Additional Name(s): مهدی کیوانلو

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Iran

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sufi

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Rejected

Sentence: 5 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: February//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 Unlawful Disobedience

Mehdi Keyvanlou

Extra Bio Info:

Mehdi Keyvanlou was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Keyvanlou 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. Keyvanlou 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). Keyvanlou was reportedly denied access to a lawyer.

Later in 2018, Keyvanlou was reportedly sentenced to seven years in prison and 74 lashes. Keyvanlou was expected to serve five years in prison as the sentences ran concurrently.

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

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

Sources: