Tabriz Judiciary Aimed to Seize Taha Kermani’s Bail before End of Investigations

HRANA News Agency – Following the objection by guarantor of Taha Kermani, civil rights activist, in Tabriz, claiming that collateral seizure before end of the trial process is illegal, based on a warrant that was issued by Branch 105 of the General Crime Court in Tabriz city, his objection was rejected and seizure order procedure was approved by the court.
According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency in Iran (HRANA), seizure permission has been issued, while trial proceedings are still continuing to address some of the charges of this civil activist and the court, regardless of lawyer’s objection, before a full investigation of the case and before a final and binding decision, has ordered to seize the collateral.
A bail of 300 million Tomans had been issued for a case of 6 charges (propaganda against the regime, insulting the Supreme Leader, gathering and collusion to commit a crime against national security and membership in opposition groups, setting fire on public funds to oppose against the regime and Blasphemy) for Seyed Taha Kermani.
During a trial, he was sentenced to 3 years imprisonment on charges of propaganda against the regime, insulting the Supreme Leader, and he was acquitted for charges of the gathering and collusion to commit a crime against national security and membership in opposition groups. But regarding the charges of setting fire on public funds to oppose against the regime and Blasphemy, primitive court has issued a sentence of 10 years imprisonment, and currently his case is in the investigation process by Branch 7 of the East Azerbaijan province Court of Appeal, and final decision has not been issued yet. With regard to this issue, that seizing a bail before approving the charges is an obvious gross violation of law, it seems that the decree has been issued by the security agencies’ leveraging.
Also, his solicitors, Mr. Jafar Afsharnia and Amir Bakhshi, already had delivered their objection during the time to appeal, against the contradictions in their clients’ verdict including “Failure to provide any evidence pointing to the conviction” and “violation of the presumption of innocence”, demanding an appeal court hearing and an accurate and legal proceedings on the cases of their clients, so that their clients’ cases were sent to the Branch 7 of the Appeals Court in East Azerbaijan, Presided by Judge Ashrafi, on 21st June 2015.
Branch 7 of the Appeals Court in Eastern Azerbaijan province had sent the cases of Hossein Ali Mohammadi Alvar and Seyed Taha Kermani, to the Branch 3 of the Revolutionary Court because of the “Submission Form Failure” and after amending their cases were referred back, waiting for the proceeding by the appeal court.
These civil activists, who have been sentenced by the Preliminary court to long-term imprisonments, were arrested on 4th November 2013 and after interrogation, they were transferred to Tabriz prison and ultimately, on 15th April 2014 after more than five months of detention, were released on a bail of 300 million Tomans. Hossein Ali Mohammadi Alvar, who was arrested along with Seyed Taha Kermani, on the similar charges, in the last case, was arrested on 1st March this year and was transferred to Tabriz prison. He is currently held in ward 12 of Tabriz Central Prison along with non-political prisoners.

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