Mehrshad Soheili
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Mehrshad Soheili | |
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| Born | Mehrshad Soheili 2004 Musiyan, Iran |
Mehrshad Soheili (born 2004 in Musiyan) was the head of a volunteer charity organization who was arrested by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence of Iran for misusing this title. He was tried in the Special Juvenile Court of Qom on charges including "illicit gain", "usurpation of title", and "document forgery", and was sentenced to three years of detention in the Youth detention center.
Activities
[edit]Mehrshad Soheili was born in the city of Musiyan, Ilam Province, in 2004. He was the head of the Hazrat Mahdi Jihadi Group[1] and gained fame and wealth by fabricating jihadi bases, printing letterheads, launching a website, and meeting with religious authorities and Friday Imams in some Iranian cities. His bank accounts had reportedly seen transactions amounting to at least several billion tomans.[2]
State media in Iran referred to Mehrshad Soheili as the youngest commander in the country. These reports often included images of his meetings with various military officials, well-known clerics, and religious authorities, including Mohammad-Taqi Mesbah-Yazdi, Hossein Noori Hamedani, and Mohsen Qara'ati. Many of his meetings and connections were under the pretext of funding ta'ziyeh performances, religious gatherings, and support for deprived areas.[3] In 2019, at the age of 15, Soheili unveiled his autobiography titled A Star from the West.[4]
Arrest and trial
[edit]Soheili was arrested and imprisoned in February 2022 by the Ministry of Intelligence.[1] His trial was held in April 2022 on charges such as "illicit gain," "usurpation of title," and "document forgery."[4] He was sentenced to three years of detention in the Youth detention center, a monetary fine, and restitution of funds.[5] Soheili denied the charges, stating that his goal was to help the poor and carry out charitable activities.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "بازداشت فرمانده ۱۷ ساله قرارگاه جهادی وابسته به سپاه". Deutsche Welle Persian. 1 February 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
- ^ "دستگیری «جوانترین فرمانده آتش به اختیار» به اتهام فساد مالی؛ مهرشاد سهیلی کیست؟". Voice of America. 3 February 2022. Archived from the original on 18 February 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
- ^ "Mehrshad Soheili tried in the Special Juvenile Court". Deutsche Welle Persian. 18 April 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
- ^ a b "Mehrshad Soheili; the first trial of a 'Hezbollah' teenager facing financial charges". BBC Persian. 17 April 2022. Archived from the original on 17 April 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
- ^ "Mehrshad Soheili's sentence announced: Three years in the Youth detention center". ISNA. 10 May 2022. Archived from the original on 10 May 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
- ^ "Mehrshad Soheili, head of jihadi base, tried in Qom's Special Juvenile Court". رادیو فردا. Radio Farda. 17 April 2022. Archived from the original on 17 April 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2022.