Tag Archives: Middle East

Iran: Mohammad Sadeghi and Mehdi Etemad – Further Arrests of Theatre Artists

After several moments of absence, the Morality Police is back on the streets in Iran. Sunday, July 16 security forces attacked the home of the actor and woman rights defender Mohammad Sadeghi and arrested him because he posted a video expressing his anger over the detention of yet another woman in morality police hands due to her inappropriate hijab. Sadeghi shared his arresting live on Instagram.

The actor Mehdi Etemad Saeed was arrested by security forces on June 9, 2023, in Tehran and is still detained in legal ambiguity. He was reportedly denied access to legal representation and has been charged with “promoting impurity and indecency.” Etemad Saeed’s whereabouts are still unknown.

Sources: HRANA.org, Iran International, Twitter

Iran: Hossein Mohammadi sentenced to 10 Years

Mohammadi was arrested on Nov. 5, 2022, and has been sentenced to execution by the court of the city of Karaj. The death sentence was lifted in January 2023. A new trial in Karaj has now been held to decide on the sentences of 14 accused in connection with the death of a Bassij militiaman. Mohammadi, who has been in custody since November, has now been sentenced to 10 years in prison.
The detention of the accused had initially been justified by their participation in a memorial service for Hadis Najafi, who was killed by Basijis during a demonstration in Karaj at the end of September. Two demonstrators were executed earlier this year as part of the major trial that eventually heard charges of “corruption on earth” and “conspiracy against internal and external security”: Mohammad Mehdi Karami and Seyed Mohammad Hosseini.

Sources: Enthekab.ir, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, ANF news

Iran: Death Sentence for Hossein Mohammadi Revoked

The Iranian Supreme Court announced via Twitter the death sentences for 3 persons, among them the actor Hossein Mohammadi, were being revoked due to a flaw in the investigation.

Three more people are beeing added to our list of – now 40 –  arrested Iranian theatre artists:

Nazi Habibi, actress
Arash Shahbazi, theater actor
Farhan Azizi, theater actor

Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Stop Executions in Iran!

ACAR shares and supports today’s address of solidarity from the Duesseldorfer Schauspielhaus:  “Actor and artist Hossein Mohammadi was arrested during protests in Iran and sentenced to death in a summary trial. We declare our solidarity with our colleague Hossein Mohammadi and all protesters in Iran. We strongly condemn all human rights violations! We condemn the death penalty!”

Iran: Hossein Mohammadi, Theatre Actor, Sentenced to Death

Mohammadi, 26, was arrested on Nov. 5, 2022, and has been sentenced to execution by the court of the city of Karaj, along with four other protesters. He is accused of taking part in the murder of a member of the Basij militia. The execution of the death sentence is imminent.

Sources: reddit.comtwittertwitter (2), nachtkritik.de

Update: We publish a – surely not complete – list with Iranian theatre artists who have been or where arrested or sentenced because of their participation in the political protests since October 2022 (current status December 19, 2022). The list is regularly updated and can be downloaded here.