Arash Ghanbari Kohyani Faces Prolonged 8-Month Detention Over Alleged Blasphemy Charges

Arash Ghanbari Kohyani, aged 31, has been detained for over eight months in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan, in a legal limbo.

A source close to Ghanbari’s family informed HRANA that he has been held for more than 234 days in Dastgerd prison, Isfahan. The court session to address the charges against him and his sister, Shahnaz, is scheduled for April 2, 2024, to be held by the Isfahan Criminal Court.

According to reports obtained by HRANA, Ghanbari faces restrictions on making phone calls and having family visits.

Ghanbari was arrested on August 1, 2023, following his presence at the Ministry of Intelligence in Shahreza, Isfahan Province. He was subsequently incarcerated in Dastgerd Prison.

On September 2, 2023, his legal case for the charge of blasphemy was reviewed by the Supreme Court, which was then passed on to another branch for further review.

He is accused of blasphemy and insulting the Prophet of Islam, despite having already been acquitted of these charges by another branch of the Isfahan Criminal Court, with the case being closed.

His sister, Shahnaz Ghanbari, aged 35, was also arrested in August 2023 and was released on bail from Dolatabad Prison, Isfahan, on September 27 of last year, after being indicted.

Execution of Four Inmates in Shiraz and Isfahan

Four inmates convicted of drug offenses and murder were executed in Shiraz and Isfahan.

On October 23, Iran Human Rights Organization reported the execution of three individuals at Adelabad prison in Shiraz. The victims were identified as Asghar Jafari (approximately 40 years old), Majid Mosaie (38 years old), and Ali Kheirbin (42 years old). Jafari had received the death penalty for drug-related offenses three years prior, while Mosaie and Kheirbin faced similar charges in the same legal case two years ago.

In a separate incident, an unnamed woman convicted of murder was executed at Dastgerd Prison on October 21. It was reported that she had been transferred from Dolatabad prison to Dastgerd for the execution process.

According to data compiled by the Center of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA), between October 10, 2022, and October 8, 2023, a total of 659 individuals were executed by hanging in Iran, representing a 24% increase compared to the corresponding period in the previous year. Seven of these executions were conducted publicly. Concerningly, many of the defendants were denied access to a fair trial and due process. For details and statistics, read HRANA’s report.

Iranian-British Sanam Kazerouni Released on Bail

Iranian-British Sanam Kazerouni was released on bail from Dolatabad Prison, Isfahan.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Iranian-British Sanam Kazerouni, arrested amid nationwide protests, was released on bail until the end of legal proceedings.

The allegations against Kazerouni are still unknown.
Kazerouni was arrested during nationwide protests in October 2022 in Isfahan. She, age 52, is the writer of the book “from Tous to Dushanbe.”

About Iran Nationwide Protests 2022
The arrest of Mahsa Amini by Tehran Morality Police for her alleged improper hejab and her suspicious death on September 16 sparked protests sweeping across Iran. During these protests, at least about 19760 people, including journalists, artists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, were arrested.

 

Baha’i Women of Baharestan: Sanaz Rasteh and Firoozeh Rastinejad are Temporarily Released, 6 Others Still in Detention

On May 20, Baha’i citizens Sanaz Rasteh and Firoozeh Rastinejad were released on bail from Dolatabad Prison in Isfahan after their arrest in Baharestan.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, 11 Baha’i women, including Rasteh and Rastinejad, were detained by security forces on April 25, April 30, and May 5.

Three of the detained women (Roya Azad Khosh, Nasrin Khademi, and Maryam Khorsandi) were released on bail earlier this week, while six others (Shurangiz Bahamin, Sara Shakib, Azita Rezvani, Mojgan Pourshafi, Noushin Hemmat, and Shola Ashouri) are still in the detention center.

In recent months, the homes of at least 29 Baha’i families have been searched by security forces. During the searches, belongings have been confiscated and, reportedly, in a few cases residents have been beaten.

According to unofficial sources, more than 300,000 Baha’is live in Iran, but the Iranian constitution recognizes only Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism. Because their faith is not considered legitimate by authorities, the rights of Baha’is in Iran have been systematically violated for years.

This deprivation of the freedom to practice their religion is a violation 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 freedom of religion, freedom of converting religion, as well as freedom of expression, individually or collectively; openly or secretly.