In Mass Trial, Tonekabon Court Tries 15 for Protest Activity
On March 5, 2018, proceedings were held at Criminal Court 101 in Tonekabon County in Iran’s Mazandaran Province for charges against 15 defendants who had participated in the winter protests which swept the country. Conditional suspended prison sentences have been issued for three of the defendants so far.
Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reports that a trial session was conducted en masse for all 15 defendants in which they presented their final defenses. Nine of the defendants were present in court; another six who arrived at a delaywere forbidden from entering and told that, if necessary, they would be contacted and their sentences handed down in absentia.
The charges entered against the defendants comprise “taking part in an unlawful gathering,” “insulting the office of the Supreme Leader,” “disturbing public order,” “propaganda against the government,” and “actions against national security.”
Salim Sadeghi, Sina Nowruzi, Mahin Taj Ahmadpur, Amir Hossein Hesami, Mostafa Janipour, Mohammad Abu al-Ghassemi, Issa Bagheri, Sadegh Mehdi Rudi, Sina (Kamal) Davudi, Ali Gelich, Hadi Rahmani Garmarudi, Parya Dinarsara’i, Fatemeh Dinasara’i, Ali Yari, and Mohammad Hassan Soltani are the names of the defendants confirmed by HRANA.
A source with information on the status of the defendants told HRANA: “Judge Salvati asked them about the reason they attended protests, the particulars of how the gatherings took shape, and the slogans which were shouted in the streets. He asked for them to present their final defenses. The defendants answered Salvati’s questions one by one, and presented their own defenses. The defendants were ultimately told that their final verdicts would be issued within two weeks.”
In the past two days, three of the defendants – Sina Nowruzi, Hadi Rahmani Garmrudi, and Parya Dinarsara’i – were given conditional suspended sentences of two years’ imprisonment. The remaining defendants are still awaiting a ruling.
The source continued: “One of those arrested, Mohammad Hassan Soltani, who is presently being held in very dangerous conditions in Tonekabon Prison, was present in today’s session. Mr. Soltani is 70 years old and uses an artificial leg. Despite a severe infection in both his legs, they brought him to court. He suffers from diabetes, and lost a leg as a result of a related infection."
Those arrested during the Tonekabon protests were taken into custody by law enforcement. After initial interrogations concluded, they were transferred to Shasavar and Nashtarad Prisons. Eleven defendants were subsequently released from prison on bail until the court date. Sadegh Mehdi Rudi, Sina Davudi, and Mohammad Hassan Soltani remain in Nashtarad and Tonekabon Prisons owing to inability to raise bail and the rejection of their termination agreements. Ali Yari, the last defendant, is being kept at Nashtarabad: despite his family’s efforts, no bail has been issued for him.
A source close to the defendants said that “During arrest and interrogation, the individuals arrested were subjected to abuse and severe psychological and physical misconduct.”