Category: Freedom of Expression

Sivan Ebrahimi Receives an Eleven-Year Prison Sentence

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Freedom of Expression, News
Kamyaran, Mohammad Karami, Nojin, Sanandaj, Sivan Ebrahimi

Sivan Ebrahimi, one of the individuals detained in connection with the 2022 nationwide protests, has been sentenced to eleven years in prison by the Sanandaj Revolutionary Court, as reported by Kurdpa.

According to the verdict issued by Judge Mohammad Karami on December 2, 2023, Ebrahimi was found guilty of “forming groups to act against national security,” resulting in a ten-year prison term if the decision is upheld on appeal. Additionally, he received a one-year sentence for “propaganda against the regime.”

In a separate facet of his legal case, the Sanandaj Criminal Court had previously imposed an additional one-year imprisonment in exile and 40 lashes.

Ebrahimi, a Kurdish language teacher and a member of the cultural association Nojin, faced his second arrest on January 18, 2023, in Kamyaran. Following this arrest, he was released on bail in February of the same year.

Manouchehr Fallah Receives 22-Month Prison Sentence for Political Charges

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Freedom of Expression, News
Kish Island, Lakan prison, Manouchehr Fallah, Mehdi Rasekhi, Rasht

Manouchehr Fallah has been sentenced to a term of 22 months and 17 days by the Rasht Revolutionary Court, following charges related to his political activities.

Presiding over the court, Judge Mehdi Rasekhi has imposed a one-year, three-month, one-day sentence for the charge of “insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran” and a seven-month, sixteen-day sentence for “spreading propaganda against the regime.”

Sources close to Fallah’s family have disclosed that additional charges are currently under review by the Rasht Criminal Court as part of another aspect of his legal case.

The arrest of Fallah traces back to July of this year when authorities apprehended him at Rasht airport, subsequently incarcerating him in Lakan Prison. In September, he commenced a hunger strike in protest against the uncertainty surrounding his legal status.

Before his arrest, Fallah, a professional tattoo artist, had been residing in Kish Island.

Five Citizens Receive a Combined 20 Years and Fine for Political Charges

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, HRANA, Iman Afshari, Kamran Rezaie, Mohammad-Masoud Moeini, Parastoo Moeini, Tehran Revolutionary Court, Teymour Rezaeian, Zahra Safaie

The Tehran Revolutionary Court has recently sentenced Zahra Safaie, Parastoo Moeini, Mohammad-Masoud Moeini, and Kamran Rezaiefar to five years, totaling twenty years in prison for political charges. Meanwhile, co-defendant Teymour (Timur) Rezaeian has been ordered to pay a fine.

Presiding over the court, Judge Iman Afshari found these individuals guilty of “assembly and collusion against national security.”

The arrests occurred on September 12, 2023, with Rezaeian apprehended one day later. Initially held in Ward 209 of Evin Prison, Later, they were transferred to the IRGC’s detention center, known as A-1.

According to HRANA reports, Safaie is currently held in the Women’s Ward of Evin Prison, while her son, Mohammad-Masoud Moeini, and Rezaiefar are in Ward 4 of the same prison. Two other defendants have been released on bail.

Notably, Rezaiefar has a history of arrests and convictions. In November 2021, he received a death sentence for “spreading corruption on earth,” which was later overturned by the Supreme Court. The current status of his legal case remains uncertain.

 

Protest Singer Toomaj Salehi Faces Re-Arrest

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Freedom of Expression, News
Amir Raisian, Babol, Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan, Toomaj Salehi

On November 30, 2023, protest rapper Toomaj Salehi experienced a renewed arrest in Babol by security forces, taken to an undisclosed location despite his recent release on bail from Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan, on November 18.

The apprehension unfolded on a Babol street using violence by the agents, leaving the grounds for his arrest and his current location shrouded in uncertainty.

This influential protest rapper was granted bail on November 18 from Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan, after the Supreme Court overturned his verdict. According to Amir Raisian, Salehi’s lawyer, Branch 39 of the Supreme Court reviewed Salehi’s case, identified defects in the indictment, and subsequently annulled the previous verdict. Consequently, the case was returned to the Isfahan Revolutionary Court. “Salehi, benefiting from a general pardon, should have been released without the need for bail,” his lawyer asserted.

In July of this year, Salehi received a six-year and three-month sentence, along with a travel ban, a prohibition on music production, and mandatory participation in behavior management and knowledge skills courses for two years.

In late October 2022, Salehi was detained by security forces during nationwide protests. Despite official media claims of his attempt to leave the country illegally, individuals close to Salehi contested this narrative.

It is noteworthy that the protest singer has a prior conviction in a separate legal case. On January 12, 2022, he was sentenced to a six-month prison term and fined, with the imprisonment suspended for one year.

Reza Aghdasi Sentenced to Four Years and Three Months on Political Charges

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, HRANA, Iran Khodro, Karaj, Reza Aghdasi, Tehran

Reza (Gholamreza) Aghdasi has received a verdict of four years and three months for political charges from Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court. He is currently jailed in Evin Prison.

Presiding over the court, Iman Afshari delivered a three-year and seven-month sentence (including the detention period) to Aghdasi for “assembly and collusion against national security” and an additional eight months for “spreading propaganda against the regime.”

Following being fired from Iran Khodro, an Iranian automaker company, Aghdasi was arrested on October 24, 2023, and subsequently detained in Evin Prison after being summoned to Evin Courthouse.

According to a source close to his family, Aghdasi, aged 57 and a resident of Karaj, is grappling with hearing impairment and other health issues. His residence was searched during the 2022 nationwide protests, resulting in the confiscation of some of his belongings.

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Attorney Khosrow Alikurdi Receives One-Year Sentence and Additional Restrictions

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Freedom of Expression, News
Abolfazl Adinehzadeh, Khosrow Alikurdi, Mashhad, Vakilabad prison, خسرو علیکردی

Lawyer Khosrow Alikurdi has been sentenced to one year in prison by the Mashhad Revolutionary Court. In addition to the imprisonment, he faces several other penalties, including a ban on practicing law, a travel ban, mandatory residence in Nehbandan, South Khorasan province, and a prohibition on engaging in social media activities, all enforced for a period of two years.

Alikurdi disclosed this verdict to the public, revealing that he was convicted of “propaganda against the regime in favor of anti-regime groups.”
On August 1, 2023, Alikurdi was arrested and incarcerated in Vakilabad Prison following his presence at the Mashhad Courthouse. He was released on bail from Vakilabad Prison after spending four days in custody.
Another facet of this legal saga involves a previous sentence imposed on Alikurdi, requiring him to pay a fine for “disseminating false information and breaching confidentiality.”

Tourism Professionals Niloofar Ghazaleh and Mohammad-Ali Moghimi Arrested in Isfahan

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Freedom of Expression, News
compulsory hijab, Hijab regulations, Isfahan, Khur and Biabanak, Mohammad-Ali Moghimi, Mohsen PourBafrani, Niloofar Ghazaleh

Niloofar Ghazaleh and Mohammad-Ali Moghimi (Rahab), a couple actively involved in the tourism industry, found themselves in the custody of security forces in Isfahan.

The arrests were carried out under the directive of Judge Mohsen PourBafrani, who presides over the jurisdiction of Khur and Biabanak County.

At present, the specific reasons for their arrests, their current location, and the charges lodged against them remain undisclosed.
Moghimi is the head of the Union of Tourism Cooperative Companies in Isfahan Province. It is worth noting that Ghazaleh had previously received a five-year prison sentence for “publishing photos without hijab.” Additionally, their tourist accommodation in Khur has faced the brunt of PourBafrani’s orders.

This development coincides with recent efforts by the regime to enforce hijab regulations, leading to the closure of thousands of businesses for non-compliance. The situation raises concerns about the broader implications of these enforcement measures on individuals engaged in various sectors within the country.

Journalist Mohammad Mir-Ghasemzadeh Taken Into Custody

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Freedom of Expression, News
Mohammad Mir-Ghasemzadeh, Rasht, Someh Sara

Journalist Mohammad Mir-Ghasemzadeh, a resident of Someh Sara, has been arrested by security forces and subsequently transferred to the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Rasht.

According to a source close to his family, information obtained from unofficial sources indicates that Mir-Ghasemzadeh’s health condition is critical, prompting serious concerns among his family members.

As of now, the reasons behind Mir-Ghasemzadeh’s arrest and the allegations against him remain unknown.

Mohammad Boroughani Receives Five-Year Prison Term and Ten Years Exile

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Ghezel Hesar, Isfahan, Karaj, Mohammad Boroughani, moharebeh, Naeen, Pakdasht, Qezel Hesar Prison

The Tehran Revolutionary Court has issued a verdict, sentencing Mohammad Boroughani, a detainee from the 2022 nationwide protests, to five years in prison and ten years of mandatory residence in Naeen County, situated in Isfahan province, as reported by Shargh Newspaper.

Initially facing a death sentence on charges of “enmity against God (Moharebeh) through the use of a cold weapon, altercation with police officers, and setting fire to the Pakdasht governorate building,” Boroughani’s fate took a different turn. The Supreme Court overturned the initial verdict, leading to a retrial in another court branch.

Currently held in Qezel Hesar Prison in Karaj, Boroughani was apprehended during the 2022 protest in Pakdasht, Tehran Province.

Mahvash Seydal Receives Suspended Sentence and Additional Penalties

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, Mahvash Seydal, Tehran Court of Appeals, Ward 209 of Evin Prison, مهوش صیدال

The Tehran Court of Appeals has issued a verdict against Mahvash Seydal Tadooei, an active participant in social media communities on Clubhouse, sentencing her to one year of suspended imprisonment. In addition to the suspended sentence, Seydal faces a fine, a five-year ban on leaving the country, and five years of restrictions on using social media.

Seydal has been charged with “disseminating false information to disturb public opinions.” Initially, the Tehran Revolutionary Court, under the jurisdiction of Judge Iman Afshari, imposed the same punishment. During the trial, the act of publishing posts on social media was presented as evidence to support this charge.

On June 21, 2023, Seydal, along with several others, was apprehended by security forces in Tehran for their activities in Clubhouse. Subsequently, on July 23, she was granted release on bail from Ward 209 of Evin Prison.