Additional Name(s): Javad Khamisabadi

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Iran

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sufi

Reports of Torture: Yes

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Rejected

Sentence: 5 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: February/20/2018

Date of Release: March/22/2020

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 Unlawful Disobedience

Javad Khomeis Abadi

Extra Bio Info:

Javad Khomeis Abadi was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Abadi 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. Abadi was reportedly charged with "refusing police orders (Art. 607 IPC), "assembling and colluding to act against national security" (Art. 610 IPC), and "disrupting public order" (Art. 618 IPC). Abadi and others arrested at the protests were reportedly denied access to lawyers during the interrogation process.

In March 2018, Abadi reportedly went on hunger strike in protest of being tortured and generally mistreated while in state custody.

At a later, unknown date, Abadi was reportedly sentenced to seven years in prison, 74 lashes, and a two-year media ban. Abadi was expected to serve five years in prison as the sentences ran concurrently. 

In March 2019, a Tehran appeals court reportedly upheld Abadi's sentence. 

On March 22, 2020, Abadi was reportedly released from prison following a state directive in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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