Kamyar Fakoor
Age: 30
Activism/rights: Journalist
Status: Evin Prison
Judicial status: 4 years and 4 months imprisonment and 50 lashes
Violations: Arbitrary arrest and detention, lack of due process, unfair trial, cruel and unusual punishment, press censorship
Kamyar Fakoor is an economic and environmental journalist, workers rights activist and rapper. He was arrested at a pensioners’ protest where civil society activists, journalists and worker’s rights activists rallied in front of the Ministry of Labour building on Azadi Street in Tehran on 8 March 2021 and released on bail. On November 2, Kamyar was sentenced to two years and eight months imprisonment, 50 lashes and a 15 million tomans fine by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, on charges of “propaganda against the system and spreading lies to disturb public opinion and order.” The sentence was suspended on conditions including “obtaining permission from a judicial official to travel abroad, participating in counselling sessions to control excitement and prevent hopelessness at the Mavay Institute of Psychology in Qom, reporting any job or residence changes and a ban on social and political activities on social media.”
On 9 August 2022, he was sentenced to another year behind bars for “propaganda against the system” by Judge Iman Afshari. Kamyar was released from prison on 9 February 2023 as part of the mass prison amnesties. His sentence was reduced to 8 months on appeal. He was re-arrested while visiting jailed teacher Mohammad Habibi's family with other activists on 28 April, and his sentence enforced. Kamyar was transferred to Ghezelhesar Prison by force on 3 September where he was held in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions with death row prisoners awaiting the gallows. On the same day, his lawyer announced that a new case had been opened against him and Jafar Ebrahimi for charges of “disrupting public order and peace, insulting prison officials and officers” by Branch 3 of Evin court. Following a group hunger strike, he was transferred back to Evin Prison on 27 September where he is currently serving his sentence.