Tag: Vahid Bani-Amerian

Six Political Prisoners Re-Sentenced to Death after Retrial

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Executions, Freedom of Expression, News
Akbar Daneshvar Kar, Babak Alipour, Iman Afshari, Pouya Ghobadi, Seyed Abolhassan Montazer, Seyed Mohammad Taghavi, Vahid Bani-Amerian

HRANA – Political prisoners Akbar Daneshvar Kar, Seyed Mohammad Taghavi Sang-Dehi, Babak Alipour, Pouya Ghobadi Bistouni, Vahid Bani-Amerian, and Seyed Abolhassan Montazer have once again been sentenced to death by Judge Iman Afshari.

The initial death sentences for Daneshvar Kar, Taghavi Sang-Dehi, Alipour, Ghobadi Bistouni, Bani-Amrian, and Montazer had been issued on the charge of baghi (armed rebellion) through alleged membership in anti-government groups. These sentences were overturned by the Supreme Court in August this year, and the case was sent back for reconsideration.

In November, the six prisoners were retried in Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari. Ultimately, on Sunday, December 7, their death sentences were issued once more and formally communicated to their lawyers.

In addition to the charge of baghi, the prisoners were also sentenced to prison terms and internal exile on charges including assembly and collusion to disrupt national security, property destruction, forming unlawful groups, and illegal border crossing.

Babak Alipour was arrested by security forces in Tehran in the fall of 2023, and Vahid Bani-Amerian was arrested in December 2023. On February 23, 2024, Pouya Ghobadi and Seyed Mohammad Taghavi were arrested in Chaldoran County and transferred to Maku Prison, before being moved to Evin Prison on March 1, 2024. Akbar Daneshvar had also been previously arrested by security forces and transferred to Evin Prison. These individuals were formally charged in May 2024 in Branch 5 of the Tehran Prosecutor’s Office and were subsequently transferred to Ghezel Hesar Prison in the summer of that year.

Seyed Mohammad Taghavi, a political prisoner from the 1980s, as well as Vahid Bani-Amerian, Pouya Ghobadi, and Babak Alipour, all have prior records of arrest and imprisonment related to their activities.

Six Death Sentences and Over 54 Years of Imprisonment Issued for Eight Political Prisoners in Tehran

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Executions, Freedom of Expression, News
Abolhassan Montazer, Akbar Daneshvar, Ali Taghavi Sang-Dehi, Babak Alipour, Mohammad Taghavi, Mojtaba Taghavi Sang-Dehi, Pouya Ghobadi, Vahid Bani-Amerian

Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court has sentenced six political prisoners—Akbar Daneshvar Kar, Seyed Mohammad Taghavi Sang-Dehi, Babak Alipour, Pouya Ghobadi Bistoni, Vahid Bani-Amerian, and Seyed Abolhassan Montazer—to death on charges of armed rebellion (Baghi) through membership in anti-regime groups. Additionally, these individuals, along with Seyed Ali Taghavi Sang-Dehi and Seyed Mojtaba Taghavi Sang-Dehi, were collectively sentenced to over 54 years of imprisonment and 20 years of exile.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, Judge Iman Afshari of Branch 26 issued severe sentences for these eight political prisoners.

Details of the Sentences:

  1. Akbar Daneshvar Kar
    • Death sentence for Baghi through membership in anti-regime groups.
    • 5 years in prison for assembly and collusion with intent to disrupt national security.
    • 10 years in prison for forming illegal groups.
  2. Seyed Mohammad Taghavi Sang-Dehi
    • Death sentence for Baghi.
    • 5 years in prison for assembly and collusion.
    • 10 years in prison for forming illegal groups.
  3. Babak Alipour
    • Death sentence for Baghi.
    • 5 years in prison for assembly and collusion.
    • 20 years of exile to the city of Khash for destruction of public property.
  4. Pouya Ghobadi Bistoni
    • Death sentence for Baghi.
    • 1 year in prison for illegal border crossing.
  5. Vahid Bani-Amerian
    • Death sentence for Baghi.
    • 5 years in prison for assembly and collusion.
  6. Seyed Abolhassan Montazer
    • Death sentence for Baghi.
    • 5 years in prison for collusion with intent to disrupt national security.
  7. Seyed Ali Taghavi Sang-Dehi
    • 2 years in prison for membership in anti-regime groups.
  8. Seyed Mojtaba Taghavi Sang-Dehi
    • 3 years and 7 months in prison for assembly and collusion with intent to disrupt national security.
    • 3 years in prison for membership in groups opposing the regime.

 

The court sessions for these individuals, who share a common legal case, were held in mid-October this year.

Vahid Bani-Amerian and Abolhassan Montazer were arrested in December 2023, while Babak Alipour was detained in the fall of 2023 by security forces in Tehran.

On February 23, 2024, Pouya Ghobadi and Seyed Mohammad Taghavi were arrested in Chaldoran County and transferred to Maku Prison, seven days later, being moved to Evin Prison.

Akbar Daneshvar and Mojtaba Taghavi had previously been detained and transferred to Evin Prison. Ali Taghavi had also been arrested earlier but was released on bail.

These individuals were formally charged in late May 2024 at Branch 5 of the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in Tehran.

Notably, Abolhassan Montazer and Seyed Mohammad Taghavi were political prisoners in the 1980s, while Vahid Bani-Amerian, Pouya Ghobadi, and Babak Alipour have prior records of imprisonment for their activism.

Four Political Detainees Face Armed Rebellion Charges

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News, Prisoners
Abolhassan Montazer, armed rebellion, Babak Alipour, Baghi, Mohammad Taghavi, Pouya Ghobadi, Vahid Bani-Amerian

Pouya Ghobadi, Babak Alipour, Abolhassan Montazer, and Seyed-Mohammad Taghavi have been recently indicted of armed rebellion (Baghi) by the Public and Revolutionary Court of Tehran. This charge which carries the potential for severe penalties, including the death penalty, raises concerns.

On May 14, 2024, these individuals were indicted of “armed rebellion” for allegations of their involvement with an anti-regime group” and “assembly and collusion against national security.”

Earlier HRANA reported that another political detainee Vahid Bani-Amerian has also faced the same charges. He has been reportedly moved from Ward 209 of Evin prison to the quarantine section of this prison, following his indictment.

Under the Islamic penal code, Baghi is a grievous offense that can lead to severe punishments, including execution, amputation of the right hand and left foot, and exile.

Abolhassan Montazer and Babak Alipour were arrested separately in Tehran on December 22, 2023. Pouya Ghobadi was detained by security forces in Chaldoran, West Azerbaijan province, on February 23, 2024, and subsequently transferred to Maku and then Evin prison. Seyed Mohammad Taqavi was also detained by security forces late last year.

Prior Arrest and Conviction:

Montazer, 65, a political prisoner from the 1980s, was arrested in 2018, sentenced to five years, and released from Rajai-Shahr Prison in Karaj under a pardon directive after serving three years of his prison term.

Babak Alipour was also previously arrested with his brother Roozbeh while working at a market in Rasht on November 4, 2018. Sentenced to seven years for “membership in anti-regime groups and insulting the Supreme Leader,” he began his sentence at Lakan Prison in Rasht and was released from Evin Prison last spring.

Pouya Ghobadi, an electrical engineering graduate from the University of Sanandaj, was initially arrested in May 2018, sentenced to eighteen years and exile, and was released in 2022 under a pardon directive.

Seyed Mohammad Taqavi, 57, also a former political detainee from the 1980s, holds a bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design from Tehran University and has previously served a prison sentence.

Vahid Bani-Amerian Charged with “Armed Rebellion”

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News, Prisoners
Baghi, Rajai Shahr Prison, Tehran, Vahid Bani-Amerian, Ward 209 of Evin Prison

Political detainee Vahid Bani-Amerian has been indicted on charges of “armed rebellion (Baghi),” which carries the potential for severe penalties, including the death penalty.

Bani-Amerian was arrested in Tehran on December 22, 2023, by security forces. The Public and Revolutionary Court of Tehran has now formally charged him with “armed rebellion” for allegations of his involvement with an anti-regime group. He is additionally accused of “assembly and collusion against national security.”

According to reports from HRANA, Bani-Amerian is currently held in Ward 209 of Evin Prison, which the Ministry of Intelligence manages. Since his arrest, he has been denied legal representation.

HRANA sources also report that Bani-Amerian suffers from several health issues, including irritable bowel syndrome, a compromised immune system, and an acute respiratory tract infection. These health concerns have significantly heightened his family’s worries about his health.

Previously, Bani-Amerian was arrested and convicted in Tehran during April-May 2018. The Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced him to 18 years in prison and exile across two separate cases. However, he was released in March 2023 from Rajai Shahr Prison under a general amnesty.

Vahid Bani-Amerian and Pooya Ghobadi Each Sentenced to 10 Years Imprisonment

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Freedom of Expression, News
Babak Paknia, Evin Prison, Greater Tehran Prison, Moghayeseh, Mujahedin-e-Khalq, Peoples Mujahedin Organization of Iran, Pooya Ghobadi, Vahid Bani-Amerian

Two political prisoners, Vahid Bani-Amerian and Pooya Ghobadi, serving their sentences in Evin Prison and the Greater Tehran Prison respectively, were each sentenced to 10 years imprisonment in exile in their second legal case.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, headed by Judge Moghayeseh, sentenced Bani-Amerian and Ghobadi. In this new legal case, they were charged with the destruction of public property and advocating for the People’s Mujahedin Organization of Iran (Mujahedin-e-Khalq). According to their lawyer, Babak Paknia, the charge of “enmity against God” was dismissed by the court. The first court session was held in October of this year, but their lawyer asked for a retrial due to defective legal documents and failure to comply procedure.

In May of 2018, Bani-Amerian and Ghobadi were arrested by security forces in Tehran and transferred to Evin Prison. After four months of interrogation, they were sent to the public ward of Evin Prison. In November of 2019, Ghobadi was relocated to The Greater Central Prison while Bani-Amerian remained in Evin Prison.

In their first legal case, each was sentenced to 8 years in prison on charges of “assembly and collusion against national security”, offensive statements against the Supreme Court” and “propaganda against the regime”. For these charges, grounded in Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the most severe punishment of 5 years was enforced for each prisoner.

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