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Concerns Rise Over Health of Political Prisoner Hamzeh Savari

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News
Ghezel Hesar, Hamzeh Savari, Hamzeh Savari Laftah, Karaj, moharebeh, Political Prisoner, حمزه سواری

Political prisoner Hamzeh Savari Laftah, currently serving a life sentence in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj, is facing alarming health issues amidst inadequate medical care. Despite his urgent need for treatment outside the prison walls, authorities have repeatedly denied him access to essential medical attention.

According to a source close to Savari’s family, he has been enduring a painful baker’s cyst in his knee for five years, which has worsened over time, extending to his tendon due to the absence of proper medical intervention. Shockingly, prison officials, under orders from the prosecutor, have refused to transfer him to a hospital for necessary treatment.

Reports obtained by HRANA indicate that Savari has also been battling Varicose disease for eleven years, with a recurrence three years ago following a surgery nine years ago. Despite his persistent requests for medical assistance, he has been consistently denied access to treatment.

Arrested at the tender age of 16 on September 2, 2005, Savari was initially sentenced to death by the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court on charges of “spreading corruption on earth, enmity against God (moharebeh), and acting against national security.” However, his sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment.

The troubling case of Savari adds to a larger pattern of neglect within Iranian prisons. In 2023, the Department of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran documented 1,390 instances of denial or neglect of medical care for prisoners, highlighting a systemic issue that demands urgent attention.

Woman Killed in Police Shooting Incident

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News
Aligudarz, Lorestan province, Negar Karimian, نگار کریمیان

In Aligudarz, Lorestan Province, tragedy struck when police mistakenly opened fire on a vehicle, resulting in the death of 21-year-old Negar Karimian.

According to her sister’s social media post, on March 9, 2024, police fired upon their vehicle, mistaking it for another, injuring Negar. Despite efforts, she succumbed to her injuries in the hospital.

Reports suggest that the police suspected the vehicle of involvement in drug smuggling, leading to the tragic mistake.

In 2023, the Department of Statistics and Publications of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) documented 402 incidents of civilians being shot by military forces. These incidents resulted in 120 civilian deaths, including 20 Kolbars (border carriers), 37 fuel carriers, and 63 other civilians. Additionally, 282 individuals were injured, comprising 228 Kolbars, 31 ordinary civilians, and 23 fuel carriers.

Zaniar Fattahian Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison on Political Charges

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News
Bukan, Zaniar Fattahian

According to Kurdpa, the Criminal Court of Bukan has sentenced Zaniar Fattahian to 18 months in prison.

Fattahian was convicted of political charges of “spreading propaganda against the regime” and “inciting people to act against national security.”

On November 16, 2023, security forces arrested the 23-year-old Fattahian without presenting an arrest warrant. After 40 days of detention, he was released on bail of one billion tomans (approximately 20,000 dollars) pending the conclusion of legal proceedings.

Saeed Ghader Panah Arrested and Incarcerated in Khorramabad Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Khorramabad, Saeed Ghader Panah

Saeed Ghader Panah, a resident of Khorramabad, was apprehended on March 9, 2024, following his appearance at the Revolutionary Court in the city. He was promptly incarcerated in Khorramabad Prison.

A source close to Ghader Panah, noting his health condition, confirmed his arrest, mentioning that he suffers from diabetes.

According to the same source, Ghader Panah had been summoned to the court on political charges, specifically “propaganda against the regime.”

This isn’t the first instance of Ghader Panah’s encounter with security forces. He was previously detained on January 15, 2024, and subsequently released on bail from Khorramabad Prison.

Ghader Panah, 43, is a father of two.

Six-Month Sentence for Karim Esmaeilzadeh Upheld on Appeal

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Ethnic Minorities, News
Karim Esmaeilzadeh, Tabriz, کریم اسماعیل زاده

The Appellate Court in East Azerbaijan Province has confirmed the six-month sentence for Azerbaijani-Turk activist Karim Esmaeilzadeh (Esmaeil-Zadeh).

The original verdict, issued by the Tabriz Revolutionary Court, found Esmaeilzadeh guilty of “inciting people to violence on the Internet.”

On August 16, 2023, security forces arrested Esmaeilzadeh as he entered a football stadium in Tabriz. He was later released on bail amounting to 900 million dollars (approximately 18,000 dollars) from the city’s prison.

However, Esmaeilzadeh faced another arrest by security forces on August 27. This time, he secured his release on bail of 600 million tomans from Tabriz Prison. The upheld sentence reflects the ongoing legal challenges faced by the activist.

In 2023, the Department of Statistics and Publications of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) recorded 329 reports, citing the arrest of 324 citizens linked to ethnic and national rights. Notably, 156 of these arrests occurred without the issuance of a judicial warrant.

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Two Inmates Executed for Murder in Ilam Prison

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Executions, News
Ilam, Ilam prison, Mansour Mansouri, Moein Selah Varzi

Ilam prison executed two inmates on March 11, 2024, following separate murder convictions, as reported by Kurdpa.

The executed individuals are identified as Mansour Mansouri, 44 years old, and Moein Selah Varzi, a father of two. Selah Varzi was convicted of killing his brother 32 years ago.

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.

Baha’i Anisa Fanaeian Receives Lengthy 16-Year Prison Sentence and Additional Penalties

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News, Religious Minorities
Ali Isari, Anisa Fanaeian, Semnan, Semnan Revolutionary Court

The Revolutionary Court of Semnan has issued a harsh sentence of 16 years in prison, coupled with additional penalties, for Baha’i citizen Anisa Fanaeian.

Presiding over Branch 1 of the Semnan Revolutionary Court, Judge Ali Isari sentenced Fanaeian to ten years for “forming groups to act against national security.” In addition, she received a five-year sentence, a fine, and deprivation from social rights for her involvement in “educational activities and propagating against Sharia Islam.” Furthermore, Fanaeian was given a one-year sentence for “propaganda against the regime.” The court also mandated the confiscation of $4,350 from her family’s assets, which had been seized during a search of her daughter’s room.

According to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, if the verdict is upheld on appeal, the ten-year prison term for the first count will be enforceable.

Fanaeian was arrested by security forces in Semnan on August 21, 2023, and was released on bail pending the conclusion of legal proceedings in early September 2023.

It is worth noting that Fanaeian has faced previous convictions and incarceration due to her religious convictions.

Baha’is are subjected to violations of their religious rights, comprising 82% of reports on infringements against religious minorities, according to HRA’s 2023 annual report.

The Baha’i faith is not recognized as a legitimate religion by Iranian authorities, leading to systematic and longstanding violations of the rights of Baha’is in the country. This includes the denial of their fundamental right to practice their religion, which constitutes a clear breach of both 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.

Execution of Two Afghan Nationals for Murder in Ghezel Hesar Prison

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Executions, News
Ghezel Hesar prison, HRANA, Karaj, Nour-Mohammad Tajik

On March 11, 2024, Ghezel Hesar Prison, located in Karaj, carried out the execution of two death-row inmates convicted of murder. HRANA identified the individuals as Nour-Mohammad Tajik and Abdolbaset (last name unknown).

The hanged Afghan nationals had been transferred to solitary confinement on March 9 in preparation for the execution.

As of now, there is no official information or coverage from domestic media outlets in the country regarding these executions. The absence of official sources raises apprehensions about transparency and accountability in the execution process.

According to data gathered by the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists, Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj witnessed the highest number of executions in 2023, with Zahedan Prison following closely behind. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s report.

 

Confrontation in Qom Clinic Sparks Outrage: Legal Actions Against CCTV Publishers

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News
compulsory hijab, Hassan Gharib, Hijab, Qom, religious vigilantes

A recently circulated video has ignited public anger against a cleric, revealing an altercation between a woman, holding her sick newborn, and this cleric attempting to discreetly film her, due to perceived violations of hijab norms in a medical clinic in Qom. The incident sheds light on the persistent issue of harassment by hijab enforcers and religious vigilantes.

According to Mizan, the judiciary’s news agency, Qom prosecutor Hassan Gharib announced that legal action would be taken against those who surfaced the CCTV video and shared it with media outside Iran, charging them with “agitation of the public.” Gharib claimed to have identified the individuals responsible for sharing the footage, referring to them as “disruptors of order.”

While supporting the cleric’s actions, Gharib emphasized backing religious vigilantes adhering to the Islamic duty of “Enjoining good and forbidding wrong,” as long as they adhere to the established conditions for this duty. Contrary to reports, he denied the closure of the clinic by judicial authorities and asserted that no arrests had been made in connection to the incident.

Critics, including human rights experts, consistently argue that the concept of “Enjoining good and forbidding wrong” represents blatant interference in individuals’ personal matters, often leading to vigilantism and societal violence.

Student Ehsan Faridi Arrested in Tabriz

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News, Other, Students
Ehsan Faridi, Tabriz, احسان فریدی

On March 8, 2024, security forces apprehended Ehsan Faridi, a student pursuing Manufacturing Engineering at the University of Tabriz, in Tabriz. He was transferred to an undisclosed location.

The reasons for Faridi’s arrest, his whereabouts, and the charges against him remain unknown.

The lack of transparency surrounding Faridi’s arrest is emblematic of a broader issue within the Iranian regime’s security apparatus. Arbitrary arrests, often conducted without clear justification or due process, continue to be a source of concern for human rights advocates.