Additional Name(s): مهدی مهدوی‌فر

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Iran

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sufi

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: Yes

Sentence: 7 Years, 6 Months' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: February/20/2018

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

Mehdi Mahdavifar

Extra Bio Info:

Mehdi Mahdavifar was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

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

In August 2018, Mahdavifar was reportedly sentenced to 13 years and six months in prison, 148 lashes, two years in exile, and two years of deprived social rights. Mahdavifar was expected to serve seven years and six months in prison as the sentences ran concurrently.

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

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

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): عبدالله اسماعیلی

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 Unlawful Disobedience

Abdollah Esmaili

Extra Bio Info:

Abdollah Esmaili was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Esmaili 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. Esmaili was reportedly charged with "refusing police orders" (Art. 607 IPC) and "assembling and colluding to act against national security" (Art. 610 IPC). Following his arrest, Esmaili was reportedly denied access to a lawyer.

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

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

During his detention, Esmaili was reportedly subjected to attacks and inhumane living conditions.

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): حسین آرنگ

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/20/2018

Date of Sentencing: June//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

Hossein Arang

Extra Bio Info:

Hossein Arang was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

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

In June 2018, Arang was reportedly sentenced to five years in prison.

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

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

Publicly Available Information:
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