Category: Freedom of Expression

Ali Kajbaf Sentenced to Six Months in Prison

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
ahvaz, Ali Kajbaf, Revolutionary Court of Ahvaz, Sheyban Prison

The Court of Appeals of Ahvaz reduced the initial verdict against Ali Kajbaf to six months in prison. Previously, the Revolutionary Court of Ahvaz had sentenced him to one year and six months.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Ali Kajbaf, a resident of Ahvaz, was sentenced to six months in prison.

On April 27, 2022, Kajbaf was notified of the verdict that he was sentenced to one year on the charge of “membership in an anti-regime group” and six months on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”.

The Court of Appeals exonerated Kajbaf for the first charge, reducing his sentence to six months.

On August 18, 2021, the Ministry of Intelligence agents arrested Kajbaf while he was leaving the country. He spent 11 days of his detention in solitary confinement in Urmia. Reportedly, during detention, the agents beat him severely which led to a bone fracture in his chest.

After completing the interrogation process, Kajbaf was transferred to Sheyban Prison in Ahvaz. On November 1, 2021, he was released on bail.

Journalist Vida Rabbani Sentenced to Prison

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Blasphemy, Evin Prison, HRANA, the Union of Islamic Iran People Party, Vida Rabbani

The Court of Appeal of Tehran sentenced Vida Rabbani to ten years and four months imprisonment and additional punishments. 

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Vida Rabbani, journalist and a member of the Union of Islamic Iran People Party, was sentenced to ten years and four months in prison.

According to this verdict, she has been sentenced to five years in prison on the charge of “blasphemy”, four years for “assembly and collusion to act against national security”, eight months for “propaganda against the regime”, and eight months for “disrupting public order”. Based on article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, five years for the first charge will be enforceable.

Rabbani has also been banned from practising journalism and engaging in political activities.

On November 22, 2020, Rabbani was arrested and transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison. She was released on bail later on December 20, 2020.

Eight People Arrested for Publishing Immodest Pictures

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Malek Hossein Chegini, Shazand

Malek Hossein Chegini, deputy police chief of Shazand County, Markazi Province, announced the arrest of eight people for publishing what he called “immodest pictures” on the internet.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Rokna, the police have arrested eight people in Shazand, Markazi Province.

According to Chegini, judicial authorities have summoned and arrested eight websites and social media administrators who were publishing unconventional and immodest pictures.

Five Individuals Arrested in Mahabad

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, Other
Amir Bayazidi Azar, Cia Pirzad, Geok Tepe, Jalal Mahmoudi, Kambiz Bayazidi Azar, Kurdpa, Mahabad, Shahram Bayazidi Azar

On August 16, 2022, security forces arrested five individuals in Mahabad, West Azerbaijan Province, and transferred them to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, on August 16, 2022, security forces arrested Amir Bayazidi Azar, Shahram Bayazidi Azar, Kambiz Bayazidi Azar, Chia Pirzad and Jalal Mahmoudi.

All these individuals are residents of the village Geok Tepe located in Mahabad County.

At the time of arrest, the agents searched their house and arrested them without showing any arrest and search warrant.

Last year, Amir Bayazidi Azar was arrested and sentenced to three months in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime.” He was released from jail on January 1, 2022, after serving out his sentence.  

Health Defenders’ Sentences Upheld on Appeal

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Arash Keykhosravi, Health Defenders, Mehdi Mahmoodian, Mohammad Reza Faghihi, Mostafa Nili, v

The Court of appeals of Tehran upheld the verdict against Mehdi Mahmoodian, Arash Keykhosravi, Mostafa Nili, Mohammad-Reza Faghihi, and Maryam Afrafaraz. Previously, these individuals, whose case is known as “Health Defenders”, had been sentenced to over ten years combined and additional punishments.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the Court of Appeals of Tehran upheld the verdict for the five defendants in the case known as “Health Defenders”.

The verdict was issued without a court hearing.

The sentences are issued as: :

  •       Mehdi Mahmoodian: four years in prison, banned from presence in media for two years,
  •       Mostafa Nili: four years in prison, banned from presence in media for two years, prohibited from practising law for two years,
  •       Arash Keykhosravi: two years in prison, banned from presence in media for one year, and prohibited from practising law for one year,
  •       Mohammad-Reza Faghihi: six months in prison,
  •       Maryam Afrafaraz: 95 days in prison.

Attorney Babak Paknia said that at a public court session, he was not allowed to attend the court even as a spectator.

The first three defendants were convicted on the charge of “creating anti-regime groups to disrupt national security and propaganda against the regime”. The two last were convicted of “membership in anti-regime groups.”

On August 14, 2021, during a meeting to make a decision on filing a lawsuit against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the government for banning foreign vaccines, nine Iranian lawyers and civil rights activists were arrested.

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Two Student Activists Kaveh and Yashar Daroshafa Imprisoned

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News, Students
Black Thursday, Evin Prison, Kaveh Daroshafa, Yashar Daroshafa

Two student activists Kaveh and Yashar Daroshafa were taken to Evin Prison to sever their sentences. Previously, judicial authorities had sentenced Kaveh and Yashar Daroshafa to 10 and 15 years respectively.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, two student activists Kaveh and Yashar Daroshafa were taken to Evin Prison for sentencing.

Security forces arrested these brothers during the nationwide Aban protests in 2019. After a few days, there were released on bail. During the arrest, Yashar Daroshafa’s broken foot was infected.

On a prior occasion in 2014, Daroshafa brothers were arrested for the protest against the assault of political prisoners in Ward 350 of Evin Prison, known as “Black Thursday”.

Ali Ensandoost Arrested in Rasht

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Ali Ensandoost, Political Prisoner, Rasht

On August 13, 2022, security forces arrested Ali Ensandoost at his house and transferred him to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on August 13, 2022, former political prisoner Ali Ensandoost was arrested.

The reason for Ensandoost’s arrest, his whereabouts and the charges against him are unknown so far.

Ensandoost had faced arrest and conviction before. On April 28, 2020, security forces arrested him in Rasht for his activities on social media and an interview with opposition media outside the country. He was interrogated in a detention facility until September 2020 when he was transferred to Langerud Prison and held in a ward with prisoners of violent crimes.

The Revolutionary Court of Qom sentenced Ensandoost to eight years in prison on the charges of “collaboration with hostile countries, insulting the Supreme Leader, and propaganda against the regime”.After plea bargaining, the sentence was reduced to four years and six months. On December 26, 2021, Ensandoost was released to serve the rest of his sentence in home detention with an electronic monitoring device.

Eight Members of Erfan-e-Halgheh Association Arrested

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News, Religious Minorities
Al-Qadir, Erfan-e-Halgheh, mystical group, Yazd

The public relations representative of the IRGC in Yazd (Al-Qadir) has announced the arrest of eight members of a mystical group known as Erfan-e-Halgheh. These individuals have not been identified.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting IRIB News Agency, the IRGC has arrested eight members of a mystical group Erfan-e-Halgheh Association.  

In a statement, IRGC’s public relations office claimed that the spiritual psychic healing methods that Erfan-e-Halgheh is using are against the law. This IRGC  called Erfan-e-Halgheh a “deviant group” and claimed their activities “cause mental and emotional injuries and the collapse of families.”

Reza Salmanzadeh Sentenced to Prison

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, Reza Salmanzadeh

The Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced Reza Salmanzadeh to three years and eight months in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced Reza Salmanzadeh to one year on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”, and two years and eight months on the charge of “membership in an unlawful group to act against national security”.

If the verdict is confirmed on appeal, two years and eight months for the second charge will be enforceable based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Cod.

On May 12, 2022, security forces raided Salmanzadeh’s house and took him to Ward 209 of Evin Prison.

Workers’ Rights Activist Kamyar Fakoor Sentenced to Three Years

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News

Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced workers’ rights activist Kamyar Fakoor to three years in prison. If the verdict is confirmed on appeal, based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, two years for one charge will be enforceable.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, workers’ rights activist Kamyar Fakoor was sentenced to two years on the charge of “spreading falsehood” and one year on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”.

An informed source told HRANA that peaceful activities such as protests against the destruction of the environment, defending workers’ rights activists and publishing news about workers’ protests and strikes were presented during the trial as evidence to substantiate the charges.