Category: Freedom of Expression

Mohammad-Mehdi Vossoughian Arrested in Golpayegan

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Freedom of Expression, News
Golpayegan, Isfahan, Masoumeh Yavari, Mohammad-Mehdi Vossoughian, Vossoughian

On September 20, 2023, Mohammad-Mehdi Vossoughian was arrested by security forces in Golpayegan County and subsequently taken to an undisclosed detention facility.

This development comes amid ongoing legal uncertainty surrounding his mother, Masoumeh Yavari, a former political prisoner currently incarcerated in Dolatabad Prison.

According to information provided by a source close to his family to HRANA, Vossoughian, a 21-year-old student pursuing anesthesiology at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, was apprehended at his residence in Golpayegan County, Isfahan Province, by a team of 15 intelligence agents.

The motive behind Vossoughian’s arrest and the specific allegations against him remain undisclosed at this time.

Actress Masoumeh Ghasemipour Arrested

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Freedom of Expression, News
Amol, Masoumeh Ghasemipour, Mazandaran province

Cinema and theater actress Masoumeh Ghasemipour has been taken into custody by security forces in Amol and moved to an undisclosed facility.

According to a source close to the actress’s family, Ghasemipour, who is 46 years old, was apprehended last Sunday, September 17, and her exact whereabouts remain undisclosed, causing distress to her family.

The reasons behind Ghasemipour’s arrest and the specific allegations against her remain unknown at this time.

Azam Gholami Zahab Receives 16-Year Prison Sentence

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Freedom of Expression, News
Azam Gholami Zahab, HRANA, Mashhad, Vakilabad prison

The Mashhad Revolutionary Court has issued a 16-year prison sentence for Azam Gholami Zahab, who is currently incarcerated in Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad.

A source close to her family has informed HRANA that Gholami Zahab’s sentence includes ten years for “forming a group to act against national security,” five years for “assembly and collusion against the regime,” and one year for “spreading propaganda against the regime.”

Should this verdict be upheld on appeal, the ten-year imprisonment for the first charge will become enforceable.

In a previous revelation to HRANA, another source disclosed that Gholami Zahab had declined legal representation by a private lawyer.

Azam Gholami Zahab, a mother of one child, was arrested in September/October 2022 in Mashhad and has since been held in Vakilabad Prison.

Former Political Prisoner Khaled Pirzadeh Arrested in Ahvaz

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Freedom of Expression, News
ahvaz, Khaled Pirzadeh

On Tuesday, September 19, Khaled Pirzadeh, a former political prisoner, was apprehended by security forces in Ahvaz and subsequently transported to an undisclosed location.

According to a source with close ties to his family, Pirzadeh’s arrest took place at Ahvaz Airport, where he was intercepted by security personnel.

The specific grounds for Pirzadeh’s arrest, his current whereabouts, and the allegations against him remain shrouded in uncertainty at this time.

It’s worth noting that Pirzadeh has a history of previous arrests and convictions stemming from his activism.

Fardin Parisaie Arrested in Dehdasht

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Freedom of Expression, News
Bahmai, Dehdasht, Fardin Parisaie, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, Yasuj

On Saturday, September 16, Fardin Parisaie was apprehended by security forces in Dehdasht and subsequently transported to an undisclosed location.

Parisaie’s arrest coincided with the anniversary of the tragic passing of Mahsa (Jina) Amini. As of now, neither the grounds for his arrest nor his current whereabouts have been disclosed.

HRANA previously reported the arrest of twelve individuals by security forces on the same day in Dehdasht, Yasuj, and Bahmai, located in the Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province.

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Civil Rights Advocate Alireza Ramezani Receives Imprisonment and Exile Sentence

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Freedom of Expression, News
Alireza Ramezani, Choobindar Prison, Nikshahr, Qazvin

Alireza Ramezani, a civil rights activist residing in Qazvin, has been sentenced to one year, ten months, and 16 days by the Qazvin Revolutionary Court.

This verdict comprises a 15-month sentence for “insulting the supreme leader of Iran” and an additional seven months and 16 days for “propaganda against the regime.” Furthermore, he faces a two-year mandatory residence in Nikshahr, Sistan and Baluchestan Province, along with a two-year travel ban.

If the verdict is upheld on appeal, in accordance with Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the harshest penalty of 15 months in prison for the first charge will be enforced.

On July 9, 2023, Alireza Ramezani was arrested by security forces in Tehran and subsequently transferred to Choobindar prison in Qazvin. He secured his release on bail from this facility on July 20, 2023.

Notably, in September 2022, Ramezani was detained by security forces in Qazvin and held at Choobindar Prison. He was granted bail on October 13, 2022. However, in May 2023, the Qazvin Revolutionary Court sentenced him to one year in prison and imposed a two-year exile in Borazjan, Bushehr Province, despite being granted amnesty in February 2022.

Alireza Ramezani, approximately 37 years old, is a father of one child and a former university lecturer passionately involved in civil rights advocacy.

Children’s Rights Advocate Fereshteh Sedigh-Sefat Detained in Rasht

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Freedom of Expression, News
Fereshteh Sedigh-Sefat, HRANA, Rasht

Rasht, September 18 – Fereshteh Sedigh-Sefat (Seddigh-Sefat), a dedicated children’s rights activist, was taken into custody on Monday at her residence in Rasht by security forces.

A source close to her family alerted HRANA to her arrest at her home. According to the source, in a short phone call, she informed her family about her transfer to a detention facility a few hours after her arrest.

Details regarding the grounds for Sedigh-Sefat’s arrest, the specific facility where she is being held, and the allegations against her remain undisclosed at this time.

Fereshteh Sedigh-Sefat, a resident of Rasht, has been actively engaged in advocating for children’s rights and facilitating community initiatives.

Court of Appeal Upholds Lengthy Sentences for Two Female Journalists

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Freedom of Expression, News
Mehrnoosh Zarei Hanzaki, Nasim Sultan Beigi, Saeedeh Shafiee

The Tehran Court of Appeal has upheld the sentences of Saeedeh Shafiee and Nasim Sultan Beigi, two female journalists.

Both journalists have been sentenced to three years and six months for their alleged involvement in “assembly and collusion against national security” and an additional seven months and sixteen days for “propaganda against the regime.”

Under this verdict, they will not be eligible for amnesty as outlined in the “pardon and commutation” directive issued in February 2023.

In response to the Court of Appeal’s decision, Sultan Beigi expressed her disappointment, stating, “Only 14 days have been shaved off the original three-year, seven-month prison term for the assembly and collusion charge. This verdict serves as a stark illustration of a harsh punishment. Perhaps it would have been more fitting for the court to uphold the initial sentence.”

It is worth highlighting that the third defendant in this case, Mehrnoosh Zarei Hanzaki, was acquitted of all charges during the initial court proceedings.

Remarkably, the trial took a disconcerting turn during the initial court session when the judge introduced statements from the defendant’s social media accounts that were unrelated to the charges. These statements involved critiques of their perspectives on compulsory hijab, indicating the real motive behind this punishment.

Arrests of Twelve Individuals in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province

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Freedom of Expression, News
Alireza Foroohar, Amir Nategh, Benyamin Afra, Dariush Parisaie, Farhad Charamin, Farzaneh Moeini, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, Mahsa Amini, Mohammad Moeini, Mostafa Mohammad-Hosseini, Reza Moradi-Nejad, Sam Bijan-Nejad, Samad Pourshah

On the first anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s tragic passing on September 16, security forces apprehended twelve individuals in various cities across Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, subsequently transferring them to undisclosed locations.

The detained individuals include Mostafa Mohammad-Hosseini, Benyamin Afra, Alireza Foroohar, Samad Pourshah, Sam Bijan-Nejad, Reza Moradi-Nejad, Amir Nategh (arrested in Yasuj), Farzaneh Moeini, Mohammad Moeini, Farhad Charamin, Dariush Parisaie (arrested in Dehdasht),  and Davoud Haddadi (arrested in Bahmai).

The current whereabouts of these individuals and the specific charges against them remain unknown. Notably, Benyamin Afra and Dariush Parisaie have previously encountered arrests and legal confrontations due to their activism during the nationwide protests in 2022.

It is essential to highlight that on the anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s tragic death while in detention, scattered protests unfolded in several cities across the country. Explore HRANA’s report on the events of this day.

Sheida Saberi Arrested in Yasuj

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Freedom of Expression, News
Mahsa Amini, Sheida Saberi, Yasuj

Sheida Saberi was apprehended by security forces on September 16, 2023, in Yasuj, and subsequently incarcerated in the city’s prison.

The information regarding her detention was relayed to HRANA by a source with close ties to Saberi’s family.

At this juncture, the motives behind Saberi’s arrest and the specific charges levied against her remain undisclosed.

Sheida Saberi’s initial arrest occurred on October 8, 2022, in the midst of nationwide protests in Yasuj. She was detained in Yasuj Prison for a duration of three days.

It is worth noting that on Saturday, on the anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s demise while in detention, scattered protests took place in several cities across the country. Explore HRANA’s report on the events of this day.