Category: News

Ramin Alinia’s Six-Year Prison Sentence Upheld by Tehran Court of Appeal

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Freedom of Expression, News
ardabil prison, Ramin Alinia, Salavati

The Tehran Court of Appeal has confirmed the six-year sentence imposed on Ramin Alinia Tazeh-Kand, an Azerbaijani (Turk) activist who was apprehended during the nationwide protests in 2022.

Originally, Judge Salavati of the Tehran Revolutionary Court had pronounced a five-year sentence for “assembly and collusion against national security” and an additional year for “propaganda against the regime.” Alinia has also been subjected to a two-year ban on leaving the country, participating in political groups and parties, and engaging in activities on media and social platforms. Pursuant to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the five-year term for the first charge will be enforceable.

Alinia was taken into custody by security forces in Ardabil on November 8, 2022. After spending 12 days in detention, he was granted release on bail from Ardabil Prison.

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.

 

Supreme Court Confirms Death Sentence for Abbas Deris

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Freedom of Expression, News
Abbas Deris, irgc, November 2019 Protests, reza sayyadi

The Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence against Abbas Deris, who was arrested during the November 2019 protests. Deris has been convicted of the charge of “enmity against God (Moharebeh).”

Announcing this development, Fereshteh Tabanian, the lawyer representing Deris stated that Branch 39 of the Supreme Court has confirmed this verdict desptie the flaws in this case. Furhter, she announced that she will ask for a retrial.

Currently incarcerated at Sepidar Prison in Ahvaz, Deris was initially sentenced to death by the Mahshahr Revolutionary Court on charges of “enmity against God (Moharebeh).” It is important to note that Deris’s brother, who was also a co-defendant in this case, has been acquitted of all charges. Both individuals were apprehended on December 8, 2019.

During the course of his interrogation by the IRGC, Deris was coerced into confessing to firing shots at security forces, resulting in the death of Police Captain Reza Sayyadi. This coerced confession was later broadcasted by Iran-state TV. However, during the trial, Deris admitted to participating in the protests but denied any involvement in shooting at security forces.

Abbas Deris, aged approximately 49, is a father of three children.

In November 2019, an increase in fuel prices sparked a wave of protests in dozens of cities across the country. The spokesperson of the Parliamentary National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, Seyed Hossein Taghavi, announced that 7000 people were arrested during these protests. According to reports from human rights organizations, hundreds were killed by the security apparatus.

Execution of Four Inmates in Khorramabad and Bandar Abbas Revealed

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Executions, News
Bandar-Abbas, HRANA, Khorramabad, Mizan, Yaser Golzardian

On July 2, 2023, an inmate convicted of drug-related crimes was executed in Parseylun Prison, located in Khorramabad Province.

The individual has been identified as Yaser Golzardian, according to HRANA. Having been transferred to solitary confinement the day prior, he awaited his execution.

As of the time of this report, no official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have made any mention of this particular execution.

In a separate incident, Mizan, the judiciary’s news agency, disclosed the execution of three inmates at Bandar Abbas prison on July 4. These death-row prisoners had received sentences of death for committing rape. The individuals, working as nurses and technicians, reportedly exploited their positions to sexually assault victims by administering anesthesia under the pretense of a beauty procedure. However, the report did not provide details about the identities of the executed individuals.

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.

Akbar Danesh Sararudi Arrested in Isfahan

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Freedom of Expression, News
Akbar Danesh Sararudi, irgc, IRGC Intelligence unit, Isfahan

On July 3, 2023, political activist Akbar Danesh Sararudi was arrested in Isfahan by security forces. He was subsequently taken to an undisclosed location.

The arrest of Sararudi is believed to have been carried out by the IRGC Intelligence unit, according to a reliable source close to his family. However, the specific reasons behind his arrest and the allegations against him remain unknown at this time.

Sararudi, a resident of Isfahan, has been involved in political activism.

Babak Karimi Receives Nine-Year Prison Sentence

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Freedom of Expression, News
Babak Karimi, Eyvan Gharb, Ilam, Kurdpa

Babak Karimi, a resident of Eyvan Gharb, has been sentenced to nine years in prison by the Ilam Revolutionary Court, as reported by Kurdpa. Karimi was apprehended during the nationwide protests of 2022.

According to the verdict, Karimi has been given five years for charges of “assembly and collusion against national security,” two years for “insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran,” and two years for “insulting the former Supreme Leader of Iran.”

If the verdict is upheld on appeal, the five-year sentence for the first charge will be enforced. Karimi was arrested by security forces on September 21, 2022, in Eyvan Gharb, Ilam province. He was released on February 6, 2023, after posting a two-billion-toman bail from Ilam Prison.

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Sentences Reduced for Two Azerbaijani (Turk) Activists to One Year Imprisonment and Fine

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Ethnic Minorities, News
Azerbaijani Turk activist, Maragheh, Mir-Mousavi Zia Gargari, Mokhtar Ebrahimi, Naqadeh

Mokhtar Ebrahimi and Mir-Mousavi Zia Gargari, two Azerbaijani (Turk) activists, have had their sentences reduced on appeal to one year in prison and a fine, respectively. Initially, they had received a combined sentence of 11 years.

As per the East Azerbaijan Court of Appeals’ verdict, Ebrahimi was sentenced to one year for “propaganda against the regime,” while Zia Gargari was fined six million Toman.

In 2021, Ebrahimi had been sentenced to ten years for “forming groups against the regime” and “membership in anti-regime groups” by the Maragheh Court. Zia Gargari had also received a one-year sentence for “propaganda against the regime.”

Ebrahimi was arrested by security forces on August 26, 2020, and subsequently incarcerated in Maragheh Prison after 21 days. He was later released on bail.

On September 16, 2020, Zia Gargari was arrested at his residence in Naqadeh by security forces and detained in the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility. He was released on bail from Maragheh Prison on October 7, 2020.

Three Inmates Executed for Drug-Related Crimes in Central Prison of Karaj

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Executions, News
Central Prison of Karaj, Farshad Abdoli, Mojtaba Chegeni

On July 2, 2023, three inmates convicted of drug-related crimes were executed at the Central Prison of Karaj.

HRANA has identified two of these inmates as Farshad Abdoli and Mojtaba Chegeni. Both individuals had previously received death sentences for drug offenses.
At 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.

Mojtaba Chegeni
                           Mojtaba Chegeni

 

 

Trial Begins for Hip-Hop Singer Toomaj Salehi at Isfahan Revolutionary Court

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Freedom of Expression, News
Isfahan, Morteza Barati, Toomaj Salehi

The Isfahan Revolutionary Court’s Branch 1 commenced the court session for the charges against Toomaj Salehi on July 2, 2023.

Presided over by Judge Morteza Barati, the court proceedings included the presence of Salehi’s attorney, Amir Raisian, who represented his client.

According to Raisian, who spoke to Shargh Newspaper, Salehi has been charged with “spreading corruption on earth,” “propaganda against the regime,” “inciting people to wage war,” and “insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran.”

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.

Golrokh Iraee’s Sentence Reduced to Five Years on Appeal

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, golrokh iraee, Tehran

Golrokh Iraee, a former political prisoner, has had her sentence reduced to five years by the Tehran Court of Appeals. Initially, she had been sentenced to seven years in prison.

The court handed down this verdict in response to charges of “assembly and collusion against national security,” “propaganda against the regime,” and “disturbing public order.” In addition to the prison term, Iraee has also been prohibited from joining political and civil groups, restricted from staying in Tehran, barred from leaving the country for two years, and had her cell phone confiscated.

The court session took place on June 18, 2023.

Iraee was violently arrested by security forces at her residence in Tehran on September 26, 2022. After being held in multiple detention facilities, she was eventually imprisoned in Evin Prison on October 30, 2022. In April 2023, Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced her to seven years and additional punishments.

It is noteworthy that Iraee has faced previous arrests and convictions on multiple occasions.

 

 

Former Political Prisoner Milad Arsanjani Arrested Once Again

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, HRANA, Milad Arsanjani

On July 2, 2023, Milad Arsanjani, a former political prisoner who had previously been detained during the nationwide protests of 2022, was once again apprehended by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location.

According to a reliable source who spoke to HRANA, Arsanjani was arrested at his father’s residence. The specific reasons for his arrest have not yet been disclosed.

Arsanjani had previously been arrested in September 2022 during the nationwide protests and subsequently imprisoned in Evin Prison. From January 9 to 12, 2023, he was temporarily transferred to a Police Criminal Investigation Department detention facility. This political prisoner was later released from Evin Prison under the “pardon and commutation” directive.

It is worth noting that Arsanjani has a history of prior arrests and convictions stemming from his activism.