Arzhang Davoudi

The defendant is charged with having relations with the People's Mujaheddin of Iran. Since his arrest he has been tried in multiple courts on multiple charges. He has spent time incarcerated in multiple prisons and all of his belongings were confiscated by the government. He has received heavy sentences

Arzhang Davoudi has lost his ability to walk normally and must use a walker due to old age, a knee problem that requires surgery, and damaged vertebrae from being pushed down the stairs by prison officials. Mr. Davoudi also suffers from cataracts, diabetes, and heart problems. <symbol-timeline></symbol-timeline>

<coverage-outsourcing id='8994'> He was arrested on the corner of Kargar Blvd and Kargar St in Tehran. 16 months later he was tried in a courthouse presided by Judge Haddad, where he was sentenced to 15 years in prison and 74 lashes of the whip. He was charged with founding and directing the "Iranian Freedom Movement" in an attempt to overthrow the government, writing and publishing the Secular Republic Manifesto in an attempt to disrupt public order, insulting the Supreme Leader, Heresy, providing resources for political activists in an attempt to disrupt the government, and producing the documentary entitled "Iran Forbidden" in order to sully the reputation of the Iranian government </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='9010'> His home, vehicle, and personal belongings were confiscated </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='9005'> He began a hunger strike in protest of the unsuitable conditions in Ward 3 of Rajaee Shahr Prison and the confiscation of his home and assets </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='9009'> He was tried in Branch 15 of Revolutionary Court on charges of "insulting the Supreme Leader" and "heresy" </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='8999'> It was reported that the defendant is on the 52nd day of a hunger strike he began in protest of the confiscation of his home and assets. He is currently in bad physical condition </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='9015'> He ended his hunger strike </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='9007'> It was reported that he was summoned to the Rajaee Shahr Prison Intelligence office to complete his testimony </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='9001'> He was transferred to solitary confinement in Ward 1 of Rajaee Shahr Prison, where he began a hunger strike. According to available reports during this time he was severely beaten by prison guards at least one time </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='9003'> He was transferred from Ward 1(A.K.A Suite) in Rajaee Shahr Prison to Hall 12 of Ward 4 (Security Ward) in this facility </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='9016'> He was sentenced to 10 years and 8 months in prison </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='9008'> Five days after being transferred to solitary confinement in the IRGC Ward he was returned to the General Ward in Rajaee Shahr Prison </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='9014'> He was transferred from Rajaee Shahr Prison to solitary confinement in Ward 209 of Evin Prison </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='9006'> He was transferred from solitary confinement in Ward 209 of Evin Prison to Branch 15 of Revolutionary Court and was tried again </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='9012'> He began a hunger strike in protest of his illegal transfer into solitary confinement </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='9004'> It was reported that Amnesty International warned that the defendant might be tried on the charge of "enmity with God" on August 28 of this year </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='9011'> He was transferred to Ward 10 of Rajaee Shahr Prison </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='9013'> It was reported that he has been held in solitary confinement for four months </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='5597'> It was reported that the defendant was tried in Branch 1 of Karaj Revolutionary Court presided by Judge Asef Al-Hosseini, where he was sentenced to execution on the charge of "membership and support of the MEK's goals in prison" </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='8081'> Arjang Davoudi began a hunger strike. This strike lasted nearly a month and a half. Ebrahim Firouzi and Behnam Ebrahimzadeh later joined this strike in his support </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='9002'> He was transferred to Ward 10 of Rajaee Shahr Prison </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='5598'> It was reported that his death sentence was overturned in Appeals Court and was reduced to five years' imprisonment in exile. He will be transferred to Zabol Prison on June 15 </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='7120'> He published a letter calling all Iranians living abroad to participate in a protest in Paris on July 9 2016 </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='7569'> According to Bam News, he began a hunger strike in order to attract global attention to the conditions of prisoners in Iran and for Ahmad Shaheed to inspect Iranian prisons </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='7953'> Bam News reported that 15 days into his hunger strike, he's still not filled out the paperwork pertaining to his strike and has refused to visit the prison's medical unit </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='8371'> He penned a harshly-toned letter addressed to the Supreme Leader and his "gang" </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='8692'> On the 44th day of his hunger strike he penned a letter which stated that he is not being provided medical care as well as asked those who search for freedom to be his voice and "For those who are looking for a third revolution, a democratic Iranian revolution, I wish you success and health" </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='8694'> According to "No to Prison No to Execution", Behnam Ebrahimzadeh published a statement in which he supported the defendant's hunger strike </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='8959'> He ended his hunger strike on behest of his ward-mates </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='9349'> According to “No to Prison-No to Execution”, Arzhang Davoodi was summoned and ordered to take his belonging and get ready fro exile to Zabol. According to this report, this political prisoner will be exiled for two years in Zabol, but, before this, he had been told that he will be exiled in Zabol for five years </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='9385'> He was transferred to Zabol prison </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='9525'> “The Union of Political Prisoners Committed to Overthrow” published a letter from Arzhang Davoodi, addressed to Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein. In his letter, he describes the conditions of Zabol prisoner and his own predicament, and asks the High Commission for Human Rights to recognize “the Central Zabol Prison as the most deprived prison in the world and give it special attention” </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='9526'> In a published letter he gave the details of his transfer and the harsh treatment at the hands of agents. He specifically named, “General Shakiba” whom, according to his letter, not only threw his books into the garbage can but has also thrown out all his medicine, and burned his clothes, his neck brace, arthritis knee band, and his other belongings. It is also mentioned, in this letter, that the agents who transferred him wanted to charge him one million and two hundred thousand tomans for the transfer, and they gave this as the reason for taking his personal belongings, even though in the verdict of exile the payment of this sum had been recorded </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='10197'> He wrote a strongly worded letter to the leader of the regime in Iran, calling him “tyrant of the times” and strongly criticised him for the behavior of military and security forces </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='10636'> In a letter to workers, teachers, and students, a group of Rajayi Shahr prisoners supported their protests. The signatories were as follows: Abolghasem Fouladvand, Reza Akbarri Monfared, Saeed Masouri, Mohamad Ali Mansouri, Saleh Kohandel, Ali Moezzi, Hassan Sadeghi, Shahin Zoghitabar, Mehdi Farahi Shandiz, Jaber Abedini, Ebrahim Firouzi, and Khaled Hardani. According to Hesar News reports, a few days later, the same prisoners - except Jabe Abedini - along with Arzhang Davoudi, signed another letter in support of a conference in Paris and called it a conference to "empower the movement for demanding justice". Some of the signatories published other solo or group letters later on </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='12994'> The “Center for the Support of Families of the Victims and the Detained” reported that Arzhang Davoodi has written that one of the acts of torture that takes place in Zabol prison, is that after beatings and abuse, the prisoner’s head is shaved and he is chained to a pillar in public view </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='18777'> He was transferred to Zahedan prison </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='19157'> It was reported that he was transferred to a hospital. His physical condition was not good </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='24768'> <reference source='https://www.radiofarhang.nu/archive/40730.htm'> HRANA reported that he is being kept in a “dark and damp room” in the quarantine ward isolated from other prisoners without heating or air conditioning. According to the report, despite the severe pain from his kidney which has him moaning all night, he is left without suitable medical treatment. He was returned to Zahedan Prison earlier. According to Radio Farhang, he was transferred because of his support of the January 2017 country-wide protests. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='25797'> He was transferred to Zabol prison </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='30503'> There is no information on his whereabouts or condition. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='32521'> <reference source='https://bit.ly/3bK0J2H'> The National Council of Resistance of Iran released a statement asking the UN to do an investigation into Arzhang Davoudi’s situation. According to the statement, Mr. Davoudi is being held in solitary confinement in Zabol Prison. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='35966'> <reference source='https://www.kampain.info/archive/54504.htm'> The Campaign in Defense of Political Prisoners wrote that in recent days He was initially transferred from Zabol Prison to the Greater Tehran Prison and later he was transferred to Rajaei Shahr Prison’s quarantine. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='39076'> <reference source='https://www.hra-news.org/2022/hranews/a-34598/'> According to HRANA, Arzhang Davoudi and Abdolrasoul Mortazavi were transferred to solitary confinements in Rajaei Shahr Prison as punishment for a verbal altercation with a prison official. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='40310'> An IPA source said since Mr. Davoudi has served his full sentence, the reason for his continuing detainment is unclear. The source suggested that another case might have been opened against him. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='41035'> <reference source='https://www.radiofarhang.nu/archive/40730.htm'> He was transferred to a hospital outside the prison. Radio Farhang reported that he had surgery on his left eye, and he will have another surgery on his right eye soon. According to the HRANA report, Mr. Davoudi is suffering from diabetes and heart problems. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='48348'> <reference source='https://twitter.com/ParisaPouyande/status/1630968810407591949'> He was released. On February 5th, 2023, the Islamic Republic's Judiciary issued a memo that announced the beginning of the process of releasing some of the protesters arrested during the 2022 national uprising. According to the judiciary's Mizan website, and latest comments made by the spokesperson for the judiciary, this "pardon" is in honor of the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution and contingent on the prisoners expressing regret; The pardon is not extended to cases with charges such as "connection to dissident groups", and "destruction of public property". However, many of the released prisoners have posted videos and notes saying they never requested a pardon and never expressed regret. There are even videos of female activists taking off their hijab and chanting against the Islamic Republic in front of the prison moments after their release. The release of prisoners being called a pardon has caused massive reaction online and some activists on social media and human rights organizations consider it a PR stunt to repair some of the damage to Ali Khamenei's image. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>