Mardani was convicted on charges of “membership and collaboration with a political opposition party.”
Mardani, 65 years old, was arrested on August 10, 2023, and then was released on bail on October 8, 2023.
Presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, the court session saw Floderus, accompanied by his legal representative, contesting the array of charges leveled against him, which include “spreading corruption on earth” and “undermining national security by collaborating with Israel to gather intelligence.” Throughout the proceedings, the prosecutor asserted that Floderus had allegedly “established a network in Iran in conjunction with the Swedish Intelligence service, engaged in activism aimed at overthrowing the regime, disguised fund transfers to Iran as part of a project, traveled to Israel, and collaborated with Israeli Intelligence within the European Union.”
Floderus was formally indicted in November of the current year.
In April 2022, Floderus visited Iran. As he was departing Iran on April 16, 2022, he was detained by the Ministry of Intelligence at the airport on charges of espionage.
In July, the Ministry of Intelligence issued a statement asserting that Floderus had made multiple trips to Iran. During his last visit, he was allegedly on a mission to uncover the identity of another spy who had been apprehended in Iran. Intelligence agents monitored his communications and, after accumulating evidence, arrested him under a warrant issued by the judiciary.
It is worth noting that on May 6, 2022, the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed his detention in Iran. The Swedish daily newspaper Aftonbladet described his arrest as a retaliatory move by Iran’s regime in response to the trial of Hamid Nouri, a prominent figure involved in the 1988 executions of Iranian political prisoners. Nouri had been arrested in November 2019 in Sweden and subsequently convicted of crimes against humanity.
The report refrains from disclosing the identity and nationality of the detainee as well as the current location of his detention.
While the prosecution of individuals for espionage is not inherently considered a violation of human rights, concerns arise about the credibility of these allegations. The regime has a history of frequently employing such accusations to suppress political dissidents or for political gains. Ambiguities in legal proceedings and a lack of transparency surrounding these cases further contribute to apprehensions about the fairness of the process.
Mahmood-Nejad was found guilty of “membership in an anti-regime political party and spreading propaganda against the regime.”
In another part of his legal case, the Criminal Court of Piranshahr has sentenced Mahmood-Nejad to pay a fine substituting a three-month prison term and 30 lashes.
The incident unfolded on July 3, 2023, when security forces arrested Mahmood-Nejad at his residence, subsequently detaining him in Naqadeh Prison. Following 12 days of incarceration, he was released on bail.
Yousefi Aghdam was taken into custody at his parent’s residence without the presentation of an arrest warrant. In Nabi’s case, the arrest occurred at his workplace, where agents reportedly used violence during the apprehension.
As of now, the reasons behind their arrests and their current whereabouts remain unknown.
In the vicinity of Iranshahr, military forces opened fire on a vehicle traveling on the road, claiming the life of 18-year-old Matin Narui (Narooie) with a gunshot to the head.
In a separate incident on the same day, 45-year-old Amir Safari (Sarani) was fatally shot in the chest in a village within Hirmand County. Responding to a gunshot, he and fellow villagers emerged from their homes, only to be met with gunfire from military forces positioned in a watchtower. Amir Safari, located just 100 meters from his residence, succumbed to the injuries sustained. The family’s inquiries into the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident remain unanswered by local authorities.
Disturbingly, these incidents add to a concerning trend. According to data compiled by the Center of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA), a total of 845 individuals were shot by military forces in 2022. Of these victims, at least 571 lost their lives, including 22 Kolbar, 9 fuel carriers, and 540 civilians. Additionally, 274 people suffered injuries from military forces’ gunfire, comprising 134 Kolbar, 128 civilians, and 12 fuel carriers. The need for transparent investigations and accountability in these matters is paramount to address the alarming frequency of such incidents.
Mesbah, 20 years old, and Abdolmatin, 21 years old, were reportedly apprehended on the street in Zahedan. The grounds for their detention, their current location, and the specific allegations against them remain unknown as of now.
The motive behind Tarah’s arrest remains unclear. Notably, the residence of Rezaie Roshan, a former political prisoner, was subjected to a search by agents in September.
Tarah, who has previously encountered security and judicial challenges, was granted amnesty in February of this year, leading to her release from prison under a “general pardon and commutation” directive.
A source with ties to his family reported Raei’s arrest at his residence. During the operation, the agents conducted a search of his house and seized some of his belongings. The motives behind Raei’s arrest, his current location, and the specific allegations against him remain unknown at this time.
Tohidi was reportedly apprehended at a police checkpoint in Zahedan. The grounds for his arrest, his current location, and the charges against him remain undisclosed at this time.
