HRANA Recap: This Week’s Protests in Iran

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, a number of protests took place this week in Iran. Read our recap below for details, photos, and videos from the demonstrations

Thursday, June 2

A number of the residents of the Nikdasht village in Hormozgan Province gathered in front of the governorate building in the city of Bashagard.

They protested against the lack of facilities in schools and gas cylinder supply.

Friday, June 3

A group of shareholders of the housing cooperatives of the Justice Administrative Court office held a protest in a district in Tehran. Ten years ago, the cooperative sold them pieces of land, which have not yet been delivered.

Monday, June 6

The pensioners of the Social Security Organization held protests in the cities of Shiraz, Isfahan, Sari, Urmia, Bojnurd, Khorramabad, Arak, Ardabil, Ahvaz, Karaj, Mashhad, Dezful, Kerman, Zanjan, Bandar-Abbas, Shiraz, Rasht, Qazvin and Kermanshah, Shush, Shushtar and Tehran. They gathered in front of either the Social Security Organization’s building or the governorate building or the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labour, and Social Welfare. In Tehran, a number of pensioners also gathered before the parliament.

The pensioners protested against the government’s decision to increase the pensions by only 10 per cent which falls below the amount that the Supreme Labor Council has enacted.

In Tabriz, about a thousand pensioners gathered before the Social Security organization and then they rallied in the streets toward the governorate building. They chanted “Pensioners are awake and know his rights”, “living costs in dollar, wages in rials”, “inflation 100%, increase in wages 10%”, “incompetent Minister! Step down”, “Lying president! what happened to your promises.”

A group of personnel of the Ministry of Agriculture Jihad gathered before the governorate building in Ilam City to ask for their demands.

A group of workers of the Municipality of Shush gathered before the governorate building in this city. They said that the governor, the mayor and city council members have not yet fulfilled their promises and the workers have not yet received their wages.

A number of residents of Parand City in Tehran Province protested against water outages and the lack of accountability from the local authorities.

 Tuesday, June 7

The social security pensioners held protests in Rasht, Arak, Tabriz, Bandar-Abas, Isfahan, Zanjan, Kermanshah, Karaj, Borujerd, Shush, Dorud, Kerman, Ilam, Ardabil, Qazvin, Yazd and Ahvaz. These pensioners ask for raising pensions in accordance with inflation. However, the government has not increased the pensions as much as the Supreme Labor Council has enacted.

For the second consecutive day, a number of workers of the Shush Municipality gathered before the governorate building to ask for their demands.

The personnel of the Islamic Azad University gathered before the University Central Organization to ask for their wages and close wage disparities.

In Tabriz, a group of firefighters and the Municipal safety service workers held protests before the Municipal building to ask for increasing wages. According to them, a 10 per cent annual increase in wage cannot catch up with more than 40 per cent inflation.

A group of citizens who have pre-purchased apartments from a construction project known as Arya protested for not receiving their apartments.

Wednesday, June 8

The Social Security Organization pensioners continued their protests in Tehran Ahvaz, Shush, Yazd, Kermanshah, Arak, Mashhad, Karaj, Khorramabad and Kerman. They chanted slogans against the government and the Social Security Organization.

In this regard, in an open statement, the Tehran Retirement Centre asked the government to increase the pensions in compliance with the Supreme Labor Council’s enactment.

A number of citizens, who have lost their money in the recent robbery of Iran Safe Deposit Boxes of Melli Bank, protested in front of the Iran Ministry of Roads & Urban Development in Tehran.

This protest turned violent by police interference.  

In recent days, dozens of safe deposit boxes from Melli Bank were stolen by some burglars.

A group of citizens who have pre-purchased apartments in a housing construction project known as Mehr, assembled in front of the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development in Tehran. After 11 years, they still have not received their apartments.

In Gilan Province, a group of retirees held a protest to ask for raising pensions in accordance with Supreme Labor Council’s enactment.

In Kermanshah, working and retired teachers protested against the arrest of several teachers union activists. They also showed their concerns about detained teachers health conditions, who are on hunger strike and asked them to end the strike.

Thursday, June 9

For the fourth consecutive day, the pensioners of the Social Security Organization held protests in the cities of Karaj, Zanjan, Arak and Rasht. The protestors chanted slogans reflecting their poor living conditions and their frustration over inflation and the authorities’ incompetency.

The pensioners demand the 38% increase as it has been enacted by Supreme Labor Council.

A number of farmers from Lenjan in Isfahan Province protested in front of the governorate building to ask for their water portion.

A number of the residents of the Esfarjan village in Isfahan Province gathered and protested against a mining construction in the vicinity of their neighbourhood.

 

Seven Christians Sentenced to a Total of 28 Years in Prison

Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced seven Christians Joseph Shahbazian, Salar Eshraghi Moghaddam, Farhad Khazai, Somayeh Sadegh, Maasoumeh Ghasemi, Mina Khajawi and Maliheh Nazari to a total of 28 years in prison, a fine, ban from leaving the country, and other social deprivations.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Tuesday, June 7, 2022, seven Christians were sentenced to a total of 27 years in prison.

According to the verdict issued by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court on Tuesday, June 7, Joseph Shahbazian was sentenced to 10 years in prison, a ban from leaving the country and membership in civil and political groups and other social limitations. This court has sentenced Mina Khajawi and Maliheh Nazari each to 6 years, Salar Eshraghi Moghaddam to four years and Maasoumeh Ghasemi and Fardhan Khazai to one year in prison. Somayeh Sadegh has also been fined 40 million tomans.

All these defendants have been charged with “disrupting national security through preaching Evangelical Christianity and creating home churches.”

In July of 2020, security forces arrested Iranian-Armenian Joseph Shahbazian, age 57, with several Christian converts in a religious ceremony in Tehran. He was later temporarily released on 2 billion tomans.

Workers’ Rights Activist Kamyar Fakoor Arrested

On Thursday, June 9, 2022, security forces arrested workers’ rights activist Kamyar Fakoor at his house and transferred him to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Thursday, June 9, 2022, workers’ rights activist Kamyar Fakoor was arrested at his house. During the arrest, the agents searched Fakoor’s house.

The reason for this arrest and his whereabouts are unknown so far.

On March 7, 2021, along with two other workers’ rights activists, Kamyar Fakoor was arrested during a protest of teachers and education retirees in front of the building of the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare. Ten days later, Fakoor was released from Evin Prison on bail until the end of his legal proceedings. In November of 2021, Branch 26 of the Tehran revolutionary court, headed by judge Mahmood Haj Moradi, sentenced Kamyar Fakoor to eight months in prison, 50 lashes and a fine of 15 million tomans on the charges of “propaganda against the regime, and spreading lies to disturb public opinions and public order”.

Four Inmates Executed in Ardabil, Ilam and Birjand

On Wednesday, June 8, 2022, two inmates who were convicted of murder were executed in Ardabil Prison. On the same day, two other inmates, one in Birjand and the other in Ilam were executed.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Wednesday, June 8, 2022, two inmates identified as Hojjat Asiabani and Sajjad Takroo, who were convicted of murder, was executed in Ardabil Prison.

Iran Human Rights Organization also reported the execution of an inmate identified as Sattar Arghandeh in Ilam prison, which was convicted of murder.

Lastly, Haal Vsh News reported the execution of an inmate identified as Mohammad-Reza Narroi Ghazagh, a resident of Zahedan, in Birjand Prison. In 2018, he was arrested for drug smuggling and sentenced to death. Reportedly, this prisoner was executed without informing his family and granting the last family visitation.

None of these executions has been reported by official sources and media outlets inside Iran so far. 

The most recent report from the Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) states that between January 1 of 2021 and December 20 of 2021, at least 299 citizens, including four juvenile offenders, were executed. In addition, 85 citizens were sentenced to death in this period. 

As the report points out, Iran’s judicial authorities do not publicly announce over 88% of executions. These unreported executions are known as “secret executions” by human rights organizations.

 

Azerbaijani Turk Activist Jafar Esmailzadeh Arrested in Tabriz

On Tuesday, June 7, 2022, security forces arrested Azerbaijani Turk activist Jafar Esmailzadeh at his house in Tabriz. The agents confiscated some of his personal belongings.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Tuesday, June 7, 2022,  activist Jafar Esmailzadeh was arrested in Tabriz.

The reason for Esmailzadeh’s arrest and his whereabouts are unknown so far.

On prior occasions, Esmailzadeh faced other arrests and convictions. On May 29, 2019, he and his son, Milad Esmailzadeh were arrested and later released on bail of 50 million tomans after five days. Subsequently, branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Tabriz sentenced Esmailzadeh to six months in prison. This verdict was upheld on appeal.

On June 7, 2020, Esmailzadeh was imprisoned after an appearance at the Judgment Enforcement Unit for sentencing and was released after serving out his sentence.

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Maisam Kazemi Sentenced to 22 Months by the Court of Appeal

The Court of Appeal of Khuzestan Province upheld the sentence against Meysam Kazemi, a resident of Behbahan City. Initially, he was sentenced by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Bandar Mahshahr to 22 months in prison. Applying article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, one year and three months imprisonment is enforceable.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the Court of Appeal of Khuzestan Province upheld the 22-month sentence against Maisam Kazemi.

According to the verdict issued by Branch 16 of the Khuzestan Court of Appeal, Kazemi was sentenced to 22 months in prison on the charges of “propaganda against the regime in favor of anti-regime groups and offensive statements against Iran’s Supreme Leader”. Seven and a half months of this prison term have been suspended.

The court session was held on February 14, 2022.

On Saturday, December 4, 2021, Maisam Kazemi was arrested and transferred to Behbahan Prison after appearing at Branch 4 of the Public and Revolutionary Court, where he was accused of “circulating social media posts about the individuals arrested after Behbahan’s protest on July 16, 2020”.

On January 9, 2022, the Behbahan Public and Revolutionary Court indicted Kazemi for “propaganda against the regime in favor of anti-regime groups and offensive statements against Iran’s Supreme Leader”. On February 2, 2022, he was released on a 600 million tomans bail.

Azerbaijani Turk Activist Abbas Lesani Sentenced to Eight Years

In a retrial, Branch 1 of Iran’s Supreme Court sentenced Azerbaijani Turk activist Abbas Lesani to eight years in prison and two years of living in exile in Yazd County.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Azerbaijani Turk activist Abbas Lesani was sentenced to eight years imprisonment and two years compulsory residence in Yazd. He has been convicted on the charge of “creating and running groups with the purpose of disrupting national security.”  Lesani was later exonerated of the charge of “acting against national security” for which he had been initially sentenced to five years in prison.

Lessani has been held in Ardabil Prison since January 2019. In two separate cases, he has been sentenced to ten years and ten months combined.

Lesani had suffered from medical issues and requires further treatment outside of the prison, which he was denied.

On January 15, 2019, Abbas Lessani was summoned by Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court in Tabriz and was arrested and transferred to Ardabil Prison.

The Ardabil Revolutionary Court sentenced Lesani to eight years imprisonment and 2 years exile in Yazd City on a charge of “creating a group with the purpose of disrupting national security”.

The verdict was increased to 15 years imprisonment and two years exile on appeal. In July 2020, his appeal was dismissed. Under Article 134, a maximum sentence of 10 years is enforceable. 

In May 2019, in another legal case, Branch 26 of the Court of appeal in Eastern Azerbaijan sentenced Lessani to ten months in prison on a charge of “propaganda against the regime in favor of opposition political groups”.

Abbas Lessani has faced other arrests and convictions due to his civil activities. On July 2, 2018, together with three residents of Ardabil, he was arrested by the intelligence agents, prior to holding an annual gathering in Babak Fort (a gathering to celebrate the Babak Khorramdin’s birthday).

 

Azerbaijani Turk Activist Akbar Abolzadeh Arrested in Ahar

On Tuesday, June 7, 2022, Azerbaijani Turk Activist Akbar Abolzadeh was arrested by security forces in Ahar City and transferred to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Tuesday, June 7, 2022, Security forces arrested Azerbaijani Turk Activist Akbar Abolzadeh in Ahar City, East Azerbaijan Province.

The reason for this arrest, his whereabouts and the charges are unknown so far.

 

Teacher Union Activist Jabbar Doosti Arrested in Mariwan

On Tuesday, June 7, 2022, security forces arrested teacher union activist Jabbar Doosti at his house in Mariwan and transferred him to an unidentified location. During the arrest, the agents searched his house and confiscated some of his personal belongings, including his laptop and cell phone.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, on Tuesday, June 7, 2022, teacher union activist Jabbar Doosti was arrested by security forces at his house in Mariwan.

The reason for his arrest and the charges are unknown so far.

In recent months, teachers have organized nationwide rallies all across the country. In return, security and judicial authorities have repeatedly harassed, arrested and convicted teacher union activists.

Ronak Rezai Arrested and Taken to Sepidar Prison in Ahvaz

Security forces arrested Ronak Rezai, a resident of Abadan and transferred her to Sepidar Prison in Ahvaz. Her arrest is related to the recent protests following Abadan’s Metropol building collapse.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Ronak Rezai was arrested in Abadan and jailed in Sepidar Prison in Ahvaz.

The reason for the arrest and the charges are unknown so far.

In recent days,  a number of citizens were arrested during the protests. HRANA has earlier reported the arrest of the journalist and poet Arash Ghaleh-Golab in Abadan and Mohammad Soveylat, age 22, in Shadegan, in Khuzestan Province.

On Monday afternoon, May 23, 2022, a 10-story building which was known as Metropol collapsed in the city of Abadan in Khuzestan Province. Over 30 individuals were killed, injured or trapped in the rubble. Following the collapse, hundreds of citizens in Abadan and several other cities demonstrated against the government and its failure to impose safety standards on the construction which led to the disaster.