Tag: Evin Prison

Two Instagram Bloggers Sentenced to a Total of 21 Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Amir Mohamad Ahmadi, Astiaj Haghighi, Evin Prison, Instagram Bloggers, Qarchak, Varamin

The Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Instagram bloggers Astiaj Haghighi and Amir Mohammad Ahmadi, to a total of 21 years in prison and additional punishments.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Astiaj Haghighi and Amir Mohammad Ahmadi were sentenced to imprisonment and additional punishments.

According to this verdict, each of them received ten years and six months for “promotion of impurity and indecency, assembly and collusion against national security, and propaganda against the regime.” They have also been banned from social activities on the Internet and leaving the country for two years.
An informed source told HRANA that they were denied access to a lawyer during legal proceedings.

On November 1, 2022, security forces arrested this couple violently at their home in Tehran. This arrest occurred after they published a video on social media showing them dancing in a city square.

A while after their arrest, Mrs Haghighi was relocated from Evin Prison to Qarchak Prison in Varamin.

 

Children’s Rights Activist Sarvnaz Ahmadi Sentenced to Six Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, Kamyar Fakoor, Sarvnaz Ahmadi

The Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced children’s rights activist Sarvnaz Ahmadi to six years in prison. If the verdict is upheld on appeal, based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, five years in prison for one count will be enforceable.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Sarvnaz Ahmadi was sentenced to imprisonment.

Ahmadi received five years for “assembly and collusion to act against national security” and one year for “propaganda against the regime.”
Her husband, Kamyar Fakoor, a worker’s rights activist, had also been on trial in this judicial branch on January 4, 2023.

On November 6, 2022, security forces arrested this couple in Tehran and jailed them in Evin Prison. Ahmadi was released on bail on December 7, 2022.

Baha’i Citizen Sepehr Ziaei Sentenced to Five Years in Prison

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News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i citizen, Evin Prison, Sepehr Ziaei

The Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced jailed Baha’i citizen Sepehr Ziaei to five years and banned him from leaving the country for two years. The court also ordered the seizure of some of his belongings.

According to this verdict, Ziaei was sentenced to five years for “membership in illegal groups to disrupt national security.” As additional punishment, he was banned from leaving the country for two years, and his cell phone and laptops were seized.

On September 24, 2022, security forces arrested Ziaei at his home in Tehran and jailed him in Ward 209 of Evin Prison. The agents also searched his house and confiscated some of his belonging.

An informed source told HRANA that “last year, Ziaei started his treatment after an ear stroke. However, this arrest interrupted his treatment, and now he has lost a major part of his hearing power.”

According to the HRANA Annual Statistical Report of Human Rights Conditions in Iran, in 2022, 64% of the entire reports on the violation of religious minorities’ rights are about harassment, prosecution and conviction against Baha’is.

According to unofficial sources, it is estimated that more than 300,000 Baha’is live in Iran, but the Iranian Constitution recognizes only Islam as the official religion, in addition to Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism. Bahai faith is not considered legitimate by the authorities, and the rights of Baha’is in Iran have been systematically violated for years.

Journalist Saeedeh Shafiee Arrested

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, Hassan Homayoun, Mehrnoosh Zarei Hanzaki, Saeedeh Shafiee, Tehran

On January 22, security forces arrested journalist Saeedeh Shafiee at her home in Tehran and took her to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on January 22, 2023, writer and journalist Saeedeh Shafiee was arrested.

Breaking this news, Shafiee’s husband, Hassan Homayoun stated: “My wife was arrested at our home, we are deeply concerned about her health condition.”
The reason for Shafiee’s arrest, her whereabouts, and the security institution responsible for her arrest are still unknown.
On the same day, another journalist Mehrnoosh Zarei Hanzaki was also arrested in Tehran and detained in Evin prison.

According to data collected by HRANA, at least 79 journalists and media practitioners have been arrested since the beginning of nationwide protests on September 17.

 

Reporter Ahmadreza Halabisaz Sentenced to Two Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ahmadreza Halabisaz, Evin Prison, Tehran

Reporter and photographer Ahmadreza Halabisaz was sentenced to two years in prison. He was also ­banned from practicing journalism and leaving the country. Initially, he had received five years in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, reporter Ahmadreza Halabisaz was sentenced to imprisonment and social deprivations.

Recently, he was summoned to Evin Prison to start his prison sentence.

In September 2022, Halabisaz was arrested amid nationwide protests in Tehran and released on bail after 27 days. The charge against him is still unknown at the time of this writing.

Since the outbreak of nationwide protests, about 19400 people, including journalists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, have been arrested. So far, at least 724 people have been convicted over protests. For more details and statistics on the nationwide protest across Iran, read HRANA’s comprehensive report here.

 

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Student Samaneh Asghari Still Detained after Three Months

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Freedom of Expression, News, Students
Erfan Karim-Veisi, Evin Prison, Kharazmi University, Qarchak Prison, Samaneh Asghari

Samaneh Asghari, a student at Kharazmi University, is still detained in Qarchak Prison, Varamin, for over three months. The Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office of Shahr-e-Rey recently filed an indictment against her.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, student Samaneh Asghari is still detained for over three months.

Her lawyer, Erfan Karim-Veisi, announced, Asghari has been charged with “assembly and collusion against national security, disturbing public order, inciting people to commit violence and murder, propaganda against the regime and provoking women to be present in public without Hejab, membership in groups to act against national security and spreading falsehood.”

He also stated that the court refused to grant a release on bail.
On October 11, 2022, security forces arrested Asghari and jailed her in Ward 209 of Evin Prison. After a while, she was relocated to Qarchak Prison.

Translator Nazanin Keynejad Sentenced to Four Years Imprisonment

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Freedom of Expression, News
Babak Rezakhani, Evin Prison, Nazanin Keynejad

The Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced translator Nazanin Keynejad to four years in prison, banned from leaving the country and other social deprivations for two years.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, translator Nazanin Keynejad was sentenced to imprisonment.

According to her spouse, Babak Rezakhani, the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided by judge Salavati, sentenced Keynejad to four years in prison. She was also banned from leaving the country, membership in political parties and groups, and activities on social media for two years.

On October 8, 2022, security forces arrested Keynejad at her house in Tehran and took her to Evin Prison. After a while, she was transferred to Qarchak Prison in Varamin.

Iranian Jewish Citizen El Nathan Masih Israelian Released from Evin Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News, Religious Minorities
El Nathan Masih Israelian, Evin Prison, Iranian Jewish Citizen

On January 7, 2023, Iranian Jewish citizen Elnathan Masih Israelian was released on bail from Evin Prison. In Late October 2022, security forces arrested him.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, an Iranian Jewish citizen, identified by HRANA as Elnathan Masih Israelian was released on bail.

The reason, the charges for Israelian’s arrest and the security intelligence responsible for his arrest are still unknown. However, in early November, Kaan News Agency reported the arrest of three Jewish-Iranian individuals during nationwide protests. Israelian is likely one of the three people mentioned in Kaan’s report.

Due to the Iranian regime’s hostility to Israel, the Iranian Jewish community is living in constant fear of vindictive prosecution from the regime. Consequently, since the 1979 revolution, the Jewish community population has been reduced from one hundred thousand to below ten thousand.

 

 

Workers’ Rights Activist Keyvan Mohtadi Sentenced to Six Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Anisha Asadaollahi, Evin Prison, Keyvan Mohtadi, ward 209

The Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced workers’ rights activist Keyvan Mohtadi to six years in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, workers’ rights activist Keyvan Mohtadi was sentenced to five years on the charge of “assembly and collusion against national security” and one year for “propaganda against the regime.”

If the verdict is upheld on appeal, based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, five years in prison for the first count will be enforceable.

On May 9, 2022, security forces arrested Mohtadi and his partner, Anisha Asadollahi, at their house and transferred them to Ward 209 of Evin Prison in Tehran.

Anisha Asadollahi and Keyvan Mohtadi had been arrested and convicted before for their civil activities. On May 1, 2019, with many other workers and worker’s rights activists, Anisha Asadollahi was arrested at a gathering for the celebration of international workers’ Day. Subsequently, the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced her to one-year imprisonment (of which six months were suspended) and 74 lashes on the charge of “disturbing the public order”. She was jailed in Evin prison for sentencing on January 4, 2020, and was freed on January 21 of that year.

Writer Sepideh Salarvand Sentenced to Two Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, Sepideh Salarvand, ward 209

The Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Sepideh Salarvand to two years in prison, barred her from leaving the country and membership in civil and political groups for two years. As additional punishment for the purpose of indoctrination, she also has to conduct research about patriotism. She is an anthropologist, writer and children’s rights activist.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Sepideh Salarvand to years in prison on the charges of “assembly and collusion to act against national security.”

In early October 2022, security forces arrested Salarvand and jailed her in Ward 209 of Evin Prison. She was released on bail on October 17 until the end of legal proceedings.