Category: Freedom of Expression

Kianoosh Mahdavi Arrested in Yasuj

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Freedom of Expression, News, Other
Kianoosh Mahdavi, Yasuj

On Monday, September 25, Kianoosh Mahdavi was apprehended by security forces in Yasuj and subsequently taken to an undisclosed location.

A source with close ties to Mahdavi’s family reached out to HRANA, confirming his arrest on the evening of September 25 in Yasuj.

As of now, the reasons for Mahdavi’s arrest, the location of his detention, and the specific allegations against him remain unknown. This marks another instance of legal action against Mahdavi, who had previously been detained and faced legal proceedings due to his activism during the nationwide protests of 2022.

Arrest of Five Individuals in Zahedan Raises Concerns

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Freedom of Expression, News, Other
Great Mosalla of Zahedan, Nour-Ahmad Shikardag, Zahedan

Security forces in Zahedan have apprehended five individuals and subsequently transported them to an undisclosed facility, as reported by Haal Vsh.

One of the detainees has been identified as Nour-Ahmad Shikardag, aged 20.

The report suggests that military and security forces were involved in the arrest of these individuals in Zahedan.

It is worth noting that, as the anniversary of the “Bloody Friday of Zahedan” approaches, the incident when security and military forces opened fire at the prayer site in the Great Mosalla of Zahedan last year, several residents in Zahedan have been subject to arrests and summonses.

Mehrnaz Khorrami Arrested in Nowshahr

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Freedom of Expression, News
irgc, Mehrnaz Khorrami, Nowshahr

Mehrnaz Khorrami was apprehended at her residence in Nowshahr on the 22nd of September by security forces. She was later transferred to the detention facility operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Sari.

A source with connections to her family shared with HRANA the news of Khorrami’s arrest by IRGC authorities in Nowshahr, located in Mazandaran province. Presently, the motive behind her detention and the specific charges levied against her remain undisclosed.

Court of Appeals Upholds Verdicts Against Director and Producer of “Leila’s Brothers”

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Freedom of Expression, News
Javad Nowruzbeigi, Leila's Brothers, Saeed Roustayi, Tehran Court of Appeals

The Tehran Court of Appeals has upheld the verdict against the renowned filmmaker and screenwriter Saeed Roustayi and producer Javad Nowruzbeigi.

Babak Paknia, their legal representative, confirmed that Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals has upheld the original verdict related to their work on the movie “Leila’s Brothers,” which was showcased at the Cannes Film Festival.

Initially, the Tehran Revolutionary Court had sentenced both individuals to six months in prison on charges of “propaganda against the regime,” accompanied by additional penalties. Approximately nine days of this prison term will be served, while the remaining sentence has been suspended for a five-year period.

In addition to the prison sentence, Roustayi and Nowruzbeigi have faced various career-limiting restrictions as filmmakers, including limitations on their interactions with fellow professionals in the industry. Furthermore, they have been directed to complete a 24-hour filmmaking course at IRIB University in Qom.

This verdict has deemed the creation of the film “Leila’s Brothers” as an act of spreading propaganda against the regime, in alignment with anti-regime media.

The 2022 drama film “Leila’s Brothers” garnered significant attention, earning a place in the competition for the Palme d’Or at the prestigious 2022 Cannes Film Festival and notably winning the International Federation of Film Critics prize.

Ahmad Alikhani Arrested in Khorramabad

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ahmad Alikhani, Iran-Iraq war, Khorramabad

Ahmad Alikhani, a resident of Khorramabad and a disabled veteran of the Iran-Iraq War, has been apprehended by security forces within the city and subsequently taken to an undisclosed location.

According to a source closely connected to Alikhani’s family, he was detained last week, and despite the passage of several days, his family still lacks information about his current whereabouts and well-being.

This source disclosed that Alikhani, also an environmental activist, was arrested shortly after posting on social media. However, the specific charges against him are currently unknown.

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Javad Heidari’s Family Members Detained in Choobindar Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News

Ali Panah Heidari, Ruhollah Heidari, and Morteza Heidari, the father and two brothers of Javad Heidari (Heydari), who tragically lost his life during the 2022 nationwide protests, have been transferred to Choobindar Prison in Qazvin. Last week, they were forcefully arrested by special forces during a raid on their residence.

Fatemeh Heidari, Javad Heidary’s sister, confirmed that her father and brothers have been incarcerated in Choobindar Prison, Qazvin. She also revealed that her brother Morteza has been on a hunger strike for three days, despite his diabetes condition.

Last week, Fatemeh Heidari shared two videos on social media, exposing the use of air shooting and tear gas by special guard forces during the raid on her family’s home, which took place on the anniversary of her brother’s tragic death. Her father and brothers were arrested following a confrontation with the agents. She further stated that during the incident, some of her relatives, including a two-year-old child named Delvan (last name unknown), sustained injuries.

The charges against these detainees remain undisclosed.

On September 22, 2022, Javad Heidari, aged 36, was fatally shot by regime forces during protests in Qazvin. Since then, his family has faced multiple arrests and confrontations with the security and judicial authorities.

Teacher Mehdi Sheibani Arrested in Mashhad

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Freedom of Expression, News, Other
Abolfazl Adinezadeh, Mashhad, Mehdi Sheibani

Teacher Mehdi Sheibani was apprehended in Mashhad and subsequently transported to an undisclosed location, according to the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations.

Sheibani had been the educator of Abolfazl Adinezadeh, a minor student who tragically lost his life during the 2022 nationwide protests.

Reports suggest that Sheibani’s arrest followed his attendance at a commemorative event on Adinezadeh’s birthday. The exact cause of Sheibani’s whereabouts, and the specific allegations against him remain shrouded in uncertainty.

Abolfazl Adinezadeh, who was a minor at the time, was fatally shot, reportedly sustaining “25 bullets to his chest and abdomen,” during the 2022 nationwide protest.

Yasuj Resident Behrad Shafieian Arrested

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Freedom of Expression, News
Behrad Shafieian, Yasuj

Yasuj resident Behrad Shafieian was apprehended by security forces and subsequently transported to the Ministry of Intelligence detention facility in Yasuj on Monday, September 18.

A source with ties to Shafieian’s family has verified his arrest and subsequent transfer to the Ministry of Intelligence detention facility. As of now, the specific allegations against Shafieian remain undisclosed.

Student Activist Armita Pavir Arrested and Detained in Tabriz

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Freedom of Expression, News
Armita Pavir, Student activist, Tabriz, Tabriz Prison

Student activist Armita Pavir has been arrested and is currently being held at Tabriz Prison.

Pavir had previously received a summons to appear in court to face various charges.

Armita Pavir is currently pursuing a degree in cellular and molecular biology at the University of Azarbaijan Shahid Madani.

This is not the first time Pavir has found herself in legal trouble. She was previously arrested on October 31, 2022, when security forces apprehended her in front of the university entrance. After posting bail in the amount of 250 million tomans (approximately 5000 dollars), she was released on December 8, 2022.

Unfortunately, her troubles have continued. On June 28, 2023, she was once again arrested, by security forces this time at her residence. After several hours of interrogation, she was released.

Yaser Rahmani Rad Arrested in Khorramabad

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRAHA, Khorramabad, Mahabad, Tehran, Yaser Rahmani Rad

On September 21, 2023, Yaser Rahmani Rad, a physician, was arrested by security forces in Khorramabad and taken to an undisclosed location.

A source close to Rahmani’s family informed HRAHA that at 6:00 a.m., the intelligence agents went to Rahmani’s residence and arrested him. They also searched the house and confiscated some items including cell phones belonging to his and his family.

The motive behind Rahmani’s arrest and the specific allegations against him remain undisclosed at this time. In December 2022, Rahmani and two other physicians were arrested by security forces on their trip from Tehran and Khorramabad to Mahabad. All their medical equipment and public aid collected for the people of Mahabad were seized by security forces.
Rahmani was released on bail from Mahabad Prison on January 18, 2024. After a while, Rahmani Rad was indicted of “assembly and collusion against national security” of which he was acquitted.