Category: Freedom of Expression

Hossein Kheiri Sentenced to Death for “Moharebeh”

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Executions, Freedom of Expression, Prisoners
Babak Paknia, Capital Punishment, Death Penalty, Death sentence, Hossein Kheiri, iran death penalty, Kheiri, moharebeh, Paknia, Sharia law

Babak Paknia, the lawyer of political prisoner Hossein Kheiri, announced the issuance of the death sentence to his client on charges of Moharebeh by destroying property with the intention to oppose the regime.

Moharebeh, loosely translated as “waging war against God”, is a pillar of Sharia Law that is typically applied to those suspected of connection to any acts against the state.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Emtedad news, Paknia has stated, “Our strong evidence shows that the charge of moharebeh does not fit the actions taken by my client.”

He explained that an indictment was issued by the Evin Security Court against eight people, of whom four were accused of moharebeh and the rest were prosecuted on charges of collusion against national security and the like.

“We defended and the court accepted that out of the four, three could not be punished under the guise of moharebeh, but the actions of Hossein Kheiri were recognized as moharebeh and a death sentence was issued for him,” Paknia said. “We will submit our bill of appeal in two weeks to be reconsidered in the Supreme Court.”

Dorsa Dehghani Released on Bail; Sina Kamali Sarvestani Still in Detention

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Freedom of Expression, Prisoners, Religious Minorities
Baha'i, Baha'i arrests, baha'i citizens arrested, Baha'i citizens detained, Baha'i citizens in Iran, Dorsa Dehghani, irgc, Shiraz, Sina Kamali Sarvestani

Baha’i citizen Dorsa Dehghani was released on bail on Thursday, July 1st, while  Sina Kamali Sarvestani, another Baha’i resident of Shiraz, is still being held in an undisclosed location after 17 days of detention.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, these citizens were arrested separately on June 14 by IRGC intelligence agents.

According to unofficial sources, more than 300,000 Baha’is live in Iran, but the Iranian constitution recognizes only Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism.

Because their faith is not considered legitimate by authorities, the rights of Baha’is in Iran have been systematically violated for years.

This deprivation of the freedom to practice their religion is a violation of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

The United Nations covenant holds that every person has the right to freedom of religion, freedom of converting religion, as well as freedom of expression, individually or collectively; openly or secretly.

Three Christian Converts Sentenced to a Total of 15 Years in Prison and a Fine

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Freedom of Expression, Prisoners, Religious Minorities
Alireza Nourmohammadi, Amin Khaki, Christian converts, Christianity, Citizens arrested, Citizens detained, Karaj, Milad Goodarzi, Religious persecution

Amin Khaki, Milad Goodarzi, and Alireza Nourmohammadi were sentenced by the Fourth Branch of the Revolutionary Court of Karaj to five years each in prison and a fine of 40 million tomans.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the website Article 18 , the three christian converts were sentenced for “Propaganda and educational activities contrary to the holy Sharia of Islam”.

The citizens had been released on bail of 250 million tomans each in November 2020 after being summoned to judicial authorities and filing a case.

Despite the fact that Christians are recognized as a religious minority under Iranian 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.

Ferdowsi University of Mashhad Students Protest Admin’s Negligence Leading up to Student Suicide

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Freedom of Expression, Students
Admin negligence, Ferdowsi University, Gholi Beiglou, Mashhad, Saeed Gholi Beiglou, Student death, University administration

On Monday, June 28, in the aftermath of Saeed Gholi Beiglou’s suicide, several Ferdowsi University of Mashhad students gathered to protest Admin’s negligence leading up to the tragedy.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Gholi Beiglou was a postdoctoral researcher studying physics. Students have stated that Gholi Beiglou had attempted to kill himself the previous day, and university officials had sent him back to his dormitory without providing any support. He hung himself from the ceiling fan of his dormitory the following day.

Students are demanding that the university take responsibility for Gholi Beiglou’s death.

 

345 Students at the University of Tehran Sign Letter Protesting Expulsion of Kasra Nouri

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Freedom of Expression, Prisoners, Students
Adelabad, Adelabad Prison, dERVISH, Gonabadi Dervish, Kasra Nour, Kasra Nouri, Majzooban Noor, Student Disciplinary Code, Tehran, University of Tehran

Today, June 28, 345 students at the University of Tehran published letters addressed to the president of the university stating that Kasra Nouri’s expulsion was illegal.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Kasra Nouri, a Gonabadi Dervish currently serving out a sentence in Adelabad Prison in Shiraz, was expelled from the University of Tehran for truancy.

“According to the executive order of the students’ disciplinary regulations, the University of Tehran has committed a completely illegal act in expelling the student’s optical fraction in addition to the elimination and police action,” the letter reads.

The full text of the letter follows:

 

Dear Dr. Nili,
President of the University of Tehran
Pursuant to Note 1 of Article 113 of the Executive Procedure of the Student Disciplinary Code, which explicitly states: The convict can continue his / her education and the university will assist the student in continuing his / her education as appropriate; If the term of the sentence is longer than the permitted period of study, the university will adapt the way of continuing education to the new educational situation. ”
Kasra Nouri has been imprisoned since February 2018, and it is practically impossible for him to go to university, and he should be dealt with under this note.
Therefore, we, the students of the University of Tehran, who are the signatories of this letter, strongly demand that the illegal expulsion of Kasra Nouri from the university be revoked immediately. ”

 

Kasra Nouri, a graduate student who had been pursuing a degree in human rights at the University of Tehran and was one of the webmasters of the website “Majzooban Noor” , was arrested during the Golestan 7 Incident at dawn on March 22, 2017, along with hundreds of other Gonabadi Dervishes, and transferred to the Greater Tehran Prison.

Mr. Nouri was sentenced by Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, presided over by Judge  Ahmadzadeh,  to 12 years in prison, 74 lashes, 2 years in exile to Babajani, a 2-year ban on leaving the country, and 2 year ban from of membership in groups and political parties. Of this sentence, in accordance with Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code,  7 and a half years were enforceable.

Nouri was transferred from Greater Tehran Prison to Adelabad Prison in Shiraz in December 2019. On March 29, he was once again transferred to Adelabad Prison in Shiraz.

Kasra Nouri was born in 1990. He had previously spent a period of imprisonment in No. 100 Shiraz Prison, Adelabad Prison in Shiraz, and Evin Prison in Tehran from 2011 to mid-2015 for  his online advocacy work for Gonabadi Dervishes.

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HRANA Recap: This Week’s Protests in Iran

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Environment, Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds
Abadan, Assaluyeh, Babol, Behbahan, Bidkhoon refinery, Bushehr petrochemical company, Isfahan, Markazi Province, Pars Tire, Saveh, Sepahan Cement Company, Shiraz, Sina Palayesh, Tabriz, Tehran, Tehran Metro, Urmia, zanjan

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, a number of protests took place this week against the results of cities’ local elections and inadequate labor conditions. This week also featured the continuation of widespread labor strikes across the country. The oil industry, petrochemical industry and power stations experienced strikes in Abadan, Isfahan, Assaluyeh, Kerman, Qeshm Island, Yasuj, Bid Boland, and Urmia and Bushehr. Below is a brief recap and footage from some of the week’s demonstrations.

 

Saturday and Sunday, June 19-20

Several citizens in Yasuj protested the results of the city’s local elections in front of the Boyer-Ahmad government building.  A group of Tehran Metro staff held protest rallies in front of the metro operating company in Tehran. Project workers of Farab Company of Bidkhoon refinery in Assaluyeh went on strike and left their jobs.

 

Citizens in Yasuj:

 

Tehran Metro staff:

 

Project workers in Bidkhoon refinery in Assaluyeh:

 

Monday and Tuesday, June 21-22

9 protest rallies and 11 workers’ strikes took place. A group of pharmacists in front of the Ministry of Health building in Tehran. Workers of Pars Tire in Saveh in Markazi Province rallied in front of the local factory. Workers of Sepahan Cement Company protested at their workplace, and a group of resident doctors in protested in the cities of Tehran, Urmia, Zanjan, Babol, Shiraz and Tabriz. Workers in Tehran Oil Refinery, Gachsaran Petrochemical Company, phases 13 and 14 of Assaluyeh, phase 13 of Kangan, Lidoma Company located in phase 13 of South Pars, AJC Company working in Abadan Refinery, Bidboland Refinery of Behbahan, Bushehr Petrochemical Company, Sina Palayesh Company Qeshm Island, and workers of Tehran Metro Line 5 went on strike.

 

Workers of Bidboland Gas Refinery in Behbahan:

 

 

Workers of Gachsaran Petrochemical Company:

 

Workers of Tehran Oil Refinery:

 

Workers of Lidoma Company located in phase 13 of South Pars:

 

Pharmacists in Tehran:

 

Resident doctors in Tehran, Urmia, Zanjan, Babol, Shiraz and Tabriz:

Pars Tire workers:

 

Wednesday, June 23

Workers of recently-closed stoning units of Hana Industrial Town located in Neyriz city in Fars gathered in front of the city government building. A group of employees of Ramin power station in Ahvaz city in front of the office building of the station, and a group of employees of Abadan refinery in front of the entrance door.

 

Ramin power station workers in Ahvaz:

Abadan refinery employees:

 

Thursday, June 24

Several residents of Maravneh village of Ahvaz city,  workers of Mapna 3 Qeshm power Station continued their participation in the nationwide protests of the workers of the country’s oil industry.

 

Mapna 3 power Station employees:

Residents of Maravneh village:

 

Friday, June 25

Workers of refineries, petrochemicals and power plants, workers of Yazd Steel, went on strike.

Azadeh Zeinali on a Hunger Strike in Qarchak Prison in Varamin

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Freedom of Expression, Prisoners, Women
Azadeh Zeinali, Elena Javid, Prisoner on a hunger strike, Qarchak, Qarchak Prison, Qarchak Prison in Varamin, Zeinali

Azadeh Zeinali, a theater director who is currently serving out a sentence in Qarchak Prison in Varamin, has been on a hunger strike since July 22. 

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Insaf News, Zelani was imprisoned on financial charges and is using the hunger strike to protest delays in the processing of her case.

“My case is being processed very slowly, otherwise I should have gone on leave by now,”  Zeinali (whose stage name is Elena Javid) said. “I have been on a hunger strike to protest this. I am currently in Qarchak prison. I was told I will be released on bail.”

Civil Activist Saeed Eghbali’s Hearing Permanently Damaged Amid Ongoing Medical Negligence in Rajai Shahr Prison

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Environment, Freedom of Expression, Prisoners
Eghbali, Judge Mohammad Moghiseh, Karaj, medical neglect, medical negligence, Rajai Shahr prison in Karaj, Rajai-Shahr, Saeed Eghbali

On June 19, civil activist Saeed Eghbali was sent to visit a doctor in Amir Alam Hospital after months of deprivation of medical care in Rajai Shahr Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the specialist doctor stated that due to lack of timely medical attention and the severity of the infection, Eghbali will permanently lose 70% of his hearing. If the medication does not control the infection by next month, surgery will be needed to prevent it from spreading.

Mr. Eghbali was arrested at the beginning of a ten-day annual celebration for the Islamic Revolution’s Victory in 2018.

Eghbali has been enduring a 5-year sentence in prison since June 2020. Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, presided by Judge Mohammad Moghiseh sentenced Mr. Eghbali to 5 years in prison on the charges of “conspiracy to act against the security of the country” and to 1 year in prison on a charge of “propaganda activities against the regime”.

This sentence was upheld by Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals. Using Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, 5 years imprisonment is enforceable to him on a charge of “Conspiracy to act against the security of the country”.

Saeed Eghbali wrote an open letter from Rajai Shahr prison in Karaj in May of this year. Below is an excerpt from the letter:

I was told,  “We arrested you on this date to let you know that you are too small to act against the regime”. All the harassment that the security system inflicted on me was because I had protested; I used my rights as a citizen to make changes to the condition of my country. When I realized what was going on, I decided to protest the system that knows no rights for its people. I was and am from a social class that has been oppressed and denied for decades.

Teacher Union Activist Arrested in Connection with Online Activity Regarding Presidential Election

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Freedom of Expression, Prisoners
Hamidnia, irgc, Khuzestan, Khuzestan province, Massoud Hamidnia, rheumatoid arthritis, Shush city, Teacher arrested, teacher union, Teacher union activist

On June 19, teacher union activist Massoud Hamidnia was arrested by IRGC intelligence agents at his home in the city of Shush in Khuzestan Province.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, security forces raided his home without a warrant and confiscated several of his personal belongings including his laptop and mobile phone.

The detained activist is suffering from medical problems such as rheumatoid arthritis, and he has been denied access to his medications since the arrest, raising concern among his family.

Hamidnia’s family was told that he had been arrested in connection with his activities on social media and cyberspace regarding the recent presidential election.

As of this writing, no information is available on his whereabouts or the charges against him. Hamidnia has thus far only been allowed to make one short phone call to his family.

 

 

Labor Activist Gharib Havizavi Arrested by Security Forces in Ahvaz

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Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, Prisoners
ahvaz, Ahvaz city, Gharib Havizavi, Havizavi, Khuzestan Steel Company, Labor activist, Labor activist arrested

On Tuesday, June 22, Gharib Havizavi, a labor activist and recently-fired employee of the Khuzestan Steel Company, was arrested by security forces in Ahvaz and taken to an unknown location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the Khuzestan Steel Company security officer had blocked Mr. Havizavi from entering the building in April while he was still employed.

On June 12, in a hearing that was held at the Ahvaz Labor Office to process his appeal for returning to work, Havizavi was fired from the company by order of the employer’s legal representative.

Havizavi has a history of being summoned and detained by security forces. The report does not specify Havizavi’s location or the charges against him.