Amnesty Raises Concerns About Resurgence Of Iran’s Hijab Police

US District Judge Lydia K. Griggsby also ordered him to forfeit approximately $2.8 million in criminal proceeds and a property in California worth over $1.5 million.

In January, Mokhtari pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act ("IEEPA") – that restricts the exportation, re-exportation, sale, or supply, directly or indirectly, of any goods, technology, or services to Iran. He was sentenced this week to 41 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron said, "This defendant knew that he was prohibited from engaging in business with Iran but did so anyway and attempted to conceal his actions through his control of businesses and financial entities in Iran and the United Arab Emirates. Now, he will not only serve time in federal prison, he will forfeit cash and property purchased with his ill-gotten proceeds."

The charges against Mokhtari involved two separate conspiracies. In one, he engaged in prohibited business activities on behalf of Iranian entities, evading sanctions from March 2018 to September 2020.

The second conspiracy spanned from February 2013 to at least June 2017. Mokhtari and Iranian nationals conducted illicit shipments of petrochemical products to and from Iran, using the US financial system to facilitate the shipments.

Mokhtari transferred ownership of the vessels to other entities to hide their financial interests. He used the United States financial system for related transactions, including the sale of one vessel for over $3.1 million, from which he received approximately $2.8 million. Mokhtari used these proceeds to purchase a residence in Campbell, California.

In an interview with RTÉ's Six One News, Phelan, a Paris-based tourism consultant, said he had been detained in Iran in October, marking his fifth visit to the country.

Phelan was arrested amid anti-regime protests that erupted across the country after the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody in September. Allegedly, Phelan had been capturing images of the protests and a mosque that had been set ablaze.

In mid-May, Iran eventually released Phelan, who had been sentenced to 6.5 years in prison on charges of "providing information to another country."

During his time in detention, Phelan faced severe physical and psychological hardships, leading to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). He recounted the haunting words of a judge who warned him that he would "die in prison." This threat was a part of what he described as "white torture," a tactic employed to break prisoners psychologically.

"There are nightmares. I don't sleep well, I'm on sleeping tablets - nightmares of being on the floor and being kicked by somebody," Phelan noted.

Human rights organizations have raised concerns over what they call "hostage diplomacy" by Iran, where an undisclosed number of Western prisoners are being held. These individuals face charges of espionage or other alleged crimes, and some have been languishing in detention for extended periods without access to legal representation or a fair trial.

In response to the allegations, the Islamic Republic maintains that the prisoners are lawfully held for valid reasons and denies any wrongdoing.

Hengaw Human Rights Organization, a Kurdish rights group, reported on Tuesday that there is still no information available concerning the situation of Mahsa Moguei's father, brother, and mother.

Mahsa Moguei, a taekwondo champion, tragically lost her life during protests advocating for women's rights and freedom in Fooladshahr, Isfahan, on September 22, 2022 when security forces opened fire.

Simultaneously, families are also concerned about the whereabouts of Zahra Saeedianjoo' who was also detained due to her expression of sympathy towards the families of protesters who were killed during the demonstrations.

Despite numerous appeals from Saeedianjoo's family, security and judicial authorities in the southern Khuzestan province have remained silent, failing to provide any updates about her situation to her family or her legal representative. Zahra is the sister of Milad Saeedianjoo, one of the many protesters killed in Izeh.

Sixteen days ago, security forces transferred Saeedianjoo from her residence in Tehran to a secure unit in Ahvaz.

In response to yet another detained prisoner, Afra Moslehi, the daughter of Ali Moslehi, took to Twitter to express her concern about her father. She said: "Where is Ali Moslehi?" This journalist was detained at his home in Kashan by the Islamic Republic's security forces on July 20.

The reasons for the journalist's detention and his current place of captivity have not been disclosed.

Moslehi was previously arrested in July 2012 for publishing materials related to the "Green Movement" and was released on bail in September of the same year.

The Islamic Republic authorities evade responsibility for the continued and unexplained killings of protesters and also regularly pressure on their families by detaining and imprisoning them.

The hiker, whose identity remains undisclosed, conveyed details of the attack, which targeted tourists, to Faraz news website on Tuesday. He recounted that the attackers were “approximately 18 or 19 years old, wearing cargo pants, and concealing their faces with keffiyehs."

"They targeted both men and women, but the men seemed to bear the brunt of their aggression. Unfortunately, my teammate now faces a life of paralysis due to the impact of the shocker on his back," he said. A shocker – or electroshock weapon is an incapacitating weapon that delivers an electric shock that temporarily disrupts muscle functions. It does not normally cause lasting damage but can cause permanent disability to muscle or nerve tissue.

The attack occurred on Friday when a group of tourists was exploring the picturesque mountainous region of Opert, situated on the border of Semnan and Mazandaran provinces. The assault was orchestrated by an unidentified armed group.

Pictures shared on social media revealed that the attackers were armed with firearms and electric shocker devices. In addition to the paralyzed hiker, multiple individuals sustained injuries and bruises.

During the attack, the group justified the assault, citing it as a response to "hiking on the third night of Muharram," a time when Shiites mourn the martyrdom of their third Imam.

Iran International has been unable to independently verify these details, and so far, no official reactions have been reported regarding this incident.

However, over recent years, there have been numerous reports of restrictions imposed on Iranian tourists and nature enthusiasts.

This recent attack coincides with the regime's ongoing push for obligatory hijab, adding to concerns over personal safety and freedom of expression.

During Hamedi’s second court session on Tuesday, the detained reporter spoke about her dedication to the profession of journalism, stating: "I take immense pride in my role as a journalist and the work I have done." The statement was brought to light by her husband, Mohammad Hossein Ajorlou, who posted on Twitter, sharing insights into the court proceedings. He wrote: "The lawyers had a brief window to present their defense as the trial concluded. We now eagerly await the verdict in the coming days."

Hamedi, a former reporter from Shargh, one of the most popular reformist newspapers in Iran, and Elaheh Mohammadi, a fellow journalist from the Ham-Mihan newspaper, gained recognition for their coverage of events following the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022, after her arrest for allegedly not wearing the hijab in accordance with regime's standards.

The arrest and ensuing death of Amini whilst in the custody of the morality police sparked nationwide protests in September. Hamedi was apprehended shortly after reporting on Mahsa Amini's death and Mohammadi was detained while covering the funeral procession at the Saqqez cemetery in Kordestan province.

The first session of Hamedi’s trial presided by the notorious judge Abolghasem Salavati was held behind closed doors in Tehran on June 1. Saeed Parsaei and Mohammad Hossein Ajorlou -- the spouses of Hamedi and Mohammadi respectively – had already announced the schedule of the second court session for the two journalists, for Tuesday and Wednesday.