Category: News

Two Citizens Hanged in Qazvin’s Central Prison

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Executions
Ismail Sadeghi Niarki

HRANA News Agency – At dawn this morning, Saturday, May 14, 2011, two individuals who were previously sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court were hanged in Qazvin’s central prison.

 

According to a report by the Islamic Republic news Agency (IRNA), in regards to today’s executions, Qazvin’s Prosecutor Ismail Sadeghi Niarki said, “Two individuals, ‘H. M.’ 40 years old and ‘R. H.’ 38 years old were hanged for drug trafficking. ‘H. M.’ was a resident of Tabriz living in the city of Maynavard.”

Ismail Sadeghi Niarki added, “According to the new judicial policies of Qazvin Province to effectively deal with drug offenders, in 2010, we have seen an increase of 128% in drug related arrests compared to 2009.  With the implementation of these policies and stricter drug laws, we have arrested 50 offenders connected to drug networks buying, selling and distrusting illegal substances in Qazvin Province.  Amongst them, there are 40 individuals who have committed serious crimes and received harsher punishments.”

 

 

 

 

Baluchi Teenager Taken Hostage by Intelligence Agency for 20 months

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Children, Ethnic Minorities, Freedom of Expression
Mohammad Saber Malek Raisi

 

HRANA News Agency – Mohammad Saber Malek Raisi, a Baluchi teenager who was kidnapped by the Iranian Intelligence Agency 20 months ago, still remains locked up in solitary confinement.

 

According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), this Baluchi teenager was arrested in late 2009 in Chahbahar County because his brother refused to cooperate with the Ministry of Intelligence and National Security of the Islamic Republic of Iran.  Mohammad Saber Malek Raisi has been locked up since then in solitary confinement in a detention center in the city of Zahedan, [Sistan and Baluchestan Province].

 

In the last twenty months, Mohammad Saber Malek Raisi has been denied access to phone or visits with his family.  During this time, he has also been unable to attend school and has fallen behind his education.

 

Since Zahedan Intelligence Agency has neither offered any explanation regarding this teenager’s continued detention nor Mohammad Saber Malek Raisi has been tried for any crimes, it is safe to conclude that the arrest has been done illegally.

 

In an earlier interview with HRANA, Mohammad’s brother expressed his concern and said that he was worried about his brother’s continued detention since the Intelligence Agency could be holding Mohammad hostage until he would be at a legal age to be executed.

 

Despite the fact that one year ago the news of this arrest was published, and Mohammad Saber Malek Raisi was introduced to the world as Iran’s youngest political prisoner, human rights organizations inside or outside Iran have made no effort to look into this prisoner’s condition.

 

In short, Mohammad Saber Malek Raisi has been denied the right to attend school or pursuit a normal life for twenty months, and his family has not been allowed to see their child for the same period of time.

 

Three Hanged in Public; One Hanged in Yazd Prison

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Executions
Yazd Prison

HRANA News Agency – On the morning of May 12, 2011, four individuals were hanged in the city of Yazd, [the capital of Yazd Province].

 

Yazd Province’s judiciary public relations announced that on Thursday, May 12, 2011, three execution sentences were carried out in public in front of Yazd’s central prison, and another person was hanged inside the same prison in the presence of judicial officials.

 

According to this announcement, the four individuals were arrested in 2009 and 2010 in Meybod, Tabas and Yazd counties on charges of rape and were sentenced to death by Yazd Province’s criminal court.

 

Meanwhile, no independent sources have confirmed the charges against these individuals whose identities remain unknown.  It has been said that the rulings were confirmed by the Supreme Court, and their appeals were rejected by Yazd Province’s Pardon and Amnesty Commission.  The head of judiciary ultimately confirmed the sentences.

A Prisoner will be Hanged in Public on Thursday

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Executions
Mehdi Shahrivaz

HRANA News Agency – A prisoner identified as Mehdi Shahrivaz will be hanged in public on Thursday, May 26, 2011.  Iranian judiciary authorities have announced that this prisoner was arrested for murder and after being tried for this crime, he has received the death penalty.

 

According to a report by Borna News Agency, an Iranian judiciary official has said, “With the permission of the head of Judiciary Branch, the case has been referred to the sentence enforcement unit in Qazvin, [a city northwest of Iran].  The death penalty for the second serial killer in Qazvin will be carried out in public in Isfahan St. (Iran Gaz) at 7:00am on Thursday, May 26, 2011.”

 

On September 18, 2010, Mehdi Shahrivaz was tried by the second branch of Qazvin’s Criminal Court.  According to Iranian judiciary officials, in two separate public and closed hearings, the defendant confessed to killing five women and stealing their money and gold.  Iranian judiciary officials have also declared that the defendant has pleaded with victims’ families for forgiveness.

 

 

 

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.

 

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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.

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.”