Second Court Session for Eight Protesters Held at Tehran Revolutionary Court

Human rights sources have reported that the second court session for eight accused protesters in a joint case was held on Saturday, July 27, at Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari. According to HRANA, Hamidreza Sahlabadi, who attempted suicide in protest of his repeated summons to court and is currently hospitalized, was not present at the court. The other seven include Nasim Gholami Simyari, Ehsan Ravazgian, Amin Sokhanvar, Amir Shah-Valayati, Ali Herati Mokhtari, Hossein Mohammadi Hosseini, and Hossein Ardestani. Reports indicate that Hamidreza Sahlabadi and Nasim Gholami Simyari face charges of 'baghi' (rebellion) and 'membership in a rebel group.' Under the Islamic Penal Code, 'baghi' refers to armed uprising against the Islamic Republic, with a potential punishment of execution. The six other protesters in this case face charges such as 'conspiracy to commit a crime against national security,' 'disturbing public order, security, and comfort,' 'destruction of public property,' and 'propaganda against the regime.' The first court session for these protesters was held on June 30. These eight protesters were arrested between May and August 2023 in a joint case. Some of these citizens have been released on bail, but Nasim Gholami Simyari, Amin Sokhanvar, and Ehsan Ravazgian have been imprisoned in Evin Prison for over a year. Amir Shah-Valayati, one of the defendants in this case, is among the protesters who lost his eye during the 'Women, Life, Freedom' protests. The severe government crackdown and the risk of protests going underground are highlighted by accounts from doctors and eyewitnesses regarding the injured during the protests.