Category: Freedom of Expression

Iran Protests: Six People Sentenced to a Combined over 18 Years for Protest in Oshnavieh

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Freedom of Expression, News
Abdorrahim Rahimi, Ehsan Safai-Far, Fardin Khosh-Khahesh, Farhad Kazemi, Khaled Dashti, Mohammad Peyghami, Oshnavieh

The Oshnavieh Criminal Court sentenced Farhad Kazemi, Khaled Dashti, Ehsan Safai-Far, Mohammad Peyghami, Abdorrahim Rahimi and Fardin Khosh-Khahesh to a combined 18 years and six months in prison. These individuals were arrested during recent protests and then released on bail.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, six residents of Oshnavieh were sentenced to a total of 18 years and six months in prison.

According to these verdicts, Abdorrahim Rahimi and Fardin Khosh-Khahesh received five years and three months for “disturbing public order, defying government agents, and destruction of public property through participating in protests.” Farhad Kazemi, Khaled Dashti, Ehsan Safai-Far and Mohammad Peyghami each received two years for “disturbing public order and defying government agents.”

These individuals were previously arrested by security forces and released later on bail after the interrogation.

Since the outbreak of nationwide protests, about 18400, including journalists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, have been arrested. For more details and statistics on the nationwide protest across Iran, read the latest HRANAs comprehensive report here.

Civil Rights Activist Shahla Jahanbin Arrested

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Freedom of Expression, News

On December 14, 2022, security forces arrested Shahla Jahanbin at Mehrabad airport in Tehran and took her to an undisclosed location.

An informed source close to her family told HRANA that “Jahanbin was on her way to Mashhad to see her husband, Vahedian Shahroudi. The intelligence agents arrested her at Mehrabad Airport at midnight. So far, she has not called her family, raising her family’s concerns.”

Jahanbin and her husband, Abbas Vahedian Shahroudi, faced other arrests and convictions for their civil activities.

On November 14, 2020, Jahanbin began her 27-month sentence in Evin Prison. On April 5, 2021, she was released early from prison following receiving an imprisonment intolerance certificate.

Iran Protests: Student Amir Azizi Sentenced to Imprisonment and Flogging

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Freedom of Expression, News
Amir Azizi, great tehran penitentiary, University of Tehran

The Tehran Court of Appeal upheld the initial verdict against Amir Azizi who was arrested at protests. Azizi, an architecture student at the University of Tehran, was initially sentenced to 11 years in prison and 74 lashes.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, student Amir Azizi was sentenced to 11 years in prison and 74 lashes.

According to this verdict, Azizi was given five years for “acting against national security through inciting violence,” three years and 74 lashes for “disturbing public opinion on the Internet,” two years for “assembly and collusion to commit a crime,” and one year for “insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran.”

Based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, five years in prison for the first charge mentioned above will be enforceable to him.

On December 14, Azizi endured flogging in the Great Tehran Penitentiary.

 

Iran Protests: Mohamad Shahrooi Sentenced to Imprisonment and Flogging

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Freedom of Expression, News
Behbahan, Mohamad Shahrooi

The Criminal Court of Behbahan sentenced Mohamad Shahrooi to one year in prison and 74 lashes. Shahrooi was previously arrested at protests in Behbahan

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Mohamad Shahrooi was sentenced to one year in prison and 74 lashes on the charge of “disturbing public order through participating in protests.”

In November 2022, he was arrested at protests and later released on bail. According to an informed source, during the arrest, he was beaten, causing damage to his back.

 

Twelve People Arrested Allegedly for “Publishing Calls for Protests on the Internet”

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Freedom of Expression, News
Esfarayen, iran protests

On December 13, the chief of police of Esfarayen announced that 12 individuals were arrested allegedly for “publishing calls for protests on the Internet.”

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting ISNA, on December 13, 2022, 12 individuals were arrested in Esfarayen, North Khorasan Province, Iran.

This chief of police did not disclose the detainees’ identities.

“Their cases have been delivered to judicial authorities for legal proceedings,” he stated.

 

 

 

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Five Protestors Awaiting Looming Execution in the Central Prison of Karaj

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Executions, Freedom of Expression, News
Hadith Najafi, Hamid Ghara-Hasanlu, Hossein Mohammadi, Mizan, Mohammad-Mehdi Karami, Seyyed-Mohammad Hosseini

Recently, the Karaj Revolutionary Court sentenced five people arrested at protests to death. These death-row prisoners, Mohammad-Mehdi Karami, Seyyed Mohammad Hosseini, Hamid Ghara-Hasanlu and Hossein Mohammadi, are currently jailed in the Central Prison of Karaj.

About incidents that happened during protests on the 40th day of Hadith Najafi’s death, these individuals were arrested and faced the charge of “spreading corruption on earth” and then sentenced to death.

Initially, the Judiciary mentioned eleven co-defendants in this legal case. Later, however, Mizan, Judiciary’s official media, mentioned 15 people. In the third court session, Hossein Mohammadi was added to the defendants, raising the number to 16.

During the trial, none of the defendants did not access to a private lawyer. They have been also reportedly tortured to confess and accept the charges.

 

Student Pouya Mazloumi Sentenced to Five Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Pouya Mazloumi

Recently, the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced student Pouya Mazloumi to five years in prison and additional punishment. Pouya Mazloumi was arrested at protests.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, student Pouya Mazloumi was sentenced to five years in prison on the charges of “assembly and collusion against national security” and “disturbing public order.”

Mazloumi was banned from leaving the country and from political-civil activities on the Internet for two years as additional punishment.

In late September this year, Mazloumi was arrested by security forces and jailed in the Great Tehran Penitentiary.

 

 

Three Physicians Arrested in Mahabad

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Freedom of Expression, News
Behnam Ohadi, Homayoun Eftekharian-Nia, Jaser Rahmani-Rad, Khorramabad, Mahabad

The intelligence agents arrested three doctors Jaser Rahmani-Rad (GP), Behnam Ohadi (Psychiatrist) and Homayoun Eftekharian-Nia (Operating Room Technician), in Mahabad, West Azerbaijan Province. They had travelled from Tehran and Khorramabad to Mahabad.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, three physicians, Jaser Rahmani-Rad, age 34,  Behnam Ohadi, age 49, and Homayoun Eftekharian-Nia, age 23, were arrested in Mahabad.

These individuals travelled to Mahabad on November 30 and were arrested four days later by security agents.

The reason for these arrests is still unknown. Their families’ inquiries have yet remained unanswered by judicial/security officials, raising their concerns over their conditions.

 

 

Student Farzad Marzbani Sentenced to Three Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News, Students
Farzad Marzbani, iran protests, Payame Noor University

The Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced student Farzad Marzbani to three years imprisonment. Marzbani is a student at Payame Noor University-Shemiranat Branch.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Iranian Students’ Union, student Farzad Marzbani was sentenced to three years in prison on the charge of “assembly and collusion to act against national security.”
On September 28, 2022, Marzbani was arrested by security forces before the Ministry of Interior building in Tehran.

Since the outbreak of nationwide protests, about 18200 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 the latest HRANAs comprehensive report here.

 

Mahvin Bigdeli Sentenced to Six Months in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Mahvin Bigdeli, Roghayeh Bigdeli

Recently, the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced Mahvin (Roghayeh) Bigdeli, a resident of Karaj, to six months in prison and banned her from leaving the country for two years. Moreover, as additional punishment, she has been forced to attend education courses in a seminary (Hawza) for two months, two hours per day. She was also barred from using a cell phone.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Mahvin Bigdeli was sentenced to six months in prison and additional punishment on the charge of “propaganda against the regime.”

Bigdeli faced other arrests and convictions on prior occasions. On January 11, 2020, she was arrested by Karaj’s security police and then released on a 300-million-toman bail. In June 2022, the Karaj Revolutionary Court sentenced her to five years of suspended imprisonment and two years and eight months of exile in Zanjan.