Ghafar Rezaian Arrested in Tehran

On May 7, 2023, security forces arrested Ghafar Rezaian, a resident of Zanjan, in Tehran and took him to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on May 7, 2023, Ghafar Rezaian was arrested in Tehran.

According to an informed who spoke to HRANA, the arrest was allegedly due to Rezaian’s online activism, as he had been previously threatened with arrest by security forces.

The institution responsible for the arrest and Rezaian’s current whereabouts remain unknown.

Ghafar Rezaian faced other arrests and convictions for his activism.

 

 

 

Student Majid Shia Ali Sentenced to Two Years and Six Months

Majid Shia Ali, a PhD student at the Islamic Azad University of Mashhad, has been sentenced to two years and six months in prison, with one year and six months being enforceable, according to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code.

The Court of Appeals of Razavi Khorasan Province handed down the verdict, sentencing Shia Ali to one year and six months for ‘membership in groups inside the country to act against national security,’ six months for ‘propaganda against the regime,’ and six months for ‘insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran.’ The Mashhad Revolutionary Court had initially sentenced Shia Ali to six years and six months for these same charges.

According to reports obtained by HRANA, Shia Ali faced this legal case for publishing a post online about the 2022 nationwide protests.

In November 2022, Shia Ali was arrested and spent 56 in detention, including 40 days in solitary confinement in an IRGC detention facility. He was later released on bail from Vakilaad Prison in early February 2023.

Sepideh Gholian Sentenced to Two Years in Prison

Civil rights activist Sepideh Gholian has been sentenced to two years in prison, according to her brother Mehdi Gholian.

Gholian was re-arrested on March 15, 2023, shortly after being released from Evin Prison while on her way from Tehran to Dezful. She was taken to Ward 209 of Evin Prison and then transferred to the Women’s Ward of Evin Prison four days later.

The allegations against Gholian, a prominent civil rights activist, remain unknown at this time.

Gholian has previously been arrested and convicted for her activism.

Three Citizens Arrested in Sabzevar

On Thursday, May 4, 2023, Mohsen Baghaie, Sajjad Pour Sekhavat and Ali Pouyan Moghaddam were arrested by security forces in Sabzevar, Razavi Khorasan Province.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, three citizens were arrested in Sabzevar.

The Ministry of Intelligence is responsible for their arrest. The reason for their arrest, the location of their detention and the allegations are currently unknown.

 

Iranian Political Prisoner Mehran Gharebaghi Sentenced to Over 10 Years in Prison and Additional Punishments

Mehran Gharebaghi, who is currently imprisoned in Sheyban Prison in Ahvaz, has been sentenced to 10 years and one month in prison, as well as additional punishments, after a legal case was opened against him while he was already behind bars.

Fereshteh Tabanian, Gharebaghi’s lawyer, shared details of the verdict, saying, “According to the decision made by the Mahshahr Revolutionary Court, my client has been sentenced to six years and three months for membership in anti-regime groups, one year and four months for propaganda against the regime, and two years and six months for insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran.”

Tabanian went on to explain that Gharebaghi has also been given additional punishments, including a two-year ban on joining any civil or political groups, a two-year ban on leaving the country, and two years of compulsory residence in Taft County, Yazd Province.

If the verdict is upheld on appeal, Gharebaghi will face six years and three months in prison for his charge of “membership in anti-regime groups.

Gharebaghi, who is 31 years old and a resident of Behbahan, was previously sentenced to three years in prison for insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran and propaganda against the regime. Under Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, two years of this sentence were enforceable. He is currently serving his sentence in Sheyban Prison.

 

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Three Members of Family Still Detained for over Six Months

HRANA, Human Rights Activists news agency- Nasrollah Fallahi, along with his son Ardavan and daughter Arghavan, has been detained in Evin Prison for over six months, with no clear indication of the charges they are facing or when legal proceedings may take place.

Attorney Erfan Karam-Veisi stated that his clients, Nasrollah Fallahi and his son Ardavan, are being held in Ward 4 of Evin Prison, while Arghavan is detained in the Women’s Ward. They were arrested amid the 2022 nationwide protests.

According to Karam-Veisi, the charges are still unknown. However, earlier, he had mentioned his clients’ charges as “enmity against God (Moharebeh),” “spreading corruption on earth through widespread actions against the country” and “assembly and collusion to commit a crime.”

The Investigation Office has held two sessions thus far, but the family has not been formally indicted.

Ardavan Fallahi, who is 24 years old, was arrested in Isfahan on November 3, 2022, followed by the arrest of his father, who is 66 years old, and his 22-year-old sister in Shiraz the next day. 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.

 

 

Journalist Ruhollah Nakhaei’s Sentence Upheld on Appeal

Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)-Branch 36 of the Tehran Courts of Appeal upheld a two-year-and-seven-month sentence against journalist Ruhollah Nakhaei. Based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, two years in prison will be enforceable.

Nakhaei was initially sentenced by Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court for “assembly and collusion against national security” and “propaganda against the regime.”

On September 23, 2022, security forces arrested Nakhaei, and he remained in detention for about four months until he was released on bail from the Great Tehran Penitentiary.

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.

 

 

Hossein Afkari, Navid Afkari’s Father, Arrested

Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)- On May 2, 2023, Hossein Afkari, the father of the late Navid Afkari, a renowned wrestler who was executed on September 12, 2020, has been arrested by security forces.

Saeed Afkari, Hossein Afkari’s son, announced his father’s arrest to the public but did not provide any additional information regarding the circumstances surrounding the arrest.

This is not the first time Hossein Afkari has been detained by security forces. He was previously arrested for a brief period when he attended his son’s burial.

The reason for Afkari’s arrest and the allegations are currently unknown.

Journalist Hassan Abbasi Arrested in Bandar Abbas

HRANA, Human Rights Activists News Agency-On April 30, security forces arrested reporter Hassan Abbasi in Bandar Abbas and took him to an undisclosed location.

An informed source told HRANA that his arrest was made on the order of the prosecutor following a complaint from the governor, but the specific allegations against Abbasi are unknown.

Abbasi had previously faced legal action for his reporting on the issues of retired sailors of the Hormozgan Shipping Company and has faced other legal actions related to his work as a journalist.

As of now, the location of Abbasi’s detention remains unknown.

 

Former Political Prisoner Reza Mohammad Hosseini Arrested

HRANA, Human Rights Activists news agency–On May 1, 2023, formers political prisoner Reza Mohammad Hosseini was arrested by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location.

According to an informed source close to his family who spoke with HRANA, the arrest was made by IRGC Intelligence agents, who also confiscated his personal social media page.

On February 15, 2023, Mohammad Hosseini was set free from Rajai Shahr prison under the “pardon and commutation” directive.

Mohammad Hosseini has other arrests and convictions for his activism.

The reason for his current arrest, his whereabouts, and the allegations against him are currently unknown.