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Imprisoned Film Director Jafar Panahi Goes on Hunger Strike

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News, Prisoners
Hunger Strike, Jafar Panahi, Tahereh Saeedi

Imprisoned film director and screenwriter Jafar Panahi went on a hunger strike in Evin Prison in protest against his prolonged incarceration and judicial official’s refusal to grant him bail.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Jafar Panahi went on a hunger strike in Evin Prison.

His wife, Tahereh Saeedi, mentioned his prolonged incarceration and the judicial official’s refusal of his temporary release as the reason for this hunger strike.

Announcing his hunger strike, Panahi wrote in an open letter: “according to law, once my request for a retrial was accepted and my legal case was delivered to a court branch for review, I should have been released on bail immediately. While we witnessed the execution of the innocent young men of our country within 30 days, by the interference of intelligence agents, delivering my case to a court branch took over 100 days.”

A while ago, the six-year sentence against Panahi was quashed by the Supreme Court o Iran and the case was delivered to Branch 21 of the Tehran Court of Appeals for a retrial.

Panahi was sentenced to six years in prison and banned from filmmaking for 20 years and leaving the country. This verdict was upheld on appeal. On July 11, 2022, Panahi was arrested in front of Evin prison to serve his sentence.

 

Iran Protests: Student Ali Fatahi Sentenced to Three Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ali Fatahi

The Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Ali Fatahi, a chemical engineering student at the University of Science and Technology, to three years in prison. Fatahi was arrested amid nationwide protests by IRGC forces.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Iranian Students’ Union, student Ali Fatahi was sentenced to three years in prison for “assembly and collusion against national security.”

On November 2, 2022, in cooperation with the University officials, IRGC forces arrested Fatahi at the University gate. He was released on bail after 35 days.

 

Four Inmates Executed in Three Prisons

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Executions, News
Adel-Abad Prison, Ali Allahverdi, Bandar-Abbas, Farhang Zakaie, Mansour Yousefzehi, Rajai-Shahr

Four death-row prisoners convicted of drug-related crimes and murder were executed in Rajai Shahr, Bandar-Abbas and Adel-Abad Prisons.

According to Rokna, on February 1, 2023, an unidentified inmate convicted of killing three members of a family was executed in Rajai Shahr Prison, Karaj.

Iran Human Rights Organization also reported that on January 31, two inmates, identified as Ali Allahverdi and Farhang Zakaie, were executed in Adel-Abad Prison, Shiraz.

According to an informed source mentioned in this report, these two stepbrothers committed murder three years ago.
Lastly, on February 1, Mansour Yousefzehi, age 22, was executed in Bandar-Abbas Prison. Two years ago, he was arrested reportedly for smuggling two kilos of drugs.

In 2022, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran registered 457 reports related to the death penalty. This included 92 death sentences, including the conviction of 6 people to public execution and 565 execution sentences were carried out, 2 of which have been carried out in public. Based on the announced identifications of some of the executed individuals, 501 were male and 11 were female. In addition, 5 juvenile offenders were executed in 2022, meaning they were under the age of 18 at the time they committed the crime.

 

17-Year-old Political Prisoner’s Daughter Arrested

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News, Prisoners
Asal Meskin-Navaz, Evin Prison, Fahraj, Karaj, Kerman, Mehdi Meskin Navaz, Rajai-Shahr

On January 30, political prisoner Mehdi Meskinnavaz was relocated from Rajai Shahr Prison to Ward 209 of Evin Prison. Meanwhile, intelligence agents arrested his 17-year-old daughter, Asal Meskinnavaz .

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on January 30, 2023, Asal Meskinnavaz was arrested by intelligence agents.

An informed source told HRANA that the prosecutor’s representative, Eliasi, directly ordered Mehdi Meskinnavaz’s relocation to Ward 209 of Evin Prison. The agents also confiscated some of his personal belongings in prison.

On May 5, 2019, security forces arrested Meskinnavaz in Bandar Anzali for “running a Telegram channel advocating the overthrow of the regime.” He was transferred to the public ward of Evin Prison in Tehran after ending the interrogation.

In August 2019, the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Meskinnavaz to 13 years for “assembly and collusion to act against national security, insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran, and Propaganda against the regime.” He was also banned from membership in political parties and groups and two-year compulsory residence in exile in Fahraj, Kerman.

On April 20, 2020, he was transferred from Evin to Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj.

 

 

Two Instagram Bloggers Sentenced to a Total of 21 Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Amir Mohamad Ahmadi, Astiaj Haghighi, Evin Prison, Instagram Bloggers, Qarchak, Varamin

The Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Instagram bloggers Astiaj Haghighi and Amir Mohammad Ahmadi, to a total of 21 years in prison and additional punishments.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Astiaj Haghighi and Amir Mohammad Ahmadi were sentenced to imprisonment and additional punishments.

According to this verdict, each of them received ten years and six months for “promotion of impurity and indecency, assembly and collusion against national security, and propaganda against the regime.” They have also been banned from social activities on the Internet and leaving the country for two years.
An informed source told HRANA that they were denied access to a lawyer during legal proceedings.

On November 1, 2022, security forces arrested this couple violently at their home in Tehran. This arrest occurred after they published a video on social media showing them dancing in a city square.

A while after their arrest, Mrs Haghighi was relocated from Evin Prison to Qarchak Prison in Varamin.

 

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Iran Protests: Mahmood Alimi Sentenced to Two Years in Prison

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News
Mahmood Alimi, Qaem Shahr, Qasem Soleimani, Sari Prison

Mahmood Alimi, arrested amid nationwide protests, was sentenced to two years in prison. Alimi, a resident of Qaem Shahr, was arrested on September 23 and is still jailed in Sari Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Mahmood Alimi was sentenced to two years in prison.

According to an informed source, “during Alimi’s detention, local TV broadcasted two times a video of his coerced confession over setting fire to Qasem Soleimani’s banner. A few weeks ago, the court sentenced him to two years in prison.”

It is still unknown of which charges Alimi has been convicted.

Since the beginning of nationwide protests, about 19600 people, including journalists, artists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, have been arrested. So far, over protests, at least 757 people have been sentenced to a total of about 13134 months imprisonment.

Iran Protests: Three Protestors Face Charge of Enmity Against God for Disabling CCTV Cameras

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Freedom of Expression, News

The Mashhad Public and Revolutionary Courthouse indicted three protestors Babak Zarin, Majid Khashnazar and his son Amirreza Khoshnazar on “enmity against God” (Moharebeh) for allegedly “disabling CCTV cameras.” This charge can result in severe punishment, even the death penalty.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Babak Zarin, Majid Khashnazar and his son Amirreza Khaoshnazar, arrested amid nationwide protests in Mashhad, faced the charge of “enmity against God.” (Moharebeh)

Amirreza Khaoshnazar, a boxer, was arrested by security forces in Tehran while he was leaving the country. He was jailed in Ward 209 of Evin prison and then transferred to a detention facility in Mashhad. Babak Zarin, and Majid Khaoshnazar were arrested in Mashhad.

Since the beginning of nationwide protests, about 19560 people, including journalists, artists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, have been arrested. So far, over protests, at least 756 people have been sentenced to a total of about 13128 months imprisonment.

 

Soroush Moeinifar Sentenced to Imprisonment and Flogging

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Freedom of Expression, News
Bukan, Soroush Moeinifar

The Bukan Criminal Court sentenced Soroush Moeinifar to three years and 40 lashes.

According to this verdict issued by Branch 110 of the Bukan Criminal Court, Moeinifar was sentenced to three years and 40 lashes on the charges of “propaganda against the regime,” “disturbing public order,” and “spreading falsehood.”

Based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, one year for one count will be enforceable.

On November 2, 2022, security forces arrested Moeinifar in Bukan, took him to a detention facility and, after two days, jailed him in Bukan prison. He was released on bail after 24 days.

Since the beginning of nationwide protests, about 19560 people, including journalists, artists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, have been arrested. So far, over protests, at least 756 people have been sentenced to a total of about 13128 months imprisonment.

 

Children’s Rights Activist Sarvnaz Ahmadi Sentenced to Six Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, Kamyar Fakoor, Sarvnaz Ahmadi

The Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced children’s rights activist Sarvnaz Ahmadi to six years in prison. If the verdict is upheld on appeal, based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, five years in prison for one count will be enforceable.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Sarvnaz Ahmadi was sentenced to imprisonment.

Ahmadi received five years for “assembly and collusion to act against national security” and one year for “propaganda against the regime.”
Her husband, Kamyar Fakoor, a worker’s rights activist, had also been on trial in this judicial branch on January 4, 2023.

On November 6, 2022, security forces arrested this couple in Tehran and jailed them in Evin Prison. Ahmadi was released on bail on December 7, 2022.

Media Activist Amir Maskani Sentenced to Imprisonment

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Freedom of Expression, News
Amir Maskani, iran protests, Razavi Khorasan Province, Sabzevar

The Revolutionary Court sentenced Amir Maskani, artist and media activist, to seven months in prison, nine months of suspended imprisonment and paying a fine. Maskani is a resident of Sabzevar, Razavi Khorasan Province.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, media activist Amir Maskani was sentenced to imprisonment and paying a fine.

Maskani received three months for “propaganda against the regime” and thirteen months in prison, of which nine months is suspended, for “inciting people to commit murder and wage war against national security.” He was also fined five million tomans.

The court session was held on November 28, 2022.

Since the beginning of nationwide protests, about 19560 people, including journalists, artists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, have been arrested. So far, over protests, at least 756 people have been sentenced to a total of about 13128 months imprisonment.