Category: News

One Kolbar Killed, Another Injured in Direct Shooting by Regime Military Forces

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
Kermanshah, Kolbar, kolbar injured, Kolbar killed, kolbar killed border forces, Nosub, Sukhtbar

On January 6, at a border area in Nosud, Kermanshah Province, two Kolbars (cross-border carriers) were killed and injured in a direct shooting by regime military forces.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, military forces killed one Kolbar and injured the other. The Kolbars were identified by the first names Freydun and Sirius. The injured Kolbar’s condition is still unknown.

Many poor people living in border areas work as Kolbars to make ends meet. This work is illegal and involves carrying loads on foot across national borders. Yearly, dozens of Kolbars are injured and killed from accidents, dangerous conditions, and border guard shootings.

According to HRANA’s annual report, in 2021, 242 citizens were targeted by unruly shootings by regime military forces, of which 94 were killed. This includes 23 Kolbars (cross border carriers) and 31 Sukhtbar (cross-border fuel porters). 148 people have been injured, including 81 Kolbars and 51 Sukhtbars.

Four Children From Nomadic Communities Severely Injured in a Landmine Accident

Posted on by A MN
Children, Other
child injuered by landmine, child injured, landmine

On January 6, four children in Mehran County, Ilam Province were severely injured due to a landmine explosion. Each year, explosive remnants of landmines from the Iraq-Iran War cause the death or injury of many people at border areas.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Mehr News Agency, four children from a nomadic community aged 13 to 14 years old were severely injured due to a landmine blast. They all were hospitalized in Mehran County.

There are about 42,000 square kilometers of war zones in Iran that have not been fully demined from the Iran-Iraq war.

In flagrant violation of international conventions, the regime is still using landmines to secure its borders.

Accordingly, there are still thousands of landmines planted in Iran in the border areas with Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq. The regime also planted many landmines in Kurdistan during the conflicts of the 1980s.

Majid Mousavi Muhammerah and Abdoljalil Doraghi Sentenced to a Combined Ten Years in Prison

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Abdoljalil Doraghi, fair trial, Iman Soleymani, Khuzestan province, Majid Mousavi Muhammerah, Right to a fair trial, solitary confinement, unfair trial, Wahhabism

Branch 16 of the Court of Appeals in Khuzestan Province upheld the initial verdict against Majid Mousavi Muhammerah and Abdoljalil Doraghi. Each had been sentenced to five years in prison by the Revolutionary Court of Ahvaz City.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the court, headed by Judge Koosha, notified Muhammerah and Doraghi’s lawyer that the initial verdict was upheld. The defendants has were charged with “promoting Wahhabism (a fundamentalist movement within Sunni Islam)” and propaganda against the regime”.

“As the attorney of the defendants, I have not received a verdict letter and hence have not been able to ask for a retrial. The Court of Appeals held a session without the attendance of defendants and the attorney, which is in violation of a fair trial. Also, the issued verdict was upheld regardless of newly invoked pieces of evidence and was merely based on what was presented in the initial trial,” their lawyer, Iman Soleymani, told HRANA.

“They did not even let me make a copy of the documents. They hardly even let me review it,” he added.

Muhammerah and Doraghi were arrested by security forces and held in solitary confinement for six months in the detention centre at disposal of the Ministry of Intelligence in Ahvaz City.

They are residents of Ahvaz and worked at a bike repair and falafel shop, respectively.

Mojgan Kavousi Freed from Kachooie Prison

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Alborz province, Kachooie, Karaj city, Mojgan Kavousi, Yarsanism

On January 5, political prisoner Mojgan Kavousi was released on furlough. By the end of her furlough period, she will have completed her sentence and will not return to prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Kavousi was released on furlough from Kachooie Prison in Karaj City.

On November 20, 2019, Kavousi was arrested by security forces in her home in Noshahr amid the nationwide protests that occurred in the fall of that year. After being held in detention for three weeks, she was sent to Noshahr Prison. On December 19, 2019, she was released on bail.

The Revolutionary Court in Noshahr sentenced her to six months in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”, 33 months in prison for “membership in an opposing party” and 30 months in prison for “provocation in order to disturb public order”. During the appeal process, the first sentence was increased from six to seven and a half months due to the influence of the prosecutor. Moreover, she was sentenced to an additional 36 months on a new charge of “agitation in order to disturb public order”. The severest punishment of 36 months for the last charge was enforced, grounded in Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code.

On May 19, 2020, she was arrested and sent to Evin Prison to serve her sentence.

On July 26, 2021, Branch 28 of the Court of Appeals issued an order to relocate her to prison in Alborz Province to serve the rest of her sentence. Therefore, she was transferred from Evin Prison to Kachooie Prison in Karaj City on October 13, 2021.

Mojgan Kavouci is a writer, researcher and follower of Yarsanism.

Ahad Mahmood Hassan Sentenced to Six Months Imprisonment

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
Ahad Mahmood Hassan, Piranshahr

Ahad Mahmood Hassan, resident of Piranshahr, was sentenced to six months in prison by the Criminal Court of Piranshahr City.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Center of Democracy and Human Rights in Kurdistan, one of Hassan’s charges was “collaboration with one of the opposition political parties”.

On April 24, 2020, he was arrested by security forces and sent to Naghadeh Prison after interrogation. On June 10, 2020, he was released on a surety bond until the end of legal proceedings.

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Three Citizens Sentenced to 12 Years In Prison and Seizure of Personal Property

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Azar Karvandi Musazadeh, Makhsoos Bakharai, Roghayeh Soltani Mirzai, seizure of personal property, Tehran City, The People's Mujahedin Organizatio

Recently, Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced three citizens to a combined 12 years in prison and government seizure of personal property (in the case, a garden).

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the defendants were Makhsoos Bakharai, Azar Karvandi Musazadeh and Roghayeh Soltani Mirzai, all residents of Tehran City. In this verdict, the first two defendants were sentenced to five years in prison each, and the third to two years and seizure of private property. They all have been charged with “collusion and assembly in collaboration of anti-regime groups to act against national security.”

An informed source stated that, “in the summer of 2019, following a family counselling meeting in a personal garden, these citizens were accused of “assembly and collusion via collaboration with The People’s Mujahedin Organization as well as propaganda against the regime”. Thereafter, they were released on bail”.

“Since there was no evidence to support the charges, and they had been summoned by security agents due to holding several family counselling meetings, they were tried without an attorney and condemned based on irrelevant pretexts such as family background. Along with imprisonment, the personal property of Mirzai was seized,” the source added.

Fifteen Year Old Girl Dies by Suicide in Sanandaj City

Posted on by A MN
Children, News
adolescent suicide, Sanandaj City, suicide

On January 2, a fifteen year old girl in Sanandaj City died by suicide. According to statistics by the Forensic Medicine Organization, 7 percent of those who died by suicide are underage.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the girl was identified as Arnika Jahanbin. Her motivation for suicide is still unknown.

HRANA earlier reported on deaths by suicide from three other underage children over the last month in the Kurdish region of Iran.

Three Citizens Arrested By Security Forces in Naqadeh

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
Ahad Mulavi, Chakoo Ghalandari, Hossein Khaliani, Naqadeh County

On January 4, security forces in Naqadeh County arrested three people and transferred them to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, two citizens identified as Ahad Mulavi and Hossein Khaliani were arrested. Reportedly, intelligence agents did not show an arrest warrant.

On Tuesday, another citizen identified as Chakoo Ghalandari was arrested at his home in a village in Naqadeh.

The reasons for these arrests, their whereabouts and charges are still unknown at the time of writing.

Two Citizens Killed and Injured by Direct Police Shooting in Iranshahr City

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
Omid Ameeri, police shooting, Police violence, Saeed Ameri, Saeed and Omid Ameri, shooting

On January 2 in Iranshahr City, police forces from Station 13 used live ammunition to stop a vehicle that they had been chasing, leading to the death and injury of two brothers.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Haal Vsh News Outlet, the two brothers were identified as Saeed and Omid Ameri.

The reasons for the chase and shooting are unknown at the time of writing.

According to HRANA’s annual report, in 2021, 242 citizens were targeted by unruly shootings by regime military forces, of which 94 have been killed. This includes 23 Kolbars (cross border carriers), 31 Sukhtbar (cross-border fuel porters). 148 people have been injured including 81 Kolbars and 51 Sukhtbars.

Two Inmates Executed in Adel-Abad Prison

Posted on by A MN
Executions, News
Amin Alipanahi, executions, Mohammad Salarzehi, Secret executions

On January 2, an inmate was executed in Adel-Abad Prison after being sentenced to death for drug-related crimes. Last Wednesday, another inmate on death row for murder was executed in the same prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Rasank News Outlet, Mohammad Salarzehi, a native of Zahedan City was executed for drug related crimes without informing his family. He had reportedly been in Adel-Abad Prison since 2019.

According to the Iran Human Rights Organization, Amin Alipanahi was executed in Wednesday Adel-Abad prison.

“Four years ago, Amin Alipanahi was arrested for committing murder. He was accused of killing his wife’s cousin for honour issues. During this time, he never could exact satisfaction from the victim’s family,” an informed source in the report stated.

None of the official sources and media outlets inside the country have reported these executions at the time of writing.

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.