Category: Freedom of Expression

Students and Reporters Arrested in Tehran Protest 

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
compulsory military service, HRANA, Iranian Public Conscription Organization

On August 27, 2022, students held a protest against compulsory military service before the Iranian Public Conscription Organization in Tehran, which led to the arrest of several students and reporters. 

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on August 27, 2022, the police arrested several students and reporters during a protest against compulsory military service.

The identity and whereabouts of these individuals are unknown so far.

The students had previously demanded a response from the General Staff of the Armed Forces.

Two-year mandatory conscription for male individuals above 18 has caused a financial burden on poor families who cannot afford to buy out the conscription.

Heyman Abdi Arrested in Shahin-Dej

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News, Other
Heyman Abdi, Shahin Dej, West Azerbaijan Province

The intelligence agents arrested Heyman Abdi, a resident of Shahin Dej, and transferred him to a detention facility in Miandoab.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, the intelligence agents arrested Heyman Abdi in Shahin Dej, the West Azerbaijan Province.

According to an informed source, the security forces did not show an arrest warrant and mentioned the collaboration with one of the anti-regime political parties as the reason for Abdi’s arrest.

Gonabadi Dervish Mohammad Chegini Arrested in Kerman

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Gonabadi Dervish, Mohammad Chegini

On August 24, 2022, security forces arrested Mohammad Chegini in Kerman and transferred him to an unidentified location. Chegini is a Gonabadi Dervish, a minority which has been subject to persecution in recent years.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on August 24, 2022, Mohammad Chegini was arrested in Kerman.

According to an informed source, the agents did not show an arrest warrant.

The reason for this arrest and Chegini’s whereabouts are unknown so far.

Four Teacher Union Activists in Detention for 70 Days

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Hiwa Qoreishi, Kaweh Mohammadzadeh, Kurdistan Teachers Trade Association, Omid-Shah Mohammadi, Parviz Ahsani

Omid Shah Mohammadi, Parviz Ahsani, Kaweh Mohammadzadeh, and Hiwa Qoreishi, four members of the Kurdistan Teachers Trade Association, have been held at a detention facility for the past 70 days.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Omid Shah Mohammadi, Parviz Ahsani, Kaweh Mohammadzadeh, and Hiwa Qoreishi are jailed at a detention facility.

These union activists have been denied access to a lawyer and family visits. According to an informed source, despite frequent requests from their families, judicial authorities refused to grant them bail.

On June 15, 2022, security forces arrested these activists in Divandarreh, Kurdistan Province.

HRANA has reported the mass arrest of teachers and teacher union activists in different cities in June 2022.

Five Sanandaj Residents Sentenced to Total of 20 Years in Prison

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News, Other
Aliollah Veisi, arzieh Morad-Veisi, Fardin Rahimi, Mehdi Seyfi, Sanandaj City, Sirvan Abdollahi

The Revolutionary Court of Kurdistan sentenced five residents of Sanandaj city to a total of 20 years in prison and 25 months of suspended imprisonment.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kolbar News, the revolutionary Court sentenced Fardin Rahimi, Aliollah Veisi, Mehdi Seyfi, Sirvan Abdollahi, and Marzieh Morad-Veisi each to four years in prison and five months floating imprisonment on the charges of “propaganda against the regime, collaboration with one of the anti-regime parties, and forming illegal groups”.

These individuals were arrested in May 2021 and later released on bail after interrogation.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Now is definitely not the time to stop reading!

Student Activist Leila Hosseinzadeh Arrested in Tehran

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Gonabadi Dervish, Leila Hosseinzadeh, Mohammad Sharifi Moghaddam, Tehran

On August 20, 2022, security forces arrested student activist and former political prisoner Leila Hosseinzadeh in Tehran and transferred her to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on August 20, 2022, student activist Leila Hosseinzadeh was arrested in front of her house in Tehran.

The reason for this arrest and her whereabouts are unknown so far.  

In February 2021, the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced Hosseinzadeh to five years in prison and a two-year ban on online social activity on the charge of “assembly and collusion to act against national security.”  Her attendance at the birthday ceremony of imprisoned Gonabadi Dervish, Mohammad Sharifi Moghaddam, was presented during the trial as evidence to substantiate the charges. The verdict was upheld on appeal.

Hossein Razzagh Arrested in Amol

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Amol prosecutor, Hossein Razzagh, saeed dehghan

On August 21, 2022, security forces arrested media activist Hossein Razzagh in Amol and transferred him to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists,  media activist Hossein Razzagh was arrested in Amol, Mazandaran Province.

Razzagh’s lawyer, Saeed Dehghan announced the arrest on his social media page, saying that the Amol prosecutor had called and summoned Razzagh and he was later arrested while riding in a taxi and transferred him to an unidentified location.”

The reason for this arrest and the charges are unknown so far.

Azerbaijani Turk Activist Yashar Piri Arrested in Tabriz

Posted on by A MN
Ethnic Minorities, Freedom of Expression, News
Azerbaijani Turk activist, yashar piri

On August 17, 2022, the Ministry of Intelligence summoned Azerbaijani Turk activist Yashar Piri in Tabriz and arrested him after interrogation. The agents transferred him to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on August 17, 2022, Azerbaijani Turk activist Yashar Piri was arrested in Tabriz.

The reason for this arrest is unknown so far.

Piri was arrested on two prior occasions. Amid nationwide protests, on November 17, 2019, security forces arrested and held him for 26 days in an IRGC detention facility. They later sent him to Tabriz Prison for three months until he was released on a bail.  

Ali Kajbaf Sentenced to Six Months in Prison

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
ahvaz, Ali Kajbaf, Revolutionary Court of Ahvaz, Sheyban Prison

The Court of Appeals of Ahvaz reduced the initial verdict against Ali Kajbaf to six months in prison. Previously, the Revolutionary Court of Ahvaz had sentenced him to one year and six months.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Ali Kajbaf, a resident of Ahvaz, was sentenced to six months in prison.

On April 27, 2022, Kajbaf was notified of the verdict that he was sentenced to one year on the charge of “membership in an anti-regime group” and six months on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”.

The Court of Appeals exonerated Kajbaf for the first charge, reducing his sentence to six months.

On August 18, 2021, the Ministry of Intelligence agents arrested Kajbaf while he was leaving the country. He spent 11 days of his detention in solitary confinement in Urmia. Reportedly, during detention, the agents beat him severely which led to a bone fracture in his chest.

After completing the interrogation process, Kajbaf was transferred to Sheyban Prison in Ahvaz. On November 1, 2021, he was released on bail.

Journalist Vida Rabbani Sentenced to Prison

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Blasphemy, Evin Prison, HRANA, the Union of Islamic Iran People Party, Vida Rabbani

The Court of Appeal of Tehran sentenced Vida Rabbani to ten years and four months imprisonment and additional punishments. 

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Vida Rabbani, journalist and a member of the Union of Islamic Iran People Party, was sentenced to ten years and four months in prison.

According to this verdict, she has been sentenced to five years in prison on the charge of “blasphemy”, four years for “assembly and collusion to act against national security”, eight months for “propaganda against the regime”, and eight months for “disrupting public order”. Based on article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, five years for the first charge will be enforceable.

Rabbani has also been banned from practising journalism and engaging in political activities.

On November 22, 2020, Rabbani was arrested and transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison. She was released on bail later on December 20, 2020.