Category: Other

Two Citizens Arrested in Kamyaran and Piranshahr Cities

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
arrests, Kamyaran, Karim Poormohammad, Kianoosh Rahmani, Piranshahr

On December 27, security forces arrested Kianoosh Rahmani in Kamyaran. The next day Karim Poormohammad was arrested in Piranshahr. Both were transferred to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, Rahmani, a resident of Kamyaran County, was arrested after a previous summons by IRGC’s intelligence unit.

“Last Sunday, the security forces raided his house to arrest him, but he was not at home and they searched the house”, an informed source said.

As of yet, the security institution responsible for these arrests has not revealed to either family the reason for arrest, the charges or their whereabouts.

Teacher’s Union Activist Fatemeh Bahmani Arrested in Shazand city

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
Arak City, Arrest without warrant, Fatemeh Bahmani, irgc, Mohammad Kurd, Shazand City

On December 24, security forces arrested teacher and union activist Fatemeh Bahmani at her house in Shazand City. Her cell phone was confiscated during the arrest.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations, IRGC’s security agents arrested Bahmani without showing an arrest warrant.

The reasons for the arrest and her whereabouts are unknown at the time of writing.

Bahmani was arrested earlier in 2018 along with her husband Mohammad Kurd. They were arrested during a protest and sit-down strike in Arak City and transferred to the city’s prison. In two different cases for each, they were sentenced to two years suspended imprisonment for three years and fined 8 million tomans (1904 USD).

Two People Arrested by Security Forces in Naghadeh County

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
collaborating with an opposition party, Farzin Abdollahzadeh, Kueek, Naghadeh, Sarhang Alizadeh, West Azerbaijan

Two citizens were arrested by security forces and transferred to an unidentified location last Sunday. The arrests occurred in Naghadeh County, West Azerbaijan Province.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, Sarhang Alizadeh and Farzin Abdollahzadeh, both the residents of the village Kueek, were arrested for allegedly “collaborating with an opposition political party”. Reportedly, security agents did not show an arrest warrant.

The arrestee’s whereabouts are still unknown at the time of writing.

Aram Moradian Detained After 37 Days

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
Aram Moradian, Kurdistan Province, Sanandaj City, Tangsir

Aram Moradian, a resident of Tangsir Village in Kurdistan Province, is still in detention after 37 days. On November 14, he was arrested after his appearance at the Revolutionary Court in Sanandaj City.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, Moradian has been denied a lawyer and family visitation. He was reportedly allowed to make two short phone calls.

According to an informed source, Aram Moradian was summoned to the Revolutionary Court of Sanandaj. During the session, the court issued a detention warrant against him.

On April 27, he was arrested by security forces without a warrant. After being charged with “collaboration with one of the opposition political parties”, he was released on bail of 500 million tomans (approx. 18000 dollars) until the end of legal proceedings.

Update on Arrestees of Recent Protest in Isfahan

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
Asadollah Ja'fari, farmer protest, Hossein Mirzaie, Ifashan, Water Scarcity, Zayandeh-rud

A crackdown on protests in Isfahan has led to the arrest of at least 214 people. 12 days after the mass arrests, an unknown number of people, including several children, are still in detention.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, some detainees were forced to pledge not to leave the house next Friday as a condition for release.

In announcing the release of some detainees, Chief Justice of Isfahan Province, Asadollah Jafari stated that they, “have opened legal cases against these arrestees and as promised… have launched special branches to address these cases”. 

This protest began on November 7, when farmers assembled at the office of Hossein Mirzaie to ask for their water portion for wheat cultivation, and protest against water supply mismanagement.

Farmers continued their protest by assembling in dried up stretches of the river Zayandeh Rud.  In the following days, other citizens joined the protest.

On Friday, November 26, a farmers’ protest in Isfahan over water mismanagement turned violent after military and police forces used tear gas and live ammunition on protesters.

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Iranian Citizens Run Bandaged-Eye Campaign in Solidarity with Protesters Injured in Violent Police Crackdown in Isfahan

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
Bandaged-eye Campaign, Chile, Gonabadi Dervishes, irgc, Isfahan, Noor Ali Tabandeh, Police violence, Security forces

Several citizens have posted photos of their faces with bandages over their eyes as an act of protest against the Regime’s brutal crackdown in Isfahan on Friday, during which several were injured from the direct shooting of military and security forces.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, local doctors and medical staff have reported high numbers of patients in recent days. Official sources say that at least 19 protesters were injured last Friday, and two are reportedly in critical condition. However, the number of injured people are estimated to be significantly higher.

“In just one hospital, there were about 19 patients who were injured by shooting last Friday and Saturday. Therefore, with all likelihood, contrary to what official media have reported, far more than 19 people have been injured,” a specialist and eye surgeon in Isfahan told HRANA. “The distance of pellets on these patients’ faces indicates that they have been shot from a close range–maybe only a few meters. If the bullets are made of lead, even being hit from a 30-meter distance can cause irreparable damages.”

Military forces using pellet guns against protesters is by no means unprecedented. On February 3, 2018, during a protest of Gonabadi Dervishes in front of the home of their spiritual leader, Noor-Ali Tabandeh, security forces fired pellet guns at the protesters, after which several were injured and some even lost their sight.

Since the widespread use of pellet guns by Chile Police in 2019, which led to the injury of the eye injury of 445 people and permanent blinding of 34, the bandaged eye became a rallying symbol in Chile. Iranian protesters have also used this symbol to express their protest against the regime’s brutality.

Prison Sentence for CEO of Online Marketplace Divar Upheld on Appeal

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
appellate court, Armandehi, Ashkan Armandehi, Court of appeals, Divar, e-commerce

Recently, the court of appeals upheld a 3 month prison sentence against Ashkan Armandehi, CEO of the e-commerce platform Divar, on a charge of “promotion of impurity and indecency”.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the website management team responded that the advertisements invoked in the case do not contain any unlawful content. They maintain that the conviction is based on third party acts that took place outside of the online platform.

The statement goes on to highlight potential damages that this verdict would cause to the many businesses that use Divar to facilitate online sales, as well as the potential implications for similar e-commerce platforms.

NAJA Soldier Saman Dashti Fatally Shoots Himself with Guard’s Gun

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
Conscription, Dashti, military discrimination, military suicide, NAJA, Public Conscription, Saman Dashti, soldier

On Tuesday, November 23, a soldier who was serving in NAJA committed suicide with a firearm.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Rokna News, the soldier has been identified as Saman Dashti.

“Saman was working in the kitchen and his service in the army had already ended. He was just waiting for the signature of the base commander to leave, ” one of his friends commented. “He seemed very happy that he could see his mother. Unfortunately, on that day, he took the gun of a guard and shot himself.”

According to the regime’s laws, every male citizen above 18 years old is obliged to serve at least two years in the army. The conscripts, however, are allowed to buy off the military obligation, the amount of which is proportionate to the conscript’s education level. These regulations have brought about injustice and discrimination against poor young men who cannot afford to buy off their military service.

According to this report, the reason for Dashti’s suicide are still unknown and the investigation is underway.

Fisher Shot Dead by Military Forces in Hoveyzeh

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
cross-border carrier, Hawizeh Marshes, Hoveyzeh County, Khuzestan, Khuzestan province, Kolbar, Sukhtbar

On Wednesday, November 17, a fisher was shot dead by military forces in Hoveyzeh County.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, 32-year-old Ahmad Savari, a resident of Rafi-Shahr in Khuzestan Province, was shot dead by military force while he was fishing in Hawizeh Marshes.

HRANA’s annual human rights report has specifically documented cases in which military forces’ use of live ammunition against citizens has led to their injury or death.

According to the 2020 report, 36 cross-border laborers (kolbars), 5 cross-border fuel carriers (sukhtbars) and 33 other citizens have been shot dead by military forces and border guards in the last year. In addition, 130 people have been injured of whom 109 are Kolbars, 5 are Sukhtbars, and 16 are citizens.

 

 

Fifteen-Year-Old Kolbar Soroush Rahmani Commits Suicide After Mules Killed By Regime’s Military Forces

Posted on by A MN
Children, News, Other
cross-border carrier, Didban Iran, Hani Garmaleh, Hani Garmaleh Village, Kolbar, kolbar killed border forces, Paveh, Paveh County, Soroush Rahmani

On Wednesday, November 17, a 15-year-old kolbar (cross-border carrier) committed suicide by hanging after his mules were killed by regiment forces at the border.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Didban Iran News Agency, the boy has been identified as Soroush Rahmani, a resident of Hani Garmaleh village in Paveh County.

Reportedly, his house was held as collateral for bank debt. Rahmani had borrowed a small amount of money to buy mules to work as kolbar at border areas, so the regime’s killing of the mules effectively destroyed his livelihood.

HRANA’s annual human rights report has specifically documented cases in which military forces’ use of live ammunition against citizens has led to their injury or death. According to the 2020 report, other than material damages such as loss of pack animals due to road accidents, frost, or avalanche, 36 kolbars have been shot dead, and 109 have been injured by military forces and border guards.