Tag: Tehran

Reporter Ahmadreza Halabisaz Sentenced to Two Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ahmadreza Halabisaz, Evin Prison, Tehran

Reporter and photographer Ahmadreza Halabisaz was sentenced to two years in prison. He was also ­banned from practicing journalism and leaving the country. Initially, he had received five years in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, reporter Ahmadreza Halabisaz was sentenced to imprisonment and social deprivations.

Recently, he was summoned to Evin Prison to start his prison sentence.

In September 2022, Halabisaz was arrested amid nationwide protests in Tehran and released on bail after 27 days. The charge against him is still unknown at the time of this writing.

Since the outbreak of nationwide protests, about 19400 people, including journalists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, have been arrested. So far, at least 724 people have been convicted over protests. For more details and statistics on the nationwide protest across Iran, read HRANA’s comprehensive report here.

 

13 People Arrested for Allegedly Espionage

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News, Other
Espionage, Golestan, Isfahan, Mizan Online, Tehran, West Azerbaijan, Yazd

Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence announced the arrest of 13 people accused of “espionage” in Tehran, Isfahan, Yazd, Golestan and West Azerbaijan Provinces.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Mizan Online News Agency, 13 individuals were arrested for allegedly “espionage.”

The Ministry of intelligence claimed that in Tehran, Isfahan, Yazd, Golestan and West Azerbaijan Provinces, 23 individuals working for Mossad (the intelligence agency of Israel) were detected, of which 13 people residing inside the country were apprehended before they could take any action. The Ministry claimed that the “head of this spy network” has been identified as “Sirus,” residing in one of the European Countries. This report did not disclose the detainees’ identities.

Although the prosecution of individuals for espionage is not considered a violation of human rights, there are concerns about the validity of these allegations due to the frequent use of such accusations by Iran’s regime in order to suppress its political dissidents and due to the ambiguities in legal proceedings and the lack of transparency about such legal cases.

Former Political Prisoner Soheil Arabi Arrested

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Freedom of Expression, News
Soheil Arabi, Tehran

Yesterday, January 2, 2023, security forces arrested former political prisoner Soheil Arabi at his home in Tehran and transferred him to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on January 2, 2023, former political prisoner Soheil Arabi was arrested.

An informed source told HRANA that Arabi suffers from several diseases and should have access to his essential medicines.

Soheil Arabi faced several arrests and convictions on prior occasions.

Documentary Filmmaker Shahin Samadpour Arrested

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Courthouse, Hananeh Kia, Shahin Samadpour, Tehran

Documentary filmmaker and reporter Shahin Samadpour was arrested after an appearance at Evin Courthouse in Tehran.

It is worth mentioning that a while ago, Samadpour’s accounts on Instagram and Telegram went off following his report on Hananeh Kia’s family and her engaged man. 22-year-old Hananeh Kia was killed by security forces at recent protests.

The reason for Samadpour’s arrest and the charges are still unknown.

 

Baha’i Bardia Basiri Arrested

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News, Religious Minorities
Ayda Rasti, Bahais, Bardia Basiri, Tehran

On December 17, 2022, security forces arrested Baha’i citizen Bardia Basiri at his home in Tehran. His wife, Ayda Rasti, is also detained. The intelligence agents searched his house and confiscated some of his belongings.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on December 17, 2022, Baha’i Bardia Basiri was arrested by security forces in Tehran.

An informed source told HRANA that Aida Rasti got a severe nervous attack and was hospitalized when she found out about his husband’s arrest.

Earlier, Basiri had been interrogated following his wife’s arrest.

Ayda Rasti is still in detention in Qarchak Prison after 81 days. During her detention, she suffered from nervous problems and lost weight.

 

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Lawyer Arash Keykhosravi Arrested

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Freedom of Expression, News
Arash Keykhosravi, Azita Keykhosravi, Tehran

On November 19, 2022, security forces arrested attorney at law Arash Keykhosravi in Tehran and took him to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on November 19, 2022, lawyer Arash Keykhosravi was arrested in Tehran.

Breaking this news, his sister, Azita Keykhosravi, wrote on social media that the agents searched his house and arrested some of his belongings.

The reason for Keykhosravi’s arrest and whereabouts are still unknown.

Keykhosravi is one of the nine Iranian lawyers and human rights defenders who were arrested on August 14, 2021, during a meeting to make a decision on filing a lawsuit against Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the government for banning foreign vaccines.

Lawyer Mostafa Nili Arrested

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Freedom of Expression, News
Mostafa Nili, Tehran

On November 7, 2022, security forces arrested lawyer Mostafa Nili and took him to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Mostafa Nili, attorney at law, was arrested by security forces.

Nili faced other arrests and convictions last year. On August 14, 2021, along with several lawyers and civil activists, Nili was arrested during a meeting at the office of the Association for the Protection of Civil Rights in Tehran.

Subsequently, the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Nili to four years in prison for “running an illegal organization to act against national security and propaganda against the regime.” He was also prohibited from being present in media and practicing law for two years.

 

Six Citizens Including Three School Students Arrested in Different Cities

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Freedom of Expression, News, Students
Amir Mohammadi, Behzad Iranpour, Bushehr, Kuhdasht, Mehdi Omrani, Milad Jahangiri, Mohsen Teymoori, Sirvan Malekian, Takab, Tehran

Recently, related to nationwide protests, security forces arrested six citizens, including three school students in Kuhdasht, Takab, Tehran and Bushehr.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, six individuals, including three school students, were arrested by security forces in different cities.

HRANA has identified the students as Milad Jahangiri, Sirvan Malekian and Behzad Iranpour, all residents of Takab, West Azerbaijan Province.

Three other citizens have been identified as Amir Mohammadi in Tehran, Mohsen Teymoori in Kuhdasht (Lorestan Province) and Mehdi Omrani in Bushehr.

Mohammadi has been jailed in Great Tehran Penitentiary. The five other individuals’ whereabouts are still unknown.

 

Student Activist Leila Hosseinzadeh’s Detention Extended

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News, Prisoners
Abolfazl Hosseinzadeh, Leila Hosseinzadeh, Shiraz, Tehran

Recently, the Shiraz Revolutionary Court extended Leila Hosseinzadeh’s pre-trial detention. On August 20, 2022, Hosseinzadeh was arrested in front of her house in Tehran and then jailed in Adel-Abad Prison in Shiraz. She has been denied adequate medical treatment despite suffering from an autoimmune disease.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, student activist Leila Hosseinzadeh’s detention has been extended.

Abolfazl Hosseinzadeh expressed his concerns about his sister’s health condition on social media: “my sister’s disease causes eye issues. She has been suffering from blurred vision for about two weeks. On November 1, the prison infirmary’s physician asked for dispatching her for treatment, which has not yet been approved.”

Hosseinzadeh faced other arrests and convictions on prior occasions.

Arte’s Reporter Vahid Shamseddin-Nejad Arrested in Tehran

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Freedom of Expression, News
Atre, Tehran, Vahid Shamseddin-Nejad

German-French cultural TV channel Atre announced that its Iranian reporter Vahid Shamseddin-Nejad was arrested by security forces in Saqqez on October 26.

According to this TV channel, Shamseddin-Nejad is detained in Tehran and under interrogation. Arte expressed concerns about Shamseddin-Nejad’s condition and asked for his release.
 
The reason for his arrest and whereabouts are still unknown.