Former Political Prisoner Siamak Amini Sentenced to Four Years in Prison; Continued Uncertainty for Nasim Gholami in Evin

Human rights sources reported the sentencing of a political prisoner from the 1980s by the judiciary of the Islamic Republic and the year-long uncertainty of a woman detained on political charges in Evin Prison. According to the Hengaw Human Rights Organization, Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, has recently sentenced Siamak Amini, a former political prisoner residing in Tehran, to over four years in prison, of which three years and seven months are enforceable. The charges against this 63-year-old citizen are 'conspiracy and collusion' and 'propaganda against the regime.' In addition to imprisonment, Siamak Amini has been sentenced to supplementary punishments including a two-year travel ban, prohibition on using mobile phones, and a ban on membership in political and social groups. Hengaw reported that Siamak Amini was released on bail of 500 million tomans after being summoned three times last year until the end of the judicial proceedings. The uncertainty surrounding Nasim Gholami Simiyari, a 36-year-old political detainee, continues in Evin Prison despite a year having passed since her arrest. Intelligence agents of the IRGC arrested Nasim Gholami Simiyari in May 2023 in Tehran. She has been accused of 'rebellion,' 'conspiracy and collusion,' and 'propaganda against the regime.' According to Harana, this political detainee has been subjected to 'psychological and physical torture' and held in 'solitary confinement,' being forced to make 'coerced confessions on camera.' Harana reported in May this year in a monthly report on the dimensions of human rights violations by the Islamic Republic, mentioning 70 cases of prisoners in uncertainty. The U.S. Department of State also emphasized the worsening human rights situation in Iran in an annual report on the international human rights situation for 2023 published on May 23. The 500-day uncertainty of three detainees from the nationwide protests in Lakan Prison in Rasht continues, along with the uncertainty of Yasin Kobdani and Mohammad Darvish Naroui after 450 days of detention. The ongoing uncertainty of Mahdi Afshar Nik, a journalist and imprisoned filmmaker, continues as the prosecutor obstructs bail. The seventh day of the hunger strike of Keyvan Roshouzadeh, a Kurdish political prisoner, is ongoing in protest against torture.