Category: Freedom of Expression

Mohammad-Bagher Bakhtiar Arrested during Protest in Front of Tehran University

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Freedom of Expression, News
Hanieh Bakhtiar, irgc, Mehdi Karroubi, Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mohammad-Bagher Bakhtiar, Zahra Rahnavard, محمد باقر بختیار

HRANA News Agency – Mohammad-Bagher Bakhtiar, an injured veteran of the Iran-Iraq war and a former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), was arrested during Thursday’s protest in Tehran against the continued house arrest of three political figures. His whereabouts remain unknown.

His daughter, Hanieh Bakhtiar, stated that while most detainees have been released, her father remains in custody, and the family has no information on his location.

She highlighted her father’s 70 months of service on the frontlines during the Iran-Iraq war and his war-related health issues, including lung damage from mustard gas exposure, neurological conditions caused by blast waves, and diabetes. She emphasized that he requires regular medication and continuous medical care, but since his arrest, he has been denied access to his medication, putting his physical and mental health at serious risk.

Despite a heavy security presence, a protest was held yesterday in front of Tehran University to oppose the continued house arrest of Mir Hossein Mousavi, Zahra Rahnavard, and Mehdi Karroubi. Several demonstrators were arrested during the gathering.

It is worth noting that Mir Hossein Mousavi, Zahra Rahnavard, and Mehdi Karroubi have been under house arrest since February 2011.

Arrests During Protest in Front of Tehran University

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Freedom of Expression, News
Akbar Danesh Sararoudi, Hossein Mousavi, Javad Dordkeshan, Mahmoud Dordkeshan, Mehdi Karroubi, Naser Daneshfar, Rahim Ghomeishi, Soleimani Ardestani, Zahra Rahnavard

HRANA News Agency – During the past two days, several protesters were arrested in front of Tehran University during a gathering against the continued house arrest of three political figures.

Despite a heavy security presence, a gathering took place yesterday in front of Tehran University to protest the ongoing house arrest of Mir Hossein Mousavi, Zahra Rahnavard, and Mehdi Karroubi. Reports indicate that several individuals were arrested at the protest, following the detention of at least six political activists yesterday. These activists, most of whom are veterans of the Iran-Iraq war, were arrested in connection with calls to attend the demonstration.

Jamaran News reported that two of the detainees from yesterday’s protest were Saeed and Saeedeh Montazeri, the children of Ayatollah Hossein-Ali Montazeri, a senior Shia cleric. Additionally, Didban Iran News Agency confirmed the arrest of Hossein Loqmanian, a former member of Iran’s Sixth Parliament, along with his brother.

On Wednesday, prior to the demonstration, individuals such as Rahim Ghomeishi, Naser Daneshfar, and Akbar Danesh Sararoudi were arrested in connection with calls for participation in the protest. Some state-affiliated media outlets reported yesterday that Mahmoud Dordkeshan, Javad Dordkeshan, and Soleimani Ardestani were also arrested.

Among the detainees, Mahmoud Dordkeshan, Javad Dordkeshan, Hossein Loqmanian, and Saeed and Saeedeh Montazeri were released a few hours after their detention.

It is worth noting that Mir Hossein Mousavi, Zahra Rahnavard, and Mehdi Karroubi have been under house arrest since February 2011.

Political Activists Akbar Danesh Sararoudi and Naser Daneshfar Arrested in Tehran

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Freedom of Expression, News
Akbar Danesh Sararoudi, Naser Daneshfar, Rahim Ghomeishi, Tehran

HRANA News Agency – Security forces in Tehran have arrested Akbar Danesh Sararoudi and Naser Daneshfar, transferring them to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, citing Ensaf News, the two activists were detained after recently calling for a gathering in front of the University of Tehran scheduled for Thursday.

In connection with these events, political activist Rahim Ghomeishi was also arrested by security forces in Tehran yesterday.

As of the time of this report, no information has been released regarding the charges against them or their current whereabouts.

Akbar Danesh Sararoudi, a political and media activist from Isfahan, has previously faced arrests and legal action due to his activism.

Naser Daneshfar, also a political activist, is a veteran of the Iran-Iraq war.

Political Activist Rahim Ghomeishi Arrested in Tehran

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Freedom of Expression, News
Rahim Ghomeishi, Tehran, رحیم قمیشی

HRANA News Agency – Security forces arrested political activist Rahim Ghomeishi today, Wednesday, February 12, 2025, in Tehran and transferred him to an undisclosed location.

According to Emtedad, Ghomeishi, who had recently issued a call for a gathering on Thursday in front of the University of Tehran, was arrested this afternoon by security forces.

No information is available yet regarding his whereabouts or the charges against him.

Rahim Ghomeishi, a Tehran resident and political activist, is also a veteran of the eight-year Iran-Iraq war.

Arrest of Five Citizens, Including a Teenager, in Dehdasht

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Freedom of Expression, News, Other
Amirhossein Jafari, Atefeh Tahernia, Jaber Foroughi, Kamran Buzari, Pouria Barati

HRANA News Agency – Last night, February 11, at least five residents of Dehdasht, including a teenager, were arrested by security forces.

Based on information received by HRANA, Amirhossein Jafari (17 years old), Atefeh Tahernia (Female), Kamran Buzari, Jaber Foroughi, and Pouria Barati were arrested separately by security forces in Dehdasht County in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, on February 12, 2025.

The detainees have been transferred as follows:

  • Amirhossein Jafari to the Dehdasht Juvenile Correctional Center,
  • Atefeh Tahernia to Yasuj Prison,
  • Jaber Foroughi and Pouria Barati to Dehdasht Prison.

As of now, the location of Kamran Buzari remains unknown.

HRANA is investigating further details, including the reasons for their arrests and the charges against them.

Jaber Foroughi has a history of previous arrests due to his activities.

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Woman Goes Partially Unclothed in Tehran; Four Individuals Arrested

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Freedom of Expression, News
Mizan News, Tehran

HRANA News Agency – On February 8, a woman who partially undressed on a street in Tehran was arrested. Judiciary-affiliated media claim that the act was pre-planned, leading to the arrest of three other individuals in connection with the incident.

According to HRANA, quoting Mizan News, the judiciary’s news agency, a total of four citizens were arrested in Tehran. The report states that at noon on Saturday, February 8, a partially unclothed woman stepped out of her private vehicle on a street in Tehran. After walking a short distance, she retrieved her clothes from the back seat, put them on, and left the scene.

Judiciary-affiliated sources allege that the woman was part of a four-person organized group and that three other individuals accompanying her were filming and photographing her as she walked partially undressed in the street.

All four individuals have reportedly been arrested, and criminal cases have been opened against them.

The report does not provide any details regarding the identities or whereabouts of the detained individuals.

Court of Appeals: Iman Samimi Sentenced to Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Abadeh, Iman Samimi, ایمان صمیمی

HRANA News Agency – The prison sentence of Iman Samimi, a resident of Abadeh County in Fars Province, has been reduced to four years and seven months by Branch 37 of the Fars Province Court of Appeals. Previously, he had been sentenced to eight years in prison by Branch 1 of the Abadeh Revolutionary Court.

According to the recent ruling, Mr. Samimi has been sentenced to:

Seven months for “propaganda against the regime,”
One year for “insulting the founder of the Islamic Republic and the Supreme Leader,”
Three years for “blasphemy,”
Totaling four years and seven months in prison.

Earlier, in November of this year, he had been sentenced by Branch 1 of the Abadeh Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Mehdi Samadi, to one year for “propaganda against the regime,” two years for “insulting the founder of the Islamic Republic and the Supreme Leader,” and five years for “blasphemy,” amounting to a total of eight years in prison.

The charges against Iman Samimi stem from content he posted on social media, as stated in the verdict.

In mid-summer, security forces searched his home before arresting him. He was ultimately released from Abadeh Prison one week after his arrest upon posting bail.

Iman Samimi, 47, is an entrepreneur and resident of Abadeh County.

A Supporter of Erfan-e Halgheh Arrested by IRGC Intelligence in Isfahan

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Freedom of Expression, News
Erfan-e-Halgheh, HRANA, irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Isfahan

HRANA News Agency – IRGC Intelligence has announced the arrest of a supporter of Erfan-e Halgheh in Isfahan.

According to HRANA, citing Fars News Agency, the Sahib al-Zaman IRGC Intelligence Organization in Isfahan issued a statement confirming the arrest, referring to the individual as the “main leader” of Erfan-e Halgheh (Interuniversal Mysticism). The statement claimed that the arrest was carried out under Article 500 Bis of the Islamic Penal Code.

The statement further alleged that Erfan-e Halgheh is a “deviant sect” that, under the pretense of energy healing and addressing mental health issues, interferes in medical matters, misguides people’s beliefs, and illegitimately profits from its activities.

The report does not provide any details regarding the identity, location of detention, or specific charges against the arrested individual.

The Iranian government classifies Erfan-e-Halgheh as a “deviant and anti-religious movement” and has taken strict judicial and security actions against its founder and followers. Participants in the movement have faced severe punishments, including imprisonment, fines, and flogging.

International human rights organizations have condemned these actions as violations of the right to freedom of belief and expression. They have repeatedly urged the Iranian government to cease such repressive measures and respect religious and ideological freedoms.

Appeals Court Upholds Prison Sentence for Teacher Union Activist Hossein Vahedi

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Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News
Bojnourd, Dariush Ashkani, Hossein Vahedi

HRANA News Agency – The one-year prison sentence of Hossein Vahedi (Dariush Ashkani), a board member of the North Khorasan Teachers’ Trade Association, has been upheld in full by Branch 2 of the province’s Appeals Court.

Based on the ruling recently issued and communicated to him by Branch 2 of the North Khorasan Appeals Court, he has been sentenced to one year in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime.”

In December 2024, Branch 1 of the Bojnourd Revolutionary Court had initially sentenced Hossein Vahedi to one year in prison on the same charge.

Hossein Vahedi, an inspector of the North Khorasan Teachers’ Trade Association, has previously faced legal action and convictions.

Mazdak Maleki Sentenced to Prison and Additional Punishments

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Dastgerd Prison, irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Isfahan, Mazdak Maleki

HRANA News Agency – Mazdak Maleki, a political prisoner held in Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan, has been sentenced by Branch 1 of the Isfahan Revolutionary Court to five years in prison, along with a two-year travel ban and a two-year prohibition from online activities. Three and a half years of his prison sentence have been suspended.

A source familiar with Maleki’s case told HRANA: “According to the verdict issued by Branch 1 of the Isfahan Revolutionary Court on January 10, 2025, and officially communicated to him, he was sentenced to five years in prison for ‘propaganda against the regime’ and ‘membership in a group with the intent to disrupt national security.’ As additional punishments, he was also given a two-year travel ban and a two-year prohibition from online activities. His alleged crimes were based on his activity on the social media platform ‘Clubhouse’.”

The source added: “Three and a half years of his prison sentence have been suspended, and five months have been deducted from his sentence due to his acceptance of the court ruling. Furthermore, Maleki has been denied the right to a lawyer, and his confiscated belongings have yet to be returned to his family.”

He was initially arrested on August 27, 2024, in Isfahan by IRGC intelligence forces. On October 23, after completing his interrogation, he was transferred to Dastgerd Prison. His preliminary hearing was held in November at Branch 11 of the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in Isfahan.

Mazdak Maleki, 38, is an electrical engineer from Isfahan who has been involved in solar energy and environmental issues.