Category: Freedom of Expression

Hashim Khoran Sentenced to Imprisonment

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Alyan, Hashim Khoran, Mehran Soleimanpour

Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Oshnavieh sentenced Hashim Khoran to 2 years and six months in prison. Hashim Khoran is a resident of the village Alyan located in Oshnavieh County, West Azerbaijan Province. Recently, another resident of this village Mehran Soleimanpour was also sentenced to one year and six months in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, Hashim Khoran, a resident of the village Alyan located in Oshnavieh County was sentenced to two and a half years in prison on the charge of “collaboration with a political opposition party.”

His trial was held on March 25, 2022.

On June 24, 2021, security forces arrested Mr. Khoran without showing an arrest warrant. They transferred him to a detention center and subsequently relocated him to Urmia prison after completing the interrogation. The security forces searched his house at the time of the arrest and confiscated some of his belongings.

On July 28, 2021, Mr. Khoran was released on a bail amount of 500 million tomans. He was denied access to a lawyer and family visitation during the arrest.

37 Human Rights Organizations Ask for the Renewal of the Mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Iran

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Freedom of Expression, News
Human Rights Organizations, the UN Special Rapporteur

Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRAI) has joined other human rights organizations to urge countries for supporting the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human rights in Iran.

Below is the full text of the letter, and the list of signatories:

TO: Member states of the United Nations Human Rights Council

Your Excellency,

We, the undersigned Iranian and international human rights organisations, call on your country to support the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran at the 49th session of the Human Rights Council (HRC). We also urge your government to use this opportunity to voice concern at the situation of human rights in Iran, and to answer the Special Rapporteur’s appeal for “the international community to call for accountability with respect to long-standing emblematic events that have been met with persistent impunity” at this session.

The renewal of this mandate is essential in light of the persistence of a pattern of serious human rights violations and international crimes committed by Iranian authorities, as extensively documented by civil society monitors and by the Special Rapporteur.

At this session, the Council is yet again being presented with evidence of gross violations of the right to life, including through the use of the death penalty against child offenders in violation of the absolute prohibition on the use of the death penalty against persons who were under the age of 18 at the time of the crime and through its use for offences not meeting the threshold of “most serious crimes” under international law. Throughout the past year, authorities executed men and women sentenced to death in grossly unfair trials managed by a deeply flawed judicial system that according to the Special Rapporteur “acts as a repressive organ instead of an independent body towards which individuals seek recourse”.

 

The Council is also being presented with evidence of the continued unlawful use of lethal force by law enforcement and other state agents against protesters, bystanders and border couriers, leading to scores of killings and hundreds of serious injuries including blinding. Since the renewal of the mandate last year, there have been multiple suspicious deaths in custody following credible allegations of torture and denial of health care. Consistent with entrenched patterns of impunity, none of these violations have been investigated or punished.

In the past year, human rights defenders, including labour rights defenders, bereaved relatives of those killed by security forces seeking justice, as well as lawyers and journalists have continued to be judicially harassed and arbitrarily detained. Dual and foreign nationals remained arbitrarily detained “as a means to put pressure on foreign Governments.” Iranian authorities also banned additional media outlets and social media platforms and imposed local Internet shutdowns during protests, further curtailing the right to freedom of expression.

 

As highlighted in the report of the Special Rapporteur, discrimination in law and practice remains pervasive and perpetuates violence against women and girls; persons belonging to ethnic or linguistic minorities, including Ahwazi Arabs, Azerbaijani Turks, Baluchis, Kurds and Turkmen; persons belonging to religious or belief minorities, including Baha’is, Christian converts, the Yarsan (Ahl-e Haq), Sunni Muslims, atheist beliefs and non -believers , as well as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people.

 

These long-standing patters of human rights violations have been facilitated by what the Special Rapporteur describes as “institutional impunity” due to “the absence of a system for accountability for violations of human rights“, within a system where “obtaining accountability for human rights violations becomes arbitrary at best and impossible at worst.”

In such a context, the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran is more than ever critical to monitor, document and report to this Council on steps taken by Iran to uphold its human rights obligations or of its failure to take such measures. It is essential to engage with Iranian authorities on issues of concern, and to make potentially life-saving urgent appeals and other communications.

The mandate draws the attention of this Council to the voices of survivors, victims and their families, and its expert findings and recommendations steer and inform the efforts of UN bodies and member states to encourage Iran’s authorities to undertake long overdue human rights reforms and hold them to account for human rights violations.

For these reasons, we urge your government to support the renewal of the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran at this session and to press Iran to give the expert unfettered access to the country. We also call on your government to voice concern at the dire situation of human rights in Iran, and to send a strong message to the Iranian authorities that the cycle of impunity must be broken.

 

Abdorrahman Boroumand Center for Human Rights in Iran (ABC)

The Advocates for Human Rights

African Center for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS)

All Human Rights for All in Iran

Amnesty International

Arseh Sevom

Article 18

ARTICLE 19

Association for the Human Rights of the Azerbaijani people in Iran (AHRAZ)

Balochistan Human Rights Group

Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS)

Center for Human Rights in Iran

Centre for Supporters of Human Rights

Child Rights International Network (CRIN)

CIVICUS – World Alliance for Citizen Participation

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)

Conectas Direitos Humanos

Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort (ECPM)

Freedom from Torture

Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA)

Human Rights Watch

Impact Iran

International Commission of Jurists

International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)

International Service for Human Rights (ISHR)

Iran Human Rights

Iran Human Rights Documentation Center (IHRDC)

Justice for Iran

Kurdistan Human Rights Association – Geneva (KMMK-G)

Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN)

Minority Rights Group International

OutRight Action International

Siamak Pourzand Foundation (SPF)

United for Iran

World Coalition Against the Death Penalty

World Organization Against Torture (OMCT)

6Rang – Iranian Lesbian & Transgender Network

 

Mehran Soleimanpour Sentenced to One Year and Six Months in Prison

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Mehran Soleimanpour, Oshnavieh

The Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Oshnavieh sentenced Mehran Soleimanpour to one year and six months in prison. On June 24, 2021, he was arrested in Oshnavieh and released after about one month on bail.  

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa News Agency, Mehran Soleimanpour was sentenced to one year and six months in prison on the charge of “collaboration with a political opposition party.”

Mehran Soleimanpour is a resident of the village Alyan located in Oshnavieh County, West Azerbaijan Province.

Journalist and Political Activist Hossein Roointan Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Blasphemy, HosseinRoointan

Recently, the Revolutionary Court of Dashtestan sentenced journalist and political activist Hossein Roointan to 20 years in prison and a fine. If the verdict is confirmed on appeal, 10 years of this sentence will be enforceable.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, journalist and political activist Hossein Roointan was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment

According to this verdict which was issued on March 15, 2022, Mr. Roointan has been sentenced to ten years in prison on the charges of “acting against national security” and one year for “propaganda against the regime”, 5 years for “blasphemy against the Imams and the prophet’s family”, two years for “offensive statements against the former and current Supreme Leader of Iran”, and 2 years for “spreading lies and disturbing public opinion.” Moreover, he has been fined in the amount of 15 million tomans.

In his trial, running an online advocacy campaign and inciting people for an illegal gathering were invoked as examples of these charges.

If the verdict is confirmed on appeal, ten years for the charge of “acting against national security” will be imposed.

On October 17, 2017, the Ministry of Intelligence’s agents arrested Mr. Roointanin Dashtestan. After one month, he was released on a bail amount of 200 million tomans.

Hossein Roointan, age 58, had previously faced other arrests and convictions due to his civil activities.

Twelve Citizens Arrested for Attending a Nowruz Celebration at Kurdistan Province 

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Freedom of Expression, News, Other
Nowruz, Sanandaj

On Monday, March 21, 2022, in Sanandaj city, the security forces raided a gathering and arrested twelve citizens. The gathering was held to celebrate Nowruz, the spring celebration and the Iranian New Year. 

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Monday, March 21, 2022, twelve citizens were arrested by security forces during a gathering for the celebration of Nowruz.

The arrestees have been identified as Sohrab Jalali, Jamal Asadi, Foad Enayati, Abed Khorshidi, Keyvan Zand-Karimi, Sahand Barzanji, Arash Shkeiba, Khaled Hosseini, Jamshid Farzi, Fardin Peymnankar, Keyhan Kakeh-Khani and Keyvan Mahmoodi. 

 It is still unknown where these arrestees have been detained.

Earlier, in October of 2019, Foad Enayati was arrested during a protest along with two other citizens, Faramarz Shariati and Mobin Khosravi. They were released on bail of 300 million tomans after the interrogation.

Subsequently, Branch 104 of the Criminal Court of Sanandaj, headed by Judge Omidi, sentenced Foad Enayati to 10 months imprisonment and 74 lashes. This prison sentence was changed to two years suspended prison on appeal. On July 27, 2020, the flagellation was carried out.

On March 7, 2021, Jamal Asadi had been summoned and interrogated by the Public Security and Intelligence Police of Sanandaj.

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Two Citizens Arrested in Mariwan and Piranshahr

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News, Other
Bahman Chashteh, Borhan Derakhshani, Nowruz

Last Saturday, March 19, 2022, security forces arrested two citizens in Mariwan and Piranshahr cities.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa News Agency, last Saturday, March 19, 2022, one citizen identified as Bahman Chashteh, age 48, was arrested by security forces in Piranshahr city of West Azerbaijan Province.

Reportedly, they arrested Mr Chashteh without presenting an arrest warrant.

On the same day, IRGC’s Intelligence Organization summoned a citizen identified as Borhan Derakhshani and arrested him upon appearance. Mr. Derakhshanie had been summoned on another occasion and interrogated three times. He is a resident of Nay village located in Mariwan County.

The reason for these arrests and the charges are still unknown. An informed source, however, in the report stated that they arrested Mr Derakhshani in an effort to prevent the gathering to celebrate Nowruz in Nay village.

Two Iranian-British Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori Freed and Reunited with Their Families 

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Anoosheh Ashoori, Iranian-British Citizen, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe

On Wednesday, March 16, 2022, two Iranian-British Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori left Iran and returned to the UK. 

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Wednesday, March 16, 2022, once the ban on leaving the country was lifted and she received her passport from the regime’s authorities, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe returned to the UK and reunited with her family.

 Iranian British citizen Anoosheh Ashoori who had been released from jail on that day was allowed to leave Iran with Mrs. Zaghari-Ratcliffe. 

In April of 2016, Nazanin Zaghari Ratcliffe was arrested at Imam Khomeini International Airport by IRGC’s agents prior to boarding a plane back to the U.K. In September 2016, she was sentenced to five years imprisonment. On March 17, 2020, she was released on furlough with an electronic tag. In March of 2021, after serving the full term of five years sentencing, she was released from jail.

In May of 2021, the Revolutionary Court of Tehran opened a new case, sentencing Ms. Zaghari-Ratcliffe to another year in prison and banning from leaving Iran.  In October of 2021, this verdict was upheld on appeal. 

Anooshe Ashoori is a 67 years old Iranian-British citizen and an aeronautical engineer who was arrested in 2017 when he traveled to Iran to visit his mother. According to the Spokesman of the Judiciary, he was charged with spying for Israel and the acquisition of illegitimate property and thereafter sentenced to 12 years in prison and was ordered to pay a fine in the amount of 33000 euros.

 

Arezoo Rahimkhani and Ramin Biranvand Sentenced Each to One Year In Prison

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Arezoo Rahimkhani, Ramin Biranvand

Last Sunday, Arezoo Rahimkhani, the professor who had been fired from her job earlier at the Islamic Azad University of Andimeshk, and her husband, Ramin Biranvand were sentenced each to one year in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Sunday, March 13, 2022, based on Article 500 of the Islamic Penal Code, Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Dezful sentenced Arezoo Rahimkhani and her husband, Ramin Biranvand each to one year in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime.” The court session had been held on March 9, 2022.

On June 29, 2021, the agents of the Security Base Abolfazl Al-Abbas arrested these citizens at their house in Andimeshk city and transferred them to an unidentified location. At the time of the arrest, they searched their house and confiscated some of their personal belongings such as computers and cell phones. These citizens were accused of “propaganda against the regime” due to visiting and leaving flowers on the burial places of the political prisoners who were executed in the 1980s by the Iranian regime. On July 27, 2021, They were released on bail.

Prior to the arrest, Arezoo Rahimkhani was fired from the university.  An informed source told HRANA, “Last month, they notified her verbally that she had been fired. After several inquiries, she was still not handed any termination letter due to the confidentiality of the matter. However, her salary had been cut since last summer.”

Student Activist Hasti Amiri Sentenced to One Year in Prison and Additional Punishments

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Freedom of Expression, News, Students
Hasti Amiri, International Women's Day, Student activist

Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced Hasti Amiri, the law student at Allameh Tabataba’i University, to one year in prison and additional punishments.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Emtedad News, Hasti Amiri was sentenced to one year in prison for the charge of “propaganda against the regime.” 

In addition, her cell phone was confiscated, and she was told that she was prohibited from membership in political and civil rights groups, including such activities on the internet, and she was banned from attending student gatherings for two years. 

The court exonerated her from the charge of “assembly and collusion to act against national security.”

According to Ms. Amiri’s lawyer, a published photo showing her in a student gathering for the celebration of Women’s Day on March 8 of last year, as well as her statements on social media against capital punishment have been used as evidence for the above-mentioned charges.

The legal case was opened against her last year, but the security and judicial officials did not take action until January 3 of 2022, when the NAJA Public Security Police raided her house to arrest her. Since she was not at home, they told her family that she has to appear at Branch 2 of Evin Courthouse.

Ms. Amiri was arrested on the day of the court appearance and spent one day in detention. One day after, she was released on bail of 500 million tomans.

Former Political Prisoner Mehrdad Mohammadnejad Arrested in Shahriar City

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Freedom of Expression, News
#detained_Iranian_student, #freedom_of_expression, Mehrdad Mohammadnejad

On Saturday, March 12, 2022, the security forces arrested former political prisoner Mehrdad Mohammadnejad at his house in Shahriar city and transferred him to an unidentified location. The agents also searched the house and confiscated some of his personal belongings.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, On Saturday, March 12, 2022, former political prisoner Mehrdad Mohammadnejad was arrested by security forces in Shahriar city.

Confirming the arrest, his parent told HRANA, “ten agents took him without stating any reasons or charges against him. At the time of arrest, they searched the house and confiscated some of his belongings, including his cell phone and tablet.”

“After an inquiry from the judicial authorities in Shahriar city, we were told that we have to go to the Evin courthouse. During his imprisonment, Mehrdad got cervical disc issues and since then he has had sleeping problems. Spending time in detention makes it worse for him”, according to Mohammadnejad’s parents.

The reason for the arrest, the charges and his whereabouts are still unknown.

Earlier on October 21, 2018, Mohammadnejad was arrested by the Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) agents at his house in Shahriar and transferred to Evin prison. Then, the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced him to two years on the charge of “offensive statements against the regime officials and authorities,” and one year for the charge of “propaganda against the regime.” This verdict was upheld by Branch 36 of Tehran’s Court of Appeals. On January 22, 2020, he was sent from Evin prison to the Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary to start this sentencing. On May 2, 2020, he was granted early release while he was on furlough.

Mehrdad Mohammadnejad is 26 years old and an economics student at the Islamic Azad University of Central Tehran.