Mehran Asgharzadeh

Additional Name(s): مهران اصغرزاده

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Iran

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//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

Mehran Asgharzadeh

Extra Bio Info:

Mehran Asgharzadeh was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

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

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

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

Asgharzadeh was reportedly subjected to inhumane living conditions and attacks during his detention.