Iran Protests: Citizen with Disabilities Mansour Dahmardeh Sentenced to Death over Protests

Mansour Dahmardeh, a resident of Zahedan and a citizen with disabilities, was sentenced to death on the charge of “spreading corruption on earth.” He was arrested at recent protests.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Haal Vsh, Mansour Dahmardeh, arrested at protests, was sentenced to death.

The verdict was issued by Branch 2 of the Zahedan Criminal Court on January 3, 2023.
Dahmardeh was arrested during the nationwide protests in Zahedan on October 3, 2022.

HRANA has detailed the legal cases of 58 citizens sentenced to death or under the impending threat of death sentence over protests. Read this report here.

 

 

 

Two Inmates Executed in Ghezel-Hesar Prison

On January 5, 2023, two death-row inmates previously convicted of drug-related crimes were executed in Ghezel-Hesar Prison, Karaj.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, two inmates identified by HRANA as Mehdi Asgari and Rostam Abbaszadeh were executed in Ghezel-Hesar prison.

An informed source told HRANA that Abbaszadeh had been released after serving out his sentence for drug offences in 2006. However, when he was arrested for the second time, he received a life sentence after reviewing the first case and a death sentence for the second case.

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.

 

 

 

Iran Protests: Poet Reza Keshvari Sentenced to Five Years in Prison

The Karaj Revolutionary Court sentenced poet and painter Reza Keshvari to five years in prison, of which he will be imprisoned in exile for two years. He is also banned from leaving the country for two years.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Reza Keshvari was sentenced to five years in prison and social deprivations.

On October 15, 2022, Keshvari was arrested during nationwide protests in Karaj, following a protest against the arrest of several teenagers. He was jailed in the Central Prison of Karaj.

The charges are still unknown.

Keshvari is a poet and painter, the father of a five-year-old child.

Since the outbreak of nationwide protests, over 19200 people, including journalists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, have been arrested. So far, about 670 people were convicted over protests. For more details and statistics on the nationwide protest across Iran, read HRANA’s comprehensive report here.

 

Iran Protests: Two Students Sentenced to a Total of Six Years

The Kashan Revolutionary Court sentenced Alireza Ghamgosar, a student at the University of Kashan, to two years in prison. Also, Alborz Adi, a student at Islamic Azad University in Najafabad, was sentenced to four years in prison, of which two years are suspended. Both students were arrested during recent nationwide protests.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Alireza Ghamgosar was sentenced to two years in prison on the charge of “assembly and collusion against national security.”

On September 20, 2022, security forces arrested Ghamgosar at nationwide protests in the city of Rasht.

Alborz Adi was sentenced to two years in prison and two years suspended imprisonment. He was arrested two times by security forces on October 3 in Najafabad, Isfahan Province, and then on October 31, 2022, in Langarud. For the second time, he was released on bail on December 31, 2022.

 

Neda Naji Sentenced to Eight Months in Prison and 60 Lashes

The Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced workers’ rights activist Neda Naji to eight months in prison, 60 lashes, banned from leaving the country, paying a fine and other punishments.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, workers’ rights activist Neda Naji was sentenced to imprisonment and flogging.

According to this verdict issued on December 7, 2022, Naji has been sentenced to eight months in prison, 60 lashes for “disturbing public order,” and a 15 million toman fine for “spreading falsehood.” She was also banned from leaving the country and using a cell phone for two years. She should also write a research paper as an additional punishment.

During the trial, she did not have access to her attorney.

On October 2, 2022, Naji was arrested in front of Kasra Hospital, where Mahsa Amini died, and jailed in Evin Prison. She was released on a 150-million bail on October 27, 2022.

Naji faced other arrests and convictions on prior occasions.

 

 

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Three European Nationals Charged with Espionage

The spokesperson of Iran’s judiciary announced that three detained foreign nationals, two French and one Belgian, have been indicted on allegedly “espionage, assembly and collusion against national security.”

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Mizan, two French nationals and one Belgian have been charged with “espionage, assembly and collusion against national security.”

This judicial official did not reveal these individuals’ identities.

 

Iran protests: Ali Davari on Trial for Allegedly ‘Enmity against God’ and ‘Spreading Corruption on Earth’

On December 24, 2022, the Rasht Revolutionary Court held the first court session against Ali (Makan) Davari, accused of the charges of ‘enmity against God’ (Moharebeh) and ‘spreading corruption on earth.’ Davari, a resident of Langarud, was arrested over protests and is currently in pre-trial detention at Ezbaram Lahijan Prison, Gilan Province.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on December 24, 2022, Ali (Makan) Davari’s trial began by the Rasht Revolutionary Court.

An informed source close to his family told HRANA: “In the first week of nationwide protests, on the way returning home from the gym, Makan helped several women in rescuing themselves from the assault of a group of men who later he found out that they were plainclothes security agents.”

According to this informed source, Davari’s mother, who is suffering from leukemia, was physically pushed and assaulted by the agents in the Langarud courthouse, where she had been to inquire about his son’s condition.

“In the first days following his arrest, they promised him and his family to drop the charges on the condition his family would not publicize his arrest and the charges. However, after three months, they did not keep their promise,” the informed source added.

In recent months, many protestors have faced charges such as Moharebeh and “spreading corruption on earth,” which can result in death.

HRANA has detailed the legal cases of 58 citizens sentenced to death or under the impending threat of death sentence over protests. Read this report here.

 

Iran Protests: Two Protestors Face Charge of Moharebeh in Rasht

Omid Bahrami Goor Masuleh and Rahmat Nowruzi, arrested at recent protests in the city of Rasht, faced the charge of “enmity against God” (Moharebeh), which can result in severe punishment, even the death penalty.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Omid Bahrami Goor Masuleh and Rahmat Nowruzi were indicted with the charge of “enmity against God” (Moharebeh).

An informed source told HRANA that these individuals faced these charges for their alleged participation in setting a Basij base on fire. The only evidence for this allegation is based on the torture-tainted confessions they made during detention, as Omid Bahrami informed his family that he had been beaten to confess.

In recent months, many protestors have faced charges such as Moharebeh and “spreading corruption on earth,” which can result in death penalty.

HRANA has detailed the legal cases of 58 citizens sentenced to death or under the impending threat of death sentence over protests. Read this report here.

Former Political Prisoner Soheil Arabi Arrested

Yesterday, January 2, 2023, security forces arrested former political prisoner Soheil Arabi at his home in Tehran and transferred him to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on January 2, 2023, former political prisoner Soheil Arabi was arrested.

An informed source told HRANA that Arabi suffers from several diseases and should have access to his essential medicines.

Soheil Arabi faced several arrests and convictions on prior occasions.

Iran Protests: Journalist Mehdi Ghadimi Arrested

On January 1, 2023, security forces arrested journalist Mehdi Ghadimi in Karaj and took him to an undisclosed location.

Ghadimi was arrested at his parents’ home in Karaj. The agents searched the house and confiscated some of their belongings.

The reason for his arrest and the charges are unknown so far.

Since the outbreak of nationwide protests, about 19200 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.