Category: Freedom of Expression

Saeed Afkari Beaten and Arrested on the Anniversary of the Execution of Navid Afkari

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Environment, Executions, Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Elham Afkari, freedom of expression, Habib Afkari, Navid Afkari, November 2019 nationwide protests, November 2019 Protests, saeed Afkari, Shiraz

On Sunday, September 12, Saeed Afkari, the brother of Navid Afkari, was beaten and arrested by six plainclothes officers and taken to an unknown location in Shiraz.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, he was released after a couple of hours.

Mr. Afkari tweeted the day before that the security forces were pressuring the Afkari family to stop Navid Afkari’s execution anniversary. Following this tweet, Mr. Afkari’s twitter account has become unavailable.

It is also said that during Mr. Afkari’s arrest, security forces beat his sister, Elham Afkari.

Navid, Vahid, and Habib Afkari were arrested in 2018 in connection with the nationwide protests in August 2018. The brothers have been repeatedly beaten and tortured during interrogations. Navid Afkari, an Iranian wrestler, was executed at Adelabad Prison in Shiraz at dawn on September 12, 2020. Habib and Vahid have been sentenced to long imprisonment.

79 Citizens Arrested for Promoting Emergence of a New Mysticism in Gilan Province

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Cultural, Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners, Religious Minorities
Citizen arrests, Citizens arrested, Citizens detained, Gilan, Gilan province, Maleki, police forces, privacy interference, Promoting emerging mysticism

Maleki, the commander of the Gilan police force, recently announced the arrest of 79 citizens in one of the province’s forests.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Rokna, the citizens were arrested for what Maleki called “promoting emerging mysticism”.

“79 members of a tourist tour, including 27 women and 52 men, were arrested on charges of promoting false mysticism by holding superstitious rituals in the unsafe environment of a remote forest area,” he said.

Intrusion into citizens’ privacy and interference in their personal affairs are among the criticisms leveled at Iran’s judicial and disciplinary system.

“After receiving news about individuals who use cyberspace trying to propagate and promote emerging false mysticism through fraud,” Maleki continued, “receiving money, and setting up illegal tourist tours by holding superstitious rituals, the investigation of the issue was put on the agenda of the police.”

HRANA Recap: This Week’s Protests in Iran

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Environment, Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds
Ahvaz Municipality, Bandar Imam Petrochemical, Cryptoland exchange, Izeh, Izeh city, Karname-Sabz, Kermanshah Jihad Nasr, khorramshahr, Mehrafarin, Qeshm Refinery Heavy Oil, Tehran, Yasuj
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, a number of protests took place this week in Iran, many of which were continuations of ongoing movements.  Read our recap below for details, photos, and videos from the demonstrations.

 

Friday, September 3 and Saturday September 4

Several job applicants for Qeshm Refinery Heavy Oil, a group of job applicants for Literacy Movement Instructors in Tehran, a group of workers in Yasuj Municipal Services, a number of dismissed workers of Ahvaz Municipality, a group of shareholders of Cryptoland exchange in Tehran, a group of job applicants of Karname-Sabz, personnel of Kermanshah Jihad Nasr, and Khorramshahr municipal workers held protest rallies on Friday September 3, and Saturday September 4.

Job applicants for Qeshm Refinery Heavy Oil:

Instructor Job applicants of the Literacy Movement:

Workers of Yasuj Municipal Services:

Dismissed workers of Ahvaz Municipality:

Shareholders of Cryptoland exchange in Tehran:

Job applicants of Karname-Sabz:

Sunday, September 5

A group of job applicants of Karname-Sabz for the second day in a row in Tehran, a number of preschool teachers in Izeh city, a group of job  Literacy Movement Instructor applicants for the second consecutive day in Tehran, a number of Khorramshahr municipal workers, a group of Mehrafarin educators in Tehran, and independent contractor teachers in Yazd called on their demands to be addressed in protest rallies.

Job applicants of Karname-Sabz:

Instructor job applicants of the Literacy Movement:

Mehrafarin educators in Tehran:

Preschool teachers in Izeh city:

Monday, September 6

A group of job applicants of Karname-Sabz for the third day in a row in Tehran, a number of  shareholders of Cryptoland exchange in Tehran, a group of job applicants for Literacy Movement Instructors for the third day in a row in Tehran, a few workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-
Industry Co., a group of educators in Varamin, educators of Dezful city Literacy Movement, and a group of residents of Ghiazi village in Shadegan held protest rallies and called on their demands to be addressed.

 

Educators of Dezful City’s Literacy Movement:

Job applicants for Literacy Movement Instructors in Tehran:

Job applicants of Karname-Sabz:

Shareholders of Cryptoland Exchange in Tehran:

Workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company:

Educators in Varamin:

Villagers of Ghiazi in Shadegan:

Tuesday, September 7

A group of job applicants of Karname-Sabz for the fourth day in a row in Tehran and Bandar Imam Petrochemical staff rallied in protest this Tuesday.

Job applicants of Karname-Sabz:

Workers of Bandar Imam Petrochemical:

Wednesday, September 8

A group of telecommunication company personnel for a second consecutive day, several workers of oil and gas projects in Tehran, a group of shareholder drivers of the transport fleet modernization project, and a group of teachers from different cities in front of the parliament building in Tehran rallied this Wednesday. In Tehran, a group of citizens and civil activists rallied protests in front of the Pakistani embassy in support of the Afghan people.

Telecommunication company personnel:

Workers of oil and gas projects:

Shareholder drivers of the transport fleet modernization project:

Rally of teachers in front of the parliament building:

Thursday, September 9

For the sixth day in a row, a group of job applicants of Karname-Sabz in Tehran in protest rallies called for their demands to be addressed. Many citizens and civil activists held rallies reacting to the recent changes in Afghanistan in the cities of Tehran, Mashhad, Bushehr, and Kerman.

Job applicants of Karname-Sabz in Tehran:

Rallies of citizens in support of the people of Afghanistan and against Taliban:

Friday, September 10

A group of job applicants of Karname-Sabz for the seventh day in a row in Tehran in protest rallies called for their demands to be addressed.

 

Saeed Fathi Nejad Sentenced to Three Years and 7 Months in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Citizen arrest, Citizen detention, Fathi Nejad, Mahabad, Mahabad Prison, membership in an opposition group, Saeed Fathi Nejad, Saeid Fathi Nejad, Security forces

The Revolutionary Court of Mahabad sentenced Saeed Fathi Nejad, a citizen currently detained in Mahabad Prison, to three years and seven months in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, Mr. Fathi Nejad received this sentence on a charge of “membership in an opposition group”.

He was arrested by security forces in mid-June without a court order and was transferred to Mahabad Prison after being interrogated.

28-year-old Saeed Fathi Nejad has been denied access to a lawyer and family visits during his detention.

Roozbeh Piri Arrested by Security Forces in Tabriz

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Ethnic Minorities, Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Azerbaijani Turk activist, East Azerbaijan province, Judge Mikael Vatankhan Alvar, Mikael Vatankhah Alvar, Piri, Roozbeh Piri, Tabriz, Tabriz Prison

Yesterday, September 9, Azerbaijani Turk activist Roozbeh Piri was beaten, arrested, and transferred to an unknown location by security forces in Tabriz.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the reasons for Mr. Piri’s detention and his current whereabouts are still unknown.

Earlier, Branch 103 of the Criminal Court of Tabriz, presided over by Judge Mikael Vatankhah Alvar, sentenced Roozbeh Piri to pay a fine of 5 million tomans for “publishing lies in cyberspace”. The Court of Appeal of East Azerbaijan Province upheld the verdict of the primary court.

Piri had previously been arrested and convicted for his peaceful activities. He was arrested during the nationwide protests in Tabriz in November 2019 and sentenced by the court of appeals to 91 days in prison. Mr. Piri was released from Tabriz Prison in July 2020 after enduring his sentence.

Roozbeh Piri is the editor of Tabriz Magazine and the founder of Navid Etedal, an independent student organization at Tabriz Azad University.

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Concern Increases about Political Prisoner Zahra Safaei’s Condition Following her Transfer to Unknown Location

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Environment, Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners, Women
Medical care, medical neglect, medical negligence, Mohammad Mehdi Shamirzadi, Prison conditions, Qarchak Prison, Qarchak Prison in Varamin, Sadaei, Varamin, Zahra Safaei

On Saturday, September 4, political prisoner Zahra Safaei was transferred from prison to an unknown location following a heart attack.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Safaei was being held in Qarchak Prison in Varamin until  her transfer.

Neglect of Ms. Safaei’s condition, especially after her recent heart attack and poor physical condition, has raised concerns among her family. She had also been transferred to Sattari Hospital in Qarchak last week on the order of a prison doctor but was returned to prison without medical treatment.

Ms. Safaei was summoned in July 2020 and was transferred to Qarchak Prison in Varamin the next day since she was not able to provide the required bail of ten billion tomans.

In January of this year, Branch 23 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, presided over by Judge Mohammad Mehdi Shahmirzadi, sentenced Ms. Safaei to 5 years in prison on a charge of “propaganda activities against the national security”, one year in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”, and 2 years in prison on the charge of “insulting the leadership and founder of the Islamic Republic”.

She was also sentenced to a ban from leaving the country and from joining political parties and social groups.

Zahra Safaei has a history of arrest. She spent time in prison as a social-political activist in the 1980s. Her father was executed in the 1980s for supporting MEK.

Safaei’s location and fate are unknown as of this writing.

At Least Four Civil Activists Detained for Several Hours Following a Protest Rally in Tehran

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Ethnic Minorities, Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Afghanistan, Ahmad Reza Haeri, Islamic Emirate, Mohammadi, Narges Mohammadi, Nazemi, Panjshir, Pouran Nazemi, Taliban, Tehran, Vida Rabbani

On Wednesday, September 8, a number of civil activists were arrested in a protest rally related to the recent changes in Afghanistan and taken to an unknown location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Narges Mohammadi, Ahmad Reza Haeri, Pouran Nazemi, Vida Rabbani were among the arrested activists.

The rally was marred by violence by security and police forces. The mobile phones of several protesters were confiscated and only returned on condition of deleting the taken videos and photos. Some Afghans are said to be among the detainees.

Protesters carried placards and chanted slogans in support of Panjshir resistance and Afghan women, and against the Taliban and the Islamic Emirate.

The arrested activists were released after a couple of hours, on the evening of the same day.

Recently, Branch 2 of the Evin Prosecutor’s Office filed a lawsuit against Ms. Nazemi and Ms. Mohammadi, and seven other activists. These activists were also arrested and detained for a couple hours on July 20 during a rally in support of the people of Khuzestan in Tehran.

 

Azerbaijani Turk Activist Ali Shahi Arrested by Security Forces in Ardabil

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Ethnic Minorities, Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Ali Shahi, Ardabil, Azerbaijani Turk activist Ali Shahi, Citizen arrest, Citizen arrested, Citizen detained, Home search without warrant, Security forces

On Friday, September 3, Azerbaijani Turk activist Ali Shahi was arrested by security forces and taken to an unknown location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, security forces searched Shahi’s home in Ardabil and confiscated some of his belongings, including his cell phone and computer.

As of this writing, the reasons for his arrest, the charges against him, and his whereabouts are unknown.

Azerbaijani Turk Activist Abbas Nikravan Arrested by Security Forces in Salmas

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Ethnic Minorities, Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Abbas Nikravan, Azerbaijani Turk, Azerbaijani Turk activist, Babak Castle, Citizen arrests, Citizen detention, Salmas, West Azerbaijan, West Azerbaijan Province

On Sunday, September 5, Azerbaijani Turk activist Abbas Nikravan was arrested by security forces and taken to an unknown location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Nikravan is a native  of Salmas in West Azerbaijan Province.

Mr. Nikravan has a history of detention. He was arrested in July 2018, during the annual gathering of Babak Castle, and was released on bail a week later.

As of this writing, no information is available on the reasons for his detention, the charges against him, or his whereabouts.

HRANA Recap: This Week’s Protests in Iran

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Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News
ahvaz, Bostan, Bostan Municipality, Haft Tapeh Sugarcane Agro-Business, Haft Tappeh, Jijad Nasr Company, Kermanshah, Miandoab, Omideh, Tehran
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, a number of protests took place this week in Iran, many of which were continuations of ongoing movements.  Read our recap below for details, photos, and videos from the demonstrations.

 

Saturday, August 28

A group of workers from Arkan-Sales of the National Iranian Drilling Company NIDC, a group of teachers  and educators in Tehran, and workers of Omidieh Municipality held protest rallies this Saturday.

Workers from Arkan-Sales of NIDC:

Workers of Omidieh Municipality:

Teachers and educators in Tehran:

 

Sunday August 29 and Monday August 30

A group of workers of Omidieh Municipality for the second and third day in a row, some workers of Bostan Municipality, a number of staff and employees of Khuzestan Health plan Project in Ahvaz, some employees of Jihad Nasr Company of Kermanshah, and a group of workers of Miandoab Municipality held demonstrations on Sunday and Monday of this week.

Employees of Jihad Nasr Company of Kermanshah:

Workers of Omidieh Municipality:

Workers of Khuzestan Health Project:

Workers of Bostan Municipality:

Workers of Miandoab Municipality:

Tuesday, September 31

A group of project workers of Izeh City, several employees of Shiraz Health Center, a group of workers of Miandoab municipality, a number of workers of Omidieh municipality for the fourth consecutive day, some of the shareholders of Rigan Khodro and Shahr Khodro in Tehran, and contractor workers of ODCC  of Isfahan refinery all rallied this Tuesday to protest authorities’ ongoing neglect of their demands.

Employees of Shiraz Health Center:

Project workers of Izeh city:

Workers of Miandoab municipality:

Workers of Omidieh Municipality:

Protest of shareholders of Rigan Khodro and Shahr Khodro in Tehran:

Workers of ODCC of Isfahan refinery:

Wednesday, September 1

A group of employees of Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences in Sanandaj, a number of workers of Omidieh Municipality for the fifth day in a row, a group of fired workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Co., and a number of workers of Khorramshahr Municipality held protest rallies on Wednesday. 

Employees of Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences:

Workers of Omidieh Municipality:

Dismissed workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company:

Thursday, September 2

A group of municipal service workers of Miandoab Municipality and a number of employees of Sarvan Municipality demanded their requests to be addressed in protest rallies.

Workers of Miandoab Municipality: