Four Defendants in the 'Evin Prison Fire' Case Sentenced to Imprisonment and Flogging

The news agency 'Hrana', the news organ of human rights activists in Iran, reported the conviction of four individuals in the case known as the 'Evin Prison Fire' by the Tehran Court of Appeals. According to the report, the appellate court confirmed the convictions of Loqman Aminpour, Meysam Dehban-zadeh, Majid Roshan-nezhad, and Reza Salmān-zadeh. They were collectively sentenced by Branch 1148 of the Tehran Criminal Court to a total of 33 years in prison and 518 lashes. Previously, an informed source told Voice of America on Saturday, November 26, that 44 individuals who have been 'accused' by the Islamic Republic's judiciary in the 'Evin Prison Fire' case of 2022 have been summoned to court again following a complaint from the Tehran Prison Organization. According to this source, these 44 prisoners, most of whom are workers currently held in Greater Tehran and Qazalhasar prisons, must appear in the appellate court on Tuesday, November 28. Hrana reported that Loqman Aminpour, Meysam Dehban-zadeh, and Majid Roshan-nezhad each received a sentence of 6 years in prison and 74 lashes for property destruction, 16 months in prison and 74 lashes for disturbing prison order, and 16 months in prison for disobeying and resisting the orders of officers. Additionally, Reza Salmān-zadeh was sentenced to 5 years in prison and 74 lashes for property destruction, 1 year in prison for disturbing prison order, and 1 year in prison for disobeying and resisting the orders of officers. An informed source close to the family of one of these prisoners told Hrana that despite the defendants' objections to the ruling, no information was provided to the defendants or their lawyers. He added that the defense statement prepared by their lawyers was not considered, and this ruling was confirmed without a hearing in the Tehran Court of Appeals. Hrana reported in July of this year that Branch 1148 of the Tehran Criminal Court had sentenced 40 defendants in the 'Evin Prison Fire' case to a total of '265 years' in prison, 'over 5,000 lashes', and 'payment of blood money'. Their charges included 'property destruction, disturbing prison order, disobeying and resisting the orders of officers, and semi-intentional murder'. Following the fire in wards 7 and 8 of Evin Prison on the evening of October 15, 2022, during which gunfire and explosions were heard, at least 9 prisoners lost their lives. Reports indicate that over 100 prisoners were shot at and injured during the fire, with some killed and injured. According to Loqman Aminpour, one of the defendants in the 'Evin Prison Fire' case, prison officials 'instead of seeking help from the fire department and rescue and firefighting groups, summoned over 600 guards and special forces and plainclothes personnel and put them against the prisoners.' According to Hrana, the families of the deceased prisoners hold the officials of Evin Prison and security agencies responsible for the deaths of their loved ones and have stated that they have no complaints against the defendants.