Keyvan Samimi Behbahani

Keyvan Samimi is the editor-in-chief of Iran Farda magazine and a member of the Iranian Writers Association. He has been a member of groups such as the national peace council and the committee to investigate arbitrary arrests. Before the Islamic Revolution, he was a member of MKO and his brothers were executed both before and after the revolution.

• <coverage-outsourcing id='25207'> Naame (Letter) magazine was banned, and later he was sentenced to one year in prison in absentia. The sentence was commuted to a fine later. He was charged with "Publishing Content Against Islam and the Basis of the Islamic Republic, encouraging people to disrupt the security of the Islamic Republic, and defaming and insulting institutions and people ." </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='25202'> He was arrested a day after the 2009 election. He was kept in Ward 209 of Evin Prison for seven months, spending much of his time in solitary confinement. According to his lawyer, Nasrin Sotoudeh, the date of his arrest was recorded one month after his detention </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='25208'> Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court sentenced him to six years in prison and a permanent ban on political, social, and cultural activities on charges of "Gathering and planning against national security " and "propaganda against the system." He was charged with "participation in illegal gatherings" while he was arrested the day after the 2009 election. </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='25203'> He was sent to Rajai Shahr prison after he went on a hunger strike to protest the situation in Evin prison </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='25205'> He was sent to the hospital. He never received effective medical care despite his various illnesses throughout his imprisonment. His hospitalizations also ended prematurely, despite the opposition of doctors </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='25204'> "Freedom of expression has precedence over freedom of political prisoners.", he wrote a letter to Hassan Rouhani. He called on the president he should work on to remove freedom of expression limitations instead of spending time and energy negotiating the release of prisoners </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='25206'> He was released from prison </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='25201'> Dozens of those present in the international workers' day gathering in front of the parliament were arrested. They were sent to Evin (Section 209), Fashafooye, and Qarchak prisons. Most were released after a few days. The arrest order for the rest was extended for a week, 10 days, and one month periods. The arrests led to domestic and international protests. </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='26929'> According to IPA, he was released on bail </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='30183'> <reference source='https://prisonatlas.com/%da%a9%db%8c%d9%88%d8%a7%d9%86-%d8%b5%d9%85%db%8c%d9%85%db%8c%d8%8c-%d8%af%d8%b1-%d8%af%d8%a7%d8%af%da%af%d8%a7%d9%87%db%8c-%d8%ba%db%8c%d8%a7%d8%a8%db%8c-%d8%a8%d9%87-%db%b5-%d8%b3%d8%a7%d9%84-%d8%ad/'> According to IPA, Keyvan Samimi was sentenced to imprisonment by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court in absentia. According to the report, Judge Afshari sentenced him to five years and one year in prison on charges of "Gathering and planning against national security" and "propaganda against the system." "The formation of the People's Liberation Party 22 years ago, activities in Iran Farda magazine (which has a legal license), supporting political prisoners, having a speech on society issues, and attending International world labors' Day gathering are the charges stated in the lawsuit.", Mr. Samimi told IPA about his allegations. By applying Article 134, five years of his sentence will be enforceable </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='30315'> <reference source='https://ifj-farsi.org/?p=5351'> The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has condemned the five-year imprisonment for Keyvan Samimi and called on the Iranian government to stop suppressing journalists </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='31068'> <reference source='https://prisonatlas.com/%da%a9%db%8c%d9%88%d8%a7%d9%86-%d8%b5%d9%85%db%8c%d9%85%db%8c%d8%8c-%d8%a8%d9%87-%d8%b3%d9%87-%d8%b3%d8%a7%d9%84-%d8%ad%d8%a8%d8%b3-%d8%aa%d8%b9%d8%b2%db%8c%d8%b1%db%8c-%d9%85%d8%ad%da%a9%d9%88%d9%85/'> According to IPA, the court had previously sentenced him to five years in prison in absentia. With Mr. Samimi's follow-up, a retrial was held in branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court, and this time he was sentenced to three years in prison with the order of Judge Afshari. Mr. Samimi objected to the issued sentence and optimistically wrote on his Telegram channel: "I hope to be acquitted in the Appellate Court </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='31810'> <reference source='https://prisonatlas.com/انتقاد-تند-کیوان-صمیمی-از-تأیید-سه-سال-ح/'> According to IPA, Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals, headed by Judge Zargar, upheld three years in prison for Keyvan Samimi. The trial was held without the defendant and his lawyer. Mr. Samimi reacted sharply to the sentence and said: > This behavior will cause your overthrow. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='32142'> <reference source='https://prisonatlas.com/%da%a9%db%8c%d9%88%d8%a7%d9%86-%d8%b5%d9%85%db%8c%d9%85%db%8c-%d8%a8%d8%b1%d8%a7%db%8c-%d8%a7%d8%ac%d8%b1%d8%a7%db%8c-%d8%ad%da%a9%d9%85-%d8%b2%d9%86%d8%af%d8%a7%d9%86-%d8%a8%d9%87-%d8%af%d8%a7%d8%af/'> According to IPA, Keyvan Samimi said: > The security forces believe that imprisoning an old national-religious believer like me would intimidate peaceful protesters. He further emphasized that he would continue his struggle from prison </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='32270'> <reference source='https://bit.ly/31vsPvg'> According to IPA, Mr. Samimi said in a statement that "After carefully reviewing the case and consulting, the Judge ruled on a temporary suspension on the sentence's accomplishment. Specialized diagnosis will be made after examinations and tests in the forensic medicine department and checking in commissions related to various diseases." Therefore, his sentence will not be carried out until the final forensic evaluation. Mr. Samimi is now 71 years old and recently requested the legal abolition of three years' imprisonment under the Inability to endure the Punishment. He also suffers from heart and lung diseases </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='33751'> <reference source='https://prisonatlas.com/%da%a9%db%8c%d9%88%d8%a7%d9%86-%d8%b5%d9%85%db%8c%d9%85%db%8c-%d8%b2%d9%86%d8%af%d8%a7%d9%86%db%8c-%d8%b4%d8%af/'> According to Atlas, after arriving at the courthouse he was transferred to Evin Prison to serve his sentence. A source told IPA that MR. Samimi “is 72 years old and ill, and lack of access to suitable medical treatment in prison is dangerous to his health.” Mr. Samimi and his attorney were trying to stop the enforcement of the sentence due to his ineligibility to serve the sentence. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='34132'> <reference source='https://www.hra-news.org/statements/a-558/'> A group of political and civil rights activists released a join statement about the enforcement of Keyvan Samimi’s sentence and the prison sentence issued for Shahindokht Molavardi, demanding reconsideration in their cases. In the statement addressing the chief justice of the judiciary Ebrahim Raisi, the signatories state that the two activists “did not receive fair trials and didn’t even have a jury; therefore, the verdicts are unjust and oppressive.” </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='33888'> <reference source='https://www.radiozamaneh.com/561264'> After Keyvan Samimi’s arrest, a Twitter campaign with tens of thousands of tweets began in support of Keyvan Samimi and celebrating his “lifetime of struggle”. It was reported that the campaign's hashtags trended at number one in Iran for several hours. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='34760'> <reference source='https://www.hra-news.org/2021/hranews/a-28835/'> According to HRANA, the disciplinary council of Evin Prison recently denied Mr. Samimi the right to visitation and phone calls for publishing an article about social movements on his Telegram channel. The prison authorities claimed that in his article he has encouraged people to “riot”. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='35609'> <reference source='https://twitter.com/ZiaNabavi1/status/1384540168644931587?s=20'> Political activist Zia Nabavi announced on Twitter that a new case has been opened for Keyvan Samimi because of his activities in prison. Recently Mr. Samimi refused to go to court because wearing a prison uniform is mandatory for transfer. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='36550'> <reference source='http://www.ensafnews.com/305860/'> Keyvan Samimi’s attorney Mahmoud Behzadi Rad told Ensaf News that the 54th branch of the appeal court presided by Judge Babaeihas reduced his prison sentence from three years to two. According to Mr. Behzadi Rad, his retrial request was accepted by the supreme court and his case was referred to a court of equal rank for review. According to the supreme court opinion, in Mr. Samimi’s case, there is no second person with whom he could have assembled or colluded; However, the court of the same rank has not removed the assembly and collusion charge from the case and has only reduced the sentence. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='37068'> <reference source='https://t.me/KeyvaanSamimi/161'> He reported that he is being harassed in prison. In his message, he says after being denied family visitation and phone calls, 11 of his “friends and prison mates who had helped him make emergency calls were threatened by Evin Prison security.” </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='37072'> <reference source='https://bit.ly/3j1N5Nc'> Reporters Without Borders announced that Keyvan Samimi, Alieh Motallebzadeh, and Khosrow Sadeghi Boroujeni are targeted by arbitrary punishments, and have been denied medical treatment and contact with family. 11 of Keyvan Samimi’s friends and prison mates who had helped him make emergency call were threatened by Evin Prison security. Alieh Motallebzadeh lost phone call rights for two months for making phone calls to other prisoners. Khosrow Sadeghi Boroujeni is suffering from several illnesses, but the prison officials are refusing to send him to a hospital. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='37491'> <reference source='https://t.me/KeyvaanSamimi/173'> Security forces intended to transfer him to Rajai Shahr Prison, but after Mr. Samimi’s refusal and follow-up by prison authorities, the transfer was canceled. A few days later Mr. Samimi wrote in a letter that the authorities “find his chats with the youth dangerous”. Although his transfer to Rajaei Shahr Prison was canceled, a few days later he was moved to the quarantine ward. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='37492'> <reference source='https://t.me/KeyvaanSamimi/173'> He was moved from quarantine to ward four of Evin Prison. In quarantine he was denied contact with family for two days. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='37952'> <reference source='https://t.me/KeyvaanSamimi/180'> The Telegram channel of Keyvan Samimi reported that the prison authorities have blocked his access to phones in order to prevent his access outside the prison. This is not the first time this has been done. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='37951'> <reference source='https://www.radiofarda.com/a/record-488-journalists-imprisoned-46-killed-in-2021-rsf/31612187.html'> Reporters Without Border released a report about the incarcerated journalists in the world, which states Keyvan Samimi is one of the two oldest journalist prisoners in the world. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='38153'> <reference source='https://t.me/emtedadnet/62778'> He was taken out of his cell to an undisclosed location. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='38154'> <reference source='https://t.me/emtedadnet/62819'> In an interview with Emtedad, Keyvan Samimi’s attorneys said Mr. Samimi was violently transferred from Evin Prison to Karaj city. According to the interview, Keyvan Samimi is suffering from heart and kidney diseases, but he was unable to take his medicine with him. There is still no news on his whereabouts in Karaj. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='40158'> <reference source='https://twitter.com/MostafaNili58/status/1485221318949847041?s=20&t=6t2XaduAgEwaM6QIgChwGA'> Mr. Samimi’s attorney, Mostafa Nili tweeted that he has been transferred to ward six of the central detention center in Karaj. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='40159'> <reference source='https://twitter.com/MostafaNili58/status/1486775969050501127?s=20&t=6t2XaduAgEwaM6QIgChwGA'> He was transferred from the detention center to Rajaei Shahr Prison. According to his attorney’s tweet, the magistrate at the verdict enforcement office refused to accept Mr. Samimi in any of Alborz province’s prisons so they had to move him to Rajaei Shahr Prison. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='39481'> <reference source='https://twitter.com/MostafaNili58/status/1488537384023171079?s=20&t=6t2XaduAgEwaM6QIgChwGA'> Keyvan Samimi was temporarily released. According to his attorney, the prosecutor has ordered a temporary release and halt of his sentence based on the recommendation of the medical examiner. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='39480'> <reference source='https://twitter.com/MostafaNili58/status/1526969869027225603?s=20&t=oKxSDH6QWEfHat8Moy0MMw'> Keyvan Samimi was arrested and exiled to Semnan Prison. His attorney Mostafa Nili tweeted that the verdict enforcement office summoned him after office hours under the guise of delivering the medical examiner’s decision, but he was arrested after he arrived and was transferred to Semnan Prison. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='40154'> <reference source='https://t.me/Kaivan_Samimi/224'> He resisted night-time transfer from Semnan Prison to Tehran. According to his Telegram Channel, he refused to go with the agents because they did not have the official order of transfer. According to Samimi the letter that the agents showed him did not clarify whether he was to be transferred to Information Ministry cells at ward 209 of the Evin court. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='41348'> <reference source='https://twitter.com/MostafaNili58/status/1560250870415212544?s=20&t=Wi5bckVN5v188H1XMXbG5w'> He was arraigned for the new case at Semnan prison. His attorney Mostafa Nili tweeted that the new case opened at the second branch of Evin court is for the charge of assembly and collusion with intent to act against national security. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='42036'> <reference source='https://twitter.com/MostafaNili58/status/1568596699622301698'> Keyvan Samimi was denied phone calls with family. His attorney Mostafa Nili tweeted that this has been done by the order of the assistant prosecutor at the first branch of sentence enforcement at Tehran's District 33. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='46415'> <reference source='https://bit.ly/3DktYIs'> Etemad Online reported that after serving his sentence and his new arrest warrant changing to release on guardianship, he was released from Semnan Prison. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='48281'> <reference source='https://t.me/emtedadnet/74845'> His attorney announced that a new case was brought against him. He was summoned to branch 29 of the revolutionary court but since it was not done in accordance with the judicial procedure, he refused to attend court. He said it seems that the judiciary is going to issue a new sentence for his client and they intended to hold his trial on his last days in prison but it did not happen then for legal problems. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='47920'> <reference source='https://t.me/Kaivan_Samimi/234'> He praised Mir Hossein Mousavi's statement as a sign of entering secularism. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='50713'> <reference source='https://rb.gy/oxoe1'> IranWire reported that he was arrested. The state TV announced his arrest in a news ribbon, saying he was arrested for holding meetings with a "misguided sects supported by the zionist regime". </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='50715'> <reference source='https://rb.gy/ff6it'> As the first speaker in the online conference "Dialogue to save Iran" on Clubhouse, he emphasized that democratic activists get their power from the people. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='50714'> <reference source='https://twitter.com/AdelehSamimi/status/1651266732059766784'> His daughter Adeleh Samimi said on Twitter: > A week since his arrest, there is still no news on father's health. With his heart condition, this is concerning. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='50923'> <reference source='https://rb.gy/fkfdf'> His daughter Deleh Samimi said on Twitter that despite the attorney and the family's efforts, 14 days after her father's arrest there is still no news on his condition and the judiciary and security authorities refuse to answer the family. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='51052'> <reference source='https://rb.gy/a4bin'> His attorney Mostafa Nili announced on Twitter that Keyvan Samimi was sentenced to six years in prison by Branch 29 of the revolutionary court of Tehran. He was sentenced to five years in prison for assembly and collusion to act against national security and one year in prison for propaganda against the state. The ruling is for a case brought against him while he was in prison in 2022. After applying Article 134, five years of his sentence is enforceable. Nili also announced that his client was able to call his family after 20 days and told them that he is in ward 209 of Evin Prison. Mr. Nili said a new case has been filed against Keyvan Samimi for participating in the online conference "Dialogue to Save Iran". </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>