Category: Freedom of Expression

Two Azerbaijani-Turk Activists Sentenced to Prison

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Ethnic Minorities, Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, Rasht, Vadood Asadi, Yashar Nikroo

Azerbaijani-Turk activists, Vadood Asadi and Yashar Nikroo, have been sentenced to a total of six years and six months in prison by the Revolutionary Court of Rasht.

According to the verdict issued by Branch 3 of the Revolutionary Court of Rasht, Mr. Asadi received one year in prison for “propaganda against the regime,” three years and six months for “membership in anti-regime groups,” and one year for “insulting the Supreme Leader.” Mr. Nikroo was sentenced to one year in prison for “propaganda against the regime.”

In February 2024, Mr. Asadi was violently arrested by security forces in Rasht and transferred to Evin Prison later that month. He was released a few days afterward upon posting bail.

Yashar Nikroo Ahmad Gourabi, another Azerbaijani-Turk activist from Rasht, had previously faced formal charges at the Rasht Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office.

Three Members of Pakhshan Azizi’s Family Sentenced to Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Aziz Azizi, Hossein Abbasi, Pakhshan Azizi, Parshang Azizi

The prison sentences of Aziz Azizi, Parshang Azizi, and Hossein Abbasi, relatives of political prisoner Pakhshan Azizi, who faces a death sentence, have been upheld by the Tehran Court of Appeals. All three had previously been sentenced to one year in prison by the Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari.

In early August 2024, Aziz Azizi (Pakhshan’s father), Parshang Azizi (her sister), and Hossein Abbasi (her brother-in-law) were convicted in a joint case with Pakhshan Azizi. Each was sentenced by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court to one year in prison for the charge of “assisting a criminal to evade trial and conviction.” On September 26, the Court of Appeals confirmed these rulings.

According to HRANA, a request for a final appeal has been submitted to the Supreme Court.

Aziz Azizi, Parshang Azizi, and Hossein Abbasi were arrested at the same time as Pakhshan Azizi and later released on bail.

Pakhshan Azizi, a resident of Mahabad, was arrested by security forces in Tehran on August 4, 2023, and transferred to the women’s ward of Evin Prison. In July 2024, she was sentenced to death by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court on charges of “armed rebellion through membership in opposition groups.” Her trial, along with other defendants, was held on May 28, 2024.

Additionally, Ms. Azizi faces a new charge of “rioting in prison” in a case being handled by Branch 3 of the Evin Prosecutor’s Office, allegedly related to the second round of the 2024 presidential election. She had also been arrested previously, on November 16, 2009, and was released on bail after four months.

Mohammad Rasoulpour Sentenced to Two Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Mohammad Rasoulpour, Oshnavieh

Mohammad Rasoulpour, a resident of Oshnavieh, has been sentenced to two years in prison by the Revolutionary Court of the city, as reported by Kurdpa.

Based on the ruling issued by the Oshnavieh Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Ali Ansari, and communicated to Mr. Rasoulpour, he was sentenced to two years in prison on charges of “membership and collaboration with an opposition group” and “propaganda against the regime.”

Mr. Rasoulpour was arrested by security forces on the night of Tuesday, July 2, 2023, without a judicial warrant, and was released from Oshnavieh Prison after 13 days on bail.

Mohammad Rasoulpour, a 52-year-old married father of three, is from the village of “Kohneh Qaleh,” a suburb of Oshnavieh.

Brief Detention and Legal Case Filed Against Khosrow Azarbeyg for Street Music Performance

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Cultural, Freedom of Expression, News
Khosrow Azarbeyg, Khosrow Azerbeig, Mellat Park, خسرو آذربیگ

Khosrow Azarbeyg, a musician and world-traveling cyclist, was briefly detained by security forces while performing street music in Tehran’s Mellat Park. Although he was released after a few hours, he now faces legal charges.

On Friday, September 20, Azarbeyg was arrested by plainclothes security officers and municipal agents while performing in Mellat Park, with his equipment confiscated. He was released shortly after but now faces ongoing legal proceedings.

In a video statement, Azarbeyg recounted that on Wednesday, September 25, he visited the police station at Mellat Park, where he was subjected to insults and threats. The senior officer demanded he sign a repentance letter. After Azarbeyg refused, the officer threatened to fabricate a separate case with false details to create further problems for him.

Azarbeyg had previously been arrested on January 10, 2024, for playing the daf (a Middle Eastern frame drum) at a Tehran metro station.

A dedicated cyclist, musician, traveler, documentary filmmaker, and child rights activist, Azarbeyg has journeyed through more than 40 countries across Asia, Europe, and Africa. His activism includes extensive support for underprivileged families in Sistan and Baluchestan, autistic children, and the families of child laborers.

Three Citizens Arrested by Security Forces in Bukan

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Freedom of Expression, News, Other
Bukan, Fardin Shiri, Peyman Shiri, Sarveh Shiri

On September 25, 2024, Sarveh Shiri and Peyman Shiri, siblings from Bukan, along with their cousin Fardin Shiri, were arrested by security forces and transferred to a security detention facility in Urmia.

Kurdpa has confirmed the identities of the detainees: Sarveh Shiri, 22, Peyman Shiri, 19, and their cousin Fardin Shiri, all residents of Tarqeh village in Bukan.

Security forces arrested the three citizens at their residence in Targheh village without presenting a judicial warrant. They were subsequently transferred to a security detention facility in Urmia.

As of this report, the reasons for their arrests and the charges against them remain unknown.

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Amir Hossein Haghjooyan Arrested by Security Forces

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Freedom of Expression, News, Religious Minorities
Amir Hossein Haghjooyan, Dizelabad Prison, HRANA, Kermanshah, Reza Rasaei, Sahneh

On September 23, 2024, Amir Hossein Haghjooyan, a relative of Reza Rasaei, an executed protester, was arrested by security forces in Sahneh County, Kermanshah province, and transferred to an undisclosed location.

A source close to the family confirmed to HRANA: “Mr. Haghjooyan was detained by several members of IRGC Intelligence in Sahneh and moved to an unknown location.”

As of now, no details have emerged regarding the reasons for his arrest or the charges he may face.

Haghjooyan is the son of Kheirallah Haghjooyan, a member of the Yarsan Civil Activists Consultative Assembly, and a cousin and close companion of Reza Rasaei, who was executed in August 2023.

It’s important to note that Reza (Gholamreza) Rasaei, arrested during the 2022 nationwide protests, was secretly executed at dawn on August 6, 2023, in Dizelabad Prison, Kermanshah, without prior notice to his family or a final meeting with them.

Yarsanism, also known as Ahl-e Haqq, is a syncretic faith founded in western Iran during the 14th century by Sultan Sahak. As a religious minority, followers of Yarsan often face systemic persecution and harassment by Iranian authorities.

Baha’i Citizen Sepehr Naeimi Sentenced to 24 Months in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News, Religious Minorities
Ahmad Naeimi, HRANA, Sepehr Jafari Naeimi, Yazd

Sepehr Jafari Naeimi, a Baha’i citizen from Yazd, has been sentenced in absentia to 24 months in prison by the Revolutionary Court of Yazd. The charges against him stem from his social media posts about the death of Mahsa Amini and the Baha’i faith.

In a ruling issued on September 22 by Branch 1 of the Yazd Revolutionary Court, Naeimi received an eight-month prison sentence for “propaganda against the regime” and an additional 16 months for “insulting the Supreme Leader and the founder of the Islamic Republic.”

A source close to Naeimi’s family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating, “The charges against Mr. Naeimi are based on posts shared on his Instagram page related to Mahsa Amini’s death and the Baha’i faith.”

In early 2023, Naeimi was summoned to the Tehran Prosecutor’s Office for questioning regarding his social media content and was released after interrogation. In December 2023, he was summoned again to the Yazd Prosecutor’s Office in connection with the same case and was released on bail following further questioning.

Sepehr Jafari Naeimi, 24-year-old resident of Yazd, is the son of Ahmad Naeimi, who also has faced judicial issues in the past.

Mothers of Two Victims of November 2019 Protests Sentenced to Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Mahboubeh Ramezani, Navid Behboodi, Navid Behboudi, Pejman Gholipour, Rahimeh Yousefzadeh, Reza Shafakhah, Shahriar

Mahboubeh Ramezani and Rahimeh Yousefzadeh, mothers of Pejman Gholipour and Navid Behboodi, who were killed during the November 2019 protests, have each been sentenced to 18 months and one day in prison by Branch 2 of the Shahriar Revolutionary Court.

According to their lawyer, Reza Shafakhah, the court sentenced both women to six months for “propaganda against the regime,” six months for “membership in the Mothers of November 2019 Victims group,” and six months and one day for “insulting the Supreme Leader.”

Both Ramezani and Yousefzadeh have previously been arrested and sentenced due to their activism.

The November 2019 protests, sparked by a sharp rise in fuel prices, erupted on November 15, 2019, and quickly spread across dozens of cities in Iran. The protests, which lasted several days, saw participation in 719 locations, according to Mohammad Javad Kolivand, an MP from Karaj. Seyed Hossein Naqavi Hosseini, spokesperson for the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission at the time, reported around 7,000 arrests. Human rights organizations estimate that hundreds were killed in the violent crackdown that followed.

Political Prisoner Hamidreza Gharibi’s Prison Sentence Increased on Appeal

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Freedom of Expression, News
Hamidreza Gharibi, Markazi Province, Mohsen Edalat, Saveh Prison, حمیدرضا غریبی

The prison sentence of Hamidreza Gharibi, a political prisoner held in Saveh Prison, has been extended to 49 months and 18 days by the Appeals Court of Markazi Province after consolidating his previous sentences. Initially, Gharibi had been sentenced to a total of 31 months and 17 days in two separate cases.

Following the consolidation, Branch 8 of the Appeals Court of Markazi Province, under Judge Mohsen Edalat, sentenced Gharibi to 15 months and 1 day for insulting the Supreme Leader, 7 months and 16 days for propaganda against the regime, and 27 months and 1 day for blasphemy.

In his first case earlier this year, Gharibi had been sentenced by Branch 1 of the Saveh Revolutionary Court to 6 months and 1 day in prison for insulting the Supreme Leader on social media, with the sentence suspended for one year. He was acquitted of propaganda against the regime in the same case, but following an appeal by the Saveh prosecutor’s office, the Appeals Court sentenced him to 7 months and 16 days for this charge.

In August 2023, in a separate case, Gharibi was sentenced to two years in prison by Branch 1 of the Saveh Revolutionary Court for blasphemy. After submitting to the ruling, his sentence was reduced by one-fourth.

Hamidreza Gharibi, a resident of Saveh, was first arrested in early September 2022 and released on bail after about a month. He was rearrested on June 21, 2023, and transferred to Saveh Prison.

Judicial Case Filed Against Journalist Hadi Kasaie-Zadeh

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin, Hadi Kasaie-Zadeh, Hadi Kasaiezadeh, tea smuggling scandal, Tehran Friday Prayer Imam, هادی کسایی زاده

A judicial case has been initiated against journalist Hadi Kasaie-Zadeh for publishing content critical of the Tehran Friday Prayer Imam.

A close associate of the journalist told HRANA: “The case was filed against Mr. Kasaie-Zadeh for his publication of material criticizing the Tehran Friday Prayer Imam and his involvement in a financial corruption and tea smuggling scandal. Kasaie-Zadeh has been accused of spreading false information.”

In May of this year, Kasaie-Zadeh was summoned to the Evin Prosecutor’s Office, where formal charges were brought against him. This case stems from a complaint by the Tehran Prosecutor’s Office for his coverage of the circumstances surrounding Nika Shakarami’s death.

On June 20, 2023, Kasaie-Zadeh was arrested, but he was released the following day after signing a commitment at one of Tehran’s security detention centers.

Seyed Hadi Kasaie-Zadeh Mahabadi has a history of facing judicial actions due to his journalistic activities.