Tag: Tehran Revolutionary Court

Political Activist Abdollah Momeni Sentenced to One Year in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Abdollah Momeni, Evin Prison, Judge Mazloum, Tehran, Tehran Revolutionary Court, عبدالله مومنی

Modara reports that the Tehran Revolutionary Court has imposed a one-year prison term on political activist Abdollah Momeni.

Presided over by Judge Mazloum from Branch 29, the court convicted Momeni of “spreading propaganda against the regime,” ordering the seizure of his cell phone and other electronic devices.

During the trial, a speech delivered by Momeni at a conference on political issues was presented as evidence for the aforementioned charge.

Intelligence agents arrested Momeni at his residence in Tehran on April 27, 2023, taking him to Ward 209 of Evin Prison, which is controlled by the Ministry of Intelligence. After three days, he was released on bail.

Momeni, a prominent former student activist and former spokesperson for the Alumni Association of Iran (Advar-e Tahkim Vahdat) organization two decades ago, had previously served a five-year sentence and was released from Evin Prison in March 2014.

Siamak Ebrahimi and Shahrokh Ahmadi Receive Combined Nine-Year, Eight-Month Sentences

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Freedom of Expression, News
Iman Afshari, Shahrokh Ahmadi, Siamak Ebrahimi, Tehran Revolutionary Court

The Tehran Court of Appeals has recently confirmed a joint sentence of nine years and eight months for Siamak Ebrahimi and Shahrokh Ahmadi.

The court’s decision stipulates that Ebrahimi will serve five years in prison for “assembly and collusion against national security” and an additional eight months for “spreading propaganda against the regime.” Ahmadi has been sentenced to four years for “assembly and collusion against national security.”

Pursuant to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, which dictates that in cases of multiple charges, the harshest punishment shall be enforced, Ebrahimi will spend five years in prison.

These sentences were initially issued by the Tehran Revolutionary Court under the leadership of Judge Iman Afshari.

Ebrahimi and Ahmadi were apprehended by security forces in Tehran on February 7, 2023, and subsequently released on bail from Evin Prison.

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.

Lawyer Saleh Nikbakht Receives One-Year Sentence and Social Media Restrictions

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Freedom of Expression, News
Eskandar Lotfi, Jafar Panahi, Mahsa Amini, Masoud Nikkhah, Mohammad-Reza Amoozad, Saleh Nikbakht, Tehran Revolutionary Court

Saleh Nikbakht has been sentenced to one year in prison by the Tehran Revolutionary Court and faces restrictions on his social media activities.

Presided over by Judge Mohammad-Reza Amoozad, the Tehran Revolutionary Court delivered this verdict to Nikbakht for “spreading propaganda against the regime.” Additionally, he has been prohibited from engaging in social media activities for a duration of two years.

According to sources cited by HRANA, Nikbakht’s refusal to accept the forensic report concerning the cause of Mahsa Amini’s death was cited as evidence supporting this charge. Nikbakht, who served as Amini’s lawyer, found himself embroiled in this legal case following a complaint filed by the Ministry of Intelligence, primarily due to his interviews with media outlets outside Iran.

On March 11, 2023, Nikbakht was indicted at Evin Courthouse and subsequently released on bail.

Notably, Nikbakht has represented Mahsa Amini and several political prisoners, including Jafar Panahi, Eskandar Lotfi, and Masoud Nikkhah, in legal matters.

Student Mohammad Navid Badami Sentenced to Prison and Flogging

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Freedom of Expression, News, Students
Ali Mazloum, Mohammad Navid Badami, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran Revolutionary Court

The Tehran Revolutionary Court has handed down a sentence of one year in prison and 74 lashes to Mohammad Navid Badami, a student at Shahid Beheshti University, with seven months of the prison term being suspended.

Presiding over the court, Judge Ali Mazloum found Badami guilty of “disturbing public order.”

On May 20, 2023, Badami was apprehended by security forces during a student gathering protesting the death sentences issued against three defendants in a case known as “Khaneh e Isfahan (Isfahan House).” He was subsequently released on bail on June 12, 2023.

It is crucial to note that the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights prohibits flogging as a form of cruel and inhumane punishment.

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Four Baha’i Citizens Sentenced to Twelve Years on Appeal

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News, Religious Minorities
Ataollah Zafar, Evin Prison, HRANA, Mansour Amini, Shadi Shahidzadeh, Tehran Revolutionary Court, Valiollah Ghadamian

In a recent development, the Tehran Court of Appeal has issued a collective 12-year prison sentence to Baha’i citizens Shadi Shahidzadeh, Mansour Amini, Valiollah Ghadamian, and Ataollah Zafar.

Presiding over the case, Judge Abbasali Hoozan has pronounced the following sentences: Shahidzadeh will serve five years, while Zafar and Ghadamian will each serve two years, and Amini will face a three-year term.

It is worth noting that initially, the Tehran Revolutionary Court had sentenced all four individuals to five years in prison on charges of “membership in illegal groups aimed at disrupting national security.”

These Baha’i citizens were apprehended by security forces on May 1, 2023, and subsequently transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison.

HRANA’s annual report has highlighted a concerning trend where, in 2022, 64.63% of reported human rights violations against religious minorities are directed toward the Baha’i community.

The Baha’i faith is not recognized as a legitimate religion by Iranian authorities, leading to systematic and longstanding violations of the rights of Baha’is in the country. This includes the denial of their fundamental right to practice their religion, which constitutes a clear breach of both Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The United Nations covenant holds that every person has the right to freedom of religion, freedom of converting religion, as well as freedom of expression, individually or collectively; openly or secretly.

Amir-Hossein Moradi Initiates Hunger Strike at Evin Prison

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News, Prisoners
Amir Hossein Moradi, Evin Prison, HRANA, Tehran Revolutionary Court

Amir-Hossein Moradi, a political prisoner, is currently serving a one-year sentence in Evin Prison and has recently embarked on a hunger strike in protest of his incarceration.

A source close to Moradi’s family has informed HRANA that he is being held in Ward 4 of Evin Prison. Since last Monday, October 2, he has been on a hunger strike, demanding his release.

In March 2023, Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Moradi to one year in prison for “propaganda against the regime,” a charge based on a post published on his Instagram page.

Moradi was arrested at his father’s residence on May 8, 2023. He was subsequently released from Evin Prison on bond on June 3, 2023.
It is worth noting that Moradi has faced arrests and periods of incarceration due to his activism.

Former Political Prisoner Reza Nowruzi Arrested

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Freedom of Expression, News
Erfan Karam Veisi, great tehran penitentiary, Reza Nowruzi, Tehran Revolutionary Court

On September 7, 2023, Reza Nowruzi, a former political prisoner, was apprehended by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location.

Breaking this development, his attorney, Erfan Karam Veisi, confirmed: “Nowruzi was arrested at his residence by security forces.”

The identity of the security institution responsible for Nowruzi’s arrest, as well as details about his current whereabouts and the charges against him, remain unknown at this time.

Previously, Nowruzi had been arrested by security forces in Tehran in April-May 2021. Subsequently, the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced him to ten years in prison, with five years of that sentence being enforceable. This verdict was upheld upon appeal.

On May 27, 2023, Nowruzi was granted early release from the Great Tehran Penitentiary. However, during his incarceration, in August 2022, he was charged with “disturbing prison order,” resulting in a fine and a sentence of 74 lashes.

In June 2023, he was summoned to Evin Courthouse to face further penalties related to his legal case.

Nowruzi, approximately 33 years of age and hailing from Sarab, is a father of two children.

Tehran Revolutionary Court Sentences Baha’i Citizen Nazila Haghar to Five Years in Prison

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News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i citizen, Nazila Haghar, Tehran, Tehran Revolutionary Court

Nazila Haghar, a Baha’i citizen, has received a five-year prison sentence from the Tehran Revolutionary Court, a verdict that was subsequently affirmed on appeal on August 20, 2023.

In a trial in absentia, Haghar was handed down a five-year sentence for “membership in an illegal group aimed at undermining national security.”
The court cited her involvement in organizing educational programs for children as evidence of this charge.
In July 2022, security forces conducted a thorough search of her residence and confiscated some of the items belonging to her and her family.

The Baha’i faith is not recognized as a legitimate religion by Iranian authorities, leading to systematic and longstanding violations of the rights of Baha’is in the country. This includes the denial of their fundamental right to practice their religion, which constitutes a clear breach of both Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The United Nations covenant holds that every person has the right to freedom of religion, freedom of converting religion, as well as freedom of expression, individually or collectively; openly or secretly.

 

Reza Ramezanzadeh Initiates One-Year Sentence at Great Tehran Penitentiary

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Freedom of Expression, News
Iman Afshari, Mahsa Amini, Reza Ramezanzadeh, Tehran Revolutionary Court

Reza Ramezanzadeh commenced his one-year prison term at the Great Tehran Penitentiary on Tuesday, August 29, 2023. Ramezanzadeh, a former political detainee, was apprehended during the nationwide protests.

Ramezanzadeh’s sentence of one year was handed down by Judge Iman Afshari of the Tehran Revolutionary Court. The conviction was based on charges of “propaganda against the regime.” Despite an appeal process, the verdict was upheld.

On January 7, 2023, Ramezanzadeh was summoned to the Evin Courthouse, leading to his immediate detainment in Ward 209 of Evin Prison. Subsequently, on February 9, he was released on bail.

Ramezanzadeh’s recent encounter with the legal system is not his first; he has faced arrests and convictions previously for his activism.

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.