Category: Freedom of Expression

Father and Son Amin and Arman Ansarifar Arrested in Bebahan City

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Amin Ansarifar, Arman Ansarifar, Behbahan prison, Farzad Ansarifar, Mahmood Dashtinia, Mehrdad Dashinia, Mohammad Hashamdar, Mohammad Hossein Ghanavati

On February 20, Arman Ansarifar was arrested by intelligence agents in Behbahan at his home. Ansarifar is a resident of Behbahan City. His brother, Farzad, was killed by regime forces during the 2019 nationwide protests.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, his father, Amin Ansarifar, was summoned by Branch 4 of Behbahan’s Public and Revolutionary Court the day before. He was indicted for the charge of “advocating and promoting anti-regime groups or organizations”. He was arrested in the courthouse and transferred to Behbahan Prison.

On December 14, 2021, Arman Ansarifar was summoned by the same courthouse. According to an informed source, he was summoned once again via phone, but this time, he refused to appear at the court due to not receiving a summons letter.

During the protest of November 2019 in Behbahan City, security forces used live ammunition against protestors, leading to the death of several protestors including Mehrdad Dashinia, Mahmood Dashtinia, Farzad Ansarifar, Mohammad-Hossein Ghanavati and Mohammad Hashamdar.

At Least Six Teachers Arrested in Alborz Province During Nationwide Teacher’s Protests

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News
Alborz province, Azadeh Mokhtari, Education, Iranian Teachers Trade Association, Jamshidi, mohammad habibi, Ruhollah Mardani, Salemi, Shabnam Baharfar, Shahriari, teacher's rights, Zahra Ajorloo

On February 19, during the nationwide teacher’s protest, six people were arrested in Alborz Province. These protests have been held in dozens of cities across the country and were called by the Iranian Teacher’s Trade Association.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the spokesperson of the Iranian Teacher’s Trade Association, Mohammad Habibi, informed the public of the arrest of Shabnam Baharfar, Azadeh Mokhtari, Zahra Ajorloo, Jamshidi, Salemi and Shahriari.

On the same day, teacher and union activist Ruhollah Mardani was arrested in Delfan County, Lorestan Province.

The teacher’s demands include the implementation of an already-enacted plan whereupon the incomes of teachers will be increased depending on rank to up to 80% of the salaries of faculty members, official employment of teachers with temporary job contracts, fulfilling severance pay for the year, improving living conditions of contracted teachers, enforcing Article 30 of Iran’s Constitution, free education, improving the quality of education, paying student’s insurance and creating a limit of 16 students per class.

Civil Activist Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb Arrested

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb

On February 21, civil activist Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb was arrested at his home and was transferred to an unidentified location. Agents searched the house and confiscated some of his personal belongings.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Ragheb’s house was previously searched by security forces on July 7, 2021.

On June 15, 2020, Ragheb was arrested during an appearance at Branch 4 of Public and Revolutionary Court in Shahriar City to serve his nine month sentence in the Greater Tehran Prison. On January 15, 2021, he was released from jail after serving his sentence.

Following a complaint by the Ferdosiye City Municipality, a new legal case was opened against him by Branch 28 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”. During the trial, a piece of evidence invoked to support this charge included proof that he had signed a petition asking the Supreme Leader of Iran to step down.

Ragheb has faced other arrests and convictions. He is a firefighter with 17 years of work experience who was fired from his work due to his civil activities.

Jailed Human Rights Activist Narges Mohammadi Hospitalized Due to Respiratory Problems

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Ebrahim Ketabdar, Narges Mohammadi, Taghi Rahmani

Narges Mohammadi, human rights activist and the spokesperson of the Defenders of Human Rights Center was hospitalized due to respiratory problems. Since November 16 of last year, she has been detained and held, first in a detention centre in Karaj City, and then in Ward 209 of Evin Prison. Ultimately, she was moved to Qrachak Prison in Varamin City.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, her husband Taghi Rahmani wrote in a social media post that, “she has been sent to a hospital due to respiratory problems. We do not any detailed information on her latest health condition”.

On November 16, 2021, she was arrested by security forces during her attendance at a ceremony honouring Ebrahim Ketabdar, who was killed by security forces in Karaj during the November 2019 protests. She was detained in a solitary confinement cell in Ward 209 of Evin Prison. On November 22, 2021, she was notified about the charges in Evin Courthouse.

On December 29, 2021, security agents raided and searched her house and confiscated some of her personal belongings.

She has already faced other arrests and convictions and was imprisoned from May 5, 2015, until October of last year, Narges Mohammadi was imprisoned.

In January of this year, she was transferred from Ward 209 of Evin prison to Qarchak prison in Varamin city. Recently, she was sentenced to eight years imprisonment, 74 lashes and two years being in exile and other social deprivations.

Media Activist Iraj Moghaddam Arrested in Chovar County

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Activist arrested, Hezar Pisheh, Ilam Petrochemical Company, Iraj Moghaddam

Following a complaint by the Ilam Petrochemical Company in Ilam Province and an arrest warrant by the court of Chovar County, media activist Iraj Moghaddam was arrested. The reason for his arrest has been connected to his decision to publish the paycheck of personnel at the company.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists,  Ilam province, his conditions, whereabouts and charges are still unknown at the time of writing.

Moghaddam is the director of news outlet “Hezar Pisheh”.

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Azerbaijani Turk Activist Roozbeh Piri Arrested in Tabriz

Posted on by A MN
Ethnic Minorities, Freedom of Expression, News

Last Saturday, security forces arrested Azerbaijani Turk activist Roozbeh Piri. This arrest may have occurred in order to imprison him and force him to serve his sentence.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Branch 3 of the Revolutionary Court of Tabriz, headed by Judge Ghazinejad, had sentenced Piri to one year in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime” and five years on the charge of “membership in anti-regime political groups”. On appeal, this verdict was reduced to eight months and three years respectively. By applying Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, three years imprisonment is enforceable for the latter charge.

On September 9, security forces arrested him in Tabriz City. After holding him in detention, they transferred him to Tabriz Prison. On September 29, he was released on bail.

Piri has previously been arrested and convicted for peaceful activities. He was arrested during the nationwide protests in Tabriz in November 2019 and sentenced by the court of appeals to 91 days in prison. He was released from Tabriz Prison in July 2020 after serving his sentence.

Later, he was charged with “spreading lies” on the Internet and sentenced to pay a fine of 5 million tomans (1190 USD) by Branch 103 of Tabriz’s Criminal Court. This sentence was upheld on appeal. Reportedly, the conviction was in retaliation for revealing his brother’s harassment and torture by intelligence agents.

Piri is the editor of Tabriz Magazine and the founder of Navid Etedal, an independent student organization at Tabriz Azad University.

 

Sorena Chatri Still in Detention and Awaiting Legal Proceedings in Behbahan Prison

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Behbahan County, Sorena Chatri

Sorena Chatri, resident of Behbahan County, is still in detention and awaiting further legal proceedings. Late January of this year, IRGC’s intelligence agents arrested him in Behbahan city.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Sorena Chatri is still in detention and uncertainties regarding his condition in prison and legal proceedings.

Late January, he was arrested by IRGC’s intelligence agents and transferred to one of the detention centers at disposal of IRGC and after a week to Behbahan Prison.

He is a sports coach and resident of Tashan City located in Behbahan County.

Ebrahim Tari-Moradi Fined and Sentenced to One Year In Prison

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Ebrahim Tari-Moradi, Sanandaj

On February 9, Ebrahim Tari-Moradi, a resident of Sanandaj City, was notified that Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Sanandaj sentenced him to one year in prison and a 30 million toman fine.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, Tari-Moradi was charged with “propaganda against the regime” and “collaboration with one of an opposing political parties.”

On July 24, 2021, security forces raided and searched his house, arrested him and confiscated some of his personal belongings. After interrogation in one of the security detention centers in Sanandaj, they transferred him to Sanandaj Prison. On September 26 of last year, he was released on bail from Sanandaj prison.

Tari-Moradi is 55 years old and a resident of Sanandaj County.

Shakila Monfaed Fined and Sentenced to Imprisonment

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Qarchak, Shakila Monfared, Varamin City

Political prisoner Shakila Monfared was fined and sentenced to two years and eight months in prison on charges in a new case recently opened against her.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran Monfared to two years and eight months in prison and a 10 million toman fine.

While serving her prison sentence in Qarchak Prison in Varamin City, she faced a new case and was charged with “membership in one of the anti-regime groups and spreading lies”, for which she was respectively sentenced to two years and eight months in prison and paying a fine of 10 million.

On August 31, 2020, the security forces arrested Monfared while she was leaving her home. They transferred her to one of the detention centers at disposal of the IRGC in Tehran. Reportedly, they did not have a warrant for this arrest.

On September 9, of last year she was relocated to the quarantine section of the women ward of Evin Prison. On September 14, she was released on bail of 400 million tomans until the end of legal proceedings.

In January of this year, the joint court trial of Shakila Monfared, Arsham Rezaei, and Mohammad Abolhassani was held in Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari. 27-year-old Monfared was sentenced to 6 years in prison and 4 months of probation work in the Agricultural Jihad on charges of “propaganda activities against the system” and “insulting the sanctities of Islam”.

Monfared was granted furlough on August 23 of this year and returned to jail on September 7.

Asal Mohammadi Sentenced to One Year and Eight Months Imprisonment

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Asal Mohammadi, Hirad Pirbodaghi, Iman Soleymani

Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced workers’ rights activist Asal Mohammadi to one year and eight months in prison and a two years prohibition on membership in any political or civil group.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Mohammadi was charged with “propaganda against the regime” and “assembly and collusion against national security.” If confirmed on appeal, the one-year sentence on one count will be enforceable.

Her lawyer, Iman Soleymani, told HRANA that “During the detention, she had no access to a lawyer. During the trial process, I undertook her case but they did not allow me to study the case documents or attend the court, which is in violation of Article 48 of the Criminal Procedure Code. She was in poor mental condition. Contrary to what the law explicitly states, she had been interrogated without accompaniment of a lawyer during the interrogation”

On January 24, 2022, the trial was held and during the trial, participation in online campaigns such as “white torture” or membership in Marxist groups was evoked as the piece of evidence for the charges.

On November 6, 2021, she was arrested violently along with Hirad Pirbodaghi by security forces. Their house were searched.

Five days later, on November 11, she was transferred to Public Ward No. 209 of Evin Prison and was released on bond on November 22, 2021.