Tag: Evin Prison

Journalist Dina Ghalibaf’s Sentence Upheld on Appeal

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Freedom of Expression, News
Dina Ghalibaf, Evin Prison, Narges Mohammadi, دینا قالیباف

The Court of Appeals of Tehran Province has upheld the prison sentence and fine for Dina Ghalibaf, a journalist and student at Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran. Previously, she was sentenced by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court to two years in prison and a fine, with the sentences suspended for five years.

According to the ruling recently issued by the Court of Appeals of Tehran Province and communicated to Ms. Ghalibaf’s defense lawyer, she has been sentenced to two years in prison, including time already served, and a fine of fifteen million tomans to be paid to the state treasury for the charge of “spreading falsehoods.” The issued sentences against Ms. Ghalibaf have been suspended for five years.

Part of the issued verdict states that “the defendant, under a supervisory suspension, is required to refrain from associating and interacting with individuals active in political or social fields.”

In May of this year, Ghalibaf was convicted of the aforementioned charge by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari. During this stage of the trial, she was acquitted of the charges of “defying the officers” and “engaging in propaganda activities against the regime.”

Ms. Ghalibaf was arrested in Tehran on Tuesday, April 16, and after a few days, she was transferred to the women’s ward of Evin Prison.

After the completion of interrogations and her transfer to the women’s ward of Evin Prison, Narges Mohammadi, a human rights activist imprisoned in Evin, shared her account in an audio message, describing Dina Ghalibaf as “having bruises on her body and recounting sexual abuse.”

Ghalibaf was released from Evin Prison on May 1 of this year upon posting bail.

Ms. Ghalibaf, aged around 23, is a journalist, student activist, and undergraduate student in political science at Shahid Beheshti University. She has collaborated with news agencies such as ISNA and EghtesadOnline.

She was previously summoned to the university’s disciplinary committee in 2023 after participating in a student protest at the university, which was held in response to the execution of the defendants in the Isfahan house case.

Mahnaz Tarah Attempts Suicide in Evin Prison

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News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, HRANA, Mahnaz Tarah

Mahnaz Tarah, a political prisoner held in Evin Prison, attempted suicide on the evening of Tuesday, July 23, by ingesting pills.

A source close to her family confirmed the news to HRANA: “On the evening of Tuesday, July 23, Ms. Tarah attempted suicide by ingesting pills. She was transferred to Loghman Hospital and returned to Evin Prison about an hour ago.”

Mahnaz Tarah was violently arrested by security forces on November 13, 2023, on a street in Tehran. She was eventually transferred from the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, known as Ward 209 of Evin Prison, to the public ward of the prison on November 23 of the same year.

In January of 2024, she was sentenced by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, to three years and eight months in prison for “assembly and collusion to act against national security” and eight months for “propaganda against the regime.” Her sentence was reduced to two years and nine months following a plea of no contest.

Mahnaz Tarah has had previous encounters with judicial and security authorities.

Pakhshan Azizi Sentenced to Death

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Executions, Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, Iman Afshari, Mahabad, Pakhshan Azizi

Pakhshan Azizi, a political detainee held in Evin Prison, has been sentenced to death by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari.

Based on a verdict issued by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court and communicated to Ms. Azizi in Evin Prison on Tuesday, July 23rd, she was sentenced to death on  multiple charges including “membership in anti-regime groups.” The court session to address the charges against this political detainee was held on May 28th of this year in the mentioned branch.
Pakhshan Azizi, a resident of Mahabad, was arrested by security forces in Tehran on August 4, 2023, and transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison.

This political detainee was deprived of the right to access a private lawyer and meet with her family for a long time. Eventually, after four months of interrogation, she was transferred to the women’s ward of this prison.

Ms. Azizi was formally charged in February of 2023 at Evin Courthouse, and her indictment was referred to Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

Pakhshan Azizi had previously faced arrest and judicial confrontations. She was detained by security forces on November 16, 2009, and released on bail after four months.

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.

Political Prisoner Hamidreza Sahlabadi Attempts Suicide in Evin Prison

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News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, Hamidreza Sahlabadi, HRANA, حمیدرضا سهل آبادی

On Saturday, July 20th, Hamidreza Sahlabadi, a political prisoner held in Evin Prison, attempted suicide by ingesting pills. Following the attempt, he was transferred to Loghman Hospital, where he remains in the intensive care unit and is not allowed visitors.

A source familiar with the situation confirmed Sahlabadi’s suicide attempt to HRANA: “Hamidreza attempted suicide by ingesting pills in protest against his summons again to Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran on July 27th . He was transferred to Loghman Hospital at 5 AM on Saturday, July 20th. He is currently in the intensive care unit. The authorities are preventing his family from visiting him, which has heightened their concerns about his health.”

This political prisoner was arrested on July 3, 2023, by IRGC intelligence agents at his home and transferred to Ward 4 of Evin Prison.

In July-August of last year, Mr. Sahlabadi was sentenced by the Criminal Court Two of Shahid Kachouyi Judicial Complex in Tehran to two years in prison on charges of “destruction of public property,” including time served. This sentence was upheld in late December of the same year by the Tehran Province Court of Appeals.

A court session regarding other charges in his case, along with seven other defendants, was held on June 30th in Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari. The charges included “assembly and collusion to commit a crime against national security,” “disruption of public order,” “propaganda against the regime,” “destruction of public property,” “armed rebellion,” and “membership in a rebellious group.”

A source close to his family told HRANA: “Mr. Sahlabadi also has a history of arrest and conviction in 2009.”

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.

Health Concerns for Political Prisoner Meysam Dehbanzadeh in Ghezel Hesar Prison

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News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, Ghezel Hesar prison, Karaj, Meysam Dehban-Zadeh, Meysam Dehbanzadeh, میثم دهبان زاده

Political prisoner Meysam Dehbanzadeh is serving his sentence in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj. Last year, he was beaten by prison guards and tied to a pole with handcuffs for a day. According to doctors, his left eye nerves are now damaged and are no longer treatable.

A source close to the prisoner’s family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating, “In May of last year, following a quarrel among prisoners, Mr. Dehbanzadeh was beaten on the head with batons by six prison guards in Ward 5 of Greater Tehran Prison, where prisoners convicted of violent crimes are held. He was tied to a pole with handcuffs for a day. Last week, he was transferred to Farabi Hospital due to decreased vision and recurring headaches. Specialist doctors, after examination and an MRI of his left eye, announced that his vision problem is untreatable.”

According to HRANA’s information, this political prisoner has encountered difficulties in his daily tasks due to reduced vision in his left eye, increasing the concerns of his family about his physical condition.

On June 19th of this year, in relation to the Evin Prison fire case, Dehbanzadeh was sentenced by the Tehran Criminal Court II, presided over by Jabar Javadi, to six years in prison and 74 lashes for the charge of “property destruction,” 16 months in prison and 74 lashes for the charge of “disrupting prison order,” and 16 months in prison for the charge of “disobeying and resisting officers’ orders.”

Previously, in August 2023, Dehbanzadeh was sentenced by the Tehran Revolutionary Court to six years in prison, a travel ban, and social deprivations.

Meysam Dehbanzadeh was released from Greater Tehran Prison on May 27, 2023, following the issuance of an “amnesty” directive related to his previous case.

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Teachers’ Union Activist Mohammad Habibi Receives Six Months in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News
Evin Prison, mohammad habibi, Teachers union activist

Mohammad Habibi, spokesperson for the Tehran Teachers’ Trade Association, has been sentenced to six months and one day in prison by Branch 2 of the Shahriar Revolutionary Court.

Based on a verdict issued on July 21 by Branch 2 of the Shahriar Revolutionary Court and communicated to Mr. Habibi, he has been sentenced to six months and one day in prison for “propaganda against the regime.” The court session for addressing Mohammad Habibi’s charges was held on June 29 of this year in the aforementioned branch.

On April 5, 2023, Habibi was arrested at his workplace in Tehran by security agents due to his protest posts regarding the serial poisoning attacks on schools across the country. He was eventually released on May 20 of the same year from Ward 209 of Evin Prison after posting bail.

It is worth noting that this spokesperson for the Teachers’ Trade Association was previously arrested by security forces in Tehran on April 30, 2022, ahead of Teacher Appreciation Week in Iran and a protest gathering of educators. He was released from Evin Prison on February 8 of the following year.

In October 2022, he was sentenced by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court to three years and seven months in prison for “assembly and collusion against national security,” one year for “propaganda against the regime,” a two-year ban on activities and membership in groups, and a travel ban.

Habibi has a history of arrests and convictions due to his activities.

Political Detainee Parivash Moslemi Detained for Over 15 Days

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News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, Mahsa Amini, Parivash Moslemi, Pariwash Moslemi, Qarchak Prison, Varamin

Parivash Moslemi, a political detainee, has been held in Evin Prison for over fifteen days with unclear legal status.

Based on information received by HRANA, Ms. Moslemi was arrested on July 7th after reporting to the Evin Prosecutor’s Office and subsequently transferred to the women’s ward of Evin Prison. A source close to the family of this political detainee confirmed this news to HRANA, stating, “Parivash has also been charged with offenses such as ‘propaganda against the regime,’ ‘insulting the Founder and the Supreme Leader,’ and ‘assembly and collusion against national security.'”

Ms. Moslemi, aged around 46, was arrested by security forces in the city of Nur in March-April this year. She was released three days later from one of the city’s security detention facilities.

Parivash Moslemi was previously detained by security forces in September 2023, coinciding with the anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death. She was finally released a month later after posting bail from Qarchak Prison located in Varamin.

Continued Detention and Uncertainty of Nasim Gholami Simiyari in Evin Prison

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News, Prisoners
Ali Harati Mokhtari, Amin Sokhanvar, Amir Shah Velayati, Baghi, Ehsan Ravazjiyan, Evin Prison, Hamidreza Sahlabadi, Hossein Ardestani, Hossein Mohammad Hosseini, Nasim Gholami Simiyari

Nasim Gholami Simiyari, aged 36, facing the charge of armed rebellion (Baghi), remains in an uncertain state in Evin Prison despite 425 days having passed since her arrest.

Based on information received by HRANA, Ms. Gholami has been in detention for nearly fourteen months. Despite a court session held on June 30 in Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, no verdict has been issued for her on the charge of “armed rebellion.” Gholami Simiyari remains in an uncertain state in the women’s ward of Evin Prison. She is part of a joint case with seven other defendants: Hamidreza Sahlabadi, Ehsan Ravazjiyan, Amin Sokhanvar, Ali Harati Mokhtari, Hossein Mohammad Hosseini, Amir Shah Velayati, and Hossein Ardestani.

Gholami Simiyari was arrested on May 18, 2023, by IRGC intelligence agents on a street in Tehran. She was transferred to Ward 1-A of the IRGC, held in solitary confinement, and interrogated. After two months, she was transferred to Ward 2-A and eventually to the women’s ward of Evin Prison on September 26, 2023.

After five months in detention, she was charged with “assembly and collusion against national security,” “propaganda against the regime,” and “armed rebellion (Baghi).”

According to a friend of Ms. Simiyari, “She was subjected to psychological and physical torture during her detention, and forced confessions were obtained from her in front of a camera at the detention facility. The confessions were dictated and forced by the interrogator.”

Seyed Mohammad Taghavi Detained for Over Four Months Facing Political Charges

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News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, Iman Afshari, Maku Prison, Seyed Mohammad Taghavi, سید محمد تقوی

Seyed Mohammad Taghavi, who is accused of Baghi (armed rebellion), remains in legal limbo in Evin Prison more than four months after his arrest. Since Monday, July 1st, this political detainee has been moved to solitary confinement in the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, known as Ward 209 of Evin Prison, as a punitive measure ordered by Judge Iman Afshari.

A source close to his family confirmed this news to HRANA, stating: “Mr. Taghavi had previously protested against the fabricated charges against him and did not attend the court session due to the lack of a lawyer. On Monday, July 1st, he was punitively transferred to one of the solitary cells in Ward 209 of Evin Prison by the order of Judge Iman Afshari, the head of Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran.”

On February 23, 2024, security forces arrested Taghavi in Chaldoran in West Azerbaijan Province and transferred him to Maku Prison. He was then moved to Evin Prison after seven days.

Finally, on May 14th of this year, Mr. Taghavi, along with five other political detainees, was charged in a joint case by Branch 5 of the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office of Tehran, presided over by Investigator Alizadeh, on suspicion of membership in one of the opposition groups and accused of Baghi.

On Monday, June 24th of this year, Taghavi and other defendants in this case were summoned to Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari. However, he was not sent to court by the order of the head of Evin Prison due to his refusal to wear prison clothes at the court.

Seyed Mohammad Taghavi, 57, is a former political prisoner from the 1980s, holding a bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design from Tehran University, and has a history of previous convictions and imprisonment.

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.

Political Prisoner Jamal Ameli Denied Medical Care in Evin Prison

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Prisoners
Evin Prison, Iman Afshari, Jamal Ameli, Tehran

Jamal Ameli, a political prisoner, is serving his sentence in Ward 8 of Evin Prison. Despite his poor health, he has been denied proper medical care and transfer to medical facilities outside the prison.

A source close to the prisoner’s family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “Mr. Ameli suffers from an autoimmune disease, and the lack of access to necessary medications and regular visits to a doctor has led to spinal complications and other consequences of this illness. Despite his poor health, he has been denied proper medical care and transfer to medical facilities outside the prison.”

Based on HRANA’s reports, Mr. Ameli’s deprivation of new tests and timely and continuous treatment has led to more skin wounds and other severe problems, increasing the concerns of Mr. Ameli’s relatives and family regarding his physical health.

Jamal Ameli, a Tehran resident, was arrested on April 6 after appearing at the Evin Prosecutor’s Office and was transferred to Evin Prison to serve his one-year prison sentence. He had previously been summoned to this judicial branch to serve his sentence.

In February of last year, he was sentenced to one year in prison by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, on charges of “assembly and collusion to commit a crime against national security” and “propaganda against the regime.”

Mohammad Ali (Jamal) Ameli, a Tehran resident, has a history of arrests and judicial encounters due to his activities. On October 30, 2012, he was arrested and later summoned for further explanations.