Five Months After Mohammad Ali Taheri’s Release, Two of His Supporters Sentenced to Prison and Fine on Kish Island
Although “Mohammad Ali Taheri,” founder of “Erfan-e Halgheh,” was released in early Ordibehesht of this year after spending eight years in prison, his supporters continue to be sentenced to punishments such as imprisonment on various charges including “propaganda against the system” through membership in Erfan-e Halgheh.
The Campaign to Defend Political and Civil Prisoners reported on Wednesday, September 20th, that two supporters of Mohammad Ali Taheri, founder of Erfan-e Halgheh, named “Mostafa Almasi” and his wife “Nasim Pourmohammadali Habbabi,” were sentenced by Branch 101 of the Criminal Court of Kish Island, headed by Judge Shanbehzadeh, on charges of “propaganda against the system through membership in the deviant sect Erfan-e Halgheh” to six months in prison and a fine of 50 million tomans each.
According to the published report, the first court session for Mostafa Almasi and Nasim Pourmohammadali Habbabi took place on December 4th, 2017, without the right to legal counsel and lasted only 10 minutes. According to an informed source, these two supporters of Mohammad Ali Taheri were denied the right to defend themselves and were insulted during the court session.
The second court session was held on November 27th, 2018, without the presence of Mr. Almasi and Ms. Pourmohammadali Habbabi, and the verdict issued in June 2019 was communicated to their family verbally.
These two supporters of Mohammad Ali Taheri were arrested on September 5th, 2016, by security forces on Kish Island and were released on September 20th of the same year on bail temporarily until the end of legal proceedings from the detention center of the Intelligence Office of Kish.
Nahid Beheshti is another supporter of “Mohammad Ali Taheri” who is currently serving a five-year prison sentence issued by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, headed by Judge Ahmadzadeh, on charges of “gathering and conspiracy against national security.”
Mohammad Ali Taheri, founder of “Erfan-e Halgheh,” who was arrested on April 4th, 2011, was initially sentenced to death by Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court. After his lawyer’s objection and the reversal of this verdict by the Supreme Court, this prisoner of conscience was sentenced to five years in prison by Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court. Mr. Taheri, who went on Nowruz leave from March 19th, 2019, was released unconditionally on Tuesday, April 23rd, 2019.
The U.S. Department of State has repeatedly mentioned violations of the rights of religious minorities and suppression of individuals because of their beliefs in reports on Iran’s human rights situation.
Source: Voice of America
