Category: Freedom of Expression

Mokhtar Asadi Arrested by Security Forces in Sanandaj

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News
Mokhtar Asadi, Sanandaj, مختار اسدی

Yesterday, August 19, Mokhtar Asadi, a teachers’ union activist residing in Sanandaj, was arrested after reporting to the Cyber Police and was transferred to an undisclosed location.

The day before his arrest, security forces searched Mr. Asadi’s home while he was not present.

As of the time of this report, no information is available regarding the reasons for his arrest or the charges against him.

This teachers’ union activist had previously been summoned and interrogated by the Ministry of Intelligence in Sanandaj on May 1.

Asadi has a history of arrests and judicial confrontations due to his union activities.

Saqqez: Abdollah Sharifzadeh Sentenced to Ten Months in Prison

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
Abdollah Sharifzadeh, Saqqez, عبدالله شریف زاده

Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Saqqez has sentenced Abdollah Sharifzadeh, a resident of Saqqez, to ten months in prison on political charges, according to a report by Kurdpa.

Mr. Sharifzadeh was sentenced by Judge Javad Mostafaie of Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Saqqez for “propaganda against the regime in favor of an opposition political party.” The trial took place on March 12, 2024.

He was arrested in the winter of 2023 and later released on bail.

Sharifzadeh has a history of previous arrests and legal confrontations.

Criminal Court Sentences Mashallah Karami to Over 8 Years in Prison and Other Penalties

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
Alborz province, Karaj, Mashallah Karami, Mohammad-Mehdi Karami, Sharifzadeh Ardakani

Mashallah Karami, the father of Mohammad Mehdi Karami, an executed protester, has been sentenced by the Criminal Court of Nazarabad County, Alborz province, to eight years and ten months in prison, a fine, and the confiscation of his assets.

According to the ruling recently issued by Branch 102 of the Criminal Court Branch 2 of Nazarabad County and conveyed to this citizen currently imprisoned in Karaj Central Prison, he was sentenced to eight years and ten months in prison, a fine of 1.9 billion tomans (approximately 28000 dollars), and the confiscation of his assets on charges of “money laundering and acquiring illicit property.”

Earlier, in another part of his case, Mr. Karami was sentenced by the Revolutionary Court to five years in prison on the charge of “assembly and collusion to commit a crime against national security” and one year in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime.”

Ali Sharifzadeh, Karami’s attorney, previously stated that the security charges brought against his client are inconsistent with his actions. He added, “Mr. Karami only distributed free food, the funds for which were provided through public donations. This information was presented to the court but was not properly considered. Additionally, my client’s assets have no connection to the security charges against Mr. Karami.”

In March of 2024, Sharifzadeh Ardakani, Mr. Karami’s lawyer, stated that his client’s indictment included four charges: under Article 500 (propaganda against the regime) and Article 610 (assembly and collusion to commit a crime against national security) in the Revolutionary Court of Karaj, as well as charges under Article 2 of the Aggravated Punishment Law (acquiring illicit property) and Article 9 of the Anti-Money Laundering Law in the Criminal Court Branch 2 of Nazarabad County.

Karami was arrested by security forces on August 22, 2023. At the time of his arrest, security forces confiscated all electronic devices and froze the family’s bank accounts.

On October 28th of 2023, Mr. Karami was transferred from The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility to the Central Prison of Karaj. After three months in solitary confinement, he was eventually moved to Ward 15 of this prison.

It should be noted that at dawn on Saturday, January 7, 2023, the death sentence of Mohammad Mehdi Karami, who had been arrested during the nationwide protests in the case known as the “killing of Basij member Rouhollah Ajamian,” was carried out.

Mojgan Kavousi Sentenced to One Year in Prison

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Karaj, Mojgan Kavousi, Mozhgan Kavousi, Sari Revolutionary Court, مژگان کاووسی

Mojgan Kavousi, a former political prisoner, has been sentenced to one year in prison by Branch 2 of the Sari Revolutionary Court after her request for retrial was accepted by the Supreme Court.

According to HRANA, the news agency of the Human Rights Activists in Iran, Mojgan Kavousi has been sentenced to imprisonment.

Maziar Tataei, Ms. Kavousi’s defense attorney, announced on his personal page: “Following the acceptance of the retrial by Branch 39 of the Supreme Court, the sentence of my client, Ms. Mojgan Kavousi, which was originally 61 months, has been reduced to 12 months by Branch 2 of the Sari Revolutionary Court.”

On July 30, Kavousi’s request for retrial was accepted by the Supreme Court, and her case was referred to an equivalent branch for reconsideration.

In December 2022, Kavousi was sentenced by Branch 1 of the Sari Revolutionary Court to eight months in prison for “propaganda activities against the regime,” 18 months for “insulting the Supreme Leader,” and 39 months for “assembly and collusion against national security.”

In December 2023, she was sent to Tonekabon Prison to serve her sentence. In late June this year, her prison sentence was converted to a suspended sentence, and she was released from Tonekabon Prison.

Kavousi has previously been arrested and imprisoned for her activism. She was arrested during the November 2019 protests and was sentenced to imprisonment. She was eventually released from Kachooie Prison in Karaj in January 2022 after serving 20 months.

Death-Row Political Prisoner Pakhshan Azizi Hit with New Charges

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Courthouse, Mahabad, Pakshan Azizi, Tehran

Pakhshan Azizi, a political prisoner sentenced to death and currently held in Evin Prison, is now facing new charges, as reported by Kurdpa.

The report states that Ms. Azizi has been accused of “rioting in prison” in a new case initiated by Branch 3 of the Evin Prosecutor’s Office. This charge is reportedly related to the second round of the 1403 presidential elections.

Earlier this month, Ms. Azizi was sentenced to death by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, on charges including membership in anti-regime groups.

Pakhshan Azizi, a resident of Mahabad, was arrested by security forces in Tehran on August 4, 2023, and transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison.

This political detainee was deprived of the right to access a private lawyer and meet with her family for a long time. Eventually, after four months of interrogation, she was transferred to the women’s ward of this prison.

Ms. Azizi was formally charged in February of 2023 at Evin Courthouse, and her indictment was referred to Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

Azizi had previously faced arrest and judicial confrontations. She was detained by security forces on November 16, 2009, and released on bail after four months.

Reports from the Department of Statistics and Publication of HRA in 2023 indicate a total of 193 cases in which Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, has been involved in issuing verdicts that infringe upon the human rights of defendants.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Now is definitely not the time to stop reading!

Hamid Haji Abdolpour Sentenced to Prison after Retrial

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News, Students
Amirkabir University of Technology, Hamid Haji Abdolpour, Mashhad, Razavi Khorasan Province, Vakilabad prison

The six years, seven months, and sixteen days prison sentence of Hamid Haji Abdolpour, a graduate of Amirkabir University of Technology, has been fully upheld by Branch 20 of the Appeals Court of Razavi Khorasan Province.

After the acceptance of Mr. Haji Abdolpour’s request for a retrial by Branch 39 of the Supreme Court, his case was sent to a parallel branch. Recently, Branch 20 of the Appeals Court of Razavi Khorasan Province upheld his sentence of six years, seven months, and sixteen days in prison.

Haji Abdolpour was initially sentenced by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad to six years in prison for the charge of “forming a Telegram group with the intent of disrupting national security,” and eight months for the charge of “propaganda against the regime.”

In June-July 2023, Branch 4 of the Appeals Court of Razavi Khorasan Province reduced his sentence for propaganda against the regime by 14 days, resulting in a final sentence of six years, seven months, and sixteen days in prison. Finally, in late November of last year, after spending 46 days in solitary confinement at the IRGC’s detention facility in Razavi Khorasan Province, he was transferred to Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad to serve his sentence.

In separate letters to the Office of the Supreme Leader’s Representative in Universities, the Judiciary’s Intelligence Protection Unit, and the General Inspection Organization of the IRGC, Haji Abdolpour revealed the mistreatment he suffered during interrogations, aimed at extracting forced confessions.

He recently submitted a request for a retrial to the highest judicial authority in the country. After the Supreme Court accepted his request for a retrial and he was temporarily released on bail, the president of Amirkabir University expressed support for him in a letter to the head of the Judiciary in Razavi Khorasan Province. However, these efforts were unsuccessful, and after the case was reviewed again, Mr. Haji Abdolpour was sentenced to prison by the Appeals Court of Razavi Khorasan Province.

Protest Rapper Toomaj Salehi Acquitted of Charges

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
Babol, Isfahan, Protest Rapper, revolutionary court, Toomaj Salehi, توماج صالحی

After a retrial of Toomaj Salehi’s case, Branch 5 of the Revolutionary Court in Isfahan acquitted him of the charges brought against him.

Amir Raisian, Mr. Salehi’s lawyer, stated: “Branch 5 of the Revolutionary Court in Isfahan, in the 2022 case against Toomaj Salehi, has issued an acquittal on the charge of ‘ spreading corruption on earth,’ which previously carried a death sentence. For the other charges, the court issued a temporary stay of prosecution. Additionally, the court referred the charges of ‘spreading falsehoods online’ and ‘disturbing public order’ to Criminal Court 2 due to lack of jurisdiction.”

In April of this year, Salehi had been sentenced to death by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court in Isfahan on the charge of ‘spreading corruption on earth,’ but this sentence was overturned in early July by Branch 39 of the Supreme Court, and the case was sent to Branch 5 of the Revolutionary Court in Isfahan.

He was arrested in late October 2022 in connection with the nationwide protests by security forces. Official news agencies claimed that he was attempting to illegally leave the country through the western borders, a claim denied by his associates. In July last year, he was sentenced by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court in Isfahan to six years and three months in prison, a travel ban, a ban on producing music and singing, and two years of mandatory behavior management and skills training. After this sentence was overturned by Branch 39 of the Supreme Court, he was released on bail on November 18, 2023.

Nevertheless, Salehi’s freedom was short-lived as he was re-arrested in Babol on November 30, just twelve days after being bailed out from Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan. The Judiciary spokesperson cited Salehi’s post-release statement as grounds for this subsequent arrest.

In January of 2024, in another part of his case, the Revolutionary Court of Isfahan sentenced him to one year in prison, two years of passport invalidation, and participation in behavior management courses on the charge of ‘propaganda against the regime.’ This sentence was upheld by the Isfahan Provincial Court of Appeals in late February. Late last year, Branch 117 of Criminal Court 2 in Isfahan acquitted him of the charges of ‘spreading falsehoods’ and ‘inciting violence.’

Toomaj Salehi, a protest rapper from Shahin Shahr, Isfahan, had previously been sentenced to six months in prison and a fine in 2021 for ‘insulting the Supreme Leader’ and ‘propaganda against the regime.’

Five Women Sentenced to Over Twenty Years in Prison Combined for Political Charges

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
Anahita Doostdar, Anahita Hejazi, Lakan prison, Negin Edalatkhah, Nina Golestani, Rasht, Rozita Rajayi

According to Hyrcani, Nina Golestani, Rozita Rajayi, Anahita Hejazi, Negin Edalatkhah, and Anahita Doostdar have each been sentenced to four years, one month, and seventeen days in prison by the Rasht Revolutionary Court.

The charges against them include “assembly and collusion to commit a crime” and “propaganda against the regime.”

Anahita Hejazi, an animal rights activist from Rasht, Rozita Rajayi, Nina Golestani, a writer, Negin Edalatkhah, and Anahita Doostdar were arrested by security forces in Rasht on November 11 of 2023. They were released on bail from Lakan Prison in Rasht after a period of detention.

Singers Vafa Ahmadpour and Danial Moghaddam Sentenced to Prison and Additional Punishments

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
Danial Moghadam, Shiraz Revolutionary Court, Vafa Ahmadpour, Vafadar

Vafa Ahmadpour, known as “Vafadar,” and Danial Moghaddam (Moghadam) were each sentenced to one year in prison, a two-year travel ban, and a two-year ban on online activities by the Shiraz Revolutionary Court. Their prison sentences will be served outside prison under electronic monitoring.

Based on the ruling issued by Branch 1 of the Shiraz Revolutionary Court, Ahmadpour and Moghaddam were found guilty of “propaganda against the regime.” Their prison sentences will be served outside of prison under electronic monitoring, and they will complete their sentences with restricted movement within a specific radius from their homes.

The court session to address the charges against Vafa Ahmadpour and Danial Moghaddam took place on August 6 at the Shiraz Revolutionary Court.

Moghaddam and Ahmadpour were arrested by security forces in Shiraz on May 9, 2024, and transferred to the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Shiraz, known as the House No. 100. They were later moved to the central detention facility of Adelabad Prison in Shiraz.

On July 6, Danial Moghaddam was released on bail from this prison.

Vafa Ahmadpour is currently serving a one-year prison sentence in Adelabad Prison in Shiraz for a previous case. He was sentenced to one year in prison by the Revolutionary Court for “propaganda against the regime.”

Appeals Court: Eight Teachers’ Union Activists Sentenced to Fines

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News
Ali Nahali, Aziz Ghasemzadeh, Gholamreza Akbarzadeh Baghban, Gilan, Jahanbakhsh Lajevardi, Mahmoud Sedighipour, Mohammad-Javad Saeedi, noush Adeli, Rasht, Tahmasb Sohrabi, Teymour Bagheri Koodakani, Yadollah Baharestani

The Coordinating Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations reported that the prison sentences of Anoush Adeli, Aziz Ghasemzadeh, Teymour Bagheri Koodakani, Tahmasb Sohrabi, Gholamreza Akbarzadeh Baghban, Ali Nahali, Mohammad Javad Saeedi, and Jahanbakhsh Lajevardi, teachers’ union activists from Gilan Province, were converted to fines by Branch 29 of the Gilan Appeals Court. Additionally, Yadollah Baharestani and Mahmoud Sedighipour, two other defendants in the case, were acquitted of the charges against them.

Based on the recent ruling issued by Branch 29 of the Gilan Appeals Court and delivered to the activists, the two-year and one-day prison sentences for each of these teacher union activists have been converted to a fine of 3,300,000 tomans each. Meanwhile, Mahmoud Sedighipour and Yadollah Baharestani were acquitted of all charges.

Previously, Branch 3 of the Rasht Revolutionary Court had sentenced each of these individuals to two years and one day in prison, along with a two-year ban on membership in political and social parties, groups, and organizations for charges of “disrupting public order by participating in and organizing union gatherings and defying police orders.”

These activists, except for Mohammad Javad Saeedi, have previously faced legal actions due to their union activities.