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Civil Rights Activist Farhad Meysami Set Free from Rajai Shahr Prison

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News, Prisoners
Ali Khamenei, Farhad Meysami, HRANA, pardon decree

On February 10, 2023, imprisoned civil rights activist Doctor Farhad Meysami was set free from Rajai Shahr Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, civil rights activist Farhad Meysami was released from Rajai Shahr Prison in the fourth year of his sentence.

Details on his release are still unknown. He was likely, however, released under a recent pardon decree for some prisoners.

According to the sources close to Meysami, he had not requested any pardon, and during his entire incarceration, he did not have one day of furlough.
For several months, he has been severely restricting his food intake to demand the release of several prisoners, which has led to a lot of weight loss and endangered his health condition.

In recent days, dozens of prisoners, including political prisoners and those arrested at recent protests, were released. The exact number of released prisoners is still unknown. Earlier, the head of the Judiciary proposed the issuance of a pardon decree for some prisoners, including those arrested at recent protests, which was approved by Ali Khamenei under some conditions which the legal case should meet.

At Least 262 Prisoners Released from Prisons Across Iran

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Ali Khamenei, Golestan province, HRANA

In two recent days, dozens of prisoners were released from different prisons across the country.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, following the issuance of a pardon decree, at least 262 prisoners and detainees were released from prison across the country.
 
Details on these releases are still unknown. They are, however, likely released under the recent pardon decree issued for some prisoners, including those arrested at protests.
Following the issuance of this pardon, the Chief Justice of Golestan Province announced that 435 convicts and 80 defendants were pardoned, of which 234 people had already been set free.
 
Earlier, the head of the Judiciary proposed the issuance of a pardon decree for some prisoners, including those arrested at recent protests, which was approved by Ali Khamenei under some conditions which the legal case should meet.
 
 

Eleven Baha’i Citizens Sentenced to a Total of 36 Years in Prison

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News, Religious Minorities
Afif Naimi, Alborz province, Baha'i citizens, Elham Shareghi Arani, Mahsa Tirgar, Nakisa Sadeghi, Negin Rezaie, Rameleh Tirgarnejad, Sabin Yazdani, Sadaf Sheikhzadeh, Saman OstovarKamyar Habibi, Shahrzad Mastouri

The Karaj Revolutionary Court sentenced eleven Baha’i citizens, out of 13 defendants of one legal case, to over 36 years and additional punishments.

According to these verdicts, Afif Na’imi, Saman Ostovar, Kamyar Habibi, Rameleh Tirgarnejad, Mahsa Tirgar, Shahrzad Mastouri, Sadaf Sheikhzadeh, Negin Rezaie, Nakisa Sadeghi, Elham Shareghi Arani and Sabin Yazdani, to 36 years for “insulting and propaganda against Islamic Sharia, forming and participating in groups to act against national security through teaching and preaching the Baha’i faith to children in Kindergartens, promoting against Islamic Sharia through holding coaching courses” They have also been fined and banned from residing in Alborz province, leaving the country and other social deprivations.

The jail sentences against these individuals go as follows:

  1. Afif Na’imi-seven years
  2. Saman Ostovar-five years
  3. Kamyar Habibi- five years
  4. Rameleh Tirgarnejad (Habibi’s wife)- three years
  5. Mahsa Tirgar-25 months
  6. Shahrzad Mastouri-25 months
  7. Sadaf Sheikhzadeh-25 months
  8. Negin Rezaie-25 months
  9. Nakisa Sadeghi-25 months
  10. Elham Shareghi Arani-three years
  11. Sabin Yazdani-three years

The details of the verdicts against two other defendants in this case, including Sahba Adiani are still unknown.

These individuals were arrested during the summer of last year and their houses were searched.
Although it is unknown which acts have been invoked as examples of the charges mentioned above, they seem to have been convicted of educational activities for children, especially preschool children.

Kourosh Jalil Sentenced to One Year in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Kourosh Jalil, Yasuj

The Criminal Court sentenced Kourosh Jalil, a resident of Yasuj, to one year in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Kourosh Jalil was sentenced to one year in prison, including the pre-trial detention period, for “spreading falsehood to disturb public opinion.”

An informed source told HRANA that Jalil failed to appear at the court to defend himself since the intelligence agents had seized his cell phone; hence, he could not be informed about the court summons.

On September 21, 2022, security forces arrested Jalil in Yasuj and released him on bail on November 6, 2022. Before his arrest, he had been summoned by IRGC intelligence several times in recent months.

 

Six Women Released from Evin Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ali Khamenei, Alieh Motalebzadeh, Evin Prison, Fariba Asadi, Gelareh Abbasi, Parastoo Moeinie, Shohreh Hosseini, Zahra Safaie

Fariba Asadi, Shohreh Hosseini, Gelareh Abbasi, Zahra Safaie, Parastoo Moeini and Alieh Motalebzadeh were released from Evin Prison.

Details on their releases are still unknown. It is likely, however, that they have been released under the recent pardon decree.
Gelareh Abbasi was previously sentenced to two years and six months in prison by the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

Hosseini was serving her two-year and seven-month sentence since February last year.

Safaie and her daughter Moeini were previously sentenced to five years in prison for “assembly and collusion against national security,” and one year for “propaganda against the regime.” Additionally, Safaie received two years for “insulting the former and current Supreme Leader of Iran.” Safaie’s verdict was upheld on appeal, but her daughter’s sentence was reduced to three years and nine months following her refusal not to lodge an appeal. They faced new legal cases, while they were imprisoned.

Asadi faced two legal cases for which she received three months in prison and four years of suspended imprisonment.
Motalebzadeh had been sentenced to three years in prison, of which two years were enforceable. On October 11, 2020, she was jailed in Evin Prison for sentencing. In July 2022, she and 13 other female prisoners faced new charges.

Earlier, the head of the Judiciary proposed the issuance of a pardon decree for some prisoners, including those arrested at recent protests, which was approved by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei under some conditions which the legal case should meet.

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Iran Protests: Siamak Davoodi Sentenced to Three Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Kurdpa, Sanandaj, Siamak Davoodi

The Sanandaj Revolutionary Court sentenced Siamak Davoodi to three years in prison. He was arrested at his workplace amid nationwide protests.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, Siamak Davoodi was sentenced to three years in prison for “assembly and collusion against national security.”

On October 27, 2022, security forces arrested Davoodi at his workplace in Sanandaj and took him to a detention facility at the disposal of the Ministry of Intelligence. He was released on bail on January 21, 2023.

Since the beginning of nationwide protests, over 19620 people, including journalists, artists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, have been arrested. So far, over protests, at least 777 people have been sentenced to a total of about 14063 months imprisonment.

 

Iran Protests: Student Mohammad Masoud Eskandari Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Microbiology, Mohammad Masoud Eskandari, Shahrekord, University of Shahrekord

Mohammad Masoud Eskandari, a student at the University of Shahrekord, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, two years of suspended imprisonment and paying a fine. Eskandari was arrested during nationwide protests.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Iranian Students’ Union, student Mohammad Masoud Eskandari was sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Eskandari received this verdict for “blasphemy, insulting the current and former Supreme Leader of Iran, and propaganda against the regime.
Eskandari is a Ph.D. student at the University of Shahrekord in Microbial biotechnology. On November 14, 2022, security forces arrested him at protests and released him on bail after five days of detention.

Five Cross-Border Fuel Carrier (Sookhtbar) Killed by IRGC Forces

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News, Other
Iranshahr, irgc, kolbars, Sistan and Baluchestan, Sookhtbar

On February 7, IRGC forces killed at least five cross-border fuel carriers (Sookhtbar) by shooting in Iranshahr, Sistan and Baluchestan Province.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Baloch Activist Campaign, at least five individuals carrying fuel across the border were killed by IRGC forces in Iranshahr.

The IRGC forces reportedly began shooting at their vehicle without any warning, setting the car ablaze, and five people died.
The victims’ identities are unknown at the time of writing.

According to HRANA’s annual report, in 2022, a total of 845 people were shot by military forces. At least 571 of the victims lost their life.

This includes 22 kolbars, 9 fuel carriers, and 540 civilians. 274 people were injured by military forces open fire, including 134 kolbars, 128 civilians, and 12 fuel carriers.

Iran Protests: Neda Faragari Jailed in Amol Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Amol, Ghazaleh Chalabi, iran protests, Neda Faragari

Neda Faragari, arrested at recent nationwide protests, is currently jailed in Amol Prison, Mazandaran Province. The Amol Revolutionary Court has sentenced her to two years in prison and paying a fine.

December 22, 2022, she was sentenced to two years in prison for “assembly and collusion against national security,” paying a fine for “propaganda against the regime,” and “insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran.”

On trial, chanting slogans such as “death to the dictator” at a commemoration ceremony on the 40th day of Ghazaleh Chalabi, one of the protestors killed by the regime forces at protests, was presented as an example of the charge of “insulting the Supreme Leader.” Faragari was arrested at the commemoration ceremony for Ghazaleh Chalabi on November 3, 2022, in Amol.

According to reports obtained by HRANA, her attendance and others at this ceremony were interpreted by the court as an act to conspire against national security (mentioned as ‘chain collusion’), pre-coordinated based on a “shared goal rather than by a leader.”

 

Armita Abbasi Released from Kachooie Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Armita Abbasi, Kachooie Prison, Karaj, Shahla Orouji

On February 7, 2023, Armita Abbasi, arrested during nationwide protests, was released from Kachooie Prison, Karaj.

Details on her release are still unknown. However, she was likely released due to the recent pardon for jailed protestors.

In late September 2022, security forces arrested Abbasi in Karaj and jailed her in Kachooie prison.

On January 2, 2023, she and fourteen other female jailed protestors went on a hunger strike.

Her first hearing was held by the Karaj Revolutionary Court on January 29, 2023. According to her lawyer, Shahla Orouji, ” Abbasi faced three charges two of the least serious allegations are propaganda against the regime and assembly and collusion against national security.”