Tag: Motahareh Goonehi

Student Activist Motahareh Goonehi Sentenced to Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, Motahareh Goonehi, Motahareh Gounei, Student activist

HRANA – Motahareh Goonehi (Gounei), a student activist, has been sentenced by Branch 29 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court to 21 months in prison.

In a statement published by this student activist, she wrote: “By order of the Revolutionary Court, I was sentenced to 15 months in prison for ‘propaganda against the Islamic Republic’ and to six months in prison for ‘insulting the Supreme Leader,’ as well as the confiscation of my mobile phone containing so-called ‘criminal content.’ This ruling was issued by Branch 29 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court in less than one week.”

Ms. Goonehi was arrested by security forces in Tehran on Saturday, June 14, and released more than a month later on bail. Following her release, she shared a disturbing account of her arrest, reporting that she was detained without a judicial warrant, that shots were fired inside her home during the arrest, and that she was blindfolded and taken barefoot into the street at night before being released.

Goonehi is a dental student and the former political secretary of the Islamic Association of Students at the University of Tehran and Tehran University of Medical Sciences. She has previously faced arrest and security-related pressures due to her activism. She was released from Evin Prison on March 16, 2025, after completing her prison sentence.

Iranian Jewish Citizens Remain Detained in Shiraz and Tehran

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News, Religious Minorities
HRANA, Iranian Jews, Kamran Hekmati, Motahareh Goonehi, Navid Reuven, Shahab Yosef, Yehuda Hekmati

HRANA – Four Jewish citizens remain in detention in Tehran and Shiraz weeks after being arrested by the Ministry of Intelligence during the heightened security atmosphere following the 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel. The detainees are being held without formal charges, and no details about their legal status or the cases against them have been made public.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, the four individuals have been identified as Navid Reuven, Shahab Yosef, Kamran Hekmati, and Michael (surname unknown). All four remain in detention facilities operated by the Ministry of Intelligence.

Navid Reuven (son of Gila) and Shahab Yosef (son of Zwela) were arrested in Shiraz during the recent conflict. They are currently being held at the Ministry’s “Plaque 100” detention facility. While the specific charges against them have not been disclosed, sources report that one alleged issue in their case is the possession of an Israeli flag found in their residence.

A third detainee, previously identified by HRANA as Yehuda Hekmati, has now been confirmed as Kamran Hekmati, a 70-year-old Iranian-American Jewish citizen. His mother’s name is listed as Rivka. He was arrested upon entering Iran to visit family and is reportedly being held due to a trip he made to Israel seven years ago. He is currently detained in a Ministry of Intelligence facility in Tehran.

The fourth detainee, Michael (surname unknown), is also being held in Tehran and is expected to appear for his final interrogation session tomorrow. No information has been released regarding the charges or legal process in his case.

These arrests are part of a broader pattern of state pressure on the Jewish community in Iran. In the wake of the recent Iran-Israel conflict, at least 35 Jewish citizens in Tehran and Shiraz were reportedly summoned and interrogated by Iranian security forces. Interrogations primarily focused on the individuals’ family ties with relatives in Israel and included warnings against any phone or internet contact with foreign relatives.

In a related account, Motahareh Goonehi, a student activist recently released from the Intelligence Ministry’s detention facility, referred in a public statement to a Jewish individual named Lida. It remains unclear whether she is among the recently detained or if her case is separate. No further information is currently available regarding her status.

Iranian law passed in 2011 criminalizes travel to Israel by Iranian citizens, imposing penalties of two to five years in prison and temporary bans on passport eligibility. This law continues to impact Iranian Jews by restricting contact with family members abroad, particularly in Israel.

Despite official state claims of upholding the rights of religious minorities, including Jews, human rights experts warn that these recent arrests and interrogations may constitute religious and ethnic discrimination, violating Iran’s commitments under international human rights law.

Identity Confirmed: One of Two Detained American-Jewish Citizens in Iran Identified as Yehuda Hekmati

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News, Religious Minorities
Motahareh Goonehi, Yehuda Hekmati, یهودا حکمتی

HRANA – Amid a growing wave of summonses, arrests, and security pressure targeting Iran’s Jewish community, HRANA has confirmed the identity of one of the two American-Jewish citizens recently detained in Iran. The individual, Yehuda Hekmati, is over 70 years old and works in the jewelry and precious stones trade. His arrest is reportedly linked to a visit he made to Israel seven years ago.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, Hekmati is one of two American-Jewish citizens whose arrests were first reported by Israel’s Channel 11. The detentions came amid rising tensions between Iran and Israel following a 12-day conflict. The second detainee, an Iranian-American from Los Angeles, has reportedly been released on bail, while Mr. Hekmati remains in custody. Both men are believed to have traveled to Iran to visit relatives.

A source familiar with the case confirmed efforts to secure their release, telling Hebrew-language media: “These two Americans were in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

In recent weeks, at least 35 members of Iran’s Jewish community in Tehran and Shiraz have reportedly been summoned and interrogated by security agencies. These interrogations have focused mainly on their familial ties with relatives in Israel and included warnings against any phone or online contact with people outside the country.

In a related case, student activist Motahareh Goonehi (Gounei), who was recently released from the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, mentioned a woman named Lida, whom she identified as a Jewish citizen. However, it remains unclear whether this individual is among the recently detained or connected to another security-related case.

Under Iranian law passed in 2011, travel to Israel by Iranian citizens can result in two to five years in prison and several years of passport suspension. This law has increasingly affected Iranian Jews with familial connections in Israel.

Despite the Iranian government’s official narrative about protecting the rights of religious minorities, including Jews, recent developments point to an unprecedented rise in security pressure on this community. Human rights experts warn that such actions could constitute “discrimination based on religion and ethnicity” and violate Iran’s international obligations.

Student Activist Motahareh Goonehi Arrested

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Freedom of Expression, News, Students
Evin Prison, HRANA, Motahareh Goonehi, Motahareh Gounei, مطهره گونه ای

HRANA News Agency – On Saturday, June 14, student activist Motahareh Goonehi (Gounei) was arrested by security forces in Tehran.

The arrest took place earlier today, but no information has been released regarding the reasons for her detention, the charges brought against her, or her place of custody.

Goonehi is a dental student and the former political secretary of the Islamic Association of Students at the University of Tehran and Tehran University of Medical Sciences. She has previously faced arrest and security-related pressures due to her activism. She was released from Evin Prison on March 16, 2025, after completing her prison sentence.

Motahareh Goonehi Arrested and Transferred to Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News, Students
Ardabil University, Mahdi Hadizadeh, Motahareh Goonehi, Tehran

Mizan, the judiciary’s news agency, has announced the arrest and imprisonment of Motahareh Goonehi, a student activist.

The report indicates that her arrest and imprisonment were prompted by content she posted on social media.

On the previous day, Ms. Goonehi had received an electronic summons ordering her to appear before Branch 9 of the Tehran Prosecutor’s Office for Media and Culture.

The Deputy Minister for Culture and Student Affairs at the Ministry of Health also announced that Goonehi’s right to continue her studies has been revoked, and a disciplinary file has been opened against her at the university.

Recently, the Tehran Prosecutor’s Office pressed charges against Goonehi, a suspended student from Tehran University of Medical Sciences, citing her “online posts” regarding Iran’s recent military actions.

Earlier, Ms. Goonehi had announced her transfer to Ardabil University. She and her husband, Mahdi Hadizadeh, also a student at Tehran University of Medical Sciences, had previously been temporarily suspended and transferred to Ardabil University of Medical Sciences by the Central Committee of the Ministry of Health.

On May 1, 2024, Goonehi was detained by IRGC Intelligence agents in Tehran after being summoned. She was taken to Evin Prison but was released on bail after several days of detention.

In July, Branch 29 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced her to one year in prison.

Goonehi, a dentistry student and former political secretary of the Islamic Association of Students at the University of Tehran and Tehran University of Medical Sciences, had also been detained by security forces during the nationwide protests of 2022.

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Motahareh Goonehi’s One-Year Prison Sentence Upheld on Appeal

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, IRGC Intelligence, Motahareh Goonehi, Tehran Court of Appeals, Toomaj Salehi

Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals has upheld the one-year prison sentence for Motahareh Goonehi, a suspended student from Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Branch 29 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court had initially handed down the sentence.

The charges stem from Gonei’s protest against the death sentence of Toomaj Salehi and her public comments regarding the “murder and assault” of Nika Shakarami. The Court of Appeals convicted her of “propaganda against the regime in favor of anti-revolutionary media.”

Goonehi was arrested by IRGC intelligence forces on May 1, 2023, and transferred to Evin Prison. She was released on bail four days later. Earlier, she and her husband, Mehdi Hadizadeh, both students at Tehran University of Medical Sciences, had been temporarily suspended and transferred to Ardabil University. More recently, Goonehi was expelled from Tehran University, and her academic file was forwarded to Ardabil University.

A dentistry student and activist, Goonehi had previously been arrested during the 2022 nationwide protests.

Motahareh Goonehi Sentenced to One Year in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Mahdi Hadizadeh, Motahareh Goonehi, Tehran, Toomaj Salehi, مطهره گونه ای

Motahareh Goonehi, a suspended student from Tehran University of Medical Sciences, has been sentenced to one year in prison by Branch 29 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

The verdict, issued by Judge Ali Mazloum of Branch 29 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court and communicated to this citizen, sentences Ms. Goonehi to one year of imprisonment on the charge of “propaganda activities against the regime in favor of anti-regime media.” The basis for this charge includes Ms. Gonei’s protest against the death sentence of Toomaj Salehi and other writings of hers. She has been acquitted of the charges of “insulting the Supreme Leader” and “disturbing public order.”

On May 1, Goonehiwas arrested in Tehran by IRGC Intelligence forces following a summons and was transferred to Evin Prison. Four days later, she was released from Evin Prison on bail.

Previously, Ms. Goonehiand her husband, Mahdi Hadizadeh, both students at Tehran University of Medical Sciences, were sentenced by the Central Committee of the Ministry of Health to temporary suspension from studies and transfer to Ardabil University of Medical Sciences.

Goonehi, a dentistry student and student activist, had previously been arrested by security forces in Tehran in connection with the nationwide protests of 2022.