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Baha’i Citizen Sepehr Naeimi Sentenced to 24 Months in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News, Religious Minorities
Ahmad Naeimi, HRANA, Sepehr Jafari Naeimi, Yazd

Sepehr Jafari Naeimi, a Baha’i citizen from Yazd, has been sentenced in absentia to 24 months in prison by the Revolutionary Court of Yazd. The charges against him stem from his social media posts about the death of Mahsa Amini and the Baha’i faith.

In a ruling issued on September 22 by Branch 1 of the Yazd Revolutionary Court, Naeimi received an eight-month prison sentence for “propaganda against the regime” and an additional 16 months for “insulting the Supreme Leader and the founder of the Islamic Republic.”

A source close to Naeimi’s family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating, “The charges against Mr. Naeimi are based on posts shared on his Instagram page related to Mahsa Amini’s death and the Baha’i faith.”

In early 2023, Naeimi was summoned to the Tehran Prosecutor’s Office for questioning regarding his social media content and was released after interrogation. In December 2023, he was summoned again to the Yazd Prosecutor’s Office in connection with the same case and was released on bail following further questioning.

Sepehr Jafari Naeimi, 24-year-old resident of Yazd, is the son of Ahmad Naeimi, who also has faced judicial issues in the past.

Mothers of Two Victims of November 2019 Protests Sentenced to Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Mahboubeh Ramezani, Navid Behboodi, Navid Behboudi, Pejman Gholipour, Rahimeh Yousefzadeh, Reza Shafakhah, Shahriar

Mahboubeh Ramezani and Rahimeh Yousefzadeh, mothers of Pejman Gholipour and Navid Behboodi, who were killed during the November 2019 protests, have each been sentenced to 18 months and one day in prison by Branch 2 of the Shahriar Revolutionary Court.

According to their lawyer, Reza Shafakhah, the court sentenced both women to six months for “propaganda against the regime,” six months for “membership in the Mothers of November 2019 Victims group,” and six months and one day for “insulting the Supreme Leader.”

Both Ramezani and Yousefzadeh have previously been arrested and sentenced due to their activism.

The November 2019 protests, sparked by a sharp rise in fuel prices, erupted on November 15, 2019, and quickly spread across dozens of cities in Iran. The protests, which lasted several days, saw participation in 719 locations, according to Mohammad Javad Kolivand, an MP from Karaj. Seyed Hossein Naqavi Hosseini, spokesperson for the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission at the time, reported around 7,000 arrests. Human rights organizations estimate that hundreds were killed in the violent crackdown that followed.

IRGC Intelligence Organization Announces Arrest of 12 Individuals

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News, Other
Iran, Israel

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Intelligence Organization announced the arrest of 12 individuals across six provinces in Iran, according to Mehr News Agency. The organization claims these individuals were planning to carry out “anti-security actions.”

In a statement, the IRGC’s public relations office alleged, “A network of 12 individuals collaborating with Israel, who intended to conduct anti-security activities in Iran,” was identified and detained by IRGC intelligence forces across the country.

The statement did not provide details on the identities or whereabouts of the detainees.

Two Prisoners Executed in Tabriz Prison on Murder Charges

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Executions, News
Arastoo Safarghomi, Rasoul Pourmajed, Tabriz Prison

On September 15, 2024, two prisoners convicted of murder in separate cases were executed in Tabriz Prison, according to the Iran Human Rights Organization.

The executed individuals were identified as Arastoo Safarghomi, 35, and Rasoul Pourmajed, around 45.

According to a source familiar with the cases, Rasoul Pourmajed was arrested at his coffee shop and later sentenced to death for murder. Arastoo Safarghomi had been in detention for over two and a half years, also convicted of murder in a separate case, and received the death penalty.

As of the time of this report, prison and judicial authorities have not officially confirmed the executions.

According to the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran, in 2023, at least 767 citizens, including 21 women and 2 juvenile offenders, were executed. Of these, the executions of 7 individuals were carried out in public. Additionally, during this period, 172 others were sentenced to death, with 5 of them sentenced to public execution. It is worth noting that during the same period, the initial death sentences of 49 other individuals were also upheld by the Supreme Court.

Political Prisoner Hamidreza Gharibi’s Prison Sentence Increased on Appeal

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Freedom of Expression, News
Hamidreza Gharibi, Markazi Province, Mohsen Edalat, Saveh Prison, حمیدرضا غریبی

The prison sentence of Hamidreza Gharibi, a political prisoner held in Saveh Prison, has been extended to 49 months and 18 days by the Appeals Court of Markazi Province after consolidating his previous sentences. Initially, Gharibi had been sentenced to a total of 31 months and 17 days in two separate cases.

Following the consolidation, Branch 8 of the Appeals Court of Markazi Province, under Judge Mohsen Edalat, sentenced Gharibi to 15 months and 1 day for insulting the Supreme Leader, 7 months and 16 days for propaganda against the regime, and 27 months and 1 day for blasphemy.

In his first case earlier this year, Gharibi had been sentenced by Branch 1 of the Saveh Revolutionary Court to 6 months and 1 day in prison for insulting the Supreme Leader on social media, with the sentence suspended for one year. He was acquitted of propaganda against the regime in the same case, but following an appeal by the Saveh prosecutor’s office, the Appeals Court sentenced him to 7 months and 16 days for this charge.

In August 2023, in a separate case, Gharibi was sentenced to two years in prison by Branch 1 of the Saveh Revolutionary Court for blasphemy. After submitting to the ruling, his sentence was reduced by one-fourth.

Hamidreza Gharibi, a resident of Saveh, was first arrested in early September 2022 and released on bail after about a month. He was rearrested on June 21, 2023, and transferred to Saveh Prison.

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Taher Katani Arrested by Security Forces in Mahabad

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News, Other
Mahabad, Taher Katani

On September 20, Taher Katani, a resident of Mahabad, was arrested by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location, according to Kolbar News.

This report states that Katani’s arrest occurred on Friday, September 20, by security forces without the presentation of a judicial warrant.

So far, no information has been released regarding the reasons for his arrest, his whereabouts, or the charges against him.

Taher Katani, a native of Laj village, a suburb of Mahabad in West Azerbaijan province, has previously been arrested.

 

Two Prisoners Executed in Central Prison of Karaj

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Executions, News
Akbar Azizi, Central Prison of Karaj, Hamed Jahedi, Karaj

On September 19, two prisoners sentenced to death on charges of drug-related offenses and murder were executed in the Central Prison of Karaj.

HRANA has confirmed the identities of the prisoners as Akbar Azizi and Hamed Jahedi, who had been convicted in a joint case involving both drug crimes and murder.

Prior to the execution, HRANA reported that the two prisoners had been transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for the carrying out of their death sentences.

At the time of this report, prison officials and relevant authorities have yet to officially announce the executions.

After a Retrial: Mohammad-Javad Vafaie Thani Sentenced to Death for the Third Time

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Executions, News, Prisoners
Babak Paknia, Mashhad, Mohammad Javad Vafaie Thani, Vakilabad prison

Seyed Mohammad-Javad Vafaie Thani, a political prisoner detained in Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad, has been sentenced to death for the third time by the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad. Vafaie Thani had previously been handed two death sentences by different branches of the Revolutionary Court, both of which were overturned by the Supreme Court, leading to a retrial in a parallel branch.

Babak Paknia, Vafaie Thani’s defense attorney, revealed in a social media post that a majority of the judges, rejecting the Supreme Court’s arguments, sentenced him to death once again on charges of “spreading corruption on earth.” The ruling remains subject to appeal.

Mohammad-Javad Vafaie, a 28-year-old boxing coach, was arrested in Mashhad in March 2020 and has been imprisoned since. His initial death sentence was based on charges of “corruption on earth through deliberate acts of destruction.” However, this ruling was overturned by the Supreme Court. Following a retrial, he was again sentenced to death, but this second sentence was also overturned in June 2023, and the case was referred to another court. Although the court set a substantial bail for his temporary release, he has remained in detention due to his inability to post bail.

Judicial Case Filed Against Journalist Hadi Kasaie-Zadeh

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin, Hadi Kasaie-Zadeh, Hadi Kasaiezadeh, tea smuggling scandal, Tehran Friday Prayer Imam, هادی کسایی زاده

A judicial case has been initiated against journalist Hadi Kasaie-Zadeh for publishing content critical of the Tehran Friday Prayer Imam.

A close associate of the journalist told HRANA: “The case was filed against Mr. Kasaie-Zadeh for his publication of material criticizing the Tehran Friday Prayer Imam and his involvement in a financial corruption and tea smuggling scandal. Kasaie-Zadeh has been accused of spreading false information.”

In May of this year, Kasaie-Zadeh was summoned to the Evin Prosecutor’s Office, where formal charges were brought against him. This case stems from a complaint by the Tehran Prosecutor’s Office for his coverage of the circumstances surrounding Nika Shakarami’s death.

On June 20, 2023, Kasaie-Zadeh was arrested, but he was released the following day after signing a commitment at one of Tehran’s security detention centers.

Seyed Hadi Kasaie-Zadeh Mahabadi has a history of facing judicial actions due to his journalistic activities.

Prolonged Detention Without Verdict: 640 Days in Limbo for Political Detainee Hooman Seydali

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News, Prisoners
ahvaz, Hooman Seidali, Hooman Seydali, Sheiban Prison, هومن صیدالی

Hooman Seydali, a political detainee, has been held for 640 days at Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz, with no resolution to his case. Despite attending a court hearing, no verdict has been issued.

Mr. Seydali has spent 21 months in detention, awaiting a legal decision. Earlier this year, a session at Branch 2 of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court was held to address charges of alleged membership in anti-regime groups, yet no ruling has been made.

A source previously informed HRANA that the court had set a bail of 50 billion tomans for his temporary release, but his family’s inability to meet this high amount has resulted in his prolonged detention.

Hooman Seydali, 47, a resident of Izeh, was arrested by security forces on December 20, 2022, during the nationwide protests and later transferred to Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz.