Category: Freedom of Expression

Alireza Ramezani Arrested in Tehran

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Freedom of Expression, News
Alireza Ramezani, Borazjan, Bushehr Province, HRANA, Qazvin

On July 9, 2023, security forces arrested Alireza Ramezani, a Qazvin resident, in Tehran. Simultaneously, his legal case was transferred to the Qazvin Courthouse, according to a reliable source close to his family who spoke with HRANA.

The whereabouts of Ramezani remain unknown, causing great distress for his family.

Previously, in September 2022, Ramezani was apprehended by security forces in Qazvin and imprisoned in Choobindar Prison. He was granted release on bail on October 13, 2022. However, in May 2023, the Qazvin Revolutionary Court sentenced him to one year in prison and imposed a two-year exile in Borazjan, Bushehr province, despite being granted amnesty in February 2022.

Alireza Ramezani, approximately 37 years old, is a father of one child and a former university lecturer.

Two Years Imprisonment against Sepideh Gholian Uphled on Appeal

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ameneh Sadat Zabih Pour Ahmadi, Evin Prison, Sepideh Gholian, Tehran Revolutionary Court

Civil rights activist Sepideh Gholian has had her two-year sentence and additional penalties affirmed by Branch 36 of the Court of Appeals.

Back in May 2023, Gholian was convicted by the Tehran Revolutionary Court on charges of “insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran,” resulting in a two-year sentence that included a period of custody. Along with the imprisonment, she was subjected to a ban on joining political or social groups, restrictions on cell phone usage, and a two-year prohibition from entering Tehran and adjacent provinces.

After her release from Evin Prison, Gholian was re-arrested on March 15, 2023, while traveling from Tehran to Dezful. Initially detained in Ward 209 of Evin Prison, she was later transferred to the Women’s Ward of the facility four days later.

Adding to her legal troubles, on July 19, 2023, Gholian received a summons to appear in criminal court. This came as a result of a complaint filed against her by Ameneh Sadat Zabih Pour Ahmadi, an IRIB reporter and security interrogator, accusing Gholian of “disturbing public opinion through the dissemination of false information” on the internet.

It is important to note that Gholian has a history of previous arrests and convictions linked to her activism.

 

Woman Receives Prison Sentence and Travel Ban for Violating Hijab Requirement

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Freedom of Expression, News, Women
Ahmadreza Radan, Hijab, Tehran

The Criminal Court of Tehran has handed down a verdict sentencing a woman to two months in prison and imposing a two-year travel ban on her for violating the Hijab regulations.

As per the verdict, which gained attention after being shared on social media, the Tehran Criminal Court, under the authority of Judge Ali Omidi, issued a two-month prison sentence and a two-year travel ban against a woman who was found guilty of “publicly not wearing Hijab.” The court classified the act of not wearing Hijab as a manifestation of “antisocial behavior,” mandating the woman to be under treatment and present a health certificate twice a week for a duration of six months.

Furthermore, the court labeled the absence of the Hijab as an act of behavior deemed “anti-Iranian,” justifying the implementation of the travel ban.
Prior to this ruling, Ahmadreza Radan, the chief of Iranian police, had announced an action plan involving the seizure of vehicles and closure of businesses as means to enforce compliance with the Hijab requirement among citizens.

Zahra Saeedianjoo Arrested in Tehran

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Freedom of Expression, News
Izeh, Khuzestan province, Milad Saeedianjoo, Omid Saeedianjoo, Zahra Saeedianjoo

Zahra Saeedianjoo was apprehended by security forces in Tehran on Sunday, July 9, and subsequently taken to Evin Prison. Her brother, Milad Saeedianjoo, tragically lost his life during the recent nationwide protests in Izeh, Khuzestan Province.

Confirming the arrest, Omid Saeedianjoo, Zahra’s brother, stated, “My sister was apprehended by security forces at her workplace in Tehran and transported to Evin Prison.” According to him, Zahra’s detainment is linked to her expression of sympathy towards the families of protesters who were killed during the demonstrations.
Notably, both Omid and Zahra Saeeidianjoo had been previously arrested and later released after participating in a commemoration ceremony held at Milad’s burial site on his birthday.

On November 16, 2022, Milad Saeeidianjoo, aged 26, was fatally shot by the regime forces during the protest in Izeh.

Protest Singer Toomaj Salehi Sentenced to Six Years and Three Months, Faces Harsh Restrictions

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Freedom of Expression, News
Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan, Morteza Barati, Roza Etemad Ansari, Shargh Newspaper, Toomaj Salehi

Toomaj Salehi, a prominent protest singer, has been handed a sentence of six years and three months by the Isfahan Revolutionary Court. In addition to the prison term, he has been subjected to a ban on leaving the country, producing music, and singing for a period of two years. Furthermore, he has been mandated to attend orientation classes as part of his sentencing.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Shargh Newspaper, rapper Toomaj Salehi was sentenced to imprisonment and additional punishments.

Today, July 10, Salehi was relocated from solitary confinement to the public ward in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan.

Salehi’s lawyer, Roza Etemad Ansari, confirmed the verdict issued by Judge Morteza Barati, who presided over the case. Etemadi clarified that Salehi was found guilty of “spreading corruption on earth,” while being acquitted of the charges of “insulting the former and current Supreme Leader of Iran” and “association with adversary countries.”

A reliable source earlier revealed that Salehi sustained injuries to his right foot and eye as a result of beatings during the interrogation. He continues to suffer from these injuries.

In late October 2022, Salehi was arrested by security forces. Official media claimed that he was apprehended while attempting to leave the country illegally, a claim refuted by individuals close to Salehi.

The protest singer has a previous conviction in a separate legal case. On January 12, 2022, he was sentenced to a six-month prison term and fined. The imprisonment was suspended for one year.

Background on the 2022 Nationwide Protests

The arrest of Mahsa Amini by Tehran Morality Police for her improper hejab and her suspicious death on September 16 sparked protests sweeping across Iran. Protesters came to the streets with the central slogan “Women, Life, Freedom” in protest against the performance, laws and structure of the regime. During the nationwide protests, thousands of people, including journalists, artists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, were arrested.

 

 

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Raha Ajoudani Sentenced to Travel Ban and Fine

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Freedom of Expression, News
Raha Ajoudani, transgender

Raha Ajoudani, a transgender citizen and resident of Tehran, has received a two-year and six-month sentence from the Tehran Revolutionary Court. Additionally, she has been subjected to a six-month travel ban, restricting her from leaving the country. However, due to “her status as a trans woman and the lack of appropriate holding facilities,” her imprisonment has been replaced with a fine.

The verdict specifies that Ajoudani will face a one-year and six-month travel ban for charges related to “propaganda against the regime,” six months for “blasphemy,” and one year for “incitement to subvert national security.”

Arrested by security forces on December 17, 2022, Ajoudani was released on bail on January 17, 2023. Notably, she was briefly detained during the 2022 nationwide protests on October 26, 2022.

Political Activist Fatemeh Hassani Arrested in Mashhad

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Freedom of Expression, News
Fatemeh Hassani, Hassan Younesi, Mashhad

Political activist Fatemeh Hassani was arrested by security forces in Mashhad on July 4, 2023, and has been taken to an undisclosed location.

Lawyer Hassan Younesi has confirmed that Hassani was apprehended by security forces at the airport. The specific reasons for her arrest, her current whereabouts, and the charges against her remain undisclosed.

Sahand Nourmohammadzadeh’s Sentence Confirmed by Supreme Court

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Freedom of Expression, News
Hamed Ahmadi, Kahnuj, Kerman, moharebeh, Sahand Nourmohammadzadeh

Shargh Newspaper reports that Sahand Nour-Mohammadzadeh’s lawyer, Hamed Ahmadi, has disclosed that the Supreme Court has upheld a six-year prison sentence and ten years of exile for his client. Nourmohammadzadeh’s initial death sentence was commuted to imprisonment following a retrial.

Ahmadi explains that the enforcement of ten years of exile will depend on the application of Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code. Otherwise, Nourmohammadzadeh will serve the entirety of his prison sentence.

Nourmohammadzadeh has been exiled to Kahnuj, Kerman province, for charges of “enmity against God (Moharebeh).” Additionally, he has been sentenced to five years in prison for “assembly and collusion against national security” and one year in prison for “disturbing public order.” The Supreme Court overturned the initial death sentence and referred the case to Branch 26 for review.

Sadegh Zibakalam Sentenced to One Year in Prison for News Dissemination

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Freedom of Expression, News
Criminal Court, Sadegh Zibakalam, serial poison attacks, Tehran

The Criminal Court of Tehran has handed down a one-year prison sentence to Sadegh Zibakalam, a prominent professor at the University of Tehran and political pundit. The verdict is related to his role in sharing news regarding serial poison attacks on schools.

According to the court’s decision on July 2, 2023, Zibakalam has been convicted of “spreading falsehood to disturb public opinion online,” resulting in a one-year sentence. The court session took place on June 27, 2023. It’s important to note that Zibakalam, aged 65, is widely recognized as an academic, author, and reformist neo-liberal pundit.

Since late November, a series of poison attacks on schools, particularly girls’ schools, have shaken the country. Parents’ protests demanding answers were met with a heavy-handed response. Despite the passage of eight months and the arrest of several suspects, the Iranian authorities have yet to provide a satisfactory explanation to the public. For more detailed information and statistics, please refer to the HRANA report.”

Fourteen Bahai Citizens Sentenced to a Total of 31 Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Afnaneh Nematian, Anis Senaei, Baha'i citizens, Basir Samimi, Bita Haghighi, Ghaemshahr, Gulben Fallah, Hengameh Alipour, Mahsa Fathi, Majir Samimi, Mani Gholinejad, Mazandaran, Nazanin Goli, Negar Darabi, Sam Samimi, Samieh Gholinejad, Sanaz Hekmat Shoar

In a concerning development, the Ghaemshahr Revolutionary Court has handed down a collective prison sentence of 31 years to 14 Bahai citizens.

The individuals affected by this ruling are Mani Gholinejad, Bita Haghighi, Sanaz Hekmat Shoar, Negar Darabi, Sam Samimi, Mahsa Fathi, Samieh Gholinejad, Majir Samimi, Anis Senaei, Afnaneh Nematian, Basir Samimi, Hengameh Alipour, Gulben Fallah, and Nazanin Goli.
Bita Haghighi and Sanaz Hekmat Shoar have received three years and paying a fine. The rest have been sentenced to two years and one month. All their confiscated belongings during the arrest have also been seized.

The charges against these Bahai individuals revolve around allegations of engaging in “educational activities and propaganda at variance and against Islamic Sharia law.”

Security forces arrested these individuals in Sari and Babolsar, located in the Mazandaran Province, on August 31, 2022. Subsequently, they were released on bail in the months following their arrest.

During the time of their apprehension, the Ministry of Intelligence issued a statement accusing these citizens of being members of an espionage organization, further claiming that two among them had received training from Zionists in Israel.

According to HRANA annual report, from the total human rights reports regarding the violation of religious minorities’ rights, 64.63% belonged to the violation of the rights of Baha’is.

The deprivation of the freedom to practice their religion is a breach of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The United Nations covenant holds that every person has the right to freedom of religion, freedom of converting religion, as well as freedom of expression, individually or collectively; openly or secretly.