Supreme Court Upholds Death Sentence of Man Charged with Murder

Branch 28 of the Supreme Court recently upheld the death sentence of a man named Shahram.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Shargh Newspaper, Shahram had previously been sentenced to death by the Eighth Branch of Tehran’s First Criminal Court on a charge of murder.

Iran ranks first in the world in citizen executions per capita, according to international organizations. The Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) reported that between January 1 and December 20 of 2020, at least 236 citizens were executed.

One of these citizens was executed publicly, and two were juvenile offenders. An additional 95 citizens were sentenced to death. According to the same report, more than 72% of executions in Iran are not reported by the government or the judiciary, which human rights organizations call “secret” executions.

Hojatollah Rafei Sentenced to 6 Years in Prison

Hojatollah Rafei, a native of Shahriar City, was sentenced by Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran to 6 years imprisonment and a two-year ban from leaving the country.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, presided by Judge Iman Afshari, sentenced Mr. Rafei to a total of 6 years in prison, 2 years ban from leaving the country, planting 40 saplings, and writing a research paper about the former regime in Iran.

Hojatollah Rafei is a teacher and a native of Fararat village of Shahriar city in Tehran Province.

If this sentence is upheld at the appeal stage, with the application of Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the most severe punishment that will be enforceable to Mr. Rafei will be 5 years in prison on a charge of “gathering and conspiracy to commit a crime against national security”.

Mr. Rafiei was transferred from the Greater Tehran Prison to Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran on August 28 without prior notice. His lawyer was not notified, and the trial took place without the lawyer’s knowledge.

 

Citizen Summoned and Arrested by Marivan Intelligence Office

On Thursday, August 26, 26-year-old Mohammad Rasaei, a resident of the village of Sardush in the city of Marivan, was arrested.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, Rasaei was arrested after being summoned to the city’s intelligence office.

The report quoted an informed source saying Mr. Rasaei was summoned to the Marivan Intelligence Office by telephone.

As of this writing, no information is available on the reasons for Mr. Rasaei’s arrest or the charges against him.

More than 3,000 Nomadic Students in the Country have Dropped out of School

According to the HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting ILNA, Seifi, the Director-General of Nomadic Education section in the Ministry of Education, announced the existence of 3,626 students who dropped out of school among students in tribes.

“The highest number of students who dropped out of school is in the provinces of West Azerbaijan with 1,061 students, Lorestan Province with 566 students, and Kerman with 265 students,” Seifi said. “Currently, more than 75,743 nomadic students are deprived of having access to Shad network to use virtual education due to lack of necessary infrastructure. During the last academic year, 72% of our nomadic schools were held in person. Provinces with better infrastructure had the highest rates of virtual classes.”

Seifi further noted, “Nomadic students of West Azerbaijan Province were left out of education due to their inability to purchase textbooks. This province has 32000 nomad students from which a large number of nomadic female students in this province did not enroll in school due to inability to purchase textbooks.”

Suspected Criminals in Naqadeh in West Azerbaijan Province Humiliated by Police

On Saturday, August 28, police humiliated three suspected criminals in the middle of the streets in Naqadeh on the order of Rasoul No’ei, the prosecutor of Naqadeh City.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, this action is contrary to the conventions on human rights, domestic law, and human dignity.

The citizens had been arrested on charges of harassment, disturbing public security, and damaging vehicles.

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Elmira Habibi goes on a Hunger Strike in Urmia Prison

On Saturday, August 28, a defendant named Elmira Habibi went on a hunger strike in the women’s ward of Urmia Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, 33-year-old Elmira Habibi,  a native of Urmia, was imprisoned after being convicted of financial crimes.

Ms. Habibi has been on a hunger strike to protest her unfair trial and the lack of accountability from officials.

Two Citizens Detained by Security Forces in Oshnavieh in West Azerbaijan Province

On Sunday, August 29, two citizens from Oshnavieh were detained by security forces and taken to an unknown location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, the identities of these citizens are Heydar Alizadeh from the village of Qazanabad, and Shirzad Mamandi a native of Narziveh village in Oshnavieh.

The report states that the arrests were made without a court order, and that security forces searched the homes of detainees, confiscated some of their belongings, including their cell phones.

As of this writing, no information is available on the reasons for the arrests, the charges against them, or the whereabouts of these citizens.

Supreme Court Upholds Death Sentence of Prisoner

The Supreme Court recently upheld the death sentence of a young man named Ehsan.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Rokna news, the man had previously been sentenced to death for murder by the Second Branch of the First Criminal Court in Tehran.

Iran ranks first in the world in citizen executions per capita, according to international organizations. The Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) reported that between January 1 and December 20 of 2020, at least 236 citizens were executed.
One of these citizens was executed publicly, and two were juvenile offenders.

An additional 95 citizens were sentenced to death. According to the same report, more than 72% of executions in Iran are not reported by the government or the judiciary, which human rights organizations call “secret” executions.

Prisoner Executed in Zahedan Prison in Sistan and Baluchestan Province

On Saturday, August 28, at dawn, Mansour Kahrazehi was executed in Zahedan Prison in Sistan and Baluchestan Province.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Kahrazehi had previously been sentenced to death on a charge of murder.

Iran ranks first in the world in citizen executions per capita, according to international organizations. The Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) reported that between January 1 and December 20 of 2020, at least 236 citizens were executed.

One of these citizens was executed publicly, and two were juvenile offenders. An additional 95 citizens were sentenced to death. According to the same report, more than 72% of executions in Iran are not reported by the government or the judiciary, which human rights organizations call “secret” executions.

Mr. Kahrazehi’s execution has not been announced by Iranian media or official sources as of this writing.

Christian Converts Amin Khaki, Milad Goodarzi, and Alireza Nourmohammadi Sentenced to a Total of 9 Years in Prison

On Sunday, August 22, Branch 12 of the Alborz Court of Appeals sentenced Amin Khaki, Milad Goodarzi, and Alireza Nourmohammadi, three Christian converts, to a total of nine years in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Mohabbat News, in their first trial in June this year, Amin Khaki, Milad Goodarzi, and Alireza Nourmohammadi were each sentenced to 5 years imprisonment and fined 40 million Tomans, by the Fourth Branch of the Revolutionary Court of Karaj, on charges of propaganda and catechizing deviant against the holy Sharia of Islam.

Despite the fact that Christians are recognized as a religious minority under Islamic law, the security services nevertheless pursue the issue of Muslims converting to Christianity with particular sensitivity and deal harshly with activists in this field.

The Iranian regime targets Christian converts despite Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which state that every individual has the right to freedom of religion and belief and freedom to express it openly or secretly.