Activists Protest, Urging US Sen. Cardin To Advance Iran Bill

According to a report by the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) on Tuesday, Bakhtiari was also handed a sentence of 74 lashes as a result of a case opened against him during his detention.

The sentencing is the latest in a string of cases which has seen Iranians handed punishments such as finger amputation and lashings, amidst a nationwide crackdown on dissent.

The charges against Bakhtiari include "conspiracy and collusion with the intent to commit crimes against national security," "formation and management of a group in cyberspace with the aim of undermining national security," "spreading lies," "anti-establishment propaganda," and "disturbing public minds."

Bakhtiari’s son, Pouya, aged 27, sustained a gunshot wound to the head in Karaj amid the November 2019 protests. The family attributes his death to security forces and has openly advocated for holding the authorities responsible not only for his son's death but also for the alleged deaths of hundreds of others at the hands of security forces.

The trial for his father's charges took place through a video conference on December 24, reflecting the challenges faced in ensuring a fair legal process.

Earlier this year, Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court in Karaj had imposed an additional sentence of six months in prison on Bakhtiari on the charge of "insulting the leader" based on a separate case.

Bakhtiari was first arrested on April 28, 2021, when security forces used excessive force during the apprehension at his residence in Tehran. Subsequently, the Revolutionary Court convicted him to three years and six months in prison, two years and six months in exile, and a two-year travel ban.

The verdict has sparked outcry as it was delivered in his absence, with allegations of his refusal to wear prison uniform.

Reza, Younesi's son, took to Twitter on Tuesday to express his frustration, revealing that his father was denied the right to be present in court. The court session proceeded despite objections from his lawyers regarding the "lack of presentation of any evidence by the ministry of intelligence," which were reportedly disregarded.

Younesi was detained on December 28, 2022, in Shahroud, with the ministry of intelligence accusing him of "financial ties with the exiled opposition group Mojahedin-e-Khalq (MEK)."

His family has vehemently contested the charges, asserting that Younesi is an employee engaged in legitimate commercial transactions. The case is purportedly centered around a payment of 130 million rials.

Reza further alleged that the intelligence authorities were well aware of his father's lack of connection to the case's narrative but implicated him as an act of revenge.

Another son, Ali Younesi, a gold medalist from the International Astronomy Olympiad, was arrested in 2020 alongside Amir-Hossein Moradi. Both were subsequently sentenced to 16 years in prison on charges including "corruption on earth," "propaganda against the system," and "conspiracy and collusion with the aim of acting against national security."

The sentencing was confirmed by Yarrahi's attorney, Zahra Minooei, who explained that, as per Islamic penal law, the most severe aspect of the punishment, one year of imprisonment, is enforceable.

Minooei further disclosed that Yarrahi is currently temporarily released on bail amounting to 150 billion rials (approximately $300,000). This follows the attorney's announcement in October regarding Yarrahi's temporary release from Evin Prison, where he had been detained since August 28. Yarrahi gained attention for releasing protest works during the 2022 Iranian people's uprising against the Islamic Republic.

The singer's detention, triggered by the release of his protest music video titled "Rousarieto" (Your Headscarf), sparked widespread reactions from activists and public figures. In a show of solidarity, social media users shared dance videos featuring the controversial song.

According to Mizan News Agency, the media outlet of the Iranian judiciary, a legal case had been initiated against Mehdi Yarrahi for releasing the song. The media outlet labeled the song as "illegal and contrary to the ethics and norms of Islamic society."

Yarrahi was accused of various charges, including "producing, sending, distributing, and publishing obscene and immoral content through computer and telecommunication systems, encouraging people towards corruption and obscenity," as well as "propaganda against the system."

The star’s conviction occurs at a time when other singers, such as Toomaj Salehi and Saman Yasin, have been imprisoned for months due to their support for the uprising.

In an Instagram story, he disclosed convictions of "assembly and collusion" for five years and "propaganda against the system" for eight months. The story also noted his acquittal on charges of "spreading lies" and "illegitimate financial gain."

The latest conviction comes within a week of reports from a former political prisoner indicating Pirzadeh's deteriorating health following a nine-day hunger strike. Last week, Pirzadeh was urgently hospitalized in Tehran due to "convulsions," "muscle cramps," and "chest pain," specifically in the cardiology ward. Despite his reported physical distress, human rights media later revealed his return to Evin Prison a few days later.

Pirzadeh was arrested at Ahvaz airport in southwestern Iran on September 19 as he prepared to travel to Turkey with a valid passport. Intelligence agents detained him without presenting an arrest warrant.

Previously sentenced to seven years in prison in June 2019, Pirzadeh engaged in hunger strikes and sewed his right eyelid shut in protest during his incarceration. Upon release in February 2023, he faced mobility issues resulting from a spinal cord injury and an anxiety disorder.

Hamid Qarahassanlou, a fifty-four-year-old radiologist, and his wife Farzaneh were arrested in November during protests in Karaj, following the death of Basij militia member Ruhollah Ajamian, who was reportedly beaten to death by angry demonstrators.

The doctors, expressing their objection to the allegations against Qarahassanlou, stated, "With the close and extensive knowledge we have of Qarahassanlou, either personally or through trustworthy colleagues, we do not find the accusation of his involvement in attributed violence to be justified." They emphasized that information from the family, lawyers, and official media outlets supported their belief in the couple's innocence.

After a commemoration ceremony on November 3, 2022, for those who lost their lives in the Woman, Life, Freedom uprising, 16 people were detained in connection to the death of Ruhollah Ajamian. Two men, Mohammad Mehdi Karami and Mohammad Hosseini, were executed on January 7, 2023, while eight others faced heavy prison sentences and exile.

Qarahassanlou, initially sentenced to death, received the longest imprisonment term of 15 years in the case. The doctors, drawing attention to the couple's diseases, have called for a retrial and temporary release until the case can be reexamined in a fair court.

The plea from the medical community comes amid tensions, as the brother of Ajamian has publicly stated that their family "only wants" Qarahassanlou and his wife to be hanged. The Islamic Republic has previously executed protesters on charges of 'moharebeh,' meaning "war against God."