Author: A MN

Hirad Pirbodaghi’s Mother, Setareh Jalali, on Sit-Down Strike

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Asal Mohammadi, Evin Prison, Hirad Pirbodaghi, Setareh Jalai, worker's rights

Setareh Jalai, the mother of Hirad Pirbodaghi, went on a sit-in in front of Evin Courthouse in cold weather on December 5. The strike was in protest of her son’s continued detention and the lack of information regarding his condition. She was informed yesterday by prison and court officials that Pirbodaghi’s case will be taken to court for examination within the next 48 hours. This news is at odds with prior information the court has granted his release on bail. 

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the workers’ rights activist is still detained and awaiting legal proceedings in Ward 209 of Evin Prison in Tehran after 30 days.

In phone calls, Pirbodaghi stated that he had been under extreme coercion by security forces to confess.

“Last Saturday, they called her mother to provide the bail of 800 million tomans (189,680 USD). As her mother told me, the letter was issued on November 24, indicating that the security forces had obstructed the execution of this order,” an informed source told HRANA. “When the family went to Evin Courthouse, they were told that for now, the release is not going to happen. On the second day of her sit-down strike, however, Hirad’s mother was told to meet with prison officials”.

In this meeting, she was told that the case will be sent to a branch of the court for examination within the next 48 hours.

On November 6, Pirbodaghi was arrested violently by security forces alongside Asal Mohammadi. Their houses were searched during the arrest. He was transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison, which is at the disposal of the Ministry of Intelligence.

Pirbodaghi was indicted on the charges of “assembly and collusion against national security” on November 7.

Mohammadi was released on bond from Evin Prison on November 22. The reason for his arrest is still unknown at the time of writing.

The day before their arrests, Pirbodaghi and Mohammadi, accompanied by seven other activists, had filed a complaint in a judicial office against the use of solitary confinement as a torture method. Mohammadi and Pirbodaghi have previously faced other arrests and convictions for their non-violent activism and worker’s rights advocacy.

Two Citizens Arrested By Security Forces in Sanandaj

Posted on by A MN
Ethnic Minorities, News
niar, Saadi Mendari, sanandaj county, Siamak Arang

On Sunday, December 5, 2021, security forces arrested two residents of the village “Niar” in Sanandaj County.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, Saadi Menbari, 26 years old, and Siamak Arang, 26 years old were arrested by security forces who searched their houses at the time of the arrest without a warrant.

The reason for arrest, the charges and the whereabouts of these detainees are unknown at the time of writing.

Life Imprisonment and Death Sentence Against Two Brothers Without Any Proper Due Process

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Abbas Daris, death penality in iran, Death Penalty, IRIB, Karim Dahimi, lack of due process, life in prison, Mohsen Daris, NOPO, reza sayyadi

In a blatant violation of due process, prison officials verbally informed Abbas Daris’s family that he has been sentenced to death without providing a letter of conviction or any other written documents.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Daris’s family was informed of his sentencing about four months ago. 

Arrested during the November 2019 Protests, Daris is currently held in Mahshahr Prison. He was indicted alongside his brother Mohsen Daris on charges of “enmity against God (Moharebeh)”, “disturbing the public order” and “murdering a Counter-Terrorism Special Forces agent (NOPO)”. Mohsen Daris was sentenced to life in prison on charges of “collaborating to murder the NOPO agent”.

Karim Dahimi, a political and human rights activist, told HRANA that according to a report by the second crime scene analyst, “NOPO agent Reza Sayyadi was shot dead from behind on November 18, 2019, and therefore not from the front, where the protesters were standing. Moreover, Daris’s family has been told that they can compensate the victim’s family by paying blood money (Diya). This stands at odds with the charge of “enmity against God”, which indicates that the case does not have any plaintiff. This unorthodox request implies that they know that he is innocent”.

“Everything proceeded informally and verbally. They didn’t provide a single written statement regarding his conviction,” an informed source told HRANA. “The problem is that in this province, even verbal statements from the court and prison officials can be true and reliable. That the judiciary officials are not complying with legal routines and cooperating with his family and lawyer increases our concerns”.

Abbas Drais is 48 years old and the father of two children, ages 12 and 14. Reportedly, his wife died from a stroke after receiving the shocking news of his death sentence. His children are currently living with their grandmother.

In January 2020, the regime’s TV channel, known as the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), reported the murder of the NOPO agent. Considering the previous cooperation of IRIB with security forces in extracting confessions under torture, it is likely that both brothers have been subjected to torture-tainted confessions.

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.

Leila Hosseinzadeh’s Five Year Sentence Upheld by The Court of Appeals

Posted on by A MN
News, Students, Women
Amir Raisian, Gonabadi Dervish, irgc, Leila Hosseinzadeh, Mohammed Sharifi Moghaddam, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran

Branch 36 of the Court of Appeals in Tehran upheld the verdict of student activist and former political prisoner, Leila Hosseinzadeh. Hosseinzadeh was sentenced to five years in prison and a two year 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.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Hosseinzadeh’s lawyer, Amir Raisian, was notified about the court;’s decision to uphold the initial verdict.

In February 2021, Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran convicted her on the charge of “assembly and collusion for the purpose of acting against national security”.

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 on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”. 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”.

Meysam Kazemi Arrested and Transferred to Bebahan Prison

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners

On Saturday, December 4, 2021, Meysam Kazemi was arrested and transferred to Behbahan Prison after appearing at Branch 4 of the Public and Revolutionary Court.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the resident of Behbahan City was indicted with the charge of “circulating media about those arrested in relations to Behbahan’s unrest on July 16, 2020”.

Branch 4 of the Public and Revolutionary Court is headed by Judge Kazem Tayyeb. Contrary to claims by judiciary officials in the summons, Kasemi’s lawyer was not allowed in court. At the end of the court session, he was detained and transferred to Behbahan Prison. 

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.

 

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Two Workers Killed, One Severely Injured Due to Unsafe Workplace Conditions

Posted on by A MN
Labor and Guilds, News
Ahmad Sheybani, Bandar Lengeh, fishing, labor rights, manufacturing, Qom, unsafe workplace conditions, workplace accident, workplace conditions

On December 2, two workplace accidents in Qom and Bandar Lengeh cities left two workers dead and one severely injured.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Tasnim News Agency, a lift inside a food production factory based in Qom City malfunctioned and fell, leading to the death of a female worker inside.

“Following this accident, the judiciary ordered closure of the factory until safety deficiencies are fixed,” the Director-General of Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare of Qom City commented.

The same day, two fishermen in Bandar Lengeh City died after four fishing boats caught fire.

“Around 13:30, in a wharf, due to a technical problem in the engine, a fishing boat caught on fire and the fire spread to three adjacent boats. In this accident, a fisherman lost his life and another was severely injured,” commented Bandar Lengeh’s governor, Ahmad Sheybani.

Sattar Rezai Arrested by Security Forces in Isfahan

Posted on by A MN
Labor and Guilds, News
Activist arrested, Isfahan, Sattar Rezai, worker's rights

Late on December 1, worker’s rights activist Sattar Rezai was arrested by security forces and transferred to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Independent Iranian Workers Union (IIWU), security forces arrested Rezai at his father’s house in Isfahan.  About 10 to 12 undercover agents were involved in the nighttime raid.

The reason for his arrest and his current whereabouts are unknown at the time of writing.

Report on the Latest Condition of Afkari Brothers in Adel-Abad Prison

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Adel Abad Prison in Shiraz, ebrat ward, Habib Afkari, Navid Afkari, Prisoner abuse, saeed Afkari, Vahid Afkari, Vahid and Habib Afkari

Political prisoners Vahid and Habib Afkari have been held in the “Ebrat” ward in Adel-Abad Prison, Shiraz City, for about 15 months. This notorious ward is used mostly for punishing inmates or to house inmates on death row. 

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the brothers have been denied a phone call and access to adequate medical treatment.

Vahid and Habib Afkari are brothers of Iranian wrestler Navid Afkari, who was executed on September 12, 2020 in Adel-Abad Prison despite serious ambiguities in his case and worldwide outcry to halt the execution.

Navid Afkari and Vahid Afkari were arrested in September 2018, and Habib Afkari was arrested in December 2018. The arrests were in connection to nationwide protests in August 2018. The brothers were repeatedly beaten and tortured during interrogations.

In August 2020, Shiraz’s Revolutionary and Criminal Court sentenced Navid Afkari to execution, six years imprisonment and 74 lashes. The court sentenced Vahid Afkari to 54 years, six months in prison and 74 lashes, and Habib Afkari to 27 years and three months imprisonment and 74 lashes.

Their brother, Saeed Afkari, stated on social media that the legal due process to address the torture of their brothers has gone nowhere. In May of this year, a court session was held to address the Afakri’s complaint that they have been beaten, tortured, held for long-term in a solitary confinement cell, and threatened to death by two high-ranking officials. According to Saeed Afakri, his brother Vahid Afkari was not allowed to have access to documents during the court session.

Branch 38 of the Supreme Court of Iran rejected their request for a retrial. Saeed Dehghan, the Afakri brother’s lawyer at that time, wrote that, “even if the judge cared to take a short look at the documents, he would realize that with 24 contradictions and three false statements, there were substantial reasons for retrial”.

Hirad Pirbodaghi Still In Detention After 25 Days

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Asal Mohammadi, bail, Evin Prison, Hirad Pirbodaghi, imprisoned labor activists, solitary confinement, workers rights activist

After 25 days, workers’ rights activist Hirad Pirbodaghi is still detained and awaiting legal proceedings in Ward 209 of Evin Prison in Tehran.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Pirbodaghi confirmed during a phone call with his family that interrogations have finished and he is waiting for bail to be assigned so that he may be released. The Evin Prison court has refused to set bail despite multiple requests from his family.

“In these increasingly cold days, he has been given just one set prison uniform which he has to wash and wear while it is still wet. Moreover, they don’t allow him to purchase anything from the prison store”, an informed source told HRANA.

On November 6, Pirbodaghi was arrested violently by security forces alongside Asal Mohammadi. Their houses were searched during the arrest. He was transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison, which is at the disposal of the Ministry of Intelligence.

Pirbodaghi was indicted on the charges of “assembly and collusion against national security” on November 7.

Mohammadi was released on bond from Evin Prison on November 22. The reason for his arrest is still unknown at the time of writing.

The day before their arrests, Pirbodaghi and Mohammadi, accompanied by seven other activists, had filed a complaint in a judicial office against the use of solitary confinement as a torture method. Mohammadi and Pirbodaghi have previously faced other arrests and convictions for their non-violent activism and worker’s rights advocacy.

Mass Layoff: About 330 Workers Laid Off in Two Factories

Posted on by A MN
Labor and Guilds, News
Azim Khodro, Borujerd, Iran-Mayeh Tabriz

Approximately 330 workers—150 workers at Iran-Mayeh Tabriz and 180 workers at Azim Khodro—have been laid off. Both mass layoffs appear to be the result of factory closure.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting ILNA, Iran-Mayeh Tabriz has been shut down since early spring. The yeast manufacturing plant, owned by a Turkish investor, laid off approximately 150 workers over the course of several months.

“In December 2020, about 40 workers were laid off with the promise of getting back to work after relaunching the pertinent factory unit”, commented one of the laid-off workers. “Not only [did] that never [happen], but they also laid off the rest of 110 workers on March 12, 2021”.

He added: “To dissuade us from filing a complaint to the labour office, they paid two months wages and promised that they [would] reopen the factory within six months. During this time, some workers, under financial pressure, left this job either to get unemployment benefits or find another job. However, about 27 workers complained to the Ministry of Labour. [The Ministry] ordered employee retention and the continuation of wage payments. Nonetheless, despite this order to get back to work, the company hasn’t allowed us to go into work. They [told us] to get our wages, but not to come to the factory”.

At Azim Khodro, a car manufacturer in Borujerd City, 180 workers have been laid off due to factory closure. Due to legal issues, courts have prohibited the owner from running the factory. As a result, workers have not been paid for seven months.