Author: A MN

Two Inmates Executed in Adel-Abad Prison

Posted on by A MN
Executions, News
Adel-Abad Prison, Mokhtar Valizadeh, Secret executions

On February 13, two inmates convicted for murder were executed in Adel-Abad Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Sunday, February 13, 2022, two inmates on death row in Adel-Abad Prison were executed.

In two separate cases, they were convicted for murder. Iran Human Rights has identified one of them as Mokhtar Valizadeh. HRANA is inquiring to identify the other executed inmate, who was arrested and sentenced to death three years ago.

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.

Kiumars Latifi Arrested by IRGC Intelligence Agents in Sanandaj City

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
irgc, Kiumars Latifi, Sanandaj City

On February 15, IRGC intelligence agents arrested Kiumars Latifi, a resident of Sanandaj City.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, they have transferred Latifi, age 41, to a security detention centre in Sanandaj City. He was accused of “collaboration with one of the anti-regime political parties.”

He has had another arrest on his rap sheet. In September of 2019, he was arrested with the same accusation and released on bail on December 26 of that year.

Political Prisoner Ebrahim Seddigh Hamedani Relocated to Solitary Confinement While Still on Hunger Strike

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Ebrahim Seddigh Hamedani, Mariwan Prison, Maryam Seddigh Hamedani, Salar Seddigh Hamedani

Political prisoner Ebrahim Seddigh Hamedani, who is on hunger strike and refusing to take medicine, was relocated to a solitary confinement cell in Mariwan Prison. Since February 12, he has been on hunger strike in protest against a failure by prison officials to fulfill their promises. His son, Salar Seddigh Hamedani, is jailed in Kamyaran Prison. He went on hunger strike for a few days on February 3.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on January 3, Hamedani, along with his son, went on hunger strike to protest the housing of political prisoners in the same ward as prisoners of violent crime, which violates prison regulations. Ten days ago, they ended their hunger strike following promises by prison officials.

On February 23, 2019, Hamedani, his son Salar, and his daughter Maryam Seddigh were arrested. He was transferred to Urmia Central Prison on April 23, 2019.

Maryam Seddigh Hamedani was released from prison on April 25, 2019.

Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court of Urmia sentenced each to 16 years imprisonment on the charges such as “acting against national security through membership in one of the anti-regime organizations” and “propaganda against the regime.”

In August of 2020, while they were spending their sentence terms, they were relocated to the detention centre of the Ministry of intelligence in Urmia city and interrogated for allegedly “propaganda against the regime inside prison.” Subsequently, a new legal case was opened against them.

In 2005, Ebrahim Seddigh Hamedani had earlier been sentenced to six years imprisonment for the same charges. He was released after serving two and a half years of his sentence on probation.

Civil Activist Raheleh Ahmadi Granted Furlough After Contracting COVID-19

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners, Women
Coronavirus, covid-19, medical furlough, Raheleh Ahmadi, Saba Kurd Afshari

On February 16, civil activist Raheleh Ahmadi, currently imprisoned in Evin Prison, was dispatched for five days of medical furlough after contracting COVID-19.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Ahmadi showed worrying COVID-19 symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, diarrhea, nausea, sore throat, acute body aches and fever for several days, yet was deprived of adequate medical treatment, along with other inmates. According to an informed source, she fell twice due to acute dizziness. Ahmadi suffers from a low functioning thyroid, which worsens her health condition.

On July 9, 2019, Ahmadi was arrested by security forces. In December of 2019, the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced her to three years and six months in prison on charges of “assembly and collusion against national security through collaboration with anti-regime media” and eight months on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”. She was acquitted from the charge of “promoting indecency through removing the veil from her head in public and publishing its picture on the internet”.

Based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the sentence of three years and six months is enforceable for the count of “assembly and collusion”. Instead of objecting and appealing the sentence, she asked for commutation and consequently, the verdict was reduced to two years and seven months in prison.

On February 15, 2020, she was sent to Evin Prison to serve her sentence.

On July 18, 2021, she was granted furlough to attend her mother’s funeral. During her incarceration, a new legal case was opened against her in Branch 1 of Evin Courthouse. However, she refused to appear in court after being unable to access a selected lawyer.

Ahmadi is the mother of Saba Kurd Afshari. She is a political prisoner and civil activist.

Sukhtbar Shot Dead By Regime Naval Forces

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
Hormozgan Province, Rashed Malahi, Sukhtbar

On Tuesday, February 15, a Sukhtbar (fuel smuggler) boatman was shot dead in a direct shooting by regime naval forces in Sirik County located in Hormozgan Province.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Rasank News, a Sukhtbar identified as Rashed Malahi was killed a direct and unruly shooting of naval forces at Kuhestak Port.

Reportedly, naval forces chased his boat and began to shoot, leading to his death.

According to HRANA’s annual report, in 2021, 242 citizens were targeted by unruly shootings by regime military forces, of which 94 were killed. This includes 23 Kolbars (cross border carriers) and 31 Sukhtbars (cross-border fuel porters). 148 people have been injured, including 81 Kolbars and 51 Sukhtbars.

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Media Activist Iraj Moghaddam Arrested in Chovar County

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Activist arrested, Hezar Pisheh, Ilam Petrochemical Company, Iraj Moghaddam

Following a complaint by the Ilam Petrochemical Company in Ilam Province and an arrest warrant by the court of Chovar County, media activist Iraj Moghaddam was arrested. The reason for his arrest has been connected to his decision to publish the paycheck of personnel at the company.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists,  Ilam province, his conditions, whereabouts and charges are still unknown at the time of writing.

Moghaddam is the director of news outlet “Hezar Pisheh”.

Juvenile Offender’s Death Sentence Revoked After 18 Years In Prison

Posted on by A MN
Executions, News
Death Penalty, Death sentence, Diyah, Ebrahim Raisi, Mohammad-Reza Haddadi

The Supreme Court of Iran revoked the death sentence against Mohammad-Reza Haddadi who committed murder when he was 15 years old. The verdict was reduced, requiring Haddadi to pay Diyah (blood-money). Haddadi spent 18 years in prison and was sent to the gallows several times, but the executions were halted at the last moment.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Deutsche Welle Persian, the Supreme Court’s verdict statement clarifies that due to the passage of time, forensic medicine is not able to assess if the defendant was rational and mature at the time of the crime. Secondly, other defendants’ statements about the victim’s suffocation Haddadi are not conclusive enough to determine intention.

Moreover, the Supreme Court states that two other defendants have refuted their earlier statements and the Judges also doubted the intentionality of the homicide. Therefore, the verdict was reduced to paying a full Diyah (blood money).

In March of 2021, Haddadi wrote a letter to the then Head of the Judiciary, Ebrahim Raisi, and asked that his case be reviewed.

During the initial investigation and the first court session held on October 30, 2003, he confessed to the robbery and murder. However, eight days later, in a letter to the court, he claimed his confession was made due to the request of one of the other defendants, who asked him to confess to the killing in exchange for money. He had accepted the request based on the assumption that he is a minor and hence will not receive the death penalty.

Haddadi has been imprisoned for 18 years and suffers from severe renal failure and ulcers.

Azerbaijani Turk Activist Roozbeh Piri Arrested in Tabriz

Posted on by A MN
Ethnic Minorities, Freedom of Expression, News

Last Saturday, security forces arrested Azerbaijani Turk activist Roozbeh Piri. This arrest may have occurred in order to imprison him and force him to serve his sentence.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Branch 3 of the Revolutionary Court of Tabriz, headed by Judge Ghazinejad, had sentenced Piri to one year in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime” and five years on the charge of “membership in anti-regime political groups”. On appeal, this verdict was reduced to eight months and three years respectively. By applying Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, three years imprisonment is enforceable for the latter charge.

On September 9, security forces arrested him in Tabriz City. After holding him in detention, they transferred him to Tabriz Prison. On September 29, he was released on bail.

Piri has previously been arrested and convicted for peaceful activities. He was arrested during the nationwide protests in Tabriz in November 2019 and sentenced by the court of appeals to 91 days in prison. He was released from Tabriz Prison in July 2020 after serving his sentence.

Later, he was charged with “spreading lies” on the Internet and sentenced to pay a fine of 5 million tomans (1190 USD) by Branch 103 of Tabriz’s Criminal Court. This sentence was upheld on appeal. Reportedly, the conviction was in retaliation for revealing his brother’s harassment and torture by intelligence agents.

Piri is the editor of Tabriz Magazine and the founder of Navid Etedal, an independent student organization at Tabriz Azad University.

 

Baha’i Citizen Saba Sefidi Still in Detention After More Than a Month

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

After 33 days, Baha’i citizen Saba Sefidi, a resident of Tehran, is still in detention pending legal process. On January 11, she was arrested after an appearance at Branch 2 of Evin Courthouse.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, despite family frequent inquiry, judicial officials at Evin Courthouse have not yet provided any clear information about the reason for the arrest or her whereabouts, which is raising concern about her condition.

Since her arrest, she has been only allowed to make a few short calls to her family.

Regarding the prosecution and 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.

Four Citizens Arrested By Security Forces in Piranshahr

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
Piranshahr City

On February 13, in Piranshahr City, security forces arrested four citizens and transferred them to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, four citizens identified as Rahim Alizadeh, Mohammad Ghaderpour, Rahman Ghaderi and Naser Bayazidi were arrested.

As of yet, their families’ inquiries about the reasons for arrests and the charges have remained unanswered by judicial authorities.