Increased Pressure on Political Prisoners and Civil Activists in Iran; Sepideh Rashno Summoned for Prison Sentence Execution

Reports indicate an increase in pressure on several political prisoners and civil activists in Iran. There are reports of the authorities at Evin Prison preventing the transfer of Reza Aghdasi, a imprisoned labor activist, to medical facilities for treatment of his illnesses. A relative of Reza Aghdasi, a political prisoner held in Ward 4 of Evin Prison, told Voice of America that "Reza Aghdasi's specialist doctor emphasized that he should not be placed in stressful conditions." According to this informed source, this imprisoned labor activist, who lost his hearing due to injuries sustained during the eight-year Iran-Iraq war and has only 20% hearing with a hearing aid, also suffers from severe nerve attacks and intense pain in his legs. This individual close to Reza Aghdasi also mentioned the illnesses of two of this labor activist's children, stating that one of his sons "is suspected of having a severe intestinal disease possibly related to cancer, and his other child has autism." According to this source, "the heavy cost of their treatment and living expenses, including housing," has created many problems for his family. Reza Aghdasi was sentenced to 51 months of prison in the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran on security charges in Aban 1402, and in the appellate court, he was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison. This was despite the emphasis from the legal advisory group "Dadban" that he was unable to defend himself against the charges due to his deafness. Additionally, see: Evin Prison authorities "prevent treatment and the issuance of a non-custodial sentence" for Reza Aghdasi. This labor activist was arrested by agents of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps at his home last November and transferred to Evin Prison. The case investigator set a bail of 500 million tomans for his temporary release, but this labor activist remained in prison due to his inability to secure it. Subsequently, Reza Aghdasi's trial was held a week after his arrest, without his family's knowledge and with deprivation of access to a lawyer, in Branch 26 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran. The charges against Reza Aghdasi in court were "conspiracy and collusion to disrupt internal and external security" and "propaganda against the regime." According to Dadban, "the instances of these charges included managing a Telegram channel where this labor activist published his poetry and membership in some other Telegram groups." The IRGC Intelligence Organization accused Mr. Aghdasi of "publishing radical leftist content," "contact with the Fedayeen Guerrilla Organization," "promoting guerrilla warfare," "violent protests," "coercive strikes," and many other allegations. Typically, the security forces and the judicial apparatus of the Islamic Republic accuse labor activists, teachers, and retirees of security and political actions and then condemn them to imprisonment, flogging, exile, and other punishments. Such actions have drawn criticism from labor and professional unions worldwide. Reza Shahabi's deprivation of medical leave or conditional release. The Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company announced on Tuesday, Mordad 2, that Reza Shahabi's prison sentence, a board member of this labor organization, was reduced to 3 years and 6 months following a ruling by the Supreme Court. The syndicate noted that Mr. Shahabi, after his arrest on Ordibehesht 22, 1401, and following months of interrogation, was sentenced to 5 years in prison on charges of "conspiracy and collusion to commit a crime against national security" and one year in prison and two years of exile for "propaganda against the regime." Additionally, according to this labor organization’s announcement, Reza Shahabi was transferred from Evin Prison to Rasul Akram Hospital in Tehran on Tuesday, Mordad 1, and it was decided that his medical file would be sent to the forensic commission for a final result. According to this announcement, despite 27 months of imprisonment and severe pain in his neck and back, which a doctor diagnosed as requiring surgery on both areas, he has not been granted even a single day of leave, and his conditional release and leave have also been denied. The Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company called for the unconditional release of all labor activists, teachers, students, and civil activists, including their imprisoned members; Reza Shahabi, Davood Razavi, and Hassan Saidi. Summoning Sepideh Rashno for prison sentence execution. Masoud Kazemi, a journalist, wrote on his social media account that the judiciary of the Islamic Republic has informed Sepideh Rashno, a civil activist and opponent of compulsory hijab, that she must present herself to Evin Prison to serve her sentence of 3 years and 7 months related to the 1401 case. According to this journalist, despite the fact that her six-month sentence in a second case was converted to a fine, judicial authorities insist on enforcing the suspended sentence in the BRT case. Sepideh Rashno was arrested in Tir 1401 after protesting against "compulsory hijab" and resisting the interventions of a woman "morality enforcer" named "Raheh Rabii" regarding her attire, and was forced to make a "forced confession" in front of the camera of the Islamic Republic's state television. She has a history of previous arrests and convictions due to her activities. Her name appears in the BBC's list of 100 inspiring and influential women for the year 2023. Summoning Yekta Fahindaj Saadi, a Baha'i citizen, for trial. Yekta Fahindaj Saadi, a Baha'i citizen residing in Shiraz, who had previously been temporarily released from prison on a heavy bail of 8 billion tomans, has been summoned to Branch 1 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of this city for trial. According to Dadban, she has been arrested multiple times by the Ministry of Intelligence since 1390. The report states that the trial session for Ms. Fahindaj Saadi is being held while she has previously received acquittals in three similar cases. Meanwhile, according to the news agency HRANA, a news outlet for human rights activists in Iran, Mojgan Salmandzadeh, a Baha'i citizen, remains in Urmia prison in uncertainty despite being arrested about three weeks ago. HRANA reported that interrogations of this Baha'i citizen are still ongoing. She was arrested on Tir 14 in the city of Makoo by security forces. So far, the reasons for her arrest and the charges against Ms. Salmandzadeh have not been clarified. Baha'i citizens have systematically faced execution, widespread social and political discrimination, and illegal actions including arrests and desecration of their cemeteries since the Islamic Revolution of 1979. According to the annual report of the Commission on International Religious Freedom for the previous year, the repression, violence, discrimination, and social stigmatization of the Iranian government against Baha'i citizens have intensified. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has also expressed concern over the increased pressure on religious minorities in Iran and the Islamic Republic's campaign to detain Baha'is. The European Union also recently issued a statement urging Iranian authorities to ensure "the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all Iranians," including minorities such as Baha'is. Prohibition of in-person visits for Reyhaneh Ansarinezhad with her child. The Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company reported that Reyhaneh Ansarinezhad, a imprisoned labor activist, has been prohibited from in-person visits with her child. Additionally, see: Letter from labor activists to global trade unions: Demand the release of imprisoned workers in Iran. According to the report, when Reyhaneh Ansarinezhad went to the visitation hall on Sunday, Tir 24, for an in-person visit with her child, she was informed by the visitation hall officer that her in-person visit had been canceled by the prison security's order, and she could only have a cabin visit. Ms. Ansarinezhad also refused the cabin visit in protest and returned to her ward. She also formally protested in writing against what she called "negligence and failure to communicate this prohibition in writing." Nasrin Hosseini is held in Bojnourd prison without adherence to the principle of separation of crimes. HRANA reported that Nasrin Hosseini, a imprisoned journalist, is being held in Bojnourd prison "without adherence to the principle of separation of crimes." She was sentenced to one year and seven months in prison by the Revolutionary and Criminal Courts of Bojnourd last November. An informed source close to Nasrin Hosseini's family told HRANA that her sentence was recently changed to a release ruling, and she was being granted leave on Thursdays and Fridays. However, in early Tir, when she was on leave, she was arrested by security forces and interrogated for publishing materials regarding the presidential elections. Additionally, see: Continued pressure on journalists; the appellate court confirmed a one-year prison sentence for Nasrin Hosseini. According to the report, after her arrest, she was transferred to Bojnourd prison, and since then, her release ruling has been revoked, and her visits with family have been restricted. This source noted that Ms. Hosseini is the only female political prisoner in Bojnourd prison who is being held without adherence to the principle of separation of crimes alongside prisoners of common crimes. Deprivation of Kazem Alinajad, a political prisoner in Evin prison, from hospital transfer and medical care. HRANA reported that Kazem Alinajad, a political prisoner in Evin prison, despite his poor physical condition and severe pain in his knee, has been deprived of transfer to a hospital and appropriate medical care. An informed source close to this political prisoner’s family told HRANA that Mr. Alinajad, who suffers from heart disease and diabetes, has recently sustained injuries and severe pain in his knee due to falling in the prison yard, but despite this prisoner’s need for specialized medical attention, prison authorities have refused to transfer him to a hospital. He added that prison officials had promised that he would be transferred to Taleghani Hospital in Tehran, but each time they postponed it under the pretext of administrative procedures. Kazem Alinajad was arrested by security forces in Islamshahr on Aban 29 last year and transferred to Ward 4 of Evin Prison about a month later. In the appellate court in Ordibehesht this year, he was sentenced to 5 years in prison on charges of "conspiracy and collusion to commit a crime against national security" and acquitted of other charges. Alireza Mardasi, a teacher imprisoned in Shiban prison in Ahvaz, is deprived of medical care. HRANA reported that Alireza Mardasi, a teacher and political defendant, despite nearly a year since his arrest, remains in Shiban prison in Ahvaz without resolution. Meanwhile, he has health issues and has been deprived of medical care. An informed source close to this political defendant’s family told HRANA that Mr. Mardasi has previously been charged with "corruption on earth" and "membership in a rebellious group," but no court has been held for him so far. He noted that Alireza Mardasi suffers from lung disease and has been deprived of specialized medical care and transfer to medical facilities despite needing treatment. This imprisoned teacher was arrested by security forces in Ahvaz on Mordad 10 last year. Explanations from Vafa Ahmadpour's lawyer regarding the reason for the lack of temporary release for this protesting singer. Aida Younesi reported on the four-month prevention by the Ministry of Intelligence for transferring her father from prison to the hospital. Continued pressure on petitioners; summoning the father of Abolfazl Adinehzadeh and depriving Mashallah Karami of the right to treatment in prison. Sharifeh Mohammadi is at "risk of life"; a "professional torture and interrogation team" has been sent to Lakan prison. The "critical" condition of Eisa Ebrahimzadeh, a imprisoned farmer, following a suicide attempt. The arrest and uncertainty of Aman Jalali Nejad, a teacher from Ahvaz, continues in Shiban prison. Associations of teachers, retirees, and laborers have supported the "Free Rasoul Badaghi" campaign. Amnesty International has once again called for the "immediate and unconditional release" of Tomaj Salehi. The Kurdistan Human Rights Network: Pakhshan Aziz, a political prisoner in Evin, is deprived of contact and visits with family. Asad Kakeh, a young protester, appeared in court with "bruised and tortured face." The condemnation of the death sentence against Sharifeh Mohammadi continues from labor unions worldwide.