Three Members of 'Erfan Halqeh' Arrested in Tehran

Tasnim News Agency reported the arrest of three members of the 'Erfan Halqeh' group in Tehran. The agency wrote on Tuesday, September 20, that the arrested individuals played a role in 'creating human rights attacks and seemingly international campaigns' against the Islamic Republic. Tasnim did not disclose its source but identified the arrested individuals as 'Mahdi Sepehr, Shahryar Sepehr, and Ali Memarian.' According to the news agency, these individuals were arrested by intelligence forces. However, it is unclear whether these forces belong to the Ministry of Intelligence or were assigned by the IRGC's intelligence to arrest the three. The report also indicates that in recent days, 'more than 10 activists' of the Erfan Halqeh group have been arrested in the city of Rey. Tasnim wrote that these individuals were gathered at the home of one of the activists under the pretext of a party to plan and lead a gathering, sit-in, wear shrouds, and other security actions to pressure the judiciary following the issuance of a death sentence for Mohammad Ali Taheri, the founder of Erfan Halqeh. On September 9, this news agency also reported the arrest of three members of this group in Shiraz. Tasnim, close to the IRGC, identified the detainees as Zahra Bozorgpour, Moslem Momeni, and Kiaramin Mohammadzadeh, reporting their charge as 'coordination to hold a gathering in protest against the issuance of a death sentence for Mohammad Ali Taheri.' Mohammad Ali Taheri, the founder of Erfan Halqeh, has been in prison since 2011, and although his death sentence was previously overturned by the Supreme Court, a new death sentence has recently been issued against him. Mahmoud Alizadeh Tabatabai, Mr. Taheri's lawyer, stated on September 5 in an interview with Radio Farda that a death sentence has been issued for his client, which was communicated by the Revolutionary Court. Tabatabai added that the issued sentence is a 'first-instance ruling,' and defense lawyers have 20 days to appeal this in the Supreme Court. According to him, there is no evidence that his client's actions have caused widespread corruption or, in the terms of Article 286, 'corruption on earth.' The reissuance of the death sentence for Taheri has led to protests from some human rights defenders and several of his supporters. The U.S. State Department and Amnesty International have also criticized this sentence, deeming it a violation of human rights and contrary to Iran's commitments regarding the right to freedom of belief.