Savadkuh Criminal Court in Mazandaran Sentences Two Environmental Activists to Imprisonment

Branch 102 of the Savadkuh Criminal Court in Mazandaran sentenced two environmental activists from the village of Bernet to a total of one year in prison. Vahid Darvish, the village chief, and Reza Darvish, a teacher, who were working to prevent 'land grabbing by mining companies,' were each sentenced to six months in prison. According to the Hirakani Human Rights and Environmental Media, the people of Bernet attribute the destruction of the environment, agriculture, and gardening in the central Alborz regions, Savadkuh, and the Khafirkouh area to the activities of mining units and oppose their operations. Previously, local officials in Savadkuh and Mazandaran had warned about the danger of 'increased dust' resulting from mining activities in these areas and considered the possibility of 'social tensions' regarding this issue to be 'very serious.' According to Mehr News Agency, Ramadan Gholami, the governor of Savadkuh, criticized the lack of oversight on the 'excessive activities' of mining units that have led to 'severe destruction' of natural resource areas. He pointed out the opposition of the residents of surrounding villages to the mining unit 'supplying materials' for the new Qaimshahr to Sari highway, deeming the likelihood of 'social tensions' arising from this mining unit's activities to be 'very serious.' Ahmad Tavakoli, the deputy for urban development coordination in Mazandaran, also warned about the 'excessive' extraction of river and mountain sand and gravel and the risk of creating dust centers in the Haraz Valley and Khafirkouh. Despite local officials' criticisms, environmental defenders continue to face judicial actions. Vahid Darvish and Reza Darvish had previously been sentenced to pay a fine instead of 45 days in prison for their activities. An environmental activist was arrested in Sanandaj, and a ranger in Miankaleh was detained for preventing the unloading of construction materials. The crisis in Isfahan has intensified, with 12 subsidence incidents recorded in one month. The impact of acid rains and factory pollution has caused parts of the inscriptions at the Ferdowsi tomb to be damaged.