Ahmadreza Haeri, a political prisoner from Ilam who is currently serving a three-year and eight-month sentence in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj, Alborz Province, is facing new charges under pressure from the security services, the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) reported.

Haeri, who is imprisoned for his activism and advocacy work, appeared before the Interrogation Branch One of the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in Karaj via video conference on 16 October. 

The prisoner faced new charges of “propaganda against the state” and “spreading false information”, according to KHRN.

An Instagram account linked to Haeri said: “This case was fabricated under pressure from security agencies and based on reports and complaints from officials at Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj. It was initiated due to the imprisoned human rights activist’s letters and reports against the torture of prisoners and his advocacy against the death penalty through the ‘No to Execution Tuesdays’ campaign.”

Haeri, a Kurdish civil rights activist, was first arrested on 27 June 2022 by the Intelligence Organisation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and was held in Evin Prison’s Ward 2A. 

He was provisionally released on bail of 60 billion rials (nearly 90,000 USD) on 4 August 2022.

In September 2022, Branch 26 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran sentenced Haeri to three years and eight months in prison on charges of “assembly and collusion against national security” and eight months for “propaganda against the state”.

Under Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, only the three-year-and-eight-month sentence is enforceable.

Haeri began serving his sentence in Evin Prison on 10 May 2023, but was transferred to Ghezel Hesar Priso with 12 other political prisoners in September of the same year. 

On 21 June 2023, following a complaint by the Tehran Prisons Organisation, he was given an additional sentence of three months and one day in absentia for “spreading false information”.

Haeri has been repeatedly summoned and detained over the years for his civil rights activities.