Sepideh Rashnu Faces Four-Month Sentence on Appeal Amidst New Legal Challenges

Sepideh Rashnu, a student and vocal opponent of compulsory hijab, has been handed a four-month prison sentence by the Tehran Court of Appeal, as reported by Shargh Newspaper. Her lawyer, Milad Panahi Pour, disclosed that she is concurrently grappling with yet another legal case.

Rashnu was found guilty of “disseminating vulgar images on the Internet.” Panahi Pour clarified that, following the initial verdict, they filed an appeal. However, yesterday they were notified about the appellate court’s decision while en route to present their defense.

In addition to the ongoing legal proceedings, a new case has been initiated against Mrs. Rashnu, triggering the activation of a previously suspended three-year, seven-month sentence. Consequently, she is now facing a cumulative prison term of three years and eleven months.

This isn’t the first time Rashnu has encountered legal challenges stemming from her refusal to adhere to hijab rules. She had previously received a two-semester suspension from the university. Moreover, on July 16, 2022, security forces arrested her following an altercation on a city bus, during which she was harassed and physically assaulted by a woman who deemed her hijab improper.

Workers’ Rights Advocate Sharifeh Mohammadi Arrested in Rasht

On December 5, 2023, the Ministry of Intelligence in Rasht arrested workers’ rights advocate Sharifeh Mohammadi, as reported by the Independent Iranian Workers Union.

Mohammadi was taken from her residence and subsequently transferred to an undisclosed location.
The reasons for her arrest, her current whereabouts, and the charges against her remain unknown at this time.

Nine Oshnavieh Residents Sentenced to a Total of Over 27 Years in Prison

The Oshnavieh Revolutionary Court has recently issued sentences totaling 27 years and five months in prison for nine individuals in the city, as reported by Kurdpa.

The individuals and their respective sentences are as follows:

1. Yaghoub Mahmoudi Azar: Seven years; Arrested on June 27, 2022, and released on bail on August 18, 2022.
2. Bahman Mahmoudi Azar: Seven years; Arrested on June 27, 2022, and released on bail on August 4, 2022.
3. Priot Tabnak: Two years; Arrested on June 27, 2022, and released on bail on August 18, 2022.
4. Mohsen Azizi: Two years; Arrested on June 27, 2022, and released on bail on July 24, 2022.
5. Khoshnav Ayni: Two years; Arrested on July 13, 2022, and released on bail on July 24, 2022.
6. Farhang Keramat: Two years and six months; Arrested on July 13, 2022, and released on bail on August 18, 2022.
7. Yousef Rahmani: Two years and five months; Arrested on July 13, 2022, and released on bail on August 17, 2022.
8. Khezr Abdollahi Amirabad: One year; Arrested on July 9, 2023, and released after a while on bail.
9. Othman Hamzeh Zadeh: One year and six months; Arrested on July 9, 2023, and released after a while on bail.

Among the charges brought against these individuals was “membership and collaboration with one of the political opposition parties.”

Zeinab Khenyab Pour Receives Three-Month Prison Sentence

The Mahshahr Revolutionary Court has imposed a three-month jail term on Zeinab (Bahar) Khenyab Pour, a resident of Bebahan.

Sajjad Chatr Sefid, Khenyab Pour’s lawyer, confirmed that his client has been found guilty of “spreading propaganda against the regime.” Khenyab Pour is also currently contending with an additional charge, which is under consideration by the Bebahan Criminal Court. The court session for this particular aspect of her legal proceedings took place on October 9, 2023.

Previously, on December 5, 2022, Khenyab Pour’s garment shop was closed due to her participation in the general strike in support of nationwide protests. Following the closure, she sought clarification from judicial authorities and was subsequently detained for six days in Sepidar Prison, located in Ahvaz.

 

Sivan Ebrahimi Receives an Eleven-Year Prison Sentence

Sivan Ebrahimi, one of the individuals detained in connection with the 2022 nationwide protests, has been sentenced to eleven years in prison by the Sanandaj Revolutionary Court, as reported by Kurdpa.

According to the verdict issued by Judge Mohammad Karami on December 2, 2023, Ebrahimi was found guilty of “forming groups to act against national security,” resulting in a ten-year prison term if the decision is upheld on appeal. Additionally, he received a one-year sentence for “propaganda against the regime.”

In a separate facet of his legal case, the Sanandaj Criminal Court had previously imposed an additional one-year imprisonment in exile and 40 lashes.

Ebrahimi, a Kurdish language teacher and a member of the cultural association Nojin, faced his second arrest on January 18, 2023, in Kamyaran. Following this arrest, he was released on bail in February of the same year.

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Manouchehr Fallah Receives 22-Month Prison Sentence for Political Charges

Manouchehr Fallah has been sentenced to a term of 22 months and 17 days by the Rasht Revolutionary Court, following charges related to his political activities.

Presiding over the court, Judge Mehdi Rasekhi has imposed a one-year, three-month, one-day sentence for the charge of “insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran” and a seven-month, sixteen-day sentence for “spreading propaganda against the regime.”

Sources close to Fallah’s family have disclosed that additional charges are currently under review by the Rasht Criminal Court as part of another aspect of his legal case.

The arrest of Fallah traces back to July of this year when authorities apprehended him at Rasht airport, subsequently incarcerating him in Lakan Prison. In September, he commenced a hunger strike in protest against the uncertainty surrounding his legal status.

Before his arrest, Fallah, a professional tattoo artist, had been residing in Kish Island.

Five Citizens Receive a Combined 20 Years and Fine for Political Charges

The Tehran Revolutionary Court has recently sentenced Zahra Safaie, Parastoo Moeini, Mohammad-Masoud Moeini, and Kamran Rezaiefar to five years, totaling twenty years in prison for political charges. Meanwhile, co-defendant Teymour (Timur) Rezaeian has been ordered to pay a fine.

Presiding over the court, Judge Iman Afshari found these individuals guilty of “assembly and collusion against national security.”

The arrests occurred on September 12, 2023, with Rezaeian apprehended one day later. Initially held in Ward 209 of Evin Prison, Later, they were transferred to the IRGC’s detention center, known as A-1.

According to HRANA reports, Safaie is currently held in the Women’s Ward of Evin Prison, while her son, Mohammad-Masoud Moeini, and Rezaiefar are in Ward 4 of the same prison. Two other defendants have been released on bail.

Notably, Rezaiefar has a history of arrests and convictions. In November 2021, he received a death sentence for “spreading corruption on earth,” which was later overturned by the Supreme Court. The current status of his legal case remains uncertain.

 

Protest Singer Toomaj Salehi Faces Re-Arrest

On November 30, 2023, protest rapper Toomaj Salehi experienced a renewed arrest in Babol by security forces, taken to an undisclosed location despite his recent release on bail from Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan, on November 18.

The apprehension unfolded on a Babol street using violence by the agents, leaving the grounds for his arrest and his current location shrouded in uncertainty.

This influential protest rapper was granted bail on November 18 from Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan, after the Supreme Court overturned his verdict. According to Amir Raisian, Salehi’s lawyer, Branch 39 of the Supreme Court reviewed Salehi’s case, identified defects in the indictment, and subsequently annulled the previous verdict. Consequently, the case was returned to the Isfahan Revolutionary Court. “Salehi, benefiting from a general pardon, should have been released without the need for bail,” his lawyer asserted.

In July of this year, Salehi received a six-year and three-month sentence, along with a travel ban, a prohibition on music production, and mandatory participation in behavior management and knowledge skills courses for two years.

In late October 2022, Salehi was detained by security forces during nationwide protests. Despite official media claims of his attempt to leave the country illegally, individuals close to Salehi contested this narrative.

It is noteworthy that the protest singer has a prior conviction in a separate legal case. On January 12, 2022, he was sentenced to a six-month prison term and fined, with the imprisonment suspended for one year.

Reza Aghdasi Sentenced to Four Years and Three Months on Political Charges

Reza (Gholamreza) Aghdasi has received a verdict of four years and three months for political charges from Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court. He is currently jailed in Evin Prison.

Presiding over the court, Iman Afshari delivered a three-year and seven-month sentence (including the detention period) to Aghdasi for “assembly and collusion against national security” and an additional eight months for “spreading propaganda against the regime.”

Following being fired from Iran Khodro, an Iranian automaker company, Aghdasi was arrested on October 24, 2023, and subsequently detained in Evin Prison after being summoned to Evin Courthouse.

According to a source close to his family, Aghdasi, aged 57 and a resident of Karaj, is grappling with hearing impairment and other health issues. His residence was searched during the 2022 nationwide protests, resulting in the confiscation of some of his belongings.

Attorney Khosrow Alikurdi Receives One-Year Sentence and Additional Restrictions

Lawyer Khosrow Alikurdi has been sentenced to one year in prison by the Mashhad Revolutionary Court. In addition to the imprisonment, he faces several other penalties, including a ban on practicing law, a travel ban, mandatory residence in Nehbandan, South Khorasan province, and a prohibition on engaging in social media activities, all enforced for a period of two years.

Alikurdi disclosed this verdict to the public, revealing that he was convicted of “propaganda against the regime in favor of anti-regime groups.”
On August 1, 2023, Alikurdi was arrested and incarcerated in Vakilabad Prison following his presence at the Mashhad Courthouse. He was released on bail from Vakilabad Prison after spending four days in custody.
Another facet of this legal saga involves a previous sentence imposed on Alikurdi, requiring him to pay a fine for “disseminating false information and breaching confidentiality.”