Hamid Haj-Jafar Kashani, a former futsal referee and former political prisoner, has once again been sentenced by the Iranian judiciary to 15 months of imprisonment and a two-year ban on residing in Tehran and neighboring provinces. This new sentence comes after years of detention and continuous security pressures against him.
Arrest on Enghelab Street
Reports indicate that Haj-Jafar Kashani was arrested on Sunday, April 27, 2025, on Enghelab Street in Tehran. His arrest was reportedly due to participating in a protest and carrying a placard that the court described as containing “insulting statements against the Supreme Leader.” He was immediately transferred to a security detention center and subjected to intensive interrogations.
Although the official charge against him is “propaganda against the regime,” his close associates stress that his only “crime” was peaceful, public protest against the repressive policies of the authorities.
Revolutionary Court Verdict: Political and Punitive
The Tehran Revolutionary Court cited slogans such as “Death to Khamenei the Criminal” and “Death to the Principle of Velayat-e Faqih,” as well as a placard stating “Until the mullah is shrouded, this homeland will not be a homeland,” as justification for sentencing him to 15 months in prison.
In addition, the court imposed a two-year ban on residing in Tehran and neighboring provinces—an action that clearly reflects a punitive and retaliatory approach. Such supplementary punishments, which impose geographic and social restrictions on individuals, have a long history in political cases and are intended to isolate and pressure political activists.
Previous Arrests and Security Pressures
Born in 1982, Hamid Haj-Jafar Kashani was first arrested in February 2019 on charges of “propaganda against the regime” and “membership in the Mojahedin-e Khalq.” He was sentenced to three and a half years in prison and served his term in Rish, Evin, and Tehran Bozorg Prisons.
After his release, he briefly migrated to Turkey, but due to political pressures, he was deported back to Iran, leading to another period of imprisonment in Evin Prison. During this time, he was repeatedly pressured to appear in state media and renounce his political beliefs, which he consistently refused.
Peaceful Protest and Repeated Torture
His most recent arrest in May 2025 was due to his active participation in protests on North Kargar Street, where he peacefully chanted slogans against the religious dictatorship and Supreme Leader Khamenei. Local sources emphasize that his actions were entirely peaceful and non-violent.
Reports also indicate that Haj-Jafar Kashani has endured repeated physical and psychological torture throughout his periods of detention, including threats against his family, severe psychological pressure, and prolonged deprivation of basic rights such as visitation and communication. These measures have been applied primarily to break his spirit and coerce him into cooperating with security authorities.
