Category: Freedom of Expression

Peyman Kazemi Sentenced to Three Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Peyman Kazemi, Rudsar Prison, پیمان کاظمی

Peyman Kazemi, a resident of Gilan Province, has been sentenced to three years in prison by a judicial authority.

According to HRANA, quoting Hyracani News Outlet, Kazemi was convicted on charges of “propaganda against the regime” and “insulting the Supreme Leader,” receiving a total sentence of three years of discretionary imprisonment.

The report does not provide details about the specific acts leading to the charges or the authority that issued the verdict.

Peyman Kazemi returned to Iran from Sweden in January of 2024 and was arrested by security forces at his home on March 8, 2024. He is currently held in Rudsar Prison.

Death Sentences for Behrooz Ehsani and Mehdi Hasani Upheld by Supreme Court

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Executions, Freedom of Expression, News
Baghi, Behrooz Ehsani, Evin Prison, Iman Afshari, Mehdi Hasani, Mehdi Hassani, moharebeh, zanjan

The Supreme Court of Iran has upheld the death sentences for Behrooz Ehsani Eslamlou and Mehdi Hasani, political prisoners held in Evin Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, the lawyers of the two political prisoners were formally notified of the court’s decision.

The two were sentenced to death in late September 2024 by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, on charges of “armed rebellion (baghi),” “enmity against God (moharebeh),” “spreading corruption on earth,” collecting classified information, and collusion against national security. Their alleged membership in the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK) was cited as evidence against them.

On Monday, November 28, 2022, Mr. Ehsani was arrested at his home in Tehran and transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison. Mr. Hasani was also arrested on September 9, 2022, while attempting to leave the country in Zanjan and was transferred to Evin Prison. Both individuals spent months in a state of uncertainty and incommunicado detention.

Behrooz Ehsani is 64 years old. Mehdi Hasani, aged around 48, is married and the father of two children. Before his arrest, he was active in the real estate sector.

Bookstore Owner Ahlam Bandar Arrested by Security Forces in Ahvaz

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ahlam Bandar, ahvaz, Khuzestan

Yesterday, January 7, Ahlam Bandar, a resident of Ahvaz, was arrested by security forces in the city and transferred to an undisclosed location.

The identity of the detainee, Ahlam Bandar, who runs a bookstore named Laris in Ahvaz, has been confirmed by HRANA. Additionally, the bookstore’s Instagram page announced the suspension of its activities.

The reasons for her arrest and her current whereabouts remain unknown at this time.

According to data collected in 2024 by the Department of Statistics and Publications of HRA, Khuzestan Province ranked second in the number of human rights violations committed by Iran’s regime, following Tehran Province.

Milad Bahri Arrested by Security Forces

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Khuzestan province, Milad Bahri, Shadegan, میلاد بحری

Milad Bahri, a resident of Shadegan, Khuzestan province, was arrested by security forces on Monday, January 6, 2025, and transferred to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of the Human Rights Activists in Iran, Mr. Bahri was detained by agents of The Ministry of Intelligence in Shadegan. The reasons for his arrest and his current whereabouts remain unknown at this time.

Milad Bahri, a photojournalist from Shadegan, has previously been arrested due to his activities.

According to data collected in 2024 by the Department of Statistics and Publications of HRA, Khuzestan Province ranked second in the number of human rights violations committed by Iran’s regime, following Tehran Province.

Instagram Blogger Arrested in Ilam

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ilam, Instagram Blogger, Sirvan Parvizi

On Sunday, January 5, 2025, Sirvan Parvizi, a satirical blogger from Ilam, was arrested by security forces and transferred to an undisclosed location. At the same time, his Instagram account was seized by judicial order, and a legal case was filed against him.

A source close to his family confirmed the arrest, stating that his Instagram page was seized for allegedly “publishing criminal content,” and judicial authorities have opened a case against him.

As of this report, no information is available about his whereabouts. Parvizi, known for publishing critical content, had over 500,000 followers on his Instagram account.

Sirvan Parvizi is a satirical blogger residing in Ilam. His arrest and the seizure of his online presence have raised concerns among his followers and activists.

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Four Teachers’ Union Activists in Khuzestan Sentenced to a Total of 24 Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News
ahvaz, Ali Koroushat, HRANA, Iranian Teacher Union Activist, Kokab Bodaqi-Panah, Pirooz Nami, Siamak Sadeghi Chehrazi

Siamak Sadeghi Chehrazi, Kokab Bodaqi-Panah, Pirooz Nami, and Ali Koroushat, teachers’ union activists in Khuzestan, have been sentenced by the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court to a combined total of 24 years in prison in a joint case.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, the four union activists were sentenced by Branch 3 of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court. On Tuesday, January 7, 2025, they were verbally informed of their sentences. Each was sentenced to five years in prison on charges of “assembly and collusion against national security” and one year for “propaganda against the regime,” amounting to a total of 24 years for all four activists.

The court hearing for their case took place on November 6, 2024, in the same branch.

Kokab Bodaqi-Panah, a teachers’ union activist in Khuzestan, had previously been charged by Branch 13 of the Prosecutor’s Office in Ahvaz in October 2024 and was released on bail following her indictment.

Siamak Sadeghi Chehrazi, Pirooz Nami, and Ali Koroushat have faced prior legal actions due to their union activities.

Saeed Esmaeil Mazraeh Arrested in Ahvaz

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Freedom of Expression, News
ahvaz, HRANA, Saeed Esmaeil Mazraeh, اسماعیل مزرعه

Yesterday, Saeed Esmaeil Mazraeh, a writer and researcher residing in Ahvaz, was arrested by Ministry of Intelligence agents at his home and transferred to an undisclosed location. During the raid, agents searched his home and confiscated some of his digital belongings.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, the arrest took place on Monday, January 6, 2025. Agents searched Mr. Mazraeh’s residence, seizing personal items including his mobile phone and computer.

HRANA’s sources indicate that Mr. Mazraeh, who suffers from kidney disease, remains in an unknown condition, raising his family’s concerns about his health and fate. The reasons for his arrest and the charges against him remain unknown.

Saeed Esmaeil Mazraeh, 32, is married and resides in Ahvaz. He holds a master’s degree in literature, works as a researcher, and has authored several books.

Ayoub Gheibipour Arrested by IRGC Intelligence in Ahvaz

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Freedom of Expression, News
ahvaz, Ayoub Gheibipour, irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Kerman prison, Qassem Soleimani

Ayoub Gheibipour Hajivar, one of the detainees from the 2022 nationwide protests, was arrested by security forces in Ahvaz yesterday and transferred to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, a source close to Gheibipour’s family confirmed the news, stating:
“Yesterday, IRGC intelligence agents first went to Mr. Gheibipour’s family home in Ahvaz. After learning he was not home, they went to the gym where he was training and arrested him there. The agents also confiscated the gym’s CCTV cameras. His current location remains unknown.”

The source added: “Mr. Gheibipour has not received any summons to serve his sentence. It is likely that his arrest is connected to his activities.”
In April of 2024, the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court sentenced Gheibipour on charges of arson, destruction of public property, and propaganda against the regime. He was given a 10-year prison term in exile in Kerman Prison for “moharebeh” (enmity against God) and an additional year for “propaganda against the regime.” One of the charges cited against him was “burning a statue of Qassem Soleimani.”

Initially, this verdict was overturned by Branch 20 of the Supreme Court and sent back for retrial. The Ahvaz Revolutionary Court reinstated the same sentence, which was later upheld by the Supreme Court in late October 2024.

Gheibipour was previously arrested in November 2022 during the nationwide protests and detained at Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz. He was eventually released on February 13, 2024, after posting a bail of 3 billion tomans. During his detention, he was denied adequate medical care.

Jalil Kheirkhah Arrested and Transferred to Lakan Prison in Rasht

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Jalil Kheirkhah, Lakan prison, Rasht, Shaft County, جلیل خیرخواه

On Sunday, January 5, 2025, security forces arrested Jalil Kheirkhah, a resident of Shaft County in Gilan Province, at his home. Following his arrest, he was transferred to Lakan Prison in Rasht.

HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, reported that a source close to Mr. Kheirkhah’s family confirmed the arrest. “Security forces detained him at his residence this morning and later took him to Lakan Prison in Rasht,” the source stated.

According to information obtained by HRANA, Mr. Kheirkhah faces charges of “propaganda against the regime.”

This is not the first time Mr. Kheirkhah has been targeted by authorities. He has previously been arrested for his activities, highlighting a pattern of ongoing pressure on him.

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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