Tag: Bojnurd

North Khorasan: 2 Citizens Arrested, Legal Cases Filed Against 15 Others

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Freedom of Expression, News, Other
Bojnurd, North Khorasan

HRANA – The Prosecutor of Bojnurd announced the arrest of two citizens in North Khorasan Province on charges of alleged cooperation with Israel. According to him, since the beginning of Israel’s attacks on Iran, legal cases have also been opened against 15 individuals for offenses such as spreading false information and propaganda against the regime.

According to Mehr News Agency, the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor of Bojnurd claimed that these individuals were collaborating with Israeli intelligence. He stated, “They were arrested in the early days of the war.”

Javad Elahi also announced that legal cases have been filed against 15 others in the province on charges including “spreading false information, disturbing public opinion, and propaganda against the regime.”

The report does not disclose the identities of those arrested or subjected to legal proceedings.

While combating espionage is not considered a human rights violation per se, given the Iranian government’s track record of using such accusations as a tool to suppress political dissent, such claims—especially when details and legal proceedings remain unclear—are often met with skepticism.

Hossein Ramezanpour Sentenced to Two Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News
Bojnurd, Hossein Ramezanpour, حسین رمضانپور

HRANA News Agency – Hossein Ramezanpour, a union activist and a member of the board of directors of the North Khorasan Teachers’ Trade Association, has been sentenced to two years in prison by Branch 105 of the Criminal Court Two of Bojnord County.

According to the Coordinating Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations, Mr. Ramezanpour was sentenced to two years in prison by Branch 105 of the Criminal Court Two of Bojnurd County on the charge of “spreading falsehoods with the intent to disturb public opinion.”

Ramezanpour is a union activist and a member of the board of directors of the North Khorasan Teachers’ Trade Association. He has a history of security-related confrontations and, in October 2024, his previous sentence — which he was serving outside of prison with an electronic ankle monitor — was converted to an open prison sentence.

Ali Gholami’s Six-Month Prison Sentence Upheld on Appeal

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Freedom of Expression, News, Students
Ali Gholami, Bojnurd, Bojnurd Revolutionary Court

The prison sentence of Ali Gholami, a student activist, was upheld in its entirety by Branch 2 of the Court of Appeals of North Khorasan Province. He had previously been sentenced to six months of imprisonment by the Bojnurd Revolutionary Court.

Amirkabir Newsletter reported that the recent sentence of Ali Gholami, a student activist at the University of Science and Technology, who had previously been sentenced to six months of imprisonment by the Bojnord Revolutionary Court for propaganda against the regime, was upheld by Branch 2 of the Court of Appeals of North Khorasan Province.

Ali Gholami, a student activist, has a history of judicial encounters due to his activities.

Journalist Nasrin Hassani’s One-Year Sentence Upheld on Appeal

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News, Prisoners
Bojnurd, Hossein Ghodrati, Nasrin Hassani, North Khorasan province, Siahat-e Shargh

The Appeals Court’s Branch 2 in North Khorasan Province has affirmed the one-year sentence for journalist Nasrin Hassani, a resident of Bojnurd.

Judge Hossein Ghodrati, presiding over the court, conveyed this verdict to Hassani. Initially, the Revolutionary Court in Bojnurd convicted her of “propaganda against the regime,” citing the publication of images and films on the Internet as an example of these charges.

Currently serving another sentence in Bojnurd Prison since February 4, Hassani was initially sentenced on November 11, 2023, by the Criminal Court of Bojnurd for “disseminating false information” and fined for alleged “non-compliance with Hijab in public.”

Nasrin Hassani, the managing editor of the weekly newspaper Siahat-e Shargh, is a single mother to a 13-year-old son.

It’s noteworthy that Hassani faced legal repercussions during the Mahsa Amini Protests in September 2022, having been arrested by security forces. She was subsequently released after a period of detention.

Journalist Nasrin Hassani Begins Serving Seven-Month Prison Sentence

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Freedom of Expression, News
Bojnurd, Mahsa Amini Protests, Nasrin Hassani, Siahat-e Shargh

Journalist Nasrin Hassani commenced her seven-month prison term on February 4, as she was incarcerated in Bojnurd Prison.

A source close to Hassani’s family confirmed the news, stating that on February 4, she was placed in Bojnurd Prison to serve her sentence following her appearance in the Judgment Enforcement unit. The Criminal Court of Bojnurd had sentenced her on November 11, 2023, for “disseminating false information,” accompanied by a fine for alleged “non-compliance with Hijab in public.”

In a parallel development within this legal case, the Revolutionary Court of the city had previously sentenced her to one year, pending appeal.

Nasrin Hassani, the managing editor of the weekly newspaper Siahat-e Shargh, is a single mother to a 13-year-old son.

It’s worth noting that Hassani faced legal repercussions during the Mahsa Amini Protests in September 2022, having been arrested by security forces. She was subsequently released after a period of detention.

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Baha’i Family Receives Prison Sentences in Bojnurd

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News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i citizens, Bojnurd, Faran Senaei, Shayan Senaei, Sholeh Shahidi

The Revolutionary Court of Bojnurd handed down prison sentences to Sholeh Shahidi and her two sons, Faran and Shayan Senaei, on January 9, 2024.

As per the recent ruling, Shayan Senaei has been sentenced to two years and two months, coupled with a fine, while Faran Senaei has received a two-year and six-month prison term, and Sholeh Shahidi is required to pay a fine.

In addition to imprisonment, the court imposed ten years of deprivation from certain social public services and the confiscation of some of their assets.

The charges leading to their conviction include “engaging in educational activities and propaganda against Islamic Sharia.” The court cited activities such as publishing posts on social media as examples of this charge.

Security forces arrested these Baha’i citizens at their Bojnurd residence on July 13, 2022. They were released on bail on August 4, 2022.

Notably, Sholeh Shahidi has previously faced legal challenges.

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.

Physician Mohammad Shoja Arrested for Publishing a Photo of Food

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Freedom of Expression, News
Bojnurd, Mohammad Shoja, Sayyed Razi Mousavi

Mohammad Shoja, a physician and pediatric heart specialist, has been apprehended by security forces in Bojnurd for sharing a picture of Cutlet (côtelette) food, which the regime authorities deemed insulting and blasphemous.

The incident unfolded in the aftermath of the Israeli airstrike in Syria that claimed the life of IRGC top commander Sayyed Razi Mousavi. Shoja’s social media post featuring the Cutlet was considered by the Bojnurd Prosecutor as an offensive reaction to Mousavi’s death.

“If charges are proven, Shoja will face the severest punishment,” declared the prosecutor. As of now, the precise location of Shoja’s detention remains undisclosed.

This arrest reflects a broader trend in Iran, where judicial authorities routinely prosecute citizens for their social media content, imposing stringent restrictions on freedom of expression. It raises concerns about the limitations placed on individuals to express their views openly in the digital space.

Journalist Nasrin Hassani Receives One-Year Prison Sentence for Alleged Propaganda against Regime

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Freedom of Expression, News
Bojnurd, Mahsa Amini, Nasrin Hassani, Siahat-e Shargh

The Bojnurd Revolutionary Court has handed down a one-year prison sentence to journalist Nasrin Hassani after finding her guilty of “spreading propaganda against the regime.” The court cited her online posts and photo publications as evidence of this alleged offense.

This verdict follows a prior seven-month imprisonment issued by the Bojnurd Criminal Court for “disseminating false information,” coupled with an additional fine for non-compliance with public Hijab regulations.

Nasrin Hassani, the managing editor of the weekly newspaper Siahat-e Shargh, was officially indicted on September 3 of this year and subsequently released on bail.

Notably, Hassani had previously experienced legal consequences during the Mahsa Amini Protests in September 2022 when she was arrested by security forces. She was later released after a period of detention.

Baha’i Citizen Masoud Mahmoudi Detained in Shirvan

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News, Religious Minorities
Bojnurd, Masoud Mahmoudi, Shirvan, مسعود محمودی

Yesterday, on November 13, security forces arrested Baha’i citizen Masoud Mahmoudi in Shirvan, North Khorasan province. He has been transferred to an undisclosed location.

According to a source closely connected to Mahmoudi’s family, six intelligence agents from Bojnurd searched his residence in Shirvan before apprehending him, confiscating some of his belongings in the process.

The source also revealed that Mahmoudi suffers from a skin disease that requires medication and medical treatment, heightening concerns about his well-being among family members. The reasons for Mahmoudi’s arrest and his current whereabouts remain unknown. The incident underscores ongoing challenges faced by Baha’i citizens in the region.

Legal Action Initiated Against Ali and Marzieh Adinezadeh, Father and Daughter

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Freedom of Expression, News
Abolfazl Adinezadeh, Ali Adinezadeh, Bojnurd, Goldasteh Hosseini Jahanabad, Mahsa Amini, Marzieh Adinezadeh, Reza Adinezadeh, Shirvan

Ali and Marzieh Adinezadeh, the father and sister of Abolfazl Adinezadeh, a teenager tragically killed by regime forces during the nationwide protests of 2022, now face legal repercussions. They have been accused of allegedly engaging in “propaganda against the regime.”

Today, on June 27, their lawyer Khosro Alikurdi revealed that the Mashhad Public and Revolutionary Court has officially registered a legal case against my clients, Ali and Marzieh Adinezadeh.

On June 16, 2023, just before Abolfazl Adinezadeh’s birthday, security forces apprehended these individuals, along with Abolfazl Adinezadeh’s mother, Goldasteh Hosseini Jahanabad, and uncle, Reza Adinezadeh. They were subsequently detained in prisons located in Shirvan and Bojnurd.

Four days later, Marzieh and her parents were granted release on bail.

During the 2022 nationwide protest in Mashhad, Abolfazl Adinezadeh tragically lost his life when he was allegedly shot by regime forces, reportedly sustaining 25 bullet wounds.

Background on the 2022 Nationwide Protests

The protests in Iran were triggered by the arrest of Mahsa Amini by the Tehran Morality Police for her improper hijab and her subsequent suspicious death on September 16. The demonstrations quickly spread across the country, with participants rallying against the performance, laws, and structure of the regime. Thousands of people, including journalists, artists, lawyers, teachers, students, and civil rights activists, were arrested during the nationwide protests.