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Teacher Union Activist Asghar Amirzadegan Receives One-Year Prison Sentence

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Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News
Asghar Amirzadegan, Firuzabad, اصغر امیرزادگان

The Revolutionary Court in Firuzabad, Fars province, has handed down a one-year prison sentence to teacher union activist Asghar Amirzadegan. He has been convicted of “spreading propaganda against the regime,” with the legal case initiated by the prosecutor of Firuzabad.

Additionally, in a separate legal case, the Firuzabad Criminal Court sentenced him to pay a fine as an alternative to a six-month prison term. Amirzadegan, known for his involvement in union activities, has faced prior arrests and convictions.

He has previously encountered prior arrests and convictions due to his involvement in union activities.
In 2023, the Department of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran documented 1,700 reports related to the rights of trade unions and associations. This included 53 individuals who received sentences totaling 1,230 months of imprisonment.

 

Theater Director Ali Noorani Commences One-Year Prison Term, Faces New Legal Proceedings

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ali Noorani, Ali Nourani, Evin Prison, Iman Afshari, Tehran, ایمان افشاری, علی نورانی

Theater director Ali Noorani was taken into custody on March 6 to begin serving a one-year sentence at Evin Prison. Simultaneously, new legal proceedings have been initiated against him.

A reliable source close to Noorani confirmed his imprisonment, stating that he was arrested and transferred to Evin Prison following his appearance at the Evin Courthouse. Initially, Judge Iman Afshari of Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court had sentenced Noorani to six years in prison for charges of “propaganda against the regime” and “assembly and collusion against national security.” However, the sentence was later reduced to one year on appeal.

Noorani had previously been arrested on September 17, 2023, at his residence in Tehran. After spending 24 days in detention, he was released on a bail of three billion tomans, equivalent to approximately 60,000 dollars. The recent arrest marks the commencement of his one-year prison term as he faces further legal challenges.

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.

Sasan Chaman-Ara Receives Three-Month Sentence and Fine for Political Charges

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ilam, Sasan Chaman Ara, Sasan Chamanara, ساسان چمن آرا

Ilam’s Revolutionary Court has issued a verdict sentencing Sasan Chaman-Ara to three months in prison, inclusive of the detention period, and a fine on political charges.

The court’s decision, notified to Chaman-Ara on March 9, states that Chaman-Ara is found guilty of “propaganda against the regime in favor of anti-regime groups and media.”

Chaman-Ara was taken into custody by security forces on January 17, 2024, and subsequently held in the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Ilam for seven days. He was released temporarily on bond after the initial detention period.

Aged 34 and a resident of Ilam, Chaman-Ara has a history of prior arrests and convictions related to his activism.

Zeinab Khenyab Pour Faces Imprisonment and Fine for Photos Without Hijab

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Freedom of Expression, News, Women
Behbahan, Khuzestan, Mahshahr, Zeinab Khenyab Pour

The Appellate Court in Khuzestan Province sentenced Zeinab Khenyab Pour, a resident of Behbahan, to four months in prison and paying a fine, for the publication of photos without hijab.

Initially, Khenyab Pour was handed two years in prison by the Behbahan Criminal Court.

In a separate legal development overseen by the Mahshahr Revolutionary Court, Khenyab Pour had previously received a three-month sentence. This verdict was upheld on appeal.

The legal proceedings stem from Khenyab Pour’s participation in a general strike supporting nationwide protests on December 5, 2022. In response to the closure of her garment shop, she sought clarification from judicial authorities and was subsequently detained for six days in Sepidar Prison, located in Ahvaz. The case has ignited discussions about freedom of expression and the legal consequences individuals may face for their involvement in civic actions.

 

Execution of Three Inmates in Mahabad and Kashan

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Executions, News
Abbas Dadvar, Fakhredin Mangur-Nejad, Kashan, Mahabad, Salim Bagheri

In recent days, two death-row inmates in Mahabad Prison and one in Kashan Prison were executed for murder.

Kurdpa disclosed that on March 7, 2024, Fakhredin Mangur-Nejad, a resident of Oshnavieh, and Abbas Dadvar, from Mahabad, faced the death penalty for their involvement in murders dating back four years.

The Iran Human Rights Organization also reported the execution of Salim Bagheri, a 37-year-old individual in Kashan Prison on March 6. As per sources cited in the report, Bagheri was found guilty of taking someone’s life three years ago amid a financial dispute.

No official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have provided coverage of these executions at the time of writing. The lack of official information raises concerns about transparency and accountability. In 2023, 66% of HRANA’s reports on executions lacked official announcements by judicial authorities and went unreported by media inside Iran, highlighting a troubling lack of transparency in due process.

Moreover, in 2023, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran registered the execution of  746 individuals. Out of these, 6 were carried out in public. Among the executed individuals whose genders were identified, 597 were male and 20 were female. Additionally, 2 juvenile offenders, defined as individuals under the age of 18 at the time of their alleged crimes, were also executed. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s annual report.

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Inmate Executed in Zanjan Prison for Drug Offenses

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Executions, News
Haal Vsh, HRANA, Mehdi Gorgij, Zanjan Prison

On March 7, an inmate convicted of drug-related crimes, Mehdi Gorgij, 50 years old and a father of two, was executed in Zanjan Prison, as reported by Haal Vsh.

Gorgij had been arrested four years ago in Urmia on charges of drug offenses, subsequently imprisoned in Zanjan, and ultimately sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court in the same province.

The execution of Gorgij occurred without prior notice to his family, denying him the opportunity for a final family visitation.

Notably, no official sources or domestic media outlets in the country have covered this execution as of the time of writing. The absence of official information raises concerns, further underscored by the fact that 66% of HRANA’s reports on executions lacked official announcements from judicial authorities and remained unreported by media outlets within Iran.

The reports from the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists for the year 2023 also 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 Mosayeb Raisi Yeganeh Attempts Suicide, Hospitalized

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News
Evin Prison, Mosayeb Raisi Yeganeh

Mosayeb Raisi Yeganeh, a political prisoner in Evin Prison, attempted suicide by ingesting pills, leading to his hospitalization.

A source close to Raisi Yeganeh’s family confirmed the incident, stating, “On Wednesday evening, March 6, Raisi Yeganeh attempted suicide by taking nerve pills. Today, a few of his fellow inmates noticed his lethargy and informed prison officials. Subsequently, he was transferred to Lughman Hospital. Since then, we have not been informed about his well-being.”

Raisi Yeganeh was apprehended by security forces at his residence in Tehran on April 17, 2023, and has been held in Ward 8 of Evin Prison. In December 2023, Judge Iman Afshari, presiding over Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, sentenced him to 23 years and eight months in prison. It is important to note that Raisi Yeganeh has a history of previous arrests and convictions related to his activism.

In 2023, the Department of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran recorded seven deaths resulting from illness, twelve suicides, one case of self-immolation, and four instances of prisoners being murdered within prisons nationwide.

Imprisoned Political Activist Mostafa Tajzadeh Confronts Additional Charges

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, irgc, Mohammad Khatami, Mostafa Tajzadeh, مصطفی تاجزاده

Mostafa Tajzadeh, a political prisoner currently held in Evin Prison, is facing new legal challenges as he receives a summons related to fresh charges. The accusations include “assembly and collusion against national security” and “propaganda against the regime,” compelling Tajzadeh to attend a court hearing scheduled for March 10.

In response to the summons, Tajzadeh, in an open letter from prison, declared, “As usual, I refused to receive the summons letter. The Judicial authorities can hand me several additional years-long prison terms in absentia, but I will attend neither courthouse nor the court.”

In late February, Tajzadeh was confined to solitary confinement as a punitive measure for his statement advocating the boycott of the parliamentary election and conducting media interviews from prison.

The prominent political activist was apprehended by security forces on July 8, 2022, and subsequently transferred to Ward 2-A in Evin Prison under the control of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). After months of legal uncertainty, Tajzadeh was sentenced to eight years in prison by Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, presided over by Judge Salavati. The charges included “assembly and collusion against national security,” “disseminating false information,” and “propaganda against the regime,” with five years of the verdict deemed enforceable.

Tajzadeh, who previously served as the deputy interior minister under President Mohammad Khatami, has a history of judicial confrontations and periods of incarceration stemming from his activism.

Execution of Two Inmates in Khash and Gonbad-e Kavus

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Executions, News
Farshad Rakhshani, Gonbad-e Kavus, Khash, Milad Galavi, Zabol

In the past week, the execution of two individuals convicted of murder took place in Khash Prison, located in Sistan and Baluchestan province, and Gonbad-e Kavus Prison in Golestan province.

According to reports from Haal Vsh, Milad Galavi, a 29-year-old native of Zabol, was executed on March 3, 2024, in Khash Prison. Galavi was sentenced to death last year by the Khash Criminal Court for his alleged involvement in the killing of three members of a family.

Similarly, on March 6, Farshad Rakhshani, a 25-year-old father, was executed in Gonbad-e Kavus Prison. Rakhshani had been apprehended two years ago in connection with the death of an individual during a reported altercation.

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

In 2023, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran registered the execution of  746 individuals. Out of these, 6 were carried out in public. Among the executed individuals whose genders were identified, 597 were male and 20 were female. Additionally, 2 juvenile offenders, defined as individuals under the age of 18 at the time of their alleged crimes, were also executed. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s annual report.

Ten Teacher Union Activists Sentenced to a Collective 20 Years with Additional Penalties

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Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News
Ali Nahali, Anoosh Adeli, Aziz Ghasemzadeh, Gholamreza Akbarzadeh Baghian, Iranian Teachers, Jahanbakhsh Lajevardi, Mahmood Sedighipour, Mohammad-Javad Saeedi, Rasht, Tahmasb Sohrabi, Teacher Union Activists, Teymoor Bagheri Koodakani, Yadollah Baharestani

The Revolutionary Court of Rasht has sentenced ten teacher union activists to two years in prison each, along with additional penalties, as reported by the Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association channel.

The convicted teachers are Anoosh Adeli, Mahmood Sedighipour, Aziz Ghasemzadeh, Teymoor Bagheri Koodakani, Tahmasb Sohrabi, Gholamreza Akbarzadeh Baghian, Ali Nahali, Mohammad-Javad Saeedi, Jahanbakhsh Lajevardi, and Yadollah Baharestani. In addition to the prison terms, they have been barred from joining political/civil groups for two years.

The court session addressed charges related to “disturbing public order through participating in and holding protest union gatherings and defying police officers.” Sedighipour and Ghasemzadeh were imprisoned and did not attend the court.

Among them, Adeli, Sedighipour, and Ghasemzadeh had previously received a one-year prison term, which was upheld on appeal. They are currently serving their sentences in Lakan Prison, Rasht.

In 2023, the Department of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran documented 1,700 reports related to the rights of trade unions and associations. This included 53 individuals who received sentences totaling 1,230 months of imprisonment.