Abolfazl Pour-Hosseini Sentenced to Four Years in Prison with Additional Penalties

The Revolutionary Court of Karaj has pronounced a four-year prison sentence on Abolfazl Pour-Hosseini, a member of the mystical group Erfan-e-Halgheh, alongside two years of exile, a fine, a prohibition from leaving the country, and other social restrictions.

This verdict, confirmed by a source close to Pour-Hosseini’s family, stems from charges of “propaganda against the regime” and “inciting people to act against national security.”

Pour-Hosseini was officially informed of this decision on March 17, 2024. Presently incarcerated in Karaj’s Central Prison, he faces further hardship as prison officials have imposed a three-month ban on family visits as a punitive measure.

The ordeal began on June 13, 2023, when Pour-Hosseini was apprehended by the IRGC’s intelligence in Karaj and confined to Ward 15 of the Central Prison of Karaj. Reports from HRANA suggest that his arrest was linked to the distribution of leaflets on behalf of Erfan-e-Halgheh.

In addition to his recent legal battles, Pour-Hosseini had previously been sentenced by the Revolutionary Court of Karaj to three years of imprisonment and two years of suspended imprisonment.

This is not Pour-Hosseini’s first brush with the authorities; he had been arrested in Qom for his participation in courses organized by the Erfan-e-Halgheh group.

Pour-Hosseini, aged 47 and a father of two daughters, resides in Karaj.

Data collected by the Department of Statistics and Publications of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) points to the involvement of IRGC Intelligence in 392 cases of human rights violations, including arbitrary arrests.

Sedigheh Vasmaghi Indicted for Alleged Propaganda against Iran’s Regime and Public Appearance without Hijab

Sedigheh Vasmaghi, an analyst specializing in political and social issues, faces indictment from Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

An Instagram page linked to Vasmaghi confirmed her indictment on March 18, citing charges of “propaganda against the regime” and “public appearance without hijab.” The indictment highlights Vasmaghi’s social media criticism as evidence.

Concerns over Vasmaghi’s health have been raised due to reported increases in heart rate and blood pressure during her detention. Despite her urgent need for medical attention, prison officials allegedly withhold treatment due to her refusal to comply with mandatory hijab rules.

Vasmaghi was apprehended by security forces on March 16, 2024, and subsequently transferred to Evin Prison.

This is not the first instance of legal action against Vasmaghi for her activism.

Workers’ Rights Activist Sharifeh Mohammadi Endures 105 Days of Detention Amidst Uncertain Legal Status

Sharifeh Mohammadi, a prominent advocate for workers’ rights, has been held in custody for over 105 days with an ambiguous legal standing at Lakan Prison in Rasht.

Her husband, Sirus Fathi, disclosed that Mohammadi underwent surgery for her toe, which unfortunately sustained irreparable damage due to infection resulting from delayed treatment.

Regarding her legal situation, Fathi emphasized that despite baseless accusations, judicial authorities have denied Mohammadi bail, despite there being no substantial evidence in her case to warrant such denial.

The Ministry of Intelligence apprehended Mohammadi at her Rasht residence on December 5, 2023. Subsequently, she was transferred from Lakan Prison to Sanandaj Prison on December 30, 2023, only to be returned to Lakan Prison later on.

The motives behind Mohammadi’s arrest and the specific charges against her remain undisclosed at present.

Iranian-Swedish Saeed Azizi’s Five-Year Prison Term Upheld on Political Charges

The Appellate Court of Tehran has affirmed a five-year prison sentence for Iranian-Swedish citizen Saeed Azizi.

Currently incarcerated in Evin Prison, Azizi was initially handed the five-year term for charges of “assembly and collusion against national security” by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, under the jurisdiction of Judge Iman Afshari.

Azizi’s legal representative has revealed that he is battling cancer, adding an extra layer of difficulty to his detention. His health has further deteriorated following a recent fall down a flight of stairs.

Previously, Sweden’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs had expressed concern over the arrest of a Swedish national man in Iran, citing a lack of clarity regarding the reasons behind it.

Protest Rapper Toomaj Salehi Acquitted of Disseminating False Information and Inciting Violence

Toomaj Salehi, the protest singer, has been acquitted by the Criminal Court of Isfahan of charges related to “disseminating false information” and “inciting people to violence.” His lawyer, Amir Raisian, confirmed this development, clarifying that these charges stemmed from a video Salehi published in November 2023.

Presently held in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan, Salehi faces a one-year prison sentence imposed by the Revolutionary Court for allegedly “spreading propaganda against the regime.” Alongside this verdict comes a two-year travel ban, revocation of his passport, and mandatory enrollment in behavior management and knowledge skills programs. This sentence was upheld on appeal.

Salehi’s legal saga began in late October 2022 when he was initially detained by security forces during nationwide protests. Subsequently, the Isfahan Revolutionary Court sentenced him to six years and three months in prison, among other penalties. However, he secured release on bail after the Supreme Court overturned the verdict.

Nevertheless, Salehi’s freedom was short-lived as he was re-arrested in Babol on November 30, just twelve days after being bailed out from Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan. The Judiciary spokesperson cited Salehi’s post-release statement as grounds for this subsequent arrest.

It’s worth noting that Salehi has a prior conviction from January 12, 2022, where he received a six-month prison term and a fine, with the imprisonment suspended for one year.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Now is definitely not the time to stop reading!

Journalist Ali Moslehi Receives Six Years and Two Months in Prison

Journalist Ali Moslehi has been sentenced to six years and two months in prison through two verdicts issued by the Criminal and Revolutionary Court of Kashan, with 22 months suspended for five years.

According to Moslehi’s lawyer, Saeed Gholamian, the Kashan Revolutionary Court handed down a 15-month sentence for “insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran” and a seven-month sentence for “spreading propaganda against the regime,” both suspended for five years. Additionally, the Criminal Court of Kashan sentenced him to three years and one month for “blasphemy” and one year and three months for “disseminating false information.”

Moslehi was arrested by security forces in Kashan on July 20, 2023. Following his arrest, he was transferred from the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility to Kashan Prison in August. He was later released on bail of one billion tomans (approximately 20,000 dollars).

Ali (Abbas-Ali) Moslehi has a history of previous arrests and judicial confrontations due to his activism.

Maryam Khalili Detained by Security Forces in Isfahan

Maryam (Marzieh) Khalili, aged 24, was apprehended by security forces in Isfahan on March 14, 2024, and transferred to an undisclosed facility.

A source close to Khalili’s family verified her arrest to HRANA. According to reports obtained by HRANA, Khalili has been repeatedly summoned and interrogated by judicial authorities, and previously released on bond. She now faces charges including “spreading propaganda against the regime,” “insulting the Supreme Leader,” and “blasphemy,” as declared by the Revolutionary Court of Isfahan.

At present, the reasons behind Khalili’s arrest and her current whereabouts remain undisclosed.

Extension of Mohammad-Hossein Sepehri’s Detention Continues Legal Limbo

Political detainee Mohammad-Hossein Sepehri’s confinement in Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad, has surpassed 168 days, with his uncertain legal status persisting. Recently, authorities prolonged his detention for an additional month.

Asghar Sepehri confirmed to HRANA the extension of his brother’s detainment by the Public and Revolutionary Courthouse in Mashhad.

Sepehri was apprehended by security forces in Mashhad on September 28, 2023, facing charges of “assembly and collusion against national security” and “spreading propaganda against the regime.” Moreover, on January 20, 2024, his employment was terminated by the Ministry of Education.

Notably, Sepehri’s sister, Fatemeh Sepehri, also languishes as a political detainee in the same prison.

Execution Carried Out in Qazvin Prison for Drug Conviction

As confirmed by Iran Human Rights Organizations, Qazvin Prison authorities proceeded with the execution of an inmate on March 14, 2024, for drug-related offenses.

The individual, Behzad Biderang, 42 years old and a father of two, was hanged after being convicted of a drug-related crime two years prior.

No official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have provided coverage of this execution at the time of writing. In 2023, 66% of HRANA’s reports on executions lacked official announcements by judicial authorities and went unreported by media inside Iran, highlighting a troubling lack of transparency in due process.

The reports from the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists for the year 2023 reveal a concerning prevalence of executions for drug offenses in Iran, constituting 56.4% of the total executions. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s report.

 

Five Citizens Arrested in Tabriz by Security Forces

Five Azerbaijani-Turk activists, Siamak Seifi, Milad Zeinolabedini, Samad Heydari, Amin Taghizadeh, and Amir Taghizadeh, were arrested by security forces in Tabriz on March 13, 2024.

They were detained while leaving the football stadium. The charges against them remain undisclosed.
Among these people, Siamak Seifi, known for his activism, has faced previous arrests and legal challenges.