Lawyer for Environmental Prisoners: Taher Ghaderian, Sepideh Kashani, Niloufar Bayani, and Hooman Jokar Have Received 'Amnesty'

The lawyer for several imprisoned environmental activists announced that based on the 'recent amnesty' from the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, the remaining prison sentences of Niloufar Bayani, Hooman Jokar, Taher Ghaderian, and Sepideh Kashani have been pardoned. According to 'Shargh Network' on Sunday, April 8, the Human Rights Office of the Judiciary informed several defendants in the 'environmentalists' case in prison this morning that they have 'received the recent amnesty from the leader' and 'this matter will be announced for execution in the coming days.' Additionally, Hojjat Kermani, the lawyer for the environmental prisoners, confirmed this news in an interview with Shargh Network, stating: 'I also confirm this on behalf of my clients, and I hope they will be released from prison in the coming days.' In Bahman 1396 (January 2018), eight environmental activists in Iran were arrested, and less than a month later, Kavous Seyed-Emami, one of the defendants, suspiciously died in prison. The judiciary of the Islamic Republic announced two years later that in this case, Morad Tahbaz and Niloufar Bayani were sentenced to 10 years in prison, Taher Ghaderian and Hooman Jokar to 8 years, Sam Rajabi, Sepideh Kashani, and Amir Hossein Khalighi to 6 years, and Abdolreza Kouhpayeh to 4 years in prison. The charges against these individuals were declared as 'espionage,' but the Ministry of Intelligence of Hassan Rouhani's government and the Environmental Organization at that time stated that they did not consider these environmental activists as 'spies.' According to previous reports, Abdolreza Kouhpayeh, Sam Rajabi, and Amir Hossein Khalighi were released upon completing their sentences. Morad Tahbaz was also released from Iran as part of an agreement between the United States and the Islamic Republic mediated by Qatar, along with several other dual-national prisoners. A new case has been opened against Fatemeh Sepahri, with the judge accusing her of 'supporting Israel.' A law student in Isfahan was arrested, continuing the pressure on student activists. Concerns have been raised about the health and safety of Saeed Madani in Damavand prison. A hearing for the case of Tomaj Salehi will be held on April 19 in the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Isfahan. The representative of Khamenei in Kayhan has again attacked the Gonabadi Dervishes, stating they should be tried. A campaign has been launched to support Amir Nasr Azadani, a former Iranian footballer who 'bravely stood with his freedom-seeking people.'