Category: News

13 Baha’i Citizens Sentenced to Over 40 Years in Prison Combined

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News, Religious Minorities
Afif Naimi, Alborz province, Baha'i citizens, Bita Momtazi, Elham Shareghi Arani, HRANA, Kamyar Habibi, Karaj, Mahsa Tirgar, Nakisa Rezaie, Negin Rezaie, Rameleh Tirgarnejad, Sabin Yazdani, Sadaf Sheikhzadeh, Sahba Adyani, Saman Ostovar, Shahrzad Mastouri

The Court of Appeals in Karaj has issued a combined sentence of 40 years and seven months, along with additional punishments, for 13 Baha’i citizens.

The verdicts state that Afif Na’imi (Naeimi) will serve seven years, while Saman Ostovar and Kamyar Habibi will each serve five years. Rameleh Tirgarnejad, Elham Shareghi Arani, and Sabin Yazdani have been sentenced to three years. Mahsa Tirgar, Shahrzad Mastouri, Sadaf Sheikhzadeh, Negin Rezaie, Nakisa Rezaie, Sahba Adyani, and Bita Momtazi will serve two years and one month. Additionally, all individuals have been fined, prohibited from leaving the country, and restricted from residing in Alborz Province, along with other social deprivations.
They have been convicted of multiple charges such as “insulting and propaganda against Islamic Sharia, forming and running groups to act against national security through preaching Baha’i faith to children in Kindergartens, promoting against Islamic Sharia through holding coaching courses.”

The court session took place on June 15, 2023, without notifying their lawyers. The initial sentences have now been upheld and will be enforced within ten days, as confirmed by a reliable source who spoke to HRANA.

These citizens were detained during the summer of the previous year. While the specific grounds for the charges remain undisclosed, they appear to be related to their educational activities for children in Alborz Province, particularly preschool children. The Iranian regime perceives the peaceful activities of Baha’is in providing humanitarian aid and education as a threat to its own ideology.

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.

Three Family Members of Abolfazl Adinezadeh Arrested

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ali Adinezadeh, Faruj, Goli Hosseini, Marzieh Adinezadeh, Mashhad, Reza Adinezadeh

Three family members of Abolfazl Adinezadeh, a minor who lost his life during the nationwide protests of 2022, have been apprehended by security forces on June 16, 2023.

According to a credible source who spoke with HRANA, as Abolfazl Adinezadeh’s birthday approached, his father, Ali Adinezadeh, sister Marzieh, and uncle Reza were violently arrested in Mashhad and taken to an undisclosed location.

In a video shared on social media, Goli Hosseini, Adinezadeh’s mother, expressed her anguish, stating that by arresting her husband and daughter, they are inflicting further pain upon her as a grieving mother. Prior to this incident, Ali Adinezadeh had already been summoned to a courthouse in Faruj, North Khorasan province.

Abolfazl Adinezadeh was shot dead by regime forces during the 2022 nationwide protest in Mashhad, reportedly by 25 bullets.

Background on the 2022 Nationwide Protests

The protests in Iran were triggered by the arrest of Mahsa Amini by the Tehran Morality Police for her improper hijab and her subsequent suspicious death on September 16. The demonstrations quickly spread across the country, with participants rallying against the performance, laws, and structure of the regime. Thousands of people, including journalists, artists, lawyers, teachers, students, and civil rights activists, were arrested during the nationwide protests.

 

Khosro Rahnama Sentenced to Five Years in Prison

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News, Prisoners
Iman Afshari, Khosro Rahnama, Tehran, ward 209

Political prisoner Khosro Rahnama has been sentenced to five years in prison by the Tehran Revolutionary Court. Currently serving another legal case, Rahnama is incarcerated in Ward 4 of Evin Prison.

The verdict, issued by Judge Iman Afshari, cites “assembly and collusion against national security” as the grounds for the five-year sentence.

On March 11, 2024, Rahnama was arrested at his residence in Tehran by security forces. Following two months of interrogation, he was transferred from Ward 209 to the public ward of Evin Prison.

Rahnama’s previous legal case resulted in a five-year prison sentence and two years of exile. The charges included “propaganda against the regime, assembly and collusion against national security, and collaboration with anti-regime groups.” It is important to note that Rahnama has a history of prior arrests and convictions related to his activism.

Four Citizens Detained in Ahvaz Prison for Over Two Months Without Clear Legal Proceedings

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Freedom of Expression, News
Artin Rahmani, Danial Khanehzar, Foad Choobin, Hossein Ali Khatami, Iman Khedri, Izeh, Keysan Shahabi, Masjed-Soleyman

Foad Choobin, Keysan Shahabi, Danial Khanehzar, and Iman Khadari have been held in Sheyban Prison, Ahvaz, for over 65 days without clear indications of further legal proceedings.

Their lawyer, Hossein Ali Khatami, stated that their clients have been charged with propaganda against the regime, as reported by HRANA. The objections against extending their detention have been rejected twice so far.

On April 11, 2023, these individuals were arrested by security forces in Izeh. Foad Choobin is the uncle of Artin Rahmani, a 17-year-old minor killed by regime forces during the 2022 nationwide protests.

Shahabi and Choobin are residents of Izeh, while Khadari and Khanehzar reside in Masjed Soleyman.

Background on the 2022 Nationwide Protests

The protests in Iran were triggered by the arrest of Mahsa Amini by the Tehran Morality Police for her improper hijab and her subsequent suspicious death on September 16. The demonstrations quickly spread across the country, with participants rallying against the performance, laws, and structure of the regime. Thousands of people, including journalists, artists, lawyers, teachers, students, and civil rights activists, were arrested during the nationwide protests.

 

Civil Rights Activist Mohammad Nourizad Faces New Legal Case During Imprisonment

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News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, Eyvanki, Izeh, Mohammad Hossein Aghasi, Mohammad Nourizad, Tabas, Tehran

Imprisoned civil rights activist Mohammad Nourizad has been brought to trial for a new legal case while serving his existing sentence. The Tehran Revolutionary Court conducted a session on June 14, 2023, to address the charges against him.

According to Mohammad Hossein Aghasi, Nourizad’s lawyer, his client is facing charges of “assembly and collusion against national security, propaganda against the regime, and destruction of property within the prison head’s office.”

The initial phase of Nourizad’s legal case began on August 11, 2019, when he was arrested by security forces for his involvement in issuing an open letter with 13 other civil rights activists, calling for the Supreme Leader of Iran to step down. In this first case, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison, three years of exile in Izeh, and a two-year travel ban. While the prison sentence was upheld on appeal, the duration of exile and travel ban were reduced to two years.

In late April 2020, Nourizad received an additional one-year imprisonment for expressing support towards Baha’i citizens of Eyvanki in Semnan Province.

Regarding the second part of his legal case, the Mashhad Criminal Court sentenced Nourizad to 8 months in prison and 74 lashes, with exile to Tabas, for “disturbance of public order,” and an additional 74 lashes for “spreading falsehood.” This verdict was also upheld on appeal.

On November 17, 2021, Nourizad was released from Evin Prison based on an early release order. However, on January 23, 2022, he was summoned and re-incarcerated in Evin Prison to complete his remaining sentence.

Nourizad’s history includes prior arrests and convictions related to his peaceful activism. He is a renowned filmmaker, writer, director, and journalist from Iran. While previously known as an outspoken religious journalist, he has become an active critic of the Islamic Republic in recent years.

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Bapir Barzeh Sentenced to Three Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Amir Ojaghlou, Bapir Barzeh, Mahabad, Naqadeh, Piranshahr

Former political prisoner Bapir Barzeh has been sentenced to three years in prison by the Mahabad Revolutionary Court.

As reported by Kurdpa, Judge Amir Ojaghlou presided over Branch 1 of the Mahabad Revolutionary Court, which found Barzeh guilty of “acting against national security through membership in an anti-regime political party.”

Additionally, Barzeh has recently received a one-year prison sentence from the Piranshahr Criminal Court.

Barzeh’s arrest took place on November 22, 2022, when security forces apprehended him without presenting an arrest warrant. He was subsequently held in a detention facility in Urmia. Throughout his detention period, reports indicate that Barzeh was denied access to legal representation and visits from his family. Finally, he was released on bail from Naqadeh prison on January 26, 2023.

It’s important to note that Barzeh has a history of previous arrests and convictions related to his activism.

Multiple Executions Carried Out in Yasuj, Shiraz, Karaj

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Executions, News
Abbasali Soleimani, Alireza Shahcheragh, Karaj, Mazandaran, Milad Ghobadi, Modara, Shiraz, Taher Nouri, Yasuj

Four inmates, convicted of drug-related crimes and murder, were executed in Yasuj, Shiraz and Karaj. Also, according to Modara, an individual was sentenced to death by the criminal court of Mazandaran accused of killing the parliament member, Abbasali Soleimani.

According to the Iran Human Rights Organization, on June 11, two inmates, Alireza Shahcheragh and Taher Nouri (aged 38), were executed at Adelabad Prison in Shiraz. Nouri had been sentenced to death three years prior.
Furthermore, on June 14, Milad Ghobadi, an inmate held at Yasuj Prison, was executed.
In another incident reported by Javan Online on June 13, an unidentified inmate was executed at Rajai Shahr Prison. The individual had been charged with the murder of his wife three years ago.

Artist Atena Farghadani Indicted for Alleged Disturbance of Public Order

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Freedom of Expression, News
Atena Farghadani, Evin Courthouse, HRANA, Qarchak Prison, Varamin

Atena Farghadani, a renowned cartoonist and civil rights activist, has been indicted at Evin Courthouse following her arrest on June 7, 2023.

According to a reliable source who spoke to HRANA, Farghadani is facing charges of “disturbing public order.”

Another source close to her family disclosed that Farghadani has been offered a bail amounting to two billion Rials; however, she has declined to provide the requested bail amount.

On June 7, 2023, security forces arrested Farghadani and subsequently transferred her to Qarchak Prison in Varamin.

It should be noted that Farghadani has previously faced legal consequences for her activism.

Execution of Inmate Reported in Gachsaran Prison

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Executions, News
Gachsaran, Hassanali Hassanpour

On June 14, 2023, an inmate who was convicted of murder was executed in Gachsaran Prison, located in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province.

HRANA has identified this inmate as Hassanali Hassanpour, a resident of a village in Gachsaran County.

Execution of Inmate Reported in Gachsaran Prison

As of now, there have been no reports from official sources or domestic media outlets in the country regarding 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.

 

Update on Bahai Citizen Payam Vali’s Condition in Ghezel Hesar Prison

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News, Prisoners, Religious Minorities
Baha'i citizen, Ghezel Hesar prison, HRANA, Karaj, Payam Vali, Rajai Shahr Prison

Payam Vali, a Baha’i citizen, is currently serving a six-year sentence in Ghezel Hesar Prison, located in Karaj. He has been denied access to make a phone call to his family, as ordered by prison officials.

According to a reliable source who spoke to HRANA, Vali’s phone card has been blocked. He is also prohibitd from purchasing any item from the prison store. The source revealed that this prohibition was imposed after Vali gave a message via phone addressing the speakers of the Iranian Parliament.

In addition, another source close to Vali’s family informed HRANA that since late May, he has only had one visitation with his family. Furthermore, other prisoners have been threatened to refrain from providing Vali with their phone cards.

On September 24, 2022, security forces arrested Vali at his residence in Karaj, subsequently conducting a search of his house and detaining him in Rajai Shahr Prison. He was later relocated to Ghezel Hesar prison.

On May 10, 2023, the Alborz Court of Appeals sentenced Vali to six years for “collaboration with adversary countries,” three years and one month for “inciting people to commit violence,” and eight months for “propaganda against the regime.” According to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the first charge carries an enforceable prison term of six years. It is worth noting that Vali had initially been sentenced in February 2023 to ten, five, and one-year terms for the respective charges mentioned above.

According to HRANA annual report, from the full 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.