Category: News

Four Baha’i Citizens Sentenced Each to Five Years in Prison

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News, Religious Minorities
Ataollah Zafar, Bahais, Evin Prison, HRANA, Mansour Amini, Shadi Shahidzadeh, Valiollah Ghadamian, Ward 209 of Evin Prison

In a ruling by the Tehran Revolutionary Court, Shadi Shahidzadeh, Mansour Amini, Valiollah Ghadamian, and Ataollah Zafar, four Baha’i citizens, have each been sentenced to five years in prison.

Judge Iman Afshar, presiding over the court, issued these sentences based on the charge of “membership in illegal groups to disrupt national security.” The court session took place on May 31, 2023.
According to a reliable source close to their families, who spoke to HRANA, despite starting their trial, they are still under interrogation as they are jailed in Ward 209 of Evin Prison.

These Bahais were arrested by security forces on May 1, 2023, and transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison.

According to HRANA annual report, from the total human rights reports regarding the violation of religious minorities’ rights, 64.63% belonged to the violation of the rights of Baha’is.

The deprivation of the freedom to practice their religion is a breach of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The United Nations covenant holds that every person has the right to freedom of religion, freedom of converting religion, as well as freedom of expression, individually or collectively; openly or secretly.

Sadegh Zibakalam Sentenced to One Year in Prison for News Dissemination

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Freedom of Expression, News
Criminal Court, Sadegh Zibakalam, serial poison attacks, Tehran

The Criminal Court of Tehran has handed down a one-year prison sentence to Sadegh Zibakalam, a prominent professor at the University of Tehran and political pundit. The verdict is related to his role in sharing news regarding serial poison attacks on schools.

According to the court’s decision on July 2, 2023, Zibakalam has been convicted of “spreading falsehood to disturb public opinion online,” resulting in a one-year sentence. The court session took place on June 27, 2023. It’s important to note that Zibakalam, aged 65, is widely recognized as an academic, author, and reformist neo-liberal pundit.

Since late November, a series of poison attacks on schools, particularly girls’ schools, have shaken the country. Parents’ protests demanding answers were met with a heavy-handed response. Despite the passage of eight months and the arrest of several suspects, the Iranian authorities have yet to provide a satisfactory explanation to the public. For more detailed information and statistics, please refer to the HRANA report.”

Fourteen Bahai Citizens Sentenced to a Total of 31 Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Afnaneh Nematian, Anis Senaei, Baha'i citizens, Basir Samimi, Bita Haghighi, Ghaemshahr, Gulben Fallah, Hengameh Alipour, Mahsa Fathi, Majir Samimi, Mani Gholinejad, Mazandaran, Nazanin Goli, Negar Darabi, Sam Samimi, Samieh Gholinejad, Sanaz Hekmat Shoar

In a concerning development, the Ghaemshahr Revolutionary Court has handed down a collective prison sentence of 31 years to 14 Bahai citizens.

The individuals affected by this ruling are Mani Gholinejad, Bita Haghighi, Sanaz Hekmat Shoar, Negar Darabi, Sam Samimi, Mahsa Fathi, Samieh Gholinejad, Majir Samimi, Anis Senaei, Afnaneh Nematian, Basir Samimi, Hengameh Alipour, Gulben Fallah, and Nazanin Goli.
Bita Haghighi and Sanaz Hekmat Shoar have received three years and paying a fine. The rest have been sentenced to two years and one month. All their confiscated belongings during the arrest have also been seized.

The charges against these Bahai individuals revolve around allegations of engaging in “educational activities and propaganda at variance and against Islamic Sharia law.”

Security forces arrested these individuals in Sari and Babolsar, located in the Mazandaran Province, on August 31, 2022. Subsequently, they were released on bail in the months following their arrest.

During the time of their apprehension, the Ministry of Intelligence issued a statement accusing these citizens of being members of an espionage organization, further claiming that two among them had received training from Zionists in Israel.

According to HRANA annual report, from the total human rights reports regarding the violation of religious minorities’ rights, 64.63% belonged to the violation of the rights of Baha’is.

The deprivation of the freedom to practice their religion is a breach of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The United Nations covenant holds that every person has the right to freedom of religion, freedom of converting religion, as well as freedom of expression, individually or collectively; openly or secretly.

 

Ramin Alinia’s Six-Year Prison Sentence Upheld by Tehran Court of Appeal

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Freedom of Expression, News
ardabil prison, Ramin Alinia, Salavati

The Tehran Court of Appeal has confirmed the six-year sentence imposed on Ramin Alinia Tazeh-Kand, an Azerbaijani (Turk) activist who was apprehended during the nationwide protests in 2022.

Originally, Judge Salavati of the Tehran Revolutionary Court had pronounced a five-year sentence for “assembly and collusion against national security” and an additional year for “propaganda against the regime.” Alinia has also been subjected to a two-year ban on leaving the country, participating in political groups and parties, and engaging in activities on media and social platforms. Pursuant to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the five-year term for the first charge will be enforceable.

Alinia was taken into custody by security forces in Ardabil on November 8, 2022. After spending 12 days in detention, he was granted release on bail from Ardabil Prison.

Background on the 2022 Nationwide Protests

The arrest of Mahsa Amini by Tehran Morality Police for her improper hejab and her suspicious death on September 16 sparked protests sweeping across Iran. Protesters came to the streets with the central slogan “Women, Life, Freedom” in protest against the performance, laws and structure of the regime. During the nationwide protests, thousands of people, including journalists, artists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, were arrested.

 

Supreme Court Confirms Death Sentence for Abbas Deris

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Freedom of Expression, News
Abbas Deris, irgc, November 2019 Protests, reza sayyadi

The Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence against Abbas Deris, who was arrested during the November 2019 protests. Deris has been convicted of the charge of “enmity against God (Moharebeh).”

Announcing this development, Fereshteh Tabanian, the lawyer representing Deris stated that Branch 39 of the Supreme Court has confirmed this verdict desptie the flaws in this case. Furhter, she announced that she will ask for a retrial.

Currently incarcerated at Sepidar Prison in Ahvaz, Deris was initially sentenced to death by the Mahshahr Revolutionary Court on charges of “enmity against God (Moharebeh).” It is important to note that Deris’s brother, who was also a co-defendant in this case, has been acquitted of all charges. Both individuals were apprehended on December 8, 2019.

During the course of his interrogation by the IRGC, Deris was coerced into confessing to firing shots at security forces, resulting in the death of Police Captain Reza Sayyadi. This coerced confession was later broadcasted by Iran-state TV. However, during the trial, Deris admitted to participating in the protests but denied any involvement in shooting at security forces.

Abbas Deris, aged approximately 49, is a father of three children.

In November 2019, an increase in fuel prices sparked a wave of protests in dozens of cities across the country. The spokesperson of the Parliamentary National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, Seyed Hossein Taghavi, announced that 7000 people were arrested during these protests. According to reports from human rights organizations, hundreds were killed by the security apparatus.

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Execution of Four Inmates in Khorramabad and Bandar Abbas Revealed

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Executions, News
Bandar-Abbas, HRANA, Khorramabad, Mizan, Yaser Golzardian

On July 2, 2023, an inmate convicted of drug-related crimes was executed in Parseylun Prison, located in Khorramabad Province.

The individual has been identified as Yaser Golzardian, according to HRANA. Having been transferred to solitary confinement the day prior, he awaited his execution.

As of the time of this report, no official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have made any mention of this particular execution.

In a separate incident, Mizan, the judiciary’s news agency, disclosed the execution of three inmates at Bandar Abbas prison on July 4. These death-row prisoners had received sentences of death for committing rape. The individuals, working as nurses and technicians, reportedly exploited their positions to sexually assault victims by administering anesthesia under the pretense of a beauty procedure. However, the report did not provide details about the identities of the executed individuals.

In 2022, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran registered 457 reports related to the death penalty. This included 92 death sentences, including the conviction of 6 people to public execution and 565 execution sentences were carried out, 2 of which have been carried out in public. Based on the announced identifications of some of the executed individuals, 501 were male and 11 were female. In addition, 5 juvenile offenders were executed in 2022, meaning they were under the age of 18 at the time they committed the crime.

Akbar Danesh Sararudi Arrested in Isfahan

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Freedom of Expression, News
Akbar Danesh Sararudi, irgc, IRGC Intelligence unit, Isfahan

On July 3, 2023, political activist Akbar Danesh Sararudi was arrested in Isfahan by security forces. He was subsequently taken to an undisclosed location.

The arrest of Sararudi is believed to have been carried out by the IRGC Intelligence unit, according to a reliable source close to his family. However, the specific reasons behind his arrest and the allegations against him remain unknown at this time.

Sararudi, a resident of Isfahan, has been involved in political activism.

Babak Karimi Receives Nine-Year Prison Sentence

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Freedom of Expression, News
Babak Karimi, Eyvan Gharb, Ilam, Kurdpa

Babak Karimi, a resident of Eyvan Gharb, has been sentenced to nine years in prison by the Ilam Revolutionary Court, as reported by Kurdpa. Karimi was apprehended during the nationwide protests of 2022.

According to the verdict, Karimi has been given five years for charges of “assembly and collusion against national security,” two years for “insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran,” and two years for “insulting the former Supreme Leader of Iran.”

If the verdict is upheld on appeal, the five-year sentence for the first charge will be enforced. Karimi was arrested by security forces on September 21, 2022, in Eyvan Gharb, Ilam province. He was released on February 6, 2023, after posting a two-billion-toman bail from Ilam Prison.

Sentences Reduced for Two Azerbaijani (Turk) Activists to One Year Imprisonment and Fine

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Ethnic Minorities, News
Azerbaijani Turk activist, Maragheh, Mir-Mousavi Zia Gargari, Mokhtar Ebrahimi, Naqadeh

Mokhtar Ebrahimi and Mir-Mousavi Zia Gargari, two Azerbaijani (Turk) activists, have had their sentences reduced on appeal to one year in prison and a fine, respectively. Initially, they had received a combined sentence of 11 years.

As per the East Azerbaijan Court of Appeals’ verdict, Ebrahimi was sentenced to one year for “propaganda against the regime,” while Zia Gargari was fined six million Toman.

In 2021, Ebrahimi had been sentenced to ten years for “forming groups against the regime” and “membership in anti-regime groups” by the Maragheh Court. Zia Gargari had also received a one-year sentence for “propaganda against the regime.”

Ebrahimi was arrested by security forces on August 26, 2020, and subsequently incarcerated in Maragheh Prison after 21 days. He was later released on bail.

On September 16, 2020, Zia Gargari was arrested at his residence in Naqadeh by security forces and detained in the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility. He was released on bail from Maragheh Prison on October 7, 2020.

Three Inmates Executed for Drug-Related Crimes in Central Prison of Karaj

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Executions, News
Central Prison of Karaj, Farshad Abdoli, Mojtaba Chegeni

On July 2, 2023, three inmates convicted of drug-related crimes were executed at the Central Prison of Karaj.

HRANA has identified two of these inmates as Farshad Abdoli and Mojtaba Chegeni. Both individuals had previously received death sentences for drug offenses.
At the time of writing, no official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have reported on these executions.

In 2022, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran registered 457 reports related to the death penalty. This included 92 death sentences, including the conviction of 6 people to public execution and 565 execution sentences were carried out, 2 of which have been carried out in public. Based on the announced identifications of some of the executed individuals, 501 were male and 11 were female. In addition, 5 juvenile offenders were executed in 2022, meaning they were under the age of 18 at the time they committed the crime.

Mojtaba Chegeni
                           Mojtaba Chegeni