HRANA – On Monday, May 31, 2010, the security forces of the city of Qazvin arrested Mr. Farhad Fathi, handcuffed and blindfolded him and took him to an undisclosed location. Mr. Fathi is a student activist and the director of a reformist student group.
Category: News
Widespread Strike in Iran’s Kurdish Regions
May 13, 2010HRANA – Today, following a call to action by human rights activists, Kurdish political parties, and civil organizations, the entire Kurdish region went on a widespread strike, despite the severe militarization of the area.
The death sentence for two Kurdish political prisoners approved
HRANA News Agency – The death sentence for two Kurdish political prisoners: Ali and Habib Afshari from Mahabad has been approved on charge of “Enmity against God”.
According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), quoted from Mokerian News Agency, the verdicts of two Kurdish activists who has been sentenced to death by the Iranian courts for “Enmity against God” and “Corruption on Earth” through ‘propaganda activities’ and ‘membership in a dissident group’ has been approved by the Iranian supreme court.
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Web Master & Blogger Vahid Asghri Sentenced to Death
HRANA News Agency – One month after his trial held at the 15th branch of the Revolutionary Court, the authorities have notified Vahid Asghri that a death sentence has been issued for him.
According to a report by Human Rights Watch in Kurdistan, Vahid Asghri, 25, was arrested on October 4, 2008 by plain clothes agents working for IRGC (the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution). Judge Abolqasem Salvati presiding over the 15th branch of the Revolutionary Court has sentenced Vahid Asghri to death.
In February 2009, IRGC Cyber Police announced that Vahid Asghri and a few other web masters of Internet sites opposing Islam had been arrested.
Vahid Asghri and other accused individuals were physically and psychologically tortured while in custody and were forced to appear in televised confessions. These sessions were broadcast in Iran prior to their trials.
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Five Christians Sentenced to Prison
HRANA News Agency – Last week, five Iranian Christians were sentenced to a total of 5 years in prison despite the fact that they were exonerated of all charges by a lower court.They were retried because the prosecutor had objected to the initial verdicts.
According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), the Appeals Court of Fars Province has handed down a one year prison term for Behroz Sadeq Khanjani, Mohammad Belyad, Nazli Kamarian, Parviz Khalaj and Mehdi Forotan.
Mathias Hagh-Nejad who was recently released on a bail approximately equivalent to $28,000 confirmed the verdicts against these individuals and said, “Additionally, I am waiting for my trial, and Mehrdad Gharoni, another Christian citizen, is locked up behind bars in the Intelligence Agency’s detention center in Esfahan.Yosef Nadarkhani will also be tried in Gilan’s Revolutionary Court, Branch 11, on September 25, 2011.
After the new verdicts were issued by the Appeals Court, these five Christian citizens were summoned to serve their prison terms.
Today, Christian Democratic Union in Germany released a letter written to Iranian Embassy to vehemently object to the incarceration of Yosef Nadarkhani and to ask for his immediate release.Yosef Nadarkhani is a Christian priest sentenced by Gilan’s Revolutionary Court to die on charges of apostasy.
Tense Security Measures in Mahabad for Days
HRANA News Agency – During the last few days and while simultaneously celebrating the Army Day in the Islamic Republic of Iran, tense situation and tight security measures have been imposed in the city of Mahabad [Northwestern Iran, Kurdistan].
According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), the city of Mahabad has witnessed an increased presence of military and security forces throughout town in the past two days.
Police forces, Iranian Revolutionary Guard, the local Basiji militia, and plainclothes officers have been positioned on and around Hekmat Bridge, streets leading to Koohsar and Madar Squares, stations 1 and 2 of Farhangian region, Mokhaberaty Farhang Street, Salehi Farhangian Street, the hills around Melat Park and the region surrounding this park. The heavy presence of security and military forces has created a tense atmosphere of fear and apprehension.
Additionally, the presence of military and police vehicles throughout the city has caused heavy traffic and is interfering with the daily lives of the residents.
Unlike previous years, simultaneous maneuvering of military troops and police forces has been conducted between Koohsar and Madar Squares.
Security Forces Threaten the Families of Those Killed after the Elections
HRANA News Agency reports that according to Jaras, families of those killed after the disputed presidential elections in Iran who were visiting their gravesite in Behesht-e Zahra Cemetery were harassed and threatened.
Families gathered to commemorate their loved ones were interrogated for several hours and ordered to leave. Family of Amir Arshad Tajmir who was killed last year in Ashura were in Behesht-e Zahra’s part 302 on the anniversary of his birthday. Families of Sohrab Erabi, Ramin Ramezani, and Mostafa Karim-Beigi were among the participants.
Security forces arrested and interrogated Sohrab Erabi’s mother for several hours before releasing her. In recent days, threats on the families of those killed after the elections have been escalated. Security forces have also attempted to attack some of the families’ houses and prevent them from gatherings to honor their loved ones.
Two Years Prison Term for Labor Activist Khosrow Bukani
HRANA – Khosrow Bukani, labor activist and executive for the Coordinating Committee for the Establishment of Labor Organizations, was sentenced to a two year prison term.
He was notified of his sentence by the revolutionary court in Orumieh this June. He was sentenced to two years in prison based on unsubstantiated charges and for his membership in the labor committee.
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Kamran Asa Arrested Again
HRANA – Mr. Kamran Asa whose brother, Kianoosh, was martyred last year during the Green Movement’s peaceful demonstration on June 15, 2009, was arrested at around midnight on Monday, May 31st, by Kermanshah Intelligence Ministry agents.
Mehdi Tajik Sentenced to 37 Months in Prison and 30-Year Ban on Political Activity
May 13, 2010
HRANA – Mehdi Tajik a Tehran University student and a human rights activist has been sentenced to 27 months in prison and a 30 year prohibition of political activity. The sentence was handed down by the Revolutionary Court, Branch 26.
His original crime was association and plotting against national security and had been sentenced to a 2 year sentence, a 91 day sentence for propaganda against the Government, and a one million touman ($1000) penalty for insulting the President.
He has been banned from reporting, blogging, interview, writing articles and even analysis of political events, as well as membership in any party or affiliation with any party, and any political activity.
This while there has been no evidence of any political activity presented in the Court pertaining to the post-election developments.