Category: News

Four Individuals Hanged in Kerman

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Executions
Kerman

HRANA News Agency – On Thursday, May 12, 2011, four citizens were hanged in prison in the city of Kerman [Kerman Province].  The Judiciary officials in Kerman Province have released the identity of the prisoners to be “A. A,” “N. B,” “N. D” and “A. B.”

 

These four individuals were charged with trafficking heroin and crack and carrying 20 thousand vials of Norgesic syringes and were subsequently sentenced to death by the Revolutionary court in Kerman.  Reports indicate that requests to pardon or reduced their sentences were rejected by the authorities.

 

Mehdi Mahmoudian Transferred to Solitary Confinement in Rajai Shahr Prison

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Prisoners
Mehdi Mahmoudian

 

HRANA News Agency – Mehdi Mahmoudian, an imprisoned journalist in Rajai Shahr prison, have been transferred to solitary confinement after publishing a letter detailing the ongoing human tragedies occurring in this prison.

 

According to a report by Jaras News, on Wednesday, Mehdi Mahmoudian was transferred from the special ward housing political prisoners to the solitary confinement.  Additionally, Jaras sources have reported that Mehdi Mahmoudian’s family has been banned from seeing him.

On Thursday, Mehdi Mahmoudian’s parents went to Rajai Shahr prison but were not allowed to see their son.  In his letter, Mehdi Mahmoudian had predicted that after the publication of his letter disclosing the dire conditions in Rajai Shahr prison, the pressure on him would increase.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Prisoners Hanged in Miandoab

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Executions
Mostafa Habibi

HRANA News Agency – This morning, Tuesday May 10, 2011, three citizens were handed in Miandoab Prison, [West Azerbaijan Province].

 

Miandoab’s judiciary chief, Mostafa Habibi, in an interview with IRNA confirmed the execution of three prisoners and said, “One of these individuals was from Miandoab and the other two from Urmia County [West Azerbaijan Province].  They were arrested in Miandoab and sent to prison there.”

 

Mostafa Habibi added, “These individuals were hanged after the death sentences were issued by Miandoab’s judiciary and the ruling was upheld by the Supreme Court.”

 

These three prisoners were charged with drug trafficking although the charges have not been verified by an independent source.

 

Yesterday, five other prisoners were executed in the central prison in Urmia County [West Azerbaijan Province].  According to reporters of Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Aref Rashidpur from the village of Mavaneh and Esfandiar Manda from the village of Haghi in Urmia County [West Azerbaijan Province] were two of the prisoners who were hanged.

Hossein Ronaghi Needs Immediate Medical Attention due to Bleeding

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Prisoners
Hossein Ronaghi

HRANA News Agency – Hossein Ronaghi Maleki, a human rights activist and a blogger, who was returned to prison shortly after his kidney operation, is experiencing excessive bleeding at the surgical site, and his condition is worrisome.

 

According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), on Saturday, May 7, 2011, Hossein Ronaghi Maleki had a kidney operation that lasted six hours.  Immediately after the operation, he was transferred from Shahid Hasheminejad Hospital to Evin prison where he remains right now without proper medical care and equipment.

 

The decision to return him to prison was made despite the attending physician’s advice who announced that his patient had to remain under doctor’s care for some time after the surgery.  This human rights activist is now in Evin prison without proper medication and care while suffering from bleeding at the surgical site.

 

While in prison, Hossein Ronaghi was diagnosed with kidney disease and due to lack of medical care and negligence of prison officials, one of his kidneys has lost 70 percent of its functionality, and the other one only functions 20 percent below normal.

 

Since Hossein Ronaghi was transferred to hospital for surgery, security agents tied up his hands and legs with chains and treated his father and physician badly.  In response, Hossein Ronaghi went on hunger strike for two days.

 

According to one of his doctors, it is likely that Hossein Ronaghi is also suffering from gallstones due to lack of medical care for his kidney disease and continuous use of pain medication.

 

 

 

The Coordinating Committee to Commemorate Farzad Kamangar

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Executions
Farzad Kamangar

HRANA News Agency – The Campaign to Save Farzad Kamangar was initially formed as a collaborating effort amongst the Human Rights Activists in Iran, his family and his attorney.  For a few years, this Campaign served as the coordinating body to organize protests and efforts to save the life of an erudite teacher.  After Farzad’s unjust execution, the Campaign was redefined and transformed into a memorial tribute to his everlasting legacy.

Now, at the onset of the first anniversary of an execution that ended the life of a righteous teacher, a group consisting of Farzad Kamangar’s family members and human rights activists and organizations has assumed the responsibility to bring together programs planned for this day.

Everyone wishing to collaborate with and contribute to this Campaign may contact us by sending an email to [email protected] or visit the web site dedicated to Farzad Kamangar’s legacy at farzadkamangar.org.

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Shirko Maarefi on Hunger Strike After Verbal Confirmation of Execution Order

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Prisoners
Ahmad Saeed Sheikhi, Sadegh Larijani, Shirko Maarefi

HRANA News Agency – Yesterday, Shirko (Bahman) Maarefi, a Kurdish political prisoner sentenced to death, was transferred to solitary confinement.  Previously, Saqqez Prison officials responsible for carrying out executions had verbally informed him of his pending fate.  As the time for his execution approached, Shirko Maarefi started his hunger strike on April 28, 2011.

According to a report by the Student Committee for Defense of Political Prisoners in Iran, Shirko Maarefi was arrested on October 1, 2008 and was subsequently sentenced to death by the lower court for the charges of acting against national security, waging war against God and membership in the Kurdish Komalah party.  Due to objections made by his attorneys to the legality of charges and the trial proceedings, the defendant’s request for a hearing by the Head of the Judiciary Branch, Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani, was accepted, and the case was referred to the Supreme Court.

As a result of the decision made by Saqqez’s prosecutor to modify the charges against Shirko Maarefi, the case should have been retried and similarly the death penalty not upheld.  However, since the Appeals court in Kurdistan Province didn’t consider itself qualified, the case was once again referred to Tehran.  Given the fact that the legal objections have been accepted by the Head of the Judiciary Branch, the attorneys have not yet received an official confirmation of death penalty.  Meanwhile, on March 22, 2011, Saqqez Prison officials verbally notified Shirko Maarefi that his death sentence would be carried out on May 1, 2011, the International Workers’ Day.

On April 26, 2011, Shirko Maarefi issued a statement from prison to confirm the verbal notification of his pending execution although his attorney, Ahmad Saeed Sheikhi, hasn’t received an official or legal correspondence regarding this matter.

Despite the fact that Shirko Maarefi’s death penalty has not been upheld, his case has been referred to the officials responsible to carry out executions in Kurdistan Province.  Reacting to this situation, Shirko Maarefi announced his hunger strike on April 28, 2011.

Because some sources have reported that Shirko Maarefi has been transferred to solitary confinement, concerns regarding his imminent execution has increased.  In an interview with Radio Neda, Khalil Bahramian, the consulting attorney on the case, explained, “Any time, the order can be carried out.”

Biography of Habibullah Latifi, from birth to death sentence

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Executions
Abbas Latifi, Ayatollah Khamenei, Ayatollah Shahroudi, Ehsan Fattahian, Habib Latifi, Habibullah Latifi, Hassan Babaei, Hojat Alislam Babai, Masoud Mehraban, Mohammad Khosravi, Saleh Nikbakht, Yaser Goli

HRANA News Agency- The following is a brief biography and summery of Habibullah Latifi’s case; Habib Latifi is a political prisoner sentenced to death and held in Sanandaj prison. His brief biography told by his relatives and edited by Kurdistan Committee for Human Rights Activists in Iran this brief provided to inform the general public of his case.

Continue reading “Biography of Habibullah Latifi, from birth to death sentence”

Prisoner’s Lifeless Body Delivered to His Family After 20 Days

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Prisoners
Shahram Golchin

HRANA News Agency – Shahram Golchin’s lifeless body was delivered to his family after 20 days.  He was one of the victims killed during the incidents that resulted in the death and injury of hundreds of detainees in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj, Iran.

According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Shahram Golchin was detained by the Basiji militia in Ayatollah Kashani region and killed during the events that took place in Ghezel Hesar Prison.  After more than two weeks of repeated threats, pleas and inquiries from his family, his death was confirmed, and the dead body was delivered to his relatives.

One of the prisoner’s friends told a HRANA reporter, “Shahram Golchin was arrested at a checkpoint in Ayatollah Kashani region because he was one of the most energetic and enthusiastic young men on the street.  The same friend added, “There was no news of Shahram in prison after the riot.  On March 19, 2011, because of his family’s insistence to see him, the authorities announced that he was in the prison hospital.  However, according to the documents, we know that he was dead by then.”

Confirming that Shahram Golchin’s family had no news of him until after the Persian New Year holidays, this informed source told HRANA, “After the holidays and follow ups, it was determined that his dead body was in Karaj’s morgue, and lung infection was announced to be the cause of death.”

In reply to inquires about visible marks of beatings and torture, this eyewitness who had managed to see Shahram Golchin’s body said, “His legs and back were bruised, and the markings indicated that they were caused by the impact of a heavy and tubular shaped object.  Head injuries and fracture were also evident.”

Because of threats from the security and intelligence agencies, the family of this prisoner has told acquaintances that Shahram was killed in a car accident.

In the final days of the year 1389 in Persian calendar [March 2011], widespread protests broke in Karaj’s Ghezel Hesar Prison against the execution of ten prisoners.  Following this uprising, eighty prisoners were killed and more than 150 of them were injured.  During these clashes, prison and anti-riot guards opened fire on the prisoners and used live ammunition.

Imprisoned Bazaar Merchant Javad Lari Sentenced to Death and Mohsen Dokmechi Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison

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Executions

HRANA- Poltical prisoner Javad Lari, 55, was sentenced to death by Judge Salavati of the 15th Branch of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court on charges of being a “mohareb” or waging war against God and “corruption on earth”.

According to the Committee of Human Rights Reporters in Iran, this political prisoner was first charged with “acting against the security of the nation”.  A charge later changed by the judge to “mohareb” and sentenced to death without the possibility of amnesty.

Continue reading “Imprisoned Bazaar Merchant Javad Lari Sentenced to Death and Mohsen Dokmechi Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison”

Under Torture, a Political Prisoner Lost His Hearing

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Prisoners

HRANA News Agency –A young, unknown political prisoner named Ahmad Shah Rezai who has been locked up in Evin prison since June 2010, has lost his hearing in one ear due to torture.

According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Ahmad Shah Rezai, 29, was arrested on June 12, 2010 in Enghelab Square during street demonstrations.

On June 12, 2010, Ahmad Shah Rezai had gone out to protest while wearing a green bandana on which the words “Death to Dictator” were inscribed and was subsequently arrested by plainclothes and Basiji agents.  On the street, a member of the Basij militia had angrily grabbed this young man’s long hair and cut it with a knife while shouting, “This is the outcome of such sedition.”

After his arrest, Ahmad Shah Rezai was transferred to cellblock 2A and kept there for 10 days.  He  was then moved to a solitary confinement in cellblock 240 for a period of seventy four days.  Meanwhile, he has lost his hearing in the right ear because of torture during interrogations.

The family of this political prisoner had no news of his whereabouts prior to his transfer to the general population in ward 350.  So far, they still have not been able to visit him in prison.

Ahmad Shah Rezai was sentenced to three years in prison by the trial court, but later the Court of Appeals commuted his sentence to one and half year imprisonment.