Author: . .

Belgian Olivier Vandecasteele Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison and Flogging

Posted on by . .
News, Other
flogging, HRANA, Olivier Vandecasteele, RTL News

Iran’s judiciary announced that the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Belgian Olivier Vandecasteele to 40 years imprisonment and 74 lashes.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Mizan Online news agency, jailed Belgian aid worker Olivier Vandecasteele was sentenced to imprisonment, flogging and paying a fine.

Vandecasteele received 12.5 years for “spying on the Islamic Republic of Iran for foreign intelligence services,” 12.5 years for “collaboration with the USA, as a hostile country against Iran’s regime,” 12.5 years for “money laundering half a million dollars,” as well as forfeiting this money and its revenues, and 2.5 years for “smuggling half million dollars.” He was also sentenced to a one-million-dollar fine and 74 lashes.

Appealing, reportedly, is admissible within 20 days.

At odds with this verdict, on December 14, 2022, quoting Vandecasteele’s family, RTL News reported that he had received 28 years.
Vandecasteele’s whereabouts are still unknown.

Iranian Jewish Citizen El Nathan Masih Israelian Released from Evin Prison

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News, Religious Minorities
El Nathan Masih Israelian, Evin Prison, Iranian Jewish Citizen

On January 7, 2023, Iranian Jewish citizen Elnathan Masih Israelian was released on bail from Evin Prison. In Late October 2022, security forces arrested him.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, an Iranian Jewish citizen, identified by HRANA as Elnathan Masih Israelian was released on bail.

The reason, the charges for Israelian’s arrest and the security intelligence responsible for his arrest are still unknown. However, in early November, Kaan News Agency reported the arrest of three Jewish-Iranian individuals during nationwide protests. Israelian is likely one of the three people mentioned in Kaan’s report.

Due to the Iranian regime’s hostility to Israel, the Iranian Jewish community is living in constant fear of vindictive prosecution from the regime. Consequently, since the 1979 revolution, the Jewish community population has been reduced from one hundred thousand to below ten thousand.

 

 

Journalist Ehsan Pirbornash Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
Behnaz Mirmotahharian, Ehsan Pirbornash, Sari

The Sari Revolutionary Court sentenced journalist and humour columnist Ehsan Pirbornash to 18 years in prison. If the verdict is upheld on appeal, based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, ten years in prison for one count will be enforceable.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, journalist Ehsan Pirbornash was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment.

His wife, Behnaz Mirmotahharian stated: “despite having a certificate of penal intolerance, Pirbornash was sentenced to 18 years in prison, of which 10 years is enforceable.”
On October 28, 2022, security forces arrested Pirbornash and after 12 days jailed him from a detention facility in Qaemshahr Prison.
The charges against Pirbornash are still unknown.
 
 

Workers’ Rights Activist Keyvan Mohtadi Sentenced to Six Years in Prison

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
Anisha Asadaollahi, Evin Prison, Keyvan Mohtadi, ward 209

The Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced workers’ rights activist Keyvan Mohtadi to six years in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, workers’ rights activist Keyvan Mohtadi was sentenced to five years on the charge of “assembly and collusion against national security” and one year for “propaganda against the regime.”

If the verdict is upheld on appeal, based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, five years in prison for the first count will be enforceable.

On May 9, 2022, security forces arrested Mohtadi and his partner, Anisha Asadollahi, at their house and transferred them to Ward 209 of Evin Prison in Tehran.

Anisha Asadollahi and Keyvan Mohtadi had been arrested and convicted before for their civil activities. On May 1, 2019, with many other workers and worker’s rights activists, Anisha Asadollahi was arrested at a gathering for the celebration of international workers’ Day. Subsequently, the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced her to one-year imprisonment (of which six months were suspended) and 74 lashes on the charge of “disturbing the public order”. She was jailed in Evin prison for sentencing on January 4, 2020, and was freed on January 21 of that year.

Baha’i Citizen Badi Khazei Sentenced to Five Years in Prison

Posted on by . .
News, Religious Minorities
Badi Khazei, Baha'i citizen

The Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Baha’i citizen Badi Khazei to six years in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Baha’i citizen Badi Khazei was sentenced to six years in prison.

According to this verdict, Khazei received five years for “assembly and collusion against national security” and one year for “propaganda against the regime.” If the verdict is upheld on appeal, based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, five years in prison for the first count, as the severest punishment, will be enforceable.

His lawyer has appealed against the decision to the court of appeals.

Khazei was arrested in Tehran by security forces. An informed source told HRANA that, last week, Khazei travelled to Tehran from Bandar Abbas for some administrative work. On October 7 or 8, several plainclothes agents arrested him in the street and took him to Great Tehran Penitentiary. Khazei was released on bail from Evin Prison on December 21, 2022.

 

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Now is definitely not the time to stop reading!

Three Death Sentences and 58 Years Imprisonment for Five Protestors

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners

In a legal case over protests in Isfahan, Saleh Mirhashemi, Majid Kazemi, and Saeed Yaghoubi were sentenced to death and a total of 30 years in prison on several charges, including “enmity against God” (Moharebeh). Also, two other co-defendants, football player Amir Nasr Azadani and Soheil Jahangiri, were sentenced to 26 years and 2 years, respectively.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Mizan, Saleh Mirhashemi, Majid Kazemi, and Saeed Yaghoubi, were sentenced to death.

On November 16, 2022, during Isfahan protests in Mahallah Khaneh and Malek Shahr districts, Colonel Esmail Cheraghi and two Basij Militia Forces Mohammad-Hossein Karimi and Mohsen Hamidi were killed.

 

According to these verdicts, each of these individuals was sentenced to death on “enmity against God” and ten years for “membership in illegal groups to act against national security” and “assembly and collusion against national security.”

The fourth-row defendant Amir Nasr Azadani was sentenced to 16 years for “assisting in enmity against God”, 5 years for “membership in illegal groups to act against national security,” and 5 years for “assembly and collusion against national security.”

The fifth-row defendant Soheid Jahangiri was sentenced to two years for “assembly and collusion against national security.” The sixth-row defendant Jaber Mirhashemi was acquitted of all counts.

Death Row Protestors Mohammad Mehdi Karami and Mohammad Hosseini Executed

Posted on by . .
Executions, News
Mohammad Hosseini, Mohammad-Mehdi Karami

On January 7, 2023, Mohammad Mehdi Karami and Mohammad Hosseini were executed. They were previously arrested at protests and sentenced to death in a legal case known as “the death of a Basij Militia force Ruhollah Ajamian.” A while ago, their sentences were confirmed by the Supreme Court of Iran.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Tasnim, on January 7, 2023, Mohammad Mehdi Karami and Mohammad Hosseini were executed.

Karami, age 22, a resident of Karaj, was a karateka with several top titles and championships. His lawyer recently informed HRANA that he went on a dry hunger strike last Wednesday.

Also, Mohammad Hosseini’s lawyer wrote on Twitter that his client had been tortured with iron bars and shockers.

Earlier, Mohsen Shekari and Majidreza Rahnavard were also executed over protests. According to data obtained by HRANA, at least 111 other protestors have been sentenced to death or have faced charges that can lead to a death sentence.
 

Imprisoned Teacher Hamid Jafari Nasrabadi Receives Additional Three Years Imprisonment

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
Hamid Jafari Nasrabadi, Iranian Teachers Trade Association

The Kashan Criminal Court sentenced imprisoned teacher Hamid Jafari Nasrabadi to three years for the second part of his legal case. He was previously sentenced to 22 months and social deprivations for the first part of this case.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association Telegram channel, teacher, writer and translator Hamid Jafari Nasrabadi was sentenced to three years.

According to this verdict, Nasrabadi received two years in prison for “spreading falsehood” and one year for “the contempt of judicial authority’s order.”

Nasrabadi is currently imprisoned in Kashan Prison to serve his 22-month sentence for the first of this legal case. The security forces arrested him in Kashan on October 19, 2022.

Fifteen Women on Hunger Strike in Kachooie Prison

Posted on by . .
News, Prisoners
Ansieh Mousavi, Armita Abbasi, atemeh Mosleh Heidarzadeh, Elham Modarresi, Fatemeh Harbi, Fatemeh Jamalpour, Fatemeh Nazari-Nejad, Hamideh Zeraei, Hunger Strike, Jasmin Haj Mirza Mohammadi, Kachooie Prison, Maedeh Sohrabi, Marzieh Mirghasem, Nilloofar Shakeri, Niloofar Kardooni, Shahrzad Derakhshan, Somayeh Masoumi

Fifteen women arrested at recent protests have been on hunger strike for five days in Kachooie Prison, Karaj.

HRANA has identified these women as:

  1. Elham Modarresi
  2. Armita Abbasi
  3. Fatemeh Harbi
  4. Jasmin Haj-Mirza Mohammadi
  5. Fatemeh Nazari-Nejad
  6. Shahrzad Derakhshan
  7. Fatemeh Jamalpour
  8. Nilloofar Shakeri
  9. Hamideh Zeraei
  10. Niloofar Kardooni
  11. Somayeh Masoumi
  12. Ansieh Mousavi
  13. Maedeh Sohrabi
  14. Fatemeh Mosleh Heidarzadeh
  15. Marzieh Mirghasem

An informed source told HRANA they went on hunger strike in protest against prolonged detention in uncertainty, poor sanitary conditions, inadequate medical care, being held in an overcrowded ward, the lack of access to a lawyer and unjust verdicts.

“The court hearing to examine the charges against Hamideh Zeraei, Fatemeh Harbi and Ansieh Mousavi was held through a video call in prison. Their attorneys were not present, and they were not given enough time to defend themselves,” the source added.

According to this source, Harbi received five years, of which she will be in prison in exile for two years. Zeraei and Mousavi are still awaiting the verdict.

According to other reports obtained by HRANA, pre-trial detention’s Elham Modarresi was extended for one month on January 3. Also, another informed source told HRANA that Modarresi was beaten by prison guards to end her hunger strike.

In Iran’s prisons, despite their physical and mental impairments, hunger strikes are common among prisoners. Hunger strikes are used as a last resort for protesting unlawful detention without trials, violations of prisoners’ rights and infringement on due process.

 

 

Iran Protests: Parisa Nikkhoo Sentenced to Two Years

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
Parisa Nikkhoo, Qarchak Prison, Varamin

The Tehran Court of Appeals sentenced Parisa Nikkhoo to two years in prison. Initially, the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced her to five years in prison. She is currently jailed in Qarchak Prison in Varamin.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Parisa Nikkhoo, arrested at recent protests, was sentenced to two years in prison on appeal.

An informed source told HRANA, “Nikkhoo did not have a right to choose a lawyer. She was charged with assembly and collusion against national security and disturbing public order. The judicial authorities promised her a release on bond if she pleaded guilty.”

“The judge granted a 600 million-toman bail, but she cannot afford this bail.”

On September 24, 2022, Nikkhoo, age 36, was arrested at protests in Tehran and taken to a police station and then to Qarchak Prison. The informed source said she had bruises on her body during custody at the police station.