Category: Freedom of Expression

Political Prisoner Ahmadreza Haeri Arrested in Tehran

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Ahmadreza Haeri, Cybercrime Court of Tehran, HRANA, The Black Thursday of Evin Prison, the Greater Tehran prison

On June 27, 2022, security forces arrested political prisoner Ahmadreza Haeri in Tehran.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Emtedad News, on Monday, June 27, 2022, security forces arrested political prisoner Ahmadreza Haeri. The arrest was ordered by Branch 3 of the Interrogation Office of Evin Court.

Last week, IRGC agents raided and searched Haeri’s house and confiscated some of his personal belongings. During the search, Haeri was verbally instructed to appear at Evin Courthouse.

In October of last year, he was summoned to the Cybercrime Court of Tehran following a complaint from the Prisons Security and Corrective Measures Organization of Tehran Province (PSCMO).

Earlier, Ahmadreza Haeri had faced other arrests and convictions. On April 17, 2014, dozens of political prisoners in Ward 350 of Evin Prison were beaten brutally by security agents. In protest against this incident which is called “The Black Thursday of Evin Prison”, prisoners’ families and other individuals held protests in front of the Parliament and Judiciary, which led to the arrest of several protestors including Ahmadreza Haeri. One month later, he was sentenced to 42 months in prison by Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran.

This initial verdict was upheld on appeal. However, following his lawyer’s objection, Haeri’s verdict was revoked and this time the case was undertaken by Branch 54 of the court of appeals, which sentenced him to six months in prison and 74 lashes. 

On July 25, 2020, Haeri endured the flogging by the Intelligence and Public Security Police of NAJA and was sent to the Greater Tehran prison to serve his six-month sentence. On October 8, 2020, he was released on probation from the Greater Tehran prison.

Four Citizens Arrested in Oshnavieh

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News

On Monday, June 27, 2022, security forces arrested four individuals in Oshnavieh and transferred them to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, on Monday, June 27, 2022, four citizens identified as Yaghob Mahmmodi Azar, Bahman Mahommodi Azar, Ebrahim Azizi and his son Mohsen Azizi were arrested in Oshnavieh.

According to an informed source, the intelligence agents did not show arrest warrants.

The reasons for these arrests, the whereabouts of the individuals and the charges are unknown so far.

Lawyer and Human Rights Defender Amirsalar Davoudi Imprisoned

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Amirsalar Davoudi, Evin Prison

On June 26, 2022, lawyer and Human Rights Defender Amirsalar Davoudi was taken to prison to serve a ten-year sentence. Earlier, Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals sentenced him to 14 years in prison, of which, based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, ten years is enforceable. 

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Sunday, June 26, 2022, lawyer Amirsalar Davoudi was taken to prison for sentencing. 

An informed source told HRANA that while Davoudi was at Evin Courthouse to inquire about his case, he was arrested for sentencing without prior notice.

On December 1, 2021, Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeal sentenced Davoudi to two years in prison on the charge of “offensive statements against the Supreme Leader of Iran”, two years for “disturbing public opinion” and ten years for “creating a group which threatens national security.” Based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, ten years in prison for the last charge is enforceable. 

Davoudi was arrested by security forces on November 20, 2018, and transferred to Evin prison. Before his arrest, the intelligence agents had searched his office and confiscated some of his documents and personal belongings. 

Amirsalar Davoudi is a member of the Iranian Bar Association, who has worked as an attorney for many political activists including Soheil Arabi, Zeynab Jalalian and Saeed Shirzad.

Majid Khademi Arrested upon Appearing at Court

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Behbahan, IRGC Intelligence, Khuzestan, Majid Khademi, Mehran Ghareh-Baghi, Tilehkoohi

On Wednesday, Jun 22, 2022, Majid Khademi was arrested after an appearance at Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court in Bandar Mahshahr. He and the other defendant in this case, Mehran Ghareh-Baghi, had attended the court.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, Majid Khademi was arrested in Bandar Mahshahr, Khuzestan Province.

On January 18, 2020, IRGC Intelligence arrested Khademi and transferred him to a detention facility in Behbahan City. After one month of interrogation, he was relocated to Behbahan Prison.

Khademi  was later charged with “propaganda against the regime, participating in the destruction of public property, producing non-military explosive materials and Membership in one of the anti-regime parties and spreading corruption on earth.” Later, he was released on bail of 2.5 billion tomans.

Majid Khademi is 30 years old and a resident of the village Tilehkoohi of Behbahan County, Khuzestan Province.

Iranian Teachers Protests Update: 230 Arrests during Last Two Months

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News

At least 230 teachers and teacher union activists have been arrested since early May, during the nationwide peaceful teachers’ protest. Additionally, at least 23 teachers have been summoned by security and judicial authorities. In some cases, the security forces used violence during the arrest, raided the teacher’s houses and conducted searches. 

During this period, active and retired teachers held protests on many occasions in different cities. During the protests, many teachers were beaten and several of them are detained and on hunger strike.

In late April, intelligence authorities began to summon and threaten teacher union activists. During Teacher Appreciation Week in Iran, active and retired teachers and educators held protests in front of the Ministry of Education in different cities. Their demands include the implementation of the “Job Ranking Plan” as passed in Iran’s parliament, closing the gap in pensions, free education for students, and a maximum class size of 16. 

Iran’s intelligence apparatus responded to widespread protests through arrests and the harassment of teacher union activists. At least 230 teachers have been arrested so far. In two protests in Tehran on April 21 and May 12, 70 protestors were arrested and taken to a detention facility, most of whom were released after a few hours. However, dozens of teachers are still in detention. In Saqqez, Kurdistan province, ten detained teacher union activists went on hunger strike in protest against their detention. 

The following is a list of detained teachers are verified by HRANA:

CityProvinceIdentified Arrests*Verified ReleasesSummoned by the security or judicial authorities
TehranTehran2931
SaqqezKurdistan2510 
ShirazFars205 
YasujKohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad1572
BushehrBushehr113 
MariwanKurdistan1043
QazvinQazvin90 
SanandajKurdistan7210
RashtGilan755
DivandarrehKurdistan61 
AhvazKhuzestan4445
YazdYazd30 
KermanKerman33 
KhomeynishahrIsfahan33 
JolfaEast Azerbaijan21 
MashhadRazavi Khorasan21 
IsfahanIsfahan22 
DashtiariSistan and Baluchestan10 
KhorramabadLorestan10 
PoldokhtarLorestan10 
HamedanHamedan10 
ZavehRazavi Khorasan10 
PasargadFars10 
DelfanLorestan10 
AligudarzLorestan11 
NajafabadIsfahan11 
LangerudGilan112
SariMazandaran11 
ArakMarkazi11 
AbharZanjan002
KermanshahKermanshah002
IzehKhuzestan001

*The figures are limited to cases identified by HRANA and the actual numbers may be higher.

 

 

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Teacher Union Activist Reza Tahmasbi Arrested

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Kurdistan Teachers’ Trade Associations, Reza Tahmasbi, Teacher union activist

On Monday, June 20, 2022, Reza Tahmasbi, teacher union activist and a member of the Kurdistan Teachers’ Trade Associations, was arrested by security forces and transferred to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, on Monday, June 20, 2022, security forces arrested teacher union activist Reza Tahmasbi without showing an arrest warrant

The reason for Tahmasbi’s arrest, the charges and his whereabouts are unknown so far.

In recent days, several teachers in cities across Iran have been arrested.

“Health Defenders” Sentenced to Over Ten Years in Prison

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Arash Keykhosravi, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, ehdi Mahmoodian, Health Defenders, Maryam Afrafaraz, Mohammad Reza Faghihi, Mostafa Nili

Branch 29 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced the defendants of a legal case known as “Health Defenders”, Mehdi Mahmoodian, Arash Keykhosravi, Mostafa Nili, Mohammad-Reza Faghihi and Maryam Afrafaraz to a total of ten years and nine months in prison and other restrictions.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Emtedad News, five lawyers and civil rights activists were sentenced to a total of more than ten years in prison.

According to Mahmoodian’s lawyer, Babak Paknia, the sentences against these individuals are as follows:

  •       Mahmoodian: four years in prison, banned from presence in media for two years
  •       Mostafa Nili: four years in prison, banned from presence in media for two years, prohibition of practicing law for two years.
  •       Arash Keykhosravi: two years, ban from presence in media for one year and prohibition of practicing law for one year.
  •       Mohammad-Reza Faghihi: six months in prison
  •       Maryam Afrafaraz: 95 days in prison.

Attorney Babak Paknia stated that at a public court session, he was not allowed to attend the court even as a spectator.

The first three defendants were convicted on the charge of “creating anti-regime groups to disrupt national security and propaganda against the regime”. The two last were convicted of “membership in anti-regime groups.”

On August 14, 2021, during a meeting to take a decision on filing a lawsuit against the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the government for banning foreign vaccines, nine Iranian lawyers and civil rights activists were arrested. The defendants of this case were dubbed on social media as “Health defenders.”

Ten Detained Teachers in Saqqez Prison Go on Hunger Strike

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News
Ahmad Ghaderi, Amanj Amini, Esmail Reihani, Hasan Rahimian, Heam Khakpour, Iranian detained teachers, Khaled Abdollahi, Mohsen Shokooh, Saqqez Prison, Soleiman Abdi, Taher Hamedi, Zahed Moradi

On Saturday, June 18, 2022, ten detained teachers, Khaled Abdollahi, Soleiman Abdi, Ahmad Ghaderi, Amanj Amini, Zahed Moradi, Esmail Reihani, Heam Khakpour, Taher Hamedi, Mohsen Shokooh, and Hasan Rahimian went on hunger strike in protest against their detention.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, ten teachers, who were arrested during the recent nationwide teachers’ protest, went on hunger strike in Saqqez Prison.

On Thursday, June 16, 2022, in response to the call of the Coordination Council of the Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations, active and retired teachers and educators held protests in front of the Ministry of Education in several cities across Iran. Last Wednesday and Thursday, dozens of teachers including 21 teachers in Saqqez were arrested.

The teachers’ demands include the immediate release of their detained colleagues, the implementation of the “Job Ranking Plan” as passed in Iran’s parliament, closing the gap in pensions, free education for students, and a maximum class size of 16.

Mehdi Salimi Imprisoned in Evin

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Behesht Zahra, Evin Prison, Iranian researcher, Iranian Writer, Mehdi Salimi

On Saturday, June 18, 2022, writer, translator and researcher Mehdi Salimi was taken to Evin Prison to serve his six-month sentence. Earlier, the Revolutionary Court of Tehran had sentenced him to three years in prison, of which two and a half years have been suspended for five years.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Saturday, June 18, 2022, writer Mehdi Salimi was taken to Evin prison to serve his six-month sentence.

In July of last year, Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court, presided by Judge Afshari, sentenced Salimi to three years in prison on the charge of “blasphemy” and eight months for “propaganda against the regime.” Based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, out of multiple charges, the most severe is enforceable. Therefore, three years of sentencing is enforceable, of which two years and six months have been suspended for five years.

As additional punishments, among other things, he has been banned from leaving the country during the suspension, prohibited from membership in civil and political groups. and obligated to visit the Martyrs’ Section of Behesht Zahra Cemetery on a monthly basis.
Mehdi Salimi is a resident of Tehran, writer and translator of several books on philosophy and social critical theories. During the trial, the translation of Salimi’s books and essays such as “Theories about Gender Studies” was presented as examples of the charges. Salimi had been arrested on July 7, 2020, in Ahar, East Azerbaijan Province, and was later released on bail.

 IRGC Intelligence Arrested Three Telegram Channel Admins 

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Iranian Telegram channel admins, IRGC Intelligence

In recent days, the IRGC Intelligence arrested three individuals for “disturbing public opinion through publishing classified documents”.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Radio Farda and Rokna, three Telegram channel admins were arrested by IRGC Intelligence allegedly for “publishing classified documents.”

In this report, one IRGC official claimed, “They attempted to gain the audience’s trust by publishing classified documents and by creating division between officials through fake and selective news items.”

This official did not disclose the individuals’ identities and their whereabouts. The individuals arrested are said in social media outlets to be connected to the IRGC Intelligence.