Author: A MN

Iranian-American Citizen Emad Sharghi and Political Prisoner Reza Ghalandari Contract COVID-19 in Evin Prison

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Bahareh Amidi, Coronavirus, COVID, covid-19, Emad Sharghi, Reza Ghalandari, Salavati

Imprisoned Iranian-American citizen Emad Sharghi and political prisoner Reza Ghalandari tested positive for COVID-19 in Evin Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Sharghi’s family has previously expressed concerns about his health in case he contracts COVID-19, as he suffers from high blood pressure and cholesterol. He has been deprived of the COVID-19 vaccine.

In April of 2018, Sharghi was arrested by IRGC intelligence agents on the charge of espionage. After nine months in detention, he was released on bail. IRGC confiscated his passport as well as the passport of his wife, Bahareh Amidi, in order to prevent them from leaving the country.

An informed source told HRANA regarding Shargi’s arrest that “about 20 security agents— later it turned out that they were IRGC agents— raided his house in Tehran at night to arrest him and his wife. Mr. Sharghi was detained for nine months in Evin Prison awaiting his legal proceedings. Finally, he was temporarily released on bail”.

On November 30, 2020,  Tehran’s Revolutionary Court, headed by Judge Salavati, sentenced him to 10 years in prison in a trial in absentia. He was charged with “espionage and collecting gathering military intelligence.” He was not summoned to attend the trial and was denied the right to defend himself.

In January of 2021, HRANA reported his arrest at the border area of Sardasht by IRGC intelligence agents during an attempt to flee the country.

He is currently spending his sentence in Salon 9 of Ward 8 in Evin Prison.

Ghalandari, age 40, is serving his sentence in the same ward. He was sentenced five years in prison on the charge of “assembly and collusion against national security” by Tehran’s Revolutionary Court. The verdict was upheld on appeal.

Christian Convert Naser Navard Goltappeh’s Request for Retrial Rejected

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Christian convert, christian converts in iran, Naser Navard Goltappeh, Religious Minorities, religious minorities in iran

Branch 9 of the Supreme Court rejected the imprisoned Christian convert Naser Navard Goltappeh’s request for a retrial for the fourth time. He is currently serving a 10 year sentence in Evin Prison. Despite suffering from oral and dental diseases and severe visual impairment, he has been denied medical treatment in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, his lawyer, Iman Soleymani, called the Supreme Court’s decisions arbitrary and erratic. He told HRANA that “the Supreme Court issued its verdict regardless of defendant’s rights, which is in violation of citizen rights and the principle of legality of crime and punishments, the principle of innocence and Article 474 of the Criminal Procedure Code whereby different punishment in degrees for similar charges is not allowed”.

“His request has invoked the recent retrial of nine Christian converts which subsequently led to their acquittal”, he added. In November of last year, Branch 28 of the Supreme Court of Iran announced that promoting Christianity and forming a home church is neither a crime nor an act against national security.

On June 24, 2016, Naser Navard Goltappeh was arrested along with three people of Azerbaijan nationality. All four were interrogated for two months and detained in solitary confinement cells. After four months, they were released on bail of 100 million tomans. The Azerbaijani citizens returned to their country after the release.

Branch 26 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court sentenced Goltappeh to 10 years in prison on the charge of “acting against national security by organizing an illegal home church”. The verdict was upheld on appeal on November 12, 2017.

He is currently serving his sentence in Ward 8 of Evin Prison.

Despite the fact that Christians are recognized as a religious minority under Iranian law, security forces nevertheless harass and prosecute Muslims who convert to Christianity.

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.

Nine Christian Converts Acquitted on Appeal

Posted on by A MN
News, Religious Minorities
Abdolreza Ali Haghnejad, Babak Hosseinzadeh, Behnam Akhlaghi, Hossein Kadivar, Kamal Namanian, Khalil Dehghanpour, Mehdi Khatibi, Mohammad-Reza Vafadar, Shahrooz Eslam-Doost

Branch 34 of the Tehran Province Court of Appeals acquitted nine Christian converts, Abdolreza Ali HaghNejad, Behnam Akhlaghi, Shahrooz Eslam-Doost, Mehdi Khatibi, Babak Hosseinzadeh, Khalil Dehghanpour, Hossein Kadivar, Kamal Namanian and Mohammad-Reza Vafadar. Each of them had been sentenced to five years in prison by Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, following the Supreme Court of Iran’s agreement to hold a retrial, the case was sent to Branch 34 of the Tehran Province Court of Appeals. The citizens were charged with “acting against national security through holding underground church services and promoting Evangelical Christianity and Zionism.”

Their lawyers have argued that “as believers, [their] clients follow Christian faith and practices and have not done anything whatsoever against national security in preaching and explaining their faith, just as the Bible asked believers to be subject to governing authorities.”

These citizens had been sentenced to five years in prison. Branch 36 of the Tehran Province Court of Appeal upheld these verdicts in June of 2020. In November of last year, Branch 28 of the Supreme Court of Iran announced that promoting Christianity and forming a home church is neither a crime nor an act against national security. Consequently, their appeal was accepted and they were acquitted by Branch 34 of the Tehran Province Court of Appeals.

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.

Five Citizens Arrested for Circulating “Obscene Pictures” On the Internet

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
free speech, Gilan, obscene pictures

The Deputy Chief of Police of Gilan announced that they have arrested five people for allegedly circulating so-called “obscene pictures” on the Internet. The regime’s police and judicial authorities have been criticized for violating privacy rights of citizens and interfering with individual affairs.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, the detained people have been delivered to judicial authorities pending legal proceedings.

Imposing a certain lifestyle on citizens stands in blatant violation of Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which entitles everyone the right to life, liberty and security of person. Additionally, Article 12 of this declaration affirms, “One shall not be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honor and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks”.

Detention of Hossein Ronaghi Maleki Confirmed After Three Days Missing

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News

On February 26, three days after civil activist Hossein Ronaghi Maleki went missing, his lawyers informed the family that he was arbitrarily detained by security forces and a new legal case has been opened against him.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on February 23, Maleki’s family announced that his son was missing until last Saturday, when their lawyers confirmed he had been abducted and detained by security forces.

Following his lawyer’s inquiry with judicial authorities in Evin Courthouse, it was revealed that a new legal case has been opened against him in Branch 2 of the Prosecutor Office, headed by Mahmood Haj-Moradi.

Confirming this news, one of his lawyers told HRANA that “they did not allow Hossein’s lawyers to access to the documents of this case”.

A source close to Ronaghi told HRANA that the Ministry of Intelligence’s agents had abducted him. One day after he went missing, intelligence agents searched his house using a key they had confiscated from him. During his detention, they did not allow him to contact his family to inform them about his arrest and whereabouts.

The charges against him are still unknown at the time of writing.

Ronaghi suffers from severe kidney problems. During his last incarceration, this granted him an imprisonment intolerance certificate, raising concerns about his health condition.

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

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Detained Civil Activist Abbas Vahedian Shahroudi Hospitalized

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Abbas Vahedian Shahroudi, Khatam Publishing, Mashhad, prisoner hospitalized

On February 26, educator and civil activist Abbas Vahedian Shahroudi was hospitalized in critical condition in Mashhad City. However, on Monday, while he was in needed treatment, he was forcefully sent back to a detention centre by security forces. He has been held in a solitary confinement cell for six months in a detention centre in Mashhad.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights, a source close to his family reported that he was dispatched to a hospital following symptoms such as poisoning, shortness of breath and low heart rate leading to partial consciousness. Security forces did not allow visitation or let him inform his family. Monday, he was sent back to his cell despite uncompleted treatment.

Earlier, HRANA reported his poor health condition in a solitary confinement cell in a detention center at the disposal of the Ministry of Intelligence.

On September 1 of this year, intelligence agents arrested Vahedian in Rezvanshahr County. Two days later, in a phone call to his family, he informed them that a news case had been opened against him on a charge of “acting against national security”. Meanwhile, his daughter’s home in Mashhad was searched by security forces and some personal belongings were confiscated.

Vahedian has previously been arrested and convicted for his writings and civil activities. In one case, he was arrested in Mashhad in October 2018 and later charged by Branch 903 of the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad with “acting against national security”, and “attempting to overthrow the regime”. He was released on bail of 350 million tomans from Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad in December 2018.

Shortly after his interrogation, in August 2019, Vahedian was again arrested and transferred to Vakilabad Prison. He was one of the 14 signatories of a letter of request for the resignation of Ayatollah Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran. He was released on bail from Vakilabad Prison in July 2020.

Vahedian is an author of several books including “The Return of Genghis Khan”, published by Khatam Publishing in Mashhad.

Eight Inmates Executed in Various Prisons

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Executions, News
Ali Heydar Dehghani, executions, Farshad Farzi, Hamed Azizi, Jasem Ghanbari, Mehran Jafari

On February 27, two inmates convicted for drug-related crimes and murder were executed in Jiroft and Khorramabad prisons, respectively. Wednesday, an inmate convicted for murder was executed in Ilam Central Prison and five inmates convicted for murder were executed in Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj City.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, last Wednesday and Sunday, eight inmates were executed in various prisons.

Kurdpa reported that an inmate identified as Farshad Farzi, age 30, who was convicted for murder eight years ago was executed in Ilam Central Prison.

Iran Human Rights Organization reported that on Wednesday, in Rajai Shahr prison, prison officials carried out the execution of five inmates. Two of these inmates have been identified as Hamed Azizi and Mehran Jafari.

According to an informed source, “Hamed Azizi had killed someone in a fight over a woman. Mehran Jafari had killed his brother-in-law. Despite [Jafari] being a father of two children, the victim’s family insisted on his execution”.

This organization also reported that an inmate identified as Ali Heydar Dehghani, age 40, was executed in Korramabad Prison.

In a report by the Baloch Activists Campaign, on February 27, an inmate identified as Jasem Ghanbari was executed in Jiroft Prison. Three years ago, he was arrested for a drug-related crime and since then had been jailed. He is married and the father of two children.

Inmate on Death Row Dies by Suicide in Lakan Prison

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News, Prisoners
Hossein Besazandi, prisoner suicide, Seyyed Ali Rezai, suicide

On February 23, an inmate on death row in Lakan Prison, Rasht City, died by suicide after a fight with his fellow inmate.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the inmate cut the artery in his wrist and lost his life.

HRANA has identified the inmate as Seyyed Ali Rezai, age 18, a resident of Someh-Sara City.

An informed source told HRANA: “Yesterday, at 4 pm, this inmate had a quarrel with his fellow inmate, Hossein Besazandi, age 20, who also has been convicted for murder and held in Ward 8 of Lakan Prison. In this fight, Hossein Besazandi was injured by a sharp object and lost consciousness due to wounds. After that, Ali Rezai, who thought he was dead, committed suicide.”

Political Prisoner Peyman Gholami Hospitalized Due to COVID-19 Acute Respiratory Distress

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News, Prisoners
Coronavirus, covid-19, Payam Shakiba, Peyman Gholami, Reza Mazaheri, Saeed Samimi, Seyed Hossein Taghavi

Political prisoner Peyman Gholami was dispatched from Evin Prison to a hospital in Tehran due to acute respiratory distress from COVID-19. Because of severe hypoxia, he has been transferred to the ICU.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Gholami has been hospitalized in the ICU of the hospital in Tehran.

According to an informed source, many inmates housed in Salon 10, Ward 8 of Evin Prison, including Saeed Samimi and Payam Shakiba, have shown COVID-19 related symptoms such as headache, dizziness and cough. Nonetheless, they have not been allowed to test. From them, Reza Mazaheri has tested positive, but has been denied of any medical treatment.

Amid the nationwide 2019–2020 Iranian protests, Gholami was arrested and sentenced by Branch 24 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court to five years in prison on the charge of “assembly and collusion against the national security.”

In November of 2019, an unprecedented increase in fuel prices sparked a wave of protests in dozens of cities across the country. The spokesperson of the Parliamentary National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, Seyed Hossein Taghavi, announced that 7000 people were arrested during these protests. According to reports of human rights organizations, hundreds were killed by regime forces.

Political Prisoner Soheila Hejab Hospitalized for COVID-19

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News, Prisoners
Coronavirus, COVID, covid-19, Soheila Hejab

On February 24, imprisoned political prisoner Soheila Hejab was hospitalized outside of prison due to her critical health condition.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Hejab, who is imprisoned in the women’s ward of the Correctional Center of Kermanshah City was dispatched to a hospital due to her critical health condition.

An informed source told HRANA that she fainted in a cell and her fellow inmates carried her to prison healthcare. Later, her fellow inmates were told that she has been hospitalized in a hospital outside the prison. The lack of info about her latest condition has increased her family’s concerns.

Recently, she has contracted COVID-19 along with 13 other inmates in her ward. Despite the requirement for treatment, prison healthcare had been closed due to absence of physicians.

Hejab was arrested by security forces on June 1, 2019, and then 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 her 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.