Additional Name(s): Vahid Khamoushi, Vahid Khamooshi, وحید خموشی

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Iran

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sufi

Health Concerns: Broken ankle, infected pellet gun wounds

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: Yes

Sentence: 7 Years, 6 Months' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: February//2018

Date of Sentencing: July//2018

Date of Release: November/11/2020

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 Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials Unlawful Disobedience

Vahid Khamoshi

Extra Bio Info:

Vahid Khamoshi was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Khamoshi 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. Khamoshi was reportedly charged with "propaganda against the state" (Art. 500 IPC), "refusing police orders" (Art. 607 IPC), "assembling and colluding to act against national security" (Art. 610 IPC), and "disrupting public order" (Art. 618 IPC). Khamoshi was reportedly denied access to a lawyer.

In July 2018, Khamoshi was reportedly sentenced to 12 years in prison and two years in exile. Khamoshi was expected to serve seven years and six months in prison as the sentences ran concurrently.

Khamoshi was reportedly subjected to inhumane living conditions throughout his imprisonment. Authorities also denied him proper medical care for a broken ankle and infected wounds that were the result of security forces shooting him with pellet guns during the February 2018 protests.

On November 11, 2020, Khamoshi was reportedly released on bail.

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