Category: Freedom of Expression

Trial Commences for Twelve Women’s Rights Advocates at Revolutionary Court in Rasht

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Freedom of Expression, News
Azadeh Chavoshian, Forough Saminia, Hooman Taheri, Jelveh Javaheri, Matin Yazdani, Negin Rezaie, Rasht, Sara Jahani, Shiva Shah Sia, Vahedeh Khoshsirat, Yasamin Hashdari, Zahra Dadras, Zohreh Dadras

The Revolutionary Court of Rasht initiated the trial of twelve women’s rights advocates on February 29, 2024. The individuals facing charges include Forough Saminia, Sara Jahani, Zahra Dadras, Yasamin Hashdari, Shiva Shah Sia, Negin Rezaie, Vahedeh Khoshsirat, Azadeh Chavoshian, Zohreh Dadras, Matin Yazdani, Hooman Taheri, and Jelveh Javaheri.

Presided over by Judge Mehdi Rasekhi, the first nine women were charged with “membership in a group, assembly, and collusion to act against national security.” Meanwhile, Mr Taheri and Ms Javaheri face charges related to “forming groups to act against national security.”

These individuals were among those detained during a mass arrest of citizens in Gilan Province on August 16 and 17, 2023. Subsequently, they were released on bail from Lakan Prison in Rasht in the following days, pending the conclusion of legal proceedings.

50 Arrested for Encouraging Election Boycott in West Azerbaijan

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Freedom of Expression, News
Election Boycott, West Azerbaijan

The Chief of Police in West Azerbaijan has revealed the arrest of 50 social media page administrators in this province for urging people to boycott the upcoming parliamentary election, as reported by IRNA.

Rahim Jahanbakhsh, the Chief of Police, cited charges of “disturbing public opinion and encouraging people to abstain from voting in the election.”

The report has not disclosed the identities of the detainees or the location of their detention.

Prolonged Detention of Political Defendant Saber Balandeh Reaches 120 Days

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Freedom of Expression, News
Adelabad Prison, cyrus the great day, Nezam Prison, Saber Balandeh

Saber Balandeh has been held in Adelabad prison for over 120 days, facing charges of ‘spreading propaganda against the regime,’ ‘blasphemy,’ and ‘insulting the prophet of Islam,’ according to a source close to his family as reported by HRANA.

During his detention, Balandeh spent 18 days in a psychiatric hospital in Shiraz, indicating a decline in his mental health. Following a transfer from Adelabad Prison to Nezam Prison, complications arose due to his use of nerve medications, necessitating his return to Adelabad Prison.

The source expressed concern over the worsening mental instability of Balandeh after his hospitalization. The incident unfolded when Balandeh, hailing from northern Iran, was arrested by security forces during his trip to Shiraz on October 29, 2023, coinciding with Cyrus the Great Day.

Reza Nabavi Chashmi Commences Five-Year Prison Term

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Freedom of Expression, News
Nabavi Chashmi, Semnan prison, Seyed Reza Nabavi Chashmi

Seyed Reza Nabavi Chashmi began serving his five-year sentence on February 26, as he was incarcerated in Semnan Prison following the recent finalization of his sentence.

Nabavi was initially arrested by Ministry of Intelligence agents on August 26, 2023. Subsequently, he was released on bail amounting to one billion tomans, approximately 20,000 dollars. The specific charges against Nabavi, as well as details of the legal proceedings, remain undisclosed.

It’s worth noting that Nabavi had previously experienced arrest and imprisonment on charges of “spreading propaganda against the regime.”

Journalist Kimia Fathizadeh Receives Six-Month Sentence and Further Penalties

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Freedom of Expression, News
Kerman Province, Kimia Fathizadeh, Sirjan

In a recent development, the Criminal Court in Sirjan, Kerman province, has imposed a six-month prison sentence and additional penalties on Kimia (Zahra) Fathizadeh, a journalist based in Tehran.

According to the verdict issued on February 21, 2024, Fathizadeh was found guilty of “disseminating false information to cause harm and disturbing public opinion.” In addition to the six-month imprisonment, she is required to pay a fine and is prohibited from engaging in journalistic activities for two years.

Confirmation of Fathizadeh’s conviction comes from a reliable source close to the journalist who disclosed to HRANA that the legal action was initiated due to a report in which Fathizadeh criticized the head of the Intelligence Protection Organization and the former prosecutor of Sirjanو, who subsequently filed a complaint against her.

It is noteworthy that Fathizadeh, 50, experienced a raid on her residence in Tehran on August 27, 2023, conducted by Cyber Police. During the operation, several of her digital devices were confiscated.

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Journalist Saba Azarpeik Receives Two-Year Prison Sentence and Additional Penalties

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Freedom of Expression, News
Alireza Razm Hosseini, Mohsen Dehnavi, Saba Azarpeik, Zahra Sheikhi

Renowned journalist Saba Azarpeik has been handed a two-year prison sentence and a ban on social media activities, following complaints from several authorities within the regime, as reported by Hamshahri Newspaper.

The verdict, issued on February 26, cited Azarpeik’s conviction on charges of “disseminating false information, slandering, defamation, and threatening.” Additionally, the court specified that any recurrence of such actions would result in a one-third extension of her imprisonment.

The legal proceedings originated from complaints lodged by members of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, including Alireza Razm Hosseini, the former Minister of Industry, Mine, and Trade, Zahra Sheikhi, a Parliament member, and Mohsen Dehnavi, a Director of the Islamic Consultative Assembly.

Azarpeik has a history of summons and arrests for her journalistic activities.

Hossein Hosseinpour Sentenced to Eleven Months in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
2002 nationwide protests, Hossein Hosseinpour, Mahabad, Shiraz

Hossein Hosseinpour, a resident of Mahabad, received an 11-month prison sentence after originally being sentenced to one year, following a plea of no contest. The verdict, based on charges of “spreading propaganda against the regime,” cites Instagram posts as evidence.

Arrested by the Ministry of Intelligence in Shiraz in August 2023, Hosseinpour underwent the interrogation process in a detention facility before being transferred to Adelabad Prison. In January 2024, he was relocated to Prison No. 2 in Shiraz.

During the 2022 nationwide protests, Hosseinpour suffered injuries to his right eye from an airgun bullet fired by regime forces, undergoing four surgeries since then. Despite contracting an infection in his eye during detention, he has been denied access to necessary medical treatment.

In December 2023, he was indicted on charges of “spreading propaganda against the regime,” leading to the initial one-year sentence, later reduced to 11 months. The case highlights ongoing concerns about the treatment of individuals involved in the protests and their access to adequate medical care.

Three Political Prisoners Held in Prolonged Detention for Over 13 Months

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Freedom of Expression, News
Arman Sedghi Sabet, Hafez Forouhi, HRANA, Lakan prison, Mehdi Mirzaie, Rasht

Hafez Forouhi, Arman Sedghi Sabet, and Mehdi Mirzaie have been trapped in legal limbo for over 13 months at Lakan Prison in Rasht.

A source close to one of the individuals’ families informed HRANA that the Rasht Criminal Court held a session on February 14, 2024, addressing multiple charges, including “membership in anti-regime groups.” Despite the court session, the judge dismissed their release on bail, opting to extend their detention further.

They were initially arrested by security forces in Rasht last year and later transferred to Lakan Prison on January 19, 2023.

Dana Lenj-Abadi Arrested in Marivan

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Freedom of Expression, News
Dana Lenj-Abadi, HRA, HRANA, Kolbar News, دانا لنج آبادی

On February 20, security forces in Marivan, Kurdistan province, apprehended Dana Lenj-Abadi, as reported by Kolbar News.

Subsequently, two days later, Lenj-Abadi’s detention period was extended by one month. He faces charges of “spreading propaganda against the regime,” as stated by the Public and Revolutionary Courthouse.

It is worth noting that Lenj-Abadi has a history of previous arrests, convictions, and educational deprivation due to his activities.

According to data collected by the Department of Statistics and Publication of HRA in 2023, Kurdistan Province accounted for 8.3% of reported human rights violations, including instances of arbitrary detentions.

Researcher Ali Ramezani Receives Three Years and Seven Months Sentence on Political Charges

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ali Ramezani, Amirkabir University of Technology, IEEE, Iman Afshari

Ali Ramezani, a researcher at Amirkabir University of Technology and a member of Iran’s Microelectronics Olympiad team, has been sentenced to three years and seven months by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

Judge Iman Afshari presided over the case, ruling that Ramezani must serve a three-year prison term for “assembly and collusion against national security” and an additional seven months for “spreading propaganda against the regime.” If the verdict is upheld on appeal, Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code stipulates that the three-year prison term for the first count will be enforceable.

Ramezani was arrested on October 16, 2023, at his residence by security forces and was later released on bail.

As a distinguished researcher, Ramezani received the best thesis award from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in 2021.