Arash Johari’s mother seeks for help
2-December-2021
Category: Prisoners
1-December-2021
Newsgroup: Prisoners –
Breathing in Confinement: The family of Arash Johari, a labor activist, reported that about two months ago, Mr. Al-Ghaazi Mehr, the then Tehran Prosecutor, in a metting with some political prisoners, including Mr. Johari, in Evin Prison, promised Arash that his leave would be approved and told him to ask his family to follow up on the administrative process and to deposit bail.
According to Breathing in Confinement, the news organ of the Prisoners’ Rights League in Iranian , Arash Johari’s mother, in a video she released on the occasion of her son’s birthday, stated that over the past 2 months following Al-Ghaazi Mehr’s agreement to Arash’s leave, she has traveled from the city of Moghan (Parsabad) to Tehran every week to visit Mr. Vaziri in his office as well as the other authorities, to follow up on Al-Ghaazi Mehr’s promised leave. However, the answer she got every week was, “Come next week.” And the last time she was informed that her son’s leave was not approved.
Mr. Johari was arrested on October 6, 2020, by IRGC intelligence agents at his home in Tehran and transferred to the detention center of this organization, known as Ward 2A of Evin Prison.
Arash Johari was transferred to the general ward of Evin Prison after about 2 months of interrogation. It is said that the family of this labor activist was unaware of his fate and whereabouts during this period.
In January 2021, he was sentenced by Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, headed by Judge Iman Afshari, to 10 years in prison on charges of “managing illegal groups with the aim of disrupting national security,” to 5 years in prison on charges of “conspiracy and colluding,” and to one year in prison on charges of “propaganda activity against the regime.”
Applying Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the most severe punishment, i.e. 10 years in prison, was applicable to him. However, as he did not appeal the ruling, the sentence was reduced to seven years and six months in prison. The labor activist and his family are said to have been pressured by security forces to accept the vote.