Workers’ Rights Activists Anisha Asadollahi and Keyvan Mohtadi Arrested

On Monday, May 9, 2022, security forces arrested two workers’ rights activists Anisha Asadollahi and Keyvan Mohtadi at their house and transferred them to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Monday, May 9, 2022, two workers’ rights activists Anisha Asadollahi and Keyvan Mohtadi were arrested by security forces in their house.

The reasons for the arrest, charges and their whereabouts are still unknown.

Anisha Asadollahi and Keyvan Mohtadi had been arrested and convicted before for their civil activities. On May 1, 2019, with many other workers and worker’s rights activists, Anisha Asadollahi was arrested at a gathering for the celebration of international workers’ Day. Subsequently, the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced her to one-year imprisonment (of which six months were suspended) and 74 lashes on the charge of “disturbing the public order”. She was jailed in Evin prison for sentencing on January 4, 2020, and was freed on January 21 of that year.

Anisha Asadollahi is an electrical engineer and a  graduate of K. N. Toosi University of Technology. She works as an English teacher.

Videographer Reihane Taravati Arrested

On Monday, May 9, 2022, security forces arrested photographer and videographer Reihane Taravati and transferred her to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Monday, May 9, 2022, photographer and Videographer Reihane Taravati was arrested by security forces.

The reason for this arrest, the charges and her whereabouts are still unknown.

In 2015, Ms. Taravati was arrested with five other individuals for making and publishing a tribute video to Pharrell Williams’ song Happy. The video was a compilation of Iranian youth dancing, which was considered against the Islamic norms and values by the Iranian regime. She was released after a few weeks and subsequently sentenced to one year imprisonment. The sentence was suspended for three years.

At Least Ten Citizens Arrested During Protests in Khuzestan

In Khuzestan Province, the officials have attempted to quell the ongoing unrest through tightening security measures, disrupting the internet and telephones, and blackouts. Following the call for protests in the media, at least ten individuals were arrested by security forces and transferred to an unidentified location.

Those individuals who were arrested in Susangerd have been identified as Saeed Dahimi, age 35, Ali Moghinmi, age 40, Hossein Maghinami, age 22, Jasem Bohrani, Hashem Bohrani, Mohammad Tarfi who have been arrested. Also, Adel Hamadi, Mostafa Chalavi, Abbas Chaldavi and Emad Savari were arrested in Ahvaz.

The reports indicate the tightening of security measures and the constant presence of police and security forces in the streets in high numbers. Reportedly, the police used tear gas to crack down on the protests in Izeh City.

One of the civil activists described the unrest: “on last Friday evening, the protests were sparked in Susangerd and a lot of people poured into the streets chanting slogans against the high level of inflation and difficult economic conditions. In the Arab regions of Ahvaz, we witnessed street protests and burning tires.”

In recent days, increased prices and rationing of bread have ignited protests and widespread backlash in Iran.

Mahmood Niroomand Sentenced to Two Years and Eight Months

Mahmood Niroomand who is currently detained in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad has been sentenced to two years and eight months imprisonment by the Court of Appeals. Initially, the Revolutionary Court had sentenced him to 10 years imprisonment.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Center of Democracy and Human Rights in Kurdistan, the initial 10-years sentence against Mahmood Niroomand was reduced to two years and eight months by the Court of Appeals.

According to an informed, “printing and distributing booklets for learning Kurdish language, running educational courses in Mosque or at home have counted as a part of the charges against Niroomand. No proof of any political activity was presented at the trial.”

On May 25, 2021, security forces arrested Niroomand without a warrant and transferred him to the detention center of the Ministry of Intelligence for interrogation. On June 24, he was relocated to Vakilabad Prison, where he was denied access to a lawyer and family visitations throughout the detention.

Mahmood Niroomand is 35 years old and a resident of Polgerd Village in Dargaz County of Khorasan Razavi Province.

Asghar Khani Arrested and Sent to Kazerun Prison

On Tuesday, April 3, 2022, in Farashband County located in Fars Province, intelligence agents arrested Asghar Khani at his work and transferred him to Kazerun Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Tuesday, April 3, 2022, Asghar Khani was arrested by the Ministry of Intelligence agents in Farashband County.

Khani suffers from respiratory disease, and his detention raises health concerns. An informed source told HRANA: “Asghar Khani suffers from respiratory disease and he has to use a respiratory spray. According to his physician, he has to stay away from stressful situations, prison conditions and interrogation will worsen his disease.”

The reason for this arrest and the charges are still unknown.

Asghar Khani, age 49, is a civil engineer and a father of two children.

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Individual Arrested for Writing Anti-regime Slogan on Wall

An individual was arrested for writing slogans on the Ministry of Intelligence’s wall and setting his own car on fire in Azerbaijan Province’s Urmia City. A video circulated on social media showed a security agent pointing a gun at him.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, a citizen was arrested for writing a slogan on the wall and setting his vehicle on fire. 

As an act of protest, this unidentified individual first set his vehicle which was parked by the Ministry of Intelligence on fire in Urmia and then began to write slogans on the wall of the ministry’s office.

 The media outlets inside Iran and officials have not reacted to this incident so far. Yet, a video showing a security agent pointing a gun toward the protestor from about a short distance has become viral on social media.

Nine Teacher Union Activists Indicted in Saqqez

Nine Teacher Union Activists in the city of Saqqez in Kurdistan Province were indicted by the Public and Revolutionary Court of Saqqez. These individuals were identified as Awat Razavi, Leila Enayat-Zadeh, Taher Hamedi, Taher Ghaderzadeh, Amanj Amini, Aziz Marzi, Ahmad Ghaderi, Khaled Abdollahi, and Soleiman Abdi.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Telegram account “Teachers’ Union” (Kanale Senfi Moaleman), nine teachers who had been arrested during teachers’ protest in Saqqez were indicted.

The report did not mention the charges against these teachers.

 

Two Teacher Union Activists Arrested in Mariwan

Security forces in Kurdistan Province arrested two teacher union activists, Jabbar Doosti and Mehdi Tafsiri in Mariwan and transferred them to an unidentified location. Two other teachers and residents of Mariwan, Aram Ghaderi and Aram Mohammadi were also beaten by security forces. Aram Ghaderi was then arrested and released after a few hours of interrogation.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Telegram channel of the Coordination Council of the Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association, two teacher union activists, Jabbar Doosti and Mehdi Tafsiri were arrested by security forces.

The video received by HRANA shows a teachers’ gathering in Mariwan before the Ministry of Education was taken over by the police force.

In recent days, and especially since the Teacher Appreciation Week in Iran is close, many teachers and educators have been summoned or arrested by security and judicial institutions.

Teacher Union Activist Fatemeh Bahmani Arrested

On Sunday, May 1, 2022, security forces arrested teacher union activist Fatemeh Bahmani at her house and transferred her to an unidentified location. During the arrest, the agents searched her house and confiscated some of her and her family’s belongings including laptops and cell phones.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Sunday, May 1, 2022,  on International Workers’ Day, security forces arrested teacher union activist Fatemeh Bahmani in Tehran.

Mrs. Bahmani had been arrested on a prior occasion on December 24, 2021,  and released after a few hours of interrogation.

 In 2018,  Mrs. Bahmani was arrested with her husband during a teachers’ sit-in strike in Arak City and sent to prison. Subsequently, in two separate legal cases, Bahmani and her husband were sentenced to two years of suspended imprisonment, which lasts for three years, and a fine of 8 million tomans.

The reason for this arrest, the charges and Bahmani’s whereabouts are still unknown.

Civil Activist Elvar Gholivand Sent to Prison to Serve Sentence

On Saturday, April 30, 2022, civil activist Elvar Gholivand was sent to Evin Prison to serve his three years sentence.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Saturday, April 30, 2022, Elvar Gholivand was sent to Evin prison for sentencing.

On October 6, 2020, security forces arrested Gholivand with three other civil activists in Tehran and transferred them to Ward 209 of Evin Prison.

On November 9, 2020, Gholivand was released on bail for the duration of the legal proceedings. Subsequently, he was sentenced to three years imprisonment.