Category: Freedom of Expression

Motahareh Goonehi Arrested and Transferred to Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News, Students
Ardabil University, Mahdi Hadizadeh, Motahareh Goonehi, Tehran

Mizan, the judiciary’s news agency, has announced the arrest and imprisonment of Motahareh Goonehi, a student activist.

The report indicates that her arrest and imprisonment were prompted by content she posted on social media.

On the previous day, Ms. Goonehi had received an electronic summons ordering her to appear before Branch 9 of the Tehran Prosecutor’s Office for Media and Culture.

The Deputy Minister for Culture and Student Affairs at the Ministry of Health also announced that Goonehi’s right to continue her studies has been revoked, and a disciplinary file has been opened against her at the university.

Recently, the Tehran Prosecutor’s Office pressed charges against Goonehi, a suspended student from Tehran University of Medical Sciences, citing her “online posts” regarding Iran’s recent military actions.

Earlier, Ms. Goonehi had announced her transfer to Ardabil University. She and her husband, Mahdi Hadizadeh, also a student at Tehran University of Medical Sciences, had previously been temporarily suspended and transferred to Ardabil University of Medical Sciences by the Central Committee of the Ministry of Health.

On May 1, 2024, Goonehi was detained by IRGC Intelligence agents in Tehran after being summoned. She was taken to Evin Prison but was released on bail after several days of detention.

In July, Branch 29 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced her to one year in prison.

Goonehi, a dentistry student and former political secretary of the Islamic Association of Students at the University of Tehran and Tehran University of Medical Sciences, had also been detained by security forces during the nationwide protests of 2022.

Mohammadreza Faghihi Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison and Additional Punishments

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Freedom of Expression, News
Mohammadreza Faghihi, Tehran, Zahra Minooie

Mohammadreza Faghihi, a defense attorney, has been sentenced by Branch 15 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court to five years in prison. Additionally, he has been sentenced to a two-year travel ban, a two-year prohibition from practicing law, and a two-year ban on membership in political parties and groups.

Zahra Minooie, Mr. Faghihi’s defense attorney, announced: “My client was sentenced by Branch 15 of Tehran’s Islamic Revolutionary Court to five years in prison on charges of ‘collusion and assembly with the intent to commit a crime against national security.’ As additional punishment, he has also been banned from leaving the country for two years, from practicing law, and from membership in political parties and groups for two years.”
The court session addressing the charges against this lawyer was held on September 11 of this year.

Previously, on October 12, 2022, Mohammadreza Faghihi was arrested by security forces, along with two other lawyers, during a protest by defense attorneys objecting to the “violation of protesters’ rights and Article 27 of the Constitution” in front of the Central Bar Association in Argentina Square, Tehran. He was eventually released on bail on October 25, 2022.

This attorney has a prior record of arrest and sentencing due to his professional activities.

Zhina Modares Gorji Sentenced to 28 Months in Prison on Appeals

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Freedom of Expression, News, Women
Kurdistan Province, Sanandaj, Zhina Modares Gorji

Zhina Modares Gorji, a resident of Sanandaj, has been sentenced to 28 months in prison by the Court of Appeals of Kurdistan Province, according to Kurdpa.

The report states that on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, Branch 4 of the Kurdistan Provincial Court of Appeals issued the ruling, which was communicated to Ms. Modares Gorji’s lawyer. She was acquitted of the charge of “collaborating with a hostile government” but was sentenced to one year in prison for “propaganda against the regime” and 16 months for “forming an illegal group aimed at overthrowing the regime,” amounting to a total of 28 months in prison.

Under Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, regarding multiple offenses, the most severe punishment, which is 16 months of imprisonment, will be enforceable.

Earlier this year, in June, Ms. Modares Gorji was sentenced to 21 years of imprisonment and exile by the Revolutionary Court of Sanandaj.

On April 10, 2023, she was arrested by intelligence officers and transferred to the Sanandaj Correctional Center. She was released on bail on July 3, 2023. A second court session to address her charges was held on September 13, 2023, and a third session took place on April 9, 2024.

It is worth noting that she had been arrested before, in late September 2022, and transferred to the Sanandaj Juvenile Correctional Center. She was temporarily released on bail on October 29 of that year.

Mohammad Hossein Mohebizadeh Sentenced to Prison on Political Charges

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Joveyn County, Khorasan Razavi Province, Mohammad-Hossein Mohebizadeh

Mohammad-Hossein Mohebizadeh, a resident of Joveyn County in Khorasan Razavi Province, has been sentenced to 22 months and 17 days in prison.

The verdict was recently issued by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Joveyn County, presided over by Judge Mohammad Mohammadzadeh. Mohebizadeh was sentenced to 15 months and one day for “insulting the founder of the Islamic Republic” and an additional seven months and 16 days for “propaganda against the regime,” bringing his total sentence to 22 months and 17 days.

According to HRANA, an independent human rights news agency, Mohebizadeh had previously been sentenced to two years in prison by the 101st Branch of the Criminal Court of Joveyn County on May 7 of this year for “blasphemy.” This ruling was upheld by the Khorasan Razavi Provincial Appeals Court on July 24, 2024.

Mohebizadeh was arrested in April after being summoned to the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office of Joveyn County. He was transferred to Sabzevar prison but released after four days upon posting bail of 2 billion tomans.

This is not the first time Mohebizadeh has faced legal action due to his activities.

Ebrahim Khishkar Sentenced to Prison on Political Charges

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ebrahim Khishkar, Marivan, Sarvabad

Ebrahim Khishkar, a resident of Marivan, has been sentenced to one year and six months in prison by the Revolutionary Court, as reported by Kurdpa. Of this sentence, one year has been suspended.

According to the verdict issued by the Revolutionary Court of Marivan, Khishkar was convicted on suspicion of collaborating with an opposition party.” His sentence includes one year of suspended imprisonment and six months of enforceable imprisonment.

Khishkar, a native of the village of Del in the Sarvabad district and a resident of Marivan, was arrested by security forces on Thursday, May 23, 2024. He was released on bail after a few days in detention.

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Abolfazl Ghadiani Arrested by Security Forces

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Freedom of Expression, News
Abolfazl Ghadiani, Tehran, ابوالفضل قدیانی

Today, September 30, political activist Abolfazl Ghadiani was arrested by security forces in Tehran and transferred to an undisclosed location.

His son announced that the arrest took place around noon at Mr. Ghadiani’s residence by security forces. As of the time of this report, no information has been provided regarding the reasons for his arrest or his whereabouts.

In July 2023, Mr. Ghadiani was sentenced to 10 months in prison by Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court on charges of “propaganda against the regime” and had been summoned to Branch 1 of the Tehran Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office to serve this sentence.

Additionally, he has faced charges of “spreading falsehoods on the Internet” in another case at Branch 1025 of the Criminal Court of the Tehran Government Employees Judicial Complex.

Ghadiani has a history of previous arrests and convictions due to his political activities.

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.