According to the news agency of Iran’s judiciary, Mizan, Abbas (Mojahed) Korkori, a resident of Izeh, has been sentenced to death by the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court on charges of “enmity against God (moharebeh)” and “spreading corruption on earth.” Korkori was also convicted of the destruction of private and public properties, forming and participating in anti-regime groups, and armed rebellion against the regime.
The Revolutionary Court claims that Korkori was found guilty based on evidence obtained by CCTV cameras and Criminal Justice expert reports, which testify that the bullets that led to the death of 10-year-old Kian Pirfalak during protests in Izeh, were shot from the gun discovered with the defendant. Additionally, weapons, bullets, and Molotov cocktails were discovered at the defendant’s hideout, and the Governor of Izeh reported damages caused by the defendant and his associates to public and government properties.
“This verdict is not final and can be appealed to the Supreme Court,” the report asserts.
However, Pirfalak’s parents have repeatedly denied these accusations and claimed that their son was killed in a shooting by regime forces. Zeinab Molaei-Rad, Kian’s mother, said during his funeral, “On the way back home, the regime agents opened fire on our car.”
“As Kian’s mother, I will refute any claims that any regular citizen can be the murderer of my son,” his mother said in reaction to the accusations against Abbas Korkori and several others.
During the protest in Izeh, on November 16, 2022, at least seven individuals, including Kiran Pirfalak, were killed in the shooting by regime forces.
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.
The Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced media activist Hossein Razzagh to four years and three months in a legal case opened against him while he was in prison.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, media Activist Hossein Razzagh was sentenced to imprisonment.
Razzagh was convicted of “assembly and collusion against national security and propaganda against the regime.”
According to this media activist, “if the verdict is upheld on appeal, based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, three years and seven months will be enforceable.”
On August 21, 2022, security forces arrested Razzagh in Amol for his previous legal case, and a while later, he was arraigned for a new case. In March 2023, he went on furlough.
Razzagh faced other arrests for his civil activities on prior occasions.
On April 5, 2023, Javad Heidari’s parents and his brother, Mohammad Heidari, were arrested by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location. Javad Heidari was killed by regime forces amid the 2022 nationwide protests.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on April 5, 2023, security forces arrested three family members of the killed protestor Javad Heidari.
His sister, Fatemeh Heidari informed the public, “They handcuffed my parents and brother, Mohammad, and arrested them. They told my parents that they should change Javad’s gravestone if they want to be released.”
Earlier, on April 3, security forces also arrested Ruhollah Heidari, Javad Heidari’s other brother.
Their detained location and the allegation against them are unknown so far.
On September 22, 2022, his brother, Javad Heidari, age 36, was shot dead at protests in Qazvin.
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.
On April 5, 2023, security forces arrested Mohammad Habibi, the spokesperson of the Tehran Teachers’ Trade Association, at his workplace in Tehran and took him to Ward 209 of Evin Prison. The agents also raided and searched his house.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on April 5, 2023, teachers union activist Mohammad Habibi was arrested.
His wife, Khadijeh Pakzamir, stated, “This afternoon, having an arrest warrant, four agents from the West Intelligence Department of Tehran Province arrested Mohammad Habibi at the school where he works. Then, along with my husband, the agents came to our house for a search. They insulted us and took him to Ward 209 of Evin Prison.”
Habibi had been released from Evin Prison, on February 8, 2023.
On April 30, 2022, Habibi was arrested and detained in Ward 209 of Evin Prison. In October 2022, the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced him to three years and seven months for “assembly and collusion against national security” and one year for “propaganda against the regime.” He was also banned from leaving the country, membership, or participating in civil groups for two years.
Hadi (Abbas) Mirzaie is still detained for about four months in the Great Tehran Penitentiary with an unclear status of due process.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Hadi Mirzaie, a Master’s student in music at the Tehran University of Art, is still detained for about four months.
An informed source told HRANA, “Mirzaie is still jailed in the Great Tehran Penitentiary, awaiting processing.”
On December 10, 2022, security forces arrested Mirzaie near his office in Tehran. On January 11, 2023, he was transferred to the Great Tehran Penitentiary.
Student Hadi (Abbas) Mirzaie is an electrical engineering graduate at Shahid Beheshti University, a Master’s student in music at the Tehran University of Art, and an expert in stamps and banknotes.
On April 3, security forces arrested Ruhollah Heidari and took him to an undisclosed location. His brother, Javad Heidari, was killed by regime forces amid the 2022 nationwide protests.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on April 3, 2023, Ruhollah Heidari was arrested.
His sister, Fatemeh Heidari informed the public, “After the arrest of my three brothers and firing me from my job, today, they arrested my other brother, Ruhollah Heidari, without giving any reason. My family’s inquiries have remained unanswered so far.”
Heidari’s detained location and the allegation against him are also unknown.
On September 22, 2022, his brother, Javad Heidari, age 36, was shot dead at protests in Qazvin.
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.
On April 3, 2023, Fakhreddin Ebrahimi was arrested by security forces after being summoned to the Investigation Branch of the Urmia Public and Revolutionary Court. On March 17, 2023, his father, Mohyeddin Ebrahimi, a political prisoner, was executed.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, on April 3, 2023, security forces arrested Fakhreddin Ebrahimi in Urmia.
On March 27, Ebrahimi reportedly was summoned to the Investigation branch of the Urmia Public and Revolutionary Court for the allegation of “destructing door of guard room of the Court of Appeal.” He was arrested there by security forces and taken to a detention facility.
Earlier, on March 16, 2023, he was also arrested by security forces and released on bond the next day.
Over the past six months, dozens of journalists have been arrested or summoned for covering news and publishing articles about the 2022 nationwide protests and poison attacks on school students. These arrests exemplify the regime’s attempt to suppress the free flow of information and limit social and civil liberties. This report provides a list of 19 jailed journalists.
According to data collected by HRANA, among many of the journalists who were detained or summoned in recent months, at least 19 are still jailed/imprisoned in different prisons:
Niloofar Hamedi
1- Niloofar Hamedi
Arrest date: September 22, 2022
Place of Arrest: Tehran
Status of due process: defendant with an unclear status of due process.
Latest Condition: Jailed in Qarchak Prison, Varamin city.
Elaheh Mohammadi
2- Elaheh Mohammadi
Arrest date: September 29, 2022
Place of Arrest: Tehran
Status of due process: defendant with an unclear status of due process.
Latest Condition: Jailed in Qarchak Prison, Varamin city.
Alireza Jabbari Darestani
3- Alireza Jabbari Darestani
Arrest date: September 25, 2022
Place of Arrest: Tehran
Status of due process: defendant awaiting trial
Latest Condition: Unknown
Vida Rabbani
4- Vida Rabbani
Arrest date: September 24, 2022
Place of Arrest: Tehran
Status of due process: sentenced to seven years and three months in prison for “assembly and collusion against national security”
Latest Condition: Jailed in Evin Prison, Tehran
Maliheh Doreki
5- Maliheh Doreki
Arrest date: October 26, 2022
Place of Arrest: Abadan
Status of due process: defendant awaiting trial
Latest Condition: Unknown
Farzaneh Yahya-Abadi
6- Farzaneh Yahya-Abadi
Arrest date: October 19, 2022
Place of Arrest: Abadan
Status of due process: defendant awaiting trial
Latest Condition: Unknown
Farkhandeh Ashoori
7- Farkhandeh Ashoori
Arrest date: October 17, 2022
Place of Arrest: Shiraz
Status of due process: defendant awaiting trial
Latest Condition: Unknown
Siamand Mohtadi
8- Siamand Mohtadi
Arrest date: February 11, 2023
Place of Arrest: Bukan
Status of due process: defendant awaiting trial
Latest Condition: Unknown
Ziba Omidifar
9- Ziba Omidifar
Arrest date: December 8, 2022
Place of Arrest: Qorveh
Status of due process: defendant awaiting trial
Latest Condition: Unknown
Maral Darafarin
10- Maral Darafarin
Arrest date: November 1, 2022
Place of Arrest: unknown (a resident of Lahijan)
Status of due process: defendant awaiting trial
Latest Condition: Unknown
Melika Hashemi
11- Melika Hashemi
Arrest date: January 20, 2023
Place of Arrest: Tehran (Evin Courthouse)
Status of due process: defendant awaiting trial
Latest Condition: Unknown
Amir Maskani
12- Amir Maskani
Arrest date: November 22, 2022
Place of Arrest: Sabzevar
Status of due process: sentenced to seven months in prison, nine months of suspended imprisonment and paying a five-million-Toman fine for “propaganda against the regime, inciting people to commit murder and wage war against national security”
Latest Condition: Unknown
Seyed-Ali Pour-Tabatabaei
13- Seyed-Ali Pour-Tabatabaei
Arrest date: March 5, 2023
Place of Arrest: Qom
Status of due process: defendant awaiting trial
Latest Condition: Unknown
Morteza Hagh-Bayan
14- Morteza Hagh-Bayan
Arrest date: August 25, 2019
Place of Arrest: Sanandaj
Status of due process: sentenced to two years and six months in prison for “spreading falsehood on the Internet, disturbing public opinions, insulting and slandering government’ authorities.”
Latest Condition: Since May 19, 2021, he has been serving his sentence in Sanadaj Prison.
Mohsen Ravari
15- Mohsen Ravari
Arrest date: September 23, 2022
Place of Arrest: Jiroft
Status of due process: defendant awaiting trial
Latest Condition: Unknown
Pouria Mahdavi Moghadam
16- Pouria Mahdavi Moghadam
Arrest date: October 22, 2022
Place of Arrest: Borujerd
Status of due process: defendant awaiting trial
Latest Condition: Unknown
17- Iman Behpasand
Arrest date: September 22, 2022
Place of Arrest: Tehran
Status of due process: defendant awaiting trial
Latest Condition: Unknown
18- Mohsen Ahmadizadeh
Arrest date: September 23, 2022
Place of Arrest: Jiroft
Status of due process: defendant awaiting trial
Latest Condition: Unknown
Mohammad Zare Foumani
19- Mohammad Zare Foumani
Arrest date: October 9, 2022
Place of Arrest: unknown
Status of due process: Sentenced by the Court of Appeals to 12 years, paying a 15-million-Tomans fine and two years exile for “spreading falsehood against the regime’s authorities to disturb public opinions, assembly and collusion, and inciting people to act against national security.”
Latest Condition: Jailed in Evin Prison’s special ward for clergies, Tehran.
On April 2, 2023, security forces arrested Sunni citizen Hossein Askani in Rask and took him to an undisclosed location.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on April 2, quoting the Baloch Activists Campaign, Hossein Askani was arrested in Rask, Sistan and Baluchestan Province.
20-year-old Askani reportedly was apprehended by IRGC forces while returning from a religious school along with several other students.
The report speculates that his arrest is related to his activities in the religious group Tablighi Jamaat. (Society of Preachers)
Maryam Bani-Razi, a resident of Qom, was sentenced to over eight months, 148 lashes and additional punishments for not complying with the compulsory Hijab.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Persian BBC, Maryam Bani-Razi was sentenced to imprisonment.
Bani-Razi was given ten days in prison for removing her headscarf in public, eight months and 74 lashes for “disturbing public order,” and another 74 lashes and the two-year termination of her job as a nurse for “committing an outrage on public modesty.”
In November-December 2022, a video surfaced showing Bani-Razi in a bank without a headscarf.”
