Tag: Tehran

Woman Receives Prison Sentence and Travel Ban for Violating Hijab Requirement

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Freedom of Expression, News, Women
Ahmadreza Radan, Hijab, Tehran

The Criminal Court of Tehran has handed down a verdict sentencing a woman to two months in prison and imposing a two-year travel ban on her for violating the Hijab regulations.

As per the verdict, which gained attention after being shared on social media, the Tehran Criminal Court, under the authority of Judge Ali Omidi, issued a two-month prison sentence and a two-year travel ban against a woman who was found guilty of “publicly not wearing Hijab.” The court classified the act of not wearing Hijab as a manifestation of “antisocial behavior,” mandating the woman to be under treatment and present a health certificate twice a week for a duration of six months.

Furthermore, the court labeled the absence of the Hijab as an act of behavior deemed “anti-Iranian,” justifying the implementation of the travel ban.
Prior to this ruling, Ahmadreza Radan, the chief of Iranian police, had announced an action plan involving the seizure of vehicles and closure of businesses as means to enforce compliance with the Hijab requirement among citizens.

Sadegh Zibakalam Sentenced to One Year in Prison for News Dissemination

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Freedom of Expression, News
Criminal Court, Sadegh Zibakalam, serial poison attacks, Tehran

The Criminal Court of Tehran has handed down a one-year prison sentence to Sadegh Zibakalam, a prominent professor at the University of Tehran and political pundit. The verdict is related to his role in sharing news regarding serial poison attacks on schools.

According to the court’s decision on July 2, 2023, Zibakalam has been convicted of “spreading falsehood to disturb public opinion online,” resulting in a one-year sentence. The court session took place on June 27, 2023. It’s important to note that Zibakalam, aged 65, is widely recognized as an academic, author, and reformist neo-liberal pundit.

Since late November, a series of poison attacks on schools, particularly girls’ schools, have shaken the country. Parents’ protests demanding answers were met with a heavy-handed response. Despite the passage of eight months and the arrest of several suspects, the Iranian authorities have yet to provide a satisfactory explanation to the public. For more detailed information and statistics, please refer to the HRANA report.”

Golrokh Iraee’s Sentence Reduced to Five Years on Appeal

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, golrokh iraee, Tehran

Golrokh Iraee, a former political prisoner, has had her sentence reduced to five years by the Tehran Court of Appeals. Initially, she had been sentenced to seven years in prison.

The court handed down this verdict in response to charges of “assembly and collusion against national security,” “propaganda against the regime,” and “disturbing public order.” In addition to the prison term, Iraee has also been prohibited from joining political and civil groups, restricted from staying in Tehran, barred from leaving the country for two years, and had her cell phone confiscated.

The court session took place on June 18, 2023.

Iraee was violently arrested by security forces at her residence in Tehran on September 26, 2022. After being held in multiple detention facilities, she was eventually imprisoned in Evin Prison on October 30, 2022. In April 2023, Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced her to seven years and additional punishments.

It is noteworthy that Iraee has faced previous arrests and convictions on multiple occasions.

 

 

Political Activist Abolfazl Ghadyani Receives Ten-Month Sentence

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Freedom of Expression, News
Abolfazl Ghadyani, Iranian Political Activist, Kaleme, Tehran

Political Activist Abolfazl Ghadyani was recently sentenced to ten months by the Tehran Revolutionary Court, according to Kaleme News Outlet. Ghadyani is also currently facing another legal case and has been summoned in relation to it.

Ghadyani’s ten-month sentence was given on grounds of “propaganda against the regime,” while the Criminal Court has additionally indicted him for “spreading falsehood on the Internet.”

It’s worth noting that he has a history of previous arrests and convictions related to his activism.

 

Workers’ Rights Activist Anisha Asadollahi Sentecned to Five Years and Eight Months

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Freedom of Expression, News
Anisha Asadollahi, Iman Afshari, mohammad habibi, Tehran, workers' rights activists

The Tehran Court of Appeals has upheld a five-year and eight-month sentence against Anisha Asadollahi, according to a report from the Tehran bus workers’ syndicate.

Under Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, she will serve five years of the imposed sentence.

In May 2023, Judge Iman Afshari of Branch 26 in the Tehran Revolutionary Court issued a five-year sentence to Asadollahi for “assembly and collusion against national security,” along with an additional eight months for “propaganda against the regime.”

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

It is worth noting that Asadollahi has a history of arrests and convictions related to her activism.

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Five Transgender Individuals Arrested and Coerced into Confession

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Freedom of Expression, LGBTQ+, News
Hamshahri, Iranian Transgender, Tehran, Trans Citizens, Transgender Individuals

In Tehran, five transgender citizens were arrested following a quarrel with a religious vigilante who targeted them for their attire. The footage of their coerced confession has recently been released by security-affiliated media.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Hamshahri, five transgender citizens were apprehended in the Afsariyeh district of Tehran.

The incident unfolded when a self-proclaimed religious enforcer took it upon themselves to interfere with these citizens, citing the religious duty of “enjoining good and forbidding wrong,” ultimately resulting in the arrest of these transgender individuals. Consequently, legal action has been taken against them.
The recently published video captures their forced confession, in which they express remorse for their behaviour and appearance. The identities of these individuals remain unknown at present.

Recognition of transgender identity in Iran is solely contingent upon undergoing state-supported sex reassignment surgery. Additionally, there are instances where homosexual individuals are coerced into undergoing such surgeries to alleviate legal and social pressures.

Ali Rezaie Sentenced to Six Years

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ali Rezaie, Tehran, Tehran Revolutionary Court

Ali Rezaie, who was arrested during the nationwide protests in 2022, has been handed a six-year prison sentence by the Tehran Revolutionary Court. He is currently being held in Evin Prison.

The verdict was issued on June 21, 2023, by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Salavati. Rezaie received five years for the charge of “assembly and collusion against national security” and an additional year for “propaganda against the regime.” If the ruling is upheld, the five-year prison term for “assembly and collusion” will be enforced according to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code.

An informed source, who spoke to HRANA, revealed that Rezaie has been denied access to legal representation throughout his detention and trial. Furthermore, Judge Salavati has reportedly threatened his family with arrest.

Despite not actively participating in the protests, Rezaie has been charged with “assembly and collusion” due to his expression of support for the demonstrators on social media, leading to his arrest at his home, as stated by the source.

On December 11, 2022, security forces arrested Rezaie at his residence, conducting a search and confiscating some of his belongings. Initially detained in Ward 209 of Evin Prison, he was later transferred to the Great Tehran Penitentiary after 20 days. However, on April 9, 2023, along with numerous other prisoners, he was relocated back to Evin Prison.

Rezaie, aged about 41, is an IT engineer and Istanbul Turkish language teacher and Yoga coach.

Former Political Prisoner Reza Akbari Monfared Sentenced to Five Years

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, Reza Akbari-Monfared, Tehran

Reza Akbari Monfared, a former political prisoner, has been sentenced to five years in prison by the Tehran Revolutionary Court. His arrest took place in March 2023, and he has since been held in Evin Prison, Tehran.

Akbari Monfared was recently informed about the verdict, although the specific charges against him remain undisclosed. This is not the first time he has faced legal action for his activism, as he previously served a five-and-a-half-year sentence from 2013 to 2018.

Khosro Rahnama Sentenced to Five Years in Prison

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News, Prisoners
Iman Afshari, Khosro Rahnama, Tehran, ward 209

Political prisoner Khosro Rahnama has been sentenced to five years in prison by the Tehran Revolutionary Court. Currently serving another legal case, Rahnama is incarcerated in Ward 4 of Evin Prison.

The verdict, issued by Judge Iman Afshari, cites “assembly and collusion against national security” as the grounds for the five-year sentence.

On March 11, 2024, Rahnama was arrested at his residence in Tehran by security forces. Following two months of interrogation, he was transferred from Ward 209 to the public ward of Evin Prison.

Rahnama’s previous legal case resulted in a five-year prison sentence and two years of exile. The charges included “propaganda against the regime, assembly and collusion against national security, and collaboration with anti-regime groups.” It is important to note that Rahnama has a history of prior arrests and convictions related to his activism.

Civil Rights Activist Mohammad Nourizad Faces New Legal Case During Imprisonment

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News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, Eyvanki, Izeh, Mohammad Hossein Aghasi, Mohammad Nourizad, Tabas, Tehran

Imprisoned civil rights activist Mohammad Nourizad has been brought to trial for a new legal case while serving his existing sentence. The Tehran Revolutionary Court conducted a session on June 14, 2023, to address the charges against him.

According to Mohammad Hossein Aghasi, Nourizad’s lawyer, his client is facing charges of “assembly and collusion against national security, propaganda against the regime, and destruction of property within the prison head’s office.”

The initial phase of Nourizad’s legal case began on August 11, 2019, when he was arrested by security forces for his involvement in issuing an open letter with 13 other civil rights activists, calling for the Supreme Leader of Iran to step down. In this first case, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison, three years of exile in Izeh, and a two-year travel ban. While the prison sentence was upheld on appeal, the duration of exile and travel ban were reduced to two years.

In late April 2020, Nourizad received an additional one-year imprisonment for expressing support towards Baha’i citizens of Eyvanki in Semnan Province.

Regarding the second part of his legal case, the Mashhad Criminal Court sentenced Nourizad to 8 months in prison and 74 lashes, with exile to Tabas, for “disturbance of public order,” and an additional 74 lashes for “spreading falsehood.” This verdict was also upheld on appeal.

On November 17, 2021, Nourizad was released from Evin Prison based on an early release order. However, on January 23, 2022, he was summoned and re-incarcerated in Evin Prison to complete his remaining sentence.

Nourizad’s history includes prior arrests and convictions related to his peaceful activism. He is a renowned filmmaker, writer, director, and journalist from Iran. While previously known as an outspoken religious journalist, he has become an active critic of the Islamic Republic in recent years.