Category: Freedom of Expression

Workers’ Rights Activist Reyhaneh Ansari Receives Four-Year Prison Sentence and Additional Restrictions

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Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News
Anisha Asadollahi, Evin Prison, mohammad habibi, Razieh Zeydi, Reyhaneh Ansari, Salavati, Tehran

The Tehran Revolutionary Court has handed a four-year prison sentence to workers’ rights activist Reyhaneh Ansari. According to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the original charge would have led to a four-year imprisonment.

Ansari’s lawyer, Razieh Zeydi, informed the public that Judge Salavati, who presided over the Tehran Revolutionary Court, sentenced Ansari to four years for “assembly and collusion against national security and acting against national security.” As an additional punishment, she has been prohibited from leaving the country, joining political and civil groups, and engaging in online and media activities for two years.

Ansari, along with several other civil and workers’ rights activists, was apprehended at Mohammad Habibi’s residence just days before International Workers’ Day on April 28, 2023. Subsequently, she, along with Anisha Asadollahi, was released on a one-billion-Toman bail ten days later.

It is important to highlight that Ansari has a history of arrests and convictions related to her activism.

Legal Uncertainty Persists for Detained Amer Dadafarin and Mohammad Molazahi in Zahedan

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Freedom of Expression, News, Other
Amer Dadafarin, HRANA, Iranshahr, Mohammad Mola-Zahi, Zahedan

Amer Dadafarin, aged 18, and Mohammad Molazahi, aged 25, continue to be held in detention for over 39 days, in legal ambiguity.

Presently, they are incarcerated at the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Zahedan.
Sources close to their families, speaking to HRANA, disclosed that Dadafarin and Molazahi were apprehended by security forces in Iranshahr on June 18, 2023. Following two days of interrogation, they were transferred and confined in Zahedan’s detention facility.

Notably, on July 22, Molazahi was briefly allowed to visit his mother.

However, the reasons behind their arrest and the charges imposed on these residents of Iranshahr remain undisclosed.

Renowned Iranian Actress Shohreh Ghamar Arrested

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Freedom of Expression, News
Iranian actress, Mizan, Shohreh Ghamar

On July 26, 2023, Shohreh Ghamar, an Iranian actress aged 29, was arrested on charges of allegedly “publishing insulting content on the Internet.” As a result of these accusations, she was taken to an undisclosed location.

The news of her arrest was reported by Tasnim. On the same day, Mizan, the judiciary’s official news agency, reported that Shohreh Ghamar is facing legal action for her alleged role in “publishing insulting content causing psychological insecurity in society.”

However, at this time, the specific details regarding the charges leveled against Ghamar and the location of her detention remain undisclosed.

Workers’ Rights Activist Anisha Asadollahi Begins Her Sentence in Evin Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Anisha Asadollahi, Evin Prison, Iman Afshari, mohammad habibi, workers rights activist

Workers’ rights activist Anisha Asadollahi has commenced serving her five-year, eight-month sentence at Evin Prison.

The initial verdict, handed down by the Tehran Revolutionary Court under the jurisdiction of Judge Iman Afshari, sentenced Asadollahi to five years for “assembly and collusion against national security” and an additional eight months for “propaganda against the regime.” Despite an appeal, the sentence was upheld.

In accordance with Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, she will serve five years for the primary charges.

The court session addressing her charges took place on April 16, 2023.

Anisha Asadollahi and several other civil and workers’ rights activists were apprehended at Mohammad Habibi’s residence just days before International Workers’ Day on April 28, 2023. Subsequently, she was released on a one-billion-Toman bail ten days later.

It is important to highlight that Asadollahi has a history of arrests and convictions linked to her activism.

Azerbaijani (Turk) Activist Ali Razizadeh Nazarloo Sentenced to Two Years

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Ethnic Minorities, Freedom of Expression, News
Ali Razizadeh, Ali Razizadeh Nazarloo, azerbaijani activist, Tehran

The Tehran Revolutionary Court has sentenced Azerbaijani (Turk) activist Ali Razizadeh Nazarloo to two years in prison. In addition to the prison term, he has been barred from leaving the country and participating in civil and political groups for two years.

Razizadeh was convicted on charges of “membership in an anti-regime group to act against national security.” The prosecution cited his involvement in activities such as “running an Instagram page to promote Ethnic-related ideas” and “publishing a video in support of people convicted of security-related charges” as evidence for the charges.

The court session was held on July 15, 2023.

 

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Mohsen Kheirkhah Sentenced to Three Years in Mahshahr Court

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Freedom of Expression, News
Behbahan, Mahshahr, Mohsen Kheirkhah

Mohsen Kheirkhah has been sentenced to three years by the Mahshahr Revolutionary Court.

The verdict, issued on July 22, 2023, includes one year for “propaganda against the regime” and two years for “insulting the Supreme Court of Iran.”

Should the verdict be upheld on appeal, Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code will enforce a two-year sentence.

The court session took place on July 5, 2023.

Kheirkhah’s arrest occurred during the nationwide protests of 2022 in Mahshahr, and he was later released from Behbahan Prison.

It’s important to note that last year, the Mahshahr Revolutionary Court found him guilty of “propaganda against the regime,” but he was subsequently granted amnesty under the “pardon and commutation” directive.

Lawyer Mohammad Seifzadeh’s One-Year Sentence Upheld on Appeal

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ali Mazloum, Evin, Iranian Lawyer, ohammad Seifzadeh

The Tehran Court of Appeals has recently upheld the original one-year sentence against attorney Mohammad Seifzadeh. The case has been referred to the Evin Judgement Enforcement unit.

Initially, Branch 29 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Seyed Ali Mazloum, found the lawyer guilty of “propaganda against the regime and spreading falsehoods.”

Seifzadeh faces this legal action as a result of co-writing an open letter with a group of lawyers and human rights activists, expressing concern to the UN Secretary-General about the widespread crackdown on protests in 2022.

It’s worth noting that he has a history of previous arrests and convictions related to his activism.

Omid Mazloum Arrested in Mahabad

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Freedom of Expression, News
Hazhir Faramarzi, Mahabad, Omid Mazloum, Pezhman Fatehi, Vafa Azarbar

On July 25, security forces conducted the arrest of Omid Mazloum in Mahabad County, taking him to an undisclosed location.

A trusted source close to his family, who spoke to HRANA, disclosed that Mazloum was apprehended at his residence in a village near Mahabad. During the arrest, the agents searched his house.

It’s worth noting that Omid’s brother, Mohsen Mazloum, is a political prisoner who was arrested on September 23, 2022, along with three other individuals, Pezhman (Perjman) Fatehi, Vafa Azarbar, and Hazhir (Hajir) Faramarzi.

Following their arrest, the security-institution-affiliated news agency, Tasnim, reported on the arrest of what they referred to as a “network of Israeli spies,” implicating the aforementioned individuals. Approximately 80 days later, Iran’s state TV aired coerced confessions from them, accusing them of spying for foreign intelligence and claiming they were arrested in sensitive locations in Isfahan.

In response to these developments, Komalah (CPI), a Kurdish oppositional political party, issued a statement firmly denying all allegations and warned against potential conspiracies by intelligence institutions targeting detainees accused of being members of the party.

 

Ayoub Javanpour Receives 15-Year Prison Sentence

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Freedom of Expression, News, Other
Ayoub Javanpour, Keyvan Jahani, Sanandaj, Saqqez

Ayoub Javanpour, a resident of Saqqez, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison by the Saqqez Revolutionary Court, according to Kurdpa news agency.

The verdict, handed down by Branch 1 of the Saqqez Revolutionary Court presided over by Keyvan Jahani, includes one year for “propaganda against the regime,” ten years for “organizing groups to act against national security,” two years for “insulting the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” and two years for “insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran.”

If the verdict is upheld on appeal, Ayoub Javanpour would serve ten years in prison as per Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code.

The arrest of Javanpour took place on June 10, 2023, following an interrogation process at the Ministry of Intelligence detention facility in Sanandaj. He was later transferred to Saqqez Prison.

Notably, Javanpour has a history of previous judicial encounters due to his activism.

Iranian Lawyer Jalal Fatemi Sentenced to One Year in Prison for Online Activism

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Freedom of Expression, News
Blasphemy, Iran's Central Bar Association, Jalal Fatemi

Jalal Fatemi, a member of Iran’s Central Bar Association, has been sentenced to one year in prison by the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

The verdict was delivered by Judge Seyed-Ali Mazloum, who cited “propaganda against the regime on the Internet” as the reason for the conviction.

The court session took place on July 10, 2023, during which Fatemi was acquitted of the charge of “blasphemy.”

In a separate development, it has come to light that Fatemi is currently facing another legal case.