Iranian Singer Shervin Hajipour Sentenced to Three Years and Eight Months in Prison with Additional Penalties

Renowned singer Shervin Hajipour has been handed a three-year, eight-month prison sentence and additional penalties by the Revolutionary Court.

The verdict, disclosed by Hajipour, outlines a three-year term for “inciting people to cause unrest against national security,” including the detention period, and an additional eight months for “spreading propaganda against the regime.” Pursuant to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, he will serve three years for the first charge.

In addition to the prison term, the verdict imposes further restrictions. As the court deems the penalties specified in the Islamic Penal Code insufficient, Hajipour is prohibited from leaving the country for two years. He is mandated to compile and share the achievements of the Islamic Revolution in culture, science, and art on his internet platform. Furthermore, he is required to prepare a summary of two books regarding women’s status in Islam, produce a song addressing “USA’s atrocities against humanity,” collect cases of human rights violations by U.S. governments over the past century, and participate in behavior and knowledge skills training courses in the field of art.

Hajipour’s arrest by security forces during the 2022 nationwide protests, specifically for the song “Baraye” (For…), led to his detention in the Ministry of Intelligence detention facility in Sari, Mazandaran Province.
Hajipour was released on bail on October 4, 2023, but subsequent legal proceedings resulted in this verdict.
Notably, Hajipour was honored with the Special Merit Award for Best Song for Social Change for “Baraye” at the 2023 GRAMMYs.

Actress Masoumeh Ghasemipour Arrested

Cinema and theater actress Masoumeh Ghasemipour has been taken into custody by security forces in Amol and moved to an undisclosed facility.

According to a source close to the actress’s family, Ghasemipour, who is 46 years old, was apprehended last Sunday, September 17, and her exact whereabouts remain undisclosed, causing distress to her family.

The reasons behind Ghasemipour’s arrest and the specific allegations against her remain unknown at this time.

Nationwide Protests: Seventeen People Arrested in Galugah 

The chief police of Galugah, Mazandaran Province, announced the arrest of seventeen people during protests in this county.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Fars News Agency, seventeen people were arrested at protests in Galugah, Mazandaran Province.

This chief police called the detainees “protest leaders” identified and apprehended in their hidden place. The report did not reveal the arrestees’ identities and whereabouts.

According to the latest available data gathered by HRANA, over 14800 people have been arrested during the nationwide protests since Mahsa Amini’s death. For more details and statistics on the nationwide protest across Iran, read HRANA’s comprehensive report here.

Women’s Rights Activist Raoofeh Mirbagheri Arrested

On October 26, 2022, IRGC intelligence agents arrested women’s rights activist Raoofeh Mirbagheri in Tonekabon and transferred her to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on October 26, 2022, women’s rights activist Raoofeh Mirbagheri was arrested in Tonekabon, Mazandaran Province.

The reason for this arrest and her whereabouts are unknown as of yet.

According to the latest available data gathered by HRANA, about 14000 people have been arrested during the nationwide protests. For more details and statistics on the nationwide protest across Iran, read HRANA’s comprehensive report here.

 

UN Human Rights Experts: Stop Persecution of Baha’is

In a statement issued on August 22, UN Human Rights Experts urged Iranian authorities to stop “persecution and harassment of religious minorities and end the use of religion to curtail the exercise of fundamental rights”. In recent weeks, security and judicial authorities targeted dozens of Baha’is in a new wave of arrests, house searches, land confiscations and home demolishing. 

Additionally, dozens of Baha’is were banned from entering the university. The organization demanded that the international community should not remain silent while”the Iranian authorities use overbroad and vague national security and espionage charges to silence religious minorities or people with dissenting opinions, remove them from their homes and effectively force them into internal displacement”.

Further, the organization called for an “immediate and unconditional release of all individuals detained on the basis of their religious affiliation.”

In recent weeks, in several cities across the country, security forces raided at least 36 Baha’i houses. They also arrested 44 Baha’is including three members of a now-disbanded Baha’i group known as the “Yaran e Iran” or “Friends of Iran.” 

In early August, in Roshan-Kouh village, Mazandaran Province, state-owned agencies demolished Baha’i-owned houses and grabbed their lands. During this operation, the security forces arrested a Baha’i citizen and beat another one.

Also, this year, like the previous years, many Baha’is were banned from entering the university under the pretext of “document deficiencies”. So far, HRANA has identified 63 Baha’i applicants whose enrollments have been rejected by the National Organization of Educational Testing (NOET).

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Now is definitely not the time to stop reading!

Baha’is Houses Demolished, One Arrested

In Roshan-Kouh village, Mazandaran Province, state-owned agencies demolished Baha’i-owned houses and grabbed their lands. During this operation, the security forces arrested a Baha’i citizen and beat another one.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, a Baha’i citizen identified as Farid Alavi was arrested during a state-run operation to demolish Baha’i houses to grab their lands.

On August 2, 2022, about 200 police special forces, security police and the Ministry of Agricultural Jihad officials blocked the Roshan-Kouh village and begin to demolish six houses owned by the Baha’i residents with an excavator and other heavy machinery. They also grabbed about 20 hectares of farmland and installed barbed wire fences around them.

An informed source told HRANA that the agents used pepper spray against those who resisted. 

Earlier, on August 2, 2021, security forces raided and demolished three Baha’i houses in this village without prior notice. This incident has created reactions on global media and Farsi-speaking social media.

Five Inmates Executed in Prisons across Iran

On Thursday, June 9, 2022, two inmates convicted of murder were executed in Amol and Kermanshah Prisons. Also, on Wednesday, June 8, the executions of two inmates in Ilam Prison and one in Khalkhal Prison were carried out.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Thursday, June 9, 2022, an inmate identified as Javad Amini was executed in Amol Prison in Mazandaran Province.

On the same day, Iran Human Rights Organization reported the execution of an inmate identified as Droud Yousef Beygi, age 33, who was convicted of murder.

Additionally, Haal Vsh reported the execution of an inmate in Khalkhal Prison in Ardabil Province June 8. The inmate was identified as Asghar Hamidi, age 31, and was sentenced to death for murder ten years ago.

Lastly, Kurdpa reported that two inmates identified as Khosro Tarak and Kamal Bayani-Rad in Ilam Prison were executed last Wednesday. The first was sentenced to death seven years ago and the latter five years ago.

None of these executions have been reported by official sources and media outlets inside Iran so far. 

The most recent report from the Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) states that between January 1 of 2021 and December 20 of 2021, at least 299 citizens, including four juvenile offenders, were executed. In addition, 85 citizens were sentenced to death in this period. 

As the report points out, Iran’s judicial authorities do not publicly announce over 88% of executions. These unreported executions are known as “secret executions” by human rights organizations.

Siavash Emami Arrested in Nur City

On Tuesday, May 31, 2022, security forces arrested Siavash Emami at his workplace in Nur City of Mazandaran Province and transferred him to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Tuesday, May 31, 2022, Siavash Emami was arrested by security forces at his workplace in Nur.

The reason for Emami’s arrest, charges and his whereabouts are unknown so far.

Earlier on June 15, 2021, Emami was arrested by the Ministry of Intelligence and released from jail on June 30, 2021, after interrogation.

On July 24, 2021, Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Amol sentenced Emami to three months in prison.

One Year Imprisonment Against Baha’i Citizen Shiva Khalili Upheld on Appeal

Recently, the Court of Appeal of Mazandaran Province upheld the initial verdict of one year in prison against Baha’i citizen Shiva Khalili. Moreover, in this verdict, her cell phone, which they ruled has been used as a “crime tool”, will be confiscated.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, November 16, 2021, she was arrested after being summoned and appearing at Branch 1 of the Public and Revolutionary Court of Babol. The day after, she was released on bail.

The Revolutionary Court of Babol City sentenced her to one year imprisonment and confiscation of her cell phone on the charge of “propaganda against the regime.”

According to unofficial sources, it is estimated that more than 300,000 Baha’i 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 breach 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.

Baha’i Citizen Shiva Khalili Arrested and Released on Bail in Babol

On Tuesday, November 16, Baha’i citizen Shiva Khalili was arrested after being summoned and appearing at Branch 1 of the Public and Revolutionary Court of Babol.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Khalili was released the following day on a bail of 700 million tomans until the end of legal proceedings. Shiva Khalili, a resident of Babol in Mazandaran Province, was summoned to the Revolutionary Court of Babol by phone.

According to unofficial sources, it is estimated that 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 breach 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.

The reason for Khalili’s arrest and the charges against her are unknown as of this writing.