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Execution of Three Inmates in Mahabad and Kashan

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Executions, News
Abbas Dadvar, Fakhredin Mangur-Nejad, Kashan, Mahabad, Salim Bagheri

In recent days, two death-row inmates in Mahabad Prison and one in Kashan Prison were executed for murder.

Kurdpa disclosed that on March 7, 2024, Fakhredin Mangur-Nejad, a resident of Oshnavieh, and Abbas Dadvar, from Mahabad, faced the death penalty for their involvement in murders dating back four years.

The Iran Human Rights Organization also reported the execution of Salim Bagheri, a 37-year-old individual in Kashan Prison on March 6. As per sources cited in the report, Bagheri was found guilty of taking someone’s life three years ago amid a financial dispute.

No official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have provided coverage of these executions at the time of writing. The lack of official information raises concerns about transparency and accountability. In 2023, 66% of HRANA’s reports on executions lacked official announcements by judicial authorities and went unreported by media inside Iran, highlighting a troubling lack of transparency in due process.

Moreover, in 2023, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran registered the execution of  746 individuals. Out of these, 6 were carried out in public. Among the executed individuals whose genders were identified, 597 were male and 20 were female. Additionally, 2 juvenile offenders, defined as individuals under the age of 18 at the time of their alleged crimes, were also executed. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s annual report.

Inmate Executed in Zanjan Prison for Drug Offenses

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Executions, News
Haal Vsh, HRANA, Mehdi Gorgij, Zanjan Prison

On March 7, an inmate convicted of drug-related crimes, Mehdi Gorgij, 50 years old and a father of two, was executed in Zanjan Prison, as reported by Haal Vsh.

Gorgij had been arrested four years ago in Urmia on charges of drug offenses, subsequently imprisoned in Zanjan, and ultimately sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court in the same province.

The execution of Gorgij occurred without prior notice to his family, denying him the opportunity for a final family visitation.

Notably, no official sources or domestic media outlets in the country have covered this execution as of the time of writing. The absence of official information raises concerns, further underscored by the fact that 66% of HRANA’s reports on executions lacked official announcements from judicial authorities and remained unreported by media outlets within Iran.

The reports from the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists for the year 2023 also reveal a concerning prevalence of executions for drug offenses in Iran, constituting 56.4% of the total executions. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s report.

Political Prisoner Mosayeb Raisi Yeganeh Attempts Suicide, Hospitalized

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News
Evin Prison, Mosayeb Raisi Yeganeh

Mosayeb Raisi Yeganeh, a political prisoner in Evin Prison, attempted suicide by ingesting pills, leading to his hospitalization.

A source close to Raisi Yeganeh’s family confirmed the incident, stating, “On Wednesday evening, March 6, Raisi Yeganeh attempted suicide by taking nerve pills. Today, a few of his fellow inmates noticed his lethargy and informed prison officials. Subsequently, he was transferred to Lughman Hospital. Since then, we have not been informed about his well-being.”

Raisi Yeganeh was apprehended by security forces at his residence in Tehran on April 17, 2023, and has been held in Ward 8 of Evin Prison. In December 2023, Judge Iman Afshari, presiding over Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, sentenced him to 23 years and eight months in prison. It is important to note that Raisi Yeganeh has a history of previous arrests and convictions related to his activism.

In 2023, the Department of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran recorded seven deaths resulting from illness, twelve suicides, one case of self-immolation, and four instances of prisoners being murdered within prisons nationwide.

Imprisoned Political Activist Mostafa Tajzadeh Confronts Additional Charges

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, irgc, Mohammad Khatami, Mostafa Tajzadeh, مصطفی تاجزاده

Mostafa Tajzadeh, a political prisoner currently held in Evin Prison, is facing new legal challenges as he receives a summons related to fresh charges. The accusations include “assembly and collusion against national security” and “propaganda against the regime,” compelling Tajzadeh to attend a court hearing scheduled for March 10.

In response to the summons, Tajzadeh, in an open letter from prison, declared, “As usual, I refused to receive the summons letter. The Judicial authorities can hand me several additional years-long prison terms in absentia, but I will attend neither courthouse nor the court.”

In late February, Tajzadeh was confined to solitary confinement as a punitive measure for his statement advocating the boycott of the parliamentary election and conducting media interviews from prison.

The prominent political activist was apprehended by security forces on July 8, 2022, and subsequently transferred to Ward 2-A in Evin Prison under the control of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). After months of legal uncertainty, Tajzadeh was sentenced to eight years in prison by Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, presided over by Judge Salavati. The charges included “assembly and collusion against national security,” “disseminating false information,” and “propaganda against the regime,” with five years of the verdict deemed enforceable.

Tajzadeh, who previously served as the deputy interior minister under President Mohammad Khatami, has a history of judicial confrontations and periods of incarceration stemming from his activism.

Execution of Two Inmates in Khash and Gonbad-e Kavus

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Executions, News
Farshad Rakhshani, Gonbad-e Kavus, Khash, Milad Galavi, Zabol

In the past week, the execution of two individuals convicted of murder took place in Khash Prison, located in Sistan and Baluchestan province, and Gonbad-e Kavus Prison in Golestan province.

According to reports from Haal Vsh, Milad Galavi, a 29-year-old native of Zabol, was executed on March 3, 2024, in Khash Prison. Galavi was sentenced to death last year by the Khash Criminal Court for his alleged involvement in the killing of three members of a family.

Similarly, on March 6, Farshad Rakhshani, a 25-year-old father, was executed in Gonbad-e Kavus Prison. Rakhshani had been apprehended two years ago in connection with the death of an individual during a reported altercation.

No official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have provided coverage of these executions at the time of writing. The lack of official information raises concerns about transparency and accountability in the execution process.

In 2023, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran registered the execution of  746 individuals. Out of these, 6 were carried out in public. Among the executed individuals whose genders were identified, 597 were male and 20 were female. Additionally, 2 juvenile offenders, defined as individuals under the age of 18 at the time of their alleged crimes, were also executed. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s annual report.

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Ten Teacher Union Activists Sentenced to a Collective 20 Years with Additional Penalties

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Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News
Ali Nahali, Anoosh Adeli, Aziz Ghasemzadeh, Gholamreza Akbarzadeh Baghian, Iranian Teachers, Jahanbakhsh Lajevardi, Mahmood Sedighipour, Mohammad-Javad Saeedi, Rasht, Tahmasb Sohrabi, Teacher Union Activists, Teymoor Bagheri Koodakani, Yadollah Baharestani

The Revolutionary Court of Rasht has sentenced ten teacher union activists to two years in prison each, along with additional penalties, as reported by the Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association channel.

The convicted teachers are Anoosh Adeli, Mahmood Sedighipour, Aziz Ghasemzadeh, Teymoor Bagheri Koodakani, Tahmasb Sohrabi, Gholamreza Akbarzadeh Baghian, Ali Nahali, Mohammad-Javad Saeedi, Jahanbakhsh Lajevardi, and Yadollah Baharestani. In addition to the prison terms, they have been barred from joining political/civil groups for two years.

The court session addressed charges related to “disturbing public order through participating in and holding protest union gatherings and defying police officers.” Sedighipour and Ghasemzadeh were imprisoned and did not attend the court.

Among them, Adeli, Sedighipour, and Ghasemzadeh had previously received a one-year prison term, which was upheld on appeal. They are currently serving their sentences in Lakan Prison, Rasht.

In 2023, the Department of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran documented 1,700 reports related to the rights of trade unions and associations. This included 53 individuals who received sentences totaling 1,230 months of imprisonment.

Political Detainee Saman Yasin Moved to Psychiatric Hospital

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Ghezel Hesar, judge Salavati, Karaj, Mahsa Amini Protests, Reza Shafa-Khah, Saman Seydi, Saman Yasin, سامان یاسین

Saman Seydi (Yasin), detained during the 2022 nationwide protests, was transferred from Ghezel Hesar prison in Karaj to Aminabad Psychiatric Hospital on March 5, 2024.

A source close to his family confirmed Seydi’s relocation to Aminabad Hospital. In a recent open letter addressed to the head of the Judiciary, Saman Yasin expressed his objection to his 18-month detention, stating a preference for a death sentence over being held in legal limbo.

Seydi has been temporarily moved to a hospital outside the prison environment. The Revolutionary Court of Tehran’s Branch 15, presided over by Judge Abolqasem Salavati, has taken charge of Seydi’s case. A recent court session was postponed due to the absence of the public defender. Frustrated by the prolonged detention and as a form of protest, Seydi injured himself by hitting his head on the wall.

Reza Shafa-Khah, Seydi’s legal representative, has condemned the extended detention, citing it as a violation of the law.

Arrested by security forces on October 2, 2022, during the nationwide Mahsa Amini Protests, Seydi faced convictions on various charges, including “enmity against God (Moharebeh)” and “assembly and collusion against national security,” resulting in a death sentence on October 29, 2023. However, the Supreme Court of Iran overturned this verdict, leading to the transfer of his case to another court branch for retrial.

Despite Seydi’s requests, he has not been granted representation from a private lawyer. On August 2, 2023, along with six other political prisoners, he was transferred from Rajai Shahr Prison, Karaj, to Evin Prison. On September 3, 2023, he was moved to Ghezel Hesar Prison, along with twelve other prisoners, without prior notice, and has since been held in the ward designated for prisoners with drug-related convictions.

On January 28 of this year, Seydi sustained injuries during an altercation between political prisoners and prison guards.

Political Prisoner Mostafa Ramezani Initiates Hunger Strike in Solitary Confinement

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News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, Ghezel Hesar prison, Karaj, Mostafa Ramezani

Mostafa Ramezani, a political prisoner, commenced a hunger strike at Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj on March 4, protesting his confinement in solitary quarters.

A reliable source close to Ramezani’s family disclosed this information to HRANA. According to the source, “Ramezani was transferred to solitary confinement as a punitive measure after a confrontation with prison guards on January 22, 2024. It has been more than 40 days since he has been held in solitary confinement.”

This political prisoner had been transferred from Evin Prison to Ghezel Hesar Prison on January 18, 2024.

Currently, in the third year of his sentence, Ramezani received an eight-year sentence for political charges, including “propaganda against the regime” and “assembly and collusion against national security.”

Jamshid Azizi’s Prison Sentence for Political Charges Upheld on Appeal

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Freedom of Expression, News
Gilan province, HRANA, IRGC Intelligence, Jamshid Azizi, Mehdi Rasekhi

The Appellate Court of Gilan Province has upheld the four-year, 47-day prison term imposed on Jamshid Azizi Nunakaran.

This verdict includes three years and six months and one day for “assembly and collusion against national security” and seven months and 16 days for “propaganda against the regime.” As per Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, dictating that in cases of multiple charges, the most severe penalty shall be enforced, he is sentenced to three years and six months in prison.

The initial verdict was issued by Branch 3 of the Revolutionary Court of Rasht, presided over by Judge Mehdi Rasekhi.

Azizi’s legal troubles began on April 16, 2023, when IRGC intelligence agents arrested him at his residence. Following 40 days of detention, he was released on bail. A reliable source confirmed to HRANA that Azizi was denied access to legal representation during his detention.

Execution of Two Inmates in Adelabad Prison, Shiraz

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News
Adelabad Prison, Mostafa Jamil Samadi, Shiraz

On March 4, 2024, Adelabad Prison officials in Shiraz carried out the execution of two inmates, according to the Iran Human Rights Organization.

The individuals executed were Mostafa Jamil Samadi, 40 years old, and an Afghan national known by the first name Iman. Mostafa Jamil Samadi faced execution for drug-related crimes, while Iman was convicted of murder.

No official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have provided coverage of these executions at the time of writing. The lack of official information raises concerns about transparency and accountability in the execution process.

In 2023, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran registered the execution of  746 individuals. Out of these, 6 were carried out in public. Among the executed individuals whose genders were identified, 597 were male and 20 were female. Additionally, 2 juvenile offenders, defined as individuals under the age of 18 at the time of their alleged crimes, were also executed. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s annual report.