Author: A MN

Political Prisoners of Urmia Prison Shaker Behrouz and Nayeb Askari Go on Hunger Strike

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Hunger Strike, Nayeb Askari, Shaker Behrouz

On Thursday, March 31, two political prisoners Shaker Behrouz and Nayeb Askari went on hunger strike in Urmia Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, On Thursday, March 31, political prisoner Shaker Behrouz went on hunger strike to protest his relocation to Ward 2 of Urmia Prison where the violent crime offenders were held. Another political prisoner of Urmia prison Nayeb Askari also went on hunger strike after he was sent to the quarantine section.

Earlier, on August 26, 2021, despite the prison doctor’s recommendation for hospitalization, prison officials refused to send Nayeb Askari to a hospital outside the prison. In protest, he went on hunger strike, which ended after a few days.

Askari was arrested by IRGC intelligence agents in Urmia in April and transferred to IRGC detention centres. He was eventually transferred from the IRGC Intelligence Detention Center to the city prison in June, after completing the interrogation process. Askari has been charged with “collaborating with an opposition party”.

On July 12, 2021, a new case was opened against him following the complaint of the head of Urmia Prison. For this case, he was sentenced to three months more imprisonment and 50 lashes for the charge of “Disrupting prison order”.

On Tuesday, October 5, 2021, political prisoner Shaker Behrouz was sentenced to death despite a strong alibi pointing to his innocence.

The indictment alleges that Behrouz murdered a member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

According to an informed source, security agents threatened the victim’s family, who was an IRGC member, to cut their allowance from the Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs, if they refused to accuse Behrouz.

Another informed source close to the victim’s family also said that the family does not believe he is guilty and ready to testify to his innocence.

Twelve eye-witnesses signed a statement expressing their readiness to testify that Mr. Behrouz was in his shop when the crime was committed. Despite all the above, the court convicted the defendant without the presence of the family as accusers and hearing of eye-witnesses.

 

Several Alleged Offenders Humiliated by Police through Shame-Parading in the Streets of Kermanshah

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
Kermanshah, Shame-Parading

According to a video circulated on social media, the police paraded several detainees through the streets of Kermanshah city for humiliating and public shaming. In recent years, Iran’s law enforcement officers have occasionally used shame parading as a punishment tool against both suspected and convicted offenders. Shame Parading is a  blatant violation of both domestic laws, human rights treaties and human dignity.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, a video circulated on social media showed that the police used shame parading of several alleged criminals in Kermanshah city.

Calling the detainees “thugs and offenders of recent crimes in the city”, the police officials stated that the shame parades had been authorized by the order of judicial authorities. 

  

Four Inmates Executed in Arak Prison

Posted on by A MN
Executions, News
Ahmad Nouri, Arak prison, Execution, Feizollah Nourollahi, Hamid Goodarzian, Mohammad Najari

On Sunday morning, March 27, 2022, four inmates convicted previously of drug-related crimes were executed in Arak Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Sunday morning, March 27, 2022, four inmates of Arak Prison identified as Feizollah Nourollahi, Ahmad Nouri, Hamid Goodarzian and Mohammad Najari were executed.

All the executed inmates had been convicted of drug-related crimes.

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.

Political Prisoner Kasra Bani-Amerian Denied Adequate Medical Care in Evin Prison

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, Kasra Bani-Amerian

Political Prisoner Kasra Bani–Amerian is currently serving his sentence in Evin Prison. He suffers from an immune-system disease for which he needs medicine uninterruptedly to maintain a normal level of immunity. Despite the vital need, Evin Prison officials do not provide access to the medicine that he needs.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, political prisoner Kasra Bani–Amerian was denied adequate medical care and medicine in Evin Prison.

According to an informed source, earlier, he contracted leukemia (blood cancer) for which he had been under chemotherapy. Currently, he still suffers from the symptoms of cancer. He also needs orthopaedics and physiotherapy for the damage to his ankles. Nonetheless, the prison officials denied him the special medical shoes sent by his family.

In January of 2018, the intelligence agents arrested Mr. Bani-Amerian along with Saeed Samimi and Saeed Asghari and detained them in Ward 209 of Evin prison. After a while, Bani-Amerian was released on bail amount of 500 million tomans until the end of the legal proceedings.

In 2019, Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced him to 5 years on the charge of “collaboration with anti-regime groups” and 5 years in prison on the charge of “assembly and collusion to act against national security.” This verdict was upheld on appeal by Branch 36 of the Court of Appeals. Based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code as well as the “Punishment Reduction Law”, two to six years imprisonment is enforceable for him.

On November 11, 2020, Bani–Amerian was arrested in Saqqez County and sent to Evin prison in Tehran for his sentencing.

Kasra Bani–Amerian, age 25, is an economics graduate student and a resident of Saqqez city in Kermanshah Province.

 

 

Yousef Amini Sentenced to Two Years in Prison

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Oshnavieh, Yousef Amini

The Revolutionary Court of Oshnavieh sentenced Yousef Amini to two years imprisonment.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, Yousef Amini, a resident of Oshnavieh was sentenced to two years in prison. He had been charged with “collaboration with political opposition parties.”

On Sunday, March 27, 2022, the verdict was issued by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Oshnavieh headed by Judge Rezai. The court session was held on February 26, 2022.

On January 24, 2022, the security forces arrested and transferred Mr. Amini to a detention center in Oshnavieh.

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Political Prisoner Soheila Hejab Goes on Hunger Strike

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Correctional Center of Kermanshah, Gharchak prison, Hunger Strike, Soheila Hejab

In an open letter, political prisoner Soheila Hejab announced that she has gone on hunger strike following being beaten by prison guards and having the right to family visitation taken away. She is currently serving her sentence in the Correctional Center of Kermanshah.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Soheila Hejab went on hunger strike in the Correctional Center of Kermanshah.

In an open letter, Hejab mentioned the reasons for going on hunger strike. She said the fact that the prison officials did not allow her to go on furlough and receive medical care made her go on strike, “I have no choice but to go on hunger strike once again,” she wrote.

According to an informed source close to Ms. Hejab, on Monday, March 28, prison guards beat her and stopped her from visiting her family while they were waiting for her in the visiting room.

Hejab was arrested by security forces on June 1, 2019, and subsequently released from Evin Prison in Tehran on a bail of 3 billion tomans on March 14, 2020.

Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court sentenced her to 18 years in prison on charges of “propaganda against the regime”, “illegal assembly”, “incitement of public opinions to riot” and “organizing unlawful political groups”.

On May 23, 2020, the intelligence unit of the Revolutionary Guards arrested and transferred Ms. Hejab to Gharchak Prison in Varamin City to serve her sentence. She was then transferred to Sanandaj Prison and then, on January 7, to the Correctional Center of Kermanshah City.

Azerbaijani Turk Activist Yousef Salahshour Sentenced to One Year in Prison

Posted on by A MN
Ethnic Minorities, News
Azerbaijani Turk activist, Yousef Salahshour

Branch 3 of the Revolutionary Court of Tabriz sentenced Azerbaijani Turk Activist Yousef Salahshour to one year in prison, two years ban from leaving the country and two years prohibition of social and political activities on social media.  

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Azerbaijani Turk Activist Yousef Salahshour was sentenced to one year in prison and additional punishments.

 Salahshour’s lawyer, Asghar Mohammadi was informed about the verdict.

Recently Branch 36 of the Court of Appeals had dropped the second charge in this case, of which he had been sentenced to 37 lashes and a fine by Branch 111 of the Criminal Court.

On July 25 of 2021, Yousef Salahshour was arrested by intelligence agents and transferred to the detention center of the Ministry of Intelligence in Tabriz. On August 11, in a phone call, Salahshouri informed his family that he had been transferred to Tabriz Prison. He was released on bail on August 14. Then on October 3,  the Revolutionary Court of Tabriz held the first court session.

On July 24, a number of citizens in Tabriz marched and protested in support of the widespread Khuzestan uprising against water shortages and government mismanagement. During the protests, a number of these citizens, including Mr. Salahshour were arrested.

Two Defendants Sentenced to Public Executions in Isfahan

Posted on by A MN
Executions, News
Isfahan, Public executions

Recently, the Criminal and Revolutionary Court of Isfahan sentenced two citizens to public executions for murdering a police officer.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Tabnak News Agency, two citizens identified with their initials, as Mohammad Q, age 38, and Sadegh M, age 25, were sentenced to public execution in Isfahan.

Confirming that this verdict has been issued by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Isfahan as well as the Criminal Court of this province, Fooladshahr’s Chief Justice, Mashoudifar stated: “these citizens are accused of killing a police officer, Ehsan Nasiri, during a fight.”

Since the verdict was issued in a short time, “the verdict is appealable and the defendants or their lawyer can make an appeal to the Supreme Court of Iran,” he added.

Iran has one of the highest numbers of executioners in the world. Public executions by hanging are also commonplace since the Islamic Revolution of 1979. From March 21, 2021, to March 16, 2022, at least 333 people were executed, including 12 women and 3 juvenile offenders who were under the age of 18 at the time of committing the crime. In addition, the courts sentenced 105 defendants to the death penalty. 

Jailed Conscript Soldier Akbar Hosseini Still in Detention in Tabriz Prison  

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Akbar Hosseini, Jailed Conscript Soldier

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the conscript soldier, Mir-Akbar Hosseini is still detained in Ward 6 of Tabriz Prison.

Reportedly, he is still in detention since he is unable to afford bail.

According to an informed source, Hosseini has been accused of “propaganda against the regime” due to his activities on social media.

Mir-Akbar Hosseini has other arrests and convictions on his rap sheet due to his civil activities. On January 5, 2022, following his support of the Mothers whose children were killed by the regime during the nationwide 2019 protests, he was arrested by Branch 1 of the Military Court in East Azerbaijan Province. He was sentenced to 9 months in prison on the charge of “membership in groups hostile to the regime” and 4 months on the charge of “propaganda against the regime.” On April 19, 2021, he was released on probation. 

According to an informed source, during detention, Hosseini was held in solitary confinement and was tortured to make confessions.

  

British-American National Morad Tahbaz on Eight Day of Hunger Strike   

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Morad Tahbaz

British-American national Morad Tahbaz who has been jailed for his activities as an environmentalist is still on a hunger strike after eight days. Earlier, his family was informed that he had been sent to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Sunday, March 27, 2022, after eight days, the detained British-American national is still on hunger strike.

Mr Tahbaz was released from Evin Prison on furlough on March 16, 2022. According to his family, the Iranian regime made a deal to allow him to go back to the U.K. along with Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori. Similarly, on March 16, 2022, British Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss was optimistic that “Morad Tahbaz has also been released from prison on furlough, as a result of tenacious and creative British diplomacy.” Nonetheless, two days later, while Mr. Tahbaz was on furlough, the security forces arrested and sent him back to Evin prison.

Morad Tahbaz has been in prison since 2018. Along with seven other defendants of a legal case known as the case of environmentalists, he was convicted by Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court. The court sentenced Morad Tahbaz and Niloofar Bayani each to 10 years in prison, Taher Ghadirian and Houman Jokar each to 8 years, Amir-Hossein Khaleghi, Sam Rajabi and Sepideh Kashani each to 6 years, and Aborlreza Koohpayeh to 4 years in prison. Morad Tahbaz was charged with “collaboration and receiving money from the US government.”