Category: Prisoners

Rapper Saman Seydi Sentenced to Five Years in Exile

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, Ghezel Hesar prison, Hossein Sartipi, moharebeh, Rajai Shahr Prison, Saman Seydi, Saman Yasin, سامان یاسین

Saman Seydi, known as Yasin, was arrested during nationwide protests in 2022 and has been sentenced to five years of exile in a city in Kerman Province.

Seydi’s lawyer, Hossein Sartipi, announced that according to a verdict issued by Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, his client will serve five years in exile. Sartipi plans to appeal to the Supreme Court, arguing that Seydi has already been detained for over 18 months, suggesting he has effectively served his time.

In mid-April 2024, Seydi was taken from Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj to a hospital for one day for nasal surgery, following an injury sustained during his incarceration.

Seydi was arrested on October 2, 2023, in Tehran during the protests and subsequently transferred to Rajai Shahr Prison.

On November 8, 2023, Seydi was convicted on charges including “enmity against God” (Moharebeh) and “assembly and collusion against national security,” and was initially sentenced to death. However, the Supreme Court overturned the death sentence, leading to the transfer of his case to another court branch for retrial.

On August 2, 2023, Seydi, along with six other political prisoners, was moved from Rajai Shahr Prison to Evin Prison. On September 3, 2023, he was transferred again with 12 inmates to Ghezel Hesar without prior notice and was held in a ward with prisoners convicted of drug offenses, violating regulations that require political prisoners to be housed separately.

Hossein Burakah Sentenced to Prison and Exile on Political Charges

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News, Prisoners
Hossein Burakah, Naqadeh Prison, Piranshahr, حسین بورکه

Hossein Burakah has been sentenced to three years and six months in prison by the Revolutionary Court of Mahabad, according to a report by Kurdpa. In addition, he received a one-year exile to Urmia.

Burakah was convicted of alleged membership in anti-regime groups.

He was arrested on October 23, 2023, after appearing at the courthouse in Piranshahr, and was transferred to Naqadeh Prison. Two days later, he was moved to the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Urmia and then returned to Naqadeh Prison. Burakah had previously been detained by security forces in early October of the previous year.

Family of Fallahi Faces Eleven-Year Sentence on Political Charges

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Ardavan Fallahi, Arghavan Fallahi, Evin Prison, Iman Afshari, Nasrollah Fallahi, Parvin Mirasan, Tehran, پروین میرآسان, نصرالله فلاحی

In a recent verdict from the Tehran Revolutionary Court, Parvin Mirasan and Nasrollah Fallahi, alongside their children, Ardavan and Arghavan, have been collectively sentenced to 11 years in prison on political charges.

Presiding over Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran, Judge Iman Afshari delivered the verdict, condemning Parvin Mirasan and Nasrollah Fallahi to four years each for charges including “assembly and collusion against national security” and “propaganda against the regime.” Meanwhile, Arghavan received a two-year sentence and Ardavan, one year.

According to a source close to the family, Parvin Mirasan and Nasrollah Fallahi are currently held in Evin Prison, while their children, who had previously been released on bail, have already served their terms, factoring in their detention period.

Reports obtained by HRANA indicate that this legal case involves 12 defendants, yet their identities and specifics remain undisclosed.

Ardavan Fallahi was apprehended in Isfahan on November 3, 2022, followed by the arrest of a family member the subsequent day. On February 12, 2023, they were transferred to Evin Prison in Tehran. Ardavan and Arghavan were granted release on bail pending legal proceedings, on January 3, 2024, and March 12, 2024, respectively.

Reports from the Department of Statistics and Publication of HRA in 2023 indicate a total of 193 cases in which Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, has been involved in issuing verdicts that infringe upon the human rights of defendants.

Reza Rasekhi Sentenced to Prison and Exile on Political Charges

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News, Prisoners
HRANA, Karaj's Central Prison, Reza Rasekhi, Seyed-Musa Asef-Al-Hosseini, رضا راسخی

Reza Rasekhi, currently incarcerated in Karaj’s Central Prison, has been sentenced to one year in prison and two years of exile in Bostanabad, East Azerbaijan province, by the Revolutionary Court in Karaj. Subsequently, his prison term was reduced to nine months after entering a plea of no contest.

Presiding over Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court in Karaj, Judge Seyed-Musa Asef-Al-Hosseini found Rasekhi guilty of “propaganda against the regime,” citing his social media activities.

A source close to Rasekhi’s family, confirming his conviction, informed HRANA that Rasekhi was notified of this verdict ten days prior. However, he has been acquitted of “assembly and collusion against national security.”

Rasekhi was apprehended by security forces in November 2023 and subsequently transferred to Karaj’s Central Prison.

The 31-year-old resident of Karaj had previously been arrested during the nationwide protests of 2022. However, he was granted pardon under a “general pardon and commutation” directive.

Latest Developments on Baha’i Citizen Mina Karami’s Legal Situation

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News, Prisoners, Religious Minorities
Adelabad Prison, Bahais, Mina Karami, Seyed Mahmood Sadati, Shiraz, مینا کرمی

Baha’i citizen Mina Karami continues to serve her five-year prison term in Adelabad prison after the Appellate Court of Fars Province, influenced by the Ministry of Intelligence, recently rejected her request to complete her sentence outside prison with a monitoring ankle device.

A source close to Karami’s family has confirmed to HRANA the repeated denials of Karami’s release requests. Additionally, the Supreme Court rejected her plea for a retrial.

On April 13, 2021, security forces raided Karami’s residence, conducted a search, and subsequently summoned and interrogated her at the Ministry of Intelligence detention facility known as House No. 100. She was later released on bail.

In August-September 2022, the Revolutionary Court of Shiraz, presided over by Seyed-Mahmood Sadati, found Karami guilty of “engaging in education and propaganda activities against Islamic Sharia,” resulting in a five-year imprisonment, a fine, social restrictions for ten years, and a two-year ban from leaving the country. This verdict was upheld on appeal.

On February 13, 2024, security forces arrested her in Shiraz and transferred her to Adelabad Prison to commence serving her sentence.

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Hasti Tale-Talab Detained Without Clarity in Vakilabad Prison

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News, Prisoners
Hasti Tale-Talab, Mashhad, Vakilabad prison, هستی طالع طلب

Hasti Tale-Talab, a resident of Mashhad, has been detained in Vakilabad Prison for over three weeks without a clear legal status.

According to a source close to Tale-Talab’s family who spoke to HRANA, she has been held in Vakilabad prison for 25 days. Her family has been kept uninformed about her legal case.

On March 17, 2024, Tale-Talab was summoned by the Public and Revolutionary Court of Mashhad and detained during her appearance.

Reports obtained by HRANA indicate that Tale-Talab is facing multiple charges, including “provoking impurity and indecency,” and “propaganda against the regime.”

In October-November 2023, the Ministry of Intelligence raided Tale-Talab’s residence, conducted a search, and confiscated some of her belongings.

Tale-Talab, aged 51, is a mother of four.

Hossein Kooshki Nejad Begins One-Year Prison Term in Evin Prison

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News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, Hossein Kooshki Nejad, HRANA, Ilam prison, Khorramabad, Reza Kooshki Nejad

On April 7, 2024, Hossein Kooshki Nejad commenced his one-year prison term in Evin Prison. His brother, Reza, who was detained during the 2022 nationwide protests, is currently serving a two-year sentence in Ilam prison.

According to reports obtained by HRANA, Kooshki Nejad faced legal action last year in the Courthouse in Khorramabad, accused of the political charge of “propaganda against the regime.” The Tehran Revolutionary Court subsequently took over the case and sentenced him to one year in prison.

Kooshki Nejad stated that the beginning of his sentence had been postponed until April 7.

Political Prisoner Mohsen Ghiasi Denied Medical Care in Evin Prison

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News, Prisoners
Esmaeil Barjesteh, Evin Prison, Isfahan, Mohsen Ghiasi, Shahriar, محسن غیاثی

Mohsen Ghiasi, detained during the nationwide protests in 2019, known as the Aban protests, is currently serving a five-year, three-month prison sentence in Evin Prison. Recent reports indicate that he has been denied medical furlough as a punitive measure.

According to a source close to Ghiasi’s family who spoke with HRANA, in mid-March, Ghiasi was placed in solitary confinement as punishment for protesting against the poor conditions in the prison during Ramadan. He endured eight days in isolation, and his medical leave was subsequently revoked.

Security forces arrested Ghiasi on November 26, 2019, in Isfahan during the protests. After four months, he was transferred from Ward 209 of Evin Prison to the Great Tehran Penitentiary.

He was released on bail on March 15, 2020.

On March 1, 2023, the Revolutionary Court of Shahriar, presided over by Esmaeil Barjesteh, sentenced Ghiasi to seven years and three months in prison on multiple charges, including “insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran” and “assembly and collusion against national security.”

Following Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, which stipulates that in cases of multiple charges, the harshest punishment shall be enforced, Ghiasi began serving a sentence of five years and three months.

Ghiasi, aged 42, is a resident of Shahriar County, married, and a father of one.

The November 2019 protests were triggered by a surge in fuel prices, leading to demonstrations in numerous cities across the country. Seyed Hossein Taghavi, the spokesperson for the Parliamentary National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, stated that approximately 7,000 individuals were arrested during these protests. Reports from human rights organizations indicate that hundreds of people lost their lives as a result of the actions carried out by the security apparatus.

 

Environmental Activists Taher Ghadirian and Sepideh Kashani Granted Release

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News, Prisoners
Abdolreza Koohpayeh, Amir-Hossein Khaleghi, Morad Tahbaz, Niloufar Bayani, Sam Rajabi, Sepideh Kashani, Taher Ghadirian

On April 9, 2024, environmental activists Taher Ghadirian and Sepideh Kashani were released from Evin Prison, marking the end of over six years of incarceration following a pardon granted ahead of the upcoming holiday.

Yesterday, two other environmental activists, Niloufar Bayani and Hooman Jokar, were also released from the same prison.

In January 2018, Kashani and Ghadirian, along with several other environmental activists, were arrested and detained in Evin Prison. Subsequently, Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Salavati, sentenced them to lengthy imprisonments:

  • Niloufar Bayani and Morad Tahbaz were handed 10-year sentences for “collaboration with the hostile U.S. government.”
  • Taher Ghadirian and Hooman Jokar received eight-year sentences for the same charge.
  • Sam Rajabi and Sepideh Kashani were sentenced to six years for the same charge.
  • Amir-Hossein Khaleghi received a six-year sentence for “espionage.”
  • Abdolreza Koohpayeh was sentenced to four years for “assembly and collusion against national security.”

On February 18, 2020, Gholamhossein Esmaeili, the then spokesperson of Iran’s Judiciary, announced the finalized verdicts against these eight environmental activists at the Appellate Court.

HRANA reported that during interrogations, several of these prisoners, including a female, were subjected to mistreatment and sexual assault to extract confessions.

Environmental Activists Niloufar Bayani and Hooman Jokar Released After Six-Year Imprisonment

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News, Prisoners
Abdolreza Koohpayeh, Amir-Hossein Khaleghi, Environmental activists, Evin Prison, Gholamhossein Esmaeili, Hooman Jokar, Morad Tahbaz, Niloufar Bayani, Sam Rajabi, Sepideh Kashani, Taher Ghadirian

Environmental activists Niloufar Bayani and Hooman Jokar were granted a pardon and released from Evin Prison on April 8, 2024, marking the end of more than six years of incarceration.

In January 2018, along with several other environmental activists, Bayani and Jokar were detained and held in Evin Prison. Subsequently, Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Salavati, sentenced them to lengthy imprisonments. The sentences were as follows:

  • Niloufar Bayani and Morad Tahbaz received 10 years for “collaboration with the hostile U.S. government.”
  • Taher Ghadirian and Hooman Jokar received eight years for the same charge.
  • Sam Rajabi and Sepideh Kashani received six years for the same charge.
  • Amir-Hossein Khaleghi was sentenced to six years for “espionage.”
  • Abdolreza Koohpayeh received four years for “assembly and collusion against national security.”

On February 18, 2020, Gholamhossein Esmaeili, the then spokesperson of Iran’s Judiciary, reported the finalized verdicts against these eight environmental activists at the Appellate Court.

HRANA had reported that during interrogation, several of these prisoners, including a female, were subjected to mistreatment and sexual assault to extract confessions.