Farhad Novaei, 16-Year-Old Protest Student, Released After 9 Months

A human rights organization reports that Farhad Novaei, a 16-year-old student who was arrested last November for participating in the 'Women, Life, Freedom' protests, was released from the Urmia Correction and Rehabilitation Center on Wednesday, August 9. According to 'Kurdpa', this child was sentenced to two years in prison by the Juvenile Criminal Court in Mahabad on charges of 'gathering and colluding to commit crimes against national security', taking into account the time already served. Kurdpa states that the verdict for Farhad Novaei was communicated to his family on Saturday, July 8, after they visited the court. The report indicates that during his detention and court session, the protesting student was denied access to a designated lawyer. Additionally, the court set a bail of 5 billion tomans for Farhad's temporary release, which his family could not afford. The Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers' Trade Unions states that Farhad Novaei has been released on bail. This council previously announced that Farhad Novaei, a resident of the village of Turshakan in the Mahabad County of West Azerbaijan Province, was forced to make a coerced confession under torture during his detention. The burial of Mansoureh Sagvand; Sonia Sharifi: 'I have no intention of suicide and no heart problems.' The confiscation of Kian Pirfalak's birthday memorabilia; Mahmanir Molaei Rad: 'It is a sign of confirming the crimes.' The prosecutor of Shahr-e Rey attributed the cause of Abolfazl Amirataei's death to 'a heavy object collision while motorcycling.' Continued uncertainty regarding the condition of Rouhollah Rasouli, a 15-year-old detained in Golestan Province. The human rights situation in May as reported by a human rights organization; 'intensified confrontations' and 'widespread violations of freedoms.'