Tag: zanjan

Death Sentences for Behrooz Ehsani and Mehdi Hasani Upheld by Supreme Court

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Executions, Freedom of Expression, News
Baghi, Behrooz Ehsani, Evin Prison, Iman Afshari, Mehdi Hasani, Mehdi Hassani, moharebeh, zanjan

The Supreme Court of Iran has upheld the death sentences for Behrooz Ehsani Eslamlou and Mehdi Hasani, political prisoners held in Evin Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, the lawyers of the two political prisoners were formally notified of the court’s decision.

The two were sentenced to death in late September 2024 by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, on charges of “armed rebellion (baghi),” “enmity against God (moharebeh),” “spreading corruption on earth,” collecting classified information, and collusion against national security. Their alleged membership in the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK) was cited as evidence against them.

On Monday, November 28, 2022, Mr. Ehsani was arrested at his home in Tehran and transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison. Mr. Hasani was also arrested on September 9, 2022, while attempting to leave the country in Zanjan and was transferred to Evin Prison. Both individuals spent months in a state of uncertainty and incommunicado detention.

Behrooz Ehsani is 64 years old. Mehdi Hasani, aged around 48, is married and the father of two children. Before his arrest, he was active in the real estate sector.

19-Year-Old Ehsan Khodayari Imprisoned for Political Charges in Lakan Prison

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News, Prisoners
Ehsan Khodayari, HRANA, Rasht, zanjan, احسان خدایاری

Ehsan Khodayari, a 19-year-old political prisoner, is serving a one-year sentence in Lakan Prison, Rasht, following a conviction by the Revolutionary Court of this city. Another portion of his case remains under review in the Criminal Court of Rasht.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, Mr. Khodayari was arrested by security forces in Rasht and, after two months in detention at Rasht Prison’s Ward 2, was transferred to Lakan Prison in mid-December.

Khodayari faced charges in a case divided into two parts. The Revolutionary Court sentenced him to one year in prison for “propaganda against the regime.”

A source close to his family confirmed to HRANA: “Ehsan’s case was initiated for issuing a call to action on the second anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death on September 15. Another charge related to possession of incendiary materials is under review by the Criminal Court, with a trial expected soon.”

Ehsan Khodayari, 19, is a resident of Rasht originally from Zanjan.

Two Prisoners Executed in Zanjan Prison

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Executions, News
Mehran Soltani, Mohammadreza Hajikhani, zanjan, Zanjan Prison

At dawn yesterday, October 23, the death sentences of two prisoners, previously convicted of murder in separate cases, were carried out in Zanjan Prison.

Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Narges Mohammadi Sentenced to an Additional Year in Prison

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News
Ebrahim Ketabdar, Karaj, Mostafa Nili, Narges Mohammadi, zanjan, نرگس محمدی

Narges Mohammadi, a human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, has been sentenced to one year in prison by Branch 29 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

Lawyer Mostafa Nili shared publicly that: “Based on the verdict issued by Branch 29 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, Narges Mohammadi has been sentenced to one year in prison for propaganda against the regime.” According to Nili, the reasons for this sentence include Ms. Mohammadi’s comments about Dina Ghalibaf, her letter regarding the boycott of parliamentary elections, and her letters to the parliaments of Sweden and Norway.
The trial for the charges against this renowned human rights activist was held on June 8 without her presence at the aforementioned branch.

Narges Mohammadi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate who has faced multiple convictions, was sentenced in January of this year by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, to fifteen months in prison, two years exile from Tehran and neighboring provinces, a two-year travel ban, a two-year ban on membership in social-political groups, and a two-year ban on using a smartphone for propaganda against the regime.

In October 2020, Mohammadi was released from Zanjan Prison after serving about five and a half years. Shortly after, regarding a case opened against her during her imprisonment, she was sentenced by a Criminal Court in Tehran to thirty months in prison, eighty lashes, and two fines.

In November 2021, during a memorial ceremony for the second anniversary of the death of Ebrahim Ketabdar, one of the victims of the November 2019 protests, she was arrested by security forces in Karaj. Subsequently, Ms. Mohammadi was sentenced by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court to eight years in prison, seventy-four lashes, two years of exile, and other social deprivations.

In October 2022, regarding another case opened against her during her imprisonment, she was sentenced by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court to one year and three months in prison along with other additional punishments. In August of last year, she was also sentenced to one year in prison by the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

In 2023, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Narges Mohammadi by the Norwegian Nobel Committee “for her courageous fight for freedom and human rights over three decades.”

Journalist Parisa Salehi Receives One-Year Prison Sentence and Additional Penalties

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Freedom of Expression, News
Musa Asef-Al-Hosseini, Parisa Salehi, University of Tehran, zanjan

Journalist Parisa Salehi has been sentenced to one year in prison by the Revolutionary Court in Karaj. In addition to imprisonment, she faces exile, a travel ban, and restrictions on internet and social media usage.

Salehi disclosed that Branch 1 of the Karaj Revolutionary Court, led by Judge Musa Asef Al-Hosseini, issued the verdict, imposing a one-year prison term, a two-year ban on leaving the country, a mandatory two-year residence in Zanjan, and limitations on internet and social media usage for two years for the charge of “propaganda against the regime.”

In September 2023, security forces conducted a comprehensive search of Salehi’s residence, leading to her subsequent summons to the Karaj courthouse. There, she was indicted and later released on bond.

Salehi is a journalist at Donya-e-Eqtesad Newspaper and a master’s student in economics at the University of Tehran.

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Maryam Jalal Hosseini and Fatemeh Tadrisi Receive Lengthy Prison Sentences and Exile

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Freedom of Expression, News
Fatemeh Tadrisi, Ilam County, Kachooie Prison, Maryam Jalal Hosseini, Mojgan Tadrisi, Musa Asef-Al-Hosseini, Revolutionary Court in Karaj, zanjan

In a recent verdict, the Revolutionary Court in Karaj has sentenced Maryam Jalal Hosseini and Fatemeh (Mojgan) Tadrisi to six years of imprisonment and a two-year exile on charges related to their political activities.

Presiding over the court, Judge Seyed Musa Asef-Al-Hosseini ruled that both individuals were guilty of “inciting people to violence, engaging in propaganda against the regime, insulting the Supreme Leader, and forming groups to act against national security.”

In addition to their prison terms, Fatemeh Tadrisi has been ordered to serve a mandatory two-year residence in Zanjan County, while Jalal Hosseini will be in exile in Ilam County. Presently, they are confined in Kachooie Prison, Karaj.

Security forces arrested Hosseini and Tadrisi in August of the previous year. Subsequently, on August 28, 2023, they were transferred to Kachooie Prison.

Both activists have a history of arrests and legal confrontations stemming from their engagement in activism.

Mohammad Maleki Receives Over Ten Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
IRGC intelligence agents, Mohammad Maleki, zanjan

Zanjan resident Mohammad Maleki has been sentenced to ten years and three months by the Zanjan Court of Appeal, with five years of the sentence suspended.

As per the December 11, 2023 verdict, Maleki faced eight months for “propaganda against the regime,” three years and seven months for “assembly and collusion against national security,” and six years for “forming and running a group named the Zanjan neighborhood youth channel to act against national security.”

Maleki was arrested by IRGC Intelligence agents on September 18, 2023, and was granted release on bail on October 18.

Execution of Two Inmates in Zanjan and Ardabil

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Executions, News
Ardabil, HRA, zanjan

In separate incidents, two inmates convicted of murder were executed in Zanjan and Ardabil Prisons on October 14 and 15, respectively.

According to the Iran Human Rights Organization, on Sunday, October 14, a 39-year-old cab driver named Ali Asghar Cheraghi Far was executed. He had been convicted of the murder of one of his passengers following a dispute that occurred three years ago. As of the time of this report, there have been no official statements or coverage of this execution by domestic media outlets within the country.

On October 15, another inmate, who was convicted of murder, was executed in Ardabil prison, as reported by Tasnim, a news agency affiliated with security institutions.

As per a deputy prosecutor in Ardabil province, on October 28, 2021, this particular inmate, whose identity was not disclosed, fatally stabbed his father-in-law during a family dispute.

According to data compiled by the Center of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA), between October 10, 2022, and October 8, 2023, a total of 659 individuals were executed by hanging in Iran, representing a 24% increase compared to the corresponding period in the previous year. Seven of these executions were conducted publicly. Concerningly, many of the defendants were denied access to a fair trial and due process. For details and statistics, read HRANA’s report.

Iran-Iraq War Veteran Mohammad-Vali Heydarbeigi Receives 13-Year Prison Sentence

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News
Abhar, IRGC Intelligence, Mohammad-Vali Heydarbeigi, zanjan

The Criminal Court of Abhar, located in Zanjan province, has delivered a 13-year prison sentence to Mohammad-Vali Heydarbeigi (Heydar-Beigi), an injured veteran of the Iran-Iraq war.

According to the verdict issued on October 2, Heydarbeigi has been sentenced to five years for “collaboration with adversary countries,” another five years for “assembly and collusion against national security,” two years for “insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran,” and an additional year for “propaganda against the regime,” amounting to a total of 13 years.

Should the verdict be upheld upon appeal, in accordance with Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, five years of the sentence will be enforceable.

Heydarbeigi was arrested on November 19, 2022, and held in detention at the IRGC intelligence facility in Zanjan. After 25 days, he was released on bail amounting to one billion tomans.

University Student Farhad Hosseini Arrested in Zanjan

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Ethnic Minorities, News, Students
Azerbaijani Turk activist, Farhad Hosseini, HRANA, zanjan

On September 19, Farhad Hosseini, a student at the University of Zanjan, was apprehended within the city and subsequently transported to an undisclosed location.

A source with close ties to Hosseini’s family shared with HRANA that they remain unaware of the exact location where he is being held, causing significant concern. Furthermore, his personal social media profiles have been removed.

The grounds for Hosseini’s arrest and the specific allegations against him remain shrouded in uncertainty at this point.

It’s worth noting that Farhad Hosseini is an Azerbaijani (Turk) activist currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Management at the University of Zanjan.