Author: admin-hr

Reza Mohammad Hosseini Beaten by Doctor in Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj

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Prisoners
Judge Ahmad Zargar, Karaj, Rajai Shahr Prison, Rajai-Shahr, Reza Mohammad Hosseini, Tehran, Tehran Court of Appeals

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists (HRA), Reza Mohammad Hosseini, a political prisoner in Rajai Shahr prison in Karaj, was beaten by a prison doctor on May 29 after objecting to the lack of medical treatment for fellow prisoner and labor activist Ali Ishaq.

Hosseini, who is serving a seven-year sentence, was beaten, insulted, and humiliated by prison officials for refusing to wear prison uniforms, handcuffs, and shackles last November.

In May of 2019, Reza Mohammad Hosseini was sentenced by the Revolutionary Court of Tehran to 16 and a half years in prison on charges of conspiracy, insulting the leadership, illegally leaving the country, illegally entering the country, and disobeying the orders of agents.

The verdict was upheld by Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals, presided over by Judge Ahmad Zargar in May 2020.

Based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, a maximum sentence of seven years imprisonment will be imposed on him on charges of conspiracy and collusion.

HRANA Recap: Recent Arrests and Detentions

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Freedom of Expression, Prisoners
Ahmad Gergij, Arsalan Kamalzehi, Buchanan, Karim Sameri, Mahboubeh Farahzadi, Mehrestan, Mohammad Nahtani, Mohammad Naroui, Qom, Rahim Safarzehi, Razavi Khorasan Province, riots in Astara and Ardabil, Shadegan, Soran Sharifian, Younes Gergij

Mahboubeh Farahzadi arrested and charged in Evin Court

 

On May 29, retired teacher, union activist and member of the Iranian Women’s Voice Association Mahboubeh Farahzadi was arrested.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists (HRA), quoting The Free Union of Iranian Workers, Farahzadi was released on bail later after the charges were explained to her by Branch 7 of Evin Court.

 

 

Karim Sameri arrested by security forces in Shadegan

 

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on May 29, Shadegan resident Karim Sameri was arrested by security forces after he filmed a funeral and poetry night held for the child of a famous local poet.

 

 

Citizen detained by security forces in Mehrestan

 

On May 28, Arsalan Kamalzehi, son of Kamhan, was arrested by security forces in the city of Mehrestan in Sistan and Baluchestan Province.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Baloch Activists Campaign, the report states that Kamalzehi was arrested for inviting people to boycott the presidential election. As of this writing, no information is available on the charges against him or where he is being held.

 

Citizen arrested by security forces in Buchanan

 

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, Soran Sharifian, a resident of Buchan County working in one of the county clinics was arrested by security forces and taken to an unknown location on May 24.

An informed source said that the citizen was arrested without a court order and that the security forces confiscated some of his personal belongings, including his mobile phone, computer, and books. Despite the pursuit of Mr. Sharifian’s family, the location of the detention and the charges against him are unknown.

 

 

 

13 people detained under pretext of “opposition to the regime” in riots in Astara and Ardabil

 

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA) , 13 citizens were recently arrested in Astara and Ardabil following protests and clashes between residents. The report did not specify the identities or whereabouts of the detainees.

 

At least 5 citizens detained by security forces in the city of Shahrabad, in Razavi Khorasan Province

 

 

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting RASANKNEWS, Mohammad Nahtani, Mohammad Naroui, Rahim Safarzehi, Ahmad Gergij, son of Aziz, and Younes Gergij, son of Nawab Khan, were arrested by security forces in the village of Shahrabad, Mashhad.

These citizens were beaten and violated at the time of arrest and their homes were searched without court order. According to local sources, a few other citizens whose identities are still unknown were detained in the village as well. As of this writing, their whereabouts and the reasons for their detention are unknown.

 

Instagram page admin arrested in Qom

 

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Rokna, the chief officer of the Iranian Cyber Police of Qom announced the recognition and arrest of an Instagram page admin for what he called the “publication of unusual images”. The admin was handed over to judicial authorities after the investigation was completed.

 

 

Married Couple Executed in Qazvin Prison on Drug-Related Charges

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Executions, Prisoners, Women
citizen executions per-capita, Citizens executed, Death Penalty, death penalty in iran, Pirastvan, secret execution, Secret executions, Yousef Pirastvan

On May 30, two prisoners were executed in Qazvin prison on drug-related charges.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Iran Human Rights (IHR), Mr. Yousef Pirastvan and Ms. Pirastvan (first name unknown) were a married couple at the time of their arrest.

An informed source said that Mr. and Ms. Pirastvan were arrested 7-8 years ago on the Qazvin-Karaj highway on charges of carrying 380 kilograms of drugs and were sentenced to death in their first court session.

According to international organizations, Iran ranks first in the world in citizen executions per-capita. The Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRAI) reported that between January 1st and  December 20th of 2020, at least 236 citizens were executed. One of these citizens was executed publicly, and two were juvenile offenders. An additional 95 citizens were sentenced to death.

More than 72% of executions in Iran are not reported by the government or the judiciary. Human rights organizations call these “secret executions.”

At the time of writing, their execution has not been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.

Three sentenced to Death in Tehran Under Qisas (Eye-for-an-Eye) Principle of Shariah Law

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Executions, Prisoners
Death Penalty, death penalty in iran, Death sentence, iran death penalty, Qisas, Shariah Law, Tehran

In two isolated incidents, three citizens were sentenced to death in Tehran, all on charges of murder.

According to the HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Rokna news,  death sentences were upheld by the Supreme Court for two defendants who were sentenced under the Qisas (loosely translated as eye-for-an-eye) principle of Shariah Law.

The sentence was issued after 37-year-old Meysam, a shopkeeper, was stabbed to death in Varamin in Tehran.

In a separate incident, according to the Javanonline News, a defendant was sentenced to death for murder under the Qisas principle by the criminal court in Tehran province.

The victim’s wife and two murder suspects, all suspected of orchestrating the killing, were also sentenced to prison time.

 

 

Benjamin Berier Indicted on Charges of Espionage and Spreading Propaganda Against the System

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Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, Prisoners, Women
Benjamin Berier, Berier, Drone, Figaro, Mashhad, UAV, Vakilabad prison

Benjamin Berier, arrested last May and held in Vakilabad Prison in the city of Mashhad since, has been indicted more than two months after giving his last defense to the Mashhad Prosecutor’s Office.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Berier’s lawyer Saeed Dehghan wrote in a note on his social media that Benjamin Berier has been found guilty on charges of spying and spreading propaganda against the system. His other two charges of drinking and spreading depravity were dropped.

According to Dehghan, photographing forbidden areas, and asking the question “Why is the hijab mandatory in the Islamic Republic but optional in other Islamic countries?” are the reasons for the accusation of spying and propaganda against the regime.

Berier’s lawyer previously told HRANA, “Despite the ambiguities and contradictions in his charges against Mr. Berier, his case has not been allowed access to a lawyer thus far, which is a catastrophe.”

Mr. Dehghan also told HRANA that translational errors from a particular French publication have exacerbated the suspicion among officials.

“In a news story published by the French newspaper Figaro, Berier’s use of the common word “drone” has been misinterpreted as a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle)–Mr. Berier is a tourist who used a ‘helicam’ for photography,” Dehghan said. “The use of this word by the newspaper Figaro has caused this misconception by some media. Figaro also reported Mr. Berier is a French Iranian citizen while he actually is a French citizen.”

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Golpayegani Comments on Ministry of Health’s Failure to Disclose Info on Wound Dressings Given in April 2020

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Children, Environment, Other
EB Health House, EB House, Golpayegani, Ministry of Health, wound dressings

Hamidreza Golpayegani, founder and CEO of the charity foundation EB Health House, gave a statement on the Ministry of Health’s handling of a delivery of 5.8 tons of wound dressings.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Golpayegani specifically commented on the lack of communication and regulation from the Ministry.

“In April 2020, the Ministry of Health and the EB House negotiated with the German government and with the support of Germany and UNICEF, 5.8 tons of wound dressings was delivered to the Ministry of Health to be given to us periodically, but unfortunately there has not been a regulation in timing,” Golpayegani said. “We did not receive any wound dressing last October and November and the Ministry never told us how many wound dressings were received from Germany.”

EB Home Foundation is a charity foundation that assists patients with specific skin problems.

“An expert at the General Directorate of Medical Equipment said all 5.8 tons of dressings have been received,” Golpayegani added, “But they also need dressings for burns and diabetic wounds.”

 

 

 

Chairman of the Iranian Chamber of Commerce: Over the Past 10 years, Economic Growth has been Zero

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Labor and Guilds
Chamber of Commerce, Gholam, Gholam-Hossein Shafei, Inflation, Iran Economy

Stating that the middle class has shrunk over the past few years and the lower class has expanded, Gholam-Hossein Shafei said: “Despite the announced statistics, economic growth has been almost zero over the past 10 years and therefore, we have always faced high inflation.”

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Shafei stated that inflation has always beaten the wage increases, but this is “the first time that depreciation rate has risen above the investment rate”.

“Before the government announces inflation, unemployment, and other statistics, people and businesses have experienced it in their lives,” he added.

Student is Injured Attempting to Climb Mountain to Access Internet for Virtual Learning

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Children, Environment, Students
Digital learning, Education, Exceptional Education Organization, Pichkan village, South Khorasan, South Khorasan province, Students, Virtual learning, Zirkuh

A student in Pichkan village of Zirkuh city in the South Khorasan Province fell from a mountain and was severely injured in the face and eyes.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Rokna News, the student had gone to the mountains to access the internet and use virtual learning networks.

Talebi, the director of Zirkuh education confirmed the incident happened and said the injured  is a student of Hajiabad vocational school in Zirkuh.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, virtual learning has played a critical role in Iran’s education system, but access to the necessary materials remains limited. Students in many villages of Iran are forced to face the environmental hazards in the highlands to access the internet due to the poor network coverage in their area.

The head of the country’s Exceptional Education Organization stated that 30% of students do not have equipment for e-learning; he said: “5 million students in the country do not have access to smartphones and tablets.”

Javad Hosseini also expressed that 8% of students use their parent’s devices for e-learning which does not provide the students with stable access to learning equipment.

 

 

HRANA Recap: This Week’s Protests in Iran

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Cultural, Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds
Azovico, Benefits and wages, East Azerbaijan, fair wages, Izeh, Izeh Water and Sewage, Lorestan province, Mashad, Protest recap, protests, Qazvin, Shiraz, Sistan and Baluchestan, Tehran, This week's protests

Friday, May 21 and Saturday, May 22

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, at least seven protest rallies were held on May 21, and 22. Several employees of the offshore platforms of the South Pars Oil and Gas Company rallied at their workplace. A group of nurses and medical staff members of the Health Cooperative rallied in front of the Judiciary in Tehran. Several workers of Pajen Dairy Company rallied in front of Nasimshahr Governor’s Office. Workers of Izeh’s Water and Sewerage Company rallied in front of the city water supply building demanded their unpaid wages. Street cleaners in Chabahar rallied in front of the city building; a group of workers of IGC in Assaluyeh rallied in their workplace, and truck drivers parked their vehicles in one of Mashhad’s highways protesting the neglect of their problems by the authorities. All the groups of protestors called for their demands to be addressed.

 

Workers of IGC in Assaluyeh:

 

Medical staff members of the Health Cooperative’ rally:

 

Cleaners and sweepers in Chabahar:

 

Workers of Izeh’s Water and Sewerage:

 

Sunday, May 23

 

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, at least 10 protest rallies were held on May 23. A group of employees of Tehran Metro Operation Company rallied in front of the Islamic parliament in Tehran; Retirees of Isfahan Steel Industry rallied in front of the Retirement Fund building in Isfahan; School janitors rallied in front of their provincial education department in Lorestan and Qazvin provinces; a group of Shiraz Telecommunication Company retirees rallied in front of the governor’s office in the city, a group of preschool teachers from different cities rallied in front of the Islamic Consultative Assembly; teachers working in non-profit schools in Sistan and Baluchestan, Kerman, and East Azerbaijan provinces protest rallies called for their demands to be addressed.

 

Employees of Tehran Metro:

 

Retirees of Isfahan Steel Industry:

 

 

Teachers working in non-profit schools in Sistan and Baluchestan, Kerman, and East Azerbaijan:

 

Janitors rallied in in Lorestan and Qazvin provinces:

 

Telecommunication Company retirees in Shiraz:

 

 

Preschool teachers rally:

 

Monday, May 24

 

According to HRANA, the News Agency of Human Rights Activists, at least seven protests took place on Monday, May 24.  Employees of the Ministry of Oil rallied in front of this ministry building in Tehran; a group of truck drivers held a rally and parked their vehicles in front of the municipality building in Mashhad; Security and maintenance workers of line 5 of Tehran city train held a rally on-site; several retired employees of Iran Air airline rallied in front of the airline building in Tehran; a group of faculty members of the Azad University of Tabriz and Ahvaz held rallies in their cities; retirees of health department held a rally in front of the building of the Program and Budget Organization in Tehran.Protesters called on their demands to be addressed.

 

Truck drivers held a rally in Mashhad:

 

Employees of Iran Air airline rallied in front of the airline building in Tehran:

Retirees of health department held a rally in front of the building:

 

 

Tuesday, May 2

 

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, at least thirteen protest rallies were held on Tuesday, May 25.   Stakeholders of Azovico company who lost money held a rally in the streets around the Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade in Tehran. Several workers from the Ministry of Oil in the Persian Gulf Holding rallied in Petrochemical Special Economic Zone in Bandar Imam Khomeini. Workers at Pegah Milk Factory of Tehran held a rally in front of the Judiciary building. A group of teachers and several temporary employees of the Ministry of Oil rallied in front of the Islamic Consultative Assembly building. A group of employees and retirees of Imam Khomeini Hospital held a rally in front of the Municipal Organization of Alborz Province. Residents of Barangerd village, farmers of the rural part of Gamboueh, and a group of employees of Khuzestan Rural Water and Sewerage Company held rallies in Khuzestan Province. Several students of Estahban Higher Education Center protested in this educational center. A few retirees of Pars Metal factory rallied in front of Ghanoon daily newspaper office in Tehran. Shareholders of the stock market rallied in front of the Stock Exchange Organization in Tehran, and a group of farmers in Isfahan held protest rallies in this city and called on their demands to be addressed.

 

Stakeholders of Azovico company:

 

Workers from the Ministry of Oil in the Persian Gulf Holding:

 

Residents of Barangerd village:

 

Residents of Gamboueh village:

 

 

Students of Estahban Higher Education:

 

 

Retirees of Pars Metal:

 

Employees of Rural Water and Sewerage in Khuzestan:

Wednesday, May 26

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Wednesday, May 26, official employees of the oil industry held rallies in 9 different cities and locations including Bahregan, Lavan, Ahvaz, Gachsaran, Abadan, Assaluyeh, Tehran, Mahshahr, and Bushehr. The employees called their demands on payment of arrears, equipment upgrade, correct and complete implementation of Article 10 and 112, resolving problems of employees’ transfer to needed sections and some other demands. Several employees of Rural Water Supply and Sewerage gathered in front of the government buildings in the Khuzestan Province. A group of technical protection and safety consultants gathered in front of the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare in Tehran rallied to pressure authorities to address their demands.

 

Protest of employees of the oil industry in 9 cities:

 

In Tehran:

In Lavan:

In Bahregan :

in Mahshahr :

 

in Ahvaz:

 

in Bushehr:

 

 

Employees of Rural Water Supply and Sewerage in the Khuzestan Province:

Thursday, May 27

According to HRANA, at least three protest rallies were held on May 26. Khuzestan Rural Water Supply and Sewerage staff for the third day in a row in front of the governor’s office in Ahvaz. Medical staff at Bu Ali Hospital rallied at their workplace in Tehran, and a group of citizens of Behbahan held a rally at the Friday prayers center in the city, in Khuzestan, and called on their demands be addressed.

Six Baha’is Were Sentenced to a Total of 73 Years and Six Months in Prison

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Prisoners, Religious Minorities, Women
Baha'i, Baha'i arrests in Iran, baha'i citizens arrested, Borhan Ismaili, Dorna Isma’ili, Frank Sheikhi, Hayedeh Ram, Maryam Bashir, Minoo Bashir

Six Baha’i citizens, one man and five women, were sentenced to a total of 73 and a half years in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, On May 19, the Revolutionary Court of Borazjan, presided over by Alireza Kiani, issued the verdict.

Borhan Ismaili, Maryam Bashir, Frank Sheikhi, Hayedeh Ram, Minoo Bashir, and Dorna Ismaili are residents of Shiraz city in the Fars Province and Borazjan city in the Bushehr Province.

Borhan Ismaili was sentenced to 11 years in prison as a first-degree defendant on charges of “propaganda activities against the regime” by spreading Baha’i beliefs and “acting against the security of the country” by disseminating and propagating the Baha’i faith.

Maryam Bashir, Frank Sheikhi, Hayedeh Ram, Minoo Bashir, and Dorna Ismaili each were sentenced to 12 years and 6 months in prison on charges of “assisting in propaganda activities against the regime by spreading Baha’i beliefs, producing and publishing vulgar images in cyberspace and social networks, and acting against the security of the country through publication”.

Based on this verdict, all documents, pamphlets, books, pictures, videos, and CDs related to the Baha’i faith that were taken by the Bushehr provincial IRGC Intelligence Organization during the search of the house will be confiscated.

The court has issued this sentence based on (what the court called) “membership in the hostile and anti-regime Facebook website, and also referred to the educational activities related to Bahai’s’ children”.

According to unofficial sources, more than 300,000 Baha’is live in Iran, but the Iranian constitution recognizes only Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism. Because their faith is not considered legitimate by authorities, the rights of Baha’is in Iran have been systematically violated for years.

This deprivation of the freedom to practice their religion is a violation of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The United Nations covenant holds that every person has the right to freedom of religion, freedom of converting religion, as well as freedom of expression, individually or collectively; openly or secretly.