Confirmation of Sentences for Defendants in the 'Rouhollah Ajamian' Case by the Supreme Court; 15 Years of Exile for Hamid Ghareh-Hassanlou

Hosseyn Fazeli Harikandi, the Chief Justice of Alborz Province, confirmed the verdicts of the defendants in the Rouhollah Ajamian case, a Basij member killed during the protests marking the 40th day of Hadith Najafi, by the Supreme Court. This news was recently reported by one of the lawyers involved in the case in an interview with a Tehran newspaper. After at least 10 months since the start of the judicial process in the Rouhollah Ajamian case, the Chief Justice of Alborz Province stated on Wednesday, September 1, that the Supreme Court has upheld the sentences issued by the First Branch of the Revolutionary Court. This case, which had 16 defendants, was one of the most controversial cases in the past year, resulting in the execution of two defendants, Mohammad Mahdi Karami and Mohammad Hosseini, after the Supreme Court's confirmation on January 7 of last year. According to this judicial official, after reviewing and issuing new sentences, the rulings became final, and thus Hamid Ghareh-Hassanlou was sentenced to 15 years of exile imprisonment; Reza Arya, Hossein Mohammadi, and Mehdi Mohammadi each received 10 years of exile imprisonment. Additionally, it was reported that Mohammad Amin Akhlaqi Savojbolaghi, Amin Mahdi Shakrlahi, and Farzaneh Ghareh-Hassanlou, other defendants in this case, were each sentenced to five years of exile imprisonment, while Ali Moazami Goudarzi received three years of exile imprisonment. As Fazeli Harikandi stated, the reason for issuing 'exile imprisonment' sentences was that the charge of 'premeditated murder' was not determined; rather, it was classified as 'corruption on earth' and 'moharebeh' (waging war against God). This judicial official cited Article 286 of the Islamic Penal Code as the basis for attributing the charge of 'corruption on earth' due to the commission of 'multiple crimes,' including 'crimes' against national security, disruption of public order, participation in illegal gatherings, blocking highways, and preventing passage, 'attacking officials' while performing their duties, destruction of public and private property, conspiracy to commit 'crimes against national security,' and 'crimes against the physical integrity of individuals' that caused 'severe disruption' in public order and insecurity in the country, leading to the death of an 'unarmed Basij member.' According to the Chief Justice of Alborz Province, neither of the two sentenced to death in this case was condemned solely for 'involvement in assault or crime against Rouhollah Ajamian' but rather 'due to their collective actions,' which the court identified as instances of 'corruption on earth.' The execution of Mohammad Mahdi Karami and Mohammad Hosseini was met with widespread reactions, and some legal experts raised serious objections to these executions. The Chief Justice of Alborz Province also stated that the ruling regarding the defendant 'Arian Farzamnia' was annulled by the Supreme Court for further examination and issuance of a new ruling due to subsequent claims from his relatives regarding 'his suffering from depression.' This case initially had 16 defendants, and following the issuance of preliminary rulings in this branch and their confirmation by the Supreme Court, Mohammad Hosseini and Mohammad Mahdi Karami were executed by the judiciary. However, the cases of the remaining defendants were 'returned to the same branch for further examination and issuance of a new ruling.' According to this report, Hamid and Farzaneh Ghareh-Hassanlou, a couple of doctors arrested in connection with the case of Rouhollah Ajamian's death on November 12, coinciding with the 40th ceremony of Hadith Najafi in Karaj, were sentenced to '15 years' and 'five years' of imprisonment, respectively, which will be in exile. Hamid Ghareh-Hassanlou, a 53-year-old doctor, was one of five people initially sentenced to death for 'killing a Basij member,' a sentence that was later revoked. Previously, over three thousand Iranian doctors and healthcare staff from around the world had requested 'immediate assistance' regarding the situation of Hamid Ghareh-Hassanlou, a radiologist, and his wife Farzaneh. These doctors stated in their letter that Dr. Ghareh-Hassanlou and his wife had been tortured since their arrest, and Dr. Ghareh-Hassanlou had sustained broken ribs. Reports also emerged yesterday indicating that the father of Mohammad Mahdi Karami, an executed protester in this case, and his lawyer were arrested on Tuesday, August 22, 2023, just before the anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death. According to these reports, Mr. Karami's arrest occurred 'when security agents stormed his home,' and security forces 'took electronic devices such as laptops and mobile phones belonging to the Karami family,' leaving his relatives unaware of his situation. Hamid Hosseini: Hamid Ghareh-Hassanlou is in the hospital; it seems there was an intention to eliminate him. Reza Saeedi Firuzabadi: Hamid Ghareh-Hassanlou's physical condition is not good. The lawyer for the Ghareh-Hassanlou couple: My clients have developed serious illnesses in prison. The family of Hamid and Farzaneh Ghareh-Hassanlou emphasized their innocence by publishing a 'letter of suffering.' The new rulings are from the same previous branch of the Revolutionary Court; Hamid Ghareh-Hassanlou was sentenced to 15 years, and his wife to 5 years of imprisonment. The Alborz judiciary stated that none of the defendants in the Ajamian case have been 'pardoned.' A family member of Hamid Ghareh-Hassanlou told Voice of America: All treatment options have been closed to him. The 'Support Dr. Ghareh-Hassanlou' campaign told Voice of America: He has been transferred to the hospital.