Category: Freedom of Expression

Nine Teacher Union Activists Indicted in Saqqez

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News
Ahmad Ghaderi, Amanj Amini, Awat Razavi, Aziz Marzi, Khaled Abdollahi, Leila Enayat-Zadeh, Soleiman Abdi, Taher Ghaderzadeh, Taher Hamedi

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

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News
Aram Ghaderi, Aram Mohammadi, Jabbar Doosti, Kurdistan Province, Mehdi Tafsiri, the Coordination Council of the Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association

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

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News
Fatemeh Bahmani, nternational Workers' Day, suspended imprisonment, Teacher union activist

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

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Elvar Gholivand, Evin Prison, HRANA

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.

Prison Sentence of Saba Kord Afshari Reduced to Five Years 

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Saba Kord-Afshari

Recently, the Supreme Court of Iran commuted the prison sentence of civil activist, Saba Kord Afshari to five years while she was in prison. She was acquitted of the charge of “promoting corruption and obscenity through appearing without a headscarf in public.” Based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the five years prison sentence is the maximum punishment enforceable for her.

Afshari is a civil activist and prominent critic of the compulsory hijab in Iran. She was convicted for her civil activities and in February of 2019, she was freed after serving her sentence. On June 1, 2019, she was arrested at her home and transferred to prison after completing an interrogation.

On August 27, 2019, Afshari was sentenced by Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran to 15 years imprisonment for “promoting corruption and obscenity through appearing without a headscarf in public”, 1 year and 6 months of imprisonment for “propaganda against the regime” and 7 years and 6 months in prison for “assembly and collusion to act against national security”. 

This verdict, which was increased two and half times more due to a previous record, was corrected and reduced from 15 years to 7 years and 6 months.

On December 9, 2020, she was transferred from Evin Prison to exile to Qarchak Prison.

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Seven Citizens Arrested in Baneh City

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Baneh, HRANA, Sanandaj City

On Tuesday, April 26, 2022, in Kurdistan Province’s Baneh City, the security forces arrested seven citizens.  One of the individuals was released after a few hours and the rest were transferred to a detention facility in Sanandaj City.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa News, seven residents of Baneh were arrested, of which six were transferred to a detention facility in Sanandaj.

The arrestees have been identified as Hassan Ezzati, Nishtman Rahmati, Saeed Mohammadi, Parvin Falahi, Omar Soleimani, Afshin Rahmati, and Fateh Majidi. Nishtman Rahmati, Saeed Mohammadi’s wife, was released after a few hours.

Reportedly, during the arrest, the security forces searched their houses and confiscated some of their personal belongings.

The reason for these arrests and the charges are still unknown.

Ali Kajbaf Sentenced to One Year and Six Months in Prison

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

On Tuesday, April 27, 2022, Branch 3 of the Revolutionary Court of Ahvaz sentenced Ali Kajbaf to one year and six months in prison. If the verdict is upheld on appeal, based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, one year is the maximum punishment enforceable for Kajbaf.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Ali Kajbaf, a resident of Ahvaz, was sentenced to one year and six months in prison by the Revolutionary Court.

On Tuesday, 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 session was held on April 17, 2022.

According to an informed source, Kajbafwas acquitted of the charge of “assembly and collusion against national security and crossing the border illegally.”

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 the chest and a broken tooth.

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

Women’s Rights Activist Nooshin Keshavarznia Arrested in Tehran

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Nooshin Keshavarznia, women's rights activist

On Monday, April 25, 2022, the security forces arrested women’s rights activist and social researcher Nooshin Keshavarznia and transferred her to an unidentified location. 

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Monday, the security forces arrested women’s rights activist Nooshin Keshavarznia in Tehran. Before the arrest, she had been summoned by an unknown security institution. 

The reasons for this arrest and her whereabouts are still unknown.

Nooshin Keshavarznia is a women’s rights activist and social researcher who in recent years has focused on the issues related to harassment and violence against women.

Prison Sentence of Asal Mohammadi Upheld by Court of Appeals

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News, Women
Asal Mohammadi, Iman Soleimani, white torture

Branch 36 of the Court of Appeals upheld one year and eight months imprisonment sentence for Asal Mohammadi. Initially, Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran had convicted Mohammadi on the charges of “propaganda against the regime and assembly and collusion against national security.”

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the Court of Appeals upheld one year and eight months imprisonment sentence against workers’ rights activist Asal Mohammadi.

Mohammadi’s lawyer, Iman Soleimani, told HRANA, “During the detention, Mohammadi did not have access to a lawyer. During the trial process, I took her case but was not allowed to study the case documents or attend court sessions, which is a violation of Article 48 of the Criminal Procedure Code. Mohammadi was in poor mental condition. Contrary to what the law explicitly states, she had been interrogated without the accompaniment of a lawyer during the interrogation.”

On January 24, 2022, the trial was held and during the trial, participation in online campaigns such as “white torture” or membership in Marxist groups was used as evidence for the charges.

On November 6, 2021, the security forces arrested Mohammadi and Hirad Pirbodaghi in an aggressive manner.

Five days later, on November 11, Mohammadi was transferred to Public Ward 209 of Evin Prison and was released on bond on November 22, 2021.

Kiumars Latifi in Detention after Two Months

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
KiumarsLatifi, Sanandaj

Kiumars Latifi, a resident of Sanandaj, is still in detention and uncertain about his legal proceeding after two months. On February 15, 2022, IRGC agents arrested Latifi and after interrogation at a detention facility, transferred him to Sanandaj Prison. On April 10, 2022, he was relocated again to a detention facility for further interrogation.

According to #HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Kiumars Latifi, a resident of Sanandaj, is still in detention after two months.

Latifi’s nephew, Farid Latifi, told HRANA, “At the time they sent Kiumars Latifi again to a detention facility from prison, despite frequent family inquiries, both the Ministry of Intelligence and IRGC denied his detention. The prison officials just told us that Latifi had been released by security agents. Since the arrest, Latifi has made only two phone calls to his family from prison and the charges against him are still unknown to us.”

According to Farid Latifi, Kiumars Latifi and four other family members’ bank accounts have been frozen. Also, his sister, Arezoo Latifi has been under pressure or even beaten by agents not to disclose any information about his conditions.

Kiumars Latifi had already faced another arrest. In September of 2019, he was arrested with the same accusation and released on bail on December 26 of that year.

Kiumars Latifi is a Kurdish language teacher and a former member of the Rumi Sanandaj Association.