Category: News

Two Documentary Filmmakers Mina Keshavarz and Firoozeh Khosravani Arrested

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News, Women

On Tuesday, May 10, 2022, security forces arrested two documentary filmmakers Mina Keshavarz and Firoozeh Khosravani.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, two documentary filmmakers Mina Keshavarz and Firoozeh Khosravani were arrested in their homes in Tehran. The agents searched their houses and confiscated their personal belongings.

Firoozeh Khosravani was arrested by the Ministry of Intelligence agents and transferred to Ward 209 of Evin prison in Tehran. The entity which is responsible for the arrest of Mina Keshavarz remains unknown.

Workers’ Rights Activists Anisha Asadollahi and Keyvan Mohtadi Arrested

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Anisha Asadaollahi, Keyvan Mohtadi, Toosi University of Technology, workers' rights activists

On Monday, May 9, 2022, security forces arrested two workers’ rights activists Anisha Asadollahi and Keyvan Mohtadi at their house and transferred them to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Monday, May 9, 2022, two workers’ rights activists Anisha Asadollahi and Keyvan Mohtadi were arrested by security forces in their house.

The reasons for the arrest, charges and their whereabouts are still unknown.

Anisha Asadollahi and Keyvan Mohtadi had been arrested and convicted before for their civil activities. On May 1, 2019, with many other workers and worker’s rights activists, Anisha Asadollahi was arrested at a gathering for the celebration of international workers’ Day. Subsequently, the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced her to one-year imprisonment (of which six months were suspended) and 74 lashes on the charge of “disturbing the public order”. She was jailed in Evin prison for sentencing on January 4, 2020, and was freed on January 21 of that year.

Anisha Asadollahi is an electrical engineer and a  graduate of K. N. Toosi University of Technology. She works as an English teacher.

Videographer Reihane Taravati Arrested

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Happy song, Iranian youth, Pharrell William, Reihane Taravati

On Monday, May 9, 2022, security forces arrested photographer and videographer Reihane Taravati and transferred her to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Monday, May 9, 2022, photographer and Videographer Reihane Taravati was arrested by security forces.

The reason for this arrest, the charges and her whereabouts are still unknown.

In 2015, Ms. Taravati was arrested with five other individuals for making and publishing a tribute video to Pharrell Williams’ song Happy. The video was a compilation of Iranian youth dancing, which was considered against the Islamic norms and values by the Iranian regime. She was released after a few weeks and subsequently sentenced to one year imprisonment. The sentence was suspended for three years.

At Least Ten Citizens Arrested During Protests in Khuzestan

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News, Other
Abbas Chaldavi, Adel Hamadi, Ali Moghinmi, Emad Savari, Hashem Bohrani, Hossein Maghinami, Internet blackouts in Iran, Izeh, Jasem Bohrani, Khuzestan, Mohammad Tarfi, Mostafa Chalavi, Saeed Dahimi, Susangerd

In Khuzestan Province, the officials have attempted to quell the ongoing unrest through tightening security measures, disrupting the internet and telephones, and blackouts. Following the call for protests in the media, at least ten individuals were arrested by security forces and transferred to an unidentified location.

Those individuals who were arrested in Susangerd have been identified as Saeed Dahimi, age 35, Ali Moghinmi, age 40, Hossein Maghinami, age 22, Jasem Bohrani, Hashem Bohrani, Mohammad Tarfi who have been arrested. Also, Adel Hamadi, Mostafa Chalavi, Abbas Chaldavi and Emad Savari were arrested in Ahvaz.

The reports indicate the tightening of security measures and the constant presence of police and security forces in the streets in high numbers. Reportedly, the police used tear gas to crack down on the protests in Izeh City.

One of the civil activists described the unrest: “on last Friday evening, the protests were sparked in Susangerd and a lot of people poured into the streets chanting slogans against the high level of inflation and difficult economic conditions. In the Arab regions of Ahvaz, we witnessed street protests and burning tires.”

In recent days, increased prices and rationing of bread have ignited protests and widespread backlash in Iran.

Four Christian Converts Arrested by IRGC Intelligence Agents

Posted on by A MN
News, Religious Minorities
Ahmad Sarparast, Ayoub Pourrezazadeh, Babak Hossein-Zadeh, Behnam Akhlaghi, Iranian Christians, IRGC intelligence agents, Morteza Hajeb Mashhood-Kari

On Sunday, May 8, 2022, IRGC intelligence agents arrested four Christian converts, Behnam Akhlaghi, Babak Hossein-Zadeh, Ayoub Pourreza-Zadeh, and Ahmad Sarparast in Rasht City, and transferred them to an unidentified location. Security agents’ attempt to arrest Morteza Hajeb Mashhoud failed as he was not at his home.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Sunday, May 8, 2022, four Christian converts were arrested by IRGC intelligence agents in Rasht.

Attorney Iman Soleimani told HRANA, “the authorities informed Mr. Hajeb Mashhoud that he would be arrested if he failed to come to the IRGC Intelligence’s Office. When he appeared at the office, he found out that a new legal case  had been opened against all the individuals.”

Behnam Akhlaghi, Babak Hossein-Zadeh had faced other arrests and convictions. Earlier, Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced them to five years imprisonment on the charge of “acting against national security and promotion of Evangelical Christianity and Zionism”.  In March of 2022, the Branch 34 of the Court of Appeals acquitted them of the charges.

In April of 2022, Ahmad Sarparast, Ayoub Pourrezazadeh and Morteza Hajeb Mashhood-Kari were sentenced to five years imprisonment on the charges of “holding home church services, propaganda against the regime, association with Zionism and Branhamist sect”. They have also been fined in the amount of 18 million tomans. On May 23 of this year, Branch 18 of the Court of Appeal of Gilan Province will hold the first session to re-examine their case.

Despite the fact that Christians are recognized as a religious minority under Iranian law, security forces harass and prosecute Muslims who convert to Christianity.

The prosecution of Christian converts stands in blatant violation of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which state that every individual has the right to freedom of religion and belief and freedom to express it openly or secretly.

 

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Mahmood Niroomand Sentenced to Two Years and Eight Months

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Dargaz County, Mahmood Niroomand, Polgerd Village

Mahmood Niroomand who is currently detained in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad has been sentenced to two years and eight months imprisonment by the Court of Appeals. Initially, the Revolutionary Court had sentenced him to 10 years imprisonment.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Center of Democracy and Human Rights in Kurdistan, the initial 10-years sentence against Mahmood Niroomand was reduced to two years and eight months by the Court of Appeals.

According to an informed, “printing and distributing booklets for learning Kurdish language, running educational courses in Mosque or at home have counted as a part of the charges against Niroomand. No proof of any political activity was presented at the trial.”

On May 25, 2021, security forces arrested Niroomand without a warrant and transferred him to the detention center of the Ministry of Intelligence for interrogation. On June 24, he was relocated to Vakilabad Prison, where he was denied access to a lawyer and family visitations throughout the detention.

Mahmood Niroomand is 35 years old and a resident of Polgerd Village in Dargaz County of Khorasan Razavi Province.

Two Inmates Executed in Qom Prison

Posted on by A MN
Executions, News
Abolfazl Mardai, Qom prison, Yousef Naderi

On Saturday, May 7, 2022, two inmates who were convicted of drug-related crimes and murder were executed in Qom Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Iran Human Rights Organization, on Saturday, May 7, 2022, quoting the Iran Human Rights Organization, two inmates identified as Yousef Naderi, age 40, and Abolfazl Mardai, age 50, were executed in Qom Prison.

Reportedly, in 2017, Abolfazl Mardai was arrested for drug smuggling on the road connecting Tehran to Qom and subsequently sentenced to death. Yousef Naderi was arrested four years ago for killing a man over a financial dispute.

Neither of the executions have 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.

Three Iranian Christians Sentenced to Imprisonment

Posted on by A MN
News, Religious Minorities
Abbas Soori, Anoushavan Avodian, Christian Citizen, home church, Maryam Mohammadi

Recently the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced Christian Citizen Anoushavan Avodian to 10 years imprisonment, a fine and additional social restrictions. In this legal case, two other Christian converts, Abbas Soori and Maryam Mohammadi were fined 50 million tomans and sentenced to additional social restrictions.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced Anoushavan Avodian, Abbas Soori and Maryam Mohammadi to imprisonment, fines and other social restrictions.

According to the verdict issued by Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, headed by Judge Afshari, Anoushavan Avodian was sentenced to 10 years in prison, paying a fine and restrictions of rights for 10 years. Abbas Soori and Maryam Mohammadi were fined 50 million tomans, prohibited from membership in political groups, and banned from leaving the country and residing in Tehran Province and neighboring provinces. Also, they are ordered to appear once every three weeks at the Supervision and Follow-up office of the Judiciary for two years.

The above individuals have been convicted on the charge of “organizing and running evangelical “Zionist” home church with the intention to act against national security,” and ” maintaining satellite dish and receivers.”

Their Attorney Iman Soleimani told HRANA: “All arguments provided by the defence lawyer in the court have been ignored and the verdict has been issued based on the judicial officers’ workflow.”

The prosecution of Christian converts stands in blatant violation of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which state that every individual has the right to freedom of religion and belief and freedom to express it openly or secretly.

Swedish Tourist Arrested in Iran

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
Aftonbladet, Hamid Nouri, Swedish Tourist

A Swedish newspaper reported the arrest of a Swedish tourist in Iran. According to this report, he had travelled to Iran on a tour.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Swedish newspaper  Aftonbladet, a Swedish citizen was arrested while he was leaving Iran.

Without revealing the individual’s identity, this newspaper mentioned that he is about 30 years old and speculated the arrest is the Iranian regime’s attempt to retaliate against the ongoing trial of Hamid Nouri, who has been accused of complicity in the mass executions of political prisoners in the 1980s. In November 2019, Hamid Nouri was arrested in Sweden and indicted for a “crime against humanity.”

Teacher Union Activist Esmail Abdi Hospitalized on Sixth Day of Hunger Strike

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Esmail Abdi, Evin Prison, Hunger Strike, Teacher union activist

Teacher union activist Esmail Abdi was hospitalized after the sixth day of the hunger strike. Since last Sunday, May 1, Esmail Abdi, who is currently imprisoned in Kachooie Prison, has been on hunger strike in protest against “convictions against teacher union activists and suppression of imprisoned teachers and workers’ families.”

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association’s Telegram channel, Esmail Abdi was hospitalized due to deteriorating health conditions after six days of hunger strike.

On June 27, 2015, when Abdi went to Evin Courthouse to enquire about the reason for being banned from leaving the country, he was arrested and interrogated for many hours. After six months in detention, in March of that year, he was sentenced to six years in prison by the Revolutionary Court of Tehran on the charges of “propaganda against the regime and assembly and collusion against national security”, of which, five years was enforceable.

Earlier, Abdi was sentenced to ten years of suspended imprisonment which was supposed to last for five years. However,  while serving the last months of his five years sentence, this suspended sentence was reactivated by the court order.