Category: Freedom of Expression

Iranian-British Sanam Kazerouni Released on Bail

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
Dolatabad Prison, Iranian-British Citizen, Isfahan, Sanam Kazerouni

Iranian-British Sanam Kazerouni was released on bail from Dolatabad Prison, Isfahan.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Iranian-British Sanam Kazerouni, arrested amid nationwide protests, was released on bail until the end of legal proceedings.

The allegations against Kazerouni are still unknown.
Kazerouni was arrested during nationwide protests in October 2022 in Isfahan. She, age 52, is the writer of the book “from Tous to Dushanbe.”

About Iran Nationwide Protests 2022
The arrest of Mahsa Amini by Tehran Morality Police for her alleged improper hejab and her suspicious death on September 16 sparked protests sweeping across Iran. During these protests, at least about 19760 people, including journalists, artists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, were arrested.

 

Iran Protests: Babak Moradifar Sentenced to Four Years and Three Months

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
Babak Moradifar, Evin Prison, iran protests, nationwide protests, Tehran, The Tehran Revolutionary Court

The Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced political activist Babak Moradifar to four years and three months.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Babak Moradifar, arrested at recent nationwide protests, was sentenced to imprisonment.

According to the verdict issued on March 1, 2023, Moradifar was sentenced to three years for “assembly and collusion against national security” and one year and three months for “propaganda against the regime.”
If the verdict is upheld on appeal, based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, three years for the first charge will be enforceable.
 
On October 8, 2022, security forces arrested Moradifar at nationwide protests and took him to Ward 240 of Evin Prison in Tehran. On November 28, he was released on bail until the end of legal proceedings.

Student Ebrahim Ahmadpour Arrested in Tabriz

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News, Students
Azerbaijani Turk activist, Ebrahim Ahmadpour, Tabriz

On February 27, Azerbaijani Turk activist Ebrahim Ahmadpour, a student of the University of Tabriz, was summoned and arrested by Public Security and Intelligence Police in Tabriz.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on February 27, 2023, Azerbaijani Turk activist Ebrahim Ahmadpour was arrested in Tabriz.

An informed source told HRANA, “Ahmadpour was summoned to Public Security and Intelligence Police station, where he was beaten and arrested.”

According to this source, three years ago, Ahmadpour was suspended from the university for one semester for his participation in a student protest against a fuel price surge. This suspension order was revoked later.

The reason for his arrest is still unknown.

 

Former Political Prisoner Mosayeb Raisi Yeganeh Arrested

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, Mosayeb Raisi Yeganeh, Tehran

On February 25, 2023, security forces arrested former political prisoner Mosayeb Raisi Yeganeh in Tehran and took him to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on February 25, 2023, Mosayeb Raisi Yeganeh was arrested by security forces in Tehran.

An informed source told HRANA, IRGC intelligence forces beat and arrested him at his home in Tehran.
Yeganeh was previously arrested by the Ministry of Intelligence agents in September 2017. Subsequently, the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced him to six years imprisonment for “propaganda against the regime, blasphemy, insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran.” This verdict was upheld on appeal. Ultimately, on February 4, 2020, he was jailed in Evin Prison to serve his sentence.

After the fire incident at Evin Prison on October 15, 2022, Yeganeh was relocated to Rajai Shahr Prison and after a while, he was released from jail without prior notice.
His whereabouts and the allegation are still unknown.

Iran Protests: Mehrdad and Mojtaba Moghiseh Sentenced to Imprisonment and Additional Punishments

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
Khour and Biabanak County, Mehrdad Moghiseh, Mojtaba Moghiseh, Sabzevar

The Sabzevar Revolutionary Court sentenced brothers Mehrdad and Mojtaba Moghiseh, arrested at recent protests, to nine years and six months in prison, and two years in exile.

Each of the Moghiseh brothers received six years for “clashing with the police and forming groups in order inciting people to riot” and three years and six months for “assembly and collusion to act against national security.” They have also been sentenced to two years in exile in Khour and Biabanak County, Isfahan province.

On September 24, 2022, security forces arrested them violently amid recent nationwide protests. According to an informed source, they were under pressure to make coerced confessions during the detention. On December 22, 2022, they were released on bail.
“One of their brothers, Masoud Moghiseh, an Oil Company employee, was suspended from work, even though he was not involved whatsoever.”

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Now is definitely not the time to stop reading!

Detained Protestor Died in Police Station

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News, Other, Prisoners
Ebrahim Rigi, Haal Vsh, Zahedan

On February 22, Ebrahim Rigi died in the custody of the police a few hours after his arrest in Zahedan. He had been arrested for the second time over protests.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Haal Vsh, detained protestor Ebrahim Rigi died in custody in Zahedan.

On February 22, two police agents arrested Rigi in Zahedan and took him to a police station, where he was reportedly beaten in the police station. “The Judge of the homicide branch, a Judge on duty and Zahedan Forensic medicine have confirmed beating as the cause of his death,” Haal Vsh reported.

Nonetheless, police claimed that Rigi has been beaten outside the police station. Rigi’s family reportedly are under pressure not to follow up on this case.

Also earlier, on October 13, 2022, Rigi, age 24, was arrested over protests by security forces near his house in Zahedan. He was released on bail on January 1, 2023.

Five-Year Sentence against Faezeh Hashemi Rafsanjani Upheld on Appeal

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, Faezeh Hashemi Rafsanjani, irgc, Mohammad Hossein Aghasi

The Tehran Court of Appeals sentenced political activist Faezeh Hashemi Rafsanjani to five years in prison and banned her from leaving the country.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Faezeh Hashemi Rafsanjani was sentenced to five years in prison.

Attorney at law Mohammad Hossein Aghasi informed the public that Rafsanjani’s sentence was upheld on appeals.

On September 27, 2022, security forces arrested Rafsanjani in Tehran. IRGC-affiliated Fars News Agency claimed she was arrested for participating in nationwide protests.

Rafsanjani, a former parliament member and daughter of the former president, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, faced other arrests and convictions on prior occasions.

Austrian National Sentenced to Seven Years and Six Months

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News, Other
Austrian foreign ministry, Espionage

In a statement, the Austrian foreign ministry revealed that Iran’s judicial officials sentenced an Austrian national to seven-and-a-half years in prison “, with two years of probation being waived in the case of good behavior.” This individual was arrested last October.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, an Austrian man was sentenced to seven years and six months for alleged spying.

In reaction, Vienna summoned the Iranian ambassador to express its strenuous objection to this conviction.

This statement mentioned “espionage” as the charge against this Austrian convict. “Two years of this sentence” may be “waived in the case of good behavior,” the ministry added.

Earlier, in October 2022, the Austrian foreign ministry disclosed the arrest of an Austrian man in Iran and asked Iranian authorities for an explanation. At the time, Iranian authorities asserted that this arrest was not related to the concurrent nationwide protests.

 

Four Individuals Arrested in Bukan

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
Amir Sahabi, Basij, Bukan, Mizan

The Chief Justice of West Azerbaijan Province announced that four individuals were arrested in relation to killing Amir Sahabi, a Basij militia force in Bukan, amid recent nationwide protests.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Mizan, the judiciary’s news agency, four individuals were arrested in Bukan, West Azerbaijan Province.

Without disclosing their identities, this judicial official accused the detainees of “killing Amir Sahabi, a Basij militia force in Bukan”, during “unrest” in last November.

“There is sufficient evidence for their arrests as these four people have admitted that they were on spot at the time,” he claimed.

This report did not mention the detainees’ whereabouts and the allegations.

Report on Mass Release of Prisoners in the Past 24 Hours

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
Abbas Lesani, Behnam Mousivand, Hossein Kheyri, Marzieh Farsi, Mehdi Mehrangiz, Qasem Masoumi, Saba Sherdoost, Saeed Ettehad

In the past 24 hours, several prisoners of conscience were released from Adel-Abad Prison in Shiraz, Evin Prison in Tehran, Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj, and Ardabil Prison. Moreover, the legal case against journalist Saba Sherdoost was closed without further legal proceedings.

Of these freed prisoners, the most known prisoners are:

Baha’i citizen Qasem (Ghasem) Masoumi from Adel-Abad Prison
Baha’i citizen Saeed Ettehad from Adel-Abad Prison
Political Prisoner Marzieh Farsi from Evin Prison
Civil rights activist Behnam Mousivand from Rajai Shahr Prison
Political prisoner Hossein Kheyri from Rajai Shahr Prison
Azerbaijani (Turk) Activist Abbas Lesani from Ardabil Prison

Also, the legal case against journalist and women’s rights activist Saba Sherdoost was closed without further legal proceedings.

Details of these prison releases are still unknown. They are, however, likely released under the recent directive to “pardon and commute” the sentences of some prisoners.

Moreover, the Chief Justice of Bushehr Province Mehdi Mehrangiz announced the release of 979 prisoners in this province following the directive. He stated, “Of these freed prisoners, 246 were arrested amid nationwide protests. “No criminal record will be registered for them,” he claimed. 

Earlier, the head of the Judiciary proposed to pardon or commute the sentences of some prisoners as an enactment of Article 110, paragraph 11 of the constitution, which was approved by Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader.