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Death Row Protestors Mohammad Mehdi Karami and Mohammad Hosseini Executed

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Executions, News
Mohammad Hosseini, Mohammad-Mehdi Karami

On January 7, 2023, Mohammad Mehdi Karami and Mohammad Hosseini were executed. They were previously arrested at protests and sentenced to death in a legal case known as “the death of a Basij Militia force Ruhollah Ajamian.” A while ago, their sentences were confirmed by the Supreme Court of Iran.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Tasnim, on January 7, 2023, Mohammad Mehdi Karami and Mohammad Hosseini were executed.

Karami, age 22, a resident of Karaj, was a karateka with several top titles and championships. His lawyer recently informed HRANA that he went on a dry hunger strike last Wednesday.

Also, Mohammad Hosseini’s lawyer wrote on Twitter that his client had been tortured with iron bars and shockers.

Earlier, Mohsen Shekari and Majidreza Rahnavard were also executed over protests. According to data obtained by HRANA, at least 111 other protestors have been sentenced to death or have faced charges that can lead to a death sentence.
 

Imprisoned Teacher Hamid Jafari Nasrabadi Receives Additional Three Years Imprisonment

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Freedom of Expression, News
Hamid Jafari Nasrabadi, Iranian Teachers Trade Association

The Kashan Criminal Court sentenced imprisoned teacher Hamid Jafari Nasrabadi to three years for the second part of his legal case. He was previously sentenced to 22 months and social deprivations for the first part of this case.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association Telegram channel, teacher, writer and translator Hamid Jafari Nasrabadi was sentenced to three years.

According to this verdict, Nasrabadi received two years in prison for “spreading falsehood” and one year for “the contempt of judicial authority’s order.”

Nasrabadi is currently imprisoned in Kashan Prison to serve his 22-month sentence for the first of this legal case. The security forces arrested him in Kashan on October 19, 2022.

Fifteen Women on Hunger Strike in Kachooie Prison

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News, Prisoners
Ansieh Mousavi, Armita Abbasi, atemeh Mosleh Heidarzadeh, Elham Modarresi, Fatemeh Harbi, Fatemeh Jamalpour, Fatemeh Nazari-Nejad, Hamideh Zeraei, Hunger Strike, Jasmin Haj Mirza Mohammadi, Kachooie Prison, Maedeh Sohrabi, Marzieh Mirghasem, Nilloofar Shakeri, Niloofar Kardooni, Shahrzad Derakhshan, Somayeh Masoumi

Fifteen women arrested at recent protests have been on hunger strike for five days in Kachooie Prison, Karaj.

HRANA has identified these women as:

  1. Elham Modarresi
  2. Armita Abbasi
  3. Fatemeh Harbi
  4. Jasmin Haj-Mirza Mohammadi
  5. Fatemeh Nazari-Nejad
  6. Shahrzad Derakhshan
  7. Fatemeh Jamalpour
  8. Nilloofar Shakeri
  9. Hamideh Zeraei
  10. Niloofar Kardooni
  11. Somayeh Masoumi
  12. Ansieh Mousavi
  13. Maedeh Sohrabi
  14. Fatemeh Mosleh Heidarzadeh
  15. Marzieh Mirghasem

An informed source told HRANA they went on hunger strike in protest against prolonged detention in uncertainty, poor sanitary conditions, inadequate medical care, being held in an overcrowded ward, the lack of access to a lawyer and unjust verdicts.

“The court hearing to examine the charges against Hamideh Zeraei, Fatemeh Harbi and Ansieh Mousavi was held through a video call in prison. Their attorneys were not present, and they were not given enough time to defend themselves,” the source added.

According to this source, Harbi received five years, of which she will be in prison in exile for two years. Zeraei and Mousavi are still awaiting the verdict.

According to other reports obtained by HRANA, pre-trial detention’s Elham Modarresi was extended for one month on January 3. Also, another informed source told HRANA that Modarresi was beaten by prison guards to end her hunger strike.

In Iran’s prisons, despite their physical and mental impairments, hunger strikes are common among prisoners. Hunger strikes are used as a last resort for protesting unlawful detention without trials, violations of prisoners’ rights and infringement on due process.

 

 

Iran Protests: Parisa Nikkhoo Sentenced to Two Years

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Freedom of Expression, News
Parisa Nikkhoo, Qarchak Prison, Varamin

The Tehran Court of Appeals sentenced Parisa Nikkhoo to two years in prison. Initially, the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced her to five years in prison. She is currently jailed in Qarchak Prison in Varamin.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Parisa Nikkhoo, arrested at recent protests, was sentenced to two years in prison on appeal.

An informed source told HRANA, “Nikkhoo did not have a right to choose a lawyer. She was charged with assembly and collusion against national security and disturbing public order. The judicial authorities promised her a release on bond if she pleaded guilty.”

“The judge granted a 600 million-toman bail, but she cannot afford this bail.”

On September 24, 2022, Nikkhoo, age 36, was arrested at protests in Tehran and taken to a police station and then to Qarchak Prison. The informed source said she had bruises on her body during custody at the police station.

 

Iran Protests: Citizen with Disabilities Mansour Dahmardeh Sentenced to Death over Protests

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Freedom of Expression, News
iran protests, Mansour Dahmardeh, Zahedan

Mansour Dahmardeh, a resident of Zahedan and a citizen with disabilities, was sentenced to death on the charge of “spreading corruption on earth.” He was arrested at recent protests.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Haal Vsh, Mansour Dahmardeh, arrested at protests, was sentenced to death.

The verdict was issued by Branch 2 of the Zahedan Criminal Court on January 3, 2023.
Dahmardeh was arrested during the nationwide protests in Zahedan on October 3, 2022.

HRANA has detailed the legal cases of 58 citizens sentenced to death or under the impending threat of death sentence over protests. Read this report here.

 

 

 

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Two Inmates Executed in Ghezel-Hesar Prison

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Executions, News
Ghezel Hesar prison, Karaj, Mehdi Asgari, Rostam Abbaszadeh

On January 5, 2023, two death-row inmates previously convicted of drug-related crimes were executed in Ghezel-Hesar Prison, Karaj.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, two inmates identified by HRANA as Mehdi Asgari and Rostam Abbaszadeh were executed in Ghezel-Hesar prison.

An informed source told HRANA that Abbaszadeh had been released after serving out his sentence for drug offences in 2006. However, when he was arrested for the second time, he received a life sentence after reviewing the first case and a death sentence for the second case.

None of the official sources and media outlets inside the country has reported these executions at the time of writing.

In 2022, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran registered 457 reports related to the death penalty. This included 92 death sentences, including the conviction of 6 people to public execution and 565 execution sentences were carried out, 2 of which have been carried out in public. Based on the announced identifications of some of the executed individuals, 501 were male and 11 were female. In addition, 5 juvenile offenders were executed in 2022, meaning they were under the age of 18 at the time they committed the crime.

 

 

 

Iran Protests: Poet Reza Keshvari Sentenced to Five Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
iran protests, Karaj Revolutionary Court, Reza Keshvari

The Karaj Revolutionary Court sentenced poet and painter Reza Keshvari to five years in prison, of which he will be imprisoned in exile for two years. He is also banned from leaving the country for two years.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Reza Keshvari was sentenced to five years in prison and social deprivations.

On October 15, 2022, Keshvari was arrested during nationwide protests in Karaj, following a protest against the arrest of several teenagers. He was jailed in the Central Prison of Karaj.

The charges are still unknown.

Keshvari is a poet and painter, the father of a five-year-old child.

Since the outbreak of nationwide protests, over 19200 people, including journalists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, have been arrested. So far, about 670 people were convicted over protests. For more details and statistics on the nationwide protest across Iran, read HRANA’s comprehensive report here.

 

Iran Protests: Two Students Sentenced to a Total of Six Years

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Freedom of Expression, News, Students
Alborz Adi, Islamic Azad University, Kashan, Najafabad, the University of Kashan

The Kashan Revolutionary Court sentenced Alireza Ghamgosar, a student at the University of Kashan, to two years in prison. Also, Alborz Adi, a student at Islamic Azad University in Najafabad, was sentenced to four years in prison, of which two years are suspended. Both students were arrested during recent nationwide protests.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Alireza Ghamgosar was sentenced to two years in prison on the charge of “assembly and collusion against national security.”

On September 20, 2022, security forces arrested Ghamgosar at nationwide protests in the city of Rasht.

Alborz Adi was sentenced to two years in prison and two years suspended imprisonment. He was arrested two times by security forces on October 3 in Najafabad, Isfahan Province, and then on October 31, 2022, in Langarud. For the second time, he was released on bail on December 31, 2022.

 

Neda Naji Sentenced to Eight Months in Prison and 60 Lashes

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Freedom of Expression, News
Mahsa Amini, Neda Naji

The Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced workers’ rights activist Neda Naji to eight months in prison, 60 lashes, banned from leaving the country, paying a fine and other punishments.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, workers’ rights activist Neda Naji was sentenced to imprisonment and flogging.

According to this verdict issued on December 7, 2022, Naji has been sentenced to eight months in prison, 60 lashes for “disturbing public order,” and a 15 million toman fine for “spreading falsehood.” She was also banned from leaving the country and using a cell phone for two years. She should also write a research paper as an additional punishment.

During the trial, she did not have access to her attorney.

On October 2, 2022, Naji was arrested in front of Kasra Hospital, where Mahsa Amini died, and jailed in Evin Prison. She was released on a 150-million bail on October 27, 2022.

Naji faced other arrests and convictions on prior occasions.

 

 

Three European Nationals Charged with Espionage

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News, Other
detained Belgian, detained French, Espionage, Mizan

The spokesperson of Iran’s judiciary announced that three detained foreign nationals, two French and one Belgian, have been indicted on allegedly “espionage, assembly and collusion against national security.”

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Mizan, two French nationals and one Belgian have been charged with “espionage, assembly and collusion against national security.”

This judicial official did not reveal these individuals’ identities.