Category: Freedom of Expression

HRANA Recap: This Week’s Protests in Iran

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Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds
Ahanshahr, ahvaz, Ahvaz city, Bafgh phosphate mine, Boyer-Ahmad Province, Cryptoland exchange, Gachsaran, Gachsaran in Kohgiluyeh, Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry, Kharg city, Kharg Island, Khuzestan, Khuzestan Pipe Industrial Company, Khuzestan province, Kohgiluyeh, Laleh Park, Masjed Soleiman, Tehran, Tehran Metro
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, a number of protests took place in different parts of the country this week. Below is a quick recap and footage from the demonstrations.

 

Saturday, June 12

On Saturday, June 12, a group of rice farmers in Khuzestan rallied in front of the governor’s office. In Tehran, retired drivers of the Tehran Bus Company gathered in front of the company’s headquarters. Contract workers of the maintenance unit for Tehran Metro Line 5 held a rally in front of Hashtgerd metro station, a group of shareholders of Cryptoland Exchange who lost money to the company rallied in front of the Economic Crimes Court building, and family members of SMA patients gathered in front of the Ministry of Health building.

Rice farmers in Khuzestan:

 

Retired bus drivers in Tehran:

Workers of the maintenance unit for Tehran Metro:

Shareholders of Cryptoland Exchange:

 

Sunday, June 13

On Sunday, June 13, a group of shopkeepers in Gachsaran in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province gathered in front of the governor’s office. A group of veterans who were injured during the Iran-Iraq war rallied in front of the Martyr Foundation building in Tehran, several drivers and workers of the Tehran Bus Company heled a rally in front of the city council building, and Cryptoland exchange shareholders gathered in front of the Economic Crimes court building again.

Shopkeepers in Gachsaran:

Injured Iraq-Iran war Veterans:

 

Bus drivers in Tehran:

Shareholders of Cryptoland Exchange:

 

Monday, June 14

On Monday, Several fishermen in Kharg city of Kharg Island gathered in front of the border checkpoint. A group of workers of Tehran Jonoob company protested in Mahshahr in Khuzestan Province.  Landowners in the new city of Pardis, rice farmers in Khuzestan Province, and fired workers of Khuzestan Pipe Industrial Company also held rallies.

Fishermen in Kharg island:

 

Workers of Tehran Jonoob company in Mahshahr:

 

Landowners in the new city of Pardis:

 

Tuesday, June 15

A group of delivery motorcyclists in Laleh Park in Tehran, and a group of families of Bafgh phosphate mine workers in the conference hall of Ahanshahr town held protest rallies.

Delivery motorcyclist in Laleh Park in Tehran:

Wednesday, June 16

The staff of Telecommunication Company of Khuzestan in the cities of Shushtar, Masjed Soleiman, and Ahvaz gathered in front of their cities’ Telecommunication Offices. Shareholders of the “Mashhad Mall” project rallied in front of the building of Ayandeh Bank in Mashhad. Workers of Tehran Jonoob Company held protest rallies for the third day in a row in Mahshahr.

 

Protest of staff of Telecommunication Company in Khuzestan:

Shareholders of Cryptoland Exchange:

 

Workers’ protest in Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry:

 

Protest of workers in Mashhad Mall project:

 

Medical Staff Member Arrested For Protesting in Shiraz

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Freedom of Expression, Prisoners
Citizen arrested, Citizen arrests in Iran, Citizen detained, Citizens detained, irgc, Namazee, Namazee Hospital, Namazee Hospital Shiraz, Security forces, Shiraz

On June 17, a member of the medical staff of Namazee Hospital in Shiraz was arrested by security forces after speaking out against the Islamic Republic.

Based on a video posted on social media, the citizen was forcefully arrested by security forces.

As of this writing, no information is available on his whereabouts.

27 Citizens Arrested In Gilan in Connection with the Presidential Election

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Freedom of Expression, Prisoners
Gilan, Gilan province, Gilan Public Security Police, Hassanpour, Hossein Hassanpour, Iran elections, Iran Presidential Elections

Gilan deputy police chief Hossein Hassanpour stated 27 citizens in Gilan province were arrested for what he called “harming the health of the elections”.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting ISNA News, Hassanpour stated that the Gilan Public Security Police has verbally dealt with 85 other people so far.

The report does not mention the identities of the detained citizens or their detention status.

Political Prisoner Abdul Rasoul Mortazavi Sentenced to 2 Additional Years

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Freedom of Expression, Prisoners
Abdul Rasoul Mortazavi, Ayatollah Khamenei, Evin, Evin Prison, Hashem Khastar, Karaj, Khamenei, Mohammad Hossein Sepehri, Mohammad Nourizad, Mortazavi, Rajai Shahr Prison, Rajai Shahr prison in Karaj, Tehran

Political prisoner Abdul Rasoul Mortazavi was sentenced by Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran to two additional years in prison in a new case recently opened against him.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the new charges against Mortazavi include “propaganda against the regime” and “disturbing public order”.

Mortazavi, who lost his leg during the Iraq-Iran war, was transferred from Evin Prison in Tehran to Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj in early April. During the move, prison authorities took his prosthetic leg and did not return it.

Under the pretext of finally giving back his leg, officials then transferred Mortazavi to solitary confinement in Rajai Shahr on April 20th, where he is currently being held. He has been denied requests for sick leave and denied the right to make phone calls while in solitary confinement. His leg has still not been returned.

In mid-August 2019, Abdol Rasoul Mortazavi and 13 civil society activists published an open letter and requested the resignation of Ayatollah Khamenei. He was subsequently sentenced to 26 years in prison, from which 11 years are enforceable.

Mohammad Nourizad, Hashem Khastar, Mohammad Hossein Sepehri and several other signatories to the statement are also currently serving prison sentences.

Shaker Behrouz on a Hunger Strike in Urmia Prison

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Executions, Freedom of Expression, Prisoners
Behrouz, Citizen arrested, Citizen sentenced to death, Death sentence, Dizaj, Hunger Strike, Ministry of Intelligence, Shaker Behrouz, Urmia, Urmia City, Urmia prison, West Azerbaijan Province

Political prisoner Shaker Behrouz has been on a hunger strike since June 13 in Urmia Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Behrouz’s hunger strike is in protest of his unjust death sentence and long-term detention in solitary confinement.

Behrouz became a member of one of the Iranian Kurdish opposition parties located in Iraq in 2018, but later that year, he got a safe-conduct letter and returned to Iran.

32-year-old Behrouz was first arrested by Ministry of Intelligence agents in March 2019 and sentenced to five years in prison for membership in an opposition party (KDP).

Later, Branch 2 of the Urmia Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Ali Sheikh Lou, further sentenced Mr. Behrouz to death on charges of armed rebellion through membership in an opposition party and the murder of a member of the Revolutionary Guards.

12 separate people testified that at the time of the murder, Behrouz was in a shop in Dizaj town of Urmia city, nowhere near the scene of the crime. However, the court refused to hear the witnesses’ statements and convicted him anyway.

An informed source additionally told HRANA that the victim’s family has stated they did not file a lawsuit against Mr. Behrouz and believe in his innocence. They are even willing to testify in court to that end.

Shaker Behrouz is the son of Salim, and a resident of the Dizaj region of Urmia city in West Azerbaijan Province.

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Greengrocer Arrested After Stating that Ebrahim Raisi’s Campaign Extorted Money from Daily Markets

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Freedom of Expression, Prisoners
ahvaz, Ebrahim Raisi, Iran elections, Iran presidential election, Iran Presidential Elections, Khuzestan, Khuzestan province, Raisi, Raisi campaign

On June 14th, a greengrocer was arrested at his workplace in Ahvaz in Khuzestan Province after his comments on the recent actions of Ebrahim Raisi’s presidential campaign.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the grocer was arrested by security forces and transferred to an unknown location.

Recently, a video of the greengrocer was published on social media, in which he says that the election campaign of Ebrahim Raisi extorted money from greengrocers of a daily market under the pretext of helping the campaign.

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

Hossein Hashemi and Mohammad Turkmani End Their Hunger Strike in Greater Tehran Prison

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Freedom of Expression, Prisoners
Greater Tehran Penitentiary, Greater Tehran Prison, Hossein Hashemi, Hunger Strike, Mohammad Turkmani

On June 12, political prisoners Hossein Hashemi and Mohammad Turkmani ended their hunger strike following their return to section 2 of the Greater Tehran Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Hossein Hashemi and Mohammad Turkmani went on strike on June 1 and 2 after being transferred to the detention center for prisoners accused of violent crimes.

This transfer was a violation of the UN principle of separation of prisoners based on crime.

 

 

 

Eight Azerbaijani Turk Activists End Hunger Strike in Ardabil and Evin Prisons After Officials Promise to Meet Their Demands

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Ethnic Minorities, Freedom of Expression, Prisoners
Abbas Lesani, Ali Vaseghi, Ardabil, ardabil prison, Azerbaijani Turk activist, Azerbaijani Turk activists in Iran, Behnam Sheikhi, Evin, Evin Prison, Hunger Strike, Kianoosh Aslani, Mehrdad Sheikhi, Reza Vaseghi, separation of prisoners based on crime, Siamak Mirzaei, Yousef Kari

On June 14, eight Azerbaijani Turk activists ended their hunger strike in Ardabil and Evin Prisons after the authorities’ favorable promise that their demands would be met.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Saturday, June 13, Abbas Lesani went on a hunger strike to protest the non-observance of the principle of separation of prisoners based on crime and the punitive transfer of political prisoners to wards with prisoners of violent crimes.
Seven other prisoners had gone on hunger strikes in support of Lesani’s endeavor.
The prisoners involved were Abbas Lesani, Yousef Kari, Mehrdad Sheikhi, Ali Vaseghi, Reza Vaseghi, Siamak Mirzaei, Behnam Sheikhi, and Kianoosh Aslani.

Khaled Pirzadeh Sent on Sick Leave After a 15-day Hunger Strike

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Freedom of Expression, Prisoners
Greater Tehran Prison, Hunger Strike, Khaled Pirzadeh, Pirzadeh, Pirzadeh hunger strike, Tehran

Political prisoner Khaled Pirzadeh was sent on sick leave on the 15th day of his hunger strike.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the political prisoner had been on a hunger strike since May 31 in the Greater Tehran Prison.

Earlier this year, Pirzadeh went on a hunger strike following the failure of authorities to fulfill their promise to agree to parole. Pirzadeh ended his hunger strike in March after authorities promised that his demands would be met, but they did not follow through.

Pirzadeh reportedly told prison officials that this time he would end his hunger strike only when he is with his wife and child.

This demonstration, Pirzadeh’s second hunger strike of the year, was in response to prison officials’ denial of visitations and leave in the 25 months since his imprisonment.

5 Activists and Family Members of Afkari Brothers Beaten and Temporarily Detained by Adelabad Officials

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Freedom of Expression, Prisoners, Women
Adelabad Prison, Adelabad Prison in Shiraz, Afkari brothers, Fars Province, November 2019 nationwide protests, November 2019 Protests, Pouya Bakhtiari, Protests of 2019, Taghi Rahmani, Vahid and Habib Afkari

Prison authorities reacted violently to a gathering of social activists and relatives of political prisoner brothers Vahid and Habib Afkari in front of Adelabad Prison in Shiraz.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists (HRA), several participants, including the Afkari brothers’ mother and sister, were beaten and detained by security forces for several hours.

Narges Mohammadi, Jafar Azim Zadeh, Pouran Nazemi, Nahid Shirpisheh (Mother of Pouya Bakhtiari, who was shot killed in 2019 nationwide protests) and Sakineh Ahmadi (mother of Ebrahim Katabdar, a protester who was killed in 2019 nationwide protest) were also identified as among the arrested by Ms. Mohammadi’s husband Taghi Rahmani.

On June 12, Saeed Afkari, the brother of Vahid and Habib Afkari, released a statement on the incident.

“Officers severely beat my mother, my sister, my father, my aunts, and others. The cell phones were confiscated, my sister and one of the women were arrested,” Saeed wrote. “They were released a couple of hours later.”