Peyman Farhangian, a poet, labor activist, and fisherman from Bandar-Kiashahr in Gilan Province, has been repeatedly arrested and subjected to harsh sentences in recent years for his critical activities and peaceful protests on social media platforms.
Farhangian, a native and unmarried resident of Bandar-Kiashahr, came under government scrutiny in 2019 for posting critical content about governmental policies, particularly on Instagram and his personal Telegram channel. His first arrest occurred in 2019, after which he was temporarily released on bail of 400 million tomans following 25 days of detention. This arrest marked the beginning of a series of legal cases and sentences against him.
In one of his most recent cases, in August 2023, Farhangian was sentenced to one year of imprisonment, two years of forced residency in Zabol, two years of a travel ban, and the suspension of his Instagram account on charges of “propaganda against the regime.” This sentence was upheld by the Gilan Province Appeals Court, presided over by Judge Mohammad Mehrani and assisted by Hossein Gholizadeh.
The charges against him include “insulting sacred beliefs,” “insulting Khomeini and Khamenei,” “propaganda against the regime,” “inciting and misleading the public to disrupt national security,” and “establishing and operating an illegal group.”
His most recent arrest took place on January 3, 2024, and he was transferred to Azbaram Prison in Lahijan to serve his sentence. Previously, in 2022, Farhangian had been sentenced to seven years of imprisonment in one case and an additional four years in a separate case.
Currently, Peyman Farhangian is serving his sentence in Azbaram Prison in Lahijan. According to human rights organizations, such punishments and restrictions exemplify the harsh measures taken against civil and labor activists in Iran, who face severe and unjust charges for expressing their views and engaging in peaceful activities.
