Author: A MN

Seven Behbahani Citizens Sentenced to a Total of Five Years and Six Months In Prison

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Ali Kazemi, Bebhaban City, Ebrahim Armish, Farzad Ansarifar, Farzaneh Ansarifar, Jalal Jafari, Mahmood Dashtinia, Maryam Kazemi, Masoud Seddighnia, Mehrdad Dashinia, Mohammad Hashamdar, Mohammad Hossein Ghanavati, Morteza Vahdani, Narges Deram-Gozin, Vahb Ramin, Zeynab Alipour

The Revolutionary Court of Bandar Mahshahr issued prison sentences against seven Behbahani citizens who were arrested during the June 2020 protests in the city. Narges Deram-Gozin, Masoud Seddighnia, Ebrahim Armish, Morteza Vahdani, Zeynab Alipour, Vahb Ramin and Jalal Jafari have been sentenced to a total of 5 years and 6 months in prison. The conviction against Jafari has been suspended for 5 years.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the people mentioned above were notified of their sentence on February 19. Deram-Gozin, Seddighnia, Armish and Alipour were sentenced to 1 year on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”. Vahdani, Ramin, and Jafari were sentenced to six months for the same charge. Jafari’s conviction has been suspended for 5 years.

Earlier, in another legal case, Farzaneh Ansarifar, who was also indicted in this case, was sentenced to four years and six months in prison. Two others Behbahan citizens, Ali and Maryam Kazemi, have also been sentenced to a combined two years in prison.

On July 16, 2020, Behbahan’s citizens protested in Banke Melli Square in Behbahan against “poor economic conditions” and “death sentences against those who were arrested during the protest of November 2019”. Many people were arrested during the protests or thereafter at their homes.

During the protest of November 2019 in Behbahan city, security forces used live ammunition against protestors which led to the death of several protestors including Mehrdad Dashinia, Mahmood Dashtinia, Farzad Ansarifar, Mohammad-Hossein Ghanavati and Mohammad Hashamdar.

Baha’i Citizen Saba Sefidi Released from Evin Prison

Posted on by A MN
News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i, religious freedom, religious minorities in iran, Saba Sefidi

On February 23, Baha’i citizen Saba Sefidi, a resident of Tehran, was released on temporary bail pending legal proceedings.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Sefidi was released on a bail of 1.5 billion tomans.

On January 11, she was arrested after an appearance at Branch 2 of Evin Courthouse in Tehran City. The reason for her arrest and the charges against her are still unknown.

Regarding the prosecution and the harassment of Baha’i people by Iran’s regime, HRA Senior Advocacy Coordinator Skylar Thompson stated that HRA strongly condemned these discriminatory acts against religious minorities in Iran. She asked that the regime take action to ensure Iranian people, and particularly Baha’i citizens, are entitled to the freedom of religion and can perform religious acts freely.

According to unofficial sources, it is estimated that more than 300,000 Baha’is live in Iran, but the Iranian constitution recognizes only Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism. Because their faith is not considered legitimate by authorities, the rights of Baha’is in Iran have been systematically violated for years.

The deprivation of the freedom to practice their religion is 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.

Farzaneh Ansarifar Sentenced to 4 Years and 6 Months In Prison

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Amin Ansarifar, Arman Ansarifar, Farzad Ansarifar, Farzaneh Ansarifar, Mahmood Dashtinia, Mehrdad Dashinia, Mohammad Hashamdar, Mohammad Hossein Ghanavati

Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Bandar Mahshahr sentenced Farzaneh Ansarifar to 4 years and 6 months in prison. Her brother, Farzad, was killed by regime forces during the 2019 nationwide protests in Behbahan City.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Ansarifar, a resident of Behbahan City, was convicted for “assembly and collusion against national security” and “propaganda against the regime”. If the verdict is confirmed on appeal, three years and six months in prison on the charge of “assembly and collusion” will be enforced.

The court session was held on February 2 at Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Bandar Mahshahr.

In recent days, her brother and father, Arman and Amin Ansarifar were arrested by security forces.

On December 25, 2021, the first court session for another legal case against her and several others was held at Branch 103 of the Criminal Court of Behbahan city. The second court session was held on February 16, 2022.

During the protest of November 2019 in Behbahan City, security forces used live ammunition against protestors, leading to the death of several protestors including Mehrdad Dashinia, Mahmood Dashtinia, Farzad Ansarifar, Mohammad-Hossein Ghanavati and Mohammad Hashamdar.

One Year Imprisonment Against Baha’i Citizen Shiva Khalili Upheld on Appeal

Posted on by A MN
News, Religious Minorities
Babol city, Baha'i, Mazandaran province, religious minorities in iran, Shiva Khalili

Recently, the Court of Appeal of Mazandaran Province upheld the initial verdict of one year in prison against Baha’i citizen Shiva Khalili. Moreover, in this verdict, her cell phone, which they ruled has been used as a “crime tool”, will be confiscated.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, November 16, 2021, she was arrested after being summoned and appearing at Branch 1 of the Public and Revolutionary Court of Babol. The day after, she was released on bail.

The Revolutionary Court of Babol City sentenced her to one year imprisonment and confiscation of her cell phone on the charge of “propaganda against the regime.”

According to unofficial sources, it is estimated that more than 300,000 Baha’i live in Iran, but the Iranian constitution recognizes only Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism. Because their faith is not considered legitimate by authorities, the rights of Baha’is in Iran have been systematically violated for years.

This deprivation of the freedom to practice their religion is 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.

Political Prisoner Chia Agha-Beygpour Flogged in Bukan Prison

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
Bukan Prison, Chia Agha-Beygpour, Political Prisoner

As a part of his punishment, political prisoner Chia Agha-Beygpour was flogged 70 times in Bukan Prison after his return from a short-term furlough.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Center of Democracy and Human Rights in Kurdistan, as a part of his punishment, political prisoner Chia Agha-Beygpour was flogged 70 times in Bukan Prison.

The flagellation was carried out soon after his return from furlough.

On July 29, 2021, security forces arrested and held him in a detention centre at the disposal of the Ministry of Intelligence in Bukan city. During the arrest, he had been deprived of contacting his family and having a lawyer. On September 6, he was released on bail until the end of legal proceedings.

In November of last year, the Revolutionary Court of Bukan sentenced him to one year and two months imprisonment, flogging and a fine for “propaganda against the regime in favour of one of the opposition political parties”.

On January 25, Chia Agha-Beygpour was jailed to begin to serve his sentence.

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Two Inmates Executed in Kashan and Vakilabad Prisons

Posted on by A MN
Executions, News
executions, Kashan, Ruhollah Dehghani, Secret executions, v, Vakilabad

On the morning of February 21, two inmates convicted for murder were executed in Kashan and Vakilabad prisons.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting ILNA, an unidentified inmate was executed in Kashan Prison. On the same day, another inmate identified by the first name Reza was executed in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad city.

Regarding the first case, Kashan prosecutor Ruhollah Dehghani stated that “in June 2017, the defendant, age 49, killed a woman with whom he was acquainted on the Internet. Thereafter, he was arrested by the police”.

As for the second case, on September 30, 2014, Reza brought a 29 year old man injured by stabbing to a hospital in Mashhad. When he realized the man had passed away from the injuries, he fled the hospital. In November of 2018, Reza was arrested and sentenced to death.

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.

Final Verdict of 8 years and 74 Lashes Issued Against Narges Mohammadi

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Narges Mohammadi, Taghi Rahmani

On February 20, Taghi Rahmani, husband of Narges Mohammadi, was informed that Branch 26 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court issued their definitive verdict of eight years imprisonment, 74 lashes and other social deprivations against his wife. From her eight year sentence, Mohammadi will be imprisoned in exile for two years.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Mohammadi is a human rights activist and spokesperson of the Defenders of Human Rights Center. Rahmani commented to HRANA that following Mohammadi’s refusal to request for appeal, the initial verdict was upheld definitively.

In recent days, she was hospitalized for a few days due to respiratory problems and then sent back to jail.

On November 16, 2021, she was arrested by security forces during her attendance at a ceremony honouring Ebrahim Ketabdar, who was killed by security forces in Karaj during the November 2019 protests. She was detained in a solitary confinement cell in Ward 209 of Evin Prison. On November 22, 2021, she was notified about the charges in Evin Courthouse.

On December 29, 2021, security agents raided and searched her house and confiscated some of her personal belongings.

She has already faced other arrests and convictions and was imprisoned from May 5, 2015, until October of last year, Mohammadi was imprisoned.

In January of this year, she was transferred from Ward 209 of Evin Prison to Qarchak Prison in Varamin City.

Meysam Kazemi Sentenced to 22 Months In Prison

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Behbahan City, Farzad Ansarifar, Mahmood Dashtinia, Mehrdad Dashinia, Mohammad Hashamdar, Mohammad Hossein Ghanavati

Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Bandar Mahshahr sentenced Meysam Kazemi to 22 months in prison. From this sentence, 7 months and 2 weeks have been suspended. If upheld on appeal, grounded on 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, Kazemi, a resident of Behbahan City, was charged with “propaganda against the regime in favour of anti-regime groups and offensive statements against the Supreme Leader of Iran”.

His lawyer, Iman Soleymani, was notified of the verdict. Seven and a half months of Kazemi’s sentence is suspended. His court session was held on February 14, 2022, by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Bandar Mahshahr.

On July 26, 2020, hundreds of Behbahan’s citizens gathered at Bank-Melli Square to protest against “poor economic conditions” and “death sentences against those who were arrested during the protest of November 2019”. Many citizens were arrested for their participation in the protests, both during the events and in the period following.

During the November 2019 protest, security forces in Behbahan City used live ammunition against protestors, leading to the death of several protestors including Mehrdad Dashinia, Mahmood Dashtinia, Farzad Ansarifar, Mohammad-Hossein Ghanavati and Mohammad Hashamdar.

Two Landmine Blasts Severely Injure Four Kolbars

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
Amanj, Baneh County, Foad Bitooshi, Hangazhall, Iran-Iraq war, Kianoosh Raofi, Kolbar, kolbar injured, landmines, Mirabdoli, Nowsud, Paweh County

On Monday, February 22, a landmine remnant from the Iran-Iraq War exploded in a border area and injured three Kolbars (cross border carriers). On the same day, another mine blast injured a Kolbar in the Nowsud border area.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, On Monday, February 22, 2022, the Kolbars were injured by a landmine blast in the border area of Hangazhall, located in Baneh County.

The injured Kolbars were identified as Foad Bitooshi, Kianoosh Raofi and Amanj (last name unidentified). Currently, all three are hospitalized.

Additionally, in another accident, a Kolbar identified as Mirabdoli in the Nowsud border area, located in Paweh County, was injured by a landmine blast.

Every year, landmine explosions take several victims in  Iran’s border areas. There are about 42,000 square kilometres of war zones in Iran that have not yet been fully demined from the Iran-Iraq war.

In flagrant violation of international conventions, the regime is still using these landmines to secure its borders.

Accordingly, there are still thousands of landmines planted in Iran in the border areas with Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq. The regime also planted many landmines during the conflicts of the 1980s in Kurdistan.

Kamran Takook Sentenced to Two Years and Four Months In Prison

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News

Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Kermanshah sentenced Kamran Takook to two years and four months in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, was sentenced to one year on the charge of “propaganda against the regime” and 16 months on the charge of “offensive statements against the Supreme Leader of Iran.” Grounded in Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the severest punishment of 16 months is enforceable.

Last Saturday, he was notified about the verdict after his appearance at the Revolutionary Court of Kermanshah.

On January 12, 2022, he was arrested by IRGC’s forces and transferred to a detention centre. After five days of detention, he was released on bail of 500 million tomans from Dizel-Abad Prison until the end of the legal proceedings.