Severe Sentences Issued for Detainees at Arak Cemetery; 'Whipping in the Mosque' and Imprisonment

Detainees at the grave of Mehrshad Shahidi, a victim of the nationwide protests in Arak, have been sentenced to 6 years in prison and 74 lashes in public, to be carried out during Friday prayers at the Arak mosque. The analytical news channel 'Emtedad' reported, citing attorney Hossein Rezaei, that according to the court ruling issued on September 2, which was prepared 'on the same day as the court session,' all detainees (except one) received the maximum penalty for 'insulting the sacred,' which is 5 years of imprisonment, and for the charge of 'disturbing public order and comfort,' the maximum penalty of 1 year of imprisonment was also determined. Additionally, for the charge of 'disturbing public order and comfort,' all eight defendants were sentenced to 74 lashes, which, according to the judge, must be executed 'in the Arak mosque, after Friday prayers, and in public.' Mehrshad Shahidi-Najad Monfared Tehrani, a 20-year-old chef and student, died on October 27, 2022, during nationwide protests following the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of the morality police. Mohammad Reza Kargarpisheh Moghadam, another attorney in the case, explained to Emtedad that a number of citizens in Arak went to the cemetery on July 27 'without prior planning and without any malicious intent' to attend a memorial for Mehrshad Shahidi, one of the victims of last fall's protests. He added that these individuals chanted 'Mehrshad, may your soul rest in peace' and clapped for a few seconds after the father of Mehrshad spoke. However, he stated that their action was interpreted as 'disrespecting Ashura' due to manipulated images released. Vahidreza Arabi, Mohammad Soltani, Mohammad Kamali, Majid and Mehdi Nikahd, Ramtin Edrisi, Maryam Bostani, and Abolfazl Khouran were tried and sentenced on charges of insulting the sacred, disturbing public order, and propaganda against the regime after attending the grave of 'Mehrshad Shahidi.' Citizens from various cities in Iran had previously gathered at the graves of victims of the 'Women, Life, Freedom' protests on different occasions. In Arak, a significant number of citizens gathered at Mehrshad Shahidi's grave during the Nowruz 1402 ceremony, singing the song 'Baraye.' As the anniversary of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini's death in the custody of the morality police approaches, security pressures, including summonses and arrests of civil and political activists and families seeking justice, have intensified.