Category: Freedom of Expression

Iran Protests: Poet Reza Keshvari Sentenced to Five Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
iran protests, Karaj Revolutionary Court, Reza Keshvari

The Karaj Revolutionary Court sentenced poet and painter Reza Keshvari to five years in prison, of which he will be imprisoned in exile for two years. He is also banned from leaving the country for two years.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Reza Keshvari was sentenced to five years in prison and social deprivations.

On October 15, 2022, Keshvari was arrested during nationwide protests in Karaj, following a protest against the arrest of several teenagers. He was jailed in the Central Prison of Karaj.

The charges are still unknown.

Keshvari is a poet and painter, the father of a five-year-old child.

Since the outbreak of nationwide protests, over 19200 people, including journalists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, have been arrested. So far, about 670 people were convicted over protests. For more details and statistics on the nationwide protest across Iran, read HRANA’s comprehensive report here.

 

Iran Protests: Two Students Sentenced to a Total of Six Years

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Freedom of Expression, News, Students
Alborz Adi, Islamic Azad University, Kashan, Najafabad, the University of Kashan

The Kashan Revolutionary Court sentenced Alireza Ghamgosar, a student at the University of Kashan, to two years in prison. Also, Alborz Adi, a student at Islamic Azad University in Najafabad, was sentenced to four years in prison, of which two years are suspended. Both students were arrested during recent nationwide protests.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Alireza Ghamgosar was sentenced to two years in prison on the charge of “assembly and collusion against national security.”

On September 20, 2022, security forces arrested Ghamgosar at nationwide protests in the city of Rasht.

Alborz Adi was sentenced to two years in prison and two years suspended imprisonment. He was arrested two times by security forces on October 3 in Najafabad, Isfahan Province, and then on October 31, 2022, in Langarud. For the second time, he was released on bail on December 31, 2022.

 

Neda Naji Sentenced to Eight Months in Prison and 60 Lashes

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Freedom of Expression, News
Mahsa Amini, Neda Naji

The Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced workers’ rights activist Neda Naji to eight months in prison, 60 lashes, banned from leaving the country, paying a fine and other punishments.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, workers’ rights activist Neda Naji was sentenced to imprisonment and flogging.

According to this verdict issued on December 7, 2022, Naji has been sentenced to eight months in prison, 60 lashes for “disturbing public order,” and a 15 million toman fine for “spreading falsehood.” She was also banned from leaving the country and using a cell phone for two years. She should also write a research paper as an additional punishment.

During the trial, she did not have access to her attorney.

On October 2, 2022, Naji was arrested in front of Kasra Hospital, where Mahsa Amini died, and jailed in Evin Prison. She was released on a 150-million bail on October 27, 2022.

Naji faced other arrests and convictions on prior occasions.

 

 

Iran protests: Ali Davari on Trial for Allegedly ‘Enmity against God’ and ‘Spreading Corruption on Earth’

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ali Davari, Makan Davari, Mehdi Nasiri, moharebeh

On December 24, 2022, the Rasht Revolutionary Court held the first court session against Ali (Makan) Davari, accused of the charges of ‘enmity against God’ (Moharebeh) and ‘spreading corruption on earth.’ Davari, a resident of Langarud, was arrested over protests and is currently in pre-trial detention at Ezbaram Lahijan Prison, Gilan Province.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on December 24, 2022, Ali (Makan) Davari’s trial began by the Rasht Revolutionary Court.

An informed source close to his family told HRANA: “In the first week of nationwide protests, on the way returning home from the gym, Makan helped several women in rescuing themselves from the assault of a group of men who later he found out that they were plainclothes security agents.”

According to this informed source, Davari’s mother, who is suffering from leukemia, was physically pushed and assaulted by the agents in the Langarud courthouse, where she had been to inquire about his son’s condition.

“In the first days following his arrest, they promised him and his family to drop the charges on the condition his family would not publicize his arrest and the charges. However, after three months, they did not keep their promise,” the informed source added.

In recent months, many protestors have faced charges such as Moharebeh and “spreading corruption on earth,” which can result in death.

HRANA has detailed the legal cases of 58 citizens sentenced to death or under the impending threat of death sentence over protests. Read this report here.

 

Iran Protests: Two Protestors Face Charge of Moharebeh in Rasht

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Freedom of Expression, News

Omid Bahrami Goor Masuleh and Rahmat Nowruzi, arrested at recent protests in the city of Rasht, faced the charge of “enmity against God” (Moharebeh), which can result in severe punishment, even the death penalty.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Omid Bahrami Goor Masuleh and Rahmat Nowruzi were indicted with the charge of “enmity against God” (Moharebeh).

An informed source told HRANA that these individuals faced these charges for their alleged participation in setting a Basij base on fire. The only evidence for this allegation is based on the torture-tainted confessions they made during detention, as Omid Bahrami informed his family that he had been beaten to confess.

In recent months, many protestors have faced charges such as Moharebeh and “spreading corruption on earth,” which can result in death penalty.

HRANA has detailed the legal cases of 58 citizens sentenced to death or under the impending threat of death sentence over protests. Read this report here.

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Former Political Prisoner Soheil Arabi Arrested

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Freedom of Expression, News
Soheil Arabi, Tehran

Yesterday, January 2, 2023, security forces arrested former political prisoner Soheil Arabi at his home in Tehran and transferred him to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on January 2, 2023, former political prisoner Soheil Arabi was arrested.

An informed source told HRANA that Arabi suffers from several diseases and should have access to his essential medicines.

Soheil Arabi faced several arrests and convictions on prior occasions.

Iran Protests: Journalist Mehdi Ghadimi Arrested

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Freedom of Expression, News
Karaj, Mehdi Ghadimi

On January 1, 2023, security forces arrested journalist Mehdi Ghadimi in Karaj and took him to an undisclosed location.

Ghadimi was arrested at his parents’ home in Karaj. The agents searched the house and confiscated some of their belongings.

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

Since the outbreak of nationwide protests, about 19200 people, including journalists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, have been arrested. For more details and statistics on the nationwide protest across Iran, read HRANA’s comprehensive report here.

 

Student Soroush Al-Mohammad Sentenced to Imprisonment and Flogging

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Freedom of Expression, News, Students
flogging, irgc, Semnan, Soroush Al-Mohammad

The Semnan Court of Appeals recently sentenced Soroush Al-Mohammad to one year in prison, 74 lashes, banned from leaving the country and other social deprivation. Also, he previously received a one-year sentence for another part of his legal case.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Soroush Al-Mohammad, age 23, a student at Kharazmi University, was sentenced to one year and 74 lashes for “disturbing public order through participating in protests.”

Moreover, on November 12, 2022, Al-Mohammad received one year in prison for “propaganda against the regime.”

On September 26, 2022, IRGC’s intelligence agents arrested Al-Mohammad at his home in Semnan. According to an informed source, he was in solitary confinement and interrogated on suspicion of association with oppositional groups outside Iran. Then he was released on 400-million-toman bail.

Since the outbreak of nationwide protests, at least 683 students were arrested. At the time of writing, so far, 667 people were convicted over protests. For more details and statistics on the nationwide protest across Iran, read HRANA’s comprehensive report here.

 

Student Sepideh Ahmadkhani Sentenced to Imprisonment and Flogging

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Freedom of Expression, News, Students
Sepideh Ahmadkhani, Tehran Revolutionary Court

The Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Sepideh Ahmadkhani, a student at Shahid Beheshti University, to six years in prison, 74 lashes and additional punishment.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Iranian Students Union, Sepideh Ahmadkhani was sentenced to five years for “assembly and collusion against national security,” one year and 74 lashes for “disturbing public order.”

As additional punishment, Ahmadkhani is banned from leaving the country and from membership in civil and political groups for two years. As Social Work Penalty, she must work for free in a nursing home for three months. Moreover, as an attempt to indoctrinate her, she also has to conduct research about patriotism.

If the verdict is upheld on appeal, five years for the first count will be enforceable to her.

On September 23, 2022, Ahmadkhani was arrested at protests and, after a while, released on a 600-million-toman bail until the end of legal proceedings.

 

Writer Sepideh Salarvand Sentenced to Two Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, Sepideh Salarvand, ward 209

The Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Sepideh Salarvand to two years in prison, barred her from leaving the country and membership in civil and political groups for two years. As additional punishment for the purpose of indoctrination, she also has to conduct research about patriotism. She is an anthropologist, writer and children’s rights activist.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Sepideh Salarvand to years in prison on the charges of “assembly and collusion to act against national security.”

In early October 2022, security forces arrested Salarvand and jailed her in Ward 209 of Evin Prison. She was released on bail on October 17 until the end of legal proceedings.