Additional Name(s): Behnoud Rostami, بهنود پوررستمی

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Iran

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sufi

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: Yes

Sentence: 5 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: February//2018

Date of Sentencing: May//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

Behnoud Pourrostami

Extra Bio Info:

Behnoud Pourrostami was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Pourrostami 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. Pourrostami was reportedly charged with "assembling and colluding to act against national security" (Art. 610 IPC) and "disrupting public order" (Art. 618 IPC). Pourrostami was reportedly denied access to a lawyer.

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

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

Pourrostami was reportedly denied adequate medical care and subjected to inhumane living conditions during his detention.

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): صادق قیصری

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Iran

Ethnic Group: Lor

Religion or Belief: Unknown

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 Reporting on Religious Freedom Conditions or Documenting Religious Freedom Violations

Nature of Charges: Unknown

Sadegh Gheysari

Extra Bio Info:

Sadegh Gheysari was imprisoned for his alleged religious association and for allegedly protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Gheysari 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.

There are conflicting reports about whether or not Gheysari was associated with the Sufi Gonadadi Order. In April 2018, the Human Rights Activists News Agency released a report questioning if Gheysari was actually affiliated with Gonabadi dervishes. According to Insafnews, Gheysari went to the protests to cover them as a journalist. 

In July 2018, Gheysari was reportedly sentenced to seven years in prison, 74 lashes, two years in exile, and two years of deprived social rights.  It is unclear what Gheysari was charged with. Gheysari was expected to serve five years in prison as the sentences ran concurrently.

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

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): Bashir Riyahi, بشیر ریاحی

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Iran

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sufi

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: Yes

Date of Detainment: February//2018

Date of Sentencing: August//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

Bashir Riahi

Extra Bio Info:

Bashir Riahi was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

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

In August 2018, Riahi was reportedly sentenced to ten years and six months in prison, 148 lashes, and two years in exile. Conflicting reports indicated that Riahi had been expected to serve either five years in prison or seven years and six months in prison as the sentences ran concurrently.

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

Riahi was reportedly denied adequate medical care during his detention.

Publicly Available Information:
Subscribe to