Author: A MN

Seven Christians Sentenced to a Total of 28 Years in Prison

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News, Religious Minorities
Farhad Khazai, Iranian Christians, Joseph Shahbazian, Maasoumeh Ghasemi, Mina Khajawi and Maliheh Nazari, Salar Eshraghi Moghaddam, Somayeh Sadegh

Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced seven Christians Joseph Shahbazian, Salar Eshraghi Moghaddam, Farhad Khazai, Somayeh Sadegh, Maasoumeh Ghasemi, Mina Khajawi and Maliheh Nazari to a total of 28 years in prison, a fine, ban from leaving the country, and other social deprivations.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Tuesday, June 7, 2022, seven Christians were sentenced to a total of 27 years in prison.

According to the verdict issued by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court on Tuesday, June 7, Joseph Shahbazian was sentenced to 10 years in prison, a ban from leaving the country and membership in civil and political groups and other social limitations. This court has sentenced Mina Khajawi and Maliheh Nazari each to 6 years, Salar Eshraghi Moghaddam to four years and Maasoumeh Ghasemi and Fardhan Khazai to one year in prison. Somayeh Sadegh has also been fined 40 million tomans.

All these defendants have been charged with “disrupting national security through preaching Evangelical Christianity and creating home churches.”

In July of 2020, security forces arrested Iranian-Armenian Joseph Shahbazian, age 57, with several Christian converts in a religious ceremony in Tehran. He was later temporarily released on 2 billion tomans.

Workers’ Rights Activist Kamyar Fakoor Arrested

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Kamyar Fakoor, Mahmood Haj Moradi

On Thursday, June 9, 2022, security forces arrested workers’ rights activist Kamyar Fakoor at his house and transferred him to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Thursday, June 9, 2022, workers’ rights activist Kamyar Fakoor was arrested at his house. During the arrest, the agents searched Fakoor’s house.

The reason for this arrest and his whereabouts are unknown so far.

On March 7, 2021, along with two other workers’ rights activists, Kamyar Fakoor was arrested during a protest of teachers and education retirees in front of the building of the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare. Ten days later, Fakoor was released from Evin Prison on bail until the end of his legal proceedings. In November of 2021, Branch 26 of the Tehran revolutionary court, headed by judge Mahmood Haj Moradi, sentenced Kamyar Fakoor to eight months in prison, 50 lashes and a fine of 15 million tomans on the charges of “propaganda against the regime, and spreading lies to disturb public opinions and public order”.

Four Inmates Executed in Ardabil, Ilam and Birjand

Posted on by A MN
Executions, News
ardabil prison, Birjand Prison, Hojjat Asiabani, Ilam prison, Mohammad-Reza Narroi Ghazagh, Sajjad Takroo

On Wednesday, June 8, 2022, two inmates who were convicted of murder were executed in Ardabil Prison. On the same day, two other inmates, one in Birjand and the other in Ilam were executed.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Wednesday, June 8, 2022, two inmates identified as Hojjat Asiabani and Sajjad Takroo, who were convicted of murder, was executed in Ardabil Prison.

Iran Human Rights Organization also reported the execution of an inmate identified as Sattar Arghandeh in Ilam prison, which was convicted of murder.

Lastly, Haal Vsh News reported the execution of an inmate identified as Mohammad-Reza Narroi Ghazagh, a resident of Zahedan, in Birjand Prison. In 2018, he was arrested for drug smuggling and sentenced to death. Reportedly, this prisoner was executed without informing his family and granting the last family visitation.

None of these executions has been reported by official sources and media outlets inside Iran so far. 

The most recent report from the Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) states that between January 1 of 2021 and December 20 of 2021, at least 299 citizens, including four juvenile offenders, were executed. In addition, 85 citizens were sentenced to death in this period. 

As the report points out, Iran’s judicial authorities do not publicly announce over 88% of executions. These unreported executions are known as “secret executions” by human rights organizations.

 

Azerbaijani Turk Activist Jafar Esmailzadeh Arrested in Tabriz

Posted on by A MN
Ethnic Minorities, News
Jafar Esmailzadeh, Milad Esmailzadeh, Tabriz

On Tuesday, June 7, 2022, security forces arrested Azerbaijani Turk activist Jafar Esmailzadeh at his house in Tabriz. The agents confiscated some of his personal belongings.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Tuesday, June 7, 2022,  activist Jafar Esmailzadeh was arrested in Tabriz.

The reason for Esmailzadeh’s arrest and his whereabouts are unknown so far.

On prior occasions, Esmailzadeh faced other arrests and convictions. On May 29, 2019, he and his son, Milad Esmailzadeh were arrested and later released on bail of 50 million tomans after five days. Subsequently, branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Tabriz sentenced Esmailzadeh to six months in prison. This verdict was upheld on appeal.

On June 7, 2020, Esmailzadeh was imprisoned after an appearance at the Judgment Enforcement Unit for sentencing and was released after serving out his sentence.

Maisam Kazemi Sentenced to 22 Months by the Court of Appeal

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Behbahan prison, Khuzestan province, Maisam Kazemi

The Court of Appeal of Khuzestan Province upheld the sentence against Meysam Kazemi, a resident of Behbahan City. Initially, he was sentenced by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Bandar Mahshahr to 22 months in prison. Applying article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, one year and three months imprisonment is enforceable.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the Court of Appeal of Khuzestan Province upheld the 22-month sentence against Maisam Kazemi.

According to the verdict issued by Branch 16 of the Khuzestan Court of Appeal, Kazemi was sentenced to 22 months in prison on the charges of “propaganda against the regime in favor of anti-regime groups and offensive statements against Iran’s Supreme Leader”. Seven and a half months of this prison term have been suspended.

The court session was held on February 14, 2022.

On Saturday, December 4, 2021, Maisam Kazemi was arrested and transferred to Behbahan Prison after appearing at Branch 4 of the Public and Revolutionary Court, where he was accused of “circulating social media posts about the individuals arrested after Behbahan’s protest on July 16, 2020”.

On January 9, 2022, the Behbahan Public and Revolutionary Court indicted Kazemi for “propaganda against the regime in favor of anti-regime groups and offensive statements against Iran’s Supreme Leader”. On February 2, 2022, he was released on a 600 million tomans bail.

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Azerbaijani Turk Activist Abbas Lesani Sentenced to Eight Years

Posted on by A MN
Ethnic Minorities, Freedom of Expression, News
Abbas Lesani, Azerbaijani Turk activist, babak fort, Tabriz

In a retrial, Branch 1 of Iran’s Supreme Court sentenced Azerbaijani Turk activist Abbas Lesani to eight years in prison and two years of living in exile in Yazd County.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Azerbaijani Turk activist Abbas Lesani was sentenced to eight years imprisonment and two years compulsory residence in Yazd. He has been convicted on the charge of “creating and running groups with the purpose of disrupting national security.”  Lesani was later exonerated of the charge of “acting against national security” for which he had been initially sentenced to five years in prison.

Lessani has been held in Ardabil Prison since January 2019. In two separate cases, he has been sentenced to ten years and ten months combined.

Lesani had suffered from medical issues and requires further treatment outside of the prison, which he was denied.

On January 15, 2019, Abbas Lessani was summoned by Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court in Tabriz and was arrested and transferred to Ardabil Prison.

The Ardabil Revolutionary Court sentenced Lesani to eight years imprisonment and 2 years exile in Yazd City on a charge of “creating a group with the purpose of disrupting national security”.

The verdict was increased to 15 years imprisonment and two years exile on appeal. In July 2020, his appeal was dismissed. Under Article 134, a maximum sentence of 10 years is enforceable. 

In May 2019, in another legal case, Branch 26 of the Court of appeal in Eastern Azerbaijan sentenced Lessani to ten months in prison on a charge of “propaganda against the regime in favor of opposition political groups”.

Abbas Lessani has faced other arrests and convictions due to his civil activities. On July 2, 2018, together with three residents of Ardabil, he was arrested by the intelligence agents, prior to holding an annual gathering in Babak Fort (a gathering to celebrate the Babak Khorramdin’s birthday).

 

Azerbaijani Turk Activist Akbar Abolzadeh Arrested in Ahar

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Akbar Abolzadeh, Azerbaijani Turk activists

On Tuesday, June 7, 2022, Azerbaijani Turk Activist Akbar Abolzadeh was arrested by security forces in Ahar City and transferred to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Tuesday, June 7, 2022, Security forces arrested Azerbaijani Turk Activist Akbar Abolzadeh in Ahar City, East Azerbaijan Province.

The reason for this arrest, his whereabouts and the charges are unknown so far.

 

Teacher Union Activist Jabbar Doosti Arrested in Mariwan

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Jabbar Doosti, Mariwan, Teacher union activist

On Tuesday, June 7, 2022, security forces arrested teacher union activist Jabbar Doosti at his house in Mariwan and transferred him to an unidentified location. During the arrest, the agents searched his house and confiscated some of his personal belongings, including his laptop and cell phone.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, on Tuesday, June 7, 2022, teacher union activist Jabbar Doosti was arrested by security forces at his house in Mariwan.

The reason for his arrest and the charges are unknown so far.

In recent months, teachers have organized nationwide rallies all across the country. In return, security and judicial authorities have repeatedly harassed, arrested and convicted teacher union activists.

Ronak Rezai Arrested and Taken to Sepidar Prison in Ahvaz

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
ahvaz, Arash Ghaleh-Golab, Khuzestan province, Metropol building collapse, Mohammad Soveylat, Ronak Rezai, Sepidar Prison, Shadegan

Security forces arrested Ronak Rezai, a resident of Abadan and transferred her to Sepidar Prison in Ahvaz. Her arrest is related to the recent protests following Abadan’s Metropol building collapse.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Ronak Rezai was arrested in Abadan and jailed in Sepidar Prison in Ahvaz.

The reason for the arrest and the charges are unknown so far.

In recent days,  a number of citizens were arrested during the protests. HRANA has earlier reported the arrest of the journalist and poet Arash Ghaleh-Golab in Abadan and Mohammad Soveylat, age 22, in Shadegan, in Khuzestan Province.

On Monday afternoon, May 23, 2022, a 10-story building which was known as Metropol collapsed in the city of Abadan in Khuzestan Province. Over 30 individuals were killed, injured or trapped in the rubble. Following the collapse, hundreds of citizens in Abadan and several other cities demonstrated against the government and its failure to impose safety standards on the construction which led to the disaster.

Teacher Union Activists Shaaban Mohammadi and Masoud Nikkhah Transferred from Sanandaj to Evin Prison in Tehran

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Eskandar Lotfi, Masoud Nikkhah, Shaaban Mohammadi

On Saturday, June 4, 2022, two detained teacher union activists, Shaaban Mohammadi and Masoud Nikkhah were transferred from a detention center in Sanandaj to Evin Prison in Tehran. These inmates had been arrested on May 1, 2022, with another teacher Eskandar Lotfi. Shaaban Mohammadi was released on that day but arrested again later on May 11, 2022.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Saturday evening, June 4, 2022, in a phone call, two detained teacher union activists, Shaaban Mohammadi and Masoud Nikkhah informed their families about their relocation from Sanandaj to Evin Prison in Tehran.

According to an informed source, during the call, security agents interrupted and cut the phone connection so that the Ward in which they are held is not revealed, as it may reveal the institution responsible. 

On Sunday, May 1, 2022, security forces arrested Masoud Nikkhah and Eskandar Lotfi in Sanandaj. They went on hunger strike right after the arrest. On May 11, 2022, Masoud Nikkhah was released on bond but one day after he was arrested again.

Three weeks ago, in a report, a state-controlled TV channel tried to connect the recent detention of two French citizens, Cécile Kohler and her husband, to nationwide teachers’ protests and these teachers’ activists. In response, in a statement, the Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association condemned these attempts to make such connections and allegations. 

On Sunday, May 1, in response to a call by the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association, the retired and active teachers in 45 cities assembled in front of the building of the Ministry of Education. In Mariwan and Bushehr, these protests were attacked and several protestors were arrested.