A review of cases published by human rights organizations shows that the situation of environmental activists in Iran has transformed in recent years from a "centralized and well-known case" to a series of scattered, local, and poorly publicized arrests.
While a significant portion of the prominent activists in the 2017 case were released last year, new reports indicate that detentions related to environmental activities continue, and in some cases have been combined with security charges or links to protests.
This week on Zisyat Yar, we examine the status of the legal cases of four environmental activists:
1. Ashraf Mohammadi Najafabadi; arrested in Isfahan
According to information published by human rights sources, Ashraf Mohammadi Najafabadi, a resident of Isfahan, was arrested about four months ago and is currently being held in Dolatabad Prison in Isfahan.
Reports indicate that the case remains unresolved, and no official information about the charges or the legal process has been released.
These types of arrests without judicial transparency have been reported frequently in recent years in cases related to environmental and local activism.
2. Shahriar Baratinia; Long detention in Evin
Shahriar Baratinia, a Bakhtiari activist from Yasuj, has been in detention for about 1,100 days, according to published reports, and is being held in Evin Prison.
Long-term detentions without a final verdict are one of the main areas of criticism from human rights organizations in security cases involving civil society and environmental activists in Iran. In many of these cases, the judicial process has been arduous and accompanied by long delays.
3. Hamed Tizroyan; Release on bail
Hamed Tizroyan, an environmental photographer, has been released from prison on bail. However, the case remains open and under judicial review. Mr. Tizroyan was released from Sari prison about 2 months after his arrest. The wildlife photographer’s electronic devices have also been confiscated by security forces.
4. Ali Akbarinejad; arrested in Mashhad
According to published reports, Ali Akbarinejad was arrested on January 11, coinciding with the protests, and is still being held in Mashhad Prison. The status of his case is reported to be pending, and no official information about the proceedings or charges has been released.
General pattern of files
A review of these cases alongside human rights data shows that the situation of environmental activists in Iran in recent years shares several common characteristics:
1. Changing the nature of cases
According to human rights reports, including documents related to previous cases of environmental activists, the accusations have expanded from purely environmental to security or political areas.
2. Long detentions and judicial uncertainty
In some cases, detentions continue for months or years without a final verdict, an issue that has been consistently raised in reports by institutions such as HRANA.
3. Lack of transparency of official information
In many cases, official information about the charges, court proceedings, or legal status of prisoners is not published, and data is mainly obtained from human rights sources and independent media.
Conclusion
The overall picture shows that although the notorious case of environmental activists in 2017 was partially closed with the release of some prisoners in 2024, the pattern of environment-related arrests continues sporadically.
This trend is no longer limited to a specific group or case, but is seen in the form of local cases, independent activists, and sometimes in connection with social protests.
As a result, the main issue today is not a single case, but the continuation of a broader pattern of judicial and security crackdowns on environmental activism in Iran.
