Author: admin-hr

Environmentalist Farshad Maroufi Vanished

Posted on by admin-hr
Ethnic Minorities
Farshad Maroufi

HRANA News Agency – After Iranian Intelligence Agency in the city of Naghadeh summoned Farshad Maroufi several days ago, the environmentalist has vanished, and his whereabouts are unknown.

According to a report by Kurdistan Press Agency (KURDPA), Farshad Maroufi was summoned by the Intelligence Agency a few days ago.Since then, there has been no news of him.During recent demonstrations to protest against Lake Urmia drying up, he was present and active in the city of Naghadeh, West Azerbaijan Province.Farshad Maroufi is a Kurdish citizen and a member of the Society of Environmentalists, Hatva, in the city of Naghadeh.
Despite repeated inquires made by Farshad Maroufi’s family, the officials at the Intelligence Agency in the city of Naghadeh have announced to know nothing about the subject.As a result, his family’s concerns and worries have increased.
 

Befitting to Name Evin & Gharchak Artists’ Dwelling

Posted on by admin-hr
Prisoners
Abbas Bakhtiari, Afsaneh Shafie, Afshin Akhavan, Ahmad Pournejati, Ali Abdolrezaie, Ali Avghazyan, Ali Chakav, Ali Fatehi, Ali Fathi Moghadam, Ali Manafi, Ali Mohammadi, Ali Reza Badi, Ali Reza Bahnam, Ali Reza Darvish, Amir Ashori, Amir Varaste Heidari, Ardavan Asshabi, Arezoo Srazsh, Aria Aram Nejad, Arsalan Bagheri, Azadeh Davachi, Bagher Mozen, Baktash Abtin, Ehsan Ahmadi, Ezat Goshegir, Garanaz Mosavi, Hamid Janipour, Hamid Reza Nabiei, Hashem Baroti, Hassan Sarbakhshan, Hassan Zarhi, Hasti Alhoie, Hila Sedighi, Hojat Badaghi, Homan Azizi, Hussein Arian, Hussein Noshazad, Hussein Zaman, Ida Amidi, Ismail Yourdshahyan, Jafar Panahi, Javad Moghimi, Kian Amani, Laila Kurdbacheh, Mahnaz Mohammadi, Majid Nafisi, Mana Nistani, Maryam Amosa, Maryam Holeh, Maryam Majd, Marzieh Vafamehr, Mazdak Mousavi, Mehrnaz Hedayati, Mino Nosrat, Mohammad Rasoulof, Mohsen Emadi, Mohsen Khaimedooz, Mohsen Mahmoud Zadeh, Monireh Parvaresh, Mostafa Azizi, Naser Zerati, Nasrin Almasi, Niaz Salimi, Omid Iran Mehr, Omid Koshtkar, Parto Noriala, Pegah Ahangariani, Pegah Ahmadi, Poya Azizi, Ramin Parchami, Reza Farmand, Reza Ganji, Reza Shantia, Roya Bijani, Roya Taghti, Saman Zaman Zadeh, Samaneh Naeini, Sapedeh Jadyari, Sara Khalili, Sassan Ghahreman, Sayeh Darkhtian, Shabnam Azar, Shabnam Farshadjo, Shabnam Ghalikhani, Shaghayegh Zafari, Shahrnoosh Parsipour, Shokofeh Azar, Siamak Borazjani, Soheila Mirzaie, Toran Zandieh, Zahra Elahi

HRANA News Agency – More than 80 Iranian artists have issued a statement to protest against the prosecution of their colleagues in the country.Amongst the signatories, there are well-known artists belonging to two generations of Iranians living either in the country or abroad.The full text of this statement is as follows:

Art is the portrayal of liberty on the wings of thought and imagination.Pity those who believe by imprisoning an artist’s physical being, his thought process is eroded.

How do occasional incursions carried out against independent and intellectual artists lead us to the shores of salvation while our nation’s thirst and admiration for art can’t be quenched by pretentious rulers reigning over our culture?

Today, it is befitting to name Evin and Gharchak artists’ dwelling whose air is filled with the breath of such individuals as Marzieh Vafamehr and Ramin Parchami, and amidst its walls, the scent of Jafar Panahi, Mohammad Rasoulof, Mahnaz Mohammadi, Maryam Majd, Pegah Ahangariani, Hila Sedighi and numerous others is felt.All these artists share a common belief in independent art, have felt the prevailing pain in the society and have sought to present solutions worthy of an awakened nation demanding change.

We, a group of artists and authors signing this statement, are gravely concerned about police actions undertaken against activists, demand the release of all artists and ask for their convictions reconsidered.

Signed by:

  1. Arezoo Srazsh (Author)
  2. Aria Aram Nejad (Composer, Singer, Song Writer)
  3. Azadeh Davachi (Poet)
  4. Ida Amidi (Poet)
  5. Ehsan Ahmadi (Poet)
  6. Ahmad Pournejati (Poet, Cinema & Theater)
  7. Ardavan Asshabi (Photographer)
  8. Arsalan Bagheri (Poet)
  9. Ismail Yourdshahyan (Poet, Writer)
  10. Afsaneh Shafie (Theater Performer, Poet)
  11. Afshin Akhavan (Actor, Cinema & Theater)
  12. Omid Iran Mehr (Photographer)
  13. Omid Koshtkar (Graphics Artist)
  14. Amir Ashori (Poet, Translator)
  15. Amir Varaste Heidari (Poet)
  16. Bagher Mozen (Musician)
  17. Baktash Abtin (Poet, Filmmaker)
  18. Parto Noriala (Actress, Poet)
  19. Pegah Ahmadi (Poet)
  20. Poya Azizi (Poet)
  21. Toran Zandieh (Painter)
  22. Javad Moghimi (Photographer)
  23. Hojat Badaghi (Poet)
  24. Hassan Zarhi (Poet)
  25. Hassan Sarbakhshan (Photographer)
  26. Hussein Arian (Filmmaker, Photographer, Editor)
  27. Hussein Zaman (Singer)
  28. Hussein Noshazad (Story Writer)
  29. Hamid Reza Nabiei (Photograher)
  30. Hamid Janipour (Photographer)
  31. Reza Shantia (Poet)
  32. Reza Farmand (Author, Poet)
  33. Reza Ganji (Photographer)
  34. Roya Bijani (Poet)
  35. Roya Taghti(Poet)
  36. Zahra Elahi (Poet)
  37. Sara Khalili (Poet, Translator)
  38. Sassan Ghahreman (Author, Director, Theater Performer)
  39. Saman Zaman Zadeh (Photographer)
  40. Sayeh Darkhtian (Poet)
  41. Sapedeh Jadyari (Poet, Translator)
  42. Samaneh Naeini (Poet)
  43. Soheila Mirzaie (Poet)
  44. Siamak Borazjani (Poet)
  45. Shabnam Azar (Poet)
  46. Shabnam Farshadjo (Actress)
  47. Shabnam Ghalikhani (Actress, Film Educator)
  48. Shaghayegh Zafari (Poet)
  49. Shokofeh Azar (Author)
  50. Shahrnoosh Parsipour (Author)
  51. Abbas Bakhtiari (Musician)
  52. Ezat Goshegir (Play Writer)
  53. Ali Avghazyan (Photographer)
  54. Ali Chakav (Photographer, Filmmaker)
  55. Ali Abdolrezaie (Poet)
  56. Ali Fatehi (Documentary Filmmaker)
  57. Ali Fathi Moghadam (Poet)
  58. Ali Mohammadi (Poet, Filmmaker)
  59. Ali Manafi (Announcer)
  60. Ali Reza Badi (Poet, Song Writer)
  61. Ali Reza Bahnam (Poet, Translator)
  62. Ali Reza Darvish (Painter, Filmmaker)
  63. Kian Amani (Photographer)
  64. Garanaz Mosavi (Poet, Filmmaker)
  65. Laila Kurdbacheh (Poet)
  66. Mana Nistani (Cartoonist)
  67. Majid Nafisi (Poet)
  68. Mohsen Khaimedooz (Author, Movie Critic)
  69. Mohsen Emadi (Poet)
  70. Mohsen Mahmoud Zadeh (Photographer)
  71. Maryam Amosa (Poet, Photographer)
  72. Maryam Holeh (Poet)
  73. Mazdak Mousavi(Poet)
  74. Mostafa Azizi (Script Writer)
  75. Monireh Parvaresh (Poet)
  76. Mehrnaz Hedayati (Author)
  77. Mino Nosrat (Poet)
  78. Naser Zerati (Author, Poet)
  79. Nasrin Almasi (Author)
  80. Niaz Salimi (Actress)
  81. Hashem Baroti(Poet)
  82. Hasti Alhoie (Graphics Artist)
  83. Homan Azizi (Poet)

Amordadgan Festival Raided; More Than 100 Arrested

Posted on by admin-hr
Freedom of Expression
Baharestan, Mashhad, Razavi Khorasan

HRANA News Agency – On Thursday, July 28, 2011, Iranian security forces raided a gathering sponsored by Baharestan Society in Mashhad, Razavi Khorasan Province, and arrested more than one hundred participants.Baharestan Society is a cultural group that had scheduled a gathering in observance of Amordadgan Festival, an ancient Persian celebration of life and immortality.

According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), the majority of individuals detained have been released after the preliminary fingerprinting, interrogations and searches were conducted.However, six citizens still remain in custody, and their whereabouts and current condition are unknown.

Iranian intelligence agents have also searched the detainees’ homes and seized personal belongings.Despite repeated inquires and appeals, the families of detainees still don’t know where their loved ones are being kept.

Six individuals who are still in custody have been identified as Nataghinia (board secretary of Baharestan Society), Ashori (Tonbak player and organizer of music programs for the festival), Mohseni, Ramzani and his son, and Tavana.

 

A Gorgani Citizen Dies During Satellite Dish Confiscation Project

Posted on by admin-hr
Freedom of Expression
Ali Karimi

HRANA News Agency – When government agents were confiscating satellite dishes in the city of Gorgan in Golestan Province, a citizen fell from his roof and died.

According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Ali Karimi, 42, confronted the police officers who had gone to the roof of his apartment building to seize his satellite dish.During a verbal scuffle between him and the police, Ali Karimi lost his balance and fell from the fourth floor of the apartment building.

The medical report issued by Panj Azar Hosiptal indicates that before hitting the ground, Ali Karimi died of a heart attack triggered by fear.

 

The Head of Tehran Bakers Union Resigned

Posted on by admin-hr
Labor and Guilds
Hossein Nazari

HRANA News Agency –While turmoil continues to plague the capital city’s bakery market, the head of Tehran Bakers Union has resigned in protest to the government’s broken promises.Meanwhile, some officials continue to ignore their responsibility to fulfill such pledges.

According to a report by Ayande News, although six months has passed since subsidies were removed, the price of bread has increased twice.In comparison to the initial value of flour and bread, the price of wheat flour has increased by fifty percent, and the price of bread has doubled, tripled or even quadrupled in some cases.

The Iranian government had previously promised to compensate bakers for the increase in the cost of gas and electricity which are heavily consumed by this industry.However, since no action has been taken so far, Hossein Nazari, the head of Tehran’s Bakers Union, has tendered his resignation.

On the other hand, since the quality of flour delivered to Tehran’s bakeries has drastically gone down, people refuse to buy the bread.To address this problem and in search of attracting more customers, bakers in Tehran have begun using the flour allotted for other counties.As a result, although the official price of flour in Tehran is approximately $14.25 per sack, some of the bakers are buying higher quality flour at about $17.00 per bag.

All this is happening while the regulatory body monitoring bakeries which operates under the gubernatorial control is facing legal hurdles.The Administrative Court has ordered this regulatory body to report to the Governmental Discretionary Punishments Organization, but provinces refuse to comply with the order.

Furthermore, the government’s failure to address the low quality of bread has created serious problems for bakers and consumers in Tehran such that in search of higher quality product, the owners of some flour plants have attempted to import flour from Australia.

Experts from the outset had emphasized the necessity for controlling the price of bread and had offered suggestions such as the transformation of the system for the procurement, storage and milling of flour and also the ranking of bread according to the quality of the flour used in the baking process.Since the government opposed any and all solutions and insisted on imposing one single price for any type of bread, a large number of bakeries are currently facing big losses while others don’t have enough customers or are struggling with the low quality of the flour shipped to them.To be able to sell bread at a different price, some bakeries have resorted to so called illegal means by adding sesame seeds to the bread available for purchase.

 

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Now is definitely not the time to stop reading!

Sakhi Rigi Sentenced to Twenty Years

Posted on by admin-hr
Freedom of Expression
Mir Hossein Mousavi, Sakhi Rigi

HRANA News Agency – Sakhi Rigi, a blogger and a member of Mir-Hossein Mousavi’s Campaign Staff, has been sentenced to twenty years in prison by the Revolutionary Court in Zahedan [Sistan and Baluchistan Province].

According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Sakhi Rigi has been exiled to the city of Ahvaz [in Khuzestan Province] to serve his sentence in Karon Prison.Sakhi Rigi is a civil rights activist who was arrested during presidential elections in 2009.On June 18, 2009, while he was driving his car, Sakhi Rigi was stopped on Zahedan University St. by the security forces and subsequently detained.

While he was in the custody of Iran’s Intelligence Agency in Zahedan, Sakhi Rigi endured seven months in solitary confinement and was charged with acting against national security and propaganda against the regime.Three months ago, Sakhi Rigi was transferred to Karon Prison to begin serving his twenty year term.

Sakhi Rigi is a 31 year old college student who was studying software development before being arrested and had only two terms left before graduating.It is not clear what other charges have been filed against him to justify issuing such a heavy sentence for this college student.However, it has been said that his blog postings were considered a crime and a threat to national security.

 

IRAN: Judiciary official says woman to be stoned for husband’s murder, not just adultery

Posted on by admin-hr
Executions, Women

In a surprise announcement, a judiciary official in provincial Iran said a woman who had been convicted and sentenced to stoning for adultery had also been convicted of murder.

Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, a 43-year-old mother of two in the Tabriz area, had been convicted of cheating on her late husband, apparently a murder victim, and sentenced to die by stoning, a ruling that is officially under review, according to Iranian judiciary officials.

Continue reading “IRAN: Judiciary official says woman to be stoned for husband’s murder, not just adultery”

Reformist Activist Mehdi Eghbal Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison

Posted on by admin-hr
Prisoners
Mehdi Eghbal

May 20, 2010
HRANA – The appellate court has confirmed the four year prison sentence given to Mehdi Eghbal, a member of the Participation Front and reciter of Komeyl prayers at reformist religious ceremonies.
Continue reading “Reformist Activist Mehdi Eghbal Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison”

Seven Prisoners Hanged in Isfahan, Iran

Posted on by admin-hr
Executions
Isfahan

HRANA News Agency – Seven prisoners convicted of drug trafficking and rape were hanged in Isfahan Prison on Wednesday, December 19, 2012.

According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), quoted from Keyhan, local judiciary authorities informed six of then were convicted of drug trafficking and one of them was convicted of rape.

Continue reading “Seven Prisoners Hanged in Isfahan, Iran”

Prisoners Shabnam and Farzad Madadzadeh Banned from Visiting Each Other

Posted on by admin-hr
Prisoners
Farzad Madadzadeh, Shabnam Madadzadeh

HRANA News Agency – It’s one year that Shabnam and Farzad Madadzadeh, brother and sister in Evin and Rajaishahr prisons are banned from visiting each other.
According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Shabnam and Farzad Madadzadeh with five-year sentences can visit each other in the frame of Iranian Prisons’ Law, but it’s one year that they are banned from visiting by the judiciary authorities.
Continue reading “Prisoners Shabnam and Farzad Madadzadeh Banned from Visiting Each Other”