Tag: Evin Prison

Azerbaijani-Turk Activist Asghar Faraji’s Health Concerns in Evin Prison

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News, Prisoners
Asghar Faraji, Azerbaijani Turk activist, Evin Prison, Tehran, اصغر فرجی

Azerbaijani-Turk activist Asghar Faraji is serving his sentence in Evin Prison and is reportedly suffering from poor health. Despite his medical needs, he has been denied adequate care.

A source close to Faraji’s family informed HRANA that Faraji suffers from severe back pain. His and his family’s repeated requests for treatment at an external clinic have been ignored.

Faraji was arrested by security forces in 2019 and later released on bail, pending further legal proceedings.

Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran initially sentenced Faraji to seven years for “assembly and collusion against national security,” six years for “membership in unlawful anti-regime groups,” three years for “disturbing public opinion,” and one year and four months for “propaganda against the regime,” totaling 17 years and four months imprisonment. Additionally, he was sentenced to a two-year mandatory residence in a village in South Khorasan Province.

However, Branch 36 of the Appellate Court of Tehran later reduced the sentence to five years in prison.

Protest Rapper Vafa Ahmadpour Sentenced to One Year in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, Iranian Rapper, Vafa Ahmadpour, Vafadar, وفا احمدپور

Vafa Ahmadpour, also known as Vafadar, has been sentenced to one year in prison by the Revolutionary Court.

Ahmadpour announced the conviction on social media, stating that he was found guilty of “spreading propaganda against the regime.” His case has been handed over to the judgment enforcement unit.

Ahmadpour’s trial took place on April 14, 2024.

In late March of this year, Ahmadpour was arraigned at the Evin Courthouse for “propaganda against the regime,” “disseminating false information,” and “disturbing public opinion.” The court dismissed the charge of “assembly and collusion against national security” due to insufficient evidence.

He was arrested on February 4, 2024, by security forces at his residence and detained for over 15 days before being released on bail from Evin Prison.

During his detention, PEN America issued a statement condemning Ahmadpour’s arrest and called for his immediate release.

Journalist Dina Ghalibaf Transferred to Evin Prison After Police Sexual Assault

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News, Prisoners, Students
Dina Ghalibaf, Evin Prison, Narges Mohammadi, دینا قالیباف

Dina Ghalibaf, a journalist and student at Shahid Beheshti University, was moved to the women’s ward of Evin Prison on April 21, 2024, following her arrest by security forces on April 16.

Civil rights activist Narges Mohammadi confirmed in a voice message from the prison that Ghalibaf showed signs of bruising and shared her account of being sexually assaulted.

On April 15, Ghalibaf shared on social media that she had been detained by police at a Tehran metro station for allegedly wearing an improper hijab. She described being taken to a room, where she endured electric shocks and sexual assault. This public account led to her arrest the next day by security forces.

The agency responsible for her arrest remains unknown.

Previously, Ghalibaf was summoned by the university’s disciplinary committee for participating in a protest against the execution of several individuals in the “House of Isfahan” legal case.

Ghalibaf has worked with various news outlets, including ISNA and Eghtesad Online.

Rapper Saman Seydi Sentenced to Five Years in Exile

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, Ghezel Hesar prison, Hossein Sartipi, moharebeh, Rajai Shahr Prison, Saman Seydi, Saman Yasin, سامان یاسین

Saman Seydi, known as Yasin, was arrested during nationwide protests in 2022 and has been sentenced to five years of exile in a city in Kerman Province.

Seydi’s lawyer, Hossein Sartipi, announced that according to a verdict issued by Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, his client will serve five years in exile. Sartipi plans to appeal to the Supreme Court, arguing that Seydi has already been detained for over 18 months, suggesting he has effectively served his time.

In mid-April 2024, Seydi was taken from Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj to a hospital for one day for nasal surgery, following an injury sustained during his incarceration.

Seydi was arrested on October 2, 2023, in Tehran during the protests and subsequently transferred to Rajai Shahr Prison.

On November 8, 2023, Seydi was convicted on charges including “enmity against God” (Moharebeh) and “assembly and collusion against national security,” and was initially sentenced to death. However, the Supreme Court overturned the death sentence, leading to the transfer of his case to another court branch for retrial.

On August 2, 2023, Seydi, along with six other political prisoners, was moved from Rajai Shahr Prison to Evin Prison. On September 3, 2023, he was transferred again with 12 inmates to Ghezel Hesar without prior notice and was held in a ward with prisoners convicted of drug offenses, violating regulations that require political prisoners to be housed separately.

Family of Fallahi Faces Eleven-Year Sentence on Political Charges

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Ardavan Fallahi, Arghavan Fallahi, Evin Prison, Iman Afshari, Nasrollah Fallahi, Parvin Mirasan, Tehran, پروین میرآسان, نصرالله فلاحی

In a recent verdict from the Tehran Revolutionary Court, Parvin Mirasan and Nasrollah Fallahi, alongside their children, Ardavan and Arghavan, have been collectively sentenced to 11 years in prison on political charges.

Presiding over Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran, Judge Iman Afshari delivered the verdict, condemning Parvin Mirasan and Nasrollah Fallahi to four years each for charges including “assembly and collusion against national security” and “propaganda against the regime.” Meanwhile, Arghavan received a two-year sentence and Ardavan, one year.

According to a source close to the family, Parvin Mirasan and Nasrollah Fallahi are currently held in Evin Prison, while their children, who had previously been released on bail, have already served their terms, factoring in their detention period.

Reports obtained by HRANA indicate that this legal case involves 12 defendants, yet their identities and specifics remain undisclosed.

Ardavan Fallahi was apprehended in Isfahan on November 3, 2022, followed by the arrest of a family member the subsequent day. On February 12, 2023, they were transferred to Evin Prison in Tehran. Ardavan and Arghavan were granted release on bail pending legal proceedings, on January 3, 2024, and March 12, 2024, respectively.

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.

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Hossein Kooshki Nejad Begins One-Year Prison Term in Evin Prison

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News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, Hossein Kooshki Nejad, HRANA, Ilam prison, Khorramabad, Reza Kooshki Nejad

On April 7, 2024, Hossein Kooshki Nejad commenced his one-year prison term in Evin Prison. His brother, Reza, who was detained during the 2022 nationwide protests, is currently serving a two-year sentence in Ilam prison.

According to reports obtained by HRANA, Kooshki Nejad faced legal action last year in the Courthouse in Khorramabad, accused of the political charge of “propaganda against the regime.” The Tehran Revolutionary Court subsequently took over the case and sentenced him to one year in prison.

Kooshki Nejad stated that the beginning of his sentence had been postponed until April 7.

Political Prisoner Mohsen Ghiasi Denied Medical Care in Evin Prison

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News, Prisoners
Esmaeil Barjesteh, Evin Prison, Isfahan, Mohsen Ghiasi, Shahriar, محسن غیاثی

Mohsen Ghiasi, detained during the nationwide protests in 2019, known as the Aban protests, is currently serving a five-year, three-month prison sentence in Evin Prison. Recent reports indicate that he has been denied medical furlough as a punitive measure.

According to a source close to Ghiasi’s family who spoke with HRANA, in mid-March, Ghiasi was placed in solitary confinement as punishment for protesting against the poor conditions in the prison during Ramadan. He endured eight days in isolation, and his medical leave was subsequently revoked.

Security forces arrested Ghiasi on November 26, 2019, in Isfahan during the protests. After four months, he was transferred from Ward 209 of Evin Prison to the Great Tehran Penitentiary.

He was released on bail on March 15, 2020.

On March 1, 2023, the Revolutionary Court of Shahriar, presided over by Esmaeil Barjesteh, sentenced Ghiasi to seven years and three months in prison on multiple charges, including “insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran” and “assembly and collusion against national security.”

Following Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, which stipulates that in cases of multiple charges, the harshest punishment shall be enforced, Ghiasi began serving a sentence of five years and three months.

Ghiasi, aged 42, is a resident of Shahriar County, married, and a father of one.

The November 2019 protests were triggered by a surge in fuel prices, leading to demonstrations in numerous cities across the country. Seyed Hossein Taghavi, the spokesperson for the Parliamentary National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, stated that approximately 7,000 individuals were arrested during these protests. Reports from human rights organizations indicate that hundreds of people lost their lives as a result of the actions carried out by the security apparatus.

 

Environmental Activists Niloufar Bayani and Hooman Jokar Released After Six-Year Imprisonment

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News, Prisoners
Abdolreza Koohpayeh, Amir-Hossein Khaleghi, Environmental activists, Evin Prison, Gholamhossein Esmaeili, Hooman Jokar, Morad Tahbaz, Niloufar Bayani, Sam Rajabi, Sepideh Kashani, Taher Ghadirian

Environmental activists Niloufar Bayani and Hooman Jokar were granted a pardon and released from Evin Prison on April 8, 2024, marking the end of more than six years of incarceration.

In January 2018, along with several other environmental activists, Bayani and Jokar were detained and held in Evin Prison. Subsequently, Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Salavati, sentenced them to lengthy imprisonments. The sentences were as follows:

  • Niloufar Bayani and Morad Tahbaz received 10 years for “collaboration with the hostile U.S. government.”
  • Taher Ghadirian and Hooman Jokar received eight years for the same charge.
  • Sam Rajabi and Sepideh Kashani received six years for the same charge.
  • Amir-Hossein Khaleghi was sentenced to six years for “espionage.”
  • Abdolreza Koohpayeh received four years for “assembly and collusion against national security.”

On February 18, 2020, Gholamhossein Esmaeili, the then spokesperson of Iran’s Judiciary, reported the finalized verdicts against these eight environmental activists at the Appellate Court.

HRANA had reported that during interrogation, several of these prisoners, including a female, were subjected to mistreatment and sexual assault to extract confessions.

Civil Rights Activist Sepideh Gholian Launches Hunger Strike in Evin Prison

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News, Prisoners
ahvaz, Ameneh-Sadat Zabihpour, Dezful, Evin Prison, Sepideh Gholian, Sepideh Qolian, سپیده قلیان

Sepideh Gholian (Qolian), a prominent civil rights activist detained in Evin Prison, commenced a hunger strike on April 3, 2024, demanding her transfer to Ahvaz Prison near her home.

A source close to her family confirmed Gholian’s hunger strike to HRANA.

Gholian’s troubles began on March 15, 2023, when security forces arrested her upon her return to Dezful shortly after her initial release. She was promptly sent back to Ward 209 of Evin Prison. Subsequently, she was transferred to the Women’s Ward of Evin Prison four days later.

In May 2023, the Tehran Revolutionary Court convicted Gholian of “insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran,” resulting in a two-year sentence that included a period of detention. Alongside her imprisonment, she faced various restrictions, including a prohibition on joining political or social groups, limitations on cell phone usage, and a two-year ban from entering Tehran and its neighboring provinces. This verdict was upheld on appeal.

Furthermore, a case was initiated following a complaint filed by Ameneh-Sadat Zabihpour, an Iran-state TV reporter with ties to security agencies as an interrogator. In this case, Gholian received an additional sentence of one year and three months for her alleged involvement in “removing hijab, facilitating indecency, and persisting in committing criminal acts.”

It’s important to note that Gholian has a history of prior arrests and convictions related to her activism.

Sedigheh Vasmaghi Denied Essential Medical Treatment in Detention

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News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, Sedigheh Vasmaghi

On April 2, 2024, Sedigheh Vasmaghi, an analyst specializing in political and social issues, has been denied essential medical attention as prison officials obstructed her transfer to a hospital outside the prison.

Today, April 2, suffering from high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar levels, and experiencing severe chest pain, Vasmaghi was initially treated in the prison infirmary. Despite the physician’s recommendation for further treatment in a hospital setting, the prison authorities refused to facilitate her transfer.

Vasmaghi was apprehended by security forces on March 16, 2024, and subsequently incarcerated in Evin Prison. She was later charged with “propaganda against the regime” and “public appearance without hijab,” and her case was assigned to Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

On March 24, 2024, Vasmaghi was prohibited from receiving family visits due to her refusal to adhere to mandatory hijab regulations.

This incident is not the first time Vasmaghi has faced legal action for her activism.