Continued Uncertainty Surrounding Defendants in the 'Ekbatān Town' Case After Transfer to Unknown Location

Despite five days having passed since the transfer of four defendants in the case known as 'Ekbatān Town' from Gohardasht Prison in Karaj to an unknown location, there is still no information available about these individuals. According to the news agency of human rights activists in Iran, Mohammad Mehdi Hosseini, Mehdi Imani, Milad Armon, and Navid Najaran were transferred on Tuesday, April 30. An informed source close to the families of these prisoners told Hahrana that there is still no information about their place of detention, but it is suspected they may have been transferred to the IRGC Intelligence Detention Center. The 'Ekbatān Town' case involves the death of a Basij member named Arman Ali-Vardi, who is said to have been killed in November 2022 in Ekbatān Town, Tehran, during the crackdown on nationwide protests. At least 50 young residents of this residential town located in the west of the capital have been arrested in connection with this case, with indictments issued for 14 of them. In the latest update regarding the case, human rights media reported on April 16 that the case had been returned to the prosecutor's office due to what was described as a 'confidential defect.' According to Reza Shafakhah, a lawyer, the head of the 13th branch of Tehran's Criminal Court has refrained from disclosing details about the defect and the reason for returning the case to the prosecutor's office due to its confidential nature. Payam Darafshan, one of the defendants' lawyers, reported in Bahman 1402 (January 2024) that there are fundamental flaws in the case and stated that the Revolutionary Court is set to try Milad Armon, Mohammad Mehdi Hosseini, Mehdi Imani, and Navid Najaran on charges of 'moharebeh' (waging war against God). According to independent reports and human rights sources, the defendants in the 'Ekbatān Town' case have been subjected to severe torture during detention and forced to confess against themselves and other defendants. The case known as 'Ekbatān Town' was returned to the prosecutor's office due to 'confidential defect,' and a lawyer for one of the defendants was not allowed to attend the court. There are 'fundamental and numerous flaws' in the 'Ekbatān Town' case; four individuals are being tried on charges of 'moharebeh.' The last court session regarding the 'Ekbatān Town' case has been held, and the second session of the court addressing the charges against eight defendants in the 'Ekbatān Town' case has also been conducted.