Temporary Detention of Hossein and Mohammad Hossein Sepehri Extended

Asghar Sepehri, a member of the families of political prisoners, reported the extension of the temporary detention of his two brothers in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad. On Wednesday, December 8, Asghar Sepehri, brother of Fatemeh Sepehri, wrote in a message on X (formerly Twitter) that Ali Soleimani Marshak, the investigator of Branch 903 in Mashhad, has extended the temporary detention of Hossein Sepehri and Mohammad Hossein Sepehri for another month. According to Asghar Sepehri, his two brothers were arrested on October 6 while they were at Qaem Hospital seeking treatment for their sister, Fatemeh Sepehri, a political prisoner. Previously, Fatemeh Sepehri had reported the arrest of her two brothers coinciding with her transfer to the operating room for open-heart surgery, stating, 'Whatever I suffered for my open heart, I also suffered for the arrest of my brothers.' Recently, Khosrow Ali-Kordi, the lawyer for three members of the Sepehri family, was sentenced to one year in prison and additional penalties for 'propaganda activities against the regime.' According to Fatemeh's lawyer, Mohammad Hossein and Hossein Sepehri are also sentenced to two years of exit ban, exile to the city of Nehbandan, deprivation of the right to practice law, and prohibition from activities in cyberspace. Khosrow Ali-Kordi has also represented several families of victims of the nationwide protests of 2022, including Abolfazl Adinehzadeh and Erfan Rezaei Novayi. Asghar Sepehri had also reported on November 20 about the cutting of phone contact with his sister and two imprisoned brothers. The issuance of long-term sentences for journalists and political, ideological, civil, and professional activists comes at a time when the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly condemned widespread human rights violations by the Islamic Republic in a resolution on November 24. Abram Pili, the Deputy Special Representative of the United States for Iran, also expressed solidarity with the Iranian people who 'are fighting against oppression and violence for a free and democratic future' in light of the adoption of this resolution. Exclusive: Hossein and Mohammad Hossein Sepehri were arrested; Fatemeh Sepehri in the hospital. Fatemeh Sepehri was denied visits with her children; prison officials stated that her remarks in the hospital were 'a crime.' Fatemeh Sepehri was transferred from prison to the ICU of the hospital. Pressure continues on the Sepehri family; Fatemeh's brothers remain in uncertainty in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.