Three Physicians Arrested in Mahabad

The intelligence agents arrested three doctors Jaser Rahmani-Rad (GP), Behnam Ohadi (Psychiatrist) and Homayoun Eftekharian-Nia (Operating Room Technician), in Mahabad, West Azerbaijan Province. They had travelled from Tehran and Khorramabad to Mahabad.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, three physicians, Jaser Rahmani-Rad, age 34,  Behnam Ohadi, age 49, and Homayoun Eftekharian-Nia, age 23, were arrested in Mahabad.

These individuals travelled to Mahabad on November 30 and were arrested four days later by security agents.

The reason for these arrests is still unknown. Their families’ inquiries have yet remained unanswered by judicial/security officials, raising their concerns over their conditions.

 

 

Baha’i Faraz Haghighatjoo Arrested in Shiraz

On December 10, security forces arrested Baha’i citizen Faraz Haghighatjoo in Shiraz and took him to Adel-Abad Prison. During the arrest, the agents searched his house and confiscated some of his belongings.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on December 10, 2022, Baha’i Faraz Haghighatjoo was arrested by security forces in Shiraz.

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

 

Detained Protestor Majid-Reza Rahnavard Executed Publicly in Mashhad

On December 12, Majid-Reza Rahnavard was executed in public in Mashhad. Recently, the Mashhad Revolutionary Court sentenced Majid-Reza Rahnavard, arrested at protests, to death on the charge of “enmity against God.”

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Majid-Reza Rahnavard, age 23, was executed in Mashhad.

An informed source told HRANA the court had already determined his guilt, and he was not allowed to defend himself. Rahnavard’s trial began only ten days after his arrest.

Rahnavard has been accused of killing two Basij militia forces in Mashhad during protests. Nonetheless, the assailant’s face cannot be identified by any CCTV cameras that captured the scene.

Earlier, pro-government mobs assaulted his family’s apartment and broke doors and windows to terrorize his family.

 

Student Farzad Marzbani Sentenced to Three Years in Prison

The Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced student Farzad Marzbani to three years imprisonment. Marzbani is a student at Payame Noor University-Shemiranat Branch.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Iranian Students’ Union, student Farzad Marzbani was sentenced to three years in prison on the charge of “assembly and collusion to act against national security.”
On September 28, 2022, Marzbani was arrested by security forces before the Ministry of Interior building in Tehran.

Since the outbreak of nationwide protests, about 18200 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 the latest HRANAs comprehensive report here.

 

Mahvin Bigdeli Sentenced to Six Months in Prison

Recently, the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced Mahvin (Roghayeh) Bigdeli, a resident of Karaj, to six months in prison and banned her from leaving the country for two years. Moreover, as additional punishment, she has been forced to attend education courses in a seminary (Hawza) for two months, two hours per day. She was also barred from using a cell phone.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Mahvin Bigdeli was sentenced to six months in prison and additional punishment on the charge of “propaganda against the regime.”

Bigdeli faced other arrests and convictions on prior occasions. On January 11, 2020, she was arrested by Karaj’s security police and then released on a 300-million-toman bail. In June 2022, the Karaj Revolutionary Court sentenced her to five years of suspended imprisonment and two years and eight months of exile in Zanjan.

 

 

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Now is definitely not the time to stop reading!

Baha’i Citizen Farbod Alavi Arrested

On December 4, 2022, security forces arrested Baha’i citizen Farbod Alavi and jailed him in Evin Prison. The agents searched his house and confiscated some of his belongings.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on December 4, 2022, Baha’i Farbod Alavi was arrested at his house in Tehran.

Alavi was allowed to call his family only after three days.

The reason for his arrest and the charges 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.

Freedom of religion is 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 holds that every person has the right to practice religion freely, freedom of converting to a religion, as well as freedom of expression, individually or collectively; openly or secretly.

Iran Protests: Mohsen Shekari Executed over Protests

Iran’s Judiciary announced the execution of Mohsen Shekari, one of the people arrested at recent protests, on Thursday morning, December 8, 2022.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Mizan News Agency, on December 8, 2022, Mohsen Shekari was executed in Tehran.

Shekari was arrested at protests in Sattar Khan street in Tehran.
On November 1, 2022, the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Shekari to death on the charge of “enmity against God, terrorizing people, injuring a Basij Militia force with a cold weapon, and disturbing public order by blocking the street.”

Subsequently, this verdict was confirmed by the Supreme Court of Iran.

 

Baha’i citizen Vesal Momtazi Arrested in Rasht

On December 6, security forces arrested Baha’i citizen Vesal Momtazi in Rasht and took him to Lakan Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Tuesday, December 6, 2022, Baha’i citizen Vesal Momtazi was arrested by security forces.

According to an informed source, the agents searched his house. In recent weeks, he was summoned and interrogated several times.

The reason for his arrest is still unknown.

 

Iran Protests: Couple Sentenced to Death and Imprisonment

Hamid Ghareh-Hassanlou, a radiologist doctor, was sentenced to death in a case related to nationwide protests. In the same legal case, his wife, Farzaneh Ghareh-Hassanlou has also been sentenced to 25 years in exile imprisonment in Ahvaz. Without giving any details, Iran’s Judiciary announced that in this legal case, five people were sentenced to death, and eleven others, including three children, to imprisonment.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, in Karaj, five people, including physician Hamid Ghareh-Hassanlou, were sentenced to death for killing a Basij militia force.

An informed source told HRANA that Ghareh-Hassanlou was beaten harshly during detention, causing broken ribs and lung bleeding. During the last two weeks, he underwent surgery three times. Nonetheless, his family is not allowed to see him in the hospital.

On November 30, 2022, The Karaj Revolutionary Court began the trial of several people arrested at protests for killing a Basij militia force. The defendants were charged with “spreading corruption on earth through committing crimes against national security.” The defendants include Seyyed-Mohammad Hosseini, Reza Aria, Mehdi Mohammadi, Shayan Charani, Mohammad-Amin Akhlaghi, Hamid Ghareh-Hassanlou, Farzaneh Ghareh-Hassanlou, Reaz Shaker Zavardehi, Javad Zargaran, Behrad Ali-Kenari, Ali Moazzami Goodarzi, Mohammad-Mehdi Karami and three teenagers Mehdi Shokrollahi, Arian Farzamnia and Amir-Mehdi Jafari.

 

Maryam Derisi Sentenced to Imprisonment and Flogging for Her Second Case

In a new legal case, the Kazerun Revolutionary Court sentenced Maryam Derisi, a Master’s student at the University of Saveh, to one year in prison and 74 lashes. In another legal case, she was earlier sentenced to three years imprisonment.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Maryam Derisi was sentenced to one year in prison on the charge of “disturbing the public order” and 74 lashes for “committing Haram act (removing headscarf in public).”

On October 15, 2022, security forces arrested Derisi in Shiraz and jailed her in Adel-Abad Prison. On November 2, she was released on bail.