According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, on Tuesday, July 5, 2022, three individuals were arrested in Piranshahr.
These individuals have been identified as Akam Khezrzadeh, age 26, Othman Delsooz, age 64, and Hazar Delsooz, age 28, and were transferred to a detention facility in Urmia.
The reason for these arrests and the charges are unknown so far.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Hassan Saeedi, a member of the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, is still on hunger strike in Evin Prison.
An informed source told HRANA that Saeedi is on the fourteenth day of his hunger strike in solitary confinement despite his poor health and in protest against the extension of his unlawful custody and delay in due process.”
In recent days, in an open letter, Saeedi’s family and nine other detained trade unionists’ families have demanded an end to what they called baseless lawsuits against trade union activists and their immediate release.
Hassan Saeedi went on hunger strike for four days before to protest against his incarceration in solitary confinement and demanded relocation to the public ward.
On May 18, 2022, security forces arrested Saeedi at his house. They also search the house and confiscated some of Saeedi’s personal belongings.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Rokna, two French nationals Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris have been indicted.
The spokesperson of the judiciary, Masoud Setayeshi said that on May 8, 2022, the French citizens were arrested and briefed on the charge of “assembly and collusion against national security”.
A few days after the arrest, Iran state TV claimed that the two French nationals are associated with teachers union activists, Eskandar Lotfi, Masoud Nikkhah, Shaban Mohammadi and Rasoul Bodaghi and accused them of “organizing protests to cause “unrest, chaos, and social disorder”.
Cécile Kohler is a member of the French education union FNEC FP-FO.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, former political prisoner Javad Seyedi was arrested in Tehran.
An informed source told HRANA, “Seyedi was arrested during a pensioners’ protest. He is currently held in Ward 209 of Evin Prison without access to a lawyer and family visit.”
In August of 2021, Seyedi was released on probation from Evin Prison. He was previously sentenced to three years and nine months on the charge of “assembly and collusion to disrupt national security”, and eight months on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”. Later, his sentence was reduced to two years and nine months.
An informed source told HRANA, “Reyhaneh is a single mother of a daughter. As the detention continues, her daughter can no longer afford her living costs”.
The Ministry of Intelligence has delayed Ansari’s release despite the one billion tomans bail that she provided.
On May 13, 2022, security forces arrested Ansari and transferred her to Ward 209 of Evin Prison in Tehran. The agents searched her house and confiscated some of her personal belongings.
Reyhaneh Ansari has been arrested on previous occasions for her civil activities.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, in a phone call to her family, Rezai informed about her relocation from an IRGC detention facility to Sepidar Prison in Ahvaz. Currently, she is held in a quarantine section.
Rezai’s lawyer, Farzaneh Zilabi, said that she was charged with “propaganda against the regime.” Rezai’s attorney has also stated that so far, she doesn’t have access to her client’s documents.
In early June, security forces arrested Rezai, which may be related to the recent protests following Abadan’s Metropol building collapse.
Numerous activists have asked for Rezai’s release.
On May 23, 2022, a 10-story building which was known as Metropol collapsed in the city of Abadan in Khuzestan Province. Over 30 individuals were killed, injured or trapped in the rubble. Following the collapse, hundreds of citizens in Abadan and several other cities demonstrated against the government and its failure to impose safety standards on the construction which led to the disaster.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Karim Pezeshki and Saeed Rashidi have been unlawfully kept in detention.
“They have been allowed to have a family visit and make phone calls. However, security and judicial authorities refuse to grant bail for a temporary release or an attorney,” an informed source told HRANA.
On November 11, 2021, security forces arrested nine people in Baneh, including Pezeshki and Rashidi. Intelligence agents used violence during the arrest, searched their houses and confiscated some of their personal belongings.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Abdollah Sadooghi was sentenced to three years and six months in prison.
According to the verdict issued by Branch 3 of the Revolutionary Court of Tabriz, Sadooghi was sentenced to two years and six months imprisonment on the charges of “membership in separatist groups” and six months on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”. If the verdict is confirmed on appeal, based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, two years and six months for the first charge will be enforceable.
Initially, Sadooghi had been sentenced to six years imprisonment in absentia. However, his request for a retrial was accepted.
On September 23, 2020, security forces arrested Sadooghi at his house in Tabriz. He was released after a while.
Sadooghi had previously been arrested and convicted for his civil activities.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Rokna News Agency, in Shiraz, at least 20 coffee shops were closed by the local authorities.
Earlier, on June 21, police arrested ten individuals for organizing a youth gathering called the “Go Skateboarding Day” event. Following the authorities’ requests for restrictive measures, the Shiraz Department of Public Safety shut down at least 20 coffee shops, which were considered skateboarding youth’s hangout locations.
According to one of the shop owners, the police had warned that they want the coffee shops closed by night time. The police did not provide any written notice. The same individual said it is unclear when the coffee shops would re-open.
The police and plainclothes agents have also increased the harassment of women in the streets allegedly for failing to comply with forced veiling. A few days after the event, some unverified pictures circulating on social media showed some individuals praying at the place of the event to repel the wrath of God for skateboarding.
Iran’s regime routinely violates citizens’ privacy rights and cultural activities, which they say are unlawful according to Islamic values.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, on Wednesday, June 29, 2022, Michael Menbari was arrested by security forces in Sanandaj, Kurdistan Province.
According to an informed source, “Menbari was arrested by intelligence agents at a shop. The agents did not show an arrest warrant.”
The reason for Menbari’s arrest, his whereabouts and the charges against him are unknown so far.
Earlier on June 15, 2022, Menbari was arrested and jailed in Sanandaj Prison. At the time of his arrest, the intelligence agents searched his house and confiscated some of his personal belongings. On October 2, 2021, he was released on bail.
