Tag: Mohammad-Mehdi Karami

Court of Appeals: Mashallah Karami Sentenced to One Year in Prison; Seven Defendants Acquitted, Three Convicted

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Ali Sharifzadeh Ardakani, Mashallah Karami, Mohammad-Mehdi Karami, Nazarabad, Payam Derafshan, Shahla Oruji

HRANA News Agency – Mashallah Karami, the father of executed protester Mohammad Mehdi Karami, has been sentenced to one year in prison by Branch 12 of the Alborz Court of Appeals. Previously, Branch 102 of the Criminal Court Two of Nazarabad had sentenced him to eight years and ten months in prison and fined him 1.9 billion tomans.

In the same case, seven other defendants were acquitted, while two were sentenced to pay a fine of 50 million tomans each. The prison sentence of another defendant was upheld. Initially, all ten individuals had been sentenced to 91 days in prison.

The verdict, issued on January 21 by Branch 12 of the Alborz Court of Appeals, convicted Mashallah Karami of “money laundering and acquiring illicit wealth,” sentencing him to one year in prison and the confiscation of his residential property and vehicle. Among the ten other defendants, seven were acquitted, two had their prison sentences converted to a fine of 50 million tomans, and the 91-day prison sentence of one defendant was upheld.

Attorneys Ali Sharifzadeh Ardakani, Payam Derafshan, and Shahla Oruji, who represent some of the defendants, announced that the verdicts were formally delivered to them yesterday.

In August, 2024, Branch 102 of the Criminal Court Two of Nazarabad had sentenced Mashallah Karami to eight years and ten months in prison, a fine of 1.9 billion tomans, and the confiscation of his assets on charges of “money laundering and acquiring illicit wealth.”

In September, attorney Payam Derafshan had stated that in this case, philanthropists associated with Mashallah Karami had been sentenced to 91 days in prison each for “assisting in the acquisition of illicit wealth.”

Background on Mashallah Karami’s Conviction

Mashallah Karami, the father of Mohammad Mehdi (Koumar) Karami, an executed protester, was arrested on August 22, 2023, by security forces. During his arrest, authorities confiscated all electronic devices and froze the family’s bank accounts.
On October 28, 2023, he was transferred from The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility to the Central Prison of Karaj. After three months in quarantine, he was moved to Ward 15 of the prison.

Initially, on May 21, 2024, the Karaj Revolutionary Court sentenced Karami to five years in prison for “assembly and collusion against national security” and one year for “propaganda against the regime.” However, in September, the Alborz Province Court of Appeals reduced these sentences to three years and seven months for the first charge and eight months for the second.

In a separate case, in August 2024, the Criminal Court Branch 102 in Nazarabad convicted Karami of “money laundering and acquiring illicit wealth,” sentencing him to eight years and ten months in prison, a fine of 1.9 billion tomans, and confiscation of his assets.

Karami’s attorney, Ali Sharifzadeh, previously stated that the security-related charges against his client did not align with his actions. He explained: “Mr. Karami only distributed free meals, funded through public donations. This information was presented to the court but was not properly considered. Additionally, my client’s assets have no connection to the security charges leveled against him.”

In September, 2024, five citizens were fined by the Alborz Province Court of Appeals for providing financial assistance to Mashallah Karami. These individuals were previously convicted by the Karaj Revolutionary Court of “aiding in assembly and collusion against national security” through financial support to Karami, with each sentenced to two years in prison and fined 24 million tomans.

It is noteworthy that on January 7, 2023, Mohammad Mehdi Karami, one of the detainees from the nationwide protests, was executed in connection with the case known as the “murder of Basij member Ruhollah Ajamian.”

Mashallah Karami, Father of Executed Protester, Faces Prison and Multiple Charges

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News, Prisoners
Central Prison of Karaj, HRANA, Mashallah Karami, Mohammad-Mehdi Karami, Nazarabad, Ruhollah Ajamian, ماشالله کرمی

Mashallah Karami, the father of executed protester Mohammad Mehdi Karami, is serving his sentence in the Central Prison of Karaj. His legal cases are being reviewed in two separate proceedings: his Revolutionary Court case is under appeal at the Supreme Court, while his Criminal Court case awaits a decision from the Court of Appeals.

A source familiar with his situation told HRANA: “Recently, Mashallah was sent to a specialized clinic for treatment due to blurred vision in one of his eyes. His Revolutionary Court case, in which he was sentenced to four years and three months in prison, is currently under appeal at the Supreme Court. Additionally, his Criminal Court case, in which he was sentenced to eight years and ten months in prison, a fine of 1.9 billion tomans, and asset confiscation, is pending the final verdict from the Court of Appeals.”

Karami, the father of Mohammad Mehdi (Koumar) Karami, an executed protester, was arrested on August 22, 2023, by security forces. During his arrest, authorities confiscated all electronic devices and froze the family’s bank accounts.
On October 28, 2023, he was transferred from The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility to the Central Prison of Karaj. After three months in quarantine, he was moved to Ward 15 of the prison.

Initially, on May 21, 2024, the Karaj Revolutionary Court sentenced Karami to five years in prison for “assembly and collusion against national security” and one year for “propaganda against the regime.” However, in September, the Alborz Province Court of Appeals reduced these sentences to three years and seven months for the first charge and eight months for the second.

In a separate case, in August 2024, the Criminal Court Branch 102 in Nazarabad convicted Karami of “money laundering and acquiring illicit wealth,” sentencing him to eight years and ten months in prison, a fine of 1.9 billion tomans, and confiscation of his assets.

Karami’s attorney, Ali Sharifzadeh, previously stated that the security-related charges against his client did not align with his actions. He explained: “Mr. Karami only distributed free meals, funded through public donations. This information was presented to the court but was not properly considered. Additionally, my client’s assets have no connection to the security charges leveled against him.”

In September, 2024, five citizens were fined by the Alborz Province Court of Appeals for providing financial assistance to Mashallah Karami. These individuals were previously convicted by the Karaj Revolutionary Court of “aiding in assembly and collusion against national security” through financial support to Karami, with each sentenced to two years in prison and fined 24 million tomans.

It is noteworthy that on January 7, 2023, Mohammad Mehdi Karami, one of the detainees from the nationwide protests, was executed in connection with the case known as the “murder of Basij member Ruhollah Ajamian.”

Appeals Court: Mashallah Karami Sentenced to Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Alborz Province Appeals, Ali Sharifzadeh, Mashallah Karami, Mohammad-Mehdi Karami

Mashallah Karami, father of executed protester Mohammad Mehdi Karami, was sentenced to four years and three months in prison by the Alborz Province Appeals Court in relation to part of his case, according to Shargh Newspaper.

Ali Sharifzadeh, Karami’s defense lawyer, explained that Karami was sentenced to three years and seven months for “assembly and collusion against national security,” and eight months for “propaganda against the regime.”

The lawyer emphasized, “We will appeal the Appeals Court’s decision, and we hope that by filing for a retrial, the Supreme Court will overturn the ruling.”

In a previous trial by the Karaj Revolutionary Court, Karami had been sentenced to five years in prison for “assembly and collusion against national security,” and one year for “propaganda against the regime.”

In August of this year, Karami was sentenced by Branch 102 of the Nazarabad Criminal Court 2 to eight years and ten months in prison, along with a fine of 1.9 billion tomans and asset confiscation, for “money laundering and illicit acquisition of wealth.”

Sharifzadeh had earlier argued that the security charges brought against his client were not consistent with his actions. He added, “Mr. Karami simply distributed charity meals, funded by public donations. This was presented to the court, but it was not adequately considered. Moreover, my client’s assets had no connection to the security charges against him.”

It is worth noting that in recent days, five citizens were fined by the Alborz Appeals Court for providing financial support to Mashallah Karami. These citizens had previously been sentenced by the Karaj Revolutionary Court to two years in prison and fined 24 million tomans each for “aiding in assembly and collusion against national security” through their financial support of Karami.

Mashallah Karami, the father of Mohammad Mehdi Karami, an executed protester, was arrested by security forces on August 22, 2023. He was transferred from The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility to Karaj Central Prison on October 28 of the same year.

Notably, on the morning of Saturday, January 7, 2023, Mohammad Mehdi Karami, a protester arrested during the nationwide protests and implicated in the case known as the “murder of Basij member Rouhollah Ajamian,” was executed.

Appeals Court: Five Citizens Fined for Financial Aid to Mashallah Karami

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ali Vahabi, Karaj Revolutionary Court, Mahsa Vahabi, Mashallah Karami, Mohammad-Mehdi Karami, Mojdeh Bahrololum Tabatabai

Five citizens, including Ali Vahabi (an Iran-Iraq war veteran), Mojdeh Bahrololum Tabatabai, and Mahsa Vahabi, were each sentenced to pay a fine of 6 million tomans by the Alborz Province Appeals Court.

The recent verdict by Branch 12 of the Alborz Appeals Court found these five citizens, three of whom are family members—Ali Vahabi (a war veteran), Mojdeh Bahrololum Tabatabai, and Mahsa Vahabi—guilty of “aiding and abetting in assembly and collusion against national security” through financial support for Mashallah Karami. They were each fined 6 million tomans.

These five people had previously been sentenced by the Karaj Revolutionary Court to two years in prison and a fine of 24 million tomans on the same charges.

Payam Derafshan, a defense lawyer, revealed that they were also sentenced by the Nazarabad Criminal Court 2 to 91 days in prison for “aiding and abetting in illicit acquisition of wealth” in a separate case.

Derafshan added that he has filed an appeal and is awaiting the Alborz Appeals Court’s decision.

According to HRANA, more than five citizens were sentenced to prison by the Nazarabad Criminal Court 2 in this case.

Mashallah Karami, the father of Mohammad Mehdi Karami, an executed protester, was arrested by security forces on August 22, 2023. He was transferred from The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility to Karaj Central Prison on October 28 of the same year.

On May 21, 2024, Karami was sentenced by the Revolutionary Court to five years in prison for “assembly and collusion against national security” and one year for “propaganda against the regime.”

In a separate part of his case, Karami was sentenced by Branch 102 of the Nazarabad Criminal Court 2 to eight years and ten months in prison, along with a 1.9 billion toman fine and confiscation of assets, on charges of “money laundering and illicit acquisition of wealth.”

Notably, on the morning of Saturday, January 7, 2023, Mohammad Mehdi Karami, a protester arrested during the nationwide protests and implicated in the case known as the “murder of Basij member Rouhollah Ajamian,” was executed.

Criminal Court Sentences Mashallah Karami to Over 8 Years in Prison and Other Penalties

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Freedom of Expression, News
Alborz province, Karaj, Mashallah Karami, Mohammad-Mehdi Karami, Sharifzadeh Ardakani

Mashallah Karami, the father of Mohammad Mehdi Karami, an executed protester, has been sentenced by the Criminal Court of Nazarabad County, Alborz province, to eight years and ten months in prison, a fine, and the confiscation of his assets.

According to the ruling recently issued by Branch 102 of the Criminal Court Branch 2 of Nazarabad County and conveyed to this citizen currently imprisoned in Karaj Central Prison, he was sentenced to eight years and ten months in prison, a fine of 1.9 billion tomans (approximately 28000 dollars), and the confiscation of his assets on charges of “money laundering and acquiring illicit property.”

Earlier, in another part of his case, Mr. Karami was sentenced by the Revolutionary Court to five years in prison on the charge of “assembly and collusion to commit a crime against national security” and one year in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime.”

Ali Sharifzadeh, Karami’s attorney, previously stated that the security charges brought against his client are inconsistent with his actions. He added, “Mr. Karami only distributed free food, the funds for which were provided through public donations. This information was presented to the court but was not properly considered. Additionally, my client’s assets have no connection to the security charges against Mr. Karami.”

In March of 2024, Sharifzadeh Ardakani, Mr. Karami’s lawyer, stated that his client’s indictment included four charges: under Article 500 (propaganda against the regime) and Article 610 (assembly and collusion to commit a crime against national security) in the Revolutionary Court of Karaj, as well as charges under Article 2 of the Aggravated Punishment Law (acquiring illicit property) and Article 9 of the Anti-Money Laundering Law in the Criminal Court Branch 2 of Nazarabad County.

Karami was arrested by security forces on August 22, 2023. At the time of his arrest, security forces confiscated all electronic devices and froze the family’s bank accounts.

On October 28th of 2023, Mr. Karami was transferred from The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility to the Central Prison of Karaj. After three months in solitary confinement, he was eventually moved to Ward 15 of this prison.

It should be noted that at dawn on Saturday, January 7, 2023, the death sentence of Mohammad Mehdi Karami, who had been arrested during the nationwide protests in the case known as the “killing of Basij member Rouhollah Ajamian,” was carried out.

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Attorney Amir-Hossein Koohkan Sentenced to Six Years

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Freedom of Expression, News
Amir-Hossein Koohkan, Kachooie Prison, Mohammad-Mehdi Karami, امیرحسین کوهکن

The Revolutionary Court in Karaj has sentenced attorney Amir-Hossein Koohkan to six years in prison on political charges. Koohkan faced accusations of “assembly and collusion against national security and propaganda against the regime.”

He was initially detained on August 30, 2023, after being summoned to the Ministry of Intelligence office in Karaj and was later released on bail from Kachooie prison in mid-December 2023.

Koohkan served as the legal representative for the family of Mohammad-Mehdi Karami, who was executed following his arrest during the nationwide protests in 2022.

Mashallah Karami Sentenced to Six Years in Prison

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News, Prisoners
Karaj, Mohammad-Mehdi Karami, Nazarabad

Mashallah Karami was sentenced to six years in prison by the Revolutionary Court of Karaj. This follows the execution of his son, Mohammad-Mehdi Karami, by the regime for his participation in the 2022 nationwide protests.

On May 20, 2024, Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court in Karaj handed down a verdict sentencing Karami to five years for “assembly and collusion against national security” and an additional year for “propaganda against the regime.”

In March, Karami’s lawyer, Sharifzadeh Ardekani, revealed that his client also faces charges of “acquisition of illegal property” and “money laundering,” which are pending in the Criminal Court of Nazarabad.

Karami was arrested at his home on August 22, 2023. During the arrest, authorities conducted a search, seizing various items from him and his family.

He was initially detained at the Ministry of Intelligence facility before being transferred to the Central Prison of Karaj on October 28, 2023. After spending three months in the prison’s quarantine section, Karami was moved to Ward 15.

It is notable that Mohammad Mehdi Karami and Mohammad Hosseini, both implicated in the death of Basij militia member Ruhollah Ajamian, were executed on January 7, 2023.

Background on the 2022 Nationwide Protests

The arrest of Mahsa Amini by Tehran Morality Police for her improper hijab and her suspicious death on September 16 sparked protests sweeping across Iran. Protesters came to the streets with the central slogan “Women, Life, Freedom” in protest against the performance, laws, and structure of the regime. During the nationwide protests, thousands of people, including journalists, artists, lawyers, teachers, students, and civil rights activists, were arrested.

 

Families of Mahsa Amini Protest Victims Face Detentions and Summons

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Freedom of Expression, News
2022 Zahedan massacre, Esmaeil Abil, Faramarz Abil, Fereydoon Mahmoodi, Hassan Daroftadeh, Kumar Daroftadeh, Mahsa Amini Protest, Mahsa Basir Tavana, Mahsa Yazdani, Mardin Daroftadeh, Mashallah Karami, Mohammad Hosseini, Mohammad Javad Zahedi, Mohammad Vaziri, Mohammad-Mehdi Karami, Nasrin Alizadeh, Shermin Habibi, Shirin Alizadeh, Torbat-e Heydariyeh

As the anniversary of the 2022 nationwide protests, known as the Mahsa Amini Protests, draws near, families of the victims are enduring heightened pressures from security and judicial entities. Over the past week, a minimum of nine family members who lost loved ones during the protests have either been detained by security forces or summoned for questioning.

The following details the cases of these nine individuals:

  • On Wednesday, August 23, Nasrin Alizadeh, the sister of Shirin Alizadeh who was killed during the nationwide protests in Chalus, was arrested by security forces at her Isfahan residence and taken to an undisclosed location. Notably, this arrest coincides with Mohammad (Koroush) Vaziri, the husband of Shirin Alizadeh, marking his sixth day of detention at Isfahan’s Dastgerd Prison.
  • On Tuesday, August 22, Mahsa Yazdani, the mother of Mohammad Javad Zahedi, another victim of the fatal crackdown on the 2022 protests, was apprehended by security forces near her Sari residence and moved to an undisclosed location.
  • That same day, 15-year-old Faramarz Abil was taken into custody by security forces in Torbat-e Heydariyeh, Razavi Khorasan Province. His brother, Esmaeil Abil, was among those who fell victim to the 2022 Zahedan massacre, commonly referred to as Bloody Friday.
  • Mashallah Karami, the father of executed protestor Mohammad-Mehdi Karami, was arrested by security forces on Monday, August 21, at his residence. His current location and the charges against him remain undisclosed.
    On January 7, 2023, his son, Mohammad Mehdi Karami, along with Mohammad Hosseini, were executed. Both were implicated in the case related to the death of Basij militia member Ruhollah Ajamian.
  • Shermin Habibi was apprehended on August 22 by security forces and was granted bail a day later. She is the spouse of Fereydoon Mahmoodi, who was among those killed by regime forces during the 2022 nationwide protests.
    Fereydoon Mahmoodi was fatally shot on September 19, 2022, during the protests. In a subsequent development in April 2023, the Saqqez & Baneh Military Court confirmed Special Forces’ involvement in Mahmoodi’s death. However, the case was closed due to the inability to identify the specific shooter.
  • Continuing the trend of increased pressure, Hassan Daroftadeh and Mardin Daroftadeh, the father and brother of Kumar Daroftadeh, were summoned and interrogated by the Ministry of Intelligence in Piranshahr on Monday, August 21. The family was reportedly threatened to abstain from memorial ceremonies and online activities during the anniversary of the 2022 nationwide protests.
    On October 30, 2022, Kumar Daroftadeh, a 16-year-old teenager, was shot dead by security forces. His burial took place the following day in a village on the outskirts of Piranshahr.
  • Additionally, Mahsa Basir Tavana, a mother of two, was arrested by security forces in Fuman on August 17, 2023. Her brother, Mehran Basir Tavana, was among those killed by regime forces during the 2022 nationwide protests.

Earlier, HRANA had also reported on the legal confrontations faced by families of the victims, including cases involving Hossein and Mehdi Kazemi, Somayeh Kazemi, Ali Adinezadeh, Goldasteh Hosseini Jahanabad, Marzieh Adinezadeh, Reza and Musa Adinezadeh, Sajad Pirfak, and Mahmonir Molaie-Rad, spanning over a one-month period.

Background on the 2022 Nationwide Protests

The arrest of Mahsa Amini by Tehran Morality Police for her improper hijab and her suspicious death on September 16 sparked protests sweeping across Iran. Protesters came to the streets with the central slogan “Women, Life, Freedom” in protest against the performance, laws and structure of the regime. During the nationwide protests, thousands of people, including journalists, artists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, were arrested.

Father of Executed Protestor Mohammad Mehdi Karami, Mashallah Karami, Taken into Custody

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Freedom of Expression, News
Kurdpa, Mashallah Karami, Mohammad-Mehdi Karami, Ruhollah Ajamian

Today, on August 23, Mashallah Karami, father of the late protestor Mohammad Mehdi Karami who was executed, was apprehended by security forces and transported to an undisclosed location. This incident has been reported by Kurdpa.

Karami’s arrest reportedly occurred at his place of residence. During the operation, the agents conducted a search and seized some items belonging to him and his family members.

The motives behind this arrest, his current whereabouts, and the charges brought against him remain unknown at this time.

It is worth noting that on January 7, 2023, Mohammad Mehdi Karami, along with Mohammad Hosseini, who were both involved in a case related to the death of Basij militia member Ruhollah Ajamian, were executed.

Background on the 2022 Nationwide Protests
The arrest of Mahsa Amini by Tehran Morality Police for her improper hijab and her suspicious death on September 16 sparked protests sweeping across Iran. Protesters came to the streets with the central slogan “Women, Life, Freedom” in protest against the performance, laws and structure of the regime. During the nationwide protests, thousands of people, including journalists, artists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, were arrested.

 

Verdicts Upheld for Eight Individuals Arrested Amid Nationwide Protests in 2022

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ali Moazzami Goodarzi, Amin Mehdi Shokrollahi, Amir-Mohammad Jafari, Farzaneh Ghareh-Hassanlou, Hamid Ghareh-Hassanlou, Hossein Mohammadi, Karaj, Mehdi Mohammadi, Mohammad Hosseini, Mohammad-Amin Akhlaghi, Mohammad-Mehdi Karami, Reza Aria, Ruhollah Ajamian, Shayan Charani

The Supreme Court of Iran has affirmed the sentences for eight defendants involved in the case surrounding the death of Basij militia member Ruhollah Ajamian, as reported by Shargh Newspaper.

Initially handed down by the Karaj Revolutionary Court, the verdicts stand as follows: Hamid Ghareh-Hassanlou has been sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment in Yazd, while Reza Aria, Hossein Mohammadi, and Mehdi Mohammadi each face ten years of exile in Kerman.
Mohammad-Amin Akhlaghi Savojbolaghi, Amin-Mehdi Shokrollahi, and Farzaneh Ghareh-Hassanlou have each been given five years to serve in Mashhad. The Supreme Court has upheld all of these sentences.

Shayan Charani, Amir-Mohammad Jafari, and Ali Moazzami Goodarzi have been sentenced to three years of imprisonment in Qom. However, both Charani and Jafari were granted pardons and subsequently released, whereas Goodarzi’s sentence was upheld.

Furthermore, Aryan Farzamnia’s verdict has been revoked due to documented mental and psychological health concerns.

On January 7, 2023, two other individuals involved in this case, Mohammad Mehdi Karami and Mohammad Hosseini, were executed.

These individuals were initially apprehended in Karaj for their alleged roles in the death of Basij militia member Ruhollah Ajamian during a protest.