Meysam Kazemi Jailed in Behbahan Prison 

On July 23, 2022, Meysam Kazemi was taken to Behbahan to serve a 15 months sentence.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on July 23, 2022, Kazemi started his sentencing at the Behbahan Prison.

On  December 4, 2021, Kazemi was arrested and transferred to Behbahan Prison after appearing at Branch 4 of the Public and Revolutionary Court, where he was accused of “circulating social media posts about the individuals arrested after Behbahan’s protest on July 16, 2020”.

Subsequently, Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Bandar Mahshahr sentenced Kazemi to 22 months in prison, of which 7 months and 2 weeks were suspended. Based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, one year and three months of imprisonment is enforceable.

During the November 2019 protest, security forces in Behbahan City used live ammunition against the protestors, leading to the death of several protestors including Mehrdad Dashinia, Mahmood Dashtinia, Farzad Ansarifar, Mohammad-Hossein Ghanavati, and Mohammad Hashamdar.

Seven Behbahani Citizens Sentenced to a Total of Five Years and Six Months In Prison

The Revolutionary Court of Bandar Mahshahr issued prison sentences against seven Behbahani citizens who were arrested during the June 2020 protests in the city. Narges Deram-Gozin, Masoud Seddighnia, Ebrahim Armish, Morteza Vahdani, Zeynab Alipour, Vahb Ramin and Jalal Jafari have been sentenced to a total of 5 years and 6 months in prison. The conviction against Jafari has been suspended for 5 years.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the people mentioned above were notified of their sentence on February 19. Deram-Gozin, Seddighnia, Armish and Alipour were sentenced to 1 year on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”. Vahdani, Ramin, and Jafari were sentenced to six months for the same charge. Jafari’s conviction has been suspended for 5 years.

Earlier, in another legal case, Farzaneh Ansarifar, who was also indicted in this case, was sentenced to four years and six months in prison. Two others Behbahan citizens, Ali and Maryam Kazemi, have also been sentenced to a combined two years in prison.

On July 16, 2020, Behbahan’s citizens protested in Banke Melli Square in Behbahan against “poor economic conditions” and “death sentences against those who were arrested during the protest of November 2019”. Many people were arrested during the protests or thereafter at their homes.

During the protest of November 2019 in Behbahan city, security forces used live ammunition against protestors which led to the death of several protestors including Mehrdad Dashinia, Mahmood Dashtinia, Farzad Ansarifar, Mohammad-Hossein Ghanavati and Mohammad Hashamdar.

Farzaneh Ansarifar Sentenced to 4 Years and 6 Months In Prison

Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Bandar Mahshahr sentenced Farzaneh Ansarifar to 4 years and 6 months in prison. Her brother, Farzad, was killed by regime forces during the 2019 nationwide protests in Behbahan City.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Ansarifar, a resident of Behbahan City, was convicted for “assembly and collusion against national security” and “propaganda against the regime”. If the verdict is confirmed on appeal, three years and six months in prison on the charge of “assembly and collusion” will be enforced.

The court session was held on February 2 at Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Bandar Mahshahr.

In recent days, her brother and father, Arman and Amin Ansarifar were arrested by security forces.

On December 25, 2021, the first court session for another legal case against her and several others was held at Branch 103 of the Criminal Court of Behbahan city. The second court session was held on February 16, 2022.

During the protest of November 2019 in Behbahan City, security forces used live ammunition against protestors, leading to the death of several protestors including Mehrdad Dashinia, Mahmood Dashtinia, Farzad Ansarifar, Mohammad-Hossein Ghanavati and Mohammad Hashamdar.

Meysam Kazemi Sentenced to 22 Months In Prison

Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Bandar Mahshahr sentenced Meysam Kazemi to 22 months in prison. From this sentence, 7 months and 2 weeks have been suspended. If upheld on appeal, grounded on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, one year and three months imprisonment is enforceable.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Kazemi, a resident of Behbahan City, was charged with “propaganda against the regime in favour of anti-regime groups and offensive statements against the Supreme Leader of Iran”.

His lawyer, Iman Soleymani, was notified of the verdict. Seven and a half months of Kazemi’s sentence is suspended. His court session was held on February 14, 2022, by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Bandar Mahshahr.

On July 26, 2020, hundreds of Behbahan’s citizens gathered at Bank-Melli Square to protest against “poor economic conditions” and “death sentences against those who were arrested during the protest of November 2019”. Many citizens were arrested for their participation in the protests, both during the events and in the period following.

During the November 2019 protest, security forces in Behbahan City used live ammunition against protestors, leading to the death of several protestors including Mehrdad Dashinia, Mahmood Dashtinia, Farzad Ansarifar, Mohammad-Hossein Ghanavati and Mohammad Hashamdar.

Father and Son Amin and Arman Ansarifar Arrested in Bebahan City

On February 20, Arman Ansarifar was arrested by intelligence agents in Behbahan at his home. Ansarifar is a resident of Behbahan City. His brother, Farzad, was killed by regime forces during the 2019 nationwide protests.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, his father, Amin Ansarifar, was summoned by Branch 4 of Behbahan’s Public and Revolutionary Court the day before. He was indicted for the charge of “advocating and promoting anti-regime groups or organizations”. He was arrested in the courthouse and transferred to Behbahan Prison.

On December 14, 2021, Arman Ansarifar was summoned by the same courthouse. According to an informed source, he was summoned once again via phone, but this time, he refused to appear at the court due to not receiving a summons letter.

During the protest of November 2019 in Behbahan City, security forces used live ammunition against protestors, leading to the death of several protestors including Mehrdad Dashinia, Mahmood Dashtinia, Farzad Ansarifar, Mohammad-Hossein Ghanavati and Mohammad Hashamdar.

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Security Forces Increase Pressure on Victims’ Families Approaching Anniversary of November 2019 Protests

As the anniversary of the nationwide November 2019 protests approaches, security forces have begun to put pressure on victims’ families to deter them from holding ceremonies in remembrance of their killed loved ones.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Farzaneh Ansarifar, the sister of one of the victims, was arrested for a short time to force her to cancel one such ceremony. According to an informed source, she was told that the authorities from Ahvaz had asked for her imprisonment due to inviting people for gathering via Instagram Stories.

In another attempt to deter gathering at the cemetery, the public relations of the Municipality of Behbahan city and the Islamic Council of this city announced that the roads led to the cemetery have been blocked due to the construction. In Behbahan city, the internet connection was intentionally disrupted, and Behbahan citizens Mohsen Ghanavati, Amin Moradi, and Payam Jeyhooni were reportedly arrested by security forces.

During the protests of November 2019 in Behbahan City, security forces used live ammunition against protestors which led to the death of several protestors including Mehrdad Dashinia, Mahmood Dashtinia, Farzad Ansarifar, Mohammad-Hossein Ghanavati and Mohammad Hashamdar.

In November of 2019, an unprecedented increase in fuel prices sparked a wave of protests in dozens of cities across the country. The spokesperson of the Parliamentary National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Seyed Hossein Taghavi announced that 7000 people were arrested during these protests. According to reports of human rights organizations, hundreds were killed by the regime forces.

Three Arrested in Behbahan for Honoring 2nd Anniversary of Those Killed in November 2019 Protests

Behbahan citizens Mohsen Ghanavati, Amin Moradi, and Payam Jeyhooni were arrested by security forces.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the first arrestee was transferred to Behbahan Prison and two others to a detention center at the disposal of the Intelligence Ministry in Ahvaz. During the arrest, security forces confiscated Mohsen Ghanavati’s cell phone, as well as his wife’s.

Mohsen Ghanavati is the brother of Mohammad-Hossein Ghanavati, who was killed in Behbahan City by regime forces during the nationwide protests of November 2019. On November 10, 2021, he was summoned to Branch 3 of the Public and Revolutionary Court in Behbahan to be indicted for charges of “offensive statements against the supreme leader of Iran and revolutionary institutions like IRGC”, “news coverage of the protests and unrest in July 2020” via his Instagram page, and “advocating anti-regime groups and calling people to assembly and protest”.

Regarding these arrests, an informed source told HRANA, “To honor the second anniversary of the victims of the 2019 protests, some citizens decided to gather at victims’ burial place. To deter this gathering, security forces either called or summoned several people and warned them about attending the gathering and threatened them not to reveal it to media.”

In August 2020, Payam Jeyhooni, 33 years old, was arrested during the protest in Behbahan City against  “the poor economic conditions” and “death sentences against those who were arrested during the protest of November 2019”. After spending a while in detention, he was released on a bail of 200 million tomans.

During the protest of November 2019 in Behbahan city, security forces used live ammunition against protestors which led to the death of several protestors including Mehrdad Dashinia, Mahmood Dashtinia, Farzad Ansarifar, Mohammad-Hossein Ghanavati and Mohammad Hashamdar.