Peyman Kazemi, a 30-year-old political activist from Amlash, Iran, was arrested by intelligence forces on Friday, March 8, 2024, at his home and taken to an undisclosed location. His family, upon visiting the police station to inquire about his whereabouts, was redirected to the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) intelligence department for further information.
Kazemi has been sentenced to five years in prison, with three years of that sentence enforceable. He was convicted on charges of “propaganda against the regime,” “insulting the leader,” and “spreading false information.” Kazemi is currently serving his sentence at Rudsar Prison and has expressed that he will not request furlough, stating, “They will be forced to open the prison gates on my release day, and I will walk out with my head held high.”
An active member of the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign, Kazemi has been advocating against the death penalty in Iran. The campaign serves as a civil movement opposing the enforcement of capital punishment, using symbolic actions to express dissent.
The arrest and sentencing of political activists like Kazemi have drawn criticism from international human rights organizations. These entities emphasize that the harsh penalties for merely expressing political opinions constitute a violation of basic human rights. Despite this, Iranian judicial authorities defend such actions as necessary for “counteracting security threats.”
