The Final Court Session for the Case Known as 'Ekbatana Town' Was Held

Today, Tuesday, January 8, the final court session regarding the charges against the defendants in the case known as 'Ekbatana Town,' who were arrested during last year's protests, was held in Branch 13 of the Tehran Criminal Court. Reza Shafakhah, the defense lawyer for Hossein Naimati, announced that the 'final defenses' were presented to the court. Previously, the second court session regarding the charges against eight defendants in this case was held on Saturday, January 6. Milad Armon, Alireza Kafayi, Amir Mohammad Khoshghbal, Alireza Barmaz Pournak, Mohammad Mehdi Hosseini, Hossein Naimati, Mehdi Imani, and Navid Najaran are accused of 'participating in the murder' of a Basij force named 'Arman Ali-Vardi.' According to 'HRANA,' the news agency of human rights activists in Iran, this case has been divided into two sections, one referred to Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, presided over by Judge Abolqasem Salavati, and the other to Branch 13 of the Tehran Criminal Court. So far, no ruling has been issued for these individuals, whose cases involve security charges and moharebeh (waging war against God) in the Revolutionary Court. The first hearing for these citizens' charges was held on Saturday, October 7. According to HRANA, recently, after four court sessions, the court did not send the case for investigation to the prosecutor's office, and Branch 13 of the Tehran Criminal Court intervened for further investigations, expediting the proceedings and determining the status of the defendants. In early November 2022, during nationwide protests and after the killing of a Basij member named 'Arman Ali-Vardi' in Ekbatana Town, at least 50 young residents of this town were arrested, among whom 14 were indicted. In May of this year, the spokesperson for the Judiciary of the Islamic Republic announced the charges of 'moharebeh through the use of cold weapons and actions against national security' for three of the defendants in this case. According to the issued indictment, Milad Armon, Mohammad Mehdi Hosseini, and Mehdi Imani are charged with 'moharebeh,' while Alireza Kafayi, Amir Mohammad Khoshghbal, Alireza Barmaz Pournak, and Hossein Naimati face charges including 'participation in intentional murder' and 'disruption of public order and tranquility.' So far, there has been no information regarding the charges against Navid Najaran, who was recently arrested in connection with this case in Ahvaz. These individuals have been transferred from Rajai Shahr Prison to Qazalhasar Prison in Karaj since July 31 of this year.