Tag: Alireza Barmarz Pournak

Supreme Court Overturns Death Sentences in “Ekbatan Case

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News, Students
Alireza Barmarz Pournak, Alireza Kafaei, Amir-Mohammad Khosh Eghbal, Arman Aliverdi, Ekbatan case, Hossein Nemati, Navid Najaran

HRANA – A defense lawyer in the “Ekbatan residential complex” case has confirmed that the Supreme Court has overturned the death sentences issued for all defendants. The case has been referred back to Branch 1 of Tehran Criminal Court for retrial. Previously, Milad Armoun, Alireza Kafaei, Amir-Mohammad Khosh-Eghbal, Navid Najaran, Hossein Nemati, and Alireza Barmarz Pournak had each been sentenced to death.

The lawyer told HRANA that the Supreme Court accepted the appeals submitted by defense teams and, citing significant ambiguities in the case, annulled the death sentences and returned the file to the Criminal Court for retrial.

He also addressed the status of four defendants who had earlier been released on bail, noting: “Since their two-year detention period has ended, it is expected that after the case is referred back to the Criminal Court, their detention orders will also be revoked upon acceptance of bail.” He expressed hope that these defendants, who face similar circumstances, would soon be freed while legal proceedings continue.

In November 2024, Branch 13 of Tehran Criminal Court had sentenced the six defendants to death in the so-called “Ekbatan case.”

The case stems from events in early November 2022, during the nationwide protests, when a Basij member named Arman Aliverdi was killed in the Ekbatan residential complex. Following the incident, security and police forces arrested at least 50 young residents of Ekbatan, with indictments issued against 14 of them.

In May 2023, the Judiciary’s spokesperson announced that three defendants in the “murder of Arman Aliverdi” case had been charged with moharebeh (enmity against God) through the use of bladed weapons and with actions against national security. The indictment accused them of moharebeh, “participation in intentional murder,” and “disrupting public order and peace.”

In late October 2023, after four hearings, the court declined to return the case for further investigation. Instead, Branch 13 of Criminal Court One assumed responsibility to carry out supplementary inquiries, accelerate the proceedings, and determine the legal status of the defendants. Part of the case was also referred to Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

Four of the defendants, Hossein Nemati, Alireza Barmerz Pournak, Alireza Kafaei, and Amir-Mohammad Khosh-Eghbal, were released from Ghezel Hesar Prison on bail in February 2024. At the time, attorney Payam Derafshan stated that Milad Armon, Seyed Mohammad Mehdi Hosseini, Mehdi Imani, and Navid Najaran remained imprisoned on moharebeh charges.

On November 2, 2024, the final defense hearing for Armoun, Hosseini, Imani, and Najaran was held in Branch 13 of Criminal Court One on charges of “participation in murder and intentional assault.” The following day, November 3, a final defense hearing was held for Nemati, Barmerz Pournak, Kafaei, and Khosh-Eghbal. These four were arrested the same day and transferred to Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.

Four Protesters Sentenced to Prison and Flogging

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Freedom of Expression, News
Alireza Barmarz Pournak, Alireza Kafaei, Amir-Mohammad Khosh Eghbal, Hossein Nemati, Iman Afshari, kbatan Complex, Masoud Vazifeh, Milad Armoun, Mojtaba Ebrahimi, Navid Najaran, Sina Maleki, Sohrab Hassan-Khani, Tehran

HRANA News Agency – Masoud Vazifeh, Sohrab Hassan-Khani, Sina Maleki, and Mojtaba Ebrahimi — political defendants — were sentenced by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court to a total of 9 years in prison, 184 lashes, and paying a fine. These individuals had previously staged a sit-in to protest death sentences issued against defendants in the so-called “Ekbatan Complex” case. They were later released after being arrested.

Based on the ruling issued by Iman Afshari, the presiding judge of Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court:

  1. Masoud Vazifeh was sentenced to one year in prison for “propaganda against the regime,” one year in prison and 74 lashes for “disturbing public order and peace,” and two years in prison plus a 50-million-toman fine for “spreading falsehoods.” He did not attend the court sessions, and the verdict was issued in absentia.

  2. Sohrab Hassan-Khani was sentenced to eight months in prison and 40 lashes for “disturbing public order and peace,” and two years in prison along with a 50-million-toman fine for “spreading falsehoods.”

  3. Sina Maleki was sentenced to six months in prison and 30 lashes for “disturbing public order and peace.” His sentence has been suspended for three years. During the suspension period, he is also banned from using a smartphone.

  4. Mojtaba Ebrahimi was sentenced to 14 months in prison and a 30-million-toman fine for “spreading falsehoods,” and eight months in prison and 40 lashes for “disturbing public order and peace” (with time served counted toward the sentence). His sentence has also been suspended for three years, and he is banned from using a smartphone during the suspension period.

Masoud Vazifeh was released from Evin Prison on bail on February 5, Mojtaba Ebrahimi on January 4, Sohrab Hassan-Khani on December 30, 2024, and Sina Maleki during the winter.

These individuals had been arrested by security forces in December 2024 after staging a sit-in to protest the death sentences in the “Ekbatan Complex” case. Following their arrest, they were transferred to The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, known as Ward 209 of Evin Prison.

Masoud Vazifeh has previously faced arrest and judicial action due to his activism.

It is worth noting that in November 2024, attorney Babak Paknia reported that death sentences had been issued for Milad Armoun, Alireza Kafaei, Amir Mohammad Khosh-Eghbal, Navid Najaran, Hossein Nemati, and Alireza Barmarz Pournak— all defendants in the “Ekbatan Complex” case. These sentences were issued by Branch 13 of the Tehran Criminal Court.

Six Defendants in the “Ekbatan Town” Case Sentenced to Death

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Executions, Freedom of Expression, News
Abolghasem Salavati, Alireza Barmarz Pournak, Alireza Kafaei, Amir-Mohammad Khosh Eghbal, Babak Paknia, Ekbatan, Hossein Nemati, Milad Armoon, Navid Najaran

Milad Armoun (Armoon), Alireza Kafaei, Amir-Mohammad Khosh-Eghbal, Navid Najaran, Hossein Nemati, and Alireza Barmarz Pournak, defendants in the so-called “Ekbatan Town” case, have been sentenced to death by Branch 13 of Tehran Criminal Court.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, the defendants were convicted on charges of “participation in murder and intentional assault.” Babak Paknia, a defense attorney, confirmed the sentences, noting that while the court’s advisors upheld the death penalties, the presiding judge opposed the decision and issued a minority opinion. These verdicts are subject to appeal.

The final defense sessions were held on November 3, 2024. Following the hearings, four of the accused—Hossein Nemati, Alireza Barmarz Pournak, Alireza Kafaei, and Amir-Mohammad Khosh-Eghbal—were detained and transferred to Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.

This case stems from protests in October 2022 at the Ekbatan Complex, during which a Basij member, Arman Ali Vardi, was killed. Security forces reportedly arrested over 50 residents from Ekbatan, with indictments later issued for 14 individuals.

The charges include “moharebeh” (enmity against God), “participation in premeditated murder,” and “disturbing public order.” The case has been reviewed by Branch 13 of Tehran Criminal Court and Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Abolghasem Salavati.

While four of these defendants were temporarily released on bail in early 2024, several remain in custody.

Four Protestors Remain in Detention Amid Legal Uncertainty

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News, Prisoners
Alireza Barmarz Pournak, Alireza Kafaie, Amir-Mohammad Khosh Eghbal, Ekbatan, Hossein Nemati, Mehdi Imani, Milad Armoon, moharebeh, Navid Najaran, Seyed Mohammad-Mehdi Hosseini

Milad Armoon, Seyed Mohammad-Mehdi Hosseini, Mehdi Imani, and Navid Najaran, four defendants in the so-called “Ekbatan Township” case, remain in indefinite detention for over a year.

These individuals were transferred from Ward 2-A of Evin Prison, which is under the control of IRGC Intelligence, to Qezel Hesar Prison in Karaj in mid-June of this year, after completing the interrogation process. Their case is still in Branch 4 of the Criminal Court Prosecutor’s Office of District 27 in Tehran and has not yet been referred to Branch 13 of the Tehran Criminal Court. According to the defense attorney for one of the defendants, their transfer to the IRGC Intelligence Detention Center was for completing court-requested investigations.

In early November 2022, amid nationwide protests, at least 50 young residents of Ekbatan Township were arrested by security forces for their alleged involvement in an incident that resulted in the death of a Basij member named Arman Aliverdi.

Indictments were issued for 14 of them. In April 2023, the Judiciary spokesman announced charges of “enmity against God (Moharebeh) through the use of cold weapons and actions against national security” for three defendants. According to the issued indictment, these citizens are accused of charges including “assisting in intentional murder,” and “disruption of public order and peace.”

In late September 2023, after four court hearings, the court did not refer their case for further investigations and Branch 13 of the Tehran Criminal Court intervened to expedite the process and determine the status of the defendants. Another part of their case has been referred to Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Abolghasem Salavati.

Of the eight defendants, Hossein Nemati, Alireza Barmarz Pournak, Alireza Kafaie, and Amir-Mohammad Khosh-Eghbal were released on bail from Qezel Hesar Prison in February of last year.

Previously, defense attorney Payam Derafshan confirmed that four individuals face the charge of ‘Moharebeh.’

In April of this year, the case was returned to the Prosecutor’s Office for what was described as addressing a “confidential deficiency.”

Below are the details and arrest dates of the defendants in the so-called “Ekbatan Township” case who remain in detention and uncertainty:

  • Milad Armoon – aged 25 – Arrest Date: November 2, 2022
  • Seyed Mohammad-Mehdi Hosseini – aged 25 – Arrest Date: December 6, 2022
  • Mehdi Imani – aged 29 – Arrest Date: December 15, 2022
  • Navid Najaran – aged 32 – Arrest Date: Unknown

Eight Protestors Remain in Detention Amid Legal Uncertainty

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Alireza Barmarz Pournak, Alireza Kafaie, Amir-Mohammad Khosh Eghbal, Arman Aliverdi, Ekbatan, Hossein Nemati, Mehdi Imani, Milad Armoon, Mohammad-Mehdi Hosseini, moharebeh, Navid Najaran, Qezel Hesar Prison, Salavati

Milad Armoon, Alireza Kafaie, Amir-Mohammad Khosh Eghbal, Alireza Barmarz Pournak, Mohammad-Mehdi Hosseini, Hossein Nemati, Mehdi Imani, and Navid Najaran are detained in Qezel (Ghezel) Hesar Prison with an uncertain legal status.

The arrest of these individuals during the 2022 nationwide protests links them to a legal case stemming from an incident in Ekbatan town, Tehran, resulting in the death of Basij Militia agent Arman Aliverdi.

According to a source with close ties to one defendant’s family, the Tehran Criminal Court had previously confirmed the release of two detainees on bail. However, Judge Salavati, presiding over Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court, rejected their release and asserted control over the entire case. Such discrepancies within Iran’s judicial system contribute to legal insecurity and uncertainty, causing distress for the detainees and their families.

Another source reports that, despite multiple court sessions in October and November of this year, the defendants await a verdict. Earlier, it was revealed that the case had been divided between the Revolutionary and Criminal Courts. The Criminal Court initiated proceedings on October 7, 2023, addressing charges of “assisting in murder, assembly and collusion against national security, and enmity against God (Moharebeh).”

The protests in Ekbatan Town in Tehran in 2022 resulted in the death of Basij Militia agent Arman Aliverdi. Subsequently, in November 2022, police and security forces arrested over 50 young residents of the district, with 14 individuals facing legal action. The indictments detail charges such as “enmity against God” for Azmoon, Hosseini, and Imani, while Kafaie, Khosh Eghbal, Barmarz Pournak, and Nemati face charges of “assisting in murder and disturbing public order.” The charges against Najaran, arrested in Ahvaz, remain unknown.

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