Category: Prisoners

Shirin Saeedi Receives Five-Year Sentence on Political Charges

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News, Prisoners
Revolutionary Court of Tehran, Salavati, Shirin Saeedi, شیرین سعیدی

Shirin Saeedi, a political prisoner, has been sentenced to five years in prison by the Revolutionary Court of Tehran.

Currently held in the Women’s Ward of Evin Prison, Saeedi’s conviction stems from charges of “assembly and collusion to act against national security,” as determined by Judge Abolghasem Salavati of Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court. Saeedi retains the option to appeal within a 20-day window.

The specifics of the alleged actions leading to this political charge remain undisclosed at present.

Approximately 53 years old, Saeedi resided in Lebanon for a period before returning to Iran, where she was summoned by judicial authorities on December 23, 2023. Subsequently indicted for “assembly and collusion against national security,” she was detained in Evin Prison.

On April 28, 2024, Mizan, the Judiciary News Agency, released a report erroneously linking Saeedi with another individual outside the prison who shares a similar name, possibly attempting to insinuate that Saeedi was not incarcerated in Evin Prison. In response, HRANA conducted a fact-check and refuted Mizan’s claim, ensuring that Saeedi’s imprisonment was not denied by the authorities.

Political Prisoner Siamak Nasiri Sentenced to Imprisonment and Exile

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News, Prisoners
Alborz province, HRANA, Karaj, Musa Asef-Al-Hosseini, Siamak Nasiri

The Appellate Court of Alborz province has reduced political prisoner Siamak Nasiri’s sentence from six years to three years and one month.

Branch 12 of the Appellate Court of Alborz province issued the verdict, sentencing Nasiri to three years and one month in prison, plus two years of exile in Ahvaz County, following his appeal.

Initially, the Karaj Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Musa Asef Al-Hosseini, had sentenced Nasiri to five years in prison for “inciting people to violence and waging war against national security,” along with an additional year for “propaganda against the regime.” He was also required to reside in Ahvaz for two years.

Nasiri was arrested by IRGC Intelligence in Karaj on August 28, 2023, and is currently being held in the Central Prison of Karaj.

Previously, a source informed HRANA that Nasiri was detained in December 2022 in Karaj, where he was held in the Ministry of Intelligence’s facility. He was later transferred to the Central Prison of Karaj and subsequently released under a general pardon and commutation directive.

Political Prisoner Kazem Alinejad Sentenced to Five Years in Prison

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News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, HRANA, Iman Afshari, Kazem Alinejad, کاظم علینژاد

Branch 36 of the Appellate Court of Tehran sentenced Kazem Alinejad to five years in prison. He is currently held in Evin Prison, where he is being denied access to adequate medical care despite his poor health.

Alinejad received this sentence for charges of “assembly and collusion against national security.” He has been acquitted of charges of “blasphemy” and “propaganda against the regime.”

A source close to Alinejad’s family told HRANA that Alinejad suffers from several health issues, including heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney failure, and diabetes. Despite this, he has been denied proper medical care in an external hospital.

In early January 2024, Alinejad was sentenced to eleven years in prison in a legal case alongside ten other political defendants. The sentence was handed down by Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari. It included five years for blasphemy, five years for “assembly and collusion against national security,” and one year for “propaganda against the regime.” Additional punishments included a ban on residing in Tehran and neighboring provinces for two years, a two-year ban on membership in political or civil groups, and the confiscation of his cell phone.

Kazem Alinejad Baraloo has a history of previous arrests and convictions related to his activism.

Azerbaijani-Turk Activist Asghar Faraji’s Health Concerns in Evin Prison

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News, Prisoners
Asghar Faraji, Azerbaijani Turk activist, Evin Prison, Tehran, اصغر فرجی

Azerbaijani-Turk activist Asghar Faraji is serving his sentence in Evin Prison and is reportedly suffering from poor health. Despite his medical needs, he has been denied adequate care.

A source close to Faraji’s family informed HRANA that Faraji suffers from severe back pain. His and his family’s repeated requests for treatment at an external clinic have been ignored.

Faraji was arrested by security forces in 2019 and later released on bail, pending further legal proceedings.

Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran initially sentenced Faraji to seven years for “assembly and collusion against national security,” six years for “membership in unlawful anti-regime groups,” three years for “disturbing public opinion,” and one year and four months for “propaganda against the regime,” totaling 17 years and four months imprisonment. Additionally, he was sentenced to a two-year mandatory residence in a village in South Khorasan Province.

However, Branch 36 of the Appellate Court of Tehran later reduced the sentence to five years in prison.

Journalist Dina Ghalibaf Transferred to Evin Prison After Police Sexual Assault

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News, Prisoners, Students
Dina Ghalibaf, Evin Prison, Narges Mohammadi, دینا قالیباف

Dina Ghalibaf, a journalist and student at Shahid Beheshti University, was moved to the women’s ward of Evin Prison on April 21, 2024, following her arrest by security forces on April 16.

Civil rights activist Narges Mohammadi confirmed in a voice message from the prison that Ghalibaf showed signs of bruising and shared her account of being sexually assaulted.

On April 15, Ghalibaf shared on social media that she had been detained by police at a Tehran metro station for allegedly wearing an improper hijab. She described being taken to a room, where she endured electric shocks and sexual assault. This public account led to her arrest the next day by security forces.

The agency responsible for her arrest remains unknown.

Previously, Ghalibaf was summoned by the university’s disciplinary committee for participating in a protest against the execution of several individuals in the “House of Isfahan” legal case.

Ghalibaf has worked with various news outlets, including ISNA and Eghtesad Online.

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Rapper Saman Seydi Sentenced to Five Years in Exile

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, Ghezel Hesar prison, Hossein Sartipi, moharebeh, Rajai Shahr Prison, Saman Seydi, Saman Yasin, سامان یاسین

Saman Seydi, known as Yasin, was arrested during nationwide protests in 2022 and has been sentenced to five years of exile in a city in Kerman Province.

Seydi’s lawyer, Hossein Sartipi, announced that according to a verdict issued by Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, his client will serve five years in exile. Sartipi plans to appeal to the Supreme Court, arguing that Seydi has already been detained for over 18 months, suggesting he has effectively served his time.

In mid-April 2024, Seydi was taken from Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj to a hospital for one day for nasal surgery, following an injury sustained during his incarceration.

Seydi was arrested on October 2, 2023, in Tehran during the protests and subsequently transferred to Rajai Shahr Prison.

On November 8, 2023, Seydi was convicted on charges including “enmity against God” (Moharebeh) and “assembly and collusion against national security,” and was initially sentenced to death. However, the Supreme Court overturned the death sentence, leading to the transfer of his case to another court branch for retrial.

On August 2, 2023, Seydi, along with six other political prisoners, was moved from Rajai Shahr Prison to Evin Prison. On September 3, 2023, he was transferred again with 12 inmates to Ghezel Hesar without prior notice and was held in a ward with prisoners convicted of drug offenses, violating regulations that require political prisoners to be housed separately.

Hossein Burakah Sentenced to Prison and Exile on Political Charges

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News, Prisoners
Hossein Burakah, Naqadeh Prison, Piranshahr, حسین بورکه

Hossein Burakah has been sentenced to three years and six months in prison by the Revolutionary Court of Mahabad, according to a report by Kurdpa. In addition, he received a one-year exile to Urmia.

Burakah was convicted of alleged membership in anti-regime groups.

He was arrested on October 23, 2023, after appearing at the courthouse in Piranshahr, and was transferred to Naqadeh Prison. Two days later, he was moved to the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Urmia and then returned to Naqadeh Prison. Burakah had previously been detained by security forces in early October of the previous year.

Family of Fallahi Faces Eleven-Year Sentence on Political Charges

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Ardavan Fallahi, Arghavan Fallahi, Evin Prison, Iman Afshari, Nasrollah Fallahi, Parvin Mirasan, Tehran, پروین میرآسان, نصرالله فلاحی

In a recent verdict from the Tehran Revolutionary Court, Parvin Mirasan and Nasrollah Fallahi, alongside their children, Ardavan and Arghavan, have been collectively sentenced to 11 years in prison on political charges.

Presiding over Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran, Judge Iman Afshari delivered the verdict, condemning Parvin Mirasan and Nasrollah Fallahi to four years each for charges including “assembly and collusion against national security” and “propaganda against the regime.” Meanwhile, Arghavan received a two-year sentence and Ardavan, one year.

According to a source close to the family, Parvin Mirasan and Nasrollah Fallahi are currently held in Evin Prison, while their children, who had previously been released on bail, have already served their terms, factoring in their detention period.

Reports obtained by HRANA indicate that this legal case involves 12 defendants, yet their identities and specifics remain undisclosed.

Ardavan Fallahi was apprehended in Isfahan on November 3, 2022, followed by the arrest of a family member the subsequent day. On February 12, 2023, they were transferred to Evin Prison in Tehran. Ardavan and Arghavan were granted release on bail pending legal proceedings, on January 3, 2024, and March 12, 2024, respectively.

Reports from the Department of Statistics and Publication of HRA in 2023 indicate a total of 193 cases in which Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, has been involved in issuing verdicts that infringe upon the human rights of defendants.

Reza Rasekhi Sentenced to Prison and Exile on Political Charges

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News, Prisoners
HRANA, Karaj's Central Prison, Reza Rasekhi, Seyed-Musa Asef-Al-Hosseini, رضا راسخی

Reza Rasekhi, currently incarcerated in Karaj’s Central Prison, has been sentenced to one year in prison and two years of exile in Bostanabad, East Azerbaijan province, by the Revolutionary Court in Karaj. Subsequently, his prison term was reduced to nine months after entering a plea of no contest.

Presiding over Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court in Karaj, Judge Seyed-Musa Asef-Al-Hosseini found Rasekhi guilty of “propaganda against the regime,” citing his social media activities.

A source close to Rasekhi’s family, confirming his conviction, informed HRANA that Rasekhi was notified of this verdict ten days prior. However, he has been acquitted of “assembly and collusion against national security.”

Rasekhi was apprehended by security forces in November 2023 and subsequently transferred to Karaj’s Central Prison.

The 31-year-old resident of Karaj had previously been arrested during the nationwide protests of 2022. However, he was granted pardon under a “general pardon and commutation” directive.

Latest Developments on Baha’i Citizen Mina Karami’s Legal Situation

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News, Prisoners, Religious Minorities
Adelabad Prison, Bahais, Mina Karami, Seyed Mahmood Sadati, Shiraz, مینا کرمی

Baha’i citizen Mina Karami continues to serve her five-year prison term in Adelabad prison after the Appellate Court of Fars Province, influenced by the Ministry of Intelligence, recently rejected her request to complete her sentence outside prison with a monitoring ankle device.

A source close to Karami’s family has confirmed to HRANA the repeated denials of Karami’s release requests. Additionally, the Supreme Court rejected her plea for a retrial.

On April 13, 2021, security forces raided Karami’s residence, conducted a search, and subsequently summoned and interrogated her at the Ministry of Intelligence detention facility known as House No. 100. She was later released on bail.

In August-September 2022, the Revolutionary Court of Shiraz, presided over by Seyed-Mahmood Sadati, found Karami guilty of “engaging in education and propaganda activities against Islamic Sharia,” resulting in a five-year imprisonment, a fine, social restrictions for ten years, and a two-year ban from leaving the country. This verdict was upheld on appeal.

On February 13, 2024, security forces arrested her in Shiraz and transferred her to Adelabad Prison to commence serving her sentence.