbidden.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, through the obstruction of prison officials, political prisoner Zahra Safai was denied medical treatment.

Mrs Safai suffers from heart disease and has had angiography surgery in the past. Since September of last year, she has been dispatched several times to a hospital outside the prison. This time, the prison officials denied her access to urgent medical care.

On February 24, 2020, security forces arrested Zahra Safai and her daughter Parastoo Moeini in Tehran and transferred them to Ward 209 of Evin Prison. In April 2020, they were sent in exile to Qarchak Prison in Varamin City. On June 28, 2020, Mrs Safai was released on bail with the amount of 300 million tomans. However, on July 26 of that year, they increased the bail ten times and subsequently arrested and sent her back to Qarchak Prison when she could not provide the set bail.

In February of 2021, Branch 23 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced Mrs Safai to 5 years in prison on the charge of “assembly and collusion to act against national security”, one year on the charge of “propaganda against the regime” and two years on the charge of “offensive statements against the former and current Supreme Leader of Iran”. As an additional punishment, she was banned from leaving the country and membership in any political parties or civil groups.

Zahra Safai has also faced arrest and conviction in 2006. Further, during the 1980’s she had been imprisoned for a while. Her father, Haji Safai was a well-known businessman who was executed on the charge of “advocacy for the People’s Mujahedin Organization of Iran (the Mujahedin-e-Khalq or MEK)”.

Six Citizens Arrested by Security Forces in Oshnavieh

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Ashkan Shakkak, Diako Khalili, Oshnavieh, Reza Eslmadoost, Saman Saroulzadeh, Sanaan Rasoulzadeh, Sina Aghazadeh

Last Sunday, April 10, 2022, security forces arrested six people in Oshaniveh County.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Krudpa News Outlet, six people were arrested by security forces in Oshnavieh County.

The report identifies the arrestees as Reza Eslmadoost, Saman Saroulzadeh, Diako Khalili, Ashkan Shakkak, Sanaan Rasoulzadeh and Sina Aghazadeh, all residents of Nalous City located in Oshaniveh County in West Azerbaijan Province.

Reportedly, the security forces raided these individuals’ houses without showing an arrest warrant. They transferred them to a detention center in Urmia City. Later, Sina Aghazadeh was released on bail after a few hours of interrogation.

On March 30, 2022, the above-mentioned individuals were summoned and interrogated by the Ministry of Intelligence for participating in a gathering for the celebration of Nowruz. 

Amir Hossein Pour-Effatian Arrested By Security Forces in Rasht City

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Amir Hossein Pour-Effatian

On Saturday, April 9, 2022, security forces arrested Amir Hossein Pour-Effatian in Rasht City. The agents searched his house and confiscated some of his personal belongings including his computer hard drive, laptop and some books.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Amir Hossein Pour-Effatian, age 25, a resident of Rasht, was arrested by security forces.

Since the arrest, Pour-Effatian was allowed once to have a short call to his family.

According to an informed source, earlier he had been summoned through a phone call to be at the Ministry of Intelligence office for giving an explanation regarding the charges of “membership in a political opposition party, illegal border crossing and propaganda against the regime.”

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22 Citizens Sentenced to Total of 160 Years and 1480 lashes for Protesting against Water Transfer Project

Posted on by A MN
Environment, Freedom of Expression, News
Boroujen, SabzKuh

Recently, Branch 101 of the Criminal Court of Boroujen County sentenced 22 citizens to a total of 160 years imprisonment, 1480 lashes and fines for a protest that took place seven years ago against an under-construction water transfer project channeling water from Sabzkuh to Boroujen.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, in Boroujen County, 22 citizens were sentenced to imprisonment and flogging for a peaceful protest against a water transfer project.

Twenty citizens were sentenced each to one year and 74 lashes on the charge of “disturbing public order” and 7 years in prison on the charge of “destruction of public property”. Two other citizens were sentenced each to a fine in the amount of 2 million tomans as an alternative to three months imprisonment. Based on these verdicts, the prison sentences 10 citizens to be suspended for two years.

An informed source told HRANA that: “In 2015, these citizens protested against the digging of a water transfer tunnel, at the headspring Alugareh and the construction site by holding symbolic mourning ceremonies. The project did not have permits from the Department of Environment. The protestors rejected all accusations from the beginning” 

Nonetheless, in 2020, the Public and Revolutionary Court of Boroujen found these citizens guilty.

Former Prisoner of Conscience Soheil Arabi Summoned for Two Years Imprisonment

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Behnam Moosivand, Mehdi Meskin Navaz, Reza Mohammad Hosseini, Soheil Arabi

On Thursday, April 8, 2022, former prisoner of conscience Soheil Arabi was summoned to Branch 1 of the Judgment Enforcement Unit of the Public and Revolutionary Court for sentencing.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Thursday, April 8, 2022, Soheil Arabi was summoned to appear for his two-year sentencing. According to the summons, he should appear at branch 1 of the Judgment Enforcement Unit (Zone 33 of Tehran) within 10 days.

Earlier, Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court sentenced him to two years imprisonment, paying a fine in the amount of 5 million tomans on the charge of “spreading lies with the purpose of disturbing the public opinion.” As additional punishment, Arabi has been banned from leaving the country without a judicial permit. Also, he should appear once every three times at the Supervision and Follow-up office of the Judiciary. This verdict was upheld on appeal by the Court of Appeals of Tehran Province.

In October of 2021, in a new legal case, along with Mehdi Meskin-Navaz, Reza Mohammad Hosseini and Behnam Moosivand, Arabi was indicted for “propaganda against the regime, offensive statements against the supreme leader of Iran and disturbing prison order.” At the time, he was imprisoned

Soheil Arabi has been detained and imprisoned from November 7 2013 to November 16 2021, when he was released from Rajai Shahr prison after serving his sentence. However, for this latest conviction, he will likely return to prison.

 

Vahed Sheikh Mohammadi Sentenced to Six Months in Prison

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News, Other
Oshnavieh, Vahed Sheikh Mohammadi

Following a series of convictions against some residents of Oshnavieh County in West Azerbaijan Province, the Revolutionary Court of Oshnavieh sentenced Vahed Sheikh Mohammadi, the resident of Oshnavieh County, to six months in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa News Outlet, Vahed Sheikh Mohammadi, the resident of  Oshnavieh was sentenced to six months on the charge of “collaboration with an anti-regime party”.

On January 30, 2021, security forces arrested Mr Sheikh Mohammadi and transferred him to a detention centre in Urmia. On March 10, 2021, he was relocated from there to Urmia Prison. Three days later, he was released on bail until the end of the legal proceeding.

Workers’ Rights Activist Alieh Eghdam-Doost Still in Detention After Two Months

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, Women
Alieh Eghdam Doost, Fuman, workers rights activist

After two months, workers’ rights activist Alieh Eghdam-Doost is still in detention in Women’s Ward of Evin Prison as she is unable to afford the bail.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, workers’ rights activist Alieh Eghdam-Doost has been detained in Evin Prison for the past two months.

Last month, on his personal page on social media, Ramin Safarnia, her lawyer, informed that Mrs Eghdam-Doost has been granted bail. But so far, she and her family have not been able to provide the bail. 

On February 7 of 2022, security forces arrested Eghdam-Doost at her house in Fuman City. This arrest was made under the warrant issued by Branch 2 of Fuman’s Courthouse on behalf of Evin Courthouse. Reportedly, Eghdam-Doost has been charged with “propaganda against the regime.”

Alieh Eghdam-Doost, 69, is a workers’ rights activist and has faced other arrests and convictions before.

 

Civil Activist Farideh Moradkhani Still in Detention after Three Months

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Farideh Moradkhani, Ward 209 of Evin Prison

After three months, civil activist Farideh Moradkhani is still detained in an uncertain condition in a solitary confinement cell in Ward 209 of Evin Prison. On January 13, 2022, intelligence agents in Tehran arrested Mrs Moradkhani.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Thursday, April 7, 2022, civil activist Farideh Moradkhani was still in unlawful detention awaiting further legal proceedings in Evin prison.

On January 13, 2022, she was arrested by security forces while returning to her house. At the time of her arrest, the intelligence agents searched her house and confiscated some of her personal belongings. One day after, in a phone call, she informed her family that she was detained in Ward 209 of Evin Prison.

The reason for this arrest and the charges she has faced are still unknown.

She had also been arrested on previous occasions due to her civil activities.