Category: Freedom of Expression

Students Ali Younesi and Amir Hossein Moradi Sentenced Each to Sixteen Years in Prison

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Ali Younesi, Amir Hossein Moradi, Sharif University of Technology

The Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced two detained Iranian students Ali Younesi and Amir Hossein Moradi to a total of 32 years in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Ali Younesi and Amir Hossein Moradi, two students of the Sharif University of Technology, were each sentenced to 16 years in prison.

According to the verdict issued by Branch 29 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, the two individuals have been charged with ” spreading corruption on earth, assembly and collusion against the regime, and propaganda against the regime.”
Earlier, lawyer Mostafa Nili informed the public about holding the last court session for Younesi and Moradi on April 17, 2022.

On April 10, 2020, the security forces arrested the two students violently and without presenting an arrest warrant, sending them to Ward 209 of Evin prison.

On May 5, 2020, the Spokesman of the judiciary accused Younesi and Moradi of collaboration with The People’s Mujahedin Organization of Iran (the Mujahedin-e-Khalq or MEK)”. However, in a video record circulating on social media, Ayda Younesi, Ali Younesi’s sister, denied such an accusation. In September of 2020, she revealed that his brother had been under pressure to make a TV confession. In November of that year, Ali Younsei contracted Covid-19 in prison.
 
Amir Hossein Moradi is the winner of the silver medal of the National Astronomy Olympiad in 2017. Ali Younesi is the winner of the silver medal of the National Astronomy Olympiad in 2016 and the gold medal of the 2017 Astronomy Olympiad. Ali Younesi has also won a gold medal in the 12th World Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiad in China.

Milad Arsanjani Sentenced to Fifteen Months in Prison

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Milad Arsanjani, Shahriar, the Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary

Recently, Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court of Shahriar sentenced former political prisoner Milad Arsanjani, who is currently detained in the Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary to 15 months in prison.   

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Milad Arsanjani was sentenced to nine months imprisonment on the charge of “offensive statements against the Supreme Leader of Iran” and six months on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”. If  Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code is applied, nine months is the maximum punishment enforceable for Arsanjani.

On November 3, 2021, Arsanjani was arrested by security forces and on November 29, he was transferred to the Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary where he has been held since.

An informed source told HRANA that since the arrest, Arsanjani’s family has been under constant pressure by security agents to not disclose any information about his condition. 

Milad Arsanjani had already faced another arrest for his civil activities. During the nationwide protests in 2019, he was arrested at his house in Shahriar City. Subsequently, Tehran’s Revolutionary Court sentenced him to two years imprisonment on the charge of “offensive statements against the Supreme Leader” and to five years imprisonment for the charge of “assembly and collusion”. During his trial, housing a person who was injured during the November 2019 protests was also used against him. On August 7, 2021, he was released from the Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary.

Afsaneh Azimzadeh & Negar Masoudi Summoned to the Judgement Enforcement Unit of Evin Court

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News, Women
Afsaneh Azimzadeh, filmmaker, IRGC's intelligence unit, Negar Masoudi, photographer, the Association in Defense of Child Laborers

Children’s Rights Activists Afsaneh Azimzadeh and documentary filmmaker and photographer Negar Masoudi were summoned to the Judgement Enforcement Unit of Evin. Earlier, they had been sentenced to a total of 6 years and 8 months in prison and a fine. Later on, the prison sentence was commuted to a fine.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists,  the Judgement Enforcement Unit of Evin summoned Children’s Rights Activists Afsaneh Azimzadeh and documentary filmmaker and photographer Negar Masoudi.

Earlier, Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court, headed by Judge Afshari, sentenced Negar Masoudi to four years and eight months in prison on the charge of “acting against national security and propaganda against the regime.” She also was fined the amount of 80 million tomans for “provocation of indecency and prostitution.” Afsaneh Azimzadeh was sentenced to two years in prison on the charge of “act against national security.” Later, the court commuted the prison sentence.

On December 14, 2020, security forces arrested Afsaneh Azimzadeh and transferred her to Ward 2-A of Evin Prison which is at disposal of IRGC’s intelligence unit. On January 26, 2021,  he was released on bail.

Afsaneh Azimzadeh is the co-founder of the Association in Defense of Child Laborers. For more than 15 years, she has been involved in the education and social aiding of child labourers.

On October 29, 2020, Negar Masoudi was arrested by security forces in Tehran and sent to Ward 2-A of Evin prison. On January 9, 2021, she was released temporarily on bail of 2.5 billion tomans.

Negar Masoudi is a documentary filmmaker and photographer. She has launched a various photo and video exhibitions and directed a number of documentaries.

Student Activist Adel Gorji Went to Evin Prison for Sentencing

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Adel Gorji, Student activist

On Wednesday, April 20, 2022, Adel Gorji was sent to Evin prison for serving a one-year sentence. He is a student of the Faculty of Art and Architecture of Islamic Azad University, Tehran Center Branch.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, On Wednesday, April 20, 2022, Adel Gorji went to Evin prison for sentencing.

In June of 2020, Branch 36 of the Court of Appeals of Tehran Province sentenced Gorji to one year in prison on the charge of “assembly and collusion to act against national security”. As additional punishments, he was also sentenced to three months of unpaid work at the Education Assistant Department of the Islamic Azad University and a two-year ban from political activities or membership in political parties.

Initially, Gorji has been sentenced to four months in prison, However, after the First Deputy Prosecutor opposed this sentence as being light, it was increased on appeals.

On August 29, 2019, following a campus protest against the relocation of the faculty, Gorji was arrested by security forces with two other students. Ten days later, he was released on bond until the end of legal proceedings. On September 21, 2019, however, in the last court session held by branch 7 of the Evin Courthouse, the release on bond was changed to release on bail and since he was unable to provide the bail,  was jailed again. Finally, on October 1, 2019, he was released after providing the bail in the amount of 200 million tomans.

On April 30, 2020, Gorji was arrested by security forces during a gathering again in celebration of International Labor Day. After five days, he was released on bond.

Mohammad Seddiq Azizi Sentenced to Two and a Half Years in Prison

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Loghman Azizi, Mohammad Seddiq Azizi, Oshnavieh

Branch 1 of the Military Court of West Azerbaijan Province has sentenced Mohammad Seddiq Azizi to two and a half years in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa News, Seddiq Azizi, a resident of Oshnavieh County, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison.

According to this verdict issued on April 19, 2022, Mr. Azizi has been convicted of “collaboration with an anti-regime political party.”

On February 9, 2022, while he was serving in the army as a conscript, the Army Intelligence agents arrested and transferred him to a detention facility in Oshnavaieh County and from there to the prison of this city. He was taken several times back and forth between the prison and the detention center. He was denied access to a phone call and family visitation during the detention.

 Azizi’s father, Loghman Azizi had also been arrested on June 21, 2021. In mid-July, he was released on bail.

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Rapper Tomaj Salehi Summoned by the Court

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Rapper, Tomaj Salehi

In a post on social media, rapper Tomaj Salehi informed that he has been summoned by the Judgement Enforcement Unit of Shahin Shahr City. Considering that Tomaj Salehi has already been sentenced to six months of suspended imprisonment, the reason for this summons is unclear.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, rapper Tomaj Salehi who is well-known for his political songs, was summoned by the Judgement Enforcement Unit of Shahin Shahr.

On September 12, 2021, Salehi was arrested by security forces at his home and nine days later, released on bond from Dastgerd Prison.

On January 12, 2022, he was sentenced to six months in prison and a fine. The imprisonment was suspended for one year. In the trial, he was exonerated from the charge of “provoking violence and insurrection”.

Baha’i Citizen Saeedeh Khozui in Detention Eight Days after Arrest

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i citizen, Saeedeh Khozui

Baha’i citizen and a resident of Tehran, Saeedeh Khozui is still in detention after her arrest. On April 11, 2022, she was arrested after an appearance at Branch 2 of Evin Courthouse and she was allowed one phone call to her husband since.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Baha’i citizen Saeedeh Khozui is still in detention eight days after her arrest.

On April 19, she was allowed to make a phone call to her husband. Despite her family’s frequent inquiries, prison and judicial authorities did not reveal her whereabouts or the charges against her.

Mrs Khozai suffers from migraine and the prison does not serve regular meals during the month of Ramadan, which makes her health conditions worse.

Saeedeh Khozui is the mother of Arsalan Yazdani who was arrested by security forces in Tehran on September 1, 2021, and transferred to a detention center in Evin Prison. On September 30, 2021, security forces searched his house and confiscated some of Mr. Yazdani’s belongings including his laptop, other electronic devices and documents. Subsequently, Arsalan Yazdani was released on bail on October 17, 2021.

Three Workers’ Rights Activists Arrested and Held at Detention Facility

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Mohammad Irannajad, Morteza Seyedi, Nosrollah Amirloo

On Friday, April 15, 2022, three workers’ rights activists, Mohammad Irannajad, Nosrollah Amirloo and Morteza Seyedi were arrested by security forces. They have so far spent days in detention.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Mohammad Irannajad, Nosratollah Amirloo and Morteza Seyedi are at a detention facility. 

According to an informed source close to Mr Seyedi’s family, he suffers from high blood pressure and despite frequent requests from his family, prison officials did not allow him to receive his medicines.

The reasons for these arrests and the charges against these detainees are still unknown

 

Teacher and Civil Activist Rasoul Bodaghi Sentenced to Five Years in Prison

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Rasoul Bodaghi

The Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced school teacher and civil rights activist Rasoul Bodaghi to five years in prison, banned him from leaving the country and residing in Tehran and neighbouring provinces for two years. If the verdict is upheld on appeal,  four years of imprisonment will be enforceable for Bodaghi.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Rasoul Bodaghi, a member of the Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association of Islamshahr was sentenced to five years imprisonment.

On his personal page on social media, Ramin Safarnia, Bodaghi’s attorney, stated that he was sentenced to four years on the charge of “assembly and collusion” and one year in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”. As additional punishment, he is prohibited from leaving the country or  residing in Tehran and all its neighbouring provinces for two years.

On December 11, 2021, security forces arrested Rasoul Bodaghi at his house. A day later, he was released on bail. 

The trial of Mr. Bodaghi and another member of the Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association, Hamid Ghandi, was held by Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran on April 4, 2022. 

Journalist Yashar Soltani Acquitted of Charges

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Yashar Soltani

Recently, the Press Court, following the overturn of an initial verdict against Yashar Soltani by the Supreme Court of Iran, acquitted him in a retrial.

Soltani is a journalist and the director of Memari News who had previously broken the news of widespread corruption. 

In 2020, the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced him to five years in prison and prohibited him from journalistic activism on the internet.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, journalist Yashar Soltani was acquitted of the charges in a retrial by the press court.

In February of 2020, Mr Soltani was sentenced by Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran to five years in prison and  prohibition on media activities on the internet on the charge of “disturbing public opinion.”

On December 21, 2019, Mr Soltani was summoned by the court in regards to a lawsuit filed by Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the former mayor of Tehran.

In February of 2021, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf’s lawyer, Ali Asghar Ghahremani said that Mr. Soltani has been sentenced to 13 months in prison.