Sina Entesari

Extra Bio Info:

Sina Entesari was imprisoned for his religious association and for reporting on religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Entesari, a news director for the website Majzooban-e-Noor, 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. Entesari was covering the protests as a journalist. Entesari 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). Following his arrest, Entesari was reportedly denied access to a lawyer.

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

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

On March 24, 2020, Entesari was reportedly released from prison following a state directive in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Entesari was reportedly denied adequate medical care and subjected to beatings, solitary confinement, and inhumane living conditions while imprisoned.