Ahad Moloodi and Hossein Khelyani Sentenced to Imprisonment by the Revolutionary Court of Naqadeh

Recently, the Revolutionary Court of Naqadeh sentenced Ahad Moloodi and Hossein Khelyani to five months in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa News Outlet, Ahad Moloodi and Hossein Khelyani, the residents of two villages in Naqadeh County located in West Azerbaijan Province were sentenced to five months imprisonment.

In this report, an informed source stated that the citizens have been charged with “propaganda against the regime in favor of an anti-regime political party.”

On January 4, 2022, these individuals were arrested by security forces and released on bail six days later from a detention center in Naqdeh.

Political Prisoner Zahra Safai Denied Urgent Medical Treatment by Prison Officials

On Tuesday, April 12, 2022, despite prior agreement and a set appointment, prison officials denied dispatching the political prisoner Zahra Safai to a hospital. The denial was under the pretext of her disagreement with transfer with handcuff and foot cuffs. According to the State Prisons and Security and Corrective Measures Organization’s rules, transferring the prisoners with foot cuffs except for prisoners of violent crimes is forbidden.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, through the obstruction of prison officials, political prisoner Zahra Safai was denied medical treatment.

Mrs Safai suffers from heart disease and has had angiography surgery in the past. Since September of last year, she has been dispatched several times to a hospital outside the prison. This time, the prison officials denied her access to urgent medical care.

On February 24, 2020, security forces arrested Zahra Safai and her daughter Parastoo Moeini in Tehran and transferred them to Ward 209 of Evin Prison. In April 2020, they were sent in exile to Qarchak Prison in Varamin City. On June 28, 2020, Mrs Safai was released on bail with the amount of 300 million tomans. However, on July 26 of that year, they increased the bail ten times and subsequently arrested and sent her back to Qarchak Prison when she could not provide the set bail.

In February of 2021, Branch 23 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced Mrs Safai to 5 years in prison on the charge of “assembly and collusion to act against national security”, one year on the charge of “propaganda against the regime” and two years on the charge of “offensive statements against the former and current Supreme Leader of Iran”. As an additional punishment, she was banned from leaving the country and membership in any political parties or civil groups.

Zahra Safai has also faced arrest and conviction in 2006. Further, during the 1980’s she had been imprisoned for a while. Her father, Haji Safai was a well-known businessman who was executed on the charge of “advocacy for the People’s Mujahedin Organization of Iran (the Mujahedin-e-Khalq or MEK)”.

Six Citizens Arrested by Security Forces in Oshnavieh

Last Sunday, April 10, 2022, security forces arrested six people in Oshaniveh County.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Krudpa News Outlet, six people were arrested by security forces in Oshnavieh County.

The report identifies the arrestees as Reza Eslmadoost, Saman Saroulzadeh, Diako Khalili, Ashkan Shakkak, Sanaan Rasoulzadeh and Sina Aghazadeh, all residents of Nalous City located in Oshaniveh County in West Azerbaijan Province.

Reportedly, the security forces raided these individuals’ houses without showing an arrest warrant. They transferred them to a detention center in Urmia City. Later, Sina Aghazadeh was released on bail after a few hours of interrogation.

On March 30, 2022, the above-mentioned individuals were summoned and interrogated by the Ministry of Intelligence for participating in a gathering for the celebration of Nowruz. 

100 People Arrested; 85 Businesses Closed for Breaking Ramadan Rules

Deputy Police Chief of Gilan Province announced that so far, since the beginning of the month of Ramadan, they have shut down 85 shops and arrested 100 people for breaking the mandatory fasting rules, namely serving food, eating, and drinking in public. Also, 1500 citizens have received warning notices for breaking these rules.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Mehr News Agency, Deputy Police Chief of Gilan reported the indictment of175 businesses and the arrest of 100 people for breaking the Ramadan fasting rules.

According to the Deputy Police Chief, “During this time, more than 85 businesses have been closed and 1000 individuals who were eating and drinking in public received warning from the authorities, of which 400 people were forced to sign a  commitment letter attesting to not to breaking the Ramadan rules.” 

Earlier, Mohammad-Jafar Montazeri, Prosecutor-General of the Islamic Republic of Iran in a letter asked the commander chief of police for preventive measures against those who break the rules of Ramadan and do not respect Sharia laws.

Eating and drinking during the month of Ramadan have not been explicitly criminalized in Iranian laws. Based on Article 638 of the Islamic Penal Code, committing an act that the Islamic jurisprudence considers Haram (forbidden) can be subject to a penalty of either ten days to two months imprisonment or flogging of up to 74 lashes.

Narges Mohammadi and Aliyeh Motallebzadeh Arrested and Sent Back to Qarchak Prison

On Tuesday, April 12, 2022, human Rights activist Narges Mohammadi and women’s rights activist Aliyeh Motallebzadeh were arrested and sent back to prison while there were on furlough. In late February, these citizens were released on medical furlough.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Tuesday, April 12, Narges Mohammadi and Aliyeh Motallebzadeh were arrested and sent back to Qarchak prison in Varamin City.

On her personal page on social media, Mrs Mohammadi informed  that she had to return to prison while she was still in recovery afopen-heart surgery recovery,

Also, Aliyeh Motallebzadeh, who was on furlough for medical treatment since February 23, 2022, returned to Qarchak prison.

Narges Mohammadi is a human rights activist and the vice president of the Defenders of Human Rights Center. Aliyeh Motallebzadeh is a photographer, women rights activist and a member of the One Million Signatures Campaign for Gender Equality as well as a campaign to protect acid attack victims. Narges Mohammadi and Aliyeh Motallebzadeh are currently serving respectively their eight and three years sentences in Qarchak prison located in Varamin City.

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Three Inmates Executed in Karaj and Isfahan

On Monday morning, April 11, 2022, an inmate convicted of murder was executed in the Central Prison of Karaj City. Also, on February 14, 2022, the execution of two inmates convicted of drug-related crimes in Dastgerd Prison has been reported.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Parsineh News, on Monday, April 11, an inmate convicted of murder was executed in the Central Prison of Karaj.

Reportedly, in 2013, the inmate was identified with the first name Golmohammad was accused and subsequently confessed to the murder of a man.

The inmate had previously confessed to the murder of a man who had harassed his daughter. 

Since the victim’s family remained unknown, the case was on hold for six years until Branch 1 of the Criminal Court of Alborz began the trial. In the trial, the defendant was found guilty and sentenced to death.

Also, Iran Human Rights reports that on February 14, 2022, two inmates convicted of drug-related crimes were executed in Dastgerd PrIson in Isfahan. These inmates have been identified as Hamid Rastegar, age 34, and Gholamreza Paki, age 45.

According to an informed source in this report, five years ago Gholamreza Paki was arrested for smuggling 100 kilos of methamphetamine and subsequently was sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court. He was married and the father of a nine-year-old child.

None of the 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.

Baha’i Citizen Saeedeh Khozuei Arrested in Tehran

Baha’i citizen Saeedeh Khozuei, a resident of Tehran, was arrested after an appearance at Branch 2 of Evin Courthouse.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Monday, April 11, 2022, Bahai’ citizen Saeedeh Khozuei was arrested following the appearance at Evin Courthouse.

It was the second time in recent days that this individual had been summoned by Evin Courthouse.

Saeedeh Khozuei is the mother of Araslan Yadani who was arrested by security forces in Tehran on September 1, 2021, and transferred to a detention center in Evin Prison. On September 30, 2021, security forces searched their house and confiscated some of Mr. Yazdani’s belongings including his laptop, other electronic devices and documents. Subsequently, Arsalan Yazdani was released on bail on October 17, 2021.

Such restrictions on the freedom to practice religion are a breach of 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.

Amir Hossein Pour-Effatian Arrested By Security Forces in Rasht City

On Saturday, April 9, 2022, security forces arrested Amir Hossein Pour-Effatian in Rasht City. The agents searched his house and confiscated some of his personal belongings including his computer hard drive, laptop and some books.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Amir Hossein Pour-Effatian, age 25, a resident of Rasht, was arrested by security forces.

Since the arrest, Pour-Effatian was allowed once to have a short call to his family.

According to an informed source, earlier he had been summoned through a phone call to be at the Ministry of Intelligence office for giving an explanation regarding the charges of “membership in a political opposition party, illegal border crossing and propaganda against the regime.”

22 Citizens Sentenced to Total of 160 Years and 1480 lashes for Protesting against Water Transfer Project

Recently, Branch 101 of the Criminal Court of Boroujen County sentenced 22 citizens to a total of 160 years imprisonment, 1480 lashes and fines for a protest that took place seven years ago against an under-construction water transfer project channeling water from Sabzkuh to Boroujen.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, in Boroujen County, 22 citizens were sentenced to imprisonment and flogging for a peaceful protest against a water transfer project.

Twenty citizens were sentenced each to one year and 74 lashes on the charge of “disturbing public order” and 7 years in prison on the charge of “destruction of public property”. Two other citizens were sentenced each to a fine in the amount of 2 million tomans as an alternative to three months imprisonment. Based on these verdicts, the prison sentences 10 citizens to be suspended for two years.

An informed source told HRANA that: “In 2015, these citizens protested against the digging of a water transfer tunnel, at the headspring Alugareh and the construction site by holding symbolic mourning ceremonies. The project did not have permits from the Department of Environment. The protestors rejected all accusations from the beginning” 

Nonetheless, in 2020, the Public and Revolutionary Court of Boroujen found these citizens guilty.

Three Christian Converts Sentenced to Total of 15 Years in Prison

Recently, the Revolutionary Court of Rasht City sentenced three Christian Converts, Ahmad Sarparast, Ayoub Pourrezazadeh and Morteza Hajeb Mashhood-Kari each to 5 years imprisonment and a fine of 18 million tomans.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the Revolutionary Court of Rasht notified lawyer Iman Soleimani about the verdict against his clients. According to this verdict, Ahmad Sarparast, Ayoub Pourrezazadeh and Morteza Hajeb Mashhood-Kari have been sentenced to five years imprisonment on the charges of “holding home church services, propaganda against the regime, association with Zionism and Branhamist sect”. They have also been fined in the amount of 18 million tomans.

In an interview with HRANA, attorney Iman Soleimani said, “This trial did not go through a legal process as the judge was affected by judicial officers’ efforts to ensure the conviction, unlike the fact that the defendants did not commit any crimes punishable under Article 500 of the Islamic Penal Code. Rather, the defendant exercised their rights to freedom of opinion. The conviction stands at odds with the prohibition of inquisition and the principle of resolution of ambiguities in favor of defendants. These individuals would not have been  convicted in a fair trial.”

On September 5, 2021, these three Christian converts were arrested by security forces in Rasht. Thirteen days later, in a phone call to their families, Ahmad Sarparast and Morteza Hajeb Mashhood-Kari mentioned their relocation to Lakan Prison. On September 22, 2021, they were released on bail of 400 million tomans until the end of legal proceedings. One day later, Ayoub Pourrezazadeh was also released on bail of the same amount.

The prosecution of Christian converts stands in blatant violation of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which state that every individual has the right to freedom of religion and belief and freedom to express it openly or secretly.