Category: Freedom of Expression

Salam Azari Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison by Mahabad Revolutionary Court

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Freedom of Expression, News
Mahabad, Naqadeh, Salam Azari, سلام آذری

Salam Azari, a resident of Naqadeh, has received a one-year and six-month prison sentence from Branch 1 of the Mahabad Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Doosti.

According to HRANA, quoting Kurdpa, the court convicted Mr. Azari of “membership in one of the opposition parties,” resulting in a one-year prison term, and “propaganda against the regime,” adding an additional six months.

Security forces arrested Salam (Shahin) Azari in Naqadeh in November 2023, during a raid on his family home. They transferred him to a security detention facility in Urmia, where he underwent interrogation, before moving him to Naqadeh Prison.

In February 2023, Mr. Azari was released on bail after spending several months in detention.

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Political Prisoner Hossein Yazdi Sentenced to Imprisonment and Additional Punishments

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Freedom of Expression, News
Dastgerd Prison, Hossein Yazdi, Isfahan, حسین یزدی

Hossein Yazdi, a political activist, has been sentenced to one year in prison and additional penalties by the Revolutionary Court of Isfahan.

The verdict, issued by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Isfahan, convicted Mr. Yazdi of “propaganda against the regime,” sentencing him to one year in prison. He was also handed a two-year ban on leaving the country, a two-year prohibition from online activity, a two-year deprivation of social rights under Article 26 of the Islamic Penal Code, and the confiscation of his mobile phone.

This political activist was arrested in July 2023 after reporting to the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in Isfahan and was subsequently transferred to Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan. He was released on July 12, 2023, after posting bail.

Hossein Mohammadi Yazdi, a political activist and former director of the Mobin 24 website and the Iran Times news channel, has a history of arrests and legal confrontations.

Christian Convert Ghazal Marzban Sentenced to Prison, Flogging, and Additional Restrictions

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Freedom of Expression, News, Religious Minorities
Evin Prison, Ghazal Marzban, HRANA, Iman Afshari

Ghazal Marzban, a Christian convert detained in Evin Prison, has been sentenced to six months in prison, 74 lashes, and supplementary penalties by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

According to HRANA, citing Hyrakani, Ms. Marzban was convicted of “propaganda against the regime” and “appearing in public without a hijab.” The ruling, issued by Judge Iman Afshari, stipulates that one-third of the six-month prison sentence is enforceable, with the remaining portion suspended. Additionally, she has been sentenced to 74 lashes and a five-year ban on mobile phone use as supplementary punishment.

In protest against her ongoing detention and judicial uncertainty, Ms. Marzban began a hunger strike on December 22, which she ended after six days.

A convert to Catholic Christianity, Ms. Marzban was arrested on November 5 near Tehran’s Vali-e-Asr Square for chanting protest slogans. After being held at the Vozara Detention Center, she was transferred to Evin Prison’s women’s ward on November 7.

A source previously informed HRANA, “Ms. Marzban spoke out in the crowd, appealing to Pope Francis about the widespread poverty and oppression in Iran, urging him to respond to the actions of the Iranian government. Her arrest was unrelated to her faith and was solely due to her public protest.”

Ghazal Marzban Jorshari, 41, is a law graduate and a resident of Tehran.

Female Dentist Arrested by Security Forces Following Assault

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Freedom of Expression, News, Women
Farzaneh Mohammadi Parsa, HRANA, Tehran

Farzaneh Mohammadi Parsa, a dentist residing in Tehran, was arrested by security forces in the city and transferred to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of the Human Rights Activists in Iran, Farzaneh Mohammadi Parsa was arrested at her private residence on Wednesday, December 25. Reports indicate that her arrest involved physical assault.

A knowledgeable source confirmed the news to HRANA, stating that Ms. Parsa had previously been detained over issues related to hijab enforcement and writing posts about boycotting Iran’s presidential elections. She was released after signing a pledge.

As of now, no information is available regarding the reasons for her arrest or the charges brought against her.

HRANA documented 1,505 cases of violations against freedom of thought and expression in Iran during 2024, with 1,591 individuals arrested.

Report on the Arrest of Four Citizens in West Azerbaijan Province

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Freedom of Expression, News, Other
Afshin Khalifehzadeh, Amin Bazian, Jamal Sheikhehpour, Khaled Mohammadian, Mahabad, Sardasht

In recent days, four citizens named Khaled Mohammadian, Amin Bazian, Jamal Sheikhehpour, and Afshin Khalifehzadeh were arrested by security forces in Sardasht, Piranshahr, and Mahabad and transferred to undisclosed locations.

According to HRANA, quoting Kurdpa, early Sunday morning, December 29, Sheikhehpour and Khalifehzadeh were arrested in Mahabad. These individuals, residents of Qom Qaleh village in Mahabad county, were detained without judicial warrants and taken to unknown locations.

In a separate report, Kurdpa confirmed the arrest of a citizen in Sardasht identified as Khaled Mohammadian in Sardasht County. Security forces entered Mr. Mohammadian’s home early the previous morning, arrested him without presenting a warrant, and transferred him to an undisclosed location. During the arrest, they also searched his home.

On Friday, December 27, another citizen, identified as Amin Bazian, aged around 28, a resident of Piranshahr, was arrested and taken to an unknown location.

The arrest of this individual was also carried out without a judicial warrant by security forces.

So far, no information is available regarding the reasons for the arrests or the charges brought against these citizens.

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Appeals Court Upholds Prison Sentence and Political Ban for Former Isfahan City Council Member

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Freedom of Expression, News
Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan, Mehdi Moghadari, مهدی مقدری

The Appeals Court of Isfahan Province has upheld the prison sentence and additional penalties imposed on Mehdi Moghadari, a former member of Isfahan’s City Council.

In its recent ruling, the court confirmed a one-year prison sentence for “propaganda against the regime.” Additionally, it upheld a set of complementary penalties, including a travel ban, a prohibition on social media activity, and a two-year ban on participation in political groups, parties, and organizations.

The initial trial for Mr. Moghadari took place in Branch 1 of the Isfahan Revolutionary Court. In August 2024, the court sentenced him to these penalties.

Mr. Moghadari was first arrested by security forces in late November 2022 in Isfahan. He was released from Dastgerd Prison in February 2023 under a general “pardon” directive. The former city council member has a history of previous arrests and convictions related to his activities.

Revolutionary Court Sentences Sajjad Sadeghi to Imprisonment and Additional Punishments

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Freedom of Expression, News
Iman Afshari, Sajjad Sadeghi, سجاد صادقی

Sajjad Sadeghi, former radio host and expert, has been sentenced in absentia by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court to five years and six months in prison, along with social deprivations.

The ruling, issued in absentia by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court under Judge Iman Afshari and communicated to Mr. Sadeghi, includes one year in prison for “propaganda against the regime” and four years and six months for “assembly and collusion to commit crimes against national security,” with previous detention time considered. He has also been sentenced to a 10-year ban on teaching and conducting research at universities as an additional punishment. Under Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the most severe punishment—four years and six months in prison—will be enforceable.

The court hearing for Sajjad Sadeghi’s charges was held on December 2 of 2024 in the aforementioned judicial branch.

In September, Mr. Sadeghi was arrested in Tehran by security forces and later released.

Sajjad Sadeghi has previously faced legal actions due to his activities, including prior detention and a sentence of 74 lashes.

In 2024, the Department of Statistics and Publication of HRA reported a total of 81 cases where Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, issued verdicts that violated the human rights of defendants.

Italian Female Journalist Arrested in Tehran

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Freedom of Expression, News
Cecilia Sala, Evin Prison, Tehran, Zeinab Mousavi

Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced the arrest of Cecilia Sala, a 29-year-old Italian journalist, in Tehran. Sala was detained on December 19, 2024.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, the Ministry confirmed Sala’s identity and reported that she has made two phone calls to her family since her arrest. On Friday, December 27, Italy’s Ambassador to Tehran, Paola Amadi, visited her in prison.

Italian media have revealed that Sala is being held in solitary confinement at Evin Prison. They have linked her arrest to her reporting on Iran, including her recent publications critical of the regime.

Shortly before her detention, Sala had conducted and published an interview with Zeinab Mousavi, an Iranian comedian and creator of the character “Emperor Kuzco.”

Kermanshah: Brother of 2022 Protest Victim Arrested by Security Forces

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ebrahim Gol-Anbar, Esmail Gol Anbar, HRANA, Javanrud, ابراهیم گل عنبر

Ebrahim Gol-Anbar, a resident of Javanrud and the brother of Esmail Gol-Anbar, who was killed during the 2022 nationwide protests, was arrested by security forces on Wednesday, December 25, 2024. He was taken to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, citing Kolbar News, Mr. Gol-Anbar was detained near Bistoon while traveling with his family from Tehran to Javanrud, Kermanshah province. The arrest reportedly occurred without the presentation of a judicial warrant.

As of the time of this report, no information has been made available about the reasons for his arrest, his current location, or the charges against him.

Esmail Gol-Anbar, Ebrahim’s brother, was killed on November 21, 2022, during a funeral in Javanrud for two victims of the nationwide protests. He was shot and killed by security forces on Behdari Street in the city.

Teacher Ahmad Derakhshan Sentenced to One Year in Prison and Additional Penalties

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Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News
Ahmad Derakhshan, Karaj, revolutionary court, احمد درخشان

Ahmad Derakhshan, a teacher and writer, has been sentenced to one year in prison by Branch 2 of the Karaj Revolutionary Court on charges of “propaganda against the regime.”

In addition to the prison term, he has been subjected to supplementary penalties, including a two-year ban on membership in social groups, a two-year travel ban, prohibition from teaching, and dismissal from governmental and public services for two years following the completion of his prison sentence.

The verdict was recently issued and verbally communicated to Derakhshan’s lawyer.

In September 2024, Derakhshan was summoned to Branch 13 of the Karaj Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office, where he was formally charged. He was released shortly thereafter on bail.

Ahmad Derakhshan, a resident of Karaj, has faced repeated summons and interrogations regarding this case. In November 2024, a court session was held to examine the charges against him.

Derakhshan, known for his work as both a teacher and writer, has long been an advocate for educational and social issues, making his sentencing a matter of concern for those monitoring human rights in Iran.