Category: News

Woman Receives Prison Sentence and Travel Ban for Violating Hijab Requirement

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Freedom of Expression, News, Women
Ahmadreza Radan, Hijab, Tehran

The Criminal Court of Tehran has handed down a verdict sentencing a woman to two months in prison and imposing a two-year travel ban on her for violating the Hijab regulations.

As per the verdict, which gained attention after being shared on social media, the Tehran Criminal Court, under the authority of Judge Ali Omidi, issued a two-month prison sentence and a two-year travel ban against a woman who was found guilty of “publicly not wearing Hijab.” The court classified the act of not wearing Hijab as a manifestation of “antisocial behavior,” mandating the woman to be under treatment and present a health certificate twice a week for a duration of six months.

Furthermore, the court labeled the absence of the Hijab as an act of behavior deemed “anti-Iranian,” justifying the implementation of the travel ban.
Prior to this ruling, Ahmadreza Radan, the chief of Iranian police, had announced an action plan involving the seizure of vehicles and closure of businesses as means to enforce compliance with the Hijab requirement among citizens.

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.

 

 

Two Inmates Convicted of Drug-Related Crimes Executed in Arak Prison

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Executions, News
Arak prison

Arak, July 9, 2023 – Two individuals convicted of drug-related crimes were executed today in Arak Prison, according to HRANA, the Human Rights Activists News Agency.

These inmates had previously received the death penalty from judicial authorities for their involvement in drug offenses. HRANA is currently working to identify the names and backgrounds of the executed prisoners.

At the time of writing, no official sources or media outlets within the country have reported on these executions.

In 2022, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran registered 457 reports related to the death penalty. This included 92 death sentences, including the conviction of 6 people to public execution and 565 execution sentences were carried out, 2 of which have been carried out in public. Based on the announced identifications of some of the executed individuals, 501 were male and 11 were female. In addition, 5 juvenile offenders were executed in 2022, meaning they were under the age of 18 at the time they committed the crime.

 

Two Defendants in the “Shah-Cheragh” Case Publicly Executed

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Executions, News
Hamid Allah Kabuli, Mohammad Rahmani, Mohammad Ramez Rashidi, moharebeh, Mostafa Amani, Seyed Naeem Hashemi Ghetali, Shah-Cheragh, Shiraz

On July 8, 2023, two individuals involved in the “Shah-Cheragh” legal case, namely Mohammad Ramez Rashidi and Seyed Naeem Hashemi Ghetali, were executed publicly on a street in Shiraz, as reported by Mizan, the judiciary’s news agency.

The Shiraz Revolutionary Court, presided by Judge Mahmood Sadati, sentenced them on March 18, 2023. Additionally, three other defendants in this case, namely Mohammad Rahmani, Mostafa Amani, and Hamid Allah Kabuli, were given prison sentences of 25, 15, and five years, respectively.

The charges against all five defendants included “enmity against God (moharebeh),” “spreading corruption,” and “Baghi (armed rebellion),” as indicted on December 8, 2022.

The terrorist attack took place on October 26, 2022, at the Shah Cheragh mosque in Shiraz, resulting in the tragic loss of at least 13 lives. In April 2022, Chief Justice Kazem Mousavi announced that “the main perpetrator was killed during the attack, and two out of the five defendants, in this case, have been sentenced to death and will be executed publicly in the near future.”

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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.

Update on Arash Johari’s Health Condition in Evin Prison

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News, Prisoners
Arash Johari, Evin Prison, Iman Afshari

Arash Johari, a dedicated workers’ rights activist, is currently serving a seven-and-a-half-year sentence in Ward 4 of Evin Prison. Concerningly, he has been deprived of adequate medical care, as prison officials continue to deny him access to a dentist required to complete his treatment.

Following the incident at Evin Prison on the evening of October 15, 2022, which led to escalated tensions, explosions, and fires within the facility, Johari and several other inmates were transferred to Rajai-Shahr Prison in Karaj. However, on May 1, 2023, he was returned to Evin Prison.

On October 6, 2020, Johari was arrested at his residence in Tehran by IRGC Intelligence agents and subsequently detained in Ward 2A of Evin Prison.

In January 2021, Judge Iman Afshari of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Johari to five years for “organizing illegal groups to undermine national security,” five years for “collusion and assembly,” and one year for “propaganda against the regime.” Following a plea of no contest, the sentence was reduced to seven years and six months.

Civil Rights Activist Mohammad Nourizad Sentenced to Two Years in Prison

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News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, Eyvanki, Mohammad Nourizad, Semnan, Tehran Revolutionary Court

Imprisoned civil rights activist Mohammad Nourizad has been handed a two-year prison sentence by the Tehran Revolutionary Court, following a new legal case opened against him while in prison. As per Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, one year of the sentence will be enforceable.

Judge Mohammadrezza Amoozad issued the verdict, sentencing Nourizad to one year for “propaganda against the regime” and another year for “destruction of property within the prison head’s office.” The court session pertaining to these charges took place on June 14, 2023.

The court session pertaining to these charges took place on June 14, 2023.

Nourizad’s legal ordeal began on August 11, 2019, when he was arrested by security forces for participating in the drafting of an open letter with 13 other civil rights activists, calling for the Supreme Leader of Iran to step down. In the initial case, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison, three years of exile in Izeh, and a two-year travel ban. Although the prison sentence was upheld on appeal, the duration of exile and travel ban were reduced to two years.

In late April 2020, Nourizad received an additional one-year imprisonment for expressing support for Baha’i citizens in Eyvanki, Semnan Province.

Concerning the second part of his legal case, the Mashhad Criminal Court sentenced Nourizad to 8 months in prison and 74 lashes, along with exile to Tabas, for “disturbance of public order.” He also received an additional 74 lashes for “spreading falsehood.” This verdict was upheld on appeal as well.

Nourizad was released from Evin Prison on November 17, 2021, based on an early release order. However, on January 23, 2022, he was summoned and re-incarcerated in Evin Prison to serve the remainder of his sentence.

Nourizad has a history of arrests and convictions linked to his peaceful activism. He is a prominent filmmaker, writer, director, and journalist from Iran. While previously known as an outspoken religious journalist, he has become an active critic of the Islamic Republic in recent years.

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.