Shia Cleric Vahid Heroabadi Excommunicated and Sentenced 

The Special Clerical Court sentenced Shia cleric Vahid Heroabadi to two years in prison. Additionally, he was excommunicated from the clerical establishment and banned from leaving the country for two years.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Shia cleric Vahid Heroabadi was sentenced to two years in prison for “spreading falsehood and propaganda against the regime on social media.” He was later acquitted of the charge of “insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran”.

According to an informed source, another legal case has also been opened against Heroabadi for his protest against a foreign political figure visiting Iran.

On June 1, 2022, Heroabadi was arrested at the border while attempting to leave the country. Two weeks later, he was released on bail. 

In a previous legal case, the court of appeals sentenced Heroabadi to one year in prison for “spreading falsehood and disturbing public opinion” and fined him for “dishonoring the clergy”.

Maryam Karim-Beigi Sentenced to Five Years in Prison, Flagellation, Paying a Court Fine

The Revolutionary Court of Tehran has sentenced Maryam Karim-Beigi to five years in prison, 74 lashes and a fine. If the verdict is confirmed on appeal, based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, three years and seven months for one charge will be enforceable. Karim Beigi’s brother, Mostafa Karim-Beigi,  is one of the individuals that the security forces killed during the 2009 protests.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Maryam Karim-Beigi was sentenced to five years imprisonment, 74 lashes, and a fine payable to the court.

Karim-Beigi’s mother, Shahnaz Akmali broke the news on social media, saying that her daughter has been sentenced to three years and seven months in prison for meeting an Iranian singer. Karim-Beigi has also been sentenced to one year on the charge of propaganda against the regime and one year for having alcoholic beverages in her possession.

On April 10, 2022, Karim-Beigi was expelled from the university she was attending. On June 14, 2022, the security forces arrested Karim-Beigi at her house and transferred her to Ward 209 of Evin Prison. She was released on 700 million tomans bail on July 9.

Workers’ Rights Activist Hirad Pirbodaghi Imprisoned

On July 30, 2022, workers’ rights activist Hirad Pirbodaghi was arrested at his house and taken to Evin Prison to serve his four-year sentence. 

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, workers’ rights activist Hirad Pirbodaghi started his sentencing at Evin Prison.

An informed source told HRANA: “over five agents broke the door, raided the house and arrested Pirbodaghi. Later, he made a phone call to his family and informed them that he is held in the quarantine section of Evin Prison. He was arrested for sentencing even though he had not been summoned and was still awaiting the Court of Appeal’s decision”.

In March 2022, the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced Pirbodaghi to four years and eight months in prison, no membership in political parties and groups for two years, and not leaving the country for two years. If the verdict is confirmed on appeal, four years imprisonment will be enforceable for him.

Pirbodaghi was arrested with  Asal Mohammadi on November 6, 2021.

Shadi Dargahi Arrested in Mariwan

On July 28, Shadi Dargahi was arrested after an appearance at the Ministry of Intelligence’s office in Marivan, Kurdistan Province. Dargahi’s husband, Iraj Rahimzadeh, was also transferred from a detention facility in Sanandaj to Mariwan Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, on July 28, in Mariwan, the Ministry of Intelligence’s office summoned Shadi Dargahi for interrogation when she was arrested and transferred to Sanandaj Correctional Center.

Three Teachers Arrested in Divandareh

On July 26, 2022, security forces arrested three teachers during a protest in front of the Ministry of Education in Divandareh and transferred them to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, three teachers, Mohyedin Karimian, Asa’ad Alavi and Kurosh Babamoradi were arrested in Divandarreh, Kurdistan Province.

These teachers had gathered with others to protest against the detention of five Divandarreh Teachers’ Trade Union Association members who are detained for over a month.

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Sepideh Rashno Coerced to Make TV Confession

Official media outlets inside Iran have released a forced confession video of imprisoned artist Sepideh Rashno who is in custody for her resistance and confrontation against an individual who was enforcing the hejab code in public transportation, a practice which is praised by the Iranian authorities.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists,  the regime authorities forced detained artist Sepideh Rashno to make a coerced TV confession, which is a common practice and a violation of the individual’s human rights

In this confession video, Rashno, whose hand had been injured during the quarrel, blamed herself instead of the attacker.

 A video has been circulating on social media showing a woman harassing Rashno and blaming her for an improper hejab at public transportation. After the video was published, security forces arrested Rashno. 

An informed source told HRANA, “Mrs Rashno was allowed a short phone call to one of her relatives, but she has not called her family. The judicial officials told her family that a legal case has been opened against her in Branch 3 of Evin Prosecutor’s Office”.

Sepideh Rashno, age 28, is a student of Tehran University and a resident of Khorramabad.

Milad Eftekhari Sentenced to Three Years in Prison

The Revolutionary Court of Shiraz sentenced Milad Eftekhari to three years in prison and additional limitations. If confirmed on appeal, based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, two years for one charge will be enforceable.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Eftekhari, who is a resident of Larestan, was sentenced to two years in prison on the charge of “insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran” and one year on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”. He was also banned from leaving the county and on social media presence for two years.

On May 23, 2022, security forces arrested Eftekhari at his house and transferred him to Larestan Prison. During the arrest, the agents searched his house and confiscated some of his personal belongings. He was released later on a 100 million tomans bail.

On June 22, 2021, IRGC’s intelligence office summoned and interrogated Eftekhari for his criticisms of IRGC and the Supreme Leader on social media. He was later released after signing a pledge.

Eftekhari, age 26, is a resident of Larestan, Fars Province, and a graduate student in Communication Science from Tehran University.

Meysam Kazemi Jailed in Behbahan Prison 

On July 23, 2022, Meysam Kazemi was taken to Behbahan to serve a 15 months sentence.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on July 23, 2022, Kazemi started his sentencing at the Behbahan Prison.

On  December 4, 2021, Kazemi was arrested and transferred to Behbahan Prison after appearing at Branch 4 of the Public and Revolutionary Court, where he was accused of “circulating social media posts about the individuals arrested after Behbahan’s protest on July 16, 2020”.

Subsequently, Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Bandar Mahshahr sentenced Kazemi to 22 months in prison, of which 7 months and 2 weeks were suspended. Based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, one year and three months of imprisonment is enforceable.

During the November 2019 protest, security forces in Behbahan City used live ammunition against the protestors, leading to the death of several protestors including Mehrdad Dashinia, Mahmood Dashtinia, Farzad Ansarifar, Mohammad-Hossein Ghanavati, and Mohammad Hashamdar.

Documentary Maker Hossein Dehbashi Sentenced 

Researcher and documentary maker Hossein Dehbashi was sentenced to six months in prison despite the fact that the Culture and Media Prosecutor’s Office had disagreed with the prosecution and closed the case.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, history researcher and documentary maker Hossein Dehbashi was sentenced to six months in prison.

Dehbashi announced on his social media account that after declining the prosecution by the Culture and Media Prosecutor’s Office and the Computer Crimes Prosecutor’s Office and the final confirmation that the case is closed,  another court sentenced him to six months in prison.

In 2020, Dehbashi was charged with “spreading falsehood”, “propaganda against the regime” and ” insulting the clergy” as a result of a complaint brought by the Ministry of Intelligence.

In 2019, the Ministry of Health filed a complaint against Dehbashi for “disturbing public opinion”, for which he was sentenced to four months in prison, and the verdict was upheld on appeal.

Hossein Dehbashi is known for producing President Hassan Rouhani’s presidential campaign advertisements and documentaries such as “According to the Royal Court”. He has also produced “Oral History of Iran” for the National Library of Iran.

Man Arrested for Holding a Placard against Supreme Leader

A video circulated on social media shows a man standing over a telephone kiosk holding a placard with a slogan against Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. He was arrested immediately after.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, security forces arrested a man for holding a placard.

The man was holding a placard with slogans against Iran’s Supreme Leader and Russian President Vladimir Putin written on it. Putin recently visited Iran for diplomatic talks with Iran and Turkey’s leaders in Tehran.