Category: News

Civil Rights Activist Peyman Sokooti’s Six-Year, Nine-Month Sentence Upheld

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Freedom of Expression, News
Gilan, Peyman Sokooti, Rasht

The Gilan Court of Appeals upheld the initial sentence against civil rights activist Peyman Sokooti.

The Rasht Revolutionary Court had previously found Sokooti guilty on multiple charges, including “propaganda against the regime,” “assembly and collusion against national security,” and “membership in anti-regime groups,” leading to the lengthy sentence.

As per Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, he is expected to serve three years and six months of the imposed sentence.

Sokooti’s legal ordeal began on May 23, 2022, when security forces arrested him. Following his arrest, he was held in an IRGC detention facility for ten days before being transferred to Lakan Prison in Rasht.

 

Worker’s Rights Activist Eghbal Sha’abani Receives 30-Month Suspended Sentence

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Freedom of Expression, News
Eghbal Shaabani, IIWU, Iranian workers’ rights activist, Sanandaj

Eghbal Sha’abani, a worker’s rights activist and inspector at the Sanandaj Bakers Syndicate, has been sentenced to 30 months of suspended imprisonment by the Sanandaj Revolutionary Court, according to a statement by the Independent Iranian Workers Union (IIWU).

The verdict was issued on the grounds of his alleged “membership in a political oppositional party.”

Sha’abani’s legal troubles began on May 19, 2023, when he was arrested by security forces in Sanandaj and subsequently detained at the Ministry of Intelligence detention facility. After nearly two weeks in custody, he was granted release on May 31, 2023, upon posting a half-billion-toman bail.

This is not the first time Sha’abani has faced such repercussions for his activism, as he has a history of prior arrests and convictions related to his dedication to worker’s rights causes.

Actress Afsaneh Bayegan Receives Suspended Sentence and Travel Ban

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Freedom of Expression, News, Women
Afsaneh Bayegan, Atila Pesyani, compulsory hijab

The Tehran Criminal Court has issued a two-year sentence, suspended for five years, to acclaimed actress Afsaneh Bayegan for alleged non-compliance with Hijab regulations.

Additionally, Bayegan has been subjected to a travel ban and restrictions on her online activities. The court has also mandated her to provide a summary of a book and attend a psychology institute to obtain a health certificate related to the so-called “Anti-family personality disorder.”

Bayegan had previously informed the public about her summons to court for charges of “acting against chastity and public morality.” Notably, the Tehran Police had recently announced legal action against the actress for not wearing Hijab during a ceremony honoring actor Atila Pesyani.

In recent months, the Iranian regime has escalated legal measures targeting citizens to enforce the compulsory wearing of Hijab on women.

Actress Leila Bolukat Receives Sentence for Violating Hijab Regulations

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Freedom of Expression, News, Women
compulsory hijab, Ham-Mihan, Hijab, Leila Bolukat, Semnan

According to a report by Ham-Mihan Newspaper, actress Leila Bolukat has been sentenced to imprisonment by the criminal court of Tehran Province for non-compliance with Hijab regulations.

The court has imposed a ten-month sentence, with six months suspended for five years. Bolukat will serve the remaining sentence in a prison located in Semnan Province. In addition, she faces a five-year ban on media and online social activities, along with a two-year travel ban.

The charges against Bolukat, which were brought in June 2023, include allegations of insulting morality and public decency due to her failure to wear Hijab and the publication of allegedly immodest pictures on social media.

Three Inmates Executed for Drug-Related Crimes in Hamedan

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Executions, News
Abbas Rahmani, executions in iran, Farrokhi, Hamedan, Hamedan prison, Mohsen Yaghooti

On July 17, 2023, three inmates convicted of drug-related crimes were executed in Hamedan Prison.

The Human Rights Advocacy and Humanitarian Association (HRAHA) has identified the inmates as Abbas Rahmani, Mohsen Yaghooti, and Farrokhi.

As of the time of writing, no official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have reported on these executions.

In 2022, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran registered 457 reports related to the death penalty. This included 92 death sentences, including the conviction of 6 people to public execution and 565 execution sentences were carried out, 2 of which have been carried out in public. Based on the announced identifications of some of the executed individuals, 501 were male and 11 were female. In addition, 5 juvenile offenders were executed in 2022, meaning they were under the age of 18 at the time they committed the crime.

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Baha’i Citizen Keyvan Rahimian Arrested in Tehran

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News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i citizen, HRANA, Iranian Bahais, Keyvan Rahimian, Tehran

On July 18, 2023, security forces arrested Baha’i Citizen Keyvan Rahimian in Tehran and transferred him to Evin Prison.

A reliable source close to Rahimian’s family, who spoke to HRANA, revealed that he informed his family about his transfer to Evin Prison during a phone call following his arrest.

The grounds for this arrest and the allegation against him are unknown.

The specific reasons behind his arrest and the allegations against him remain unknown at this time.

Rahimian has a history of previous arrests and convictions related to his activism. Notably, he also serves as a lecturer at an online university affiliated with the Baha’i community. It is important to mention that Baha’is face exclusion from tertiary education in Iran.

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.

According to unofficial sources, it is estimated that more than 300,000 Baha’is live in Iran, but the Iranian Constitution recognizes only Islam as the official religion, in addition to Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism. Bahai faith is not considered legitimate by the authorities, and the rights of Baha’is in Iran have been systematically violated for years.

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.

 

Majid Tavakoli Sentenced to Six Years and Additional Punishments

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Freedom of Expression, News
Mahsa Amini, Majid Tavakoli, Mohammad-Reza Amoozad

In a recent development, former political prisoner Majid Tavakoli, who was detained during the nationwide protests of 2022, has been sentenced to six years in prison along with additional punishments.

The Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Mohammad-Reza Amoozad, issued the verdict. Tavakoli was handed a one-year sentence for “propaganda against the regime” and a five-year sentence for “assembly and collusion against national security.” In addition to the prison term, he has been subjected to further restrictions, including a ban on engaging in online social activities for two years. Moreover, Tavakoli faces a two-year ban on residing in Tehran and a two-year ban on leaving the country.

If the verdict is upheld on appeal, based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, five years in prison will be enforceable.

The final court session addressing Tavakoli’s charges was held on July 15, 2023.

Tavakoli, a student activist and former political prisoner, was arrested by security forces in Tehran on September 23, 2022, during the Mahsa Amini Protests. He was subsequently released on bail on December 19, 2022.

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.

 

Minor Arrested by Security Forces in Oshnavieh

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Children, News
Kurdpa, Mohsen Shabooie, Oshnavieh

Fourteen-year-old Mohsen Shabooie was apprehended by security forces in Oshnavieh, as reported by Kurdpa.

The agents carried out the arrest without presenting an arrest warrant, raising concerns about procedural irregularities.

The grounds for Mohsen Shabooie’s arrest and the specific allegations against him remain undisclosed at this time.

This incident adds to the alarming statistics of violations of children’s rights in Iran. According to the Department of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran, 434 reports of children’s rights violations were recorded in 2022. Furthermore, during the nationwide protests of the same year, at least 167 minors were subjected to arrests, highlighting the vulnerability of young individuals caught in such situations.

Three Inmates Executed in Ghezel Hesar for Drug-Related Crimes

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Executions, News
Ghezel Hesar, Karaj, Moslem Havasizadeh, Qezel Hesar, Seyed Mansour Seyedi, Siamak Hayatbini

On July 18, 2023, three inmates convicted of drug-related crimes were executed in Ghezel (Qezel) Hesar Prison, Karaj.

The individuals identified by HRANA as Siamak Hayatbini, Moslem Havasizadeh, and Seyed Mansour Seyedi were transferred to solitary confinement a day before their executions.
Despite the gravity of the situation, no official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have provided official coverage of these executions.

It is worth noting that Iran has garnered international attention for its notorious record of executions, particularly for drug offenses.

In 2022, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran registered 457 reports related to the death penalty. This included 92 death sentences, including the conviction of 6 people to public execution and 565 execution sentences were carried out, 2 of which have been carried out in public. Based on the announced identifications of some of the executed individuals, 501 were male and 11 were female. In addition, 5 juvenile offenders were executed in 2022, meaning they were under the age of 18 at the time they committed the crime.

 

Naser Balouch Arrested in Zahedan Following Makki Mosque Incident

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News, Other
irgc, Makki Mosque, Molavi Abdolhamid, Naser Baluch, Zahedan

On July 17, Naser Balouch, a 24-year-old scholar at Makki Mosque, was apprehended by security forces in Zahedan, as reported by Haal Vsh.

Balouch, a resident of Qasr-e Qand in Sistan and Baluchestan province, was forcefully arrested by the agents in a street of Zahedan. The location of his detention and the specific allegations against him remain undisclosed.

It is worth noting that in recent days, several individuals have been detained in connection with the Makki Mosque incident. Security personnel at Makki Grand Mosque apprehended an individual who was allegedly tasked by the IRGC with carrying out a terrorist act involving the poisoning of Molavi Abdolhamid.

In response to this thwarted terror attempt, the provincial Chief Justice has urged the security personnel of Makki Grand Mosque to provide supporting evidence for these allegations. Failure to do so may result in legal consequences.