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Eleven Women’s Rights Advocates Sentenced to Over 60 Years in Combined Imprisonment

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Freedom of Expression, News, Women
Azadeh Chavoshian, Forough Saminia, Hooman Taheri, Jelveh Javaheri, Lakan prison, Matin Yazdani, Mehdi Rasekhi, Negin Rezaie, Rasht, Sara Jahani, Shiva Shah Sia, Women's Rights Advocates, Yasamin Hashdari, Zohreh Dadras

The Revolutionary Court in Rasht has delivered verdicts, sentencing eleven women’s rights advocates to a cumulative imprisonment exceeding 60 years and 6 months.

Judge Mehdi Rasekhi, presiding over the trial, sentenced Zohreh Dadras to nine years, six months, and two days for her alleged involvement in “forming a group to act against national security”. Forough Saminia, Sara Jahani, Yasamin Hashdari, Shiva Shah Sia, Negin Rezaie, Azadeh Chavoshian, Zohreh Dadras, and Matin Yazdani each received sentences of six years and 47 days for charges of “assembly and collusion to act against national security.” Additionally, Hooman Taheri and Jelveh Javaheri were each sentenced to one year in prison for “propaganda against the regime.”

The trial commenced on February 29, 2024. These individuals were initially detained during a mass arrest of citizens in Gilan Province on August 16 and 17, 2023. Subsequently, they were released on bail from Lakan Prison in Rasht pending the conclusion of legal proceedings.

Three Individuals Arrested for Blasphemy and Insulting Regime

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Freedom of Expression, News
Blasphemy, Borujerd, IRNA, Lorestan province

The Chief of Police in Borujerd, Lorestan province, announced the arrest of three individuals for “blasphemy and insulting the regime online,” as per IRNA. They’ve been detained by judicial order, with their social media page removed. Identities remain undisclosed.

In 2023, the Department of Statistics and Publications of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) documented 2,380 cases in which citizens, including journalists and civil rights activists, faced legal and security consequences for exercising their freedom of expression and thought. These incidents resulted in the arrest of 3,130 individuals.

Execution Carried Out in Tabriz Prison for Drug Conviction

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Executions, News
Abbas Aghaie, Citizen executed, HRANA, Tabriz, Tabriz Prison, عباس آقایی

Tabriz Prison officials executed an inmate convicted of drug-related offenses on March 25, 2024, as reported by the Iran Human Rights Organization.

The executed inmate has been identified as Abbas Aghaie (Aghayi), aged 36, from Tabriz. He was sentenced to death for drug offenses 28 months ago.

No official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have provided coverage of this execution at the time of writing. The lack of official information raises concerns about transparency and accountability in the execution process.

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.

Political Prisoner Saeed Ahmadi Deljoo’s Legal Status Updated

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News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, Iman Afshari, Saeed Ahmadi Deljoo, سعید احمدی دلجو

Saeed Ahmadi Deljoo, a political prisoner, is currently serving a four-year sentence in Tehran’s Evin Prison, which began in mid-March 2024.

A source close to Ahmadi Deljoo’s family has informed HRANA that Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, sentenced him to four years on charges including “insulting the Supreme Leader, spreading propaganda against the regime, and disturbing public order.” He began serving his sentence on March 18, 2024. Ahmadi Deljoo was arrested by IRGC intelligence on March 15, 2023, in Tehran and was subsequently released on bail pending legal proceedings.

According to reports obtained by HRANA, during his detention, Ahmadi was held in solitary confinement for one month, during which he was subjected to torture, resulting in bruises and damage to his liver. Ahmadi Deljoo, 33 years old, is a graduate in accounting and computer science.

Reports from the Department of Statistics and Publication of HRA in 2023 indicate a total of 193 cases in which Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, has been involved in issuing verdicts that infringe upon the human rights of defendants.

Christian Convert Laleh Sa’ati Receives Prison Sentence and Travel Restriction

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News, Prisoners, Religious Minorities
Christian Citizen, Christian convert, Evin Prison, Lale Sa'ati, Laleh Sa’ati, Malaysia, لاله ساعتی

Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court has sentenced Christian convert Laleh Sa’ati to two years in prison, coupled with a travel ban preventing her from leaving the country.

Presiding Judge Iman Afshari delivered the verdict to Sa’ati on March 24, citing her conviction for “actions against national security.”

According to a source close to Sa’ati’s family, she is reportedly in poor mental health, grappling with severe depression while incarcerated.

Sa’ati was arrested by security forces on February 13, 2024, and initially detained in the Women’s Ward of Evin Prison. However, she was later transferred multiple times to Ward 209 for interrogation by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence.

HRANA has received reports indicating that Sa’ati had been residing in Malaysia before her return to Iran.

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Transgender Individual Arrested in Gonbad-e Kavus for Alleged Promotion of Indecency

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LGBTQ+, News
Golestan province, Gonbad-e Kavus

The police chief of Gonbad-e Kavus, located in Golestan province, has announced the arrest of a transgender individual on charges of “promoting indecency and promiscuity,” as reported by the Borna News Agency.

According to police officials, the detainee was accused of “gathering a group of young motorcyclists to cause traffic disruptions in Gonbad-e Kavus, with the intention of promoting indecency and promiscuity.”

While specific details of the alleged actions promoting indecency were not provided, the police chief suggested that the individual’s motive was to seek adventure and demonstrate their abilities to their friends. Legal proceedings have been initiated against the individual in question, as confirmed by the police chief.

Sereen Curtis Arrested in Karaj on Allegations of Blasphemy

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News
Blasphemy, Karaj, Sahzadeh Sereen, Sereen Badiei, Sereen Curtis, سرین کرتیس, سرین کورتیس

Sereen Curtis (Badiei), also known as “Sahzadeh Sereen,” was apprehended on March 25, 2024, by security forces in Karaj on suspicion of blasphemy, as reported by Mizan, the judiciary’s news agency.

The arrest of Curtis, who is purportedly a dual national, came in the wake of the dissemination of videos on social media platforms.

Mizan disclosed that Curtis was formally charged and remanded into custody.

Arash Ghanbari Kohyani Faces Prolonged 8-Month Detention Over Alleged Blasphemy Charges

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News
Arash Ghanbari Kohyani, Blasphemy, Dastgerd Prison, Dolatabad Prison, HRANA, Isfahan, آرش قنبری, شهناز قنبری

Arash Ghanbari Kohyani, aged 31, has been detained for over eight months in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan, in a legal limbo.

A source close to Ghanbari’s family informed HRANA that he has been held for more than 234 days in Dastgerd prison, Isfahan. The court session to address the charges against him and his sister, Shahnaz, is scheduled for April 2, 2024, to be held by the Isfahan Criminal Court.

According to reports obtained by HRANA, Ghanbari faces restrictions on making phone calls and having family visits.

Ghanbari was arrested on August 1, 2023, following his presence at the Ministry of Intelligence in Shahreza, Isfahan Province. He was subsequently incarcerated in Dastgerd Prison.

On September 2, 2023, his legal case for the charge of blasphemy was reviewed by the Supreme Court, which was then passed on to another branch for further review.

He is accused of blasphemy and insulting the Prophet of Islam, despite having already been acquitted of these charges by another branch of the Isfahan Criminal Court, with the case being closed.

His sister, Shahnaz Ghanbari, aged 35, was also arrested in August 2023 and was released on bail from Dolatabad Prison, Isfahan, on September 27 of last year, after being indicted.

Samku Nasrollahi Detained by Security Forces in Bukan

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Freedom of Expression, News, Other
Bukan, Kurdpa, Samko Nasrollahi, Samku Nasrollahi, سمکو نصراللهی

On March 24, 2024, security forces reportedly detained Samku (Samko) Nasrollahi in Bukan, West Azerbaijan province, and transferred him to an undisclosed facility, according to Krudpa.

The arrest of Nasrollahi, a 35-year-old father of two, allegedly occurred after his participation in a Nowruz ceremony in a village. No arrest warrant was presented by the agents.

Despite inquiries made by Nasrollahi’s family to the Ministry of Intelligence in Bukan, no clear answers have been provided regarding the allegations against him or his current whereabouts.

Davoud Haddadi-Nia and Fardin Chireh-Nejad Sentenced to Prison for Political Charges

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Freedom of Expression, News
Bahmai, Davoud Haddadi-Nia, Fardin Chireh-Nejad, HRANA, Likak

The Criminal Court in Likak City, Bahmai County, has issued a three-month prison sentence for both Davoud Haddadi-Nia and Fardin Chireh-Nejad. Haddadi-Nia’s sentence, however, was reduced to two months and nine days after entering a plea of no contest.

A source close to their families, confirming these verdicts to HRANA, revealed that the individuals were convicted of “spreading propaganda against the regime on Instagram.”

Haddadi-Nia and Chireh-Nejad were apprehended by security forces at Chireh-Nejad’s workplace on February 17, 2024.

Haddadi-Nia has a history of prior arrests and legal confrontations due to his activism. On September 16, 2023, coinciding with the first anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death, he was arrested by security forces and released from Dehdasht prison on October 9, 2023.