Hesam Firouzi: Biography, Arrests, and Exile of the Iranian Activist

Hesam Firouzi

Hesam Firouzi (Persian: حسام فیروزی) is an Iranian political activist and student of electrical engineering. He is a member of the “Student Committee of the Advar Tahkim Vahdat Council” and was a member of the “Central Council of the Office for Strengthening Unity” from 2008 to 2010. Firouzi has been arrested and imprisoned several times for his political and civil activities.

Background and Education

Hesam Firouzi was born in 1987 in Tehran. He is a graduate student in electrical engineering. During his student years, he became a member of the student organization “Advar Tahkim Vahdat” and served as a member of its Central Council from 2008 to 2010. He was also a member of the “Student Committee of the Advar Council.”

Arrests and Imprisonment

Firouzi’s political and civil activities have led to his arrest on several occasions.

• First Arrest (2009): In the summer of 2009, following the presidential election protests, Firouzi was arrested and sentenced by the Revolutionary Court to one year in prison. This sentence was later reduced to six months on appeal, which he served.
• Second Arrest (2011): In the summer of 2011, he was arrested again and sentenced by Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Pir-Abassi, to one year in prison. He served this sentence in Evin Prison.
• Third Arrest (2014): On November 9, 2014, Firouzi was arrested by security forces at his home. On this occasion, Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Salavati, sentenced him to “one year of imprisonment, two years of exile in the city of Nehbandan, and a two-year ban on political and media activities.” This sentence was upheld on appeal. He began serving his exile sentence in Nehbandan in 2015.
• Fourth Arrest (2018): On May 10, 2018, Firouzi was arrested again and transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison. This arrest was related to a new case. On July 28, 2019, he was sentenced by Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Salavati, to “one year of imprisonment for ‘propaganda against the regime’ and five years of imprisonment for ‘assembly and collusion with the intention of acting against national security’.” The five-year sentence was applied based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code.
  

Support for Workers’ and Teachers’ Protests

During his exile in Nehbandan, Firouzi continued his civil activities. In 2018, he issued a statement in support of the protests by workers of the Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Complex and teachers. Following the publication of this statement, a new case was opened against him, which led to his arrest in May 2018 and the subsequent issuance of a six-year prison sentence.

Physical Condition and Hunger Strikes

Hesam Firouzi suffers from kidney problems and a spinal disc issue. Due to the lack of proper medical attention in prison and during his exile, his health condition deteriorated. In protest against the prison conditions and the lack of medical care, he has gone on hunger strike several times while in detention.