Students Hasti Amiri and Zia Nabavi Sentenced to One Year in Prison Upheld by Tehran Court of Appeal

The Tehran Court of Appeal upheld a one-year sentence against Hasti Amiri and Zia Nabavi, students at Allameh Tabataba’i University.

Initially, the Tehran Revolutionary Court, with Judge Iman Afshari presiding, had handed down the one-year sentences to both students on charges of “spreading propaganda against the regime.” This decision has now been confirmed by Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeal.

The legal action against Amiri and Nabavi stems from their participation in protests against a series of poison attacks targeting schoolgirls across Iran.

Furthermore, during a protest assembly at Allameh Tabataba’i University on December 7, 2022, more than 30 students were barred from entering the university premises and subsequently faced disciplinary measures. Consequently, The Student Basij of the university sought the involvement of security institutions and the initiation of legal proceedings against Amiri and Nabavi.

Both of these students have a documented history of arrests and convictions due to their involvement in various activist initiatives.

 

Students Hasti Amiri and Zia Nabavi Each Sentenced to One-Year Prison Terms

Tehran, August 9, 2023: In a recent development, Hasti Amiri and Zia Nabavi, both students at Allameh Tabataba’i University, have been each handed a one-year prison sentence by the Tehran Revolutionary Court, as reported by Emtedad News.

Presiding Judge Iman Afshari conveyed the verdict to the students, indicating that they have been found guilty of “propaganda against the regime.” This decision was reached during a court session held on July 10, 2023.

The legal action against Amiri and Nabavi stems from their participation in protests against a series of poison attacks targeting schoolgirls across Iran.

Furthermore, during a protest assembly at Allameh Tabataba’i University on December 7, 2022, more than 30 students were barred from entering the university premises and subsequently faced disciplinary measures. As a consequence, The Student Basij of the university sought the involvement of security institutions and the initiation of legal proceedings against Amiri and Nabavi.

Both of these students have a documented history of arrests and convictions due to their involvement in various activist initiatives.

Between late November 2022 and March 7, 2023, at least 290 schools, primarily girls’ schools, were targeted by poison attacks using an unspecified toxic gas, affecting at least 7,068 students in 103 schools. For further details and statistics, please refer to the HRANA report.”

Three Student Activists Indicted for Protesting Poison Attacks on Schools

On April 24, 2023, three students from Allameh Tabataba’i University – Hasti Amiri, Fereshteh Toosi, and Zia Nabavi – were indicted in Evin Court House for protesting against serial poison attacks on schools.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Didban News, students Hasti Amiri, Fereshteh Toosi and Zia Nabavi face new legal cases for “propaganda against the regime.” The court has ordered a bond for their pre-trial release.

The students are being prosecuted for protesting against the serial poisoner attacks on schools and the mistreatment of students by university security staff.

On March 7, 2023, over thirty students of Allameh Tabataba’i University were banned from entering the campus and are facing disciplinary action. At the time, the Student Basij unit issued a statement calling for disciplinary punishments against the three indicted students.

This is not the first time these activists have faced legal action for their activism. Fereshteh Toosi and Zia Nabavi have been arrested and prosecuted before, and Hasti Amiri was imprisoned in Evin Prison from July 31, 2022, to February 7, 2023, serving a one-year sentence.

 

Zia Nabavi’s One-Year Sentence Upheld by Court of Appeals

Branch 36 of the Court of Appeals in Tehran recently upheld a one year sentence for student activist Zia (Zia-el-din) Nabavi.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the Revolutionary Court of Tehran had initially convicted Nabavi on a charge of “propaganda against the regime”.

The sentence included one year in prison including other unconventional punishments like monthly attendance of martyrs’ burial grounds in Behesht-e Zahra cemetery, disabled veteran sanatorium, emotional control courses and the prohibition of leaving the country for two years.

On February 25, 2020, Nabavi was arrested by security forces in Tehran and released on bail on March 2, 2020. He had previously faced other arrests and convictions due to his non-violent activities.

Zia Nabavi was arrested

On February 25, 2020, Zia Nabavi, former political prisoner, was arrested at his home by the security forces. They searched his house and confiscated his personal belongings. Further information about the reason for his arrest is not available yet.

Zia Nabavi is a graduate student in sociology at Allameh Tabatabaei University, a former member of Students’ Islamic Association of the Babol Noshirvani University and a member of the Council of Defending the Right to Education.

He was arrested in June 2009 and was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment and 74 lashes by Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court on the charge of “Moharebeh through connection with the MEK” presided by Judge Pirabbasi. The appeals court reduced his sentence to a 10-year prison term in exile. In October 2010, he was transferred to Karun prison, and then to Semnan Prison in May 2014. Mr. Nabavi was released on the eve of the 9th year of imprisonment from Semnan prison, on February 14, 2018.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Now is definitely not the time to stop reading!

Imprisoned “Teacher of Civil Disobedience” Enters 26th Day of Hunger Strike

Human Rights Activist News Agency (HRANA) – The health condition of Farhad Meysami — who declared hunger strike the day after his arrest on July 31st in protest of his detention and the denial of his right to a lawyer of his choice — is in decline.

As of the 26th day of his hunger strike, Meysami was suffering from low blood pressure, low blood sugar, and severe weight loss. He was transferred from prison quarantine to the general ward (Ward 4, Hall 3) yesterday.

A source close to Meysami confirmed his health condition to HRANA, adding, “He has lost 11 kilograms since the start of his hunger strike, and intends to continue striking despite his frail condition and insistence from his family and friends to put an end to it.”

The source went on to elucidate the events surrounding Meysami’s arrest: ”He was in his personal library with Zia Nabavi when an individual buzzed in, saying that they wished to submit a book to the publication house located one floor below Mr. Meysami’s flat. When Meysami opened the door for him, four Ministry of Intelligence agents came in and presented an arrest warrant for both Meysami and Nabavi. After a search of his library in which they confiscated pin-back buttons reading “I protest mandatory veiling” along with 30 copies of the book titled “Small Acts of Resistance” and 40 copies of “Human Rights: Questions & Answers,” they arrested both Meysami and Nabavi and transferred them to Ward 209 of Evin Prison. Mr Nabavi was released the next day as he was not implicated in the case.”

The source added that Meysami was called a “teacher of civil disobedience” during his interrogation. He faces charges of “Collusion and conspiracy to threaten national security”, “Disseminating propaganda against the regime”, and “Insulting the hijab, an essential sacrament of Islam” from Branch 7 of the Evin Court. Based on the content of his interrogation sheets, these charges stem from “provoking women to appear without hijab in the street,” as well as a speech he gave on the topic of “social nonviolence” at the University of Isfahan.

Meysami’s hunger strike is motivated in part by his wish to appoint Arash Keikhosravi as his lawyer. Keikhosravi, who has been detained in the Great Tehran Penitentiary for the past 11 days, previously explained to HRANA, “On Sunday, August 12th, Mr. Meysami’s mother and I went to Branch 7 of Evin court to follow up on his case and to see how he was doing. I planned to register as his lawyer, but the officials at the branch told me that section 48 of the Criminal Procedure Code bars me from doing so.”
Section 48 of the recently-amended Criminal Procedure Code states that those accused of national security crimes must choose their lawyer from a list approved by the Iranian judiciary.

Zia Nabavi Released after Serving His Term

HRANA News Agency – Zia Nabavi, former member of Students’ Islamic Association of the Babol Noshirvani University, was released on the eve of the 9th year of imprisonment from Semnan prison.
According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency in Iran (HRANA), Zia Nabavi, student activist of Babol Noshirvani University, was released on the eve of the 9th year of imprisonment from Semnan prison, on February 14, 2018. Continue reading “Zia Nabavi Released after Serving His Term”

Zia Nabavi Returned to Semnan Prison

HRANA News Agency – Zia Nabavi, political prisoner in Semnan prison, returned to this prison at the end of his leave.
According to the report of the Human Rights News Agency in Iran (HRANA), Seyed Zia Nabavi, student activist, returned to Semnan prison after his leave permission was not extended, on January 25, 2017. Continue reading “Zia Nabavi Returned to Semnan Prison”

The Prosecutor Agreed with Zia Nabavi’s Furlough

HRANA News Agency – The prosecutor has agreed with a two-day furlough for Zia Nabavi, imprisoned student activist.

According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), the news has been announced on the Facebook page “in protest at Seyed Zia Nabavi’s sentence”. Continue reading “The Prosecutor Agreed with Zia Nabavi’s Furlough”