Category: News

Mahsa Yazdani Sentenced to 13 Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Mahsa Yazdani, Masoumeh Yazdani, Mohammad Javad Zahedi, Sari

Masoumeh (Mahsa) Yazdani, the mother of Mohammad-Javad Zahedi, who lost his life during the 2022 nationwide protests at the hands of regime forces, has received a 13-year prison sentence from the Sari Revolutionary Court.

Yazdani’s attorney, Meysam Mousavi, has publicly disclosed the details of her sentencing. She was given a five-year term for  “blasphemy”, an additional five years of “incitement against national security,” two years for “insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran,” and one more year for “spreading propaganda against the regime,” culminating in a total of 13 years, with five years to be served without parole.

Mousavi has confirmed that Yazdani was acquitted of the charge of “disseminating false information on the Internet” by the Sari Crimiinal Court.

On August 22, 2023, Yazdani was taken into custody by security forces in Sari. She was granted release on bail after spending 45 days in detention.

Her son, Zahedi, tragically lost his life during the protests on September 22, 2022.

Eight Film and Media Practitioners Face Legal Charges

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Freedom of Expression, News
Hanieh Tavassoli, Hengameh Ghaziani, Maryam Boubani, Milad Alavi, Mojgan Ilanlou, Omid Tousheh, Sadegh Zibakalam, Sahar Valadbeigi, Sara Massoumi, Tahmineh Rezaie Milani, Taraneh Alidoosti

The Tehran Prosecutor’s Office has brought charges against seven film practitioners, including Taraneh Alidoosti, Mojgan Ilanlou, Hengameh Ghaziani, Tahmineh Rezaie Milani, Sahar Valadbeigi, Maryam Boubani, Hanieh Tavassoli, and media activist Omid Tousheh.

They are accused of “disseminating false information on the Internet,” as reported by IRNA.

Notably, just a day before, the Tehran Prosecutor also indicted Sadegh Zibakalam, an Iranian academic and writer, Sara Massoumi, Milad Alavi, and the administrator of a Telegram Channel on the same charge.

Among these eight individuals, Alidoosti, Ilanlou, Ghaziani, Milani, and Tavassoli have previously faced arrests and convictions.

Student Sepideh Rashnu Receives Six-Month Prison Sentence and Additional Penalties

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Freedom of Expression, News
compulsory hijab, Sepideh Rashnu

Sepideh Rashnu (Rashno), a student widely recognized for her opposition to compulsory Hijab, has been sentenced to six months in prison, along with additional penalties.

Rashnu publicly announced on social media that she has been sentenced to six months in prison, fined, and prohibited from using Instagram for one year. Furthermore, the court has ordered the permanent removal of her Instagram page.

The court session, held in absentia on October 2, 2023, addressed charges of “propaganda against the regime” and “incitement to immorality and indecency.”

Prior to this sentencing, Rashnu had already been suspended from the university for two semesters for alleged “non-compliance with the Islamic dress code.”

Her activism has previously led to arrests and convictions.

UNGA-78 Side Event Highlights The Ongoing Persecution of Minorities in Iran

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News, Other
Deepa Parent, HRA, javaid rehman, Mahsa Amini, OutRight International, Simin Fahendej, Skylar Thompson, Zhina Mahsa Amini

NEW YORK, NY – An event titled “One Year of ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’: The Ongoing Persecution of Minorities in the Islamic Republic of Iran” hosted by HRA in partnership with OutRight International was held yesterday in New York, at Scandinavia House. The gathering, in the margins of the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA-78), addressed the ongoing human rights situation in Iran.

The event was a reminder of the challenges faced by minorities in Iran, especially in the wake of the “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests. The demonstrations, which began a year ago following the tragic death in detention of Zhina Mahsa Amini, have drawn attention to the Iranian authorities’ excessive use of force and rampant human rights violations.

Independent journalist, Deepa Parent, expertly moderated the session. Opening remarks were courageously delivered by Iranian human rights activists, who, despite the risks, provided virtual comments directly from within Iran.

Dr. Javaid Rehman, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Iran, offered insightful keynote remarks that outlined the challenges and potential paths forward for improving human rights in the country.

Skylar Thompson, representing Human Rights Activists (HRA) presented three key areas the international community can urgently address the cycle of impunity in Iran including through continuing to support UN-led investigations including through the renewal of the FFMI mandate, the renewal of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Iran and steadfast support for resolutions on Iran. Second, she added the need for pursuing international pathways to justice notably through the use of universal jurisdiction in light of the unwillingness to investigate violations domestically. She concluded that the continued and united condemnation against violations of human rights and international law are essential because as she stated, “silence is complicity.”

Other panelists, including Simin Fahendej from the Baha’i International Community (BIC) and Awin Mostafazade from Kurdpa, provided rich context to the discussion, shedding light on the depth and breadth of discrimination that various minority groups encounter daily.

As the event concluded, the consensus was clear: the international community must redouble its efforts to address the plight of minorities in Iran. The event, which was open to the media, will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression on all who attended.

Watch the event here:

Four Sunni Religious Students Detained in Zahedan

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Freedom of Expression, News, Other, Religious Minorities
Makki Grand Mosque, Zahedan

On October 26, 2023, reports emerged that security forces apprehended four Sunni clerical students from the Makki Grand Mosque of Zahedan, taking them to an undisclosed location, according to Haal Vsh.

The arrests occurred shortly after the individuals had left the Mosque, and they were reportedly taken into custody by plainclothes agents.

As of now, the identities of these students, their current locations, and the specific charges against them remain undisclosed. The situation is being closely monitored for further developments.

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Sarveh Pour-Mohammadi Receives a Ten-Year Sentence

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Freedom of Expression, News
Sanandaj, Sarveh Pour-Mohammadi

The Sanandaj Revolutionary Court has issued a ten-year prison sentence to Sarveh Pour-Mohammadi, according to a report by Kurdpa.

Judge Karami has notified Pour-Mohammadi’s lawyer of the verdict, sentencing her to ten years for “establishing groups with intentions to disrupt national security.”

Pour-Mohammadi, a member of the Nozhin Socio-Cultural Association, was apprehended by security forces on January 29, 2023. After spending 13 days in detention, she was released on bail from the Sanandaj Correctional Center.

Edris Menbari Receives 10-Year Prison Sentence

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Freedom of Expression, News
2022 nationwide protests, Edris Menbari, Nozhin Socio-Cultural Association, Sanandaj

In a recent court ruling, the Sanandaj Revolutionary Court handed down a ten-year prison sentence to Edris Menbari, who was detained during the nationwide protests of 2022.

Judge Karami informed Menbari’s attorney that he has been sentenced to ten years for “establishing groups aimed at undermining national security.” The court session took place on October 1, 2023. He and his attorney were not allowed to attend.

Notably, the Criminal Court of Sanandaj had previously issued a verdict, sentencing Menbari to one year in prison and 40 lashes for his involvement in “disturbing public order”.

On December 18, 2022, security forces apprehended Menbari at his residence in Sanandaj amid the nationwide protests. He was subsequently released on bail in February 2023.

It is important to mention that Edris Menbari holds the position of a board member at the Nozhin Socio-Cultural Association.

Five Inmates Executed in Birjand for Drug-Related Convictions

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Executions, News
Abdolbasir Mohammadani, Birjand Prison, Mohamad Mirshah, Mohammad-Nabi Shahoo-Zahi, Omid Jovini, Reza Shahraki

On October 26, authorities at Birjand Prison executed five individuals, as detailed by Haal Vsh.

The executed prisoners have been identified as Abdolbasir Mohammadani (30 years old), Mohammad-Nabi Shahoo-Zahi (55 years old), Mohamad Mirshah, Reza Shahraki, and Omid Jovini. All of them had previously been convicted of drug-related offenses.

According to data compiled by the Center of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA), between October 10, 2022, and October 8, 2023, a total of 659 individuals were executed by hanging in Iran, representing a 24% increase compared to the corresponding period in the previous year. Seven of these executions were conducted publicly. Concerningly, many of the defendants were denied access to a fair trial and due process. For details and statistics, read HRANA’s report.

 

Two Baha’i Women Receive Prison Sentences in Mashhad

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News
Baha'i women, Farideh Moradi, Golnoosh Nasiri, Hadi Mansouri

Golnoosh Nasiri and Farideh Moradi, both Baha’i citizens, have been sentenced to three years and eight months in prison by the Mashhad Revolutionary Court.

Judge Hadi Mansouri issued this verdict on October 26, which allocates three years for “membership in a group with intentions against national security” and eight months for “spreading propaganda against the regime.”

According to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, if the decision stands after appeal, they will serve a three-year prison term for the first charge.

Nasiri and Moradi were granted release on bail totaling 5 billion tomans (approximately 100,000 dollars) in late August of this year.

The Baha’i faith is not recognized as a legitimate religion by Iranian authorities, leading to systematic and longstanding violations of the rights of Baha’is in the country. This includes the denial of their fundamental right to practice their religion, which constitutes a clear breach of both 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.

Two Inmates Executed at Qezel Hesar Prison for Murder Convictions

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Executions, News
Ghezel Hesar prison, Hamshahri, Qezel Hesar Prison

On October 25, 2023, officials at Qezel (Ghezel) Hesar Prison carried out the execution of two inmates who had been convicted of murder, as disclosed by Hamshahri Newspaper.

One of the inmates had been found guilty of the tragic killing of two women five years ago, while the other inmate had been convicted of the murder of a woman he was engaged to two years ago. The other inmate had been convicted of a woman he was engaged two years ago.
The report, however, did not disclose the identities of these individuals who were subjected to capital punishment.

According to data compiled by the Center of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA), between October 10, 2022, and October 8, 2023, a total of 659 individuals were executed by hanging in Iran, representing a 24% increase compared to the corresponding period in the previous year. Seven of these executions were conducted publicly. Concerningly, many of the defendants were denied access to a fair trial and due process. For details and statistics, read HRANA’s report.