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Sakineh Parvaneh Sentenced to Seven-and-a-Half Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ali Mozafari, Khosro Alikurdi, Quchan, Sakineh Parvaneh, Sekineh Parvaneh, Vakilabad prison

The Mashhad Revolutionary Court has handed down a sentence of seven years and six months in prison to Sakineh Parvaneh, a political prisoner currently detained in Vakilabad Prison.

Presiding over the case, Judge Hadi Mansouri conveyed the verdict to Parvaneh’s attorney, Khosro Alikurdi. She has been charged with multiple offenses, including “assembly and collusion against national security” and “insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran.”

According to information received by HRANA from a source, Alikurdi was not permitted to attend the court session.

Parvaneh was arrested in April 2023 by agents from the IRGC Intelligence, following her visit to the burial place of Ali Mozafari, one of the protestors killed during the nationwide protests in 2022, in Quchan. After spending 12 days in a detention facility, she was transferred to Vakilabad Prison.

It is important to note that Parvaneh has a prior arrest and conviction related to her activism. In her previous encounter with the security institutions, she was detained by IRGC Intelligence forces in the winter of 2020. Subsequently, she received a five-year prison sentence and a two-year prohibition from participating in political groups. However, in February 2023, she was granted amnesty and released in accordance with a general “pardon and commutation” directive.

Sanaz Tafazoli’s Prison Sentence Upheld on Appeal

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News, Religious Minorities
Mashhad, Razavi Khorasan Province, Sanaz Tafazoli, Vakilabad prison

The Court of Appeal in Razavi Khorasan Province has upheld the ten-year and nine-month prison sentence of Baha’i citizen Sanaz Tafazoli. Tafazoli is currently incarcerated in Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad.

According to information provided by a source closely associated with her family, the court session was held on Thursday, October 5, in the absence of both Tafazoli and her legal counsel.

Previously, the Mashhad Revolutionary Court had sentenced Tafazoli to six years and six months for “forming a group to act against national security,” three years and seven months for “assembly and collusion against national security,” and eight months for “educational/promotional activities against Sharia.”

On Tuesday, November 22, 2022, intelligence agents apprehended Tafazoli, aged 45, in Mashhad. A search of her residence resulted in the confiscation of belongings belonging to both her and her son.

After multiple extensions of Tafazoli’s detention period, she was incarcerated at Vakilabad Prison on December 29, 2022.

In February, she was granted a ten-billion-toman bail. However, judicial authorities declined her release on bail, returning this heavy bail to her family.

According to the HRANA annual report, a significant portion, accounting for 64.63%, of human rights violations against religious minorities were related to the infringement of Baha’i rights.

The denial of the freedom to practice a religion constitutes a breach of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The United Nations covenant asserts that every individual possesses the right to religious freedom, the freedom to convert, and the freedom of expression, both individually and collectively, openly or privately.

Baha’i Citizen Ahmad Naeimi Arrested in Yazd

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News, Religious Minorities
Ahmad Naeimi, HRAHA, Yazd

On October 5, 2023, Ministry of Intelligence agents apprehended Baha’i citizen Ahmad Naeimi (Naeemi) in Yazd and subsequently transported him to a detention facility.

According to a source closely connected to Naeimi’s family who informed HRANA, two agents detained Naeimi at his workplace. As of now, the exact reasons for his arrest and the specific allegations against him remain undisclosed.

HRANA’s annual report has highlighted a concerning trend where, in 2022, 64.63% of reported human rights violations against religious minorities are directed toward the Baha’i community.

The Baha’i faith is not recognized as a legitimate religion by Iranian authorities, leading to systematic and longstanding violations of the rights of Baha’is in the country. This includes the denial of their fundamental right to practice their religion, which constitutes a clear breach of both Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The United Nations covenant holds that every person has the right to freedom of religion, freedom of converting religion, as well as freedom of expression, individually or collectively; openly or secretly.

Amir-Hossein Moradi Initiates Hunger Strike at Evin Prison

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News, Prisoners
Amir Hossein Moradi, Evin Prison, HRANA, Tehran Revolutionary Court

Amir-Hossein Moradi, a political prisoner, is currently serving a one-year sentence in Evin Prison and has recently embarked on a hunger strike in protest of his incarceration.

A source close to Moradi’s family has informed HRANA that he is being held in Ward 4 of Evin Prison. Since last Monday, October 2, he has been on a hunger strike, demanding his release.

In March 2023, Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Moradi to one year in prison for “propaganda against the regime,” a charge based on a post published on his Instagram page.

Moradi was arrested at his father’s residence on May 8, 2023. He was subsequently released from Evin Prison on bond on June 3, 2023.
It is worth noting that Moradi has faced arrests and periods of incarceration due to his activism.

Keyvan Rahimi Arrested in Saqqez

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Freedom of Expression, News
Keyvan Rahimi, Kurdpa, Saqqez

Keyvan Rahimi was apprehended by security forces on October 5, 2023, and subsequently taken to the Ministry of Intelligence detention facility in Saqqez, according to a report by Kurdpa.

The grounds for his arrest and the specific allegations against him remain undisclosed as of now.

In September-October 2021, Rahimi was handed an eight-month prison sentence by the Saqqez Revolutionary Court on the charge of “propaganda against the regime.”

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Baha’i Citizen Iman Rashidi Detained in Yazd

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News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i citizen, Iman Rashidi, Yazd

Iman Rashidi, a Baha’i citizen, was taken into custody on October 5, 2023, by agents from the Ministry of Intelligence in Yazd, and subsequently transported to an undisclosed detention facility.

According to a source close to his family, HRANA has learned that Rashidi’s wife was leaving their residence when she was confronted and encircled by intelligence agents. Under duress, she was compelled to lead the agents to Mr. Rashidi’s location, resulting in his arrest.

During the operation, the agents also conducted a search of his residence and confiscated some of his personal belongings.

As of now, the reasons behind Rashidi’s arrest and the specific allegations against him remain unknown.

The Baha’i faith is not recognized as a legitimate religion by Iranian authorities, leading to systematic and longstanding violations of the rights of Baha’is in the country. This includes the denial of their fundamental right to practice their religion, which constitutes a clear breach of both Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The United Nations covenant holds that every person has the right to freedom of religion, freedom of converting religion, as well as freedom of expression, individually or collectively; openly or secretly.

Iran-Iraq War Veteran Mohammad-Vali Heydarbeigi Receives 13-Year Prison Sentence

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News
Abhar, IRGC Intelligence, Mohammad-Vali Heydarbeigi, zanjan

The Criminal Court of Abhar, located in Zanjan province, has delivered a 13-year prison sentence to Mohammad-Vali Heydarbeigi (Heydar-Beigi), an injured veteran of the Iran-Iraq war.

According to the verdict issued on October 2, Heydarbeigi has been sentenced to five years for “collaboration with adversary countries,” another five years for “assembly and collusion against national security,” two years for “insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran,” and an additional year for “propaganda against the regime,” amounting to a total of 13 years.

Should the verdict be upheld upon appeal, in accordance with Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, five years of the sentence will be enforceable.

Heydarbeigi was arrested on November 19, 2022, and held in detention at the IRGC intelligence facility in Zanjan. After 25 days, he was released on bail amounting to one billion tomans.

At Least Nine Individuals Detained Following Protest in Zahedan

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Freedom of Expression, News
Haal Vsh, Zahedan

On October 4, 2023, local law enforcement in Zahedan took at least nine citizens into custody after a protest gathering in a district within the city, according to a report by Haal Vsh. The detainees have been transported to an undisclosed location.

The individuals were reportedly apprehended at their residences.
The report has not provided details about their identities, current whereabouts, or the specific allegations against them.

Azerbaijani-Turk Activist Abbas Lisani’s Exile Term Extended

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News, Religious Minorities
Abbas Lesani, Abbas Lisani, Ardabil, Yazd

The Ardabil Court of Appeals has extended the mandatory residence period in Yazd for Azerbaijani-Turk activist Abbas Lisani (Lesani) by one-third.

Branch 1 of the Ardabil Court of Appeals made this decision due to allegations that Lisani had violated the terms of his exile.

In a previous retrial, Branch 1 of Iran’s Supreme Court had sentenced Lisani to eight years in prison and two years of exile in Yazd County. This sentence was based on charges of “creating and leading groups with the intent of undermining national security.” However, he was acquitted of the charge of “acting against national security,” for which he had initially received a five-year prison sentence.

Lisani was placed in exile after his release from Ardabil prison on February 21, 2023.

Lisani has a long history of arrests and convictions stemming from his peaceful activism.

Fariba Asadi Detained in Kachooie Prison for Over 20 Days

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Freedom of Expression, News
Fariba Asadi, Kachooie Prison, Karaj, Masoud Vazifeh, Mehran Delfan-Azari, Meysam Gholami

Fariba Asadi, a former political prisoner, remains in custody, enduring over 20 days of legal uncertainty within the confines of Kachooie Prison, Karaj.

A reliable source close to her family has conveyed to HRANA that Asadi faces charges related to violating hijab rules and spreading propaganda against the regime.

Notably, Asadi had previously been arrested by security forces in February 2021, alongside Mehran Delfan Azari, Meysam Gholami, and Masoud Vazifeh. They were detained on allegations of “propaganda against the regime” and “membership in an anti-regime group.”

On October 2, 2021, Branch 2 of Shiraz’s Revolutionary Court sentenced Asadi to a one-year term for the charge of “propaganda against the regime.” Subsequently, she was taken into custody at her residence in Tehran in January 2022, in order to commence her sentence at Qarchak Prison in Varamin. However, she was ultimately released following a pardon under the “pardon and commutation” directive.