Category: Freedom of Expression

Ahmadreza Haeri Sentenced to Four Years

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Ahmadreza Haeri, Ramin Safarnia

The Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced former political prisoner Ahmadreza Haeri to four years and four months in prison.

Ramin Safarnia, Haeri’s lawyer, wrote on social media that Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court notified him of Haeri’s verdict. Haeri has been sentenced to three years and eight months on the charge of “assembly and collusion against national security”, and eight months on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”.

If the verdict is upheld on appeal, based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, three years and eight months for the first charge will be enforceable.

On June 27, 2022, security forces arrested Haeri in Tehran. In early August, he was released on a bail amount of one billion tomans. During the whole period of detention, he had been denied access to a lawyer.

Azerbaijani Turk Activist Rahim Panahian Arrested in Tabriz

Posted on by A MN
Ethnic Minorities, Freedom of Expression, News
Azerbaijani Turk activist, Rahim Panahian, Tabriz

On August 28, 2022, security forces arrested Azerbaijani Turk Activist Rahim Panahian at his father’s house in Tabriz and transferred him to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on August 28, 2022, Azerbaijani Turk Activist Rahim Panahian, age 19, was arrested in Tabriz.

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

Students and Reporters Arrested in Tehran Protest 

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
compulsory military service, HRANA, Iranian Public Conscription Organization

On August 27, 2022, students held a protest against compulsory military service before the Iranian Public Conscription Organization in Tehran, which led to the arrest of several students and reporters. 

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on August 27, 2022, the police arrested several students and reporters during a protest against compulsory military service.

The identity and whereabouts of these individuals are unknown so far.

The students had previously demanded a response from the General Staff of the Armed Forces.

Two-year mandatory conscription for male individuals above 18 has caused a financial burden on poor families who cannot afford to buy out the conscription.

Heyman Abdi Arrested in Shahin-Dej

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News, Other
Heyman Abdi, Shahin Dej, West Azerbaijan Province

The intelligence agents arrested Heyman Abdi, a resident of Shahin Dej, and transferred him to a detention facility in Miandoab.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, the intelligence agents arrested Heyman Abdi in Shahin Dej, the West Azerbaijan Province.

According to an informed source, the security forces did not show an arrest warrant and mentioned the collaboration with one of the anti-regime political parties as the reason for Abdi’s arrest.

Gonabadi Dervish Mohammad Chegini Arrested in Kerman

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Gonabadi Dervish, Mohammad Chegini

On August 24, 2022, security forces arrested Mohammad Chegini in Kerman and transferred him to an unidentified location. Chegini is a Gonabadi Dervish, a minority which has been subject to persecution in recent years.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on August 24, 2022, Mohammad Chegini was arrested in Kerman.

According to an informed source, the agents did not show an arrest warrant.

The reason for this arrest and Chegini’s whereabouts are unknown so far.

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Four Teacher Union Activists in Detention for 70 Days

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Hiwa Qoreishi, Kaweh Mohammadzadeh, Kurdistan Teachers Trade Association, Omid-Shah Mohammadi, Parviz Ahsani

Omid Shah Mohammadi, Parviz Ahsani, Kaweh Mohammadzadeh, and Hiwa Qoreishi, four members of the Kurdistan Teachers Trade Association, have been held at a detention facility for the past 70 days.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Omid Shah Mohammadi, Parviz Ahsani, Kaweh Mohammadzadeh, and Hiwa Qoreishi are jailed at a detention facility.

These union activists have been denied access to a lawyer and family visits. According to an informed source, despite frequent requests from their families, judicial authorities refused to grant them bail.

On June 15, 2022, security forces arrested these activists in Divandarreh, Kurdistan Province.

HRANA has reported the mass arrest of teachers and teacher union activists in different cities in June 2022.

Five Sanandaj Residents Sentenced to Total of 20 Years in Prison

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News, Other
Aliollah Veisi, arzieh Morad-Veisi, Fardin Rahimi, Mehdi Seyfi, Sanandaj City, Sirvan Abdollahi

The Revolutionary Court of Kurdistan sentenced five residents of Sanandaj city to a total of 20 years in prison and 25 months of suspended imprisonment.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kolbar News, the revolutionary Court sentenced Fardin Rahimi, Aliollah Veisi, Mehdi Seyfi, Sirvan Abdollahi, and Marzieh Morad-Veisi each to four years in prison and five months floating imprisonment on the charges of “propaganda against the regime, collaboration with one of the anti-regime parties, and forming illegal groups”.

These individuals were arrested in May 2021 and later released on bail after interrogation.

Student Activist Leila Hosseinzadeh Arrested in Tehran

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Gonabadi Dervish, Leila Hosseinzadeh, Mohammad Sharifi Moghaddam, Tehran

On August 20, 2022, security forces arrested student activist and former political prisoner Leila Hosseinzadeh in Tehran and transferred her to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on August 20, 2022, student activist Leila Hosseinzadeh was arrested in front of her house in Tehran.

The reason for this arrest and her whereabouts are unknown so far.  

In February 2021, the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced Hosseinzadeh to five years in prison and a two-year ban on online social activity on the charge of “assembly and collusion to act against national security.”  Her attendance at the birthday ceremony of imprisoned Gonabadi Dervish, Mohammad Sharifi Moghaddam, was presented during the trial as evidence to substantiate the charges. The verdict was upheld on appeal.

Hossein Razzagh Arrested in Amol

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Amol prosecutor, Hossein Razzagh, saeed dehghan

On August 21, 2022, security forces arrested media activist Hossein Razzagh in Amol and transferred him to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists,  media activist Hossein Razzagh was arrested in Amol, Mazandaran Province.

Razzagh’s lawyer, Saeed Dehghan announced the arrest on his social media page, saying that the Amol prosecutor had called and summoned Razzagh and he was later arrested while riding in a taxi and transferred him to an unidentified location.”

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

Azerbaijani Turk Activist Yashar Piri Arrested in Tabriz

Posted on by A MN
Ethnic Minorities, Freedom of Expression, News
Azerbaijani Turk activist, yashar piri

On August 17, 2022, the Ministry of Intelligence summoned Azerbaijani Turk activist Yashar Piri in Tabriz and arrested him after interrogation. The agents transferred him to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on August 17, 2022, Azerbaijani Turk activist Yashar Piri was arrested in Tabriz.

The reason for this arrest is unknown so far.

Piri was arrested on two prior occasions. Amid nationwide protests, on November 17, 2019, security forces arrested and held him for 26 days in an IRGC detention facility. They later sent him to Tabriz Prison for three months until he was released on a bail.