Category: Freedom of Expression

Civil Activist and Former Political Prisoner Payam Shakiba Arrested, Transferred to Evin Prison

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Activist arrested, Evin Prison, Payam Shakiba, Rajai-Shahr

Civil activist and former political prisoner Payam Shakiba was arrested and transferred to Evin Prison after being summoned by the Executive Unit of Evin Courthouse to serve his 13 month sentence.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Shakiba was arrested after his appearance at the Executive Unit of Evin Courthouse. He was then imprisoned in the quarantine section of Evin Prison.

On June 14, 2021, Shakiba was arrested by security forces in Tehran and held in Ward 209 of Evin Prison. On July 4, he was released on a bail of 100 million tomans (23,800 USD) pending further legal proceedings.

Shakiba has faced another arrest and conviction due to his civil activities. On February 22, 2017, he was arrested by security forces. He was sentenced in November 2017 to 11 years in prison on charges of “acting against national security through assembly and collusion,” and “propaganda against the regime”. This verdict was upheld on appeal. Ultimately, he was freed from Rajai Shahr Prison on February 3, 2021.

Vahid Bani-Amerian and Pooya Ghobadi Each Sentenced to 10 Years Imprisonment

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Babak Paknia, Evin Prison, Greater Tehran Prison, Moghayeseh, Mujahedin-e-Khalq, Peoples Mujahedin Organization of Iran, Pooya Ghobadi, Vahid Bani-Amerian

Two political prisoners, Vahid Bani-Amerian and Pooya Ghobadi, serving their sentences in Evin Prison and the Greater Tehran Prison respectively, were each sentenced to 10 years imprisonment in exile in their second legal case.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, headed by Judge Moghayeseh, sentenced Bani-Amerian and Ghobadi. In this new legal case, they were charged with the destruction of public property and advocating for the People’s Mujahedin Organization of Iran (Mujahedin-e-Khalq). According to their lawyer, Babak Paknia, the charge of “enmity against God” was dismissed by the court. The first court session was held in October of this year, but their lawyer asked for a retrial due to defective legal documents and failure to comply procedure.

In May of 2018, Bani-Amerian and Ghobadi were arrested by security forces in Tehran and transferred to Evin Prison. After four months of interrogation, they were sent to the public ward of Evin Prison. In November of 2019, Ghobadi was relocated to The Greater Central Prison while Bani-Amerian remained in Evin Prison.

In their first legal case, each was sentenced to 8 years in prison on charges of “assembly and collusion against national security”, offensive statements against the Supreme Court” and “propaganda against the regime”. For these charges, grounded in Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the most severe punishment of 5 years was enforced for each prisoner.

Jila Karamzadeh Makvandi Sent to Evin Prison to Endure her Five Years Sentence

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Jila Karamzadeh Makvandi, Raheleh Rahemipur, Tehran

On Wednesday, December 29, civil activist Jila Karamzadeh Makvandi was sent to Evin Prison to serve her five year sentence.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Makvandi was summoned to the Executive Unit of Shahid Moghaddas Courthouse.

On November 12, 2019, along with another civil activist, Raheleh Rahemipur, Makvandi was arrested by security forces in Tehran and sent to Ward 2 of Evin Prison. Thereafter, the security agents searched their house and confiscated some of their personal belongings. Later, they were released on bail.

Branch 29 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, in a trial in absentia, sentenced the civil activist to six years in prison. This verdict was upheld on appeal. The most severe punishment of 5 years is enforceable, grounded in Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code,

Makvandi has faced other arrests and convictions due to her civil activities.

 

Reza Mazaheri Arrested By Security Forces

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, Reza Mazaheri, Tehran City

On December 25, Reza Mazaheri, a resident of Tehran City, was arrested by security forces and transferred to Evin Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, family inquiry to Evin Courthouse regarding his conditions and the reasons for arrest have remained unanswered.

On December 29, 2018, the security forces arrested Mazaheri. After being indicted by Branch 2 of Evin Courthouse prosecutors, he was jailed in Ward 4 of Evin prison. On April 15, 2019, he was released from jail on bail of 2 billion tomans (475,910 USD) pending further legal proceedings.

On March 15, 2020, the Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced him to two years in prison. This verdict was upheld by Branch 36 of Tehran’s court of appeals.

He has been already summoned to Branch 1 of Evin’s Executive unit.

Imprisoned French Tourist Benjamin Briere On Hunger Strike in Vakilabad Prison

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Benjamin Briere, Mashhad City, saeed dehghan, Vakilabad

French Tourist Benjamin Briere, currently imprisoned in Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad City went on hunger strike to protest being deprived of his inalienable right as a prisoner to contact his family on Christmas night.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Briere has been jailed in Vakilabad since May 2020 when he was arrested by security forces.

“What is the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad waiting for in order to proceed Benjamin Briere’s case after 570 days in detention?” his lawyer, Saeed Dehghan, asked on his personal page on social media.

Dehghan was informed about charges of spying and propaganda against the regime against his client. Two other charges of “spreading corruption on earth” and “alcohol drinking” had been already dismissed by the court.

Per Briere’s lawyer, actions such as taking aerial photos with a remote-controlled helicam and posing some questions like “why is the veil (Hijab) forced in Iran but not other Islamic countries” were invoked as examples for charges of “spying” and “propaganda against the regime” respectively during in the last court session held in February 2021.

“A report published by Figaro used the word “drone”, while he had just used a normal helicam. This mistranslation brought about some misunderstanding regarding the charges in the media. Additionally, this report wrongly called him a French-Iranian dual citizen, while he is a French citizen,” Dehghan told HRANA.

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Environmental Activist Amanj Ghorbani Arrested in Kamyaran City

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Amanj Ghorbani, environmental activism, environmental activists in iran, Kamyran City, Sanandaj Prison

On December 21, environmental activist Amanj Ghorbani was arrested by security forces in Kamyaran City.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Ghorbani was summoned by the Ministry of Intelligence and arrested at appearance.

The reasons for his summons and subsequent arrest are unknown at the time of writing.

Earlier in 2018, he was arrested and sentenced to 3 months in prison by Sanandaj’s Revolutionary Court.

Educator and Civil Activist Rasoul Bodaghi Released on Bail

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Activist arrested, arrests, Iranian Teachers Trade Association, Rasoul Bodaghi

On December 21, educator and civil activist Rasoul Bodaghi was released on bail until the end of legal proceedings.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Bodaghi was arrested last Saturday. The violent arrest was carried out at his house by security forces who also searched the house and confiscated his cell phone, as well as his wife’s.

The charges against him are still unknown the time of writing.

Bodaghi is a member of the Board of Directors and the Coordination Council of the Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association.

Hassan Ghorbani, Brother of Heidar Ghorani, Arrested By Security Forces

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Freedom of Expression, News
executions, Hassan Ghorbani, Heidar Ghorbani, Sanandaj Prison

On December 19, security forces arrested Hassan Ghorbani following the execution of his brother, Heidar Ghobrani, in Sanandaj Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, an informed source revealed that “security forces refused to deliver Heidar Ghorbani’s body to his family and instead buried him secretly”.

Heidar Ghorbani was a political prisoner who was sentenced to death for alleged “armed insurrection against the regime” (Baghi). Last Sunday, he was executed in Sanandaj Prison despite international outcry.

Leila Hosseinzadeh Still Detained and Denied Access to Medical Treatment

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Freedom of Expression, News
Facility No. 100, Gonabadu Dervish, Leila Hosseinzadeh, prisoner denied medical treatment, Shiraz prison

Student activist and former political prisoner Leila Hosseinzadeh informed her family in a phone call that she is still in Ward 209 of Evin Prison. Despite suffering from Crohn’s disease, she has not yet received her medication, exacerbating her condition. She was beaten by security forces during her interrogation in a notorious Shiraz detention center known as Facility No. 100.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Hosseinzadeh was arrested on December 7 by security forces at her relative’s house in Shiraz City. During the arrest, she was beaten by agents.

On the same day, security institution-affiliated media outlets claimed that several individuals “associated with anti-revolutionary groups under the leadership of L.H.” (referring to Hosseinzadeh) have been arrested.

Earlier this week, the initial verdict against Hosseinzadeh was upheld by Branch 36 of the Court of Appeals in Tehran. Hosseinzadeh was sentenced to five years in prison and a two year ban on online social activity by Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran due to her attendance at the birthday ceremony of imprisoned Gonabadi Dervish, Mohammad Sharifi Moghaddam, held at the entrance of the Sharif University of Technology.

Amid the nationwide protests which broke out in December 2017, Hosseinzadeh was arrested alongside other student activists and released on bail after spending 16 days in detention. On March 7, 2018, she was sentenced to five years in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”, as well as one year in prison and a two-year ban on leaving the country. The sentence for her first charge was reduced on appeal from five years to two years and six months. Grounded on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, 30 months of this sentence was enforceable.

On July 28, 2019, she was arrested and detained for 10 days in a facility at the IRGC’s intelligence unit. Afterwards, she was sent to Evin prison to serve her sentence.

On March 11, 2020, while on furlough, she was set free due to her “intolerance of punishment”.

Educator and Trade Union Activist Asghar Amirzadegan Sentenced to One Year In Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Activist arrested, activist sentenced, Asghar Amirzadegan, propaganda against the regime

On December 17,  the Criminal Court of Firuzabad City sentenced Asghar Amirzadegan, an educator and trade union activist, to one year in prison. As an additional punishment, his Instagram page was removed and he was banned from using social media and messengers for two years.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Branch 101 of Firuzabad’s Criminal Court sentenced Amirzadegan in a trial in absentia. He was charged with “propaganda against the regime”.

On July 27, 2021, Amirzadegan was arrested and on August 15 was released on bail from Firuzabad Prison. According to an informed source, he was arrested when he went to a police station to take back his confiscated cell phone.

Earlier also in 2019, he was sentenced by the same court to one year and six months in prison on charges of “offensive statements against the regime’s authorities and propaganda against the regime.” On appeal, these verdicts for these two charges were suspended for 18 months and 2 years respectively.

Moreover, in 2018, he was accused of sending pictures and videos to anti-regime media abroad, a detained for two days before being released on bail of 30 million tomans (7140 USD). Later, the Public and Revolutionary Court exonerated him from this charge.