New Wave of Pressure on Lawyers and Civil Activists in Iran; Arrests, Torture, and Heavy Sentences
Continuing the escalating wave of security and judicial confrontations in Iran, fresh reports indicate the arrest of lawyers, torture of detainees in custody, and the issuance of heavy sentences for critical citizens; a process that, according to human rights organizations, signals an intensification of pressure on human rights defenders, civil activists, and protesters following the “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests.
Concurrent with increased pressure on civil activists in Iran, human rights sources have reported the arrest of a lawyer in Shiraz, the continued torture of a young Kurdish person in detention, and the issuance of a prison and exile sentence for a Lur citizen; developments that have once again heightened concerns about the state of human rights and the independence of the judiciary in the Islamic Republic.
According to a report published by the Human Rights Organization Hengaw, “Bahar Sahraeian,” a lawyer and member of the Farsi Bar Association, was arrested on May 16, corresponding to the 26th of Ordibehesht, while present at the Revolutionary Court complex in Shiraz and during the performance of her professional duties. She was subsequently transferred to the women’s ward of Adelabad Prison.
According to the organization, judicial authorities have levied charges against this lawyer including “gathering and conspiracy against national security,” “propaganda against the system,” and “spreading false information.” Hengaw has described the arrest of lawyers who work on political and civil cases as part of systematic pressure on Iran’s legal community.
In recent months, several other lawyers have also been arrested in Shiraz and various cities in Iran; including Elham Zaraat-Pishe and Astareh Ansari, both of whom have a history of working on human rights cases and “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests.
In another case, reports from Ilam Province indicate that “Arshia Qaysarbigi,” a young Kurdish man from Sarableh, following a violent arrest, remains held in solitary confinement and faces charges that could result in a death sentence.
According to information released by human rights organizations, security forces entered his family home without presenting a court warrant during his arrest and severely beat him; resulting in fractures to his jaw, nose, and teeth. Informed sources say that during detention he has been denied access to medical treatment, a lawyer, and family visits, and has been subjected to pressure to obtain forced confessions.
According to published judicial documents, charges of “enmity against God” and “corruption on earth” have been levied against him based on these confessions; charges that in recent years have repeatedly been used against protesters and political prisoners in Iran and have in some cases resulted in death sentences.
In another development, “Reza Koshkinezad,” a citizen from Poldakhtar, has been sentenced by the Khorramabad Revolutionary Court to one year in prison, two years of forced exile to Birjand, and an additional punishment. According to the issued sentence, he is required to study documents related to SAVAK and submit a handwritten report to judicial authorities.
The charges levied against him include “propaganda against the system” and “inciting people to disturb public security in cyberspace.” Koshkinezad had previously been arrested and convicted during the “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests.
Human rights activists say that the collection of these cases demonstrates that the Islamic Republic continues to use tools such as security arrests, heavy charges, forced confessions, and exile to control the social space and silence critics’ voices; a process that has taken on broader dimensions following the nationwide protests of recent years.
