Category: Freedom of Expression

Mohsen Hooshmand Receives One-Year Prison Term on Alleged Political Charges

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Mohsen Hooshmand, Rasht, Rasht Revolutionary Court

The Rasht Revolutionary Court has handed down a one-year sentence to Mohsen Hooshmand.

According to the verdict, Hooshmand has been convicted of “acting against national security.” During the court session held on November 14, 2023, Hooshmand’s social media and internet posts were cited as evidence supporting the charge.

Sources close to his family revealed to HRANA that the case has now been forwarded to the Executive Unit.

Having been arrested on October 25, 2023, Hooshmand spent 16 days in detention before being released on bail.

This isn’t Hooshmand’s first encounter with legal troubles, as the 29-year-old activist had previously faced arrest and conviction for his involvement in activism.

Journalist Mehdi Afshar Nik Taken into Custody

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Freedom of Expression, News
Etemand Online, Mehdi Afshar Nik, Shargh Newspaper

Journalist Mehdi Afshar Nik has been arrested by security forces and subsequently moved to an undisclosed facility, according to a report by Etemad Online.

The arrest reportedly took place on January 31, with the reasons for Afshar Nik’s detention, the whereabouts of his confinement, and the charges against him currently remaining unknown.

Afshar Nik, known for his work with Etemad and Shargh newspaper, has a history of legal challenges in his career as a journalist.

Isa Ebrahimzadeh Detained in Oshnavieh

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Freedom of Expression, News
Behnam Ebrahimzadeh, Isa Ebrahimzadeh, Oshnavieh

In a concerning development, Isa Ebrahimzadeh was arrested by security forces in Oshnavieh on January 4 and taken to an undisclosed location.

His brother, Behnam Ebrahimzadeh, a worker’s rights advocate, disclosed the arrest, citing the Ministry of Intelligence’s involvement at Isa’s residence.

As of now, the exact location where he is being held and the charges against him remain unknown.

Ebrahimzadeh has encountered previous arrests and legal confrontations. On November 21, 2022, he was detained by security forces in connection with the nationwide protests of 2022. Subsequently, on January 12, 2023, he secured his release on bail of 500 million tomans (approximately 10,000 dollars) from Oshnavieh Prison.

Journalist Nasrin Hassani Begins Serving Seven-Month Prison Sentence

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Freedom of Expression, News
Bojnurd, Mahsa Amini Protests, Nasrin Hassani, Siahat-e Shargh

Journalist Nasrin Hassani commenced her seven-month prison term on February 4, as she was incarcerated in Bojnurd Prison.

A source close to Hassani’s family confirmed the news, stating that on February 4, she was placed in Bojnurd Prison to serve her sentence following her appearance in the Judgment Enforcement unit. The Criminal Court of Bojnurd had sentenced her on November 11, 2023, for “disseminating false information,” accompanied by a fine for alleged “non-compliance with Hijab in public.”

In a parallel development within this legal case, the Revolutionary Court of the city had previously sentenced her to one year, pending appeal.

Nasrin Hassani, the managing editor of the weekly newspaper Siahat-e Shargh, is a single mother to a 13-year-old son.

It’s worth noting that Hassani faced legal repercussions during the Mahsa Amini Protests in September 2022, having been arrested by security forces. She was subsequently released after a period of detention.

Civil Rights Activist Mohammad Nourizad Sentenced to 61 Months in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, Mohammad Nourizad, Shahid Kechooie judicial complex, Tehran

Renowned civil rights advocate Mohammad Nourizad has been sentenced to 61 months in prison as a result of a legal case initiated while he was already incarcerated.

Presently serving his sentence at Evin Prison, Nourizad revealed the additional imprisonment through a voice message from behind bars. The recent court session addressing the new charges against Nourizad took place at the Shahid Kechooie judicial complex in Tehran. Unfortunately, he was unable to defend himself as he was not present during the proceedings.

Details regarding the charges leveled against Nourizad remain undisclosed at this time.

On August 9, 2023, Nourizad faced punitive measures and was relocated to solitary confinement due to his protest against the restriction of prisoners’ telephone cards, impeding their ability to make phone calls.

In a separate legal development from July 2023, Nourizad received an additional two-year prison sentence from the Tehran Revolutionary Court. This sentence stemmed from yet another legal case initiated while he was already in prison.

Nourizad’s legal ordeal began on August 11, 2019, when he was arrested by security forces for participating in the drafting of an open letter with 13 other civil rights activists, calling for the Supreme Leader of Iran to step down. In the initial case, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison, three years of exile in Izeh, and a two-year travel ban. Although the prison sentence was upheld on appeal, the duration of exile and travel ban were reduced to two years.

In late April 2020, Nourizad received an additional one-year imprisonment for expressing support for Baha’i citizens in Eyvanki, Semnan Province.

Concerning the second part of his legal case, the Mashhad Criminal Court sentenced Nourizad to 8 months in prison and 74 lashes, along with exile to Tabas, for “disturbance of public order.” He also received an additional 74 lashes for “spreading falsehood.” This verdict was upheld on appeal as well.

Nourizad was released from Evin Prison on November 17, 2021, based on an early release order. However, on January 23, 2022, he was summoned and re-incarcerated in Evin Prison to serve the remainder of his sentence.

Nourizad has a history of arrests and convictions linked to his peaceful activism. He is a prominent filmmaker, writer, director, and journalist from Iran. While previously known as an outspoken religious journalist, he has become an active critic of the Islamic Republic in recent years.

 

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18-Year-Old Sepehr Shirani’s Suspicious Death in Custody

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Baloch Activists Campaign, IRGC Intelligence, Sepehr Shirani, Sistan and Baluchestan Province, Zahedan

On January 30, 2024, Sepehr Shirani, 18 years old, died under suspicious circumstances after three days in the custody of a security institution in Zahedan, as reported by Haal Vsh.

IRGC Intelligence is said to be responsible for his arrest, notifying Shirani’s family of his demise via a phone call. As of now, his body has not been handed over to his family.

The agents cited the publication of critical social media posts as the reason for Shirani’s arrest.

The Baloch Activists Campaign, a human rights monitor in Sistan and Baluchestan Province, has reported that Shirani died under torture while in custody.

Notably, recent years have seen numerous cases of suspicious deaths or murders of citizens within police detention centers, security, and judicial institutions. In most instances, investigations have failed to definitively identify perpetrators or hold authorities accountable.

The agents had reportedly mentioned publishing criticizing posts on social media as the reason for Shirani’s arrest.

According to HRA’s annual report for 2023, a total of 1,386 violations of prisoners’ rights were documented. These include 27 cases of physical assault on prisoners, 1,390 instances of denial or neglect of medical care, 342 illegal transfers to solitary confinement, 114 attempted hunger strikes, 415 cases of forced transfer or exile of prisoners, 4,140 instances of threats and pressure on prisoners, 66 cases of denying prisoner visitation rights, 34 cases of psychological and physical torture, 7 deaths due to illness, 12 suicides, 1 case of self-immolation, 4 murders of prisoners, 208 instances of lack of access to legal counsel, 4,197 reports of prisoners being kept in unsuitable conditions, 80 cases of forced confession, 290 instances of non-segregation of crimes, 78 denials of medical leave, and 101 denials of the right to contact.

University Student Hamoon Soleimani Taken into Custody

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Freedom of Expression, News, Students
Evin Prison, Hamoon Soleimani, Homayoun Soleimani, University of Science and Technology

On January 30, 2024, Hamoon Soleimani, a Master’s student at the University of Science and Technology, was apprehended during his appearance at Evin Courthouse.

Homayoun Soleimani, confirming his brother’s detention, revealed, “Hamoon was summoned to Evin Courthouse and subsequently held in custody. Approximately one hour after his apprehension, he managed to make a phone call, notifying our family of his relocation to Ward 1 of Evin Prison.”

As of now, the specific grounds for Soleimani’s arrest and the charges against him remain undisclosed.

Woman Sentenced to 11 Months in Prison After Confrontation with Religious Vigilante Over Dog Walk

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Freedom of Expression, News
Negin Chaparian, Tehran, Tehran Revolutionary Court

The Tehran Revolutionary Court has handed down an eleven-month prison term to Negin Chaparian for an altercation with a religious vigilante who harassed her while walking her dog.

According to the recent verdict from Branch 29 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, Chaparian has been convicted of “spreading propaganda against the regime, provoking impurity and indecency, and outraging public decency.”

In August 2023, 34-year-old Chaparian, a Tehran resident, engaged in a dispute with a religious vigilante in a park who objected to her walking a dog, deeming it inappropriate by Islamic standards. Subsequently, she was arrested after sharing photos of the incident on social media. Chaparian spent three days in detention and was later released on bail.

This incident highlights a concerning violation of citizens’ privacy rights and freedom, as the Iranian regime encourages individuals to enforce the Islamic code in public as a religious duty.

Kamal Babaie’s Arrest in Isfahan Raises Concerns

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Freedom of Expression, News
Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan, Kamal Babaie

On January 27, 2024, security forces apprehended Kamal Babaie in Isfahan, placing him in Dastgerd Prison.

According to a source close to Babaie’s family, he was arrested and confined to prison at a time when his physical well-being was reportedly not suitable for incarceration.

The motives behind Babaie’s arrest and the charges against him remain undisclosed. The circumstances surrounding his detention raise concerns about the transparency and justification of the arrest.

Farshad Dastmardi Receives Three-Year Sentence on Political Charges

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Freedom of Expression, News
Dehdasht, Farshad Dastmardi, Judge Taheri, Yasuj

Farshad Dastmardi, one of the detainees during the 2022 nationwide protests, has been sentenced to three years, seven months, and 16 days by the Criminal Court in Dehdasht.

Presiding over the case, Judge Taheri issued a three-year prison term for “disturbing public opinion and acting against national security” and seven months plus 16 days for “propaganda against the regime.”

Reportedly, this verdict was handed down without a formal trial, as shared by a source close to Taheri’s family.

Dastmardi was arrested by IRGC’s Intelligence agents in Dehdasht in August 2023 and later transferred to the Ministry of Intelligence’s facility in Yasuj. He was released on bail on January 21, 2024.

During the 2022 nationwide protests, he was also arrested by security forces and released on bail of one and a half billion tomans, approximately 30,000 dollars. This previous arrest further adds to the series of judicial confrontations Dastmardi has faced over time.