Tag: Tehran

Motahareh Goonehi Arrested and Transferred to Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News, Students
Ardabil University, Mahdi Hadizadeh, Motahareh Goonehi, Tehran

Mizan, the judiciary’s news agency, has announced the arrest and imprisonment of Motahareh Goonehi, a student activist.

The report indicates that her arrest and imprisonment were prompted by content she posted on social media.

On the previous day, Ms. Goonehi had received an electronic summons ordering her to appear before Branch 9 of the Tehran Prosecutor’s Office for Media and Culture.

The Deputy Minister for Culture and Student Affairs at the Ministry of Health also announced that Goonehi’s right to continue her studies has been revoked, and a disciplinary file has been opened against her at the university.

Recently, the Tehran Prosecutor’s Office pressed charges against Goonehi, a suspended student from Tehran University of Medical Sciences, citing her “online posts” regarding Iran’s recent military actions.

Earlier, Ms. Goonehi had announced her transfer to Ardabil University. She and her husband, Mahdi Hadizadeh, also a student at Tehran University of Medical Sciences, had previously been temporarily suspended and transferred to Ardabil University of Medical Sciences by the Central Committee of the Ministry of Health.

On May 1, 2024, Goonehi was detained by IRGC Intelligence agents in Tehran after being summoned. She was taken to Evin Prison but was released on bail after several days of detention.

In July, Branch 29 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced her to one year in prison.

Goonehi, a dentistry student and former political secretary of the Islamic Association of Students at the University of Tehran and Tehran University of Medical Sciences, had also been detained by security forces during the nationwide protests of 2022.

Mohammadreza Faghihi Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison and Additional Punishments

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Freedom of Expression, News
Mohammadreza Faghihi, Tehran, Zahra Minooie

Mohammadreza Faghihi, a defense attorney, has been sentenced by Branch 15 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court to five years in prison. Additionally, he has been sentenced to a two-year travel ban, a two-year prohibition from practicing law, and a two-year ban on membership in political parties and groups.

Zahra Minooie, Mr. Faghihi’s defense attorney, announced: “My client was sentenced by Branch 15 of Tehran’s Islamic Revolutionary Court to five years in prison on charges of ‘collusion and assembly with the intent to commit a crime against national security.’ As additional punishment, he has also been banned from leaving the country for two years, from practicing law, and from membership in political parties and groups for two years.”
The court session addressing the charges against this lawyer was held on September 11 of this year.

Previously, on October 12, 2022, Mohammadreza Faghihi was arrested by security forces, along with two other lawyers, during a protest by defense attorneys objecting to the “violation of protesters’ rights and Article 27 of the Constitution” in front of the Central Bar Association in Argentina Square, Tehran. He was eventually released on bail on October 25, 2022.

This attorney has a prior record of arrest and sentencing due to his professional activities.

Abolfazl Ghadiani Arrested by Security Forces

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Freedom of Expression, News
Abolfazl Ghadiani, Tehran, ابوالفضل قدیانی

Today, September 30, political activist Abolfazl Ghadiani was arrested by security forces in Tehran and transferred to an undisclosed location.

His son announced that the arrest took place around noon at Mr. Ghadiani’s residence by security forces. As of the time of this report, no information has been provided regarding the reasons for his arrest or his whereabouts.

In July 2023, Mr. Ghadiani was sentenced to 10 months in prison by Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court on charges of “propaganda against the regime” and had been summoned to Branch 1 of the Tehran Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office to serve this sentence.

Additionally, he has faced charges of “spreading falsehoods on the Internet” in another case at Branch 1025 of the Criminal Court of the Tehran Government Employees Judicial Complex.

Ghadiani has a history of previous arrests and convictions due to his political activities.

Appeals Court Upholds Prison Sentence and Fine for Environmental Activist Yousef Farhadi Babadi

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Freedom of Expression, News
environmental activist, Tehran, Yousef Farhadi Babadi

The Appeals Court of Tehran Province has upheld the one-year prison sentence and monetary fine imposed on environmental activist Yousef Farhadi Babadi.

In a statement regarding the verdict, Mr. Farhadi Babadi said, “The one-year prison sentence and the fine have been confirmed without providing me the opportunity to defend myself in the Appeals Court, and without my knowledge of which branch issued the verdict.”

In July, Branch 29 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Mr. Farhadi Babadi to one year in prison on charges of “propaganda against the regime” and an additional year in prison along with a 15 million toman fine for “spreading falsehoods against the Ministry of Intelligence.”

Earlier, at the end of April, Farhadi Babadi was summoned to the First Branch of the Evin Prosecutor’s Office after receiving a summons. The indictment on the aforementioned charges was issued in May. This activist has a prior history of arrest.

Arian Shirpisheh Arrested in Tehran

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Freedom of Expression, News
Arian Shirpisheh, Mona Bakhtiari, Pouya Bakhtiari, Tehran

Arian Shirpisheh, the uncle of Pouya Bakhtiari, one of the victims of the November 2019 protests, was arrested by security forces in Tehran and taken to an undisclosed location.

Mona Bakhtiari, Pouya Bakhtiari’s sister, reported that at 7 a.m. on Monday, several agents from the Ministry of Intelligence raided Shirpisheh’s residence in Tehran and arrested him. During the operation, the agents also confiscated his mobile phones and other electronic devices.

No information has been released regarding the reasons for Shirpisheh’s arrest or his current whereabouts.

This is not the first time Arian Shirpisheh has been detained by security agencies.

Pouya Bakhtiari, born on September 10, 1992, was killed during the November 2019 protests in Mehrshahr, Karaj. According to his father, Pouya joined the protesters on the second day of demonstrations against the fuel price hike, accompanied by his sister and mother. He was shot in the head and succumbed to his injuries before reaching the hospital.

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Sajjad Sadeghi Arrested in Tehran

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Freedom of Expression, News
Sajjad Sadeghi, Tehran

Sajjad Sadeghi, a former radio host and expert, was arrested by security forces in Tehran today, Wednesday, and transferred to an undisclosed location.

A source close to Mr. Sadeghi’s family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “On Wednesday, September 27, several security officers came to Mr. Sadeghi’s residence in western Tehran and arrested him. The officers also searched the premises and confiscated his electronic devices.”

As of the time of this report, there is no information on the reasons for his arrest, the charges against him, or his current whereabouts.

Mr. Sadeghi was previously arrested by security forces in October 2022 during nationwide protests. He was released five months later on bail.

Sadeghi was previously sentenced to three counts of 74 lashes each. The sentence was carried out in July 2020.

Former Iran Chamber of Commerce President Sentenced to Prison and Fine

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Freedom of Expression, News
Hossein Selahvarzi, Tehran

Hossein Selahvarzi, former president of the Iran Chamber of Commerce, has been sentenced to 6 months in prison and a fine by the Tehran Province Appeals Court.

According to HRANA, quoting Mizan, Hossein Selahvarzi was convicted and sentenced to imprisonment and a fine.

Mizan, the judiciary’s news agency, reported that Selahvarzi’s case was reviewed by the Tehran Province Appeals Court, and based on legal provisions and the available evidence, he was sentenced to 6 months in prison and a fine for “spreading falsehoods.” This ruling is final and enforceable upon notification.

Previously, the Deputy Prosecutor General of Tehran had issued an indictment against Hossein Selahvarzi on charges of “insulting the Supreme Leader” and “insulting the founder of the Islamic Republic.”

In January of 2024, a court session was held in the Tehran Revolutionary Court to address these charges against Selahvarzi.

Selahvarzi, an economic activist, served as the president of the 10th term of the Iran Chamber of Commerce from late June until November of 2023, before ultimately being removed from his position.

Judicial Interference Delays Medical Evaluation for Ailing Political Prisoner Mosayeb Raisi Yeganeh

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News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, HRANA, Iman Afshari, Mosayeb Raisi Yeganeh, Tehran

Political prisoner Mosayeb Raisi Yeganeh is suffering from poor health, yet his request for medical evaluation due to his inability to endure imprisonment has not been referred to forensic medicine due to the intervention of judicial authorities.

A source close to the family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “Mr. Raisi Yeganeh is suffering from multiple health issues, and despite his request for an assessment of his inability to endure imprisonment, the case has not been referred to forensic medicine due to interference by judicial authorities.”

The source mentioned that Raisi Yeganeh suffers from hand tremors, shortness of breath, and worsening psychological issues. The source added, “Mosayeb has also been deprived of proper medical care in prison.”

Yeganeh was arrested by security forces at his home in Tehran on April 17, 2023, and transferred to Evin Prison.

In December last year, Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, sentenced him to a total of 23 years and 8 months in prison. According to HRANA’s information, 7 years of this sentence has been confirmed.

Having a history of mental health issues, Raisi Yeganeh attempted suicide on March 7, 2024, by ingesting pills and was transferred to Loghman Hospital. Despite not completing his treatment, he was returned to Evin Prison.

Raisi Yeganeh, aged around 41, has previously been arrested and imprisoned for his activism.

Political Prisoner Shakila Monfared Sentenced to Prison and Flogging

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, Shakila Monfared, Tehran, شکیلا منفرد

Shakila Monfared, a political prisoner held in Evin Prison, has been sentenced to a total of seven years and seven months in prison and 10 lashes in connection with a new case recently opened against her during her imprisonment, according to a report by Emtedad.

Ali Sharifzadeh Ardakani, a lawyer, told Emtedad that Ms. Monfared was sentenced to six years and seven months in prison for the charge of “destroying public property” (breaking a glass table at District 8 Prosecutor’s Office) and one year in prison and 10 lashes for “disturbing public order and peace.”

This case against Shakila Monfared was initiated following a complaint by Ms. Shaqaqi, the Deputy Prosecutor. On July 24, 2024, an indictment was issued against this political prisoner by Tehran’s District 8 Prosecutor’s Office, charging her with destroying public property and disturbing public order and peace.

On June 26, 2024, while on medical furlough, Shakila Monfared was arrested and returned to Evin Prison after appearing at the District 8 Prosecutor’s Office for an extension of her furlough, despite her medical treatment being incomplete.

Ms. Monfared, aged around 31, a resident of Tehran, was initially arrested by security forces in Tehran on August 31, 2020, while leaving her home. After completing her interrogation at one of the IRGC’s detention centers, she was transferred to Evin Prison. Finally, on September 14, she was released on bail.

The court session for the joint case against Shakila Monfared and two others was held on January 20, 2021, in Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court. After the session, Monfared was re-arrested by IRGC intelligence agents and taken back to prison.

Ultimately, Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, sentenced her to six years of imprisonment and four months of compulsory labor in Ministry of Agriculture Jihad for charges of “propaganda against the regime” and blasphemy.” Branch 36 of the Tehran Appeals Court later reduced her sentence to four years and two months of definitive imprisonment.

In January 2022, Monfared was tried in Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court for another case opened during her imprisonment. In June 2023, Branch 36 of the Tehran Appeals Court sentenced her to two years and eight months of imprisonment for “membership in anti-regime groups” and a fine for “spreading falsehoods.”

It should be noted that on June 6, 2023, Monfared faced new charges for “assembly and collusion to commit crimes against national security,” but this case was ultimately dismissed.

Additionally, in April of this year, Shakila Monfared was sentenced to twelve months of imprisonment, two years of exile, and additional punishments by Branch 36 of the Tehran Appeals Court for another case opened during her imprisonment.

 

Death-Row Political Prisoner Pakhshan Azizi Hit with New Charges

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Courthouse, Mahabad, Pakshan Azizi, Tehran

Pakhshan Azizi, a political prisoner sentenced to death and currently held in Evin Prison, is now facing new charges, as reported by Kurdpa.

The report states that Ms. Azizi has been accused of “rioting in prison” in a new case initiated by Branch 3 of the Evin Prosecutor’s Office. This charge is reportedly related to the second round of the 1403 presidential elections.

Earlier this month, Ms. Azizi was sentenced to death by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, on charges including membership in anti-regime groups.

Pakhshan Azizi, a resident of Mahabad, was arrested by security forces in Tehran on August 4, 2023, and transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison.

This political detainee was deprived of the right to access a private lawyer and meet with her family for a long time. Eventually, after four months of interrogation, she was transferred to the women’s ward of this prison.

Ms. Azizi was formally charged in February of 2023 at Evin Courthouse, and her indictment was referred to Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

Azizi had previously faced arrest and judicial confrontations. She was detained by security forces on November 16, 2009, and released on bail after four months.

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.