Tag: Evin Prison

Five Citizens Receive a Combined 20 Years and Fine for Political Charges

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, HRANA, Iman Afshari, Kamran Rezaie, Mohammad-Masoud Moeini, Parastoo Moeini, Tehran Revolutionary Court, Teymour Rezaeian, Zahra Safaie

The Tehran Revolutionary Court has recently sentenced Zahra Safaie, Parastoo Moeini, Mohammad-Masoud Moeini, and Kamran Rezaiefar to five years, totaling twenty years in prison for political charges. Meanwhile, co-defendant Teymour (Timur) Rezaeian has been ordered to pay a fine.

Presiding over the court, Judge Iman Afshari found these individuals guilty of “assembly and collusion against national security.”

The arrests occurred on September 12, 2023, with Rezaeian apprehended one day later. Initially held in Ward 209 of Evin Prison, Later, they were transferred to the IRGC’s detention center, known as A-1.

According to HRANA reports, Safaie is currently held in the Women’s Ward of Evin Prison, while her son, Mohammad-Masoud Moeini, and Rezaiefar are in Ward 4 of the same prison. Two other defendants have been released on bail.

Notably, Rezaiefar has a history of arrests and convictions. In November 2021, he received a death sentence for “spreading corruption on earth,” which was later overturned by the Supreme Court. The current status of his legal case remains uncertain.

 

Reza Aghdasi Sentenced to Four Years and Three Months on Political Charges

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, HRANA, Iran Khodro, Karaj, Reza Aghdasi, Tehran

Reza (Gholamreza) Aghdasi has received a verdict of four years and three months for political charges from Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court. He is currently jailed in Evin Prison.

Presiding over the court, Iman Afshari delivered a three-year and seven-month sentence (including the detention period) to Aghdasi for “assembly and collusion against national security” and an additional eight months for “spreading propaganda against the regime.”

Following being fired from Iran Khodro, an Iranian automaker company, Aghdasi was arrested on October 24, 2023, and subsequently detained in Evin Prison after being summoned to Evin Courthouse.

According to a source close to his family, Aghdasi, aged 57 and a resident of Karaj, is grappling with hearing impairment and other health issues. His residence was searched during the 2022 nationwide protests, resulting in the confiscation of some of his belongings.

Mahvash Seydal Receives Suspended Sentence and Additional Penalties

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, Mahvash Seydal, Tehran Court of Appeals, Ward 209 of Evin Prison, مهوش صیدال

The Tehran Court of Appeals has issued a verdict against Mahvash Seydal Tadooei, an active participant in social media communities on Clubhouse, sentencing her to one year of suspended imprisonment. In addition to the suspended sentence, Seydal faces a fine, a five-year ban on leaving the country, and five years of restrictions on using social media.

Seydal has been charged with “disseminating false information to disturb public opinions.” Initially, the Tehran Revolutionary Court, under the jurisdiction of Judge Iman Afshari, imposed the same punishment. During the trial, the act of publishing posts on social media was presented as evidence to support this charge.

On June 21, 2023, Seydal, along with several others, was apprehended by security forces in Tehran for their activities in Clubhouse. Subsequently, on July 23, she was granted release on bail from Ward 209 of Evin Prison.

Three Political Defendants Sentenced to Over 61 Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, irgc, Mahboobeh Rezaie, Reza Mohammad Hosseini, Samaneh Nowruz Moradi, Tehran

The Tehran Revolutionary Court has issued a combined sentence of 61 years and 10 months to political defendants Reza Mohammad-Hosseini, Mahboobeh Rezaie, and Samaneh Nowruz Moradi.

Presided over by Judge Amoozad, the court communicated the following verdicts:

Reza Mohammad-Hosseini: Seven years and nine months for “membership in anti-regime groups to act against national security,” seven years and nine months for “assembly and collusion against national security,” one year and seven months for “spreading propaganda against the regime,” three years with property confiscation for “illegal acquisition of property,” and one year and seven months for “defying government officers on duty.”

Mahboobeh Rezaie: Seven years and nine months for “membership in anti-regime groups to act against national security,” seven years and nine months for “assembly and collusion against national security,” one year and seven months for “spreading propaganda against the regime,” seven years and nine months for blasphemy, and one year and seven months for “removing hijab and showing the act of depravity on the Internet.”

Samaneh Nowruz Moradi: Six years and three months for “membership in anti-regime groups to act against national security,” six years and three months for “assembly and collusion against national security,” and one year and three months for “propaganda against the regime.”

As additional penalties, they have been sentenced to two years of compulsory residence in Tehran and a two-year prohibition from participating in political/civil groups and engaging in activities on social media.

The court session addressing their charges took place on November 4, 2023.

Reza Mohammad-Hosseini was arrested at his residence on May 1, 2023, and initially detained at Detention Facility A-1 under the IRGC’s jurisdiction, later moved to Evin Prison, and ultimately relocated to Qezel Hesar Prison, Karaj.

Samaneh Nowruz Moradi was arrested at her Tehran residence on April 24, 2023, and incarcerated in Evin Prison.

Mahboobeh Rezaie was arrested by security forces on May 22, 2023, and detained in Evin Prison after a period.

These individuals, known for their activism, had previously faced arrests and imprisonment.

 

Political Activist Abdollah Momeni Sentenced to One Year in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Abdollah Momeni, Evin Prison, Judge Mazloum, Tehran, Tehran Revolutionary Court, عبدالله مومنی

Modara reports that the Tehran Revolutionary Court has imposed a one-year prison term on political activist Abdollah Momeni.

Presided over by Judge Mazloum from Branch 29, the court convicted Momeni of “spreading propaganda against the regime,” ordering the seizure of his cell phone and other electronic devices.

During the trial, a speech delivered by Momeni at a conference on political issues was presented as evidence for the aforementioned charge.

Intelligence agents arrested Momeni at his residence in Tehran on April 27, 2023, taking him to Ward 209 of Evin Prison, which is controlled by the Ministry of Intelligence. After three days, he was released on bail.

Momeni, a prominent former student activist and former spokesperson for the Alumni Association of Iran (Advar-e Tahkim Vahdat) organization two decades ago, had previously served a five-year sentence and was released from Evin Prison in March 2014.

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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.

Civil Rights Activist Majid Rezaie Faces New Charges While Incarcerated

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News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, Majid Rezaie, Tehran

Civil rights activist Majid Rezaie, who is currently serving time in Evin prison, is now confronted with fresh legal charges filed by the Tehran Prisons and Security and Corrective Measures Organization.

Rezaie has been accused of “disrupting prison order” and “making threats and insults towards prison officials.”

On October 18, 2023, Rezaie spent approximately six days in a psychiatric center, following an order from the Evin prison’s head.

On July 15, Rezaie was arrested by security forces at his residence in Tehran and subsequently transferred to Evin Prison. He was later sentenced to one year in prison by the Tehran Revolutionary Court, a sentence that was subsequently reduced to nine months after he entered a no-contest plea. In addition to his prison term, he was also ordered to perform four hours of daily community service for three months and attend an eight-hour mandatory emotional management and control class.

Four Baha’i Citizens Sentenced to Twelve Years on Appeal

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News, Religious Minorities
Ataollah Zafar, Evin Prison, HRANA, Mansour Amini, Shadi Shahidzadeh, Tehran Revolutionary Court, Valiollah Ghadamian

In a recent development, the Tehran Court of Appeal has issued a collective 12-year prison sentence to Baha’i citizens Shadi Shahidzadeh, Mansour Amini, Valiollah Ghadamian, and Ataollah Zafar.

Presiding over the case, Judge Abbasali Hoozan has pronounced the following sentences: Shahidzadeh will serve five years, while Zafar and Ghadamian will each serve two years, and Amini will face a three-year term.

It is worth noting that initially, the Tehran Revolutionary Court had sentenced all four individuals to five years in prison on charges of “membership in illegal groups aimed at disrupting national security.”

These Baha’i citizens were apprehended by security forces on May 1, 2023, and subsequently transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison.

HRANA’s annual report has highlighted a concerning trend where, in 2022, 64.63% of reported human rights violations against religious minorities are directed toward the Baha’i community.

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.

Amir-Hossein Moradi Initiates Hunger Strike at Evin Prison

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News, Prisoners
Amir Hossein Moradi, Evin Prison, HRANA, Tehran Revolutionary Court

Amir-Hossein Moradi, a political prisoner, is currently serving a one-year sentence in Evin Prison and has recently embarked on a hunger strike in protest of his incarceration.

A source close to Moradi’s family has informed HRANA that he is being held in Ward 4 of Evin Prison. Since last Monday, October 2, he has been on a hunger strike, demanding his release.

In March 2023, Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Moradi to one year in prison for “propaganda against the regime,” a charge based on a post published on his Instagram page.

Moradi was arrested at his father’s residence on May 8, 2023. He was subsequently released from Evin Prison on bond on June 3, 2023.
It is worth noting that Moradi has faced arrests and periods of incarceration due to his activism.

Report on Eleven Political Prisoners and Detainees Held in Evin Prison’s Quarantine Section

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News
Alireza Hajian, Arash Keykhosravi, Behesht-e-Zahra, Behfar Laleh Zari, Evin Prison, Hamed Mohagheghi, HRANA, Mohsen Haj Mohammadi, Payam Bastani Parizi, Pouria Shokoohi Rad, Reza Mohammad Hosseini, Rezavaneh Ahmadkah Beigi, Sajjad Bakhshali, Saman Rezaie, Zaman Esmaeili

Eleven political prisoners and detainees find themselves in the quarantine section of Evin Prison.

Nine among them were apprehended between September 11 and September 18, in a state of legal uncertainty. This group includes Mohsen Haj Mohammadi, Sajjad Bakhshali, Pouria Shokoohi Rad, Hamed Mohagheghi, Behfar Laleh Zari, Payam Bastani Parizi, Saman Rezaie, Alireza Hajian, and Zaman (Arash) Esmaeili. Additionally, Reza Mohammad Hosseini, a former political prisoner, faced punitive relocation to this section following his arrest on May 1, 2023. Lawyer Arash Keykhosravi, most recently arrested at his residence by security forces, completes the group.

According to information gathered by HRANA, in addition to these eleven prisoners, there are several other individuals currently detained in the same section. These individuals were recently arrested for participating in the anniversary ceremony commemorating the protestors who lost their lives during the 2022 nationwide protests at Behesht-e Zahra cemetery. HRANA is actively engaged in efforts to identify these detainees.

Here is an overview of the eleven prisoners:

1. Sajjad Bakhshali: Arrested on September 18, 2023. He spent seven days in solitary confinement at a public security police station, charged with “assembly and collusion against national security.” Bakhshali has previously faced multiple arrests and incarcerations for his activism.

2. Behfar Laleh Zari: Arrested alongside his wife, Rezavaneh Ahmadkah Beigi, on September 18, 2023. He spent seven days in solitary confinement at a public security police station, charged with “assembly and collusion against national security.” A former political prisoner, Laleh Zari was released from Evin prison in February 2019. His wife is currently detained in Qarchak Prison, Varamin.

3. Payam Bastani Parizi: Arrested on September 11, 2023, he has been charged with “assembly and collusion against national security.” After 12 days in IRGC’s detention facility 1-A, he was transferred to Evin Prison.

4. Reza Mohammad Hosseini: Arrested on May 1, 2023, Hosseini faces charges of “spreading propaganda against the regime, assembly and collusion against national security, and association with anti-regime news channels.” Hosseini is being held punitively in the quarantine section and has a history of prior arrests and convictions related to his activism.

5. Arash Keykhosravi: An attorney at law, arrested on September 25, 2023. Keykhosravi is among the nine Iranian lawyers and human rights defenders apprehended on August 14, 2021, during a meeting to discuss a lawsuit against Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the government regarding the ban on foreign vaccines. He was sentenced to two years in prison, a one-year ban from practicing law, and a ban on media activities, with the sentence upheld on appeal. Keykhosravi was also previously detained in Evin Prison from November 19, 2022, to March 6, 2023.

6. Mohsen Haj Mohammadi: Arrested on September 18, 2023, he is charged with “assembly and collusion against national security.” He spent seven days in solitary confinement at a Public Security Police station.

7. Pouria Shokoohi Rad: Arrested on September 18, 2023, charged with “assembly and collusion against national security.” He also spent seven days in solitary confinement at a Public Security Police station.

8. Hamed Mohagheghi: Arrested on September 18, 2023, charged with “assembly and collusion against national security.” He spent seven days in solitary confinement at a Public Security Police station.

9. Saman Rezaie: Arrested on September 12, 2023, he faces the charge of “assembly and collusion against national security.” Rezaie spent 11 days in IRGC’s detention facility 1-A.

10. Alireza Hajian: Arrested on September 15, 2023, charged with “assembly and collusion against national security.” He also spent 12 days in IRGC’s detention facility 1-A.

11. Zaman (Arash) Esmaeili: Arrested on September 15, 2023, facing the charge of “assembly and collusion against national security.” He also spent 12 days in IRGC’s detention facility 1-A.

Notably, as per Article 217 of Iran’s Criminal Procedure Law, the case investigator is obliged to grant the defendant bail after indictment. However, these detainees have been denied this right by prison and judicial authorities.