Six More Executions Approaching

While reactions to last week’s executions are ongoing, Tehran’s prosecutor announced that six individuals arrested during post-election protests have been sentenced to death.

Tehran’s prosecutor announced that death verdicts of Mohsen and Ahmad Daneshpour-Moghaddam, who were arrested on Ashoura day along with three family members and relatives have been finalized.  The verdicts, however, have not officially been communicated to the individuals, their families or attorneys.  

According to Meisam Daneshpour-Moghaddam, his father and brother were deprived of the right of representation by an attorney, despite official claims that they were represented by public defenders.

Meisam Daneshpour-Moghaddam told Rooz that Dr. Sharif had accepted to represent his mother and two of the relatives, but he was not allowed to represent his father and brother.  He was told by the court that the verdicts have already been issued and no representation is necessary.  

Meanwhile, the appellate court reduced death sentences to prison terms for Motahareh Bahrami-Haghighi, Rayhaneh Hajebrahim-Dabbagh and Hadi Ghaemi, who were arrested along with Mohsen and Ahmad Daneshpour-Moghaddam.  On the other hand, death sentences for teacher Abdolreza Ghanbari, Jafar Kazemi, Mohammad Ali Hajaghaei and Mohammad Ali Saremi, other individuals arrested during post-election protests, have been finalized.

Arsalan Abadi and Mohammad Amin Valian were acquitted of Moharebeh [enmity with god] and their death sentences were overturned. Valian was sentenced to 3.5 years imprisonment and payment of fines.

Meanwhile, the judiciary continues to hand down hard sentences and prison officials are increasing their pressure on journalist and political prisoners.  The 3-year prison term for Azar Mansouri, the political director of the reformist Mosharekat (Participation) Party, was approved by the appellate court.  Saeed Nourmohammadi’s lawyers announced that his client was sentenced to a 5-year prison term and banned from political activism for 30 years.  

Masoud Bastani’s lawyer revealed that his client was sentenced to 6 years imprisonment.

Dr. Sharif, who also represents Masoud Aghaei, said, “Masoud Aghaei was acquitted of conspiracy to commit crime and disturbance but sentenced to 6 months behind bars for participating in protests.”

Mohammad Reza Nasabollahi, a journalist from Shiraz who had uncovered four sealed ballot boxes in a public library after the votes had been counted and announced was sentenced to eight months imprisonment for propaganda against the regime.

Meanwhile, French citizen Clotilde Reiss was released and allowed to return to France.  The release took place exactly one week after Iranian businessman Majid Kakavand was released in France.

Several prominent prisoners have been transferred to the Rajaeishahr Prison and are kept in the prison’s mosque lacking the most basic health provisions.  Space is lacking so much that the prisoners are forced to sleep in shifts.  Reports indicate that other journalists and political prisoners are going to be transferred from Evin Prison to other facilities.