Another Iranian Lawyer Arrested by Security Forces

Mohammadhadi Erfanian Kasb, a practicing lawyer in Iran, was arrested by security forces after appearing at Evin Courthouse and transferred to Evin Prison.

Mohammadhadi Erfanian Kasb, a practicing lawyer in Iran who had previously been summoned to Evin Courthouse following a complaint filed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps intelligence unit, was arrested on Sunday, April 27, while appearing before the second interrogation branch of Evin Courthouse by security forces and transferred to the Guards’ intelligence detention facility, known as Ward 2A of Evin Prison.

According to available reports, no information has been disclosed so far regarding the reasons for the arrest and charges brought against this lawyer, and his legal representatives were not permitted to be present during the interrogation session.

It is noteworthy that in his legal practice, this lawyer has represented cases including that of Alireza Shirmohammadi Ali, a political prisoner who died in Tehran’s Greater Prison, Raheleh Rahimi Pour, Marjan Davari, and a number of Bahai citizens.

The arrest of this lawyer occurs at a time when coronavirus is spreading widely in Iranian prisons and the lives of many prisoners, including Mohammadhadi Erfanian Kasb, are at risk, and despite the widespread outbreak of this virus in prisons, Islamic Republic officials have so far prevented the release or granting of leave to some political and civil prisoners.

Previously, Javaid Rehman, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran, had called on Tehran to temporarily release all prisoners. He had earlier stated that keeping political prisoners during the coronavirus outbreak is “regrettable and concerning.”

Source: Voice of America