Five months after Mohammad Ali Taheri's release, two of his supporters in Kish were sentenced to prison and fined
Although Mohammad Ali Taheri, the founder of "Irfan Halhegh," was released in early May of this year after eight years in prison, his supporters continue to be sentenced to prison terms on various charges, including "propaganda against the regime," through their membership in Irfan Halhegh.
The Campaign for the Defense of Political and Civil Prisoners reported on Wednesday, September 10, that two supporters of Mohammad Ali Taheri, the founder of the Erfan Halgheh sect, named "Mostafa Almasi" and his wife "Nasim Pour Mohammad Ali Habibi", have been sentenced to six months in prison and a fine of 50 million Tomans each by Branch 101 of the Kish Island Criminal Court, presided over by Judge Shanbeh Zadeh, on the charge of "propaganda against the regime through membership in the errant Erfan Halgheh sect."
According to the published report, the first court session of Mostafa Almasi and Nasim Pour Mohammad Ali Habibi was held on December 4, 2017, without the right to a lawyer and lasted 10 minutes. According to an informed source, these two supporters of Mohammad Ali Taheri did not have the right to defend themselves and were insulted during the court session.
The second trial was held on November 28, 2018, without the presence of Mr. Almasi and Ms. Pourmohammadali Habibi, and the verdict issued in July 2019 was communicated orally to their families.
These two supporters of Mohammad Ali Taheri were arrested by security forces on Kish Island on September 25, 2017, and were temporarily released from the Kish Intelligence Department detention center on September 10 of the same year on bail pending the completion of the trial.
Nahid Behshid is another supporter of "Mohammad Ali Taheri" who is serving a five-year prison sentence issued to her by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, headed by Judge Ahmadzadeh, on charges of "gathering and colluding against national security."
Mohammad Ali Taheri, the founder of "Irfan Halgheh", who was arrested on May 4, 2011, was initially sentenced to death by Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court. After his lawyer protested and this verdict was overturned by the Supreme Court, this prisoner of conscience was sentenced to 5 years in prison by Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court. Mr. Taheri, who had been on Nowruz leave since March 18, 2018, was released unconditionally on Tuesday, May 3, 2018.
The US State Department has repeatedly mentioned in reports on human rights in Iran the violation of the rights of religious minorities and the repression of individuals because of their beliefs.
Source: Voice of America
