Category: Freedom of Expression

Zahra Saeedianjoo Arrested in Tehran

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Freedom of Expression, News
Izeh, Khuzestan province, Milad Saeedianjoo, Omid Saeedianjoo, Zahra Saeedianjoo

Zahra Saeedianjoo was apprehended by security forces in Tehran on Sunday, July 9, and subsequently taken to Evin Prison. Her brother, Milad Saeedianjoo, tragically lost his life during the recent nationwide protests in Izeh, Khuzestan Province.

Confirming the arrest, Omid Saeedianjoo, Zahra’s brother, stated, “My sister was apprehended by security forces at her workplace in Tehran and transported to Evin Prison.” According to him, Zahra’s detainment is linked to her expression of sympathy towards the families of protesters who were killed during the demonstrations.
Notably, both Omid and Zahra Saeeidianjoo had been previously arrested and later released after participating in a commemoration ceremony held at Milad’s burial site on his birthday.

On November 16, 2022, Milad Saeeidianjoo, aged 26, was fatally shot by the regime forces during the protest in Izeh.

Protest Singer Toomaj Salehi Sentenced to Six Years and Three Months, Faces Harsh Restrictions

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Freedom of Expression, News
Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan, Morteza Barati, Roza Etemad Ansari, Shargh Newspaper, Toomaj Salehi

Toomaj Salehi, a prominent protest singer, has been handed a sentence of six years and three months by the Isfahan Revolutionary Court. In addition to the prison term, he has been subjected to a ban on leaving the country, producing music, and singing for a period of two years. Furthermore, he has been mandated to attend orientation classes as part of his sentencing.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Shargh Newspaper, rapper Toomaj Salehi was sentenced to imprisonment and additional punishments.

Today, July 10, Salehi was relocated from solitary confinement to the public ward in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan.

Salehi’s lawyer, Roza Etemad Ansari, confirmed the verdict issued by Judge Morteza Barati, who presided over the case. Etemadi clarified that Salehi was found guilty of “spreading corruption on earth,” while being acquitted of the charges of “insulting the former and current Supreme Leader of Iran” and “association with adversary countries.”

A reliable source earlier revealed that Salehi sustained injuries to his right foot and eye as a result of beatings during the interrogation. He continues to suffer from these injuries.

In late October 2022, Salehi was arrested by security forces. Official media claimed that he was apprehended while attempting to leave the country illegally, a claim refuted by individuals close to Salehi.

The protest singer has a previous conviction in a separate legal case. On January 12, 2022, he was sentenced to a six-month prison term and fined. The imprisonment was suspended for one year.

Background on the 2022 Nationwide Protests

The arrest of Mahsa Amini by Tehran Morality Police for her improper hejab and her suspicious death on September 16 sparked protests sweeping across Iran. Protesters came to the streets with the central slogan “Women, Life, Freedom” in protest against the performance, laws and structure of the regime. During the nationwide protests, thousands of people, including journalists, artists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, were arrested.

 

 

Raha Ajoudani Sentenced to Travel Ban and Fine

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Freedom of Expression, News
Raha Ajoudani, transgender

Raha Ajoudani, a transgender citizen and resident of Tehran, has received a two-year and six-month sentence from the Tehran Revolutionary Court. Additionally, she has been subjected to a six-month travel ban, restricting her from leaving the country. However, due to “her status as a trans woman and the lack of appropriate holding facilities,” her imprisonment has been replaced with a fine.

The verdict specifies that Ajoudani will face a one-year and six-month travel ban for charges related to “propaganda against the regime,” six months for “blasphemy,” and one year for “incitement to subvert national security.”

Arrested by security forces on December 17, 2022, Ajoudani was released on bail on January 17, 2023. Notably, she was briefly detained during the 2022 nationwide protests on October 26, 2022.

Political Activist Fatemeh Hassani Arrested in Mashhad

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Freedom of Expression, News
Fatemeh Hassani, Hassan Younesi, Mashhad

Political activist Fatemeh Hassani was arrested by security forces in Mashhad on July 4, 2023, and has been taken to an undisclosed location.

Lawyer Hassan Younesi has confirmed that Hassani was apprehended by security forces at the airport. The specific reasons for her arrest, her current whereabouts, and the charges against her remain undisclosed.

Sahand Nourmohammadzadeh’s Sentence Confirmed by Supreme Court

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Freedom of Expression, News
Hamed Ahmadi, Kahnuj, Kerman, moharebeh, Sahand Nourmohammadzadeh

Shargh Newspaper reports that Sahand Nour-Mohammadzadeh’s lawyer, Hamed Ahmadi, has disclosed that the Supreme Court has upheld a six-year prison sentence and ten years of exile for his client. Nourmohammadzadeh’s initial death sentence was commuted to imprisonment following a retrial.

Ahmadi explains that the enforcement of ten years of exile will depend on the application of Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code. Otherwise, Nourmohammadzadeh will serve the entirety of his prison sentence.

Nourmohammadzadeh has been exiled to Kahnuj, Kerman province, for charges of “enmity against God (Moharebeh).” Additionally, he has been sentenced to five years in prison for “assembly and collusion against national security” and one year in prison for “disturbing public order.” The Supreme Court overturned the initial death sentence and referred the case to Branch 26 for review.

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Sadegh Zibakalam Sentenced to One Year in Prison for News Dissemination

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Freedom of Expression, News
Criminal Court, Sadegh Zibakalam, serial poison attacks, Tehran

The Criminal Court of Tehran has handed down a one-year prison sentence to Sadegh Zibakalam, a prominent professor at the University of Tehran and political pundit. The verdict is related to his role in sharing news regarding serial poison attacks on schools.

According to the court’s decision on July 2, 2023, Zibakalam has been convicted of “spreading falsehood to disturb public opinion online,” resulting in a one-year sentence. The court session took place on June 27, 2023. It’s important to note that Zibakalam, aged 65, is widely recognized as an academic, author, and reformist neo-liberal pundit.

Since late November, a series of poison attacks on schools, particularly girls’ schools, have shaken the country. Parents’ protests demanding answers were met with a heavy-handed response. Despite the passage of eight months and the arrest of several suspects, the Iranian authorities have yet to provide a satisfactory explanation to the public. For more detailed information and statistics, please refer to the HRANA report.”

Fourteen Bahai Citizens Sentenced to a Total of 31 Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Afnaneh Nematian, Anis Senaei, Baha'i citizens, Basir Samimi, Bita Haghighi, Ghaemshahr, Gulben Fallah, Hengameh Alipour, Mahsa Fathi, Majir Samimi, Mani Gholinejad, Mazandaran, Nazanin Goli, Negar Darabi, Sam Samimi, Samieh Gholinejad, Sanaz Hekmat Shoar

In a concerning development, the Ghaemshahr Revolutionary Court has handed down a collective prison sentence of 31 years to 14 Bahai citizens.

The individuals affected by this ruling are Mani Gholinejad, Bita Haghighi, Sanaz Hekmat Shoar, Negar Darabi, Sam Samimi, Mahsa Fathi, Samieh Gholinejad, Majir Samimi, Anis Senaei, Afnaneh Nematian, Basir Samimi, Hengameh Alipour, Gulben Fallah, and Nazanin Goli.
Bita Haghighi and Sanaz Hekmat Shoar have received three years and paying a fine. The rest have been sentenced to two years and one month. All their confiscated belongings during the arrest have also been seized.

The charges against these Bahai individuals revolve around allegations of engaging in “educational activities and propaganda at variance and against Islamic Sharia law.”

Security forces arrested these individuals in Sari and Babolsar, located in the Mazandaran Province, on August 31, 2022. Subsequently, they were released on bail in the months following their arrest.

During the time of their apprehension, the Ministry of Intelligence issued a statement accusing these citizens of being members of an espionage organization, further claiming that two among them had received training from Zionists in Israel.

According to HRANA annual report, from the total human rights reports regarding the violation of religious minorities’ rights, 64.63% belonged to the violation of the rights of Baha’is.

The deprivation of the freedom to practice their religion is a breach of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The United Nations covenant holds that every person has the right to freedom of religion, freedom of converting religion, as well as freedom of expression, individually or collectively; openly or secretly.

 

Ramin Alinia’s Six-Year Prison Sentence Upheld by Tehran Court of Appeal

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Freedom of Expression, News
ardabil prison, Ramin Alinia, Salavati

The Tehran Court of Appeal has confirmed the six-year sentence imposed on Ramin Alinia Tazeh-Kand, an Azerbaijani (Turk) activist who was apprehended during the nationwide protests in 2022.

Originally, Judge Salavati of the Tehran Revolutionary Court had pronounced a five-year sentence for “assembly and collusion against national security” and an additional year for “propaganda against the regime.” Alinia has also been subjected to a two-year ban on leaving the country, participating in political groups and parties, and engaging in activities on media and social platforms. Pursuant to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the five-year term for the first charge will be enforceable.

Alinia was taken into custody by security forces in Ardabil on November 8, 2022. After spending 12 days in detention, he was granted release on bail from Ardabil Prison.

Background on the 2022 Nationwide Protests

The arrest of Mahsa Amini by Tehran Morality Police for her improper hejab and her suspicious death on September 16 sparked protests sweeping across Iran. Protesters came to the streets with the central slogan “Women, Life, Freedom” in protest against the performance, laws and structure of the regime. During the nationwide protests, thousands of people, including journalists, artists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, were arrested.

 

Supreme Court Confirms Death Sentence for Abbas Deris

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Freedom of Expression, News
Abbas Deris, irgc, November 2019 Protests, reza sayyadi

The Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence against Abbas Deris, who was arrested during the November 2019 protests. Deris has been convicted of the charge of “enmity against God (Moharebeh).”

Announcing this development, Fereshteh Tabanian, the lawyer representing Deris stated that Branch 39 of the Supreme Court has confirmed this verdict desptie the flaws in this case. Furhter, she announced that she will ask for a retrial.

Currently incarcerated at Sepidar Prison in Ahvaz, Deris was initially sentenced to death by the Mahshahr Revolutionary Court on charges of “enmity against God (Moharebeh).” It is important to note that Deris’s brother, who was also a co-defendant in this case, has been acquitted of all charges. Both individuals were apprehended on December 8, 2019.

During the course of his interrogation by the IRGC, Deris was coerced into confessing to firing shots at security forces, resulting in the death of Police Captain Reza Sayyadi. This coerced confession was later broadcasted by Iran-state TV. However, during the trial, Deris admitted to participating in the protests but denied any involvement in shooting at security forces.

Abbas Deris, aged approximately 49, is a father of three children.

In November 2019, an increase in fuel prices sparked a wave of protests in dozens of cities across the country. The spokesperson of the Parliamentary National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, Seyed Hossein Taghavi, announced that 7000 people were arrested during these protests. According to reports from human rights organizations, hundreds were killed by the security apparatus.

Akbar Danesh Sararudi Arrested in Isfahan

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Freedom of Expression, News
Akbar Danesh Sararudi, irgc, IRGC Intelligence unit, Isfahan

On July 3, 2023, political activist Akbar Danesh Sararudi was arrested in Isfahan by security forces. He was subsequently taken to an undisclosed location.

The arrest of Sararudi is believed to have been carried out by the IRGC Intelligence unit, according to a reliable source close to his family. However, the specific reasons behind his arrest and the allegations against him remain unknown at this time.

Sararudi, a resident of Isfahan, has been involved in political activism.