Eleven Individuals Sentenced to a Total of 95 Years for Political Charges

Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court has issued extensive sentences totaling 95 years for 11 defendants on political charges. In addition to imprisonment, the individuals have also been fined and subjected to flogging and other supplementary penalties.

Under the direction of Judge Iman Afshari, the court delivered the following verdicts:

Vahid Gol-Sorkh: Five years for Blasphemy, five years for “assembly and collusion against national security,” one year for “propaganda against the regime,” five years for “inciting people to violence”, totaling 16 years with five years enforceable.

Kazem Alineajd Baralu: Five years for Blasphemy, five years for “assembly and collusion against national security,” one year for “propaganda against the regime,” totaling 11 years with five years enforceable.

Arsham (Mahmood) Rezaie: Five years for “assembly and collusion against national security,” one year for “propaganda against the regime,” five years for “inciting people to violence”, two years for “illegal acquisition of property,” two years and paying a fine for “dissemination of false information,” totaling 15 years with five years enforceable.

Meysam Gholami: Five years for “assembly and collusion against national security,” one year for “propaganda against the regime, totaling six years with five years enforceable.

Vahid Ghadirzadeh: Five years for “assembly and collusion against national security,” one year for “propaganda against the regime, totaling six years with five years enforceable.

Ali-Asghar Hassani-Rad: Five years for “assembly and collusion against national security,” one year for “propaganda against the regime, and two years for “illegal acquisition of property,” totaling eight years with five years enforceable. Additionally, he has received 11 lashes for “holding drug,” and paying a fine.

Saman Rezaie: Four years for “assembly and collusion against national security,” one year for “propaganda against the regime,” with four years enforceable.

Fatemeh Haghparast Sahi: eight months for “propaganda against the regime,” paying a fine for “presence in public without Hijab.”

Payam Bastani Parizi: Five years for “assembly and collusion against national security,” one year for “propaganda against the regime,” ten years for “forming group to act against national security,” with ten years enforceable.

Mohammad-Reza Kamrani-Nejad: Five years for “assembly and collusion against national security,” one year for “propaganda against the regime,” detention period included. Five years will be enforceable to him.

Hojatollah Rafei: Five years for “assembly and collusion against national security,” and one year for “propaganda against the regime,” detention period included. Five years will be enforceable to him.

Reports from the Department of Statistics and Publication of HRA in 2023 indicate a total of 193 cases in which Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, has been involved in issuing verdicts that infringe upon the human rights of defendants.

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

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.

 

Payam Bastani Parizi Arrested in Tehran

On September 11, Payam Bastani Parizi was apprehended at his father’s residence in Tehran and subsequently transported to an undisclosed detention center. Notably, Bastani Parizi had previously been detained in connection with the nationwide protests of 2022.

A source closely associated with his family relayed to HRANA that a group of eight security agents conducted the arrest at his father’s residence. The grounds for Bastani Parizi’s detention, his current location, and the charges against him remain shrouded in uncertainty at this time.

Bastani Parizi’s initial arrest occurred on September 24, 2022, during the nationwide protests in Tehran. He was subsequently released from the Great Tehran Penitentiary on February 8, 2023, under the “pardon and commutation” directive implemented at that time.

It’s noteworthy that Bastani Parizi, aged 36, has a history of prior arrests and convictions linked to his activism.

A Comprehensive Report of the First 82 days of Nationwide Protests in Iran

  HRANA – Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old young woman, was arrested by the morality police for the crime of improper hijab. Her arrest and death in detention fueled nationwide protests in Iran. Protesters came to the streets with the central slogan “Women, Life, Freedom” in protest against the performance, laws, and structure of the regime. The following 486-page report is dedicated to the statistical review, analysis, and summary of the first eighty-two days of the ongoing protests (September 17 to December 7, 2022). In this report, in addition to the geographic analysis and the presentation of maps and charts, the identity of 481 deceased, including 68 children and teenagers, an estimated of 18,242 arrested along with the identity of 3,670 arrested citizens, 605 students and 61 journalists or activists in the field of information is compiled. In addition, the report includes a complete collection of 1988 verified video reports by date and topic. The report examines protests across 1115 documented gatherings in all 31 provinces of the country, including 160 cities and 143 universities.

Summary

Mahsa (Zhina) Amini, a young 22-year-old woman from Saqqez, Kurdistan was visiting Tehran, when she was taken into custody on Tuesday, September 13, 2022, by the Morality Police officers at the Haqqani metro station in Tehran. The reason for her arrest: not properly observing the strict Islamic dress code. Mahsa/Zhina was taken to the infamous detention center of Moral Security Police known as Vozara.
Shortly after Mahsa’s arrest, she went into a coma with level three concussion, and her partially alive body was transferred to the intensive care unit of Kasra Hospital. Given the track record of the police and Guidance Patrols in mistreating the arrestees and similar previous incidents, with the believe that Mahsa was beaten during the arrest people were outraged.

Download full report in PDF format

Unpersuasive explanations given by the Central Command of the Islamic Republic Police Force (FARAJA) in defense of its actions regarding the death of Mahsa, the past performance of the police force, along with widespread dissatisfaction with the existence of a body called the Moral Security Police, fueled widespread protests in Iran.
The widespread protests sparked at the time Mahsa Amini was announced dead in front of Kasra Hospital on Argentina Street in Tehran, and then quickly spread to the streets despite the intimidating presence of Iran’s security forces. The protests intensified after Mahsa’s burial in a Saqqez cemetery. To the extent that after eighty-two days of nationwide protests between September 17, 2022, to December 7, 2022, they have spread to Iran’s all 31 provinces, 160 cities, and 143 major universities.
The protests did not stay limited to Mahsa’s death, it rather, quickly targeted the Iranian government’s political and ideological foundations. These protests were violently quashed by the anti-riot police and Iran’s militia force (Basij). teargas, pellets, and live ammunition were used in the repression of protestors. This widespread crackdown has led to the death of dozens of people and the wounding of hundreds of protestors.
Despite sever communication restrictions imposed by the Islamic Republic, this report attempts to give a clearer picture of the first 82 days of the protests between September 17, to December 7, 2022. It’s worth mentioning at the time of this report the protests are still ongoing in various forms.

Table of Contents

 

 

For further inquiries please contact Skylar Thompson, Senior Advocacy Coordinator Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) at [email protected]

Mostafa Azizi and Payam Bastani Parizi Released from Prison

HRANA News Agency – Mostafa Azizi and Payam Bastani Parizi, two political prisoners were released by the supreme leader’s pardon for celebration of March 31st (Islamic Republic day). Mr. Parizi was lashed 30 times before being released.
According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Mostafa Azizi, prisoner of Evin prison, and Payam Bastani Parizi, prisoner of Rajaei Shahr prison, were released on Saturday April 9, by the supreme leader’s pardon. Continue reading “Mostafa Azizi and Payam Bastani Parizi Released from Prison”

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The List Of Over 80 Political Prisoners In Rajai Shahr Prison In Karaj

HRANA News Agency – The following list includes names, warrants and charges of more than 80 political prisoners, prisoners of conscience and security in Rajai Shahr prison which has been prepared by the reporters of HRANA.
A diverse range of prisoners charged with political, conscience, military and security allegations are being held in Rajai Shahr prison. Although many of these prisoners are kept in separate rooms in Hall 12 but a large number of these prisoners are being kept also between non-political, criminals and sometimes dangerous prisoners unlike the principle of separation of crimes. Continue reading “The List Of Over 80 Political Prisoners In Rajai Shahr Prison In Karaj”