Category: Freedom of Expression

Women’s Rights Advocate Tina Deljoo Sentenced to One Year in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Lakan prison, Rasht, Tina Deljoo

HRANA– Tina Deljoo, a women’s rights activist, has been sentenced to one year in prison by Branch 3 of the Rasht Revolutionary Court.

This verdict was issued on Wednesday, August 20, by Branch 3 of the Rasht Revolutionary Court and was recently communicated to the women’s rights activist. Based on the ruling, Ms. Deljoo has been sentenced to one year in prison on the charge of propaganda against the regime.

No details are available regarding the specific acts cited in this case, which was opened against her in the winter of last year.

On January, 2025, Tina Deljoo was arrested and transferred to Lakan Prison in Rasht to serve a previously issued seven-month prison sentence in connection with an earlier case. She was released in mid-August of this year after completing that sentence.

Tina Deljoo, a civil activist and women’s rights defender, resides in Gilan. She has previously faced arrest and imprisonment for her activism.

Yazd Blogger Hamidreza Naeimabadi Arrested

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Freedom of Expression, News
Hamidreza Naeimabadi, Yazd, حمیدرضا نعیم آبادی

HRANA– Hamidreza Naeimabadi, a satirical blogger from Yazd, has been arrested by the city’s security police. At the same time, a judicial order has been issued to suspend his Instagram page and restrict his use of social media.

Sources confirmed to HRANA that since his arrest, Mr. Naeimabadi has had no contact with his relatives.

Meanwhile, the Public Relations Office of the Yazd Judiciary, without revealing his identity, announced the arrest of a “satirical blogger from Yazd,” accusing him of publishing content “contrary to legal and moral principles” and “insulting freight drivers” on social media.

According to the Judiciary’s statement, “the accused was detained by order of the case investigator through the security police and, after being transferred to the prosecutor’s office, was taken into custody under an appropriate judicial order.” Additionally, an order was issued to suspend his Instagram page and impose restrictions on his online activity.

Tehran Prosecutor Files Charges Against Comedian Zeinab Mousavi

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Freedom of Expression, News
Emperor Kuzco, HRANA, Qom, Tehran, Zeinab Mousavi, زینب موسوی

HRANA– The Tehran prosecutor has filed charges against Iranian comedian Zeinab Mousavi over a video circulated on social media containing remarks about Ferdowsi, the renowned Iranian poet.

According to HRANA, quoting Mizan, the Tehran prosecutor initiated legal action against Mousavi following the release of part of a program online in which she made comments regarding Ferdowsi. The report alleges that Mousavi’s statements were “contrary to public morality.”

In October of last year, the Tehran prosecutor also filed charges against her, which later led to the issuance of an indictment.

Zeinab Mousavi, one of the first women stand-up comedians in Iran and the creator of the character “Empress Kuzco,” was arrested in October 2023 and released after several days. Her case, involving two charges, was referred to the Tehran Revolutionary Court and the Criminal Court.

She was also arrested in Qom in October 2022 and released on bail in late November of the same year pending trial. Mousavi has stated that during this detention she spent 25 days in solitary confinement and was sentenced to two years in prison.

Journalist Omid Faraghat Sentenced to 3 Months in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Iman Afshari, Karaj, Omid Faraghat

HRANA – Omid Faraghat, a journalist, has been sentenced to three months in prison by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court. In a separate ruling, Branch 3 of the Karaj Revolutionary Court acquitted him of other charges.

According to HRANA, Mr. Faraghat reported that Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, convicted him on the charge of propaganda against the regime and sentenced him to three months in prison. The charge was based on allegations of interviews with Persian-language media outlets based abroad, a claim he has denied.

At the same time, Branch 3 of the Karaj Revolutionary Court acquitted him of additional charges of propaganda against the regime and spreading falsehoods to disturb public opinion. The trial concerning these accusations took place on Monday, August 18.

The conviction that resulted in his prison sentence was issued following a separate hearing held on Sunday, July 13, in Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

Omid Faraghat, a journalist and political media activist residing in Karaj, has previously faced judicial proceedings in connection with his professional activities.

Student Activist Motahareh Goonehi Sentenced to Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, Motahareh Goonehi, Motahareh Gounei, Student activist

HRANA – Motahareh Goonehi (Gounei), a student activist, has been sentenced by Branch 29 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court to 21 months in prison.

In a statement published by this student activist, she wrote: “By order of the Revolutionary Court, I was sentenced to 15 months in prison for ‘propaganda against the Islamic Republic’ and to six months in prison for ‘insulting the Supreme Leader,’ as well as the confiscation of my mobile phone containing so-called ‘criminal content.’ This ruling was issued by Branch 29 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court in less than one week.”

Ms. Goonehi was arrested by security forces in Tehran on Saturday, June 14, and released more than a month later on bail. Following her release, she shared a disturbing account of her arrest, reporting that she was detained without a judicial warrant, that shots were fired inside her home during the arrest, and that she was blindfolded and taken barefoot into the street at night before being released.

Goonehi is a dental student and the former political secretary of the Islamic Association of Students at the University of Tehran and Tehran University of Medical Sciences. She has previously faced arrest and security-related pressures due to her activism. She was released from Evin Prison on March 16, 2025, after completing her prison sentence.

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Ramin Rostami Arrested by Security Forces in Tehran

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Freedom of Expression, News
Harsin, Ramin Rostami, Tehran, رامین رستمی

HRANA– On Wednesday, August 20, Ramin Rostami, a resident of Harsin currently living in Tehran, was arrested by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location.

Based on information received by HRANA, his arrest took place on Wednesday, August 20, at his residence in Tehran by security forces who did not present a judicial warrant. A source close to the citizen confirmed the arrest and told HRANA: “Ramin Rostami was detained at the same time as Ehsan Rostami.”

As of this report, no information is available regarding his whereabouts or the charges against him.

Ramin Rostami, originally from Harsin, has previously been active in the field of publishing and books.

Shahab Darabi Sentenced to Three Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News
HRANA, Iranian truck driver, Shahab Darabi, شهاب دارابی

HRANA – Shahab Darabi, a truck driver from Eslamabad-e Gharb who was arrested by security forces for supporting the truck drivers’ strikes, has been sentenced to three years and one day in prison.

According to a verdict recently issued by a branch of the Revolutionary Court and communicated to Mr. Darabi, he was sentenced in connection with his participation in the truck drivers’ strikes and for posting supportive content on social media. Further details, including the specific charges brought against him, are under review by HRANA.

Darabi was arrested on May 27 by Ministry of Intelligence agents. His arrest was carried out violently, with officers subjecting him to beatings.

After his detention, a video of Darabi was circulated on social media in which – under unclear circumstances – he expressed regret over his past actions. The footage sparked widespread reactions online, with many users describing it as a “forced confession.” He was eventually released on bail on June 1.

HRANA has also published a detailed report on the truck drivers’ strikes in June, outlining the causes, the strike’s expansion, the government’s response, and the subsequent arrests.

Appeals Court Increases Prison Sentence of Hamid Chapati

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Freedom of Expression, News
Hamid Chapati, Urmia, West Azerbaijan, حمید چپاتی

HRANA – The prison sentence of Hamid Chapati, a resident of Urmia, has been increased to six months by Branch 23 of the West Azerbaijan Province Court of Appeals. He had previously been sentenced to three months in prison by a lower court.

According to Kurdpa, the ruling was issued by Branch 23 of the West Azerbaijan Court of Appeals and formally communicated to Mr. Chapati on Tuesday, August 19. Under this verdict, he has been sentenced to six months in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime.”

The increased sentence came after an appeal filed by Behzad Sarikhanlou, the deputy prosecutor of Urmia, against the lower court’s decision, which resulted in the case being referred to the Court of Appeals.

In February 2025, Branch 2 of the Urmia Revolutionary Court had sentenced Mr. Chapati to three months in prison on the same charge of “propaganda against the regime.”

Mr. Chapati was initially arrested on October 16, 2024, after being summoned by phone to the Urmia Security Police. He was later released on bail following the formal presentation of charges.

Tahereh Kalateh Seyfari Arrested in Sabzevar

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Sabzevar, Tahereh Kalateh Seyfari, کلاته سیفری

HRANA – Yesterday, Tahereh Kalateh Seyfari, a resident of Sabzevar, was arrested by security forces in the city and transferred to an undisclosed location.

A knowledgeable source confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “Ms. Kalateh Seyfari was arrested on Wednesday, August 20, by security forces in Sabzevar. The reason cited for her arrest was her participation in the July 22 protest in front of the county governor’s office, where residents gathered to protest repeated electricity and water outages.”

Based on information received by HRANA, since her arrest this citizen has not been in contact with her family. Despite her family’s inquiries with judicial and security authorities, no information has been made available regarding her whereabouts or the charges against her.

It should be noted that on the evening of Tuesday, July 22, a group of Sabzevar residents held a protest in front of the county governor’s office in response to frequent power and water cuts.

Appeals Court Upholds Prison Sentence and Defrocking of Shiite Cleric Mohammad-Taghi Akbarnejad

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Freedom of Expression, News
irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Mohammad-Taghi Akbarnejad, Qom prison

HRANA – The Appeals Court of the Special Clerical Court has upheld the prison sentence and defrocking order against Shiite cleric Mohammad-Taghi Akbarnejad. In the initial ruling, he had been sentenced to 23 months and six days in prison, along with three years of defrocking from the clergy.

A page attributed to this cleric reported that the Appeals Court of the Special Clerical Court confirmed in full both his prison sentence and defrocking order. In the lower court, he had been sentenced to eight months and one day in prison on the charge of “acting against the regim,” and to 15 months and five days in prison for “insulting the leaders of the Islamic Revolution.” Additionally, he was sentenced to three years of defrocking on the charge of “dishonoring the clergy.”

Mr. Akbarnejad was released from Qom Prison in March 2024 after posting bail. His arrest had taken place on February 17, 2024, by agents of the IRGC Intelligence.

In an earlier audio message sent to HRANA, Akbarnejad described being pressured to make forced confessions.

Mr. Akbarnejad, a Shiite cleric and former professor at the Qom Seminary, has previously faced judicial action due to his activities.