Category: Freedom of Expression

Hamid Gomshadzahi Arrested After Being Summoned to Court

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Freedom of Expression, News
Abdoljalil Gomshadzahi, Hamid Gomshadzahi, Zahedan

HRANA News Agency – Hamid Gomshadzahi, the uncle of Abdoljalil Gomshadzahi, a citizen who was killed by indiscriminate military gunfire, was arrested yesterday after being summoned to the Zahedan Prosecutor’s Office and transferred to an unknown location.

He had been summoned two days ago to Branch 6 of the Prosecutor’s Office over his statements regarding his nephew’s death.

Gomshadzahi, the uncle of Abdoljalil Gomshadzahi, who was killed by indiscriminate military gunfire.

According to the report by Haal Vsh, Hamid Gomshadzahi was summoned over his statements criticizing security forces during his nephew’s funeral. Following his appearance in court today, he was arrested and taken to an undisclosed location.

Abdoljalil Gomshadzahi, a 20-year-old citizen, was shot and killed by security forces on January 7, 2024.

In 2024, HRANA documented 476 incidents in which Iranian military forces opened fire on civilians, resulting in 161 deaths. For detailed statistics and further insights, read HRANA’s 2024 Annual Report.

Seyed Javad Hosseini Nejad Sentenced to Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Javad Hosseini Nejad, Mashhad, Vakilabad prison, سید جواد حسینی نژاد

HRANA News Agency – Seyed Javad Hosseini-Nejad, a political prisoner held in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad, has been sentenced to eight months in prison by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad.

According to a verdict recently issued and communicated to Mr. Hosseini-Nejad, he was convicted on charges of “propaganda against the regime.” Security forces arrested him in October 2024, after which he was transferred to Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.

Approximately 36 years old, Seyed Javad Hosseini-Nejad is a father of one and a resident of Mashhad. He has previously faced arrest and imprisonment due to his activism.

Appeals Court Upholds 10-Year Prison Sentence and Additional Punishments for Reza Valizadeh

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Ministry of Intelligence, Reza Valizadeh

HRANA News Agency – The Tehran Court of Appeals has upheld the 10-year prison sentence and additional punishments for Reza Valizadeh, a journalist currently imprisoned in Evin Prison.

He was previously convicted by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court and sentenced to 10 years in prison, a travel ban, a ban on residing in Tehran and neighboring provinces, and a two-year prohibition on membership in political and social groups.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, the Appeals Court confirmed all aspects of the initial verdict against Reza Valizadeh.

His lawyer, Mohammad-Hossein Aghasi, stated:

“Today, I visited Abdolreza Valizadeh to show him the appeal rejection. I had previously said that the court’s standard procedure is to uphold the original ruling, but perhaps a retrial could finally open the blindfolded eyes of justice.”

In December 2024, Judge Iman Afshari of Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Reza Valizadeh to 10 years in prison on charges of “collaboration with a hostile government (the U.S.)”. Additionally, he was banned from leaving the country, prohibited from residing in Tehran and neighboring provinces, and barred from joining political or social groups for two years.

Background on Reza Valizadeh’s Arrest

  • After living abroad for several years, Reza Valizadeh returned to Iran in March 2023. Upon arrival, he was interrogated by IRGC intelligence and the Ministry of Intelligence, released after signing a commitment, and allowed to remain free.
  • However, a few months later, in early October 2023, he was arrested by security forces and transferred to Evin Prison.
  • According to Voice of America (VOA), he was detained in Ward 209 of Evin Prison, controlled by the Ministry of Intelligence, and denied family visits.

Before emigrating, Reza Valizadeh was previously arrested in 2007 but later released on bail. He reportedly holds dual citizenship and has worked with various media outlets, including Radio France, Voice of America (VOA), Radio Farda, and the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB).

Nima Khandan Arrested After Visiting His Father in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News, Other
Evin Prison, Nasrin Sotoudeh, Nima Khandan, Reza Khandan, رضا خندان, نسرین ستوده, نیما خندان

HRANA News Agency – Nima Khandan, the son of Nasrin Sotoudeh, a human rights activist, and Reza Khandan, a political prisoner held in Evin Prison, was arrested today while visiting his father. He was released after a few hours.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRAI), Nima Khandan, the son of Reza Khandan and Nasrin Sotoudeh, was detained.

His sister, Mehraveh Khandan, wrote on her personal page:

“My brother Nima was arrested this morning following a dispute in the visitation hall and was taken to the police station.”

The charges against Nima Khandan remain unknown.

In January of this year, Nasrin Sotoudeh revealed that prison officials had prevented her and her children from visiting Reza Khandan. In an Instagram post, she wrote:

“Denying visitation for not wearing a hijab is an abuse of state power and an illegal act.”

Reza Khandan has been serving a six-year prison sentence in Evin Prison since December 2023. His wife, Nasrin Sotoudeh, a prominent human rights lawyer, was released on bail from Evin Prison on November 15, 2023.

Political Prisoners Fatemeh and Mohammad-Hossein Sepehri Face New Charges

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Ali Sepehri, Fatemeh Sepehri, Mashhad, Mohammad Hossein Sepehri, Vakilabad prison

HRANA News Agency – Fatemeh Sepehri and Mohammad-Hossein Sepehri, political prisoners held in Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad, were charged yesterday, January 27, in connection with a new case opened against them.

Ali Sepehri, their brother, announced that the charges were brought by Branch 905 of the Mashhad Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office. The siblings are accused of “insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran” and “propaganda against the regime.” The charges reportedly stem from a letter recently published by the two prisoners.

Background on Arrests and Sentences
Fatemeh Sepehri was arrested in September 2022, and Mohammad-Hossein Sepehri in September 2023, both by security forces.

Fatemeh Sepehri has faced multiple convictions. She was sentenced to:

  • 10 years imprisonment for “collaboration with hostile governments,”
  • 5 years for “assembly and collusion,”
  • 2 years for “insulting the Supreme Leader,” and
  • 1 year for “propaganda against the regime.”

These sentences were upheld by the appeals court, with the 10-year sentence enforceable under Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code. In February 2023, the Mashhad Criminal Court also sentenced her to 1 year in prison and a fine of 20 million tomans for “spreading falsehoods and disturbing public opinion.”

Additionally, in June 2023, Fatemeh Sepehri, alongside her brothers Mohammad Hossein and Hossein Sepehri, was sentenced to 18 years and 6 months in prison in a joint case. Mohammad Hossein Sepehri received an 8-year sentence in this case.

Fatemeh Sepehri is also known as one of the signatories of an open letter calling for the resignation of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. For this, she was initially sentenced to 5 years imprisonment by Branch 4 of the Mashhad Revolutionary Court, later reduced to 3 years and 6 months on appeal. In early 2020, she was conditionally released for 5 years.

Additional Developments
In late November 2023, the Mashhad Education Department issued an order dismissing Mohammad-Hossein Sepehri from his teaching position, which was officially conveyed to him in Vakilabad Prison. In September 2024, Branch 25 of the Administrative Justice Court upheld his dismissal.

Both siblings have a history of arrests and convictions due to their political activities.

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Tehran Prosecutor Files Charges Against Sadegh Zibakalam

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, HRANA, Mohammad Izadi, Sadegh Zibakalam, Tehran, صادق زیباکلام

HRANA News Agency – The Tehran Prosecutor’s Office has filed charges against Sadegh Zibakalam for posts he made on social media. Zibakalam, a political analyst and prisoner, is currently on medical furlough from Evin Prison.

According to HRANA, quoting Mizan, the charges against Mr. Zibakalam were initiated without specifying the exact nature of the allegations, with the reasoning cited as his social media activity.

Previously, following the enforcement of his prison sentences, Mr. Zibakalam was transferred to Evin Prison on May 12, 2024. Shortly thereafter, his lawyer, Mohammad Izadi, revealed that he had been diagnosed with cancer while in custody. In September 2024, he was granted medical furlough.

In his first case, Mr. Zibakalam was sentenced to 18 months in prison and a two-year ban on participating in political parties, groups, and online activities for “propaganda against the regime.” In a second case, he received a one-year prison sentence for similar charges. In a third case, he was sentenced to six months in prison for “publishing false information.” These sentences were enforced following appeals to the Supreme Court.

In recent years, the Tehran Prosecutor’s Office has filed charges against Mr. Zibakalam for posts on topics such as the deadly Kerman explosions, reports of student poisonings, and “publishing false, undocumented, and inaccurate information” online.

Sadegh Zibakalam is a political science professor, author, and prominent Iranian analyst with reformist and liberal views. He has previously faced convictions for his activities.

Blind Poet Sakineh Asvadi Faces Legal Action for Charges of Disturbing Public Opinion

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Freedom of Expression, News
Eslamshahr, Sakineh Asvadi, Simin Asvadi, سکینه اسودی

HRANA News Agency – Sakineh (Simin) Asvadi, a blind poet residing in Eslamshahr, is facing a judicial case filed against her at the district prosecutor’s office in Eslamshahr, Tehran province.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, Ms. Asvadi has been summoned to appear at Branch 2 of the Eslamshahr Prosecutor’s Office on January 31, to defend herself against charges of “disturbing public opinion.”

The charges reportedly stem from her social media posts.

Sakineh (Simin) Asvadi, a 47-year-old poet, has previously been summoned by judicial authorities due to her activities.

Journalist Azhdar Piri Sentenced to One Year in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News
Azhadar Piri, Karaj, Ministry of Intelligence, اژدر پیری

HRANA News Agency – Azhdar (Ajdar) Piri Sarmanlou, editor-in-chief of the Pazhuhesh-e Melal monthly magazine, has been sentenced by Branch 3 of the Revolutionary Court of Karaj to one year in prison and a two-year ban on online activities.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, Mr. Piri was convicted of ‘propaganda against the regime’ and ‘insulting officials and agents.’ The verdict, issued in January by the Revolutionary Court of Karaj, also imposes a two-year prohibition on membership and activity on social media as additional penalties.

Earlier, on October 21, 2024, Mr. Piri was arrested at his residence in Karaj by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence. He was transferred to one of the city’s security detention facilities, where he was denied access to legal counsel throughout his detention. After 21 days, Mr. Piri was moved to Karaj Central Prison upon the completion of interrogations. He was released three days later on a bail of 200 million tomans (approximately 3,300 dollars).

Azhdar Piri Sarmanlou, 36, originally from Urmia and currently residing in Karaj, serves as the editor-in-chief of Pazhuhesh-e Melal magazine.

Interrogation Sessions Held for 12 Azerbaijani-Turk Activists at Tabriz Prosecutor’s Office

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ali Babaei, Amirhossein Aghaei, Araz Ebrahim-Nejad, Azerbaijani Turk activists, Davoud Shiri, Ebrahim Avaz-Zadeh, Hamed Yeganehpour, Hossein Azadi, Javad Soodbar, Mehrdad Ghaderi, Mohammadreza Movahed, Morteza Nourmohammadi, Tabriz, Yoroush Mehrali Beiglou

HRANA News Agency – Interrogation sessions for 12 Azerbaijani-Turk activists, were held at Branch 15 of the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in Tabriz.

According to HRANA, the interrogation sessions, related to a joint case involving the 12 individuals, took place separately from January 11 to January 22, 2025. These activists are: Yoroush Mehrali Beiglou, Araz Ebrahim Nejad, Davoud Shiri, Mehrdad Ghaderi, Hamed Yeganehpour, Mohammadreza Movahed, Amirhossein Aghaei, Ali Babaei, Javad Soodbar, Morteza Nourmohammadi, Hossein Azadi, and Ebrahim Ava-Zadeh

During these sessions, the defendants defended themselves against charges of “membership in an illegal group with the intent to oppose the regime” and “assembly and collusion to commit crimes against national security.” Additionally, Yoroush Mehrali Beiglou faced the separate charge of “forming a group with the intent to oppose the regime.”

Although Naser Razmjoo, one of the accused in the case, was named and notified of his case registration at Branch 15, he has not yet been summoned. The other activists had been summoned through individual notices prior to the sessions.

Background on the Activists

  • Yoroush Mehrali Beiglou was arrested in November 2023 in Jolfa and transferred to The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Tabriz. In February 2024, he was transferred to Tabriz Prison and later released on bail. He has a history of prior arrests and convictions related to his activism.
  • Mohammadreza Movahed, Araz Ebrahim Nejad, and Davoud Shiri were arrested in September 2023 and transferred to Tabriz Prison. They were released on bail in December 2023. Both Shiri and Movahed have previously faced judicial actions due to their activism.
  • Mehrdad Ghaderi was arrested in September 2023 by security forces in Tabriz and released on bail in November 2023.
  • Morteza Nourmohammadi Nadarli (Nazarlo) was arrested in September 2023 and transferred to The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Tabriz. He was later moved to Tabriz Prison but then returned to the same detention facility. In early November 2023, he was charged with “assembly and collusion to act against national security” in Shabestar Prosecutor’s Office and later faced new charges of “membership in a group to act against national security.” He was released on bail in November 2023.
  • Hamed Yeganehpour, a resident of Maragheh, was arrested in November 2023 by security forces in Tabriz and released from detention in November 28, 2023.
  • Amir-Hossein Aghaei was arrested in September 2023 in Baghmisheh, Tabriz, and released on bail in December 2023.
  • Ali Babaei and Javad Soodbar were arrested in September 2023 in Tabriz and released on bail in December 2023.
  • Hossein Azadi was arrested in September 2023 in Baghmisheh, Tabriz, and released on bail in November 2023.
  • Ebrahim Avaz-Zadeh was arrested in October 2023 in Tehran and released on bail in late-November 2023.
  • Naser Razmjoo was arrested in October 2023 in Tabriz and released on bail in late-November 2023.

This case highlights the ongoing judicial and security pressures faced by Azerbaijani-Turk activists in Iran.

Hiresh Nowgaran-Zadeh Arrested by Security Forces in Sanandaj

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Freedom of Expression, News
Hirash Nowgaran Zadeh, HRANA, Pakhshan Azizi, Sanandaj

HRANA News Agency – On Monday, January 20, Hiresh Nowgaran-Zadeh, a resident of Sanandaj, was arrested by security forces and transferred to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, citing Kurdpa, Hiresh Nowgaran-Zadeh, a 39-year-old resident of Sanandaj, is married and a father of two children. He is also a member of the campaign against the execution of Pakhshan Azizi.

The report indicates that Mr. Nowgaran-Zadeh was detained by security forces without the presentation of a judicial warrant.

As of now, no information is available regarding the reasons for his arrest, the charges brought against him, or his current place of detention.

It is noteworthy that in 2007, Mr. Nowgaran-Zadeh was sentenced to one year in prison on charges of membership in one of the political parties opposed to the Islamic Republic of Iran.