Behnoud Pourrostami

Additional Name(s): Behnoud Rostami, بهنود پوررستمی

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Iran

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sufi

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: Yes

Sentence: 5 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: February//2018

Date of Sentencing: May//2018

Date of Release: March//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 Public Disorder

Behnoud Pourrostami

Extra Bio Info:

Behnoud Pourrostami was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Pourrostami 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. Pourrostami was reportedly charged with "assembling and colluding to act against national security" (Art. 610 IPC) and "disrupting public order" (Art. 618 IPC). Pourrostami was reportedly denied access to a lawyer.

In May 2018, Pourrostami was reportedly sentenced to seven years in prison. Pourrostami was expected to serve five years in prison as the sentences ran concurrently.

In March 2020, Pourrostami was reportedly released from prison following a state directive in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pourrostami was reportedly denied adequate medical care and subjected to inhumane living conditions during his detention.