Sekhavat Salimi

Extra Bio Info:

Sekhavat Salimi was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

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

In August 2018, Salimi was reportedly sentenced to seven years in prison, 74 lashes, two years in exile, and two years of deprived social rights. Salimi was expected to serve five years in prison as the sentences ran concurrently.

In September 2018, it was reported that Salimi was participating in a hunger strike demanding an end to Tabandeh's house arrest, the release of female Gonabadi Sufi prisoners, and for all Gonabadi Sufi prisoners in Great Tehran Penitentiary to be kept in the same ward.

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

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

Salimi was reportedly subjected to attacks and denied adequate medical care during his detention.