Category: Freedom of Expression

Mahyar Taghikhani Imprisoned for Asking Question from Religious Authority

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Imam of Friday Prayers, Javad Mogooye, Mahyar Taghikhani

Reporter Mahyar Taghikhani was sent to prison for sentencing. He had been previously sentenced to six months imprisonment and prohibited from any activities on Instagram for asking a question from an Imam of Friday Prayers.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Khabar Online, Mahyar Taghikhani, a reporter and resident of Karaj, was sent to prison to serve his six years imprisonment.

Documentary Filmmaker Javad Mogooye wrote on his personal page on Instagram: “Six months ago, the son of the head of the city council was seen on vacation with a state-owned car at the disposal of the city council of Karaj. The Imam of Friday Prayers criticized the father and it was reported on national TV as well. Everybody appreciated the Imam of Friday Prayers for that. A few days later, on a live Instagram, Mahyar Taghikhani, while praising the Imam’s objection, asked him if he would still take that position in case his own daughter did that.”

Reportedly, after a few days, the Imam filed a complaint against Taghikhani. In the trial, he was sentenced to six months in prison and prohibited from any activities on Instagram for one year.

Keyvan Samimi Arrested and Transferred to Semnan Prison

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Iran Farda Magazine, Iranian Writers’ Associatio, Keyvan Samimi, Mostafa Nili, Semnan prison

On Wednesday, May 18, 2022, Keyvan Samimi, the editor of Iran Farda Magazine and a member of the Iranian Writers’ Association, was arrested and sent to Semnan Prison after he went to the Judgement Enforcement Unit of Evin Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Wednesday, May 18, 2022, the editor of Iran Farda Magazine Keyvan Samimi was arrested and transferred to Semnan Prison.

Mostafa Nili, Samimi’s lawyer, broke the news on social media: “Today, after office hours, Mr. Samini was called from the Judgement Enforcement Unit Moghaddas and ordered that he should appear there to receive the coroner report. However, upon appearing and receiving the coroner’s report, he was arrested and was transferred to Semnan Prison.”
This new order and arrest stand at odds with a previous order issued considering Samimi’s age and health conditions grounded on Article 533 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

On May 1, 2019, Samimi attended the workers’ protests on the anniversary of Labor Day before Iran’s Parliament. The protest turned violent due to the interference of security forces, leading to his arrest as well as dozens of other protestors. On May 12, 2019, security forces raided and searched the Iran Farda magazine office and confiscated documents and Samimi’s computer. On June 17, 2019, he was released on bail until the end of legal proceedings.

On April 20, 2020, in a trial in absentia, Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced Samimi to three years imprisonment on the charge of “assembly and collusion to act against national security”. The verdict was upheld on appeal but was reduced to two years in a retrial.

Samimi previously served six years in prison in 2009 for questioning the outcome of the disputed 2009 presidential election, participating in the protests, and writing articles critical of the government.

Protests Continue in Golpayegan and Several other Cities

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News, Other
food protests, Golpayegan, Isfahan Province, Junaqan

On Tuesday, May 17, 2022, protests against soaring food prices continued in several cities, including Golpayegan in Isfahan Province. Many cities witnessed heavy police and security forces’ presence and internet disruptions.

Video footages obtained by HRANA News Agency show that in Golpayegan, people were rallying in the streets and chanting slogans against the regime. Reportedly, in Junaqan City, in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, the government has almost completely shut down the internet.

Following a new wave of price hikes recently in Iran, protests erupted in several cities across the country. In most cases, protests turned violent by the police and security forces who used tear gas, warning shots, and pellet guns to scatter the crowds.

 

Journalist Hossein Roointan Sentenced to Ten Years Imprisonment 

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Dashtestan, Hossein Roointan, revolutionary court

The Court of Appeals of Bushehr changed the initial sentence against Hossein Roointan from 20 to 10 years imprisonment. Initially, he had been sentenced to 20 years in prison by the Revolutionary Court of Dashtestan. Based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the five years prison sentence is the maximum punishment enforceable for him.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, journalist and political activist Hossein Roointan was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.

According to this verdict, Mr. Roointan has been sentenced to one year on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”, five years for “blasphemy against the imams and the prophet’s family”, two years for “offensive statements against the former and current Supreme Leader of Iran” and two years for “spreading lies and disturbing public opinion”.  From the above counts, the punishment of five years for blasphemy will be enforceable for him.

In the trial, running online campaigns and calling for illegal gatherings were presented as evidence for the charges.

On October 17, 2017, the Ministry of Intelligence agents arrested Mr. Roointan in Dashtestan. After one month, he was released on the bail amount of 200 million tomans.

Hossein Roointan, age 58, a resident of Dashtestan, had previously faced arrests and convictions due to his civil activities.

Researcher and Sociologist Saeed Madani Arrested

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Iranian sociologist, Saeed Madani, Yale University

Writer, sociologist and former political prisoner Saeed Madani was arrested and imprisoned.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Mehr News Agency, sociologist and former political prisoner Saeed Madani was arrested allegedly for “suspicious communications with outside of Iran and threat to national security”.

As a writer and sociologist, Saeed Madani has published research papers about social issues such as poverty and inequality, child abuse, violence against women, prostitution, and social welfare to name a few.

Mr Madani has faced several arrests and convictions and other social restrictions for his civil and educational activities. In the latest case, on December 28, 2021, while Madani was leaving Iran for a one-year fellowship at Yale University, he was stopped at the airport and his passport was confiscated.  Two days earlier, after four hours of interrogation by the intelligence officials, he had been told that he is not banned from leaving the country.

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Protests Spread to at least 20 Cities in Iran 

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News, Other
food protests, HRANA, Iran's protests, Khuzestan province, Shahrekord

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, in recent days, triggered by soaring food prices, protests sparked in at least 20 cities in Iran. Protests took place in Dezful, Shahrekord, Andimeshk, Izeh, Junaqan, Khorramabad, Fashafouyeh, Farsan, Borujerd, Dehdasht, Dorud, Ardabil, Neyshabur, Suq, Rasht, Ahvaz, Yazd, Shadegan, Susangerd, and Yasuj. On Sunday, May 15, 2022, despite the tightening of security measures, the protest continued in several cities.

From the outset, the regime disrupted internet services in several cities in an attempt to prevent the protests.

On Friday, May 6, 2022, following the call on social media for rallying against soaring bread prices, in some cities in Khuzestan Province, the Iranian regime tightened security measures on the streets and disrupted internet and phone services to disrupt protests. Nonetheless, the day after, protests broke out in various cities of Khuzestan Province and beyond. Since then, the protests have continued in more than 20 cities. In most cases, protests turned violent by the police and security forces who used tear gas, warning shots, and pellet guns to scatter the crowds.

During the unrest, dozens of people were arrested. HRANA has obtained the identity of 20 of the individuals who were arrested in Ahvaz, 13 in Susangerd, 7 in Suq, and five in Shawr.

The regime forces have killed at least two protestors during the unrest, of which, one death has been confirmed by the city of Shahrekord’s representative in Iran’s Majles (parliament).

At Least Dozens of Teachers Arrested During Nationwide Protests

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Behnam Asef-Jah, Coordinating Council of the Iranian Teachers’ Union, Hajir Hojjati, HRANA, Khadigeh Mobaraki, Kourush Jalil, Masoud Nikkhakh, Rahim Zare, Saeed Taheri, Sasan Zarghampour, Siamak Chehrazi, Soraya Aghai, teachers' protests, Yaghoub Zare, Yasuj City

On Thursday, May 13, 2022, during the teachers’ protests in various cities across the country, several dozens of protestors were arrested. In Yasuj City, security forces arrested more than 20 protestors.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Thursday, May 13, 2022, more than 20 teachers were arrested during the protests in Yasuj.

In the protest, some of the individuals who were arrested were identified as Yaghoub Zare, Rahim Zare, Hajir Hojjati, Khadigeh Mobaraki, Behnam Asef-Jah, Kourush Jalil, Saeed Taheri, Soraya Aghai, Sasan Zarghampour. Moreover, Masoumeh Dehghan, Masoud Farhikhteh, Jaleh Roohzad and Lotfollah Jamshid in Tehran, Masoud Nikkhakh in Mariwan, and Siamak Chehrazi in Ahvaz were arrested.

On Thursday, in response to the call of the Coordinating Council of the Iranian Teachers’ Union, both retired and working teachers in dozens of cities held protests in front of the Ministry of Education in several cities and across from Iran’s Parliament in Tehran. The protestors chanted slogans in support of the detained teachers.

According to reports obtained by HRANA, many individuals other than teachers had also joined the protests. The government has tightened security measures around the country’s main streets to prevent such protests.

Workers’ Rights Activist Reyhaneh Ansari Arrested in Tehran

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Reyhaneh Ansari, workers rights activist

On Thursday, May 13, 2022, workers’ rights activist Reyhaneh Ansari was arrested and transferred to an unidentified location. The security forces searched her house and confiscated some of her personal belongings.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Coordinating Committee to Help Form Workers’ Organizations, security forces arrested workers’ rights activist Reyhaneh Ansari at her home.

The reasons for the arrest, the entity responsible for the arrest and her whereabouts are still unknown.

Reyhaneh Ansari has been arrested on previous occasions for her civil activities.

Workers’ Rights Activist Reza Shahabi Arrested  in Tehran

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Reza Shahabi

On Thursday, May 12, 2022, RezaShahabi, workers’ rights activist and a member of the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company was arrested at his house.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, security forces arrested Reza Shahabi at his house in Tehran.

The reason for the arrest, charges and his whereabouts are still unknown. Reza Shahabi has been arrested on previous occasions for his civil activities.

Two Documentary Filmmakers Mina Keshavarz and Firoozeh Khosravani Arrested

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News, Women

On Tuesday, May 10, 2022, security forces arrested two documentary filmmakers Mina Keshavarz and Firoozeh Khosravani.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, two documentary filmmakers Mina Keshavarz and Firoozeh Khosravani were arrested in their homes in Tehran. The agents searched their houses and confiscated their personal belongings.

Firoozeh Khosravani was arrested by the Ministry of Intelligence agents and transferred to Ward 209 of Evin prison in Tehran. The entity which is responsible for the arrest of Mina Keshavarz remains unknown.