Media Activist Iraj Moghaddam Arrested in Chovar County

Following a complaint by the Ilam Petrochemical Company in Ilam Province and an arrest warrant by the court of Chovar County, media activist Iraj Moghaddam was arrested. The reason for his arrest has been connected to his decision to publish the paycheck of personnel at the company.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists,  Ilam province, his conditions, whereabouts and charges are still unknown at the time of writing.

Moghaddam is the director of news outlet “Hezar Pisheh”.

Azerbaijani Turk Activist Roozbeh Piri Arrested in Tabriz

Last Saturday, security forces arrested Azerbaijani Turk activist Roozbeh Piri. This arrest may have occurred in order to imprison him and force him to serve his sentence.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Branch 3 of the Revolutionary Court of Tabriz, headed by Judge Ghazinejad, had sentenced Piri to one year in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime” and five years on the charge of “membership in anti-regime political groups”. On appeal, this verdict was reduced to eight months and three years respectively. By applying Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, three years imprisonment is enforceable for the latter charge.

On September 9, security forces arrested him in Tabriz City. After holding him in detention, they transferred him to Tabriz Prison. On September 29, he was released on bail.

Piri has previously been arrested and convicted for peaceful activities. He was arrested during the nationwide protests in Tabriz in November 2019 and sentenced by the court of appeals to 91 days in prison. He was released from Tabriz Prison in July 2020 after serving his sentence.

Later, he was charged with “spreading lies” on the Internet and sentenced to pay a fine of 5 million tomans (1190 USD) by Branch 103 of Tabriz’s Criminal Court. This sentence was upheld on appeal. Reportedly, the conviction was in retaliation for revealing his brother’s harassment and torture by intelligence agents.

Piri is the editor of Tabriz Magazine and the founder of Navid Etedal, an independent student organization at Tabriz Azad University.

 

Sorena Chatri Still in Detention and Awaiting Legal Proceedings in Behbahan Prison

Sorena Chatri, resident of Behbahan County, is still in detention and awaiting further legal proceedings. Late January of this year, IRGC’s intelligence agents arrested him in Behbahan city.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Sorena Chatri is still in detention and uncertainties regarding his condition in prison and legal proceedings.

Late January, he was arrested by IRGC’s intelligence agents and transferred to one of the detention centers at disposal of IRGC and after a week to Behbahan Prison.

He is a sports coach and resident of Tashan City located in Behbahan County.

Ebrahim Tari-Moradi Fined and Sentenced to One Year In Prison

On February 9, Ebrahim Tari-Moradi, a resident of Sanandaj City, was notified that Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Sanandaj sentenced him to one year in prison and a 30 million toman fine.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, Tari-Moradi was charged with “propaganda against the regime” and “collaboration with one of an opposing political parties.”

On July 24, 2021, security forces raided and searched his house, arrested him and confiscated some of his personal belongings. After interrogation in one of the security detention centers in Sanandaj, they transferred him to Sanandaj Prison. On September 26 of last year, he was released on bail from Sanandaj prison.

Tari-Moradi is 55 years old and a resident of Sanandaj County.

Shakila Monfaed Fined and Sentenced to Imprisonment

Political prisoner Shakila Monfared was fined and sentenced to two years and eight months in prison on charges in a new case recently opened against her.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran Monfared to two years and eight months in prison and a 10 million toman fine.

While serving her prison sentence in Qarchak Prison in Varamin City, she faced a new case and was charged with “membership in one of the anti-regime groups and spreading lies”, for which she was respectively sentenced to two years and eight months in prison and paying a fine of 10 million.

On August 31, 2020, the security forces arrested Monfared while she was leaving her home. They transferred her to one of the detention centers at disposal of the IRGC in Tehran. Reportedly, they did not have a warrant for this arrest.

On September 9, of last year she was relocated to the quarantine section of the women ward of Evin Prison. On September 14, she was released on bail of 400 million tomans until the end of legal proceedings.

In January of this year, the joint court trial of Shakila Monfared, Arsham Rezaei, and Mohammad Abolhassani was held in Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari. 27-year-old Monfared was sentenced to 6 years in prison and 4 months of probation work in the Agricultural Jihad on charges of “propaganda activities against the system” and “insulting the sanctities of Islam”.

Monfared was granted furlough on August 23 of this year and returned to jail on September 7.

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Asal Mohammadi Sentenced to One Year and Eight Months Imprisonment

Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced workers’ rights activist Asal Mohammadi to one year and eight months in prison and a two years prohibition on membership in any political or civil group.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Mohammadi was charged with “propaganda against the regime” and “assembly and collusion against national security.” If confirmed on appeal, the one-year sentence on one count will be enforceable.

Her lawyer, Iman Soleymani, told HRANA that “During the detention, she had no access to a lawyer. During the trial process, I undertook her case but they did not allow me to study the case documents or attend the court, which is in violation of Article 48 of the Criminal Procedure Code. She was in poor mental condition. Contrary to what the law explicitly states, she had been interrogated without accompaniment of a lawyer during the interrogation”

On January 24, 2022, the trial was held and during the trial, participation in online campaigns such as “white torture” or membership in Marxist groups was evoked as the piece of evidence for the charges.

On November 6, 2021, she was arrested violently along with Hirad Pirbodaghi by security forces. Their house were searched.

Five days later, on November 11, she was transferred to Public Ward No. 209 of Evin Prison and was released on bond on November 22, 2021.

Hashem Amini Sentenced to 13 Years In Prison

Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Torbat Heydariyeh sentenced Hashem Amini to 13 years in prison. Grounded on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, if confirmed on appeal, the severest punishment of 5 years will be enforceable.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Amini, a resident of Bajestan was charged with “membership in anti-regime groups, offensive statements against the Supreme Leader of Iran and participation in an illegal assembly”. The verdict was issued by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Torbat Heydariyeh.

Amini has to face other charges in a separate legal case. On June 17, 2021,  security forces arrested him at his home in Bajestan City and transferred him to a detention centre at the disposal of the Ministry of Intelligence in Mashhad City. On July 8, 2021, he was released on bail. For this case, his trial will be held at Branch 2 of the Criminal Court on February 27, 2022.

Workers’ Rights Activist Alieh Eghdam Doost Arrested in Fuman City

On February 7, security forces arrested workers’ rights activist Alieh Eghdam Doost in Fuman City and transferred her to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Independent Iranian Workers Union, Doost was arrested at her home at 9 AM. The Branch 2 of Fuman Courthouse, on behalf of Evin Moghaddas Courthouse, issued the arrest warrant. Reportedly, she has been accused of “propaganda against the regime”.

Doost, 69 years old, is a workers’ rights activist and has faced other arrested and convictions.

Azerbaijani Turk Activist Abbas Nikravan Sentenced to 91 Days In Prison

Abbas Nikravan, an Azerbaijani Turk Activist and resident of Salmas City, was sentenced to 91 days in prison by the Criminal Court of Salmas.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Branch 102 of Salmas’s Criminal Court sentenced Nikravan on the charge of “propaganda against the regime on the Internet”. The sentence is grounded in Article 500 of the Islamic Penal Code.

On September 5, 2021, security forces arrested and transferred him to the Ministry of Intelligence Office in Urmia City. On September 21 of last year, he was released on bail from Urmia Prison.

Nikravan has another arrest on his rap sheet. On July 5, 2018, he was arrested during an annual gathering in Babak Castle and released on bail six days later.

Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association Member Jafar Ebrahimi Sentenced to Four Years and Six Months in Prison

Jafar Ebrahimi, a teacher and member of the Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association, was sentenced by the Karaj Revolutionary Court to four years and six months in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the court notified Ebrahimi about the sentence sentence on charges of “spreading lies” and “propaganda against the regime” and “acting against national security.” The trial was held in November of 2021.

Earlier on May 19, 2020, he was indicted by Culture and Media Court for publishing official statements for the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations. He was finally released on bond pending further legal proceedings.

Approaching the anniversary of the Aban Protest, security forces arrested him while he was going to the cemetery to attend a memorial for those killed by the regime during the Aban Protests. On December 26, 2019, he stated during a phone call that he was sent to Rajai Shahr Prison. One month later, he was released on bail. At the time he was detained, he was banned from teaching by the Ministry of Education of Shahriar on the pretext of “unjustified absence”.