April 2019 Human Rights Updates

Follow the latest human rights events in Iran throughout April 2019 here. On March 30, 2019, a university professor in Mashhad, Kamal Jafari Yazdi, was sentenced to 13 years in prison by the Revolutionary Court for 'forming a group with the intent to overthrow the regime', 'propaganda against the regime', and 'insulting the leadership'. On the same day, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch called for the release of Yasaman Aryani, a civil activist, and her mother, Monireh Arabshahi, along with all individuals detained for peaceful protests against mandatory hijab laws. They mentioned Nasrin Sotoudeh, Vida Mohammadi, Reza Khandan, and Farhad Mithaemi, who were imprisoned solely for their peaceful activities. The 'Human Rights Defender Support Program' also urged Iranian authorities to release imprisoned lawyers Mohammad Najafi and Amir Salar Davoodi, who have faced multiple security charges. On March 28, 2019, the court of appeal ruled to end the sentence of Mohammad Ali Taheri, the founder of the 'Circle of Mysticism' school in Iran. Other updates included a one-year prison sentence for Vida Mohammadi, known as one of the 'Girls of Revolution Street', and the execution of a prison sentence for Mojtaba Dadashi, a political science student. The article also reported on the cancellation of a flogging sentence for labor activist Jafar Azimzadeh, who had been sentenced to 30 lashes for 'absence from leave', which was later converted to a monetary fine. The appeal court for journalist Hengameh Shahidi was held, where she has been in solitary confinement since July 2018, facing a 12-year and 9-month sentence. Other reports included charges against civil activist Mokhtar Zarei for 'insulting the leadership' and 'propaganda against the regime'. Zarei has previously faced similar charges. Additionally, the article mentioned the exile of Bahai citizen Zabihollah Raoufi and the release of civil activist Majid Moghadam upon completing his sentence.