Tag: Alborz province

Detention Order for Baha’i Citizen Nahid Behroozi Extended

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News, Prisoners, Religious Minorities
Alborz province, Baha'i citizen, HRANA, Kachooie Prison, Nahid Behroozi

Nahid Behroozi (Forouhari), a Baha’i citizen, remains in a state of uncertainty in Kachooie Prison, Karaj, 26 days after her arrest. Today, her detention order was extended for another week.

A source close to Behroozi’s family confirmed to HRANA: “Today, Ms. Behroozi’s detention order was extended for another week. Despite 25 days having passed since her arrest, she remains in a state of uncertainty in Kachooie Prison, Karaj.”
This Baha’i citizen was transferred to Kachooie Prison, Karaj, on August 15th after completing interrogation at The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility.

Behroozi was arrested by the Ministry of Intelligence agents at her home in Fardis, Alborz province, on Monday, July 29, 2024.

The reasons for Behroozi’s arrest and the charges against her remain unknown.

Criminal Court Sentences Mashallah Karami to Over 8 Years in Prison and Other Penalties

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Freedom of Expression, News
Alborz province, Karaj, Mashallah Karami, Mohammad-Mehdi Karami, Sharifzadeh Ardakani

Mashallah Karami, the father of Mohammad Mehdi Karami, an executed protester, has been sentenced by the Criminal Court of Nazarabad County, Alborz province, to eight years and ten months in prison, a fine, and the confiscation of his assets.

According to the ruling recently issued by Branch 102 of the Criminal Court Branch 2 of Nazarabad County and conveyed to this citizen currently imprisoned in Karaj Central Prison, he was sentenced to eight years and ten months in prison, a fine of 1.9 billion tomans (approximately 28000 dollars), and the confiscation of his assets on charges of “money laundering and acquiring illicit property.”

Earlier, in another part of his case, Mr. Karami was sentenced by the Revolutionary Court to five years in prison on the charge of “assembly and collusion to commit a crime against national security” and one year in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime.”

Ali Sharifzadeh, Karami’s attorney, previously stated that the security charges brought against his client are inconsistent with his actions. He added, “Mr. Karami only distributed free food, the funds for which were provided through public donations. This information was presented to the court but was not properly considered. Additionally, my client’s assets have no connection to the security charges against Mr. Karami.”

In March of 2024, Sharifzadeh Ardakani, Mr. Karami’s lawyer, stated that his client’s indictment included four charges: under Article 500 (propaganda against the regime) and Article 610 (assembly and collusion to commit a crime against national security) in the Revolutionary Court of Karaj, as well as charges under Article 2 of the Aggravated Punishment Law (acquiring illicit property) and Article 9 of the Anti-Money Laundering Law in the Criminal Court Branch 2 of Nazarabad County.

Karami was arrested by security forces on August 22, 2023. At the time of his arrest, security forces confiscated all electronic devices and froze the family’s bank accounts.

On October 28th of 2023, Mr. Karami was transferred from The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility to the Central Prison of Karaj. After three months in solitary confinement, he was eventually moved to Ward 15 of this prison.

It should be noted that at dawn on Saturday, January 7, 2023, the death sentence of Mohammad Mehdi Karami, who had been arrested during the nationwide protests in the case known as the “killing of Basij member Rouhollah Ajamian,” was carried out.

Baha’i Citizen Nahid Behroozi Arrested

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News, Religious Minorities
Alborz province, Bahais, Fardis County, Nahid Behroozi, ناهید بهروزی

On July 29, the Ministry of Intelligence arrested Nahid Behroozi (Forouhari), a Baha’i citizen residing in Fardis County, Alborz Province. They also searched her residence and confiscated several of her personal belongings.

A source close to this citizen’s family confirmed the news to HRANA, saying: “Ms. Behroozi was arrested today, Monday, July 29, 2024, by Ministry of Intelligence agents at her home. The agents also searched her home and confiscated several items, including her mobile phone, laptop, and computer.”

So far, the reasons for her arrest and the charges against Ms. Behroozi have not been disclosed.

Baha’is are subjected to violations of their religious rights, comprising 82% of reports on infringements against religious minorities, according to HRA’s 2023 annual report.

The Baha’i faith is not recognized as a legitimate religion by Iranian authorities, leading to systematic and longstanding violations of the rights of Baha’is in the country. This includes the denial of their fundamental right to practice their religion, which constitutes a clear breach of both 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.

Political Prisoner Mehdi Sabeti Sentenced to Three Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Alborz province, Mehdi Sabeti, Meshkin Dasht, مهدی ثابتی

Mehdi Sabeti, a political prisoner held in the Central Prison of Karaj, has been sentenced to three years in prison by the Revolutionary Court of Karaj.

According to a verdict recently issued by Branch 4 of the Revolutionary Court of Karaj and delivered to Mr. Sabeti on Saturday, June 22, he has been sentenced to two years in prison for “insulting the Supreme Leader” and one year in prison for “propaganda against the regime.”

Sabeti was arrested by agents of the IRGC Intelligence in Meshkin Dasht, Alborz province, on September 17, 2023. He was subsequently transferred to the Central Prison of Karaj.

Previously, a source close to the family of this political detainee told HRANA: “A few days after his arrest, Sabeti was also charged with blasphemy and disseminating falsehoods during his interrogation.”

Sabeti, aged around 34, resides in Fardis County, Alborz province.

Political Prisoner Siamak Nasiri Sentenced to Imprisonment and Exile

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News, Prisoners
Alborz province, HRANA, Karaj, Musa Asef-Al-Hosseini, Siamak Nasiri

The Appellate Court of Alborz province has reduced political prisoner Siamak Nasiri’s sentence from six years to three years and one month.

Branch 12 of the Appellate Court of Alborz province issued the verdict, sentencing Nasiri to three years and one month in prison, plus two years of exile in Ahvaz County, following his appeal.

Initially, the Karaj Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Musa Asef Al-Hosseini, had sentenced Nasiri to five years in prison for “inciting people to violence and waging war against national security,” along with an additional year for “propaganda against the regime.” He was also required to reside in Ahvaz for two years.

Nasiri was arrested by IRGC Intelligence in Karaj on August 28, 2023, and is currently being held in the Central Prison of Karaj.

Previously, a source informed HRANA that Nasiri was detained in December 2022 in Karaj, where he was held in the Ministry of Intelligence’s facility. He was later transferred to the Central Prison of Karaj and subsequently released under a general pardon and commutation directive.

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Taher Asgharpour Sentenced to Four Months in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Alborz province, Taher Asgharpour

The Court of Appeals in Alborz Province has handed down a four-month prison sentence to Taher Asgharpour, a teacher and translator, on charges of “propaganda against the regime.”

Originally, Asgharpour faced a six-month prison term, coupled with a prohibition on engaging in political activities and restrictions on Internet and social media use.

On September 30, 2023, security forces apprehended Asgharpour, detaining him at the Central Prison of Karaj until his release on bail the following day.

As HRA’s annual report reveals, in 2023, Iranian judicial institutions collectively imposed sentences totaling 25,124 months on citizens for exercising their rights of expression.

Execution of Five Inmates for Armed Robbery in Karaj Central Prison

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Executions, News
Alborz province, Hossein Fazeli Harikandi, ISNA, The Central Prison of Karaj

On January 1, 2024, the Central Prison of Karaj carried out the execution of five death-row inmates convicted of armed robbery, as reported by ISNA.

The Chief Justice of Alborz Province, Hossein Fazeli Harikandi, confirmed their identities were withheld due to their conviction of “gang armed robbery, making roads unsafe, instilling fear in the public, and causing significant damage to people’s property.”

According to Harikandi, the Karaj Revolutionary Court had sentenced them to death, although the exact date of the conviction was not disclosed. The executions took place after multiple confirmations of the death sentences by the Supreme Court.

In 2023, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran documented a total of 746 executions, with 6 taking place in public. Among the executed individuals with identified genders, 597 were male, and 20 were female. Notably, 2 juvenile offenders, defined as individuals under the age of 18 at the time of their alleged crimes, were also executed. For a thorough analysis of the particulars and statistical breakdown of the executions in Iran, please consult HRANA’s annual report.

Student Arzhang Mortazavi Sentenced to Prison and Social Restrictions

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Freedom of Expression, News
Alborz province, Arzhang Mortazavi, Damghan University, Kharazmi University, ارژنگ مرتضوی

Arzhang Mortazavi, a student at Kharazmi University, has been handed a one-year sentence by the Revolutionary Court of Alborz province.

Issued by Judge Asef Al-Hosseini, the verdict finds Mortazavi guilty of “spreading propaganda against the regime,” with the detention period subtracted from the prison term. In addition to imprisonment, he faces restrictions such as a ban on joining social media communities, limited use of social media, and a two-year prohibition from leaving the country.

Security forces apprehended Mortazavi in Karaj on October 7, 2023, leading to his detention. After approximately one month, he was released on bail.

His initial arrest occurred on December 17, 2022, at the university entrance. However, on February 21, 2023, he was released from the Central Prison of Karaj under a general “pardon and commutation” directive.

In a separate development, Mortazavi faced a university suspension for four semesters and was mandated to transfer to Damghan University late last month.

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.

Bahai Citizen Payam Vali Sentenced to Nine Years and Nine Months in Prison

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News, Prisoners, Religious Minorities
Alborz province, Baha'i citizen, Karaj, Payam Vali

Bahai citizen Payam Vali has been sentenced to nine years and nine months in prison by the Alborz Court of Appeals, with six years to be served. Previously, he had received a 16-year prison sentence.

The verdict, issued on May 10, 2023, states that Vali was given 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.” The first count carries an enforceable six-year prison term under Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code.
Initially, in February 2023, Vali had been sentenced to ten, five, and one-year terms for the aforementioned charges, respectively.

On September 24, 2022, security forces arrested Vali at his house in Karaj, searched the house, and detained him in Rajai Shahr Prison.

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.

According to unofficial sources, it is estimated that more than 300,000 Baha’is live in Iran, but the Iranian Constitution recognizes only Islam as the official religion, in addition to Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism. Bahai faith is not considered legitimate by the authorities, and the rights of Baha’is in Iran have been systematically violated for years.

Freedom of 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 practice religion freely, freedom of converting to a religion, as well as freedom of expression, individually or collectively; openly or secretly.