Author: A MN

Two Inmates Executed in Isfahan and Neyshabur Prisons

Posted on by A MN
Executions, News
Ahmad Tavakoli, Ali-Akbar Mohammadi, Death row, diya, executions, Shahroud city

On December 6, two inmates were executed in Neyshabur and Isfahan prisons.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Iran Human Rights Organization, 34 year old Ahmad Tavakoli was executed in Isfahan Prison. He had been convicted of drug-related crimes and imprisoned for four years.

On the same day, 24 year old Ali-Akbar Mohammadi was executed in Neyshabur Prison. He had been convicted of murder during a street fight.

In order to spare Mohammadi’s life by compensating the family of the victim, people in Shahroud City collected 4 billion tomans (951,820 USD), but this fell short of the 5 billion tomans (1,189,775 USD) requested by the family. Despite delivering the money to court, the execution was carried out after a month. The money has not yet been returned. 

As an inmate on death row, Mohammdi has spent five years in prison and has been sent to the foot of the gallows four times.

The most recent report of 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.

Growing Concerns About Baktash Abtin’s Health Condition After Hospitalization

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Bahtash Abtin, covid-19, Evin Prison, Iranian Writers Association, IWA, prisoner hospitalized

On December 8, Baktash Abtin, a prisoner of conscience, writer and member of the Iranian Writers Association (IWA) was hospitalized in Tehran due to poor health conditions and COVID-19 symptoms.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Abtin is currently serving a six-years sentence in Evin Prison. After a few days of hospitalization in prison healthcare he was dispatched from Evin Prison to the Telghani hospital in Tehran.

“A few days ago, he went to [the prison’s] healthcare due to acute fever, severe body aches and feelings of weakness”, commented the Iranian Writers Association (IWA). “After one day, when he did not go back to the ward, his fellow inmates asked prison officials about his condition, but did not receive a proper response. Ultimately, his family found out that he had been hospitalized during prison visitation”.

The IWA expressed grave concerns about Abtin’s health due to his pre-existing lung disease and his risk of contracting COVID-19.

Abtin had previously contracted COVID-19 in March of this year. After four days, he was forcibly sent back to the public ward of Evin Prison despite having a contagious disease.

On June 29, Abtin faced a new legal case while he was in prison. This move was reportedly due to his decision to publicize the news of his illness.

The IWA is an independent group of authors, poets, editors and translators based in Iran which was formed in May 1968 to fight against state censorship. The government has continuously persecuted members of the IWA after the 1979 revolution. In 1998, several IWA members, including opposition politicians Dariush Forouhar and his wife Parvaneh Eskandari, and writers Mohammad Mokhtari and Mohammad Jafar Pouyandeh, were murdered.

Four Inmates Executed in Kerman Prison

Posted on by A MN
Executions, News
executions, Kerman prison, Khaled She-Bakhsh, Ranger Unit Forces, Secret executions, She-Bakhsh, Zahedan

On the morning of December 9, at least four inmates were executed in Kerman Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting The Baloch Activists Campaign, the inmates had been relocated to the quarantine section of the prison the day before as routine procedure for execution.

This report identified one of the inmates as 23-years-old Khaled She-Bakhsh, a resident of Zahedan. She-Bakhsh had been sentenced to 25 years in prison for drug-related crimes, but his sentence was changed to the death penalty in recent weeks as revenge for an armed conflict between some individuals of his clan “She-Bakhsh” with regime military forces, known as Kerman’s Ranger Unit Forces.

The most recent report of 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.

These executions have not been reported by official sources and media outlets inside Iran as of this writing.

Turkish-Farsi Book Fair Prevented by Authorities in Marand City

Posted on by A MN
Cultural, News
cultural events, cultural rights, ethnic minorities, ethnic minorities in iran, Marand City, Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, Mother Tongue, Nabati Publishing, Tak Derakht, Turkish, Vahid Fatemi

A permit previously granted to a Turkish-Farsi book fair was revoked by the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance of Marand City only a day before launch. 

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance is in charge of granting permits for cultural events and prevented the book fair due to its promotion of Turkish-Farsi books.

In a post on Instagram, Nabati Publishing’s manager Vahid Fatemi announced that the permit had been cancelled. He was summoned and notified verbally about the annulment, and was told that the use of “Turkish” in the name of the event and in promotional materials was one of the reasons behind this decision.

In 2019, Marand’s public office obstructed the issuance of the permit for a similar bilingual book fair. At the time, the office of the publishing company “Tak Derakht” was shut down by the order of judicial authorities due to the publication of books in Turkish.

The rights of ethnic minorities relating to education and cultural education in their mother tongue are systematically suppressed by the regime.

Leila Hosseinzadeh Arrested Violently In Shiraz

Posted on by A MN
News, Students, Women
Activist arrested, Evin Prison, Leila Hosseinzadeh, Mohammad Sharifi Moghadam, violent arrest

On Tuesday, December 7, student activist and former political prisoner, Leila Hosseinzadeh, was violently arrested by security forces in Shiraz.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Hosseinzadeh was on a trip in Shiraz City and staying at her relative’s house. The house was raided by 15 security agents. During the arrest, she was beaten by the agents.

Meantime, security institution-affiliated media outlets claimed that allegedly several “the individuals associated with anti-revolutionary groups under the leadership of L.H. (referring to Hosseinzadeh)” have been arrested. There is no information about these arrestees at the time of writing.

Earlier this week, the initial verdict against Hosseinzadeh was upheld by Branch 36 of the Court of Appeals in Tehran. Hosseinzadeh was sentenced to five years in prison and a two years ban on online social activity by Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran due to her attendance at the birthday ceremony of imprisoned Gonabadi Dervish, Mohammad Sharifi Moghaddam, held at the entrance of the Sharif University of Technology.

Amid the nationwide protests which broke out in December 2017, Hosseinzadeh was arrested alongside other student activists and released on bail after spending 16 days in detention. On March 7, 2018, she was sentenced to five years in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”, as well as one year in prison and a two-year ban on leaving the country. The sentence for her first charge was reduced on appeal from five years to two years and six months. Grounded on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, 30 months of this sentence was enforceable.

On July 28, 2019, she was arrested and detained for 10 days in a facility at the IRGC’s intelligence unit. Afterwards, she was sent to Evin prison to serve her sentence.

On March 11, 2020, while on furlough, she was set free due to her “intolerance of punishment”.

 

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Media Activist Hossein Razzagh Arrested in Amol City

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Activist arrested, Amol City, Hossein Razzagh, media activism, Sari City

Media activist Hossein Razzagh was arrested at his home on Sunday, December 5. Agents of the Ministry of Intelligence arrested Razzagh, searched his house and confiscated personal belongings.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Razzagh was arrested at home in Amol City. Personal belongings, including all his communication devices, were confiscated. The day after, the security forces informed his family about his relocation from Amol to Sari City.

The reason for his arrest is still unknown at the time of writing. During arrest, he was allowed a call to his family.

Rahim Arjmandi Sentenced to 23 Months in Prison by Court of Appeals

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, Rahim Argmandi, Yasuj City

Branch 3 of the Court of Appeals in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province upheld the initial verdict against Rahim Argmandi. Argmandi had previously been sentenced to 23 months in prison by the Revolutionary Court of Yasuj City. 10 months of this sentence has been suspended for three years.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Arjmandi was sentenced to 15 months in prison on the charge of “offensive statements against now and former supreme leaders of Iran” and 8 months on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”. From this sentence, 15 months is enforceable.

On July 26, 2021, Arjmandi was summoned to the intelligence ministry office in Yasuj City and arrested at the appearance. Two days later, he was released on bail until the end of legal proceedings.

 

Update on Arrestees of Recent Protest in Isfahan

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
Asadollah Ja'fari, farmer protest, Hossein Mirzaie, Ifashan, Water Scarcity, Zayandeh-rud

A crackdown on protests in Isfahan has led to the arrest of at least 214 people. 12 days after the mass arrests, an unknown number of people, including several children, are still in detention.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, some detainees were forced to pledge not to leave the house next Friday as a condition for release.

In announcing the release of some detainees, Chief Justice of Isfahan Province, Asadollah Jafari stated that they, “have opened legal cases against these arrestees and as promised… have launched special branches to address these cases”. 

This protest began on November 7, when farmers assembled at the office of Hossein Mirzaie to ask for their water portion for wheat cultivation, and protest against water supply mismanagement.

Farmers continued their protest by assembling in dried up stretches of the river Zayandeh Rud.  In the following days, other citizens joined the protest.

On Friday, November 26, a farmers’ protest in Isfahan over water mismanagement turned violent after military and police forces used tear gas and live ammunition on protesters.

Inmate Executed in Zanjan Prison

Posted on by A MN
Executions, News
executions, Mohammed-Reza Markoohi, secret execution, zanjan

On Monday, December 6, an inmate previously convicted of drug-related crimes was executed in Zanjan Central Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Iran Human Rights Organization, 23-year-old Mohammad-Reza Markoohi was executed in Zanjan Central Prison.

“Three years and seven months ago, along with his cousin, Mohammad-Reza Markoohi was arrested for carrying drugs on a highway connecting Zanjan to Qazvin. Both were sentenced to death by Zanjan’s Revolutionary Court. Two years ago, his cousin died from a disease in jail”, according to an informed source cited in this report.

The most recent report of 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.

The execution has not been reported by official sources in Iran as of this writing.

Asghar Firoozi and Alireza Saghafi Summoned to Endure Their Sentences

Posted on by A MN
Labor and Guilds, News
Alireza Saghafi, Asghar Firoozi, Karaj city, Mashad City

Political activist Asghar Firoozi and workers’ rights activist Alireza Saghafi were summoned to endure their sentences by the executive units of the courthouses of Mashhad and Karaj, respectively.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Firoozi was arrested by security forces in Mashhad. After the December 2018 arrests, he was sentenced to three months in prison.

Saghafi was arrested in September 2019 and sentenced to one year in prison by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court in Karaj City on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”.

“The court letter… was sent to Mr. Firoozi’s workplace, and because he was not present, agents searched the institution and asked his colleagues to hand the letter to him. Similarly, agents went to Mr. Saghafi’s workplace,” an informed source told HRANA.

Both activists have previously faced other arrests and convictions for their civil activities.