Additional Name(s): احمد ایرانیخواه
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Iran
Ethnic Group: Fars
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sufi
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Sentence: 5 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: February//2018
Date of Sentencing: July//2018
Date of Release: March/23/2020
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Protesting Religious Freedom Conditions Religious Association
Nature of Charges: Illegal Assembly Unlawful Disobedience
Ahmad Iranikhah was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.
In February 2018, authorities arrested Iranikhah following a violent crackdown on people protesting the arrest of Nematollah Riahi. Riahi, a member of the Sufi Gonabadi Order, had come to Tehran earlier in February to participate in a sit-in protesting the house arrest of spiritual leader Noor Ali Tabandeh. Iranikhah was reportedly charged with "refusing police orders" (Art. 607 IPC) and "assembling and colluding to act against national security" (Art. 610 IPC). Following his arrest, Iranikhah was reportedly denied access to a lawyer.
In July 2018, Iranikhah was reportedly sentenced to seven years in prison and two years in exile. Iranikhah was expected to serve five years in prison as the sentences ran concurrently.
In March 2019, a Tehran appeals court reportedly upheld Iranikhah's sentence.
On March 23, 2020, Iranikhah was reportedly released from prison following a state directive in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
During his detention, Iranikhah was reportedly subjected to attacks and inhumane living conditions.
"Ahmad Iranikhah" United For Iran
"Iran: Over 200 Dervishes Convicted" Human Rights Watch
"Mass Conviction of Sufi Protesters “Unprecedented in Iran’s Judicial History” Center For Human Rights In Iran
"Iran: Crackdown on Dervish Minority" Human Rights Watch
"Clashes Between Police and Sufis Leave Five Dead" Iran Wire
"Six People Said Killed, 300 Arrests At Sufi Protest In Iran" Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)
"Clashes Highlight Tensions Between Dervishes And Iran's Establishment" Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)