Tag: Tehran Revolutionary Court

Trial Commences for Swedish National Johan Floderus

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Aftonbladet, Iman Afshari, Johan Floderus, Mizan, Sweden, Tehran Revolutionary Court

On December 10, 2023, Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court initiated proceedings in the trial of Johan Floderus, a Swedish citizen facing charges of “spreading corruption on earth” and “espionage,” as reported by Mizan, Iran’s judiciary news agency.

Presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, the court session saw Floderus, accompanied by his legal representative, contesting the array of charges leveled against him, which include “spreading corruption on earth” and “undermining national security by collaborating with Israel to gather intelligence.” Throughout the proceedings, the prosecutor asserted that Floderus had allegedly “established a network in Iran in conjunction with the Swedish Intelligence service, engaged in activism aimed at overthrowing the regime, disguised fund transfers to Iran as part of a project, traveled to Israel, and collaborated with Israeli Intelligence within the European Union.”

Floderus was formally indicted in November of the current year.

In April 2022, Floderus visited Iran. As he was departing Iran on April 16, 2022, he was detained by the Ministry of Intelligence at the airport on charges of espionage.

In July, the Ministry of Intelligence issued a statement asserting that Floderus had made multiple trips to Iran. During his last visit, he was allegedly on a mission to uncover the identity of another spy who had been apprehended in Iran. Intelligence agents monitored his communications and, after accumulating evidence, arrested him under a warrant issued by the judiciary.

It is worth noting that on May 6, 2022, the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed his detention in Iran. The Swedish daily newspaper Aftonbladet described his arrest as a retaliatory move by Iran’s regime in response to the trial of Hamid Nouri, a prominent figure involved in the 1988 executions of Iranian political prisoners. Nouri had been arrested in November 2019 in Sweden and subsequently convicted of crimes against humanity.

Actor Mohammad Sadeghi Receives Five-Year Prison Sentence

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Freedom of Expression, News
Amol, Mohammad Sadeghi, Tehran Revolutionary Court

The Tehran Revolutionary Court has handed down a five-year prison sentence to Mohammad Sadeghi, a theater and television actor. This verdict has been affirmed upon appeal.

In a video message, Sadeghi conveyed to the public that he was found guilty of charges related to “inciting people to violence and engage in activities to disrupt national security.” The ruling has been upheld by Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeal.

The incident unfolded on July 16, 2023, when Sadeghi, a native of Amol, was apprehended by the Ministry of Intelligence at his residence in Tehran. After spending over a month in custody, he was released on bail on August 20.

Following his arrest, Sadeghi utilized social media to share details about the raid conducted by security forces at his residence. The Information Center of the Greater Tehran Police Command issued a statement connecting his detention to allegations of inciting violence and defaming the “guardians of order and security in society” based on a video clip published by Sadeghi.

 

Five Citizens Receive a Combined 20 Years and Fine for Political Charges

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, HRANA, Iman Afshari, Kamran Rezaie, Mohammad-Masoud Moeini, Parastoo Moeini, Tehran Revolutionary Court, Teymour Rezaeian, Zahra Safaie

The Tehran Revolutionary Court has recently sentenced Zahra Safaie, Parastoo Moeini, Mohammad-Masoud Moeini, and Kamran Rezaiefar to five years, totaling twenty years in prison for political charges. Meanwhile, co-defendant Teymour (Timur) Rezaeian has been ordered to pay a fine.

Presiding over the court, Judge Iman Afshari found these individuals guilty of “assembly and collusion against national security.”

The arrests occurred on September 12, 2023, with Rezaeian apprehended one day later. Initially held in Ward 209 of Evin Prison, Later, they were transferred to the IRGC’s detention center, known as A-1.

According to HRANA reports, Safaie is currently held in the Women’s Ward of Evin Prison, while her son, Mohammad-Masoud Moeini, and Rezaiefar are in Ward 4 of the same prison. Two other defendants have been released on bail.

Notably, Rezaiefar has a history of arrests and convictions. In November 2021, he received a death sentence for “spreading corruption on earth,” which was later overturned by the Supreme Court. The current status of his legal case remains uncertain.

 

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.

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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.

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.

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.