Tag: Amir Raisian

Protest Singer Toomaj Salehi Faces Charges of Armed Rebellion (Baghi)

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
Amir Raisian, Baghi, Toomaj Salehi, توماج صالحی

On January 21, 2024, the Public and Revolutionary Courthouse of Isfahan indicted singer Toomaj Salehi on multiple charges, including Baghi, an accusation of armed rebellion that carries the potential for severe punishment, including execution.

Amir Raisian, Salehi’s lawyer, stated, “During the inquiry session, Salehi faced not only the charge for which he had already been acquitted, but he was also notified of two new charges not cited in the indictment, namely, assisting in Baghi (group armed rebellion against the regime) and assembly and collusion against national security. Firstly, the charge of assisting in Baghi appears inconsistent with the fact that there is no co-defendant whom Salehi is accused of assisting, let alone a group. Secondly, no weapons were discovered on Salehi, not even a knife, let alone a firearm.”

Earlier, Amir Raisian, Salehi’s lawyer, expressed concerns about the due process, labeling it as “unusual,” “illegal,” and “peculiar.” He stated, “Regarding the arrest case in October 2022, the Supreme Court has already overturned five charges, leaving only three remaining charges to be addressed. Consequently, the case was returned to the Revolutionary Court. The Court had also emphasized that the defendant could be included in a general pardon. However, after three months, the Revolutionary Court has introduced two new charges, bringing the total number of charges to ten.”

Salehi has also recently received a one-year sentence and additional punishment in another legal case.

Salehi was re-arrested in Babol on November 30, twelve days after his release on bail from Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan. The Judiciary spokesperson cited Salehi’s statement after his release as the grounds for this subsequent arrest.

In late October 2022, Salehi was initially detained by security forces during nationwide protests. Subsequently, the Isfahan Revolutionary Court sentenced him to six years and three months in prison along with additional penalties. However, he was released on bail after the Supreme Court overturned the verdict.

It is worth noting that the protest singer already has a prior conviction in a separate legal case. On January 12, 2022, he was sentenced to a six-month prison term and fined, with the imprisonment suspended for one year.

Protest Rapper Toomaj Salehi Receives One-Year Sentence and Additional Penalties

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
Amir Raisian, Babol, Isfahan, Toomaj Salehi, توماج صالحی

In the latest development, Toomaj Salehi, the renowned Iranian protest rapper, has been sentenced to one year by the Revolutionary Court. Additionally, he faces a two-year travel ban, the annulment of his passport, and is required to participate in behavior management and knowledge skills programs.

Revealing the verdict publicly, Amir Raisian, Salehi’s lawyer, expressed concern over the due process, labeling it as “unusual,” “illegal,” and “peculiar.” Raisian asserted that the court session concluded without prior notice to Salehi and in the absence of his attorney.

Salehi was re-arrested in Babol on November 30, twelve days after his release on bail from Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan. The Judiciary spokesperson cited Salehi’s statement after his release as the grounds for this subsequent arrest.

In late October 2022, Salehi was initially detained by security forces during nationwide protests. Subsequently, the Isfahan Revolutionary Court sentenced him to six years and three months in prison along with additional penalties. However, he was released on bail after the Supreme Court overturned the verdict.

It is worth noting that the protest singer already has a prior conviction in a separate legal case. On January 12, 2022, he was sentenced to a six-month prison term and fined, with the imprisonment suspended for one year.

Protest Singer Toomaj Salehi Faces Re-Arrest

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
Amir Raisian, Babol, Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan, Toomaj Salehi

On November 30, 2023, protest rapper Toomaj Salehi experienced a renewed arrest in Babol by security forces, taken to an undisclosed location despite his recent release on bail from Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan, on November 18.

The apprehension unfolded on a Babol street using violence by the agents, leaving the grounds for his arrest and his current location shrouded in uncertainty.

This influential protest rapper was granted bail on November 18 from Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan, after the Supreme Court overturned his verdict. According to Amir Raisian, Salehi’s lawyer, Branch 39 of the Supreme Court reviewed Salehi’s case, identified defects in the indictment, and subsequently annulled the previous verdict. Consequently, the case was returned to the Isfahan Revolutionary Court. “Salehi, benefiting from a general pardon, should have been released without the need for bail,” his lawyer asserted.

In July of this year, Salehi received a six-year and three-month sentence, along with a travel ban, a prohibition on music production, and mandatory participation in behavior management and knowledge skills courses for two years.

In late October 2022, Salehi was detained by security forces during nationwide protests. Despite official media claims of his attempt to leave the country illegally, individuals close to Salehi contested this narrative.

It is noteworthy that the protest singer has a prior conviction in a separate legal case. On January 12, 2022, he was sentenced to a six-month prison term and fined, with the imprisonment suspended for one year.

Protest Singer Toomaj Salehi Released on Bail

Posted on by . .
News, Prisoners
Amir Raisian, Dastgerd Prison, Iranian singer, Isfahan, Toomaj Salehi, توماج صالحی

In a significant development, influential protest rapper Toomaj Salehi was granted bail on November 18 from Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan, after the Supreme Court overturned his verdict.

Amir Raisian, Salehi’s lawyer, informed Shargh News that upon appeal, Branch 39 of the Supreme Court reviewed Salehi’s case, identified defects in the indictment, and subsequently annulled the previous verdict. Consequently, the case was returned to the Isfahan Revolutionary Court.
According to Raisian, Salehi, benefiting from a general pardon, should have been released without the need for bail.

In July of this year, Salehi received a six-year and three-month sentence, along with a travel ban, a prohibition on music production, and mandatory participation in behavior management and knowledge skills courses for two years.

In late October 2022, Salehi was detained by security forces during nationwide protests. Despite official media claims of his attempt to leave the country illegally, individuals close to Salehi contested this narrative.

It is noteworthy that the protest singer has a prior conviction in a separate legal case. On January 12, 2022, he was sentenced to a six-month prison term and fined, with the imprisonment suspended for one year.

Iranian Supreme Court Upholds Death Sentence of Mohammad Ghobadloo

Posted on by . .
Executions, Freedom of Expression, News
Abolghasem Salavati, Amir Raisian, Mohammad Ghobadloo, Mohammad Ghobadlou, Supreme Court of Iran, Tehran

The death sentence of Mohammad Ghobadloo has been upheld by the Iranian Supreme Court, his lawyer confirms.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Didban Iran news outlet, the Iranian Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence of Mohammad Ghobadloo, who was arrested during the nationwide protests in 2022.

Ghobadloo is facing two separate legal cases, both of which have resulted in a death sentence issued by the Revolutionary Court and Criminal Court. Ghobadloo’s lawyer, Amir Raisian, confirmed the news, stating, “Our request for a retrial regarding the death sentence issued by the Revolutionary Court is still ongoing, and the Supreme Court has not yet made a decision. However, the request for a retrial regarding the death sentence (Qisas) in the Criminal Court has been denied by the Supreme Court.”

In late January 2023, the public relations department of the Supreme Court announced that Mohammad Ghobadloo’s death sentence would be temporarily suspended following a request from his lawyer.

Initially, Ghobadloo was sentenced to death by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Abolghasem Salavati, for charges including “spreading corruption on earth through crimes against the physical integrity of people.” Additional charges against him include “destruction of public property” and “acting against national security by causing unrest.”

On December 10, 2022, the Tehran Criminal Court also held a trial against Ghobadloo and subsequently sentenced him to death.

Background on the 2022 Nationwide Protests

The arrest of Mahsa Amini by Tehran Morality Police for her improper hejab and her suspicious death on September 16 sparked protests sweeping across Iran. Protesters came to the streets with the central slogan “Women, Life, Freedom” in protest against the performance, laws and structure of the regime. During the nationwide protests, thousands of people, including journalists, artists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, were arrested.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Now is definitely not the time to stop reading!

Leila Hosseinzadeh’s Five Year Sentence Upheld by The Court of Appeals

Posted on by A MN
News, Students, Women
Amir Raisian, Gonabadi Dervish, irgc, Leila Hosseinzadeh, Mohammed Sharifi Moghaddam, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran

Branch 36 of the Court of Appeals in Tehran upheld the verdict of student activist and former political prisoner, Leila Hosseinzadeh. Hosseinzadeh was sentenced to five years in prison and a two year ban on online social activity by Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran due to her attendance at the birthday ceremony of imprisoned Gonabadi Dervish, Mohammad Sharifi Moghaddam, held at the entrance of the Sharif University of Technology.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Hosseinzadeh’s lawyer, Amir Raisian, was notified about the court;’s decision to uphold the initial verdict.

In February 2021, Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran convicted her on the charge of “assembly and collusion for the purpose of acting against national security”.

Amid the nationwide protests which broke out in December 2017, Hosseinzadeh was arrested alongside other student activists and released on bail after spending 16 days in detention. On March 7, 2018, she was sentenced to five years in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”, as well as one year in prison and a two year ban on leaving the country on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”. The sentence for her first charge was reduced on appeal from five years to two years and six months. Grounded on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, 30 months of this sentence was enforceable.

On July 28, 2019, she was arrested and detained for 10 days in a facility at the IRGC’s intelligence unit. Afterwards, she was sent to Evin prison to serve her sentence.

On March 11, 2020, while on furlough, she was set free due to her “intolerance of punishment”.

Revolutionary Court of Tehran Reverses Supreme Court’s Ruling and Sentences Davoodi to 30 Years Once Again

Posted on by admin-hr
Prisoners
Amir Raisian, Amirsalar Davoodi, Davoodi, Evin, Evin Prison, Karaj, Rajai Shahr Prison, Rajai Shahr prison in Karaj, Rajai-Shahr, Tehran, Vahid Meshgani Farahan

Although the supreme court overturned the sentence of 30-year imprisonment and 111 lashes issued by Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran against lawyer-turned-defendant Amirsalar Davoodi, Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court later reaffirmed the previous verdict.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Davoodi’s defense attorney Amir Raisian has said he will appeal the verdict.

Raisian wrote in a note on his social media page, “Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, believing that the ruling of the Supreme Court was wrong, confirmed the original ruling (of Branch 15).”

Amirsalar Davoodi a lawyer, has represented many cases of prisoners and political defendants, including Soheil Arabi and Saeed Shirzad.

After applying Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, Davoodi could be sentenced to 15 years in prison.

3 Student Activists Sentenced to Imprisonment and Fines

Posted on by admin-hr
Prisoners, Students
Ali Haghighat Javan, Amir Hossein Alibakhshi, Amir Raisian, Haghighat Javan, Hossein Alibakhshi, Nabavi, Qom, Student activists, Tehran, Zia al-Din Nabavi

Student activists Amir Hossein Alibakhshi, Ali Haghighat Javan, and Zia al-Din Nabavi were sentenced by the Tehran Revolutionary Court to imprisonment and fines.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the student activists were sentenced on charges of propaganda against the regime.

Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran informed the citizens’ defense attorney Amir Raisian that Zia Nabavi was sentenced to 1 year in prison, Amir Hossein Alibakhshi was sentenced to 4 months imprisonment, and Ali Haghighat Javan was given a fine.

Zia Nabavi is also sentenced to a two-year ban from leaving the country, a ban from attending the cemetery of Tehran or veterans’ sanatorium, and mandatory anger management classes in Qom.

These activists have been acquitted from the charge of “conspiracy to conspire to act against national security”.

Amir Raisian published on his social media account on June 29: “This lawsuit was filed in early 2020 by Sarallah base of IRGC. The main part of the accusations is against the students’ legal activities in connection with licensed student organizations such as ‘United Students’ or participating in mourning at universities after the Ukrainian plane was shot down.”

Mr. Ali Bakhshi is a former member of the Council for the Revival of Student Associations and the Islamic Association of Progressive Students of Amirkabir University.

Zia Nabavi has already been arrested and convicted for his peaceful activism.