Tag: Evin Courthouse

Death-Row Political Prisoner Pakhshan Azizi Hit with New Charges

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Courthouse, Mahabad, Pakshan Azizi, Tehran

Pakhshan Azizi, a political prisoner sentenced to death and currently held in Evin Prison, is now facing new charges, as reported by Kurdpa.

The report states that Ms. Azizi has been accused of “rioting in prison” in a new case initiated by Branch 3 of the Evin Prosecutor’s Office. This charge is reportedly related to the second round of the 1403 presidential elections.

Earlier this month, Ms. Azizi was sentenced to death by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, on charges including membership in anti-regime groups.

Pakhshan Azizi, a resident of Mahabad, was arrested by security forces in Tehran on August 4, 2023, and transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison.

This political detainee was deprived of the right to access a private lawyer and meet with her family for a long time. Eventually, after four months of interrogation, she was transferred to the women’s ward of this prison.

Ms. Azizi was formally charged in February of 2023 at Evin Courthouse, and her indictment was referred to Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

Azizi had previously faced arrest and judicial confrontations. She was detained by security forces on November 16, 2009, and released on bail after four months.

Reports from the Department of Statistics and Publication of HRA in 2023 indicate a total of 193 cases in which Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, has been involved in issuing verdicts that infringe upon the human rights of defendants.

Civil Rights Activist Atena Farghadani Sentenced to Six Years in Prison

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News, Prisoners
Atena Farghadani, Evin Courthouse, Iman Afshari

Atena Farghadani, a cartoonist and civil rights activist imprisoned in Evin Prison was sentenced to six years in prison by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

The verdict, issued on June 10 and communicated to Ms. Farghadani on June 11, was presided over by Judge Iman Afshari. She received a five-year sentence for “blasphemy” and an additional year for “propaganda against the regime.” Ms. Farghadani had previously chosen not to attend the court hearings for these charges.
Atena Farghadani had previously refrained from attending the court to respond to her charges.

On April 13, 2024, in a protest action, she attempted to display one of her paintings on a wall on a street in Tehran. During this act, she was arrested by security forces and transferred to Evin Prison.

Additionally, on June 7, 2023, Farghadani was detained after appearing at the Evin Courthouse and subsequently transferred to Qarchak Prison in Varamin. Shortly after, Branch 1 of the Evin Courthouse charged her with disturbing public order, and she was later released on bail.

Farghadani has faced previous arrests and convictions related to her activism.

Reports from the Department of Statistics and Publication of HRA in 2023 indicate a total of 193 cases in which Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, has been involved in issuing verdicts that infringe upon the human rights of defendants.

Asadollah Fakhimi and Hoori Khanpour Receive Combined Eight-Year Prison Sentences

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ali Mazloum, Asadollah Fakhimi, Evin Courthouse, Hoori Khanpour

The Tehran Revolutionary Court has handed down a five-year prison sentence to Asadollah Fakhimi and three years to his wife Hoori Khanpour.

Seyed Ali Mazloum, presiding over Branch 29 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, found the couple guilty of “propaganda against the regime” and “assembly and collusion against national security.”

The Ministry of Intelligence executed a raid on the couple’s residence on July 11, 2023, conducting a thorough search and seizing some of their belongings. Subsequently, Fakhimi and Khanpour were summoned to Evin Courthouse to face legal action.

Following the second inquiry session at Evin Courthouse on November 5, 2023, the couple was released on bail of one billion tomans.

Three Female Political Prisoners Facing Charges of Armed Rebellion (Baghi)

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News, Prisoners
Baghi, Evin Courthouse, Evin Prison, Forough Taghipour, Marzieh Farsi, Nasim Gholami Fard, Tehran

On December 9 at Evin Courthouse, political prisoners Forough Taghipour and Marzieh Farsi, along with Nasim Gholami Fard, were indicted on charges of “armed rebellion (Baghi),” potentially carrying severe consequences. Their alleged collaboration with a political opposition party has been presented as evidence for this charge.

Former political prisoners Taghipour and Farsi were arrested by security forces in Tehran on August 21, while Gholami was apprehended in Tehran on accusations of collaborating with a political opposition party and subsequently detained in Evin Prison. The extent to which their legal cases are interconnected remains unclear.

During her incarceration, Gholami initiated a hunger strike, which concluded after receiving promises from authorities. Notably, in Iran’s legal system, the charge of Baghi carries potential penalties such as the death penalty, amputation of the right hand and left leg, and exile.

Both Taghipour and Farsi have a documented history of prior arrests and convictions related to their activism. The severity of the charges underscores the challenges faced by political prisoners in Iran’s judicial landscape.

Mahnaz Tarah Arrested in Tehran

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News, Other
Evin Courthouse, Farzin Rezaie Roshan, Mahnaz Tarah, مهناز طراح

Security forces in Tehran detained Mahnaz Tarah on November 13, transferring her to Evin Courthouse. Reports indicate Tarah was violently apprehended in the streets, and her companion, Farzin Rezaie Roshan, was reportedly assaulted during the arrest.

The motive behind Tarah’s arrest remains unclear. Notably, the residence of Rezaie Roshan, a former political prisoner, was subjected to a search by agents in September.

Tarah, who has previously encountered security and judicial challenges, was granted amnesty in February of this year, leading to her release from prison under a “general pardon and commutation” directive.

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Political Activist Babak Moradifar Arrested at Evin Courthouse in Tehran

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News
Babak Moradi-Far, Babak Moradifar, Evin Courthouse, Evin Prison

On November 1, political activist Babak Moradifar (Moradi-Far) faced arrest while appearing at Evin Courthouse.

Moradifar has been charged with multiple offenses, including “propaganda against the regime” and “disturbing public opinion.” His arrest occurred after being summoned to Evin Courthouse and detained following a court session.

Notably, Moradifar had previously been arrested by security forces on October 8, 2022, during nationwide protests. He was subsequently released on bail from Evin Prison on November 28. Later, the Tehran Revolutionary Court imposed a three-year sentence on this political and civil activist for “assembly and collusion against national security,” along with an additional one year and three months for “propaganda against the regime.” However, he was eventually granted a pardon, resulting in the closure of his case.

Leila Hosseinzadeh Faces New Legal Case

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Freedom of Expression, News
Adelabad Prison, Evin Courthouse, Leila Hosseinzadeh, Shiraz

Former political prisoner Leila Hosseinzadeh is confronted with a new legal case brought forth by the prosecutor’s offices of Evin Courthouse.

Hosseinzadeh stands accused of “assembly and collusion against national security.”

On August 20, 2022, security forces arrested Hosseinzadeh in front of her residence in Tehran and subsequently detained her in Ward 209 of Evin Prison. During the arrest, she was beaten by the agents. She was later relocated to a detention facility in Shiraz, known as House No. 100, and subsequently to Adelabad Prison.

On January 4, 2023, Hosseinzadeh was once again transferred to Evin Prison. After five days, she was granted release on bail.

Leila Hosseinzadeh, a student activist from the University of Tehran, has a documented history of previous arrests and convictions tied to her activism.

Teacher Union Activist Esmail Abdi Remains Detained for Months Despite Retrial Approval

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News
Esmaeil Abdi, Esmail Abdi, Evin Courthouse, Kachooie Prison, Karaj

HRANA, Human Rights Activists News Agency – Esmail (Esmaeil) Abdi, a teacher union activist, continues to be held in Kachooie Prison, Karaj, for over seven months after his request for a retrial was granted.

Monireh Abdi, his wife, shared with HRANA that “Despite the Supreme Court’s approval for a retrial, judicial officials are refusing to grant him bail. Seven months have passed, and Branch 29 of the Revolutionary Court has yet to review the case.”

“Abdi is currently confined in the military ward of Kachooie Prison. After repeated requests, the judicial authorities offered him a five-day furlough on a bail amount of one billion tomans. However, Abdi declined this leave, pointing out that since the Supreme Court overturned the verdict, he should be released on bail as per the law.”
Abdi’s retrial request was accepted by the Supreme Court on November 16, 2022.

On June 27, 2015, Abdi was arrested and interrogated for several hours at Evin Courthouse when he inquired about the reason for being prohibited from leaving the country. Following six months of detention, in March of the subsequent year, he was sentenced to six years in prison by the Revolutionary Court of Tehran on charges of “propaganda against the regime and assembly and collusion against national security,” with five years being enforceable.

Previously, Abdi had received a ten-year suspended sentence, intended to last for five years. However, during the last months of his five-year sentence, the court reactivated the suspended sentence by order.

Artist Atena Farghadani Indicted for Alleged Disturbance of Public Order

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Freedom of Expression, News
Atena Farghadani, Evin Courthouse, HRANA, Qarchak Prison, Varamin

Atena Farghadani, a renowned cartoonist and civil rights activist, has been indicted at Evin Courthouse following her arrest on June 7, 2023.

According to a reliable source who spoke to HRANA, Farghadani is facing charges of “disturbing public order.”

Another source close to her family disclosed that Farghadani has been offered a bail amounting to two billion Rials; however, she has declined to provide the requested bail amount.

On June 7, 2023, security forces arrested Farghadani and subsequently transferred her to Qarchak Prison in Varamin.

It should be noted that Farghadani has previously faced legal consequences for her activism.

Sepideh Rashnu Faces Arraignment at Evin Courthouse

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Freedom of Expression, News, Students
compulsory hijab, Evin Courthouse, Evin Prison, Sepideh Rashnu

Sepideh Rashnu, a student who has been vocal about her opposition to compulsory hijab, was arraigned at Evin Courthouse and subsequently released on bail.

Rashnu faces charges of “provoking promiscuity and engaging in propaganda against the regime.” Following her arraignment, she was briefly held in Ward 209 of Evin Prison before being released upon posting a one-billion bail. However, she is now prohibited from leaving Tehran.

Speaking about the accusations, Rashnu clarified, “Merely sharing a few photos of myself without a headscarf on my personal page does not justify their claims of promoting promiscuity and immodesty. Nor does it imply an association with everyone I follow on social media.”

This is not the first instance where Rashnu has encountered legal troubles due to her refusal to comply with hijab rules. She had previously received a two-semester suspension from the university. Furthermore, on July 16, she was arrested by security forces following an altercation on a city bus, during which she was harassed and physically assaulted by a woman who deemed her hijab improper.