Additional Name(s): Hassan Shahreza, محمدحسن شاه‌رضا

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Iran

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sufi

Health Concerns: Infected pellet gun wounds

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: Yes

Sentence: 5 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: February//2018

Date of Sentencing: July//2018

Date of Release: March/23/2020

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

Mohammad Hassan Shah Reza

Extra Bio Info:

Mohammad Hassan Shah Reza was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

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

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

Authorities reportedly denied Reza proper medical care for infected wounds that were the result of security forces shooting him with pellet guns during the February 2018 protests.

On March 23, 2020, Reza was reportedly released from prison following a state directive in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): محمد کریمایی

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: 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

Mohammad Karimaei

Extra Bio Info:

Mohammad Karimaei was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

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

In July 2018, Karimaei was reportedly sentenced to seven years in prison, 74 lashes, and two years in exile. Karimaei was expected to serve five years in prison as the sentences ran concurrently.

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

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

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): Aylar Bakhtari, فاطمه باختری

Gender: Female

Perpetrator: Iran

Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Rejected

Sentence: 1 Year's Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: August//2019

Date of Release: April//2020

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Practicing Religion as a Convert Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials

Fatemeh Bakhtari

Extra Bio Info:

Fatemeh Bakhtari was imprisoned for practicing her religion as a convert. 

In May 2017, authorities arrested Bakhtari and her husband, Zaman Fadaei, under unclear circumstances.  She was reportedly denied access to a lawyer. 

On an unspecified date, Bakhtari was released on bail.

In September 2018, Bakhtari was sentenced to one year in prison for "propaganda against the state" (Art. 500 IPC).

In August 2019, Bakhtari was taken into state custody to begin serving her sentence at Evin Prison. 

In March 2020, Bakhtari was reportedly released on furlough in light of COVID-19.

In April 2020, Bakhtari was granted full release in light of COVID-19.

Related Cases: Zaman Fadaei

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