Three Individuals Arrested in Behbahan

During the mass arrests in recent days in Iran, the security forces arrested Iman Parsa, Payam Jeyhooni, and Soltan Ali Mohseni in Behbahan, Khuzestan Province. The first two individuals have been jailed in the quarantine ward of Behbahan Prison and the latter at a detention facility.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Iman Parsa, Payam Jeyhooni and Soltan Ali Mohseni in Behbahan were arrested.

Also, on September 21, security forces arrested Ahmad Motasebi and took him to a detention facility of the Ministry of Intelligence.

It is estimated that thousands of people have been arrested during the nationwide protests. These protests erupted after the death of Mahsa Amini, a woman who died in hospital after the Moral Police arrested her for improper hejab.

Shahriar Shams Arrested While on Furlough

On September 27, 2022, political prisoner Shahriar Shams was arrested while on furlough and was taken to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on September 27, 2022, security forces arrested Shahriar Shams at his house, while he was on furlough.

During the protests 2017–2018, Shams was arrested and released ten days later on bail.

Later, the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced him to six years in prison. This verdict was reduced to four years and 45 days on appeal.

On July 5, 2020, Shams started his sentencing in Evin Prison.

Nationwide Protests in Iran Continues on Day Ten

On September 27, ten days after the death of Mahsa Amini, widespread protests continued in several cities, including Qorveh, Sanandaj, Tehran, Kermanshah, and Yazd. There were demonstrations at the universities as well, including the College of Dentistry at the University of Tabriz and Tarbiat Modares University.

In the past ten days, at least 160 demonstrations in 93 cities across 30 provinces have taken place. Also, the students of 18 universities held protests numerous times.

As the protests occurred in Iran, more domestic and international public personalities reacted to Mahsa Amini’s death and expressed their support for the Iranian people. Despite the restricted access to the Internet, popular hashtags such as Mahsa Amini (مهسا_امینی#) broke twitter’s historical record, reaching over 100 million.

So far, it is estimated that thousands have been arrested, as 450 arrests were reported only in the city of Sari. However, HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, is still working on fact-checking and reviewing the reports independently. HRANA has identified 79 individuals arrested so far.

During the protests, hundreds of protestors have been killed or injured. 

The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) reported 41 deaths, of which HRANA has identified 40 so far. According to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), 76 protestors and security forces have been injured.

HRANA has collected and archived over 332 video footages of protests in 85 cities.
Below is a link to the compilation of the videos gathered on the tenth day of protests in Iran.

 

More than 300 Christians Express Solidarity with Iranian Protestors

Iranian Christians released an open statement announcing their solidarity with the nationwide protests in Iran and condemned the police brutality.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, based on the initiative of KHMA (The Church Is the Right of Christians, more than 300 Iranian Christians issued an open statement supporting the nationwide protests after the death of Mahsa Amini.

According to the statement, Iranian Christians showed support regardless of their location, stating their solidarity with the people. 

The signatories also stated that showing sympathy and verbal consolation is not enough, stressing that people should take action against the Islamic Republic’s43-year oppression.

KHMA has been active since 2018 and strives for the Christians’ freedom of association through establishing the church as a necessary means to protect these individuals against violence.

Maryam Karim-Beigi Arrested

On September 26, 2022, Tehran security police arrested Maryam Karim-Beigi at her house and took her to an unidentified location. Karim-Beigi’s brother, Mostafa is one of the individuals killed during the 2009 protests.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on September 26, 2022, Maryam Karim-Beigi was arrested at her house in Tehran.

Karim-Beigi’s mother, Shahnaz Akmali, broke the news on social media, saying that Tehran Security Police has arrested her daughter by the order of the Tehran Security Court.

In August, the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Karim-Beigi to five years in prison, 74 lashes and a fine. If the verdict is confirmed on appeal, based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, three years and seven months for one charge will be enforceable.

Karim-Beigi faced other arrests and convictions on prior occasions.

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Nationwide Protests in Iran Continues on Day Nine

On September 25, the nationwide protests continued nine days after the death of Mahsa Amini. Demonstrations continued in at least 19 cities and universities, as the number of arrests and the individuals injured or killed increased. There were disruptions and outages in internet and phone services and social media was filtered. 

On September 24,25, 2022, despite the heavy presence of riot police and plainclothes security agents, people held demonstrations in many cities, including Shahin-Shahr, Karaj, Shiraz, Amol, Babol, Sanandaj, Tehran, Fardis, Isfahan, Tabriz, Zahedan, Fuman, Sabzevar, Qaen, Shahr-e-Rey, and Nowshahr. 

The Sharif University of Technology and the University of Tehran students held protests on campus, chanting slogans  such as “Death to the dictator”, “Jailed student should be freed”, and “We will fight, we will die, but we will take back Iran.”

The two maps below show the geographical distribution and concentrations of the protests until the seventh day of protests. 

On September 25, the Coordination Council of the Iranian Teachers Trade Association issued a statement asking teachers and students all over Iran to join the general strike.

 It is estimated that many individuals have been arrested, as 450 arrests were reported only in the city of Sari. However, HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, is still working on fact-checking and reviewing the reports independently. HRANA has identified and verified 48 individuals arrested so far.

There were also reports of several individuals killed as a result of the brutality of the security apparatus. The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting reported 41 deaths, of which HRANA has identified 38.

The map below shows the distribution of the death toll as of the seventh day of protests.

Below is a compilation of the videos gathered on the eighth and ninth days of protests in Iran.

Filmmaker Mohammad Siamaknia Arrested in Tabriz 

On September 24, 2022, Iran’s security forces arrested filmmaker Mohammad Siamaknia in Tabriz and transferred him to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on September 24, 2022, filmmaker Mohammad Siamaknia was arrested in Tabriz.

An informed source told HRANA that on the eighth day of the protests after the death of Mahsa Amini, Siamaknia was arrested at work and taken to an unidentified location. Officials have not provided Siamaknia’s family with any information about his condition.

The reason for this arrest is still unknown.

Siamaknia is a filmmaker with several documentaries on social issues and short films such as “Woodpecker” and “Language”.

Azerbaijani Turk Activists Meysam and Mohammad Julani Arrested 

On September 22, security forces arrested Azerbaijani Turk activists Meysam Julani and Mohammad Julani and transferred them to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on September 22, two Turk activists Meysam Julani and Mohammad  Julani were arrested in Ardabil.

Their whereabouts and the charges against these individuals are still unknown.

HRANA has also reported the arrest of two other Azerbaijani Turk activists Asgar Akbarzadeh and Saeed Sadeghifar in Ardabil on the same day.

Nationwide Protests Continue after Mahsa Amini’s Death Sixth Day 

On September 22, 2022, nationwide protests following Mahsa Amini’s death continued in cities across Iran despite heavy police presence in the streets. Protests started in Tehran and the Kurdistan region and spread.

The security forces fired teargas, pellet guns and shotguns to scatter the crowds in several cities and internet and mobile services were disrupted or shot down as the Supreme National Security Council of Iran ordered to restrict people’s access to Instagram and WhatsApp.

During the protests in the past six days, several individuals have been killed or injured and many were arrested. 

The government-affiliated media has started broadcasting coerced confessions as the international criticisms of the government’s actions continue.

On the sixth day of the nationwide protests,   demonstrations continued in Tehran, Oshnavieh, Golshahr, Kashmar, Malekan, Behbahan, Dehdasht, Shirvan, Shahrood, Neyshabur, Tabriz, and Bandar-Anzali, with slogans such as  “death to Khamenei” and “death to the dictator”, as eyewitnesses reported the presence of riot police and plainclothes security agents.

Over 25 are estimated to have been killed so far. HRANA has obtained the following list, of which HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, can verify 10. HRANA is reviewing and fact-checking the following list:

  1.     Minoo Majidi (Kermanshah)
  2.     Reza Lotfi (Dehgolan)
  3.     Mohsen Mohammadi (Divandarreh)
  4.     Foad Ghadimi (Divandarreh)
  5.     Zakaria Khial (Piranshahr)
  6.     Freydoon Mahmoodi (Saqqez)
  7.     Mohsen Gheisari (Ilam)
  8.     Abbas Khaleghi (Qazvin)
  9.     Amir Nowruzi (Bandar-Anzali)
  10.   Abdollah Mahmoodpour (Balo Village, Urmia )
  11.   Farjad Darvish (Balo Village, Urmia)
  12.   Danesh Rahnama (Balo Village,  Urmia County)
  13.   Fardin Bakhtiari (Sanandaj)
  14.   Amin Maarefat (Oshnavieh)
  15.   Sadredin Litiani (Oshnavieh)
  16.   Milan Haghighi (Oshnavieh)
  17.   Roozbeh Khademi (Karaj)
  18.   Pedram Azarnoosh (Dehdasht)
  19.   Mehrdad Behnam (Dehdasht)
  20.   Hananeh Kia (Nowshahr)

 

There were additional reports on unconfirmed deaths. Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting  (IRIB) has officially announced the death of 17 people during the nationwide protests. Kermanshah prosecutor has also said that two people were killed and 25 were injured. Iran Human Rights Organization reported that in Amol, 11 people have been killed.

Mahsa Amini was arrested by Tehran Morality Police at a train station for improper hejab. She fell into a coma after head trauma and later died at a hospital in Tehran.