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Political Prisoner Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb Sentenced to Imprisonment and Exile

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Ghezel Hesar prison, HRANA, Karaj Revolutionary Court, Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb, زرتشت احمدی راغب

Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb, a political prisoner held in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj, has been sentenced to one year in prison and two years in exile in connection with a new case opened against him during his imprisonment.

Based on a verdict issued in absentia by Branch 1 of the Karaj Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Seyed Musa Asef Al-Hosseini, and recently communicated to Mr. Ahmadi Ragheb in Ghezel Hesar Prison, he has been sentenced to one year in prison and two years of exile in Qeydar, located in Zanjan province, on charges of “propaganda against the regime.”
A source close to the family of this political prisoner confirmed to HRANA: “Mr. Ahmadi Ragheb was recently transferred to solitary confinement and, upon returning to the public ward last week, was notified of the new sentence. This case was initiated during his imprisonment following a complaint by Ghezel Hesar Prison officials against him.”

Ahmadi Ragheb’s arrest took place in March 2023, leading to his incarceration in Evin Prison. In May 2023, the Revolutionary Court of Tehran imposed a five-year and eight-month prison sentence along with additional penalties. Notably, five years of this term are currently enforceable.

In September of the same year, he, along with several other political prisoners, was transferred to Ghezel Hesar Prison. Ahmadi Ragheb has a history of previous convictions and imprisonments due to his commitment to peaceful activism.

Ongoing Detention and Lack of Information on Marzieh Rigi Khalas’s Whereabouts

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News, Prisoners
Davood Rigi, Fazelabad, Golestan province, HRANA, Marzieh Rigi Khales, Zahedan, مرضیه ریگی خالص

Marzieh Rigi Khales, a resident of Zahedan, remains in detention and incommunicado 44 days after her arrest. Security forces have cited her husband’s activities on social media as the reason for her detention and have demanded that her husband surrender to the security authorities.

A source close to the family confirmed to HRANA: “This citizen traveled from Zahedan to Fazelabad city in Golestan province on June 1st to attend a relative’s wedding and was staying at her father’s house. Agents from the Ministry of Intelligence in Gorgan raided the house and arrested Ms. Rigi Khales. The agents stated that the reason for her detention was to compel her husband to surrender to the security authorities, claiming that he had been active on social media against the regime.”

According to HRANA reports, during her detention, Rigi Khales has contacted her family twice by phone, but her whereabouts remain unknown, heightening her family’s concerns.

Rigi Khales, aged 28, is a mother of two children. HRANA has verified the identity of her husband, Davood Rigi from Zahedan.

Six Women’s Rights Activists Arrested to Serve Prison Sentences

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Freedom of Expression, News
Azadeh Chavoshian, Forough Saminia, Gilan, Hooman Taheri, Jalveh Javaheri, Matin Yazdani, Negin Rezaie, Shiva Shah Sia, Zahra Dadras, Zohreh Dadras

On Saturday, July 13th, Matin Yazdani, Forough Saminia, Jalveh Javaheri, Negin Rezaie, Shiva Shah Sia, and Azadeh Chavoshian, women’s rights activists in Gilan, were arrested to serve their prison sentences and transferred to Lakan Prison in Rasht.

Based on this report, these women’s rights advocates were arrested to serve their sentences and transferred to Lakan Prison in Rasht. Their cases, along with those of five other women’s rights activists in Gilan named Sara Jahani, Yasamin Hashdari, Zahra Dadras, Zohreh Dadras, and Hooman Taheri, were referred to the Enforcement of Judgments department in late June of this year.

These eleven women’s rights activists were separately arrested by security forces in Gilan on August 16 and 17, 2023. Zahra Dadras was released on bail from Lakan Prison on September 17 of last year, and Zohreh Dadras was released on October 1 of the same year.

On February 29, 2024, a court session was held to address the charges against them in a joint case at Branch 3 of the Revolutionary Court of Rasht, presided over by Judge Mehdi Rasekhi. Their initial verdicts were issued by this branch in early March of this year.

Their sentences were confirmed on May 28 of this year by Branch 11 of the Gilan Provincial Court of Appeal, presided over by Judge Mohammad Sadegh Iran Agideh.

According to the issued verdict, Zohreh Dadras was sentenced to nine years, six months, and two days in prison for “forming a group to disrupt national security” and “assembly and collusion against national security.” Zahra Dadras was sentenced to six years, one month, and seventeen days in prison for “membership in a group and assembly and collusion with the intent to disrupt national security.”

Additionally, other defendants in this case were also sentenced to prison. Farough Samiei Nia, Sara Jahani, Yasmin Hashdari, Shiva Shah Siah, Negin Rezaei, Azadeh Chavooshian, and Matin Yazdani were each sentenced to six years, one month, and seventeen days in prison, while Jelveh Javaheri and Hooman Taheri were each sentenced to one year for “propaganda against the regime.”

Extended Detention: Ongoing Uncertainty for Aman Jalali Nejad in Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz

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News, Prisoners
ahvaz, Aman Jalali Nejad, HRANA, Khuzestan, Sheiban Prison, امان جلالی نژاد

Aman Jalali Nejad, a teacher residing in Ahvaz, remains in detention and uncertainty for over ninety days in Sheiban Prison.

Based on information received by HRANA, recently, Jalali Nejad’s detention was extended for another month until August 10.

Jalali Nejad was arrested by security forces at the entrance of Ahvaz on April 8, 2024. In early June of this year, he was transferred from the quarantine ward of Sheiban Prison to the prison’s security ward.

This teacher was charged with “propaganda against the regime” on June 10, 2024, in Branch 13 of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court.

Aman Jalali Nejad is a teacher and painter employed by the Khuzestan Province Department of Education and resides in Ahvaz.

Continued Detention: An Update on Hossein Shanbehzadeh’s Situation

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News, Prisoners
Ardabil, Hossein Shanbehzadeh, حسین شنبه زاده

Hossein Shanbehzadeh, a writer, editor, and resident of Tehran, remains in a state of uncertainty over a month after his arrest. His detention has recently been extended.

Abbas Shanbehzadeh, his brother, shared an update on his current situation, stating: “Hossein Shanbehzadeh’s detention has been extended, and we are allowed to visit him twice a month.”

Shanbehzadeh was arrested by security forces on June 4, 2024, in Ardabil. Following his arrest, Tasnim News Agency, close to security agencies, reported, citing the Ardabil Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor, that Hossein Shanbehzadeh was arrested on charges of espionage for Israel. Jalal Afaqi, the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor of Ardabil, claimed that “Hossein Shanbehzadeh was in contact with high-ranking officers of Mossad through a social network and gathered information needed by Mossad under the guise of editorial activities.”

Shanbehzadeh was previously arrested for his activities on the social network X (formerly Twitter) and was released on bail later.

The trial of Hossein Shanbehzadeh on these charges was held on September 12, 2020, in Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court. He was sentenced to three years and six months in prison for “blasphemy,” eighteen months for “insulting the Supreme Leader,” and ten months for “propaganda against the regime.” This verdict was upheld by Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals.

In June 2022, Shanbehzadeh posted on his page on social media that he was summoned to begin serving his sentence in Evin Prison. Shanbehzadeh was ultimately released from prison in April 2023.

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Fars Province Appeals Court Upholds Sentences Against Three Baha’i Citizens

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News, Religious Minorities
Fars Province Appeals Court, Hassan Salehi, Saeed Abedi, Vahid Dana

The Fars Province Appeals Court has upheld the sentences against Hassan Salehi, Vahid Dana, and Saeed Abedi, Baha’i citizens. These individuals were each sentenced in the initial court to six years, one month, and seventeen days in prison, fines, and social deprivations.

According to these sentences, which were confirmed by Branch 37 of the Fars Province Appeals Court, each individual is sentenced to six years, one month, and seventeen days in prison, a fine, and deprivation of certain social rights for fifteen years.

On October 16, they were each sentenced by Branch 1 of the Shiraz Revolutionary Court in the initial trial to two years, seven months, and sixteen days in prison for “membership in an illegal and anti-regime sect with the intent to disrupt national security” and three years, six months, and one day in prison for “sectarian propaganda against the Islamic Sharia law,” serving under home arrest with electronic monitoring within a 1,000-meter radius of their residence. Additionally, they were each fined 37,100,000 Tomans and deprived of certain social rights for fifteen years.

Dana and Abedi were arrested by Ministry of Intelligence agents on April 28, 2021, at their homes and were finally released on bail from Adelabad Prison in Shiraz on June 1 of the same year.

Baha’is are subjected to violations of their religious rights, comprising 82% of reports on infringements against religious minorities, according to HRA’s 2023 annual report.

The Baha’i faith is not recognized as a legitimate religion by Iranian authorities, leading to systematic and longstanding violations of the rights of Baha’is in the country. This includes the denial of their fundamental right to practice their religion, which constitutes a clear breach of both Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The United Nations covenant holds that every person has the right to freedom of religion, freedom of converting religion, as well as freedom of expression, individually or collectively; openly or secretly.

Judicial Case Filed Against Former Political Prisoner Fariba Asadi

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Freedom of Expression, News
Fariba Asadi, Fereshteh Khadem, HRANA, Kachooie Prison, Mohammadshahr Revolutionary Court, Qarchak Prison, فریبا اسدی

Fariba Asadi, a former political prisoner who was released from prison in February 2023 after serving a previous sentence, is now facing a new judicial case.

A knowledgeable source close to Asadi confirmed the news to HRANA, stating that this case was opened following a complaint by Fereshteh Khadem, an official of the Mohammadshahr Revolutionary Court. The charges against Ms. Asadi include “propaganda against the Islamic Republic,” “disrupting public order and peace,” “public display of sinful acts,” “insulting officials and agents,” “intentional assault and battery,” and “insulting ordinary people.”

This source added that Fereshteh Khadem had previously filed a complaint against Ms. Asadi, which was closed with a no-prosecution ruling. The trial for Fariba Asadi’s new charges is scheduled for July 21, at the Mohammadshahr Criminal Court 2.

Asadi was previously arrested along with three co-defendants in February 2021 by security forces on charges of “propaganda against the regime” and “membership in anti-regime groups.” She was released on bail after a while. In October 2021, she was sentenced to one year in prison by Branch 2 of the Shahriar Revolutionary Court for “propaganda against the regime.” In January 2022, she began serving her sentence in Qarchak Varamin Prison. She was ultimately released from Evin Prison in late February 2023 following an amnesty directive.

She was arrested again in September last year in connection with another case and released on bail from Kachouei Prison in Karaj in March of the same year.

Two Prisoners Executed in Gorgan Prison for Drug Offenses

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Executions, News
Gorgan, Hatam Shahidi, Mostafa Hosseini

On July 7, 2024, the death sentences of two prisoners previously convicted on drug-related charges in a joint case were carried out in Gorgan Prison, as reported by Iran Human Rights Organization.

The identities of these prisoners have been reported as Mostafa Hosseini, 41 years old, and Hatam Shahidi, 38 years old, residents of Nazarabad, Karaj.

According to the report, Mostafa Hosseini and Hatam Shahidi were arrested three years ago in a joint case on drug-related charges and subsequently sentenced to death by the judiciary.

No official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have provided coverage of these executions at the time of writing.

The reports from the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists for the year 2023 reveal a concerning prevalence of executions for drug offenses in Iran, constituting 56.4% of the total executions. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s report.

Lawyer Mehdi Shakibafar Sentenced to Prison on Appeal

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Freedom of Expression, News
Markazi Province, Mehdi Shakibafar

Mehdi Shakibafar, an attorney, has been sentenced to twenty-two months and seventeen days of imprisonment by Branch 9 of the Central Province Court of Appeals.

Based on a recent ruling issued by Branch 9 of the Court of Appeals in Markazi Province and communicated to Mr. Shakibafar, he has been sentenced to fifteen months and one day in prison for the charge of “insulting the Supreme Leader” and seven months and sixteen days in prison for the charge of “propaganda against the regime,” totaling twenty-two months and seventeen days of imprisonment.

Previously, this attorney had been acquitted of the charges in the initial court, but following the prosecutor’s objection that “the acquittal will embolden the defendant,” his case was reviewed again.

Mohammad-Reza Shoghi Arrested in Gorgan

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Freedom of Expression, News
Gorgan, HRANA, Mohammad Reza Shoghi, محمدرضا شوقی

On Wednesday, July 10, Mohammad-Reza Shoghi, a resident of Gorgan, was arrested by security forces in the city.

A source close to his family confirmed this news to HRANA, saying: “This morning, Mohammad Reza Shoghi was arrested after an appearance at the Security Police office in Gorgan. Mr. Shoghi had previously been summoned to this security agency by phone.”

So far, no information has been obtained regarding the charges and reasons for the arrest of this resident of Gorgan.

Mohammad Reza (Tahmuras) Shoghi has a history of arrest and conviction due to his activities.