Additional Name(s): مهدی ایزدپناه

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Iran

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sufi

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Sentence: 5 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: February/20/2018

Date of Sentencing: July//2018

Date of Release: April/14/2020

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Protesting Religious Freedom Conditions Religious Association

Nature of Charges: Illegal Assembly Public Disorder Unlawful Disobedience

Mehdi Izadpanah

Extra Bio Info:

Mehdi Izadpanah was imprisoned for his religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Izadpanah following a violent crackdown on people protesting the arrest of Nematollah Riahi. Riahi, a member of the Sufi Gonabadi Order, had come to Tehran earlier in February to participate in a sit-in protesting the house arrest of spiritual leader Noor Ali Tabandeh. Izadpanah was reportedly charged with "refusing police orders" (Art. 607 IPC), "assembling and colluding to act against national security" (Art. 610 IPC), and "disrupting public order" (Art. 618 IPC). Izadpanah was reportedly denied access to a lawyer.

In July 2018, Izadpanah was reportedly sentenced to five years in prison and two years in exile.

On April 14, 2020, Izadpanah was reportedly released from prison following a state directive in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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