Category: News

Mohammad Seddiq Azizi Sentenced to Two and a Half Years in Prison

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Loghman Azizi, Mohammad Seddiq Azizi, Oshnavieh

Branch 1 of the Military Court of West Azerbaijan Province has sentenced Mohammad Seddiq Azizi to two and a half years in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa News, Seddiq Azizi, a resident of Oshnavieh County, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison.

According to this verdict issued on April 19, 2022, Mr. Azizi has been convicted of “collaboration with an anti-regime political party.”

On February 9, 2022, while he was serving in the army as a conscript, the Army Intelligence agents arrested and transferred him to a detention facility in Oshnavaieh County and from there to the prison of this city. He was taken several times back and forth between the prison and the detention center. He was denied access to a phone call and family visitation during the detention.

 Azizi’s father, Loghman Azizi had also been arrested on June 21, 2021. In mid-July, he was released on bail.

Vahid Bagheri Returned to Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary after Furlough

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Vahid Bagheri

Last Saturday, April 16, 2022, Vahid Bagheri, political prisoner and one of the individuals arrested in the 2019 Iranian protests returned to the Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary after furlough. He had been released on furlough after 19 months of imprisonment. In recent days, his request for early release on probation was rejected.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, political Prisoner Vahid Bagheri returned to The Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary after furlough.

Earlier, in an open letter, he wrote “I am the breadwinner of two families. Why should I be in prison  only for attending a protest?”

During the nationwide 2019–2020 Iranian protests known as the Aban Protests, the security forces arrested Bagheri and after a while transferred him from a detention facility to the Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary.

Subsequently, branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced Bagheri to six years in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime and assembly and collusion against national security”. Applying article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, of the two counts, five years in prison for the charge of “assembly and collusion” is enforceable.

Bagheri was not granted furlough to attend his brother’s funeral while in prison.

Vahid Bagheri is 33 years old, married and a father of two children.

In November of 2019, an unprecedented increase in fuel prices sparked a wave of protests in dozens of cities across Iran. According to reports from human rights organizations, hundreds were killed during these protests by the regime forces.

Inmate Majid Keshvari Committed Suicide for Lack of Medical Care in the Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary, Majid Keshvari, suicide

On Tuesday, April 19, 2022, at the Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary, an inmate committed suicide after he was denied adequate medical treatment. Following the attempt, he was hospitalized in a hospital outside the prison. This inmate, who suffers from mental health problems, had attempted suicide several times before.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, feeling desperate for not receiving medical treatment, the inmate identified as Majid Keshvari committed failed suicide attempt in the Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary.

An informed source told HRANA, “It has been a long time since Mr. Keshvari is in need of surgery and the prison health providers had recommended his dispatch urgently to a hospital outside the prison. Instead, the prison officials sent him to a psychiatric ward and then sent him back to prison, ignoring care for his health issues. 

Keshvari then attempted to hang himself in protest against this unfair treatment and was hospitalized. There is still no news about his latest condition.”

Reportedly, Keshvari had attempted to commit suicide on another occasion as well.

 

Rapper Tomaj Salehi Summoned by the Court

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Rapper, Tomaj Salehi

In a post on social media, rapper Tomaj Salehi informed that he has been summoned by the Judgement Enforcement Unit of Shahin Shahr City. Considering that Tomaj Salehi has already been sentenced to six months of suspended imprisonment, the reason for this summons is unclear.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, rapper Tomaj Salehi who is well-known for his political songs, was summoned by the Judgement Enforcement Unit of Shahin Shahr.

On September 12, 2021, Salehi was arrested by security forces at his home and nine days later, released on bond from Dastgerd Prison.

On January 12, 2022, he was sentenced to six months in prison and a fine. The imprisonment was suspended for one year. In the trial, he was exonerated from the charge of “provoking violence and insurrection”.

Political Prisoner Khadijeh Mahdipour Denied Urgent Medical Treatment in Ilam Prison

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Ilam prison, IRGC intelligence agents, Khadijeh Mahdipour

Political prisoner Khadijeh Mahdipour was denied access to medical treatment despite having severe digestive issues.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, political Prisoner Khadijeh Mahdipour is in poor health in Ilam Prison due to the denial of medical care.

According to an informed source, Mrs  Mahdipour suffers from severe digestive issues that result in episodes of nausea. She has lost weight in the last two months, but the authorities deny sending her to Tehran to receive more adequate treatment.

After long procrastination, on January 4, 2022, prison officials sent Mahdipour to a hospital outside prison for treatment of a black fleck in her eyes. She is currently serving her 20-month sentence in Ilam Prison.

On October 10, 2021, IRGC intelligence agents arrested Mahdipour at her uncle’s house and transferred her to Ilam Prison after two days of interrogation.

She was sentenced to 20 months in prison on the charges of “propaganda against the regime” and “offensive statements against the supreme leader of Iran”. She was acquitted of the charge of “advocating for anti-regime groups”.

She had earlier faced other arrests and convictions. On October 3, 2020, the security forces arrested her in Ilam City and she was fined 3 million tomans to avoid imprisonment.

 

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Baha’i Citizen Saeedeh Khozui in Detention Eight Days after Arrest

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i citizen, Saeedeh Khozui

Baha’i citizen and a resident of Tehran, Saeedeh Khozui is still in detention after her arrest. On April 11, 2022, she was arrested after an appearance at Branch 2 of Evin Courthouse and she was allowed one phone call to her husband since.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Baha’i citizen Saeedeh Khozui is still in detention eight days after her arrest.

On April 19, she was allowed to make a phone call to her husband. Despite her family’s frequent inquiries, prison and judicial authorities did not reveal her whereabouts or the charges against her.

Mrs Khozai suffers from migraine and the prison does not serve regular meals during the month of Ramadan, which makes her health conditions worse.

Saeedeh Khozui is the mother of Arsalan Yazdani who was arrested by security forces in Tehran on September 1, 2021, and transferred to a detention center in Evin Prison. On September 30, 2021, security forces searched his house and confiscated some of Mr. Yazdani’s belongings including his laptop, other electronic devices and documents. Subsequently, Arsalan Yazdani was released on bail on October 17, 2021.

Hassan Yazdani and Jalal Khaksar Arrested by Security Forces in Quchan

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News, Other
Hassan Yazdani, Jalal Khaksar, Quchan

Recently, security forces arrested two individuals named Hassan Yazdani and Jalal Khaksar in Quchan City located in Khorasan Razavi Province.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, in recent days, Hassan Yazdani, age 45, and Jalal Khaksar, age 44, were arrested by security forces in Quchan and transferred to an unidentified location.

The agents did not show arrest warrants. Reportedly, these individuals had been arrested after returning from Kurdistan Province.

The reasons for this arrest and the charges are still unknown.

Three Workers’ Rights Activists Arrested and Held at Detention Facility

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Mohammad Irannajad, Morteza Seyedi, Nosrollah Amirloo

On Friday, April 15, 2022, three workers’ rights activists, Mohammad Irannajad, Nosrollah Amirloo and Morteza Seyedi were arrested by security forces. They have so far spent days in detention.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Mohammad Irannajad, Nosratollah Amirloo and Morteza Seyedi are at a detention facility. 

According to an informed source close to Mr Seyedi’s family, he suffers from high blood pressure and despite frequent requests from his family, prison officials did not allow him to receive his medicines.

The reasons for these arrests and the charges against these detainees are still unknown

 

Teacher and Civil Activist Rasoul Bodaghi Sentenced to Five Years in Prison

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Rasoul Bodaghi

The Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced school teacher and civil rights activist Rasoul Bodaghi to five years in prison, banned him from leaving the country and residing in Tehran and neighbouring provinces for two years. If the verdict is upheld on appeal,  four years of imprisonment will be enforceable for Bodaghi.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Rasoul Bodaghi, a member of the Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association of Islamshahr was sentenced to five years imprisonment.

On his personal page on social media, Ramin Safarnia, Bodaghi’s attorney, stated that he was sentenced to four years on the charge of “assembly and collusion” and one year in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”. As additional punishment, he is prohibited from leaving the country or  residing in Tehran and all its neighbouring provinces for two years.

On December 11, 2021, security forces arrested Rasoul Bodaghi at his house. A day later, he was released on bail. 

The trial of Mr. Bodaghi and another member of the Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association, Hamid Ghandi, was held by Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran on April 4, 2022. 

Two Christian Converts Jailed in Lakan and Evin Prisons for Sentencing

Posted on by A MN
Ethnic Minorities, News
Fariba Dalir, Lakan prison, Sekineh Behjati

On Saturday, April 16, 2022, Christian convert Sekineh Behjati was sent to Lakan Prison in Rasht for sentencing. On the same day, another Christian convert Fariba Dalir was jailed in Evin Prison to serve her two-year sentence.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Saturday, April 16, 2022, Sekineh Behjati was jailed in Lakan Prison to serve her two-year sentence.

In February of 2020, along with three other Christian converts, Behjat was arrested by security forces at her house on the charges of “propaganda against the regime, and assembly and collusion against national security”. In May 2022, in her first court session held by Branch 10 of the Revolutionary court of Rasht, Behjat was granted a bail of 500 million tomans. Since she was not able to provide the bail, she was transferred to Lakan prison, until six days later, when she was released after the bail was reduced to 200 million tomans.

Subsequently, the court sentenced her to two years in prison on the charges of “acting against national security through organizing a home church service and propaganda against the regime through preaching evangelical Christianity.”

Similarly, Article 18 News Outlet reported the imprisonment of another Christian Convert Farbia Dalir in Evin Prison. She had been sentenced to five years in prison on the charge of “acting against national security through establishing a home church service”. Later on, this verdict was  reduced to two years in prison. Dalir had been arrested on July 19, 2021, along with five other Christian converts.

The persecution of Christian converts stands in blatant violation of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which state that every individual has the right to freedom of religion and belief and freedom to express it openly or secretly.