Sajjad Iman-Nejad Receives an Eleven-Year Prison Sentence

The Tehran Revolutionary Court has sentenced Sajjad Iman-Nejad to eleven years in prison for his alleged involvement in the 2022 nationwide protests. In addition, he has been ordered to pay a wergild (Diya) of 2.7 billion tomans (approximately 54,000 dollars).

The ruling, issued by Judge Mohammad-Reza Amuzad, who presided over the court, is as follows: ten years of imprisonment in exile in Iranshahr County for “enmity against God (Moharebeh)” and one year in prison, including the detention period, for “assault with a cold weapon.” Iman-Nejad is also required to pay a 2.7 billion tomans wergild to seven plaintiffs, all of whom are police officers.

A source close to Iman-Nejad’s family has revealed that three out of the seven plaintiffs confessed that Iman-Nejad never physically assaulted them, but they are unwilling to withdraw their complaints.

“Iman-Nejad is suffering from a lumbar disc issue, for which he had to be hospitalized several times during detention. However, he did not receive medical care in the hospital under the excuse of a lack of available beds. Currently, prison officials have refused to transfer him to an external hospital. The lumbar disc problem has made enduring incarceration extremely challenging for him.”

Iman-Nejad, a 32-year-old resident of Tehran originally from Ardabil and a graduate in architecture, was arrested by security forces in Tehran on October 8, 2022, and subsequently transferred to the Great Tehran Penitentiary. After some time, he was relocated to Evin Prison.

Abbas and Mohsen Deris Sentenced to a Combined 16 Years in Prison

Abbas and Mohsen Deris, arrested during the 2019-2020 protests (Aban Protests), have been collectively sentenced to 16 years in prison by the Criminal Court of Khuzestan Province.

Their lawyer, Fereshteh Tabanian, announced the verdict, stating, “Abbas Deris received a 14-year sentence for ‘murder, holding, and carrying weapons,’ with ten years enforceable if the verdict is upheld on appeal. Mohsen Deris was given a two-year sentence for ‘carrying weapons’ and acquitted of aiding in murder.”

“No evidence supports Abbas Deris’s involvement in the charges presented in this legal case,” Tabanian emphasized.

According to Tabanian, Abbas Deris was recently transferred from Sepidar Prison to Mahshahr Prison.

In a separate legal case, Abbas Deris received a death sentence for “enmity against God” (Moharebeh) from the Mahshahr Revolutionary Court. Although Tabanian had informed that the Supreme Court upheld the death sentence in July, she has now clarified that Deris’s request for a retrial is still pending a response.

Notably, his two brothers, including Mohsen Deris, were acquitted of Moharebeh in this specific case.

Arrested by IRGC Intelligence agents on December 8, 2019, Abbas and Mohsen Deris faced charges related to their participation in the protests. Abbas admitted to involvement but denied specific actions like setting fires and blocking roads. While he initially confessed to shooting at security forces during interrogation, he later disclaimed any responsibility for the death of Capt. Reza Sayadi during the closing arguments.

In November 2019, an 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 from human rights organizations, hundreds were killed by the security apparatus.

Masoumeh Yavari Receives 13-Year Prison Sentence on Political Charges

The Golpayegan Revolutionary Court has issued a thirteen-year sentence to Masoumeh Yavari on political charges.

Presided over by Judge Mohammad Basaeri and Ghasem Sharifian, the court sentenced Yavari to seven years for “destruction of public property,” five years for alleged “membership in Monafeghin” and one year for “propaganda against the regime.”

Notably, the verdict acquitted Yavari of charges related to “enmity against God (Moharebeh)” and “association with adversary countries.”

Yavari’s arrest occurred on September 4, during which security forces conducted a thorough search of her residence and seized some of her belongings.

It is essential to highlight that Yavari has a history of prior arrests and convictions related to her activism.

Eight Protestors Remain in Detention Amid Legal Uncertainty

Milad Armoon, Alireza Kafaie, Amir-Mohammad Khosh Eghbal, Alireza Barmarz Pournak, Mohammad-Mehdi Hosseini, Hossein Nemati, Mehdi Imani, and Navid Najaran are detained in Qezel (Ghezel) Hesar Prison with an uncertain legal status.

The arrest of these individuals during the 2022 nationwide protests links them to a legal case stemming from an incident in Ekbatan town, Tehran, resulting in the death of Basij Militia agent Arman Aliverdi.

According to a source with close ties to one defendant’s family, the Tehran Criminal Court had previously confirmed the release of two detainees on bail. However, Judge Salavati, presiding over Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court, rejected their release and asserted control over the entire case. Such discrepancies within Iran’s judicial system contribute to legal insecurity and uncertainty, causing distress for the detainees and their families.

Another source reports that, despite multiple court sessions in October and November of this year, the defendants await a verdict. Earlier, it was revealed that the case had been divided between the Revolutionary and Criminal Courts. The Criminal Court initiated proceedings on October 7, 2023, addressing charges of “assisting in murder, assembly and collusion against national security, and enmity against God (Moharebeh).”

The protests in Ekbatan Town in Tehran in 2022 resulted in the death of Basij Militia agent Arman Aliverdi. Subsequently, in November 2022, police and security forces arrested over 50 young residents of the district, with 14 individuals facing legal action. The indictments detail charges such as “enmity against God” for Azmoon, Hosseini, and Imani, while Kafaie, Khosh Eghbal, Barmarz Pournak, and Nemati face charges of “assisting in murder and disturbing public order.” The charges against Najaran, arrested in Ahvaz, remain unknown.

Kamran Rezaie Executed in Shiraz

On November 30, 2023, Kamran Rezaie, 33, was executed in Adelabad Prison, located in Shiraz.

As per the Iran Human Rights Organization, Rezaie, apprehended during the 2019-2020 nationwide protests (Aban Protests), faced accusations of killing a Basij militia force member. The nature of the charges remains unclear, leaving uncertainty as to whether intentional murder was the sole accusation or if additional charges, such as “enmity against God” (Moharebeh), were involved.

Remarkably, over the past six years, neither media outlets nor human rights organizations have reported on Rezaie’s case. As of the latest update, HRANA has been unable to independently verify the details surrounding his case.

According to data compiled by the Center of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA), between October 10, 2022, and October 8, 2023, a total of 659 individuals were executed by hanging in Iran, representing a 24% increase compared to the corresponding period in the previous year. Seven of these executions were conducted publicly. Concerningly, many of the defendants were denied access to a fair trial and due process. For details and statistics, read HRANA’s report.

 

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Sunni Prisoner Ayoub Karimi Executed in Karaj

Ayoub Karimi, a Sunni prisoner, was executed today, November 29, in Qezel (Ghezel) Hesar Prison, Karaj, after enduring more than 13 years of incarceration.

Karimi had been moved to solitary confinement in the prison the previous Sunday, foreshadowing his imminent execution.
Notably, in this legal case, another Sunni prisoner, Ghasem Abasteh, met the same fate in the same prison on November 5 of this year.

The legal case traces back to September 2008 when Abdolrahim Tina, the Imam of a mosque in Mahabad, was assassinated by unidentified individuals. In January-February 2010, Ayoub Karimi and six other Sunni suspects were arrested and accused in connection to the assassination.

Subsequently, Karimi was charged with “enmity against God (Moharebeh) through sympathizing with Salafism,” a charge he consistently refuted. After spending fourteen months in legal limbo, Karimi was transferred to Rajai Shahr prison, Karaj, where he remained until his relocation to Qezel Hesar Prison in August of this year.

Initially sentenced to death by Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Mohammad Moghiseh, the verdict was later overturned by the Supreme Court. The case was then assigned to Branch 15 of the court, presided over by Judge Salavati, who reinstated the death sentences for Ayoub Karimi and six others – Anvar Khezri, Kamran Sheikheh, Farhad Salimi, Khosro Besharat, Ghasem Abasteh, and Davoud Abdollahi.

This time, the Supreme Court confirmed the death sentences for Ayoub Karimi and his co-defendants.

Mohammad Boroughani Receives Five-Year Prison Term and Ten Years Exile

The Tehran Revolutionary Court has issued a verdict, sentencing Mohammad Boroughani, a detainee from the 2022 nationwide protests, to five years in prison and ten years of mandatory residence in Naeen County, situated in Isfahan province, as reported by Shargh Newspaper.

Initially facing a death sentence on charges of “enmity against God (Moharebeh) through the use of a cold weapon, altercation with police officers, and setting fire to the Pakdasht governorate building,” Boroughani’s fate took a different turn. The Supreme Court overturned the initial verdict, leading to a retrial in another court branch.

Currently held in Qezel Hesar Prison in Karaj, Boroughani was apprehended during the 2022 protest in Pakdasht, Tehran Province.

Update on Amir-Nasr Azadani’s Current Situation in Dastgerd Prison

Amir-Nasr Azadani, a former soccer player involved in the legal case “Khaneh e Isfahan (Isfahan House),” is presently incarcerated in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan, serving a sixteen-year sentence imposed by the Isfahan Revolutionary Court.

A source close to Azadani’s family informed HRANA that in January 2023, he received five years for “membership in illegal groups to act against national security,” five years for “assembly and collusion against national security,” and sixteen years for “enmity against God (Moharebeh).” In May of the same year, the Supreme Court accepted his retrial plea, leading to the review of his case by another branch court.

“In the review, the Isfahan Revolutionary Court acquitted him of the first two charges, yet upheld his 16-year prison term for Moharebeh,” the source clarified.

Azadani’s lawyer has submitted a request for a retrial, and the case is currently pending before the Supreme Court.

Amid nationwide protests on November 17, 2022, Azadani was arrested by security forces in connection to the “Khaneh e Isfahan” case. Notably, three other defendants in the same case, Saleh Mir Hashemi (36), Majid Kazemi (30), and Saeed Yaghoubi (37), were executed on May 19, 2023, for charges of enmity against God (Moharebeh).

Execution of Nine Inmates in Qezel Hesar Prison, Karaj

On November 8, 2023, Qezel (Ghezel) Hesar Prison officials carried out the execution of nine inmates.

Among these inmates, three were convicted of drug offenses, with two of them identified as Bahman Fathollah Zadeh and Rasoul Teymouri by HRANA.
Five individuals were convicted of murder and one was convicted of “enmity against God (Moharebeh) via armed robbery.” HRANA is actively working on identifying these individuals to shed light on their cases.

Just a day earlier, HRANA reported that ten inmates had been relocated to solitary confinement, a move that signaled their imminent execution.

As of the time of writing, no official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have reported on these executions, raising concerns about the lack of transparency and accountability in the process.

According to data compiled by the Center of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA), between October 10, 2022, and October 8, 2023, a total of 659 individuals were executed by hanging in Iran, representing a 24% increase compared to the corresponding period in the previous year. Seven of these executions were conducted publicly. Concerningly, many of the defendants were denied access to a fair trial and due process. For details and statistics, read HRANA’s report.

 

Ten Death-Row Inmates Face Imminent Execution at Qezel Hesar Prison

On November 7, ten death-row inmates at Qezel (Ghezel) Hesar Prison were moved to solitary confinement, signaling their impending execution.

Among these individuals, four have been convicted of drug-related offenses, five for murder, and one for Moharebeh through armed robbery. HRANA is diligently working on identifying these individuals and monitoring the situation as it unfolds.