Mohammad Najafi

<p>He is a lawyer. Mr. Najafi has been arrested several times for nonviolent actions and following up on the situation of detained protesters.</p>

<p>The last arrest of Mohammad Najafi is about the case of someone called Vahid Heydari. Mr Heydari died during the nationwide protests in early 2018. Domestic media said he had died by “suicide” but, citing field research, Mr Najafi says Mr Heydari was “murdered” by security forces.</p> <symbol-timeline></symbol-timeline>

<coverage-outsourcing id='20733'> He was arrested and released a while later. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='20738'> He was arrested for wearing a shirt on which it was written: > Ashura 88 . He was released a few days later. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='20734'> He was arrested during filming a group of workers from Hepko factory in Arak. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='20735'> Zamaneh Media reported that he, who was recently acquitted of the charge of "Law enforcement violations" by the law enforcement court of the Markazi Bar association, has two cases in Shazand Penal Court on charges of "Agitating the public consciousness," which has not yet been addressed. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='20737'> The hearing about the charge of "Agitating the public consciousness" was not held in a court in Shazand due to the absence of the judge. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='20736'> At the Shazand Prosecutor's Office, he was charged with "Agitating the public consciousness" through "publishing lies during a speech at Shazand Mosque". Mr. Najafi was released on bail. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='20739'> He was tried on the charge of "propaganda against the system." </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='20732'> Vahid Heydari was probably arrested on this date during the December 2017 protests in Arak. Six days later his family was informed that their child has committed suicide in prison. Iranian government officials initially claimed that he was an "addict" and his arrest had nothing to do with the protests. According to one of the documents, he died on January 2, 2018. The Iranian government has repeatedly stated that detainees in prison have "committed suicide", and arrested people who have questioned the death cause while preventing neutral groups' investigations. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='20740'> Mohammad Najafi published his local research results. He emphasized that Vahid Heydari was not only a drug addict or drug dealer but also his acquaintances "strongly denied this matter with resentment and cursing." His memo posted on his Facebook page is recorded in the Evidence section of this page. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='20741'> Mohammad Najafi, Ali Bagheri, Kian Sadeghi, Behzad Ali Bakhshi, Abbas Safari and possibly other individuals from Arak civil and human rights activists were arrested due to following up on the case of Vahid Heydari in a few days. Mr. Najafi was arrested on January 16. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='28450'> According to IPA, he was transferred to Arak prison. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='20852'> HRANA has reported that Abbas Safari and Kian Sadeghi have been released, while Mohammad Najafi, Ali Bagheri, and Behzad Ali Bakhshi remain in Arak. Kian Sadeghi has been charged with “taking part in protests and propaganda against the state through filming and photography of the burial ceremony held for Mohammad Najafi’s mother.” The other four individuals have been charged with “taking part in protests, disrupting public order, disturbing public opinion, publishing falsehoods, as well as organizing and membership in groups conspiring against the state. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='20932'> Mohammad Najafi's lawyer, Payam Derafshan, told the Center for Human Rights in Iran that Mohammad Najafi, Ali Bagheri, Kian Sadeghi, Abbas Safari, and Behzad Ali Bakhshi were arrested in connection with this case, and other than Abbas Safari [and possibly Kian Sadeghi] others are still in detention. The behavior of the agents during the arrest was violent, and they broke the door of one of the houses. A number of other civil activists in Shazand were also summoned to the Intelligence Ministry's Office, Arak and Shazand Intelligence Ministry's Offices were involved in this case, and 9 charges were brought to Mohammad Najafi. According to Tehran's Intelligence MInistry's agents, Shazand's Intelligence Ministry's office has considered arresting the lawyers, in this case, Mr. Derafshan, and Keikhosravi, but Tehran agents prevented them. In Arak Prison, Mohammad Najafi and Ali Bagheri had to wear prison uniforms, shaving their heads. The scope of the questions was wide, but security officers were more sensitive and concerned with the death of Vahid Heydari and that they were trying to, with asking "Inductive and repetitive questions," incite civil activists to accept that "Mohammad Najafi would arrange you to take you to protest." </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='21172'> Nine lawyers went to the judiciary in Shazand and objected to "arrest and prosecution of charges against Mohammad Najafi". According to some reports, Mohammad Najafi has been denied so far to have a defense attorney. The letter of the lawyers is recorded in the evidence section of this page. According to HRANA, Nasrin Sotoudeh, Mohammad Moghimi, Abouzar Nasrollahi, Maryam Pazouki, Payam Derafshan, Azita Poulladvand, Bahareh Kamali, Arash Keykhosravi and Moghadam have signed this letter. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='21239'> Payam Derafshan told the Center for Human Rights that only seven lawyers were recognized as eligible for political and security cases in the Judiciary list for Markazi province, and therefore the judiciary has not accepted him and Arash Keykhosravi as eligible lawyers in this case. He insisted that the investigator is under pressure from security forces. "We know that they are under pressure, but we believe that they must resign. They should not allow their pens to be at the disposal of non-judicial investigations." </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='21365'> According to HRANA, with the end of the period of his second legal detention order, the Arak's Prosecutor Office extended the detention term of Mohammad Najafi for another month and for the third time. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='21538'> According to Atlas, he was released on bail. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='21767'> His lawyer, Arash Keikhosravi, told the Center for Human Rights in Iran that the charge of "disrupting public order" is being investigated in the criminal court and the political and security charges in the Revolutionary Court; the bail of 200 million Tomans (approximately 50k USD) is related to the criminal court and 800 million Tomans bail (approximately 200k USD) to the Revolutionary Court. In addition, Robat Karim's prosecutor's office has also subpoenaed Mohammad Najafi, charged with "propaganda against the state", which is in relation to his speech on torture and murder of the Sattar Beheshti. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='22013'> Mohammad Najafi told the Center for Human Rights in Iran that he did not accept the charges. He also emphasized that he would continue to pursue the matter Vahid Heidari's death in the detention center. He added that he was told in the IRGC's intelligence detention center that "their goal is to neutralize him through erosive summons and arrests." </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='23927'> Mohammad Najafi, Ali Bagheri, Abbas Safari, Behzad Ali Bakhshi, Mohammad Yaghoubi, Yousef Shirilord, Neda Yousefi, Davoud Rahimi, Masoud Ajlou, Mohammad Torabi and Kian Sadeghi were sentenced to one year in prison and 74 lashes on the charge of "disruption of public order" by judge Mohammad Reza Abdollahi in Arak Public Court (branch number 102). Mohammad Najafi, Ali Bagheri, Abbas Safari and Kian Sadeghi were also sentenced to two years in prison on the charge of "agitating the public consciousness" </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='29599'> <reference source='https://www.instagram.com/p/BngfXk8H3GY/'> He published a letter critical of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Instagram. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='28449'> He was arrested in order to serve his prison term (Case: Arak Public Court - branch number 102). </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='29600'> <reference source='https://persian.iranhumanrights.org/1397/09/awyer-mohammad-najafi-my-client-has-been-sentenced-to-14-years-in-total-for-two-other-cases/'> According to CHRI, Mohammad Najafi's last court hearing took place in the 102nd branch of the Arak Criminal Court on the charge of "disturbing public opinion." Later, he was sentenced to one year in prison </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='23928'> He was tried by judge Ali Mohammad Aliaei in Arak Revolutionary Court. Mohammad Najafi and Ali Bagheri were sentenced to 13 years in prison (Article 134: 10 years) and Behzad Ali Bakhshi and Masoud Ajlou were sentenced to a two-year suspended prison term. An incomplete copy of this lawsuit has been recorded in the evidence section of Mohammad Najafi's profile. Judge Aliaei considers the slogan of "down with the dictator" as an insult to Ali Khamenei </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='23920'> Shazand Court sentenced him to two years in prison and pay a fine of four million Tomans on the charge of "agitating the public consciousness" </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='24172'> He was released after receiving a pardon regarding the case of Arak Public Court (branch number 102). </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='24201'> He was arrested again. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='24272'> IRNA reported that Markazi Appeals Court (branch number 9) confirmed Mohammad Najafi's sentence, reduced Ali Bagheri's sentence to five years in prison (Article 134: four years and six months) and sentenced Masoud Ajlou and Behzad Ali Bakhshi to two years in prison. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='24670'> His lawyers (Payam Derafshan, Azita Pooladvand and Aboozar Nasrollahi) cited “oral and written insults” of the judicial authorities in Markazi Province and said they’d refused to follow up on the case in the province. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='24759'> In support of his lawyers, he refused to appear in the Appeals Court </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='26184'> <reference source='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiPrQph1S3k'> He was transferred to a solitary cell in the quarantine ward and began a hunger strike. He ended his hunger strike after returning to the ward. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='27127'> <reference source='https://ipa.united4iran.org/media/file_evidence/Mohammad-Najafi.pdf'> Writing a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader, he cited Ayatollah Khamenei’s remarks in a meeting of the Assembly of Experts in 1989 to challenge his position. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='28930'> According to IPA, he was transferred from Arak to Theran. After a few weeks, he was returned to Arak. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='27694'> European Bar Associations and Lawyers stated that Human Rights Award granted to four Iranian lawyers, Abdolfattah Soltani, Amir Salar Davoodi, Mohammad Najafi and Nasrin Sotoudeh. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='29667'> According to IPA, he refused to appear in court. The branch 102nd of the Arak Criminal Court sentenced him to four months in prison on the charge of "agitating the public consciousness." </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='29668'> According to IPA, he refused to appear in court. The second branch of the Arak Revolutionary Court sentenced him to three years in prison on the charge of "insulting the Supreme Leader" for allegedly recording and distributing a voice memo from prison. He challenged the authority of Iran’s unelected Supreme Leader again. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='29061'> <reference source=''> According to IPA, he was sentenced to six months in prison by the 23th branch of the Tehran Revolutionary Court for his speech in Gohar Eshghi’s house. Gohar Eshghi is the mother of Sattar Beheshti. Mr. Najafi refused to appear in court. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='29963'> <reference source='https://prisonatlas.com/%da%a9%d9%85%d9%be%db%8c%d9%86-%d8%a8%d8%b1%d8%a7%db%8c-%d8%a2%d8%b2%d8%a7%d8%af%db%8c-%d9%88%da%a9%d9%84%d8%a7%d8%a1-%d8%b2%d9%86%d8%af%d8%a7%d9%86%db%8c/'> The United for Iran organization along with Free Lawyers' Tribune group has started a campaign to release three imprisoned lawyers, Mohammad Najafi, Amir Salar Davoodi, and Nasrin Sotoudeh from prison. "Campaign for the release of Mohammad Najafi" and "Campaign for the release of imprisoned lawyers" have been started to remark the situation of imprisoned human rights lawyers in Iran. The campaign has condemned rights violations of political prisoners done by the Islamic Republic and requested the Iranian government to stop inhumane manner. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='29830'> <reference source='https://prisonatlas.com/%d9%85%d8%ad%d9%85%d8%af-%d9%86%d8%ac%d9%81%db%8c/'> He came on leave after Coronavirus outbreaks in Iran's several prisons. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='30170'> <reference source='https://www.radiozamaneh.com/499634'> The European Bar Association sent a letter to Hassan Rouhani urged to release three imprisoned lawyers, Nasrin Sotoudeh, Amir Salar Davoodi, and Mohammad Najafi. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='30522'> <reference source='https://www.hra-news.org/2020/hranews/a-24714/'> Despite the coronavirus critical situation in Iran and many other countries, he returned to prison at the end of his furlough. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='31783'> <reference source='https://prisonatlas.com/محمد-نجفی،-وکیل-مدافع-زندانی،-به-مرخصی/'> He went on furlough. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='33253'> <reference source='https://united4iran.org/en/15prisoners'> United for Iran published the fact patterns and legal analyses of Mohammad Najafi's case, taking into consideration human rights and fair trial violations based on international treaties to which the IRI is a signatory. The Covenant of Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) has been used as the lead document for this context. United for Iran has published similar fact patterns for 14 other political prisoners, including prisoners of conscience, and has called on UN institutions to use these resources to file cases and follow up on their situations. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='32529'> According to IPA, he returned to prison at the end of his furlough. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='34877'> An IPA source reported that there has been an outbreak of Coronavirus in Arak prison. Considering the underlying illnesses of Mohammad Najafi and Ali Bagheri, their life could be in danger if they get infected with the coronavirus. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='34878'> He came on leave after Coronavirus outbreaks in Arak prison. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='35575'> <reference source='https://twitter.com/ICHRI_Fa/status/1381685892440539138'> A credible source told Atlas that he has returned to prison. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='36714'> <reference source='https://twitter.com/PDerafshan/status/1431312383314698241?s=20'> He had a heart attack in Arak Central Prison and despite all the promises from the authorities, he is still denied medical leave or transfer to a hospital outside the prison. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='37846'> <reference source='https://twitter.com/Mhaghasi1/status/1468919987607949314?s=20'> His attorney Mohammad Hossein Aghasi reported on Twitter that the prosecutor’s office has cleared his client from the charges of insulting the supreme leader and disrupting the order in prison; The prison staff had brought these charges against Mr. Najafi in a lawsuit. Mr. Aghasi tweeted that the prison staff’s report was “biased.” </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='37847'> <reference source='https://twitter.com/hra_news/status/1470063134496931841?s=20'> He went on hunger strike in protest of the denial of medical service and medical leave. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='37848'> <reference source='https://www.hra-news.org/2021/hranews/a-32856/'> He was moved to solitary confinement. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='37849'> <reference source='https://www.hra-news.org/2021/hranews/a-32864/'> He ended his hunger strike after arriving at the hospital. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='37907'> <reference source='https://twitter.com/Mhaghasi1/status/1472587713547317248?s=20'> He went on medical leave. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='40588'> <reference source='https://twitter.com/MostafaNili58/status/1546467303348441088'> Mr. Najafi announced on Instagram that he is returning to prison by judicial order. Attorney at law Mostafa Nili also tweeted that since his medical leave was not extended, Mohammad Najafi returned to prison despite his heart problems and issues caused by diabetes. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='41777'> <reference source='https://www.hra-news.org/2022/hranews/a-36945/'> HRANA reported that Mr. Najafi's accumulative sentence from all his cases is 10 years in prison which was reduced to four years and six months. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='42848'> <reference source='https://t.me/Tavaana_TavaanaTech/58293'> According to Tavaana, in a message from Arak Prison, Mohammad Najafi expressed his support for the national uprising of Iranians triggered by the murder of Mahsa Amini. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='42849'> <reference source='https://twitter.com/MostafaNili58/status/1584035080766296065?s=20&t=0FSJqLOWr08GttwqpAcnaA'> His attorney Mostafa Nili reported that Mohammad Najafi's phone privileges have been taken away after releasing two audio files from prison. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='48420'> <reference source='https://www.hra-news.org/2023/hranews/a-39578/'> He went on a hunger strike in protest of his unfairl trial procedure and the security pressure on his family. HRANA reported that after he begun his hunger strike, he was transferred to a solitary cell in Arak Prison. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='48931'> <reference source='https://twitter.com/IranIntl/status/1619078606352703488'> In a letter from Arak Prison, he reported that the arrested protesters of the national uprising are being threatened in prison and that the prison authorities are threateneing to send them to the general population. According to Iran International's sources, after Mr. Najafi's objection to their treatment, he was also threatened. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='47275'> <reference source='https://bit.ly/3jXywhA'> The president of the national law associations union sent a letter to the chief of judiciary requesting the release or pardon of the arrested attorneys including Behzad Hakimizadeh, Giti SHafiei, Saeed Ataei Kachooei, Arash Keykhosravi, Mohammad Najafi, Amir Salar Davoudi, and Mostafa Nili. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='48530'> <reference source='https://www.instagram.com/na7afi/'> Amir Hossein Najafi, son of Mohammad Najadi, reported on his Instagram page that his father has been on hunger strike for 22 days. In a call from prison, Mohammad Najafi saif he was transferred to a solitary cell in a recently opened "political prisoners ward" in Arak prison. According to Amir Hossein Najafi, 18 days ago, the the fourth day of his hunger strike, Mohammad Najafi wrote a letter to the chief of judiciary of Markazi province asking for a meeting and handed it to the deputy warden . His son followed up on the letter on February 20th and found out that it has not yet been delivered. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='49825'> <reference source='https://t.me/dhrciran/3629'> He went on furlough after 49 days of hunger strike. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='50515'> <reference source='https://www.hra-news.org/2023/hranews/a-40566/'> HRANA reported that Branch 106 of the criminal court-2 of Arak sentenced him to two years in prison and 150 million rials in fines for disseminating lies, and branch two of the revolutionary court of Arak sentenced him to one year in prison for propaganda against the state. HRANA reported that the case was brought against him after "sending an audio file from Arak Prison in support of the national uprising". Mr. Najafi told HRANA that there are charges in this case against his sister and son as well. But he did not attend the trial and hasn't submitted to the verdict. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='50813'> <reference source='https://twitter.com/dw_persian/status/1650558787294572544'> He released a video announcing his decision to go back to prison to resume serving his sentence. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='51018'> <reference source='https://www.hra-news.org/2023/hranews/a-40967/'> He was transferred from Arak to Evin Prison. His son, Amir Hossein Najafi reported his transfer to HRANA. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>