Seven Arrested for Inciting Public Dancing in Rasht

In Rasht, Gilan Province, seven individuals were arrested and taken to an undisclosed location for allegedly inciting public dancing and propaganda against the regime.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Khabar Online, seven people were arrested in Rasht.

The detainees were apprehended for allegedly inviting and encouraging people to dance in public, removing hijab, and engaging in immodesty.
Khabar Online did not mention the identities of these detainees and the location of their detention.”

Political Activist Keyvan Samimi Arrested

Keyvan Samimi, a political activist and the editor of Iran Farda Magazine, was arrested by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Shargh Newspaper, political activist Keyvan Samimi was arrested by security forces on charges of allegedly associating with an anti-regime group outside the country.

In January 2023, Samimi was released from Semnan Prison after serving a three-year sentence. However, he had to provide a bond to be released due to a new legal case opened against him while in prison.

On August 18, 2022, Samimi was indicted for “assembly and collusion” under Article 10 of the Islamic Penal Code.

Samimi has a history of political activism and has previously been imprisoned for six years in 2009 for questioning the outcome of the disputed 2009 presidential election, participating in protests, and writing articles critical of the government. He has also been imprisoned for his political activities prior to the 1979 Revolution.

Lawyer Sina Yousefi Sentenced to Imprisonment and Paying a Fine

Branch 112 of the Tabriz Criminal Court sentenced Sina (Hossein) Yousefi, attorney at law, to 91 days imprisonment and paying a 15-million-toman fine.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, lawyer Sina Yousefi was sentenced to three months imprisonment.

Yousefi received this sentence for “spreading falsehood on the Internet.”

“Giving unrealistic statistics” on arrests over recent protests in a tweet was presented to the court as an example of this charge.

For another part of his legal case, Yousefi has been sentenced to six months and a ban from leaving the country for two years.
Yousefi, who is the vice chairman of the human rights commission of the Azerbaijan Province bar association, clarifies, “Since so many people came to the commission asking for representing the arrestees over protests, we decided to establish a ‘defense committee’… Now, for doing my job, I have faced the charge of forming an illegal group.”

Yousefi, age about 38, was arrested by security forces on October 15, 2022. Twelve days later, he was released on bail from Tabriz Prison.

Foad Choobin Arrested in Izeh

On April 11, 2023, security forces arrested Foad Choobin in Izeh and took him to an undisclosed location. His nephew, Artin Rahmani, was killed by regime forces during the 2022 nationwide protests in Izeh.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on April 11, 2023, Foad Choobin was arrested in Izeh, Khuzestan Province.
Hengameh Choobin, his sister and Artin Rahmani’s mother, stated that the agents did not show any arrest warrant and arrested him violently.

The allegations against Choobin remain unknown.

Choobin’s relative, Artin Rahmani, was fatally shot in the head by security forces during the protests in Izeh.

About the 2022 Nationwide Protests

The arrest of Mahsa Amini by Tehran Morality Police for her improper hijab and her suspicious death on September 16 sparked protests sweeping across Iran. During the nationwide protests, about 19600 people, including journalists, artists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, were arrested.

Journalist Hassan Abbasi Faces Legal Action for Report on Retired Sailors

Hassan Abbasi, a journalist, is facing legal action after the Bandar-Abbas Ministry of Cooperatives, Labour, and Social Welfare filed a complaint against him regarding his report on retired sailors. The report in question dealt with the issues faced by retired sailors of the Hormozgan Shipping Company.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Hassan Abbasi faced legal action for making a report on the issues of retired sailors of the Hormozgan Shipping Company.

Abbasi stated that he has also been summoned to the police station for allegations that include disturbing public order, insulting individuals, causing terror, destroying government properties, filming a government facility, and publishing it online.

Moreover, in March 2023, the prosecutor of Bandar-Abbas filed a complaint against Abbasi for his criticism of the judiciary.

Abbasi has previously faced other legal actions for his work as a journalist.

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Mohammad-Reza Morad Behroozi Goes on Hunger Strike in Protest against New Charges

Mohammad-Reza Morad Behroozi, who is currently serving his sentence in Qazvin Prison, has recently started a hunger strike to protest against new charges brought against him while in prison. He is also being denied phone calls and family visitation.

In this new legal case, Branch 102 of the Criminal Court of Mohammadiyeh has sentenced Morad Behroozi to ten months for “disturbing public opinions” and eight months and ten days for “inciting people to act against public modesty.” He has also been banned from leaving the country for two years, and his cell phone has been confiscated.

His wife, Soori Babai Chegini, has also been sentenced to one month for “demonstrating a Haram act” and six months for “inciting people to act against public modesty,” and her cell phone has been confiscated as well.

The charges against them stem from publishing pictures without wearing Hijab on their personal pages on social media.

If these verdicts are upheld on appeal, Morad Behroozi will serve ten months in prison, while Babai Chegini will serve six months, in accordance with Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code.

According to an informed source, Behroozi is facing a charge of “propaganda against the regime” in the second part of his legal case. He has also been charged with spreading falsehoods due to the dissemination of his voice recording from prison. This same source stated that Behroozi had been beaten by prison officials.

In protest against these new charges, Behroozi started a hunger strike.

Behroozi was arrested on August 21, 2021, at his house after posting a video on social media in which he criticized the Supreme Leader for banning Covid-19 vaccines from other countries.
In a trial held in absentia, Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court of Qazvin, headed by Judge Esmail Amini, sentenced Behroozi to one year in prison on the charge of “offensive statements against the Supreme Leader of Iran.”

 

 

Iran Protests: Eleven Defendants Sentenced to a Total of 79 Years

The Chief Justice of Alborz Province announced that eleven defendants of a legal case, known as “the murder of a Basij militia force Ruhollah Ajamian,” have been sentenced to a total of 79 years in prison. The charges against three other co-defendants were dropped, and they were released after being pardoned. These people were previously arrested over the 2022 nationwide protests.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Tasnim news agency, 11 people, arrested amid the 2022 nationwide protests, were sentenced to a total of 79 years in prison.

Without mentioning the charges, the Chief Justice of Alborz Province stated that according to this verdict, Hamid Ghareh-Hassanlou was sentenced to 15 years, Reza Aria, Hossein Mohammadi, Mehdi Mohammadi and Arian Farzamnia to ten years, Mohammad-Amin Akhlaghi Savojbolaghi, Amin-Mehdi Shokrollai and Farzaneh Ghareh-Hassanlou, to five years, and Shayan Charani, Amir-Mohammad Jafari and Ali Moazzami Goodarzi to three years.

With re-examination, the charges against three other defendants, Behrad Ali Kenari, Javad Zargaran and Reza Shaker Zavardehi were changed from “spreading corruption on earth” to “assembly and collusion against national security” and “propaganda against the regime.” Consequently, these defendants were granted pardons and set free.

“These verdicts are not finalized and defendants can bring an appeal to the Supreme Court within the deadline period,” he added.

On January 7, 2023, two other defendants of this legal case, Mohammad Mehdi Karami and Mohammad Hosseini were executed.

These individuals were arrested in Karaj over the murder of a Basij militia force Ruhollah Ajamian” during the protest.

About the 2022 Nationwide Protests

The arrest of Mahsa Amini by Tehran Morality Police for her improper hejab and her suspicious death on September 16 sparked protests sweeping across Iran. During the nationwide protests, about 19600 people, including journalists, artists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, were arrested.

 

 

 

Former Political Prisoner Mosayeb Raisi Yeganeh Arrested

On April 17, 2023, security forces arrested former political prisoner Mosayeb Raisi Yeganeh in Tehran and took him to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on April 17, 2023, Mosayeb Raisi Yeganeh was arrested in Tehran.

The location of his detention and allegations are still unknown.

Yeganeh was also arrested by security forces over protests, for a short time on February 25, 2023.

The Ministry of Intelligence agents previously arrested Yeganeh in September 2017. Subsequently, the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced him to six years imprisonment for “propaganda against the regime, blasphemy, insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran.” This verdict was upheld on appeal. Ultimately, on February 4, 2020, he was jailed in Evin Prison to serve his sentence.

After the fire incident at Evin Prison on October 15, 2022, Yeganeh was relocated to Rajai Shahr Prison, and after a while, he was released from jail without prior notice.

 

Journalist Elaheh Mohammadi Still Detained After Six Months

Elaheh Mohammadi, a reporter for the daily newspaper Ham-Mihan, has been in detention for over six months in Qarchak Prison, Varamin, with an unclear status regarding due process.

Mohammadi’s husband, Saeed Para, stated, “Her lawyer does not have access to the legal files… no matter how much we tried, we did not receive any answers from the officials. From the prosecutor’s office to the court, they all breach the procedural law.”

“We met with as many officials as we could and waited for hours and days in front of Evin courthouse and judicial offices, we obtained even an urgent review order, but in the end, it went nowhere. Despite all promises, our request remains unanswered, and we are still at square one,” Parsa added.

On September 29, 2022, security forces arrested Mohammadi following her travel to Saqqez and publishing a report on the funeral of Mahsa Amini.

About the 2022 Nationwide Protests

The arrest of Mahsa Amini by Tehran Morality Police for her improper Hijab and her suspicious death on September 16 sparked protests sweeping across Iran. During the nationwide protests, about 19600 people, including journalists, artists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, were arrested.

Iran Protests: Three Members of Family Still Detained in Evin Prison

Nasrollah Fallahi and his son and daughter, Ardavan and Arghavan, are still detained in Evin Prison, awaiting further legal proceedings. They were arrested amid the 2022 nationwide protests.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, three members of a family, arrested amid the 2022 nationwide protests, are in detention in Evin prison with an unclear status of due prosses.

According to attorney Erfan Karam-Veisi, they have been charged with “enmity against God (Moharebeh),” “spreading corruption on earth through widespread actions against the country” and “assembly and collusion to commit a crime.” This lawyer said that judicial officials did not allow him to represent this family.
Also, an informed source close to this family told HRANA, “The Investigation Office has held two sessions so far. However, they have not yet been indicted.”
On November 3, 2022, Ardavan Fallahi, age 24, was arrested in Isfahan and his father, age 66, and sister, age 22, the next day in Shiraz. On February 12, 2023, they were transferred to Evin Prison in Tehran.

About the 2022 Nationwide Protests

The arrest of Mahsa Amini by Tehran Morality Police for her improper hejab and her suspicious death on September 16 sparked protests sweeping across Iran. During the nationwide protests, about 19600 people, including journalists, artists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, were arrested.