Author: A MN

Political Prisoner Heidar Ghorbani Executed in Sanandaj Prison

Posted on by A MN
Executions, News
aggravated assult, Death Penalty, executions, forced confessions, Heidar Ghorbani, Kamyaran County, Sanandaj Prison

On the morning of December 19, political prisoner Heidar Ghorbani was executed in Sanandaj Prison. He was convicted for “armed insurrection against the regime” (Baghi) and sentenced to the death penalty. This execution was carried out despite international outcry, including from UN human rights experts, to halt the execution.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Ghorbani’s lawyer, Saleh Nikbakht, confirmed the news of the execution. He told HRANA that “by order of chief justice, Heidar Ghorbani’s case had been sent to Kurdistan’s Chief Justice for further examination. They told us yesterday that they will notify both Iran’s chief justice as well as his family about the result of this examination. I talked to Mr Ghorbani just yesterday morning. Nonetheless, they executed him today at 4 am. His family was told to come to the cemetery but they did not deliver the body to his family”.

Pointing out that the charge of “armed insurgency” is not supported by substantial evidence, he added that, “despite these legal considerations and the request for retrial by the Supreme Court, they carried out the execution under pressure by some authorities”

On September 30, 2016, several members of the IRGC were killed by gunmen in a village in Kamyaran County. Ghorbani was arrested on October 16, 2016 along with two others.

A regime TV channel broadcasted Ghorbani’s forced confession in March of 2016. In the broadcast, security and judicial officials accused him of murdering several members of the IRGC. However, Ghorbani only confessed that he had been forced to transport several armed members of Kurdish anti-regime parties.

In October 2019, he was tried on the charges of “assisting in murder, assault with a deadly weapon, helping offenders to escape from law enforcement, involvement in premeditated murder, attempted murder, affixing a license plate to another car, attempted kidnapping, and the acquisition of stolen property”. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison for every three charges.

However, Branch 1 of Sanandaj’s Revolutionary Court sentenced him to death on the charge of “armed insurgency”. This verdict was confirmed by the Supreme Court and the case was delivered to the Public and Revolutionary Court in Kamyaran. On August 12, his lawyer asked for a retrial, which was rejected by Branch 27 of the Supreme Court. When the conviction was publicized, Sanandaj Prison officials banned him from visitation.

Educator and Trade Union Activist Asghar Amirzadegan Sentenced to One Year In Prison

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Activist arrested, activist sentenced, Asghar Amirzadegan, propaganda against the regime

On December 17,  the Criminal Court of Firuzabad City sentenced Asghar Amirzadegan, an educator and trade union activist, to one year in prison. As an additional punishment, his Instagram page was removed and he was banned from using social media and messengers for two years.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Branch 101 of Firuzabad’s Criminal Court sentenced Amirzadegan in a trial in absentia. He was charged with “propaganda against the regime”.

On July 27, 2021, Amirzadegan was arrested and on August 15 was released on bail from Firuzabad Prison. According to an informed source, he was arrested when he went to a police station to take back his confiscated cell phone.

Earlier also in 2019, he was sentenced by the same court to one year and six months in prison on charges of “offensive statements against the regime’s authorities and propaganda against the regime.” On appeal, these verdicts for these two charges were suspended for 18 months and 2 years respectively.

Moreover, in 2018, he was accused of sending pictures and videos to anti-regime media abroad, a detained for two days before being released on bail of 30 million tomans (7140 USD). Later, the Public and Revolutionary Court exonerated him from this charge.

Report on Recent Executions of Eight Inmates in Five Prisons

Posted on by A MN
Executions, News
Amol Prison, Arabail prison, Davoud, Death row, executions, Gorgan Prison, Hamed Mousavi, Hashem Amiri, Kurosh Mazaheri, Mahmood Mohoodi, Meshgin Prison, Mohammad Khodai, Mohammad Tazehkar, Rajai-Shahr prisons

Eight inmates on death row for different criminal cases were executed in Amol, Gorgan, Rajai-Shahr, Meshgin, and Arabail prisons. 

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, 45 year old Hashem Amiri was executed in Gorgan Prison on Sunday. In 2013, he committed murder during a house burglary.

According to another HRANA report, a female inmate who was convicted of killing her husband seven years ago was executed in Amol prison last Tuesday. “Since the prison guards refused to put the rope around her neck, she had to wait hours at the gallows until a prison officer from outside prison came and hung the woman”, an informed source told HRANA.

In Rajai Shahr Prison, located in Karaj City, ten inmates on death row were transferred to solitary confinement cells awaiting their executions. Four inmates were executed on December 15. HRANA has identified one of these executed inmates as Mahmood Mohmoodi. Iran Human Rights Organization has identified three others as Hamed Mousavi, Kurosh Mazaheri and Davoud (family name is unidentified). The six other inmates each could obtain a moratorium from the victim’s family.

According to the Iran Human Rights Organization, an inmate identified as Mohammad Tazehkar was executed in Meshgin Shahr Prison last Sunday. In 2017, he was convicted of killing his friend. It is likely that he was underage at the time of committing the crime.

The Iran Human Rights Organization also reports the execution of 40 year old Mohammad Khodai in Ardabil Prison. Five years ago, he was sentenced to death for murdering his wife.

None of the official sources and media outlets inside the country has reported these executions at the time of writing.

The most recent report from the Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) states that between October 8 of 2020 and October 9 of 2021, at least 266 citizens, three of whom were juvenile offenders, were executed and 90 citizens were sentenced to death.

As the report points out, Iran’s judicial authorities do not publicly announce over 82% of executions. These unreported executions are known as “secret executions” by human rights organizations.

Azerbaijani Turk Activist Saeed Soltani Sentenced to Two Years Imprisonment

Posted on by A MN
Ethnic Minorities, News
Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani Turk activist, Babak Kiumarsi, Iranian Azerbaijan, Kolfa City, Saeed Soltani

Branch 3 of Tabriz’s Revolutionary Court sentenced Azerbaijani Turk activist Saeed Soltani to two years in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Soltani’s lawyer was notified by the court, headed by Judge Fath-Nejad that his client had been sentenced to two years in prison, minus the detention period, on the charge of “membership in dissident groups in order to disturb national security”.

Babak Kiumarsi, the other Azerbaijani Turk activist involved in the case, was recently sentenced by the court to two years in prison on the same charge.

On October 4, 2020, the security forces arrested Soltani and Kiumarsi at Kiumarsi’s workplace in Jolfa City. At the time of arrest, the intelligence agents searched Soltani’s house and confiscated some of his personal belongings such as a laptop, cell phone, books and car.

On December 1, 2020, Kiumarsi was transferred from the detention centre to Tabriz Prison. Soltani was transferred the next day. On December 3, both were released on bail until the end of legal proceedings.

Many citizens were arrested during widespread protests in numerous cities which lasted from September 30 to October 18, 2020, in two parts of Iranian Azerbaijan. In an earlier report, HRANA identified 81 of these detainees. Security forces used violence during these mass arrests which, in some cases, led to broken hands or noses.

Political Prisoner Habibollah Latifi Granted Furlough after Fourteen Years Imprisonment.

Posted on by A MN
Prisoners
death sentences, furlough, Habibollah Latifi, Hasan Babaei, Latifi, life in prisopn, Sanadaj

On December 15, political prisoner Habibollah Latifi was granted furlough on bail in the fourteenth year of his life imprisonment.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, Latifi was finally granted furlough for medical treatment. Reportedly, years of refusal by security and judicial authorities has exacerbated his illness. Sanadaj’s Revolutionary Court agreed to the request after vigorous persuasion from Latifi’s family and lawyer.

Latifi was an engineering student in his final year at the University of Ilam when he was arrested on October 22, 2007. After more than three months of torture and solitary confinement, he was sentenced to death by the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Sanandaj on charges of “enmity against God” and “spreading corruption on Earth” by Judge Hasan Babaei.

His lawyers appealed the sentence but in the winter of that year, the Court of Appeals confirmed his death sentence. The verdict was the referred to the Supreme Court for a final appeal where it was upheld.

Finally, in 2015, in the eighth year of his imprisonment, he was pardoned by the leadership and his death sentence was suspended.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Now is definitely not the time to stop reading!

Ahmad Tamouei Freed After Fifteen Years in Prison

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Ahmad Tamouei, irgc, Mahabad City, PJAK, Political Prisoner, Prisoner released, Urmia prison

Political prisoner Ahmad Tamouei was freed on December 16 after fifteen years in prison, ten months before serving his full sentence. He is currently on furlough and therefore, by court order, will not return to Urmia Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Tamouei was arrested by IRGC’s intelligence unit  on October 24, 2007. He was arrested by in Mahabad City while on a motorbike.

After spending time in a detention facility at the disposal of the IRGC, he was relocated to Mahabad Prison. On December 31, 2007, Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court sentenced him to 15 years in prison, exiled in Urmia Prison on the charge of “enmity against the God through membership in Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK)”. The verdict was upheld on appeal. On September 8, 2008, he was transferred to Urmia Prison where he has been held until now.

Azerbaijani Turk Activist Babak Kiumarsi Sentenced to Two Years In Prison

Posted on by A MN
Ethnic Minorities, News
Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani, Babak Kuimarsi, Iranian Azerbaijan, Jolfa City, Saeed Soltani

Branch 3 of Tabriz’s Revolutionary Court sentenced Babak Kiumarsi, an Azerbaijani Turk activist, to two years in prison. The resident of Jolfa City was arrested by security forces in Jolfa on October 4, 2020 and released on bail on December 3 of that year.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Kiumarsi was sentenced to two years in prison minus the detention period. The court, headed by Judge Fath-Nejad, notified Kiumarsi’s lawyer of the verdict. Kiumarsi was charged with “membership in dissident groups in order to disturb national security.”

Kiumarsi was arrested by security forces on October 4 along with Saeed Soltani. After being apprehended at his workplace in Jolfa City, he was transferred to a detention centre at the disposal of the Ministry of Intelligence in Tabriz.

On December 1, he was sent to Tabriz Prison after interrogations. Two days later, he was released on bail until the end of legal proceedings.

Many citizens were arrested during widespread protests in numerous cities which lasted from September 30 to October 18, 2020 in two parts of Iranian Azerbaijan. In an earlier report, HRANA identified 81 of these detainees. Security forces used violence during these mass arrests which, in some cases, led to broken hands or noses.

Zana Kasrai Sent to Marivan Prison to Serve One Year Sentence

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Marivan County, Ney Village, Sanandaj, Zana Kasrai

On Tuesday, December 14, political activist Zana Kasrai was sent to Marivan Prison to serve his one year sentence.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, Kasrai had been previously convicted on political charges. Initially, he was sentenced to 3 years in prison by Sanandaj’s Revolutionary Court. This verdict was reduced to one year on appeal.

On July 19, 2020, the security forces arrested and transferred him to a security detention facility in Sanandaj City. After 22 days of interrogation, he was released on bail.

He is 29 years old and a resident of Ney Village in Marivan County.

 

Inmate Executed in Ghayen Prison

Posted on by A MN
Executions, News
Ali Nahtani, executions, Ghayen Prison, Zahedan

On December 14, an inmate on death row due to his conviction for drug-related crimes was executed in Ghayen Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Rasank News Outlet, Ali Nahtani, a resident of Zahedan City, was executed in Ghayen Prison.

None of the official sources and media outlets inside the country has reported this execution at the time of writing.

The most recent report from the Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) states that between October 8 of 2020 and October 9 of 2021, at least 266 citizens, three of whom were juvenile offenders, were executed and 90 citizens were sentenced to death.

As the report points out, Iran’s judicial authorities do not publicly announce over 82% of executions. These unreported executions are known as “secret executions” by human rights organizations.

Azerbaijani Turk Activist Roozbeh Piri Sentenced to Six Years In Prison

Posted on by A MN
Ethnic Minorities, News
Navid Etedal, Roozbeh Piri, Tabriz Azad University, Tabriz Magazine

Recently, Branch 3 of Tabriz’s Revolutionary Court sentenced Azerbaijani Turk activist Roozbeh Piri to six years in prison. If upheld on appeal, the severest punishment of 5 years from this sentence is enforceable as dictated by Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the court, headed by Judge Fath-Nejad, sentenced 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 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 had 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. Piri 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.