Tag: Tehran

Children’s Rights Activist Zohreh Sayadi Imprisoned in Evin Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
children's rights activist, Evin Prison, Tehran, Tehran Court of Appeals, Zohreh Sayadi, Zohreh Sayyadi

HRANA, Human Rights Activists News Agency- Zohreh Sayadi, a dedicated advocate for children’s rights and a resident of Tehran, was sent to Evin Prison on May 30, 2023, to commence her one-year sentence. Despite her ongoing medical treatment and deteriorating health condition, authorities proceeded with her imprisonment, disregarding the unbearable toll it will have on her well-being.

An informed source, speaking to HRANA, disclosed that the Tehran Court of Appeals upheld Sayadi’s one-year sentence on Monday, May 29, immediately summoning her for the execution of this prison sentence. The following day, Sayadi appeared before the court, only to be arrested and subsequently transferred to Evin Prison. The source further revealed that Sayadi is battling cancer, and her incarceration has disrupted her critical medical treatment.

On December 10, 2019, security forces apprehended Sayadi at her Tehran residence, taking her to Evin Prison. After enduring a 13-day period in custody, she was finally released on bail.

Sayadi holds a degree in literature and is an activist dedicated to safeguarding the rights of children, mainly orphaned children, those affected by child labor or lacking proper documentation.

Mohammad Taleghani Sentenced to Imprisonment and Social Restrictions

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Freedom of Expression, News
Imam Ali's Popular Students Relief Society, Iman Afshari, irgc, Mohammad Taleghani, Tehran

Mohammad Taleghani, a former member of Imam Ali’s Popular Students Relief Society, has been handed a two-year prison sentence and imposed social restrictions by the Tehran Revolutionary Court. However, the execution of this verdict has been suspended for a period of five years.

Judge Iman Afshari issued the verdict, citing “assembly and collusion against national security” as the reason for Taleghani’s sentence. In addition to the prison term, Taleghani has been banned from leaving the country and prohibited from using social media, as well as being barred from participating in civil and political activities for a duration of five years.

Taleghani’s arrest took place on July 9, 2023, when the intelligence forces of the IRGC apprehended him at his residence in Tehran. After spending eight days in custody, he was released on bail from Evin Prison.

Teenage Protestor Died from Injuries

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Children, News
2022 nationwide protests, Abolfazl Amir-Ataie, iran protests, Shahr-e-Rey, Tehran

Abolfazl Amir-Ataie, a 16-year-old participant in the 2022 nationwide protests, lost his life due to injuries sustained during the demonstrations.

Approximately eight months ago, during the protests in Shahr-e-Rey, Tehran, Ataie was struck in the head by a tear gas bullet. This devastating incident left him hospitalized, rendering him unable to speak or move.

Despite the passing of Ataie, neither the official media nor the authorities have issued a response thus far. However, his mother has confirmed the heartbreaking news of his death.

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.

 

Mohsen Sepehri Sentenced to Five Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
great tehran penitentiary, Iman Afshari, Mohsen Sepehri, Tehran, Tehran Revolutionary Court

Mohsen Sepehri has been handed a five-year prison sentence by the Tehran Revolutionary Court. Sepehri was apprehended during the 2022 nationwide protests in Tehran and subsequently transferred to the Great Tehran Penitentiary following interrogations.

Judge Iman Afshari issued the verdict, ruling that Sepehri was found guilty of “assembly and collusion against national security,” resulting in a five-year sentence. An informed source, speaking to HRANA, revealed that Sepehri was denied access to legal representation throughout the entirety of the legal proceedings.

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 Supreme Court Upholds Death Sentence of Mohammad Ghobadloo

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Executions, Freedom of Expression, News
Abolghasem Salavati, Amir Raisian, Mohammad Ghobadloo, Mohammad Ghobadlou, Supreme Court of Iran, Tehran

The death sentence of Mohammad Ghobadloo has been upheld by the Iranian Supreme Court, his lawyer confirms.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Didban Iran news outlet, the Iranian Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence of Mohammad Ghobadloo, who was arrested during the nationwide protests in 2022.

Ghobadloo is facing two separate legal cases, both of which have resulted in a death sentence issued by the Revolutionary Court and Criminal Court. Ghobadloo’s lawyer, Amir Raisian, confirmed the news, stating, “Our request for a retrial regarding the death sentence issued by the Revolutionary Court is still ongoing, and the Supreme Court has not yet made a decision. However, the request for a retrial regarding the death sentence (Qisas) in the Criminal Court has been denied by the Supreme Court.”

In late January 2023, the public relations department of the Supreme Court announced that Mohammad Ghobadloo’s death sentence would be temporarily suspended following a request from his lawyer.

Initially, Ghobadloo was sentenced to death by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Abolghasem Salavati, for charges including “spreading corruption on earth through crimes against the physical integrity of people.” Additional charges against him include “destruction of public property” and “acting against national security by causing unrest.”

On December 10, 2022, the Tehran Criminal Court also held a trial against Ghobadloo and subsequently sentenced him to death.

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.

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Hadi Cheraghi Sentenced to Three Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
2022 nationwide protests, Hadi Cheraghi, Mahsa Amini, Tehran

HRANA, Human Rights Activists News Agency-Hadi Cheraghi has been sentenced to three years in prison by the Tehran Revolutionary Court. Cheraghi was arrested during the 2022 nationwide protests in Tehran by security forces and subsequently held in Great Tehran Penitentiary following the interrogation.

Judge Iman Afshari, overseeing the case, handed down a three-year sentence to Cheraghi for “assembly and collusion against national security.”

According to an informed source speaking to HRANA, Cheraghi was denied access to legal representation throughout the entire legal proceedings.

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.

 

 

Arash Sadeghi Sentenced to over Four Years

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Freedom of Expression, News
Arash Sadeghi, Tehran

The Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced former political prisoner Arash Sadeghi to four years and three months, with three years and seven months being enforceable.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, former political prisoner Arash Sadeghi was sentenced to four years and three months in prison.

Sadeghi’s lawyer revealed that in a retrial, Branch 26 of the court sentenced Sadeghi to three years and seven months for assembly and collusion against national security and eight months for propaganda against the regime.

If the verdict is upheld on appeal, based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, three years and seven months for the first charge will be enforceable.

Sadeghi had previously been sentenced to five years and eight months in late-January 2023, along with additional punishment for the same court branch. The retrial was held on April 11, 2023, following Sadeghi’s lawyer’s objection.

Amid the 2022 nationwide protests, on October 12, 2022, security forces arrested Sadeghi and took him to Ward 209 of Evin Prison. On January 21, 2023, he was released on bail.

Sadeghi faced other arrests and convictions in the past.

Ghafar Rezaian Arrested in Tehran

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ghafar Rezaian, Tehran, zanjan

On May 7, 2023, security forces arrested Ghafar Rezaian, a resident of Zanjan, in Tehran and took him to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on May 7, 2023, Ghafar Rezaian was arrested in Tehran.

According to an informed who spoke to HRANA, the arrest was allegedly due to Rezaian’s online activism, as he had been previously threatened with arrest by security forces.

The institution responsible for the arrest and Rezaian’s current whereabouts remain unknown.

Ghafar Rezaian faced other arrests and convictions for his activism.

 

 

 

Journalist Ruhollah Nakhaei’s Sentence Upheld on Appeal

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ruhollah Nakhaei, Tehran

Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)-Branch 36 of the Tehran Courts of Appeal upheld a two-year-and-seven-month sentence against journalist Ruhollah Nakhaei. Based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, two years in prison will be enforceable.

Nakhaei was initially sentenced by Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court for “assembly and collusion against national security” and “propaganda against the regime.”

On September 23, 2022, security forces arrested Nakhaei, and he remained in detention for about four months until he was released on bail from the Great Tehran Penitentiary.

About 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. During the nationwide protests, about 19600 people, including journalists, artists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, were arrested.

 

 

Two Baha’i Citizens Arrested

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News, Religious Minorities
Afif Naeimi, Baha'i arrests, Bahais, Ghezel Hesar prison, Golestan-e-Javid, Tehran, Valliollah Ghadamian, Yaran e Iran

HRANA, Human Rights Activists news agency– Two Baha’i citizens, Afif Naeimi (Naimi) and Valliollah Ghadamian, were arrested by security forces on April 29 and May 1, 2023, respectively.

According to a source close to Naimi’s family, on April 29, Naeimi and several of his relatives were gathered in a garden near Karaj when security forces raided the location and arrested Naeimi. He was then taken to Rajai Shahr Prison.

Naeimi is a former member of a now-disbanded Baha’i group known as the “Yaran e Iran” or “Friends of Iran” that addressed the spiritual and social needs of the Baha’i community.

n 2018, Naeimi was released from Ghezel Hesar prison after serving approximately 10 years in prison. However, on July 31, 2022, he was arrested again, and the Karaj Revolutionary Court sentenced him to seven years in prison in a legal case along with twelve other Baha’i co-defendants.

On May 1, 2023, Valliollah Ghadamin was also arrested by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location.

On May 1, 2023, security forces also arrested Valliollah Ghadamian at his residence in Tehran and took him to an undisclosed location. Ghadamian is a member of a Baha’i association that maintains a Baha’i cemetery in Tehran known as Golestan-e-Javid. In recent days, regime officials have refused to issue burial permits to Baha’is in this cemetery.
The reason for these arrests is currently unknown.

According to HRANA annual report, from the total human rights reports regarding the violation of religious minorities’ rights, 64.63% belonged to the violation of the rights of Baha’is. The Baha’i community in Iran has been subjected to various forms of discrimination and persecution for decades. The Iranian government has imposed severe restrictions on Baha’is’ religious practices, education, employment, and civil rights.