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Reporter Ahmadreza Halabisaz Sentenced to Two Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ahmadreza Halabisaz, Evin Prison, Tehran

Reporter and photographer Ahmadreza Halabisaz was sentenced to two years in prison. He was also ­banned from practicing journalism and leaving the country. Initially, he had received five years in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, reporter Ahmadreza Halabisaz was sentenced to imprisonment and social deprivations.

Recently, he was summoned to Evin Prison to start his prison sentence.

In September 2022, Halabisaz was arrested amid nationwide protests in Tehran and released on bail after 27 days. The charge against him is still unknown at the time of this writing.

Since the outbreak of nationwide protests, about 19400 people, including journalists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, have been arrested. So far, at least 724 people have been convicted over protests. For more details and statistics on the nationwide protest across Iran, read HRANA’s comprehensive report here.

 

Iran Protests: Bita Haghani Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Bita Haghani, Majid Kaveh, Qaem Shahr, Sari

The Sari Revolutionary Court sentenced Bita Haghani Nasimi, arrested at recent protests, to 18 years in prison. She was also banned from leaving the country for two years and sentenced to the “seizure of the means of committing the crime.”

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Bita Haghani Nasimi, arrested at protests, was sentenced to 18 years in prison.

According to this verdict, Haghani has been acquitted of “spreading corruption on earth.” However, she received 18 years for other counts. If this verdict is upheld on appeal, based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, five years in prison for one count will be enforceable.
Confirming the issuance of this sentence, her lawyer, Majid Kaveh, stated that the appeal is admissible.

On October 18, 2022, security forces arrested 22-year-old Haghani in Sari and jailed her in Qaem Shahr Prison after ending the interrogation. She had been charged with “spreading corruption on earth.”

Since the outbreak of nationwide protests, about 19400 people, including journalists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, have been arrested. For more details and statistics on the nationwide protest across Iran, read HRANA’s comprehensive report here.

 

Student Samaneh Asghari Still Detained after Three Months

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Freedom of Expression, News, Students
Erfan Karim-Veisi, Evin Prison, Kharazmi University, Qarchak Prison, Samaneh Asghari

Samaneh Asghari, a student at Kharazmi University, is still detained in Qarchak Prison, Varamin, for over three months. The Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office of Shahr-e-Rey recently filed an indictment against her.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, student Samaneh Asghari is still detained for over three months.

Her lawyer, Erfan Karim-Veisi, announced, Asghari has been charged with “assembly and collusion against national security, disturbing public order, inciting people to commit violence and murder, propaganda against the regime and provoking women to be present in public without Hejab, membership in groups to act against national security and spreading falsehood.”

He also stated that the court refused to grant a release on bail.
On October 11, 2022, security forces arrested Asghari and jailed her in Ward 209 of Evin Prison. After a while, she was relocated to Qarchak Prison.

Lawyer Behzad Hakimizadeh Arrested

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Freedom of Expression, News
Behzad Hakimizadeh, Saqqez

On Monday, January 9, security forces arrested attorney at law Behzad Hakimizadeh at his home in Saqqez and took him to a detention facility in this city.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on January 9, 2023, lawyer Behzad Hakimizadeh was arrested in Saqqez.

The reason for his arrest and the allegations against him are still unknown.

Since the outbreak of nationwide protests, about 19400 people, including journalists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, have been arrested. For more details and statistics on the nationwide protest across Iran, read HRANA’s comprehensive report here.

Baha’i Citizen Nabil Movafaghi Arrested

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News, Religious Minorities

On Thursday, January 12, security forces arrested Baha’i citizen Nabil Movafaghi, a resident of Sari, at his relatives’ house in Gonbad-e Kavus, Golestan Province. The agents searched the house, confiscated some of his belongings, and took him to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on January 12, 2023, Baha’i Nabil Movafaghi was arrested in Gonbad-e Kavus, Golestan Province.

Movafaghi is 24 years old and a resident of Sari, Mazandaran Province.

The reason for his arrest and the allegations are still unknown.

According to unofficial sources, it is estimated that more than 300,000 Baha’is live in Iran, but the Iranian Constitution recognizes only Islam as the official religion, in addition to Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism. Bahai faith is not considered legitimate by the authorities, and the rights of Baha’is in Iran have been systematically violated for years.

 

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Two Inmates Executed in Rasht and Gorgan

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Executions, News
Gorgan Prison, Milad Ashoob, Rasht, Shahram Mortazavi

On January 11, 2023, an inmate convicted of murder was executed in Lakan Prison, Rasht. HRANA has identified the inmate as Milad Ashoob.

Also, another inmate, identified as Shahram Mortazavi, was executed in Gorgan Prison on the same day. An informed source close to his family told HRANA that he committed murder during a fight.

None of the official sources and media outlets inside the country has reported these executions at the time of writing.

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.

 

 

 

Reporter Nasim Soltan Beigi Arrested

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Freedom of Expression, News
Iran Jalili, Nasim Soltan Beigi

Yesterday, security forces arrested reporter and former student activist Nasim Soltan Beigi at the airport and took her to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on January 11, 2023, Nasim Soltan Beigi, a reporter and former student activist, was arrested by security forces at the airport while leaving the country.

Her mother, Iran Jalili, wrote on social media, “last night, my daughter was arrested at the airport while she was leaving the country. Her cell phone went off when she went to get her boarding pass. After a few hours, in a short phone call, she informed us that she was arrested and her belongings were confiscated.”
Soltan Beigi faced other arrests and convictions on prior occasions.

The reason for this arrest and her whereabouts are still unknown.

 

Six Inmates Executed in Arak and Karaj

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Executions, News

On January 11, 2023, five inmates convicted of drug-related crimes were executed in Arak Prison. Also, on the same day, the Central Prison of Karaj officials executed an inmate for “enmity against God (Moharebeh) through armed robbery.”

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on January 11, 2023, five inmates were executed in Arak Prison. HRANA has identified one of them as Ali Geravand. All five people were previously sentenced to death for drug offences.

Also, an inmate identified by HRANA as Reza Haji was executed in the Central Prison of Karaj. According to an informed source close to his family, he was sentenced to death for armed robbery.

None of the official sources and media outlets inside the country has reported these executions at the time of writing.

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.

13 People Arrested for Allegedly Espionage

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News, Other
Espionage, Golestan, Isfahan, Mizan Online, Tehran, West Azerbaijan, Yazd

Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence announced the arrest of 13 people accused of “espionage” in Tehran, Isfahan, Yazd, Golestan and West Azerbaijan Provinces.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Mizan Online News Agency, 13 individuals were arrested for allegedly “espionage.”

The Ministry of intelligence claimed that in Tehran, Isfahan, Yazd, Golestan and West Azerbaijan Provinces, 23 individuals working for Mossad (the intelligence agency of Israel) were detected, of which 13 people residing inside the country were apprehended before they could take any action. The Ministry claimed that the “head of this spy network” has been identified as “Sirus,” residing in one of the European Countries. This report did not disclose the detainees’ identities.

Although the prosecution of individuals for espionage is not considered a violation of human rights, there are concerns about the validity of these allegations due to the frequent use of such accusations by Iran’s regime in order to suppress its political dissidents and due to the ambiguities in legal proceedings and the lack of transparency about such legal cases.

Translator Nazanin Keynejad Sentenced to Four Years Imprisonment

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Freedom of Expression, News
Babak Rezakhani, Evin Prison, Nazanin Keynejad

The Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced translator Nazanin Keynejad to four years in prison, banned from leaving the country and other social deprivations for two years.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, translator Nazanin Keynejad was sentenced to imprisonment.

According to her spouse, Babak Rezakhani, the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided by judge Salavati, sentenced Keynejad to four years in prison. She was also banned from leaving the country, membership in political parties and groups, and activities on social media for two years.

On October 8, 2022, security forces arrested Keynejad at her house in Tehran and took her to Evin Prison. After a while, she was transferred to Qarchak Prison in Varamin.