Author: A MN

Political Prisoner Shakila Monfared Goes on Hunger Strike in Qarchak Prison

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Arsham Rezaei, Iman Afshari, Mohammad Abolhassani, Shakila Monfared

On March 3, political prisoner Shakila Monfared went on a hunger strike in protest against the housing of political prisoners in the same ward as prisoners of violent crime, the irresponsibility of prison officials towards her safety and the recent threat from one of her fellow inmates.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, an informed source told HRANA that one of the prisoners of violent crimes threatened her with a sharpened piece of a can and intended to injure her.

In violation of prison rules, many political prisoners are housed in the same ward as prisoners of violent crimes, which make them subject to threats, battery and even murder.

On August 31, 2020, security forces arrested Monfared while she was leaving her home. They transferred her to a detention centre at the disposal of the IRGC in Tehran. Reportedly, they did not have a warrant for this arrest.

On September 9 of last year she was relocated to the quarantine section of the women’s ward of Evin Prison. On September 14, she was released on a bail of 400 million tomans until the end of legal proceedings.

In January of this year, the joint court trial of Shakila Monfared, Arsham Rezaei, and Mohammad Abolhassani was held in Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari. 27 year old Monfared was sentenced to 6 years in prison and 4 months of probation work in the Agricultural Jihad on charges of “propaganda activities against the system” and “insulting the sanctities of Islam”.

Monfared was granted furlough on August 23 of this year and returned to jail on September 7.

Two Citizens Arrested For Chanting Anti-Regime Slogans

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
anti regime, Bazar Reza, Razavi Khorasan, Shahriar

Iran’s Commander-in-Chief announced that two citizens have been arrested in Shahriar County in Tehran Province for chanting anti-regime slogans over a loudspeaker.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Mehr News Agency, the Commander-in-Chief stated that the citizens were “in some parts of the Shahriar City, chanting anti-regime slogans with small size loudspeakers. The police in Western Tehran began to investigate the case and subsequently, two citizens were arrested”.

According to this announcement, the police searched the house of the arrestees and confiscated some of their belongings, including flash memories, speakers, SIM cards and cell phones. The police did not reveal the identity of these citizens.

Earlier, in Bazar Reza in Mashhad, anti-regime slogans were shouted and one citizen was arrested by the IRGC Intelligence forces of Razavi Khorasan.

Kolbar Freezes to Death in Sardasht County

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
Foad Mehdi Ebrahimian, kolbar injured, Kolbar killed, kolbars, Mohammad Soor-Vardeh

On March 4, a Kolbar (cross border carrier) froze to death at a border area in Sardasht County. Last Monday, in an accident in Baneh County, a Kolbar was severely injured and lost his right foot and vision in his left eye due to a landmine explosion.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, the Kolbar who died was identified as Mohammad Soor-Vardeh, a resident of Sardasht.

Kurdpa also reported that last Monday, a landmine explosion severely injured severely another Kolbar, identified as Foad Mehdi Ebrahimian, age 24, also a resident of Sardasht.

Many poor people living in border areas work as Kolbars to make ends meet. This work is illegal and involves carrying loads on foot across national borders. Yearly, dozens of Kolbars are injured and killed from accidents, dangerous conditions, and border guard shootings.

HRANA’s annual human rights report has specifically documented cases in which military forces’ use of live ammunition against citizens has led to their injury or death. According to the 2020 report, beyond material damages— such as loss of pack animals due to road accidents, frost, or avalanche— 36 Kolbars have been shot dead, and 109 have been injured by military forces and border guards. In this year, five Kolbars lost their lives and five were injured due to freezing cold weather or falling from high.

Detained Civil Activist Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb Still on Hunger Strike

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
solitary confinement, Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb

Detained Civil Activist Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb has been on hunger strike since his arrest on February 21. Last Monday, he was sent to a solitary confinement cell in Evin Prison. Yesterday, he was transferred to the Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, yesterday, in blatant violation of prison rules, they sent him to Ward 4 of the Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary, where the prisoners of violent crimes are held.

An informed source told HRANA that his health condition is poor and so far, he has not received any medical treatment.

On February 21, security forces arrested him at his home. They searched the house and confiscated some of his personal belongings.

On June 15, 2020, Ragheb was arrested during an appearance at Branch 4 of Public and Revolutionary Court in Shahriar City to serve his nine-month sentence in the Greater Tehran Prison. On January 15, 2021, he was released from jail after serving his sentence.

However, following a complaint by the Ferdosiye City Municipality, a new legal case was opened against him by Branch 28 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”. During the trial, a piece of evidence invoked to support this charge included proof that he had signed a petition asking the Supreme Leader of Iran to step down.

Ragheb is a firefighter with 17 years of work experience who was fired from his work due to his civil activities.

Two Inmates Executed in Dastgerd and Zanjan Prisons

Posted on by A MN
Executions, News
Akbar Shahsavand, Dastgerd Prison, Morad Saleh-Beyg, Secret executions, Zanjan Prison

On the morning of March 2, an inmate convicted for drug-related crimes was executed in Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan City. On February 28, an inmate convicted for murder was executed after carrying out flogging in Zanjan Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Iran Human Rights Organization, the inmate executed in Dastgerd was identified as Akbar Shahsavand, age 36. He was convicted for drug-related crimes four years ago.

The inmate executed in Zanjan Prison was identified as Morad Saleh-Beyg, about 45 years old. He was executed after flogging. Five years ago, he was sentenced to death and 74 lashes for committing murder.

These executions have not been announced by judicial authorities or reported by media inside Iran.

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.

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Inmate Convicted for Killing a Police Agent Executed in Dezful Prison

Posted on by A MN
Executions, News
Dezful prison, executions

On March 3, an inmate convicted for killing a police agent was executed in Dezful Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Tasnim News Agency, the inmate was identified as Abbas Naderi.

The Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor of Shush City announced the execution. According to him, Naderi’s conviction was upheld by the Supreme Court of Iran.

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.

Hossein Ronaghi Maleki Released on Bail after Seven Days Detention

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Hossein Ronaghi Maleki, Hunger Strike

On  March 2, civil activist Hossein Ronaghi Maleki was released on bail from prison. On February 23, his family announced that he was missing. After three days of inquiry at Evin Courthouse, their lawyers found out that he had been abducted by security forces and detained in Evin Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on the fifth day of detention, Ronaghi’s brother, Hasan Ronaghi, announced that he was allowed to make a phone call. Hossein Ronaghi Maleki told his family that he had been on hunger strike since the arrest, which raised concerns due to his poor health condition, including  severe kidney problems.

Ronaghi has faced other arrests and convictions due to his civil activities.

In 2009, IRGC intelligence agents arrested him and detained him for ten months in Ward 2-A of Evin Prison. On October 5, 2010, he was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment by Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court. The verdict was upheld on appeal and he was sent to Ward 350 of Evin Prison. In May of 2016, he was released from jail after granting an imprisonment intolerance certificate due to his severe kidney problems.

Mostafa Abdi Denied Adequate Medical Treatment Despite Showing COVID-19 Related Respiratory Problems

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Coronavirus, covid-19, Golestan-e Haftom, Gonabadi Dervishes, Mostafa Abdi

Mostafa Abdi, an imprisoned member of a religious community known as Gonabadi Dervishes, tested positive for COVID-19 in the Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary. Despite showing serious COVID symptoms such as respiratory problems, he has not been allowed to be hospitalized outside prison or go on medical furlough.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Abdi’s father, Hasan Abdi, confirmed the news on his personal social media. According to an informed source close to the family, prisoner officials have not approved of medical furlough or dispatch to a hospital despite frequent requests and respiratory problems.

Abdi is a Gonabadi Darvish, a prisoner of conscience, and the administrator of the Dervish news site Majzooban-e-Noor.

On February 20, 2018, he was arrested during the Golestan-e Haftom Protests. These protests took place on Golestan 7th Street in a district in Tehran, which led to bloody clashes between security forces and Dervishes.

Thereafter, the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced him to 26 years and 3 months in prison, 148 lashings, a 2 year ban on both civic activities and travel, and a 2 year exile to Sistan and Baluchestan Province.

Applying Article 34 of the Islamic Penal Code, the severest punishment of seven years and six months is enforceable.

He had previously faced other arrests and convictions. In July of 2013, he was sentenced to three years in prison on the charge of “assembly and collusion against national security”. In December of 2015, he was released from jail after serving his sentence.

Around midnight on February 3, 2018, several hundred Gonabadi Dervishes gathered before the home of their spiritual leader, Noor Ali Tabandeh, in a gesture of protection against heightened security monitoring of his activities (security forces had aggressively intervened in Dervish gatherings in the same spot less than two weeks earlier). Their February 3rd demonstration — on Golestan-e Haftom street in Tehran, hence the incident’s name — would fare no better and was soon violently disbanded by Iranian police and plainclothes forces of the Revolutionary Guard’s Basij faction.

Mohammad Hossein Ahangari Released With Electronic Tag From Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
arson, Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary, Mohammad Hossein Ahangari

Mohammad Hossein Ahangari, who was arrested during nationwide protests in November 2019, was released with an electronic tag and restricted movement from the Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary. He will serve the rest of his three-year sentence outside the prison with restrictions on his movement.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Ahangari was released on bail on November 26 2019, pending legal proceedings. In November 2020, he was sentenced to three years imprisonment by Branch 101 of the Criminal Court of Eslamshahr on the charge of “an arson attack on Basij Base”. On December 8, 2020, he was jailed to serve his sentence.

UN Human Rights Experts Ask Iran Parliament to Abandon Bill Restricting Access to Global Internet

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
internet access in iran, Tarh-e-Sianat

In an open statement, United Nations human rights experts asked Iran’s Parliament to abandon the User Protection Bill (Tarh-e-Sianat), which aims to disrupt the Iranian people’s access to the global internet, including international service and social media platforms.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, UN human rights experts asked Iran’s Parliament not to enact the controversial restrictive law known as the “User Protection bill” which would “effectively isolate the country from the global Internet”.

Referring to nationwide protests that broke out in November 2019, experts express their concerns about Internet blackout and the regime’s control over private data.

“In November 2019, Government efforts to control the online space culminated in a total internet shutdown in Iran for one week during nationwide protests. At the time, UN experts raised concerns that the information blackout following the shutdown had facilitated human rights violations, including excessive use of force by security forces against protesters, resulting in the deaths of at least 324 people. Shutdowns and disruption of internet services have since continued, particularly in connection with protests”.

UN experts point out that enacting such a bill not only restricts the circulation of information but also impedes business operations and other activities, which “adversely impact sectors reliant on information technology, including science, education and medicine”.

If the bill is passed, Internet Service providers in Iran will be forced to follow strict government instructions in order to limit access and narrow the internet bandwidth.