Tag: Salavati

Vadood Asadi Sentenced to Four Years in Prison

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Ethnic Minorities, News
Azerbaijani Turk activist, ehran Revolutionary Court, Salar Taher Afshar, Salavati, Vadood Asadi

Azerbaijani-Turk activist Vadood Asadi has been sentenced to four years in prison by Tehran’s Revolutionary Court on charges of “assembly and collusion to disrupt national security.” This sentence was issued by Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Salavati, and was recently communicated to Mr. Asadi.

In a separate case, the Rasht Revolutionary Court previously sentenced Mr. Asadi to five years and six months in prison. This verdict was based on charges of “propaganda against the regime, membership in anti-regime groups, and insulting the Supreme Leader.”  Most recently, on October 27, an appeal session for his Rasht sentence was held.

Mr. Asadi was initially detained by security forces in Rasht in February 2024. He was transferred to Evin Prison in March and subsequently released on bail a few days later. His court hearing, conducted alongside fellow activist Salar Taher Afshar, was held on May 21, 2024.

Vadood Asadi, an Azerbaijani-Turk activist, has previously faced judicial actions due to his activism.

Six Political Activists Sentenced to Over 50 Years in Prison

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Ethnic Minorities, Freedom of Expression, News
Abdolaziz Azimi Ghadim, and Araz Aman, Ayaz Seyfkhah, Azerbaijani Turk activist, Bagher Haji-Zadeh, Hossein Piri, Kamal Nouri, Salavati

Kamal Nouri, Ayaz Seyfkhah, Abdolaziz Azimi Ghadim, Bagher Haji-Zadeh, Hossein Piri, and Araz Aman, all Azerbaijani-Turk activists, have been sentenced to a combined 53 years in prison by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

The verdict, issued on Wednesday, October 16, by Judge Abolqasem Salavati, details the following sentences:

  • Hossein Piri: Five years for “assembly and collusion against national security.”
  • Abdolaziz Azimi Ghadim: One year for “propaganda against the regime” and five years for “assembly and collusion against national security.”
  • Araz Aman, Ayaz Seyfkhah, and Bagher Haji-Zadeh: Each sentenced to eight years for “espionage” and five years for “assembly and collusion against national security.”
  • Kamal Nouri: Three years, with two years of his sentence suspended.

Nouri, Seyfkhah, Azimi Ghadim, Haji-Zadeh, and Aman were arrested by security forces in February of last year and subsequently transferred to Evin Prison.

Political Defendants Varisheh Moradi and Pakhshan Azizi Stage Hunger Strike in Evin Prison

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News, Prisoners
Baha'is Graveyard in Sanandaj, Evin Prison, Mahabad, Pakhshan Azizi, Salavati, Varisheh Moradi

Varisheh (Varisha) Moradi and Pakhshan Azizi have initiated a hunger strike in Evin Prison to protest prolonged detention without a court hearing and Moradi’s relocation to security Ward 209, controlled by the Ministry of Intelligence.

Despite being detained for nine months, there has been no clarity in their legal proceedings.

Confirming their hunger strike, a source close to their families informed HRANA that Moradi was recently banned from making phone calls and family visits by the order of Judge Abolqasem Salavati. She was moved from the Women’s Ward to Ward 209 on May 14, and both Azizi and Moradi initiated their hunger strike the following day.

Moradi was apprehended by security forces on August 1, 2023, in the suburbs of Sanandaj. Later in August, she was transferred from a detention facility in Sanandaj to Ward 209 of Evin Prison. After completing the interrogation process on December 26, 2023, she was relocated to the Women’s Ward within the prison.

In February 2024, Moradi was indicted by Branch 5 of the Public and Revolutionary Court of Tehran on charges of armed rebellion (Baghi) due to suspected membership in a political opposition party. However, the court session was annulled due to the absence of the counselor.

Azizi, a resident of Mahabad, was arrested on August 4, 2023, by security forces in Tehran. She was interrogated for four months in Ward 209 of Evin Prison before being relocated to the Women’s Ward. In February 2024, Azizi was also indicted for “membership in anti-regime groups,” under review by the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Iman Afshari.

This is not the first time Azizi has faced arrest and judicial confrontation, as she was previously arrested by security forces on November 16, 2009, and detained for four months until her release on bail.

Shirin Saeedi Receives Five-Year Sentence on Political Charges

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News, Prisoners
Revolutionary Court of Tehran, Salavati, Shirin Saeedi, شیرین سعیدی

Shirin Saeedi, a political prisoner, has been sentenced to five years in prison by the Revolutionary Court of Tehran.

Currently held in the Women’s Ward of Evin Prison, Saeedi’s conviction stems from charges of “assembly and collusion to act against national security,” as determined by Judge Abolghasem Salavati of Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court. Saeedi retains the option to appeal within a 20-day window.

The specifics of the alleged actions leading to this political charge remain undisclosed at present.

Approximately 53 years old, Saeedi resided in Lebanon for a period before returning to Iran, where she was summoned by judicial authorities on December 23, 2023. Subsequently indicted for “assembly and collusion against national security,” she was detained in Evin Prison.

On April 28, 2024, Mizan, the Judiciary News Agency, released a report erroneously linking Saeedi with another individual outside the prison who shares a similar name, possibly attempting to insinuate that Saeedi was not incarcerated in Evin Prison. In response, HRANA conducted a fact-check and refuted Mizan’s claim, ensuring that Saeedi’s imprisonment was not denied by the authorities.

Eight Protestors Remain in Detention Amid Legal Uncertainty

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Alireza Barmarz Pournak, Alireza Kafaie, Amir-Mohammad Khosh Eghbal, Arman Aliverdi, Ekbatan, Hossein Nemati, Mehdi Imani, Milad Armoon, Mohammad-Mehdi Hosseini, moharebeh, Navid Najaran, Qezel Hesar Prison, Salavati

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.

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Journalists Niloofar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi Sentenced to a Combined 25 Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Elahe Mohammadi, Mahsa Amini, Niloofar Hamedi, Salavati, Tehran Revolutionary Court

The Tehran Revolutionary Court has issued sentences of 13 and 12 years to two female journalists, Niloofar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi, respectively. In addition to their prison terms, they have been prohibited from participating in political groups and are subject to restrictions on their social media and media-related activities. These journalists are currently incarcerated in Evin Prison.

Judge Salavati, who presided over the case, sentenced Hamedi to seven years for “collaboration with an adversarial country, the USA,” five years for “assembly and collusion against national security,” and one year for “propaganda against the regime.” Mohammadi received six, five, and one-year sentences for the same charges, respectively.

Should the verdicts be upheld on appeal, the initial jail terms, specifically seven years for Hamedi and six years for Mohammadi, will be enforced.

Hamedi, a reporter for the daily newspaper Shargh, was arrested at her residence in Tehran on September 22, 2022, by security forces. She gained recognition as the first journalist to publish a picture of Mahsa Amini in a coma.

Mohammadi, a reporter for the daily newspaper Ham-Mihan, was arrested on September 29, 2022, after traveling to Saqqez and covering the funeral of Mahsa Amini.

Workers’ Rights Activist Reyhaneh Ansari Receives Four-Year Prison Sentence and Additional Restrictions

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Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News
Anisha Asadollahi, Evin Prison, mohammad habibi, Razieh Zeydi, Reyhaneh Ansari, Salavati, Tehran

The Tehran Revolutionary Court has handed a four-year prison sentence to workers’ rights activist Reyhaneh Ansari. According to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the original charge would have led to a four-year imprisonment.

Ansari’s lawyer, Razieh Zeydi, informed the public that Judge Salavati, who presided over the Tehran Revolutionary Court, sentenced Ansari to four years for “assembly and collusion against national security and acting against national security.” As an additional punishment, she has been prohibited from leaving the country, joining political and civil groups, and engaging in online and media activities for two years.

Ansari, along with several other civil and workers’ rights activists, was apprehended at Mohammad Habibi’s residence just days before International Workers’ Day on April 28, 2023. Subsequently, she, along with Anisha Asadollahi, was released on a one-billion-Toman bail ten days later.

It is important to highlight that Ansari has a history of arrests and convictions related to her activism.

Ramin Alinia’s Six-Year Prison Sentence Upheld by Tehran Court of Appeal

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Freedom of Expression, News
ardabil prison, Ramin Alinia, Salavati

The Tehran Court of Appeal has confirmed the six-year sentence imposed on Ramin Alinia Tazeh-Kand, an Azerbaijani (Turk) activist who was apprehended during the nationwide protests in 2022.

Originally, Judge Salavati of the Tehran Revolutionary Court had pronounced a five-year sentence for “assembly and collusion against national security” and an additional year for “propaganda against the regime.” Alinia has also been subjected to a two-year ban on leaving the country, participating in political groups and parties, and engaging in activities on media and social platforms. Pursuant to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the five-year term for the first charge will be enforceable.

Alinia was taken into custody by security forces in Ardabil on November 8, 2022. After spending 12 days in detention, he was granted release on bail from Ardabil Prison.

Background on the 2022 Nationwide Protests

The arrest of Mahsa Amini by Tehran Morality Police for her improper hejab 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.

 

Iranian-American Citizen Emad Sharghi and Political Prisoner Reza Ghalandari Contract COVID-19 in Evin Prison

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News, Prisoners
Bahareh Amidi, Coronavirus, COVID, covid-19, Emad Sharghi, Reza Ghalandari, Salavati

Imprisoned Iranian-American citizen Emad Sharghi and political prisoner Reza Ghalandari tested positive for COVID-19 in Evin Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Sharghi’s family has previously expressed concerns about his health in case he contracts COVID-19, as he suffers from high blood pressure and cholesterol. He has been deprived of the COVID-19 vaccine.

In April of 2018, Sharghi was arrested by IRGC intelligence agents on the charge of espionage. After nine months in detention, he was released on bail. IRGC confiscated his passport as well as the passport of his wife, Bahareh Amidi, in order to prevent them from leaving the country.

An informed source told HRANA regarding Shargi’s arrest that “about 20 security agents— later it turned out that they were IRGC agents— raided his house in Tehran at night to arrest him and his wife. Mr. Sharghi was detained for nine months in Evin Prison awaiting his legal proceedings. Finally, he was temporarily released on bail”.

On November 30, 2020,  Tehran’s Revolutionary Court, headed by Judge Salavati, sentenced him to 10 years in prison in a trial in absentia. He was charged with “espionage and collecting gathering military intelligence.” He was not summoned to attend the trial and was denied the right to defend himself.

In January of 2021, HRANA reported his arrest at the border area of Sardasht by IRGC intelligence agents during an attempt to flee the country.

He is currently spending his sentence in Salon 9 of Ward 8 in Evin Prison.

Ghalandari, age 40, is serving his sentence in the same ward. He was sentenced five years in prison on the charge of “assembly and collusion against national security” by Tehran’s Revolutionary Court. The verdict was upheld on appeal.

Ahmadreza Haeri Summoned to the Cybercrime Court of Tehran

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ahmadreza Haeri, Cubercrime, Evin, Evin Prison, Gerater Tehran Penitentiary, Greater Tehran Prison, Haeri, NAJA, PSCMO, Salavati, subpoena, Tehran, Tehran Province

Following a complaint from the Prisons and Security and Corrective Measures Organization of Tehran Province (PSCMO), former political prisoner Ahmadreza Haeri was recently summoned to the Cybercrime Court of Tehran.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, this Friday, October 29, Haeri was summoned on charges of “spreading lies, accusative, insulting and slanderous words”.

One month after the incident known as “Black Thursday of Evin Prison”, when dozens of political prisoners in Evin Prison were beaten brutally by security agents in Ward 350 of Evin prison, Ahmadreza Haeri was sentenced to 42 months in prison by Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, headed by Judge Salavati.

This initial verdict was upheld by Branch 36 of the appellate court. However, following his lawyer’s objection, the verdict was revoked and this time the case was undertaken by Branch 54 of the court of appeals which sentenced him to six months in prison and 74 lashes.

On July 25, 2020, Haeri endured the flogging by the Intelligence and Public Security Police of NAJA and then was sent to the Greater Tehran prison to serve his six-month sentence. On October 8, 2020, he was released on probation from the Greater Tehran prison.

In this new subpoena from the Cybercrime Court of Tehran, Haeri was instructed to appear there within five days.