Category: News

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.

Civil Activist and Former Political Prisoner Payam Shakiba Arrested, Transferred to Evin Prison

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Activist arrested, Evin Prison, Payam Shakiba, Rajai-Shahr

Civil activist and former political prisoner Payam Shakiba was arrested and transferred to Evin Prison after being summoned by the Executive Unit of Evin Courthouse to serve his 13 month sentence.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Shakiba was arrested after his appearance at the Executive Unit of Evin Courthouse. He was then imprisoned in the quarantine section of Evin Prison.

On June 14, 2021, Shakiba was arrested by security forces in Tehran and held in Ward 209 of Evin Prison. On July 4, he was released on a bail of 100 million tomans (23,800 USD) pending further legal proceedings.

Shakiba has faced another arrest and conviction due to his civil activities. On February 22, 2017, he was arrested by security forces. He was sentenced in November 2017 to 11 years in prison on charges of “acting against national security through assembly and collusion,” and “propaganda against the regime”. This verdict was upheld on appeal. Ultimately, he was freed from Rajai Shahr Prison on February 3, 2021.

Adel Kianpour Dead in Sheyban Prison After a Week on Hunger Strike

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Adel Kianpour, Ahvaz city, Behnam Mahjubi, Death in prison, Hunger Strike, prisoner death, Sasn Niknafs, Sheyban Prison

On January 1, after a week on hunger strike, political prisoner Adel Kianpour died in Sheyban Prison in Ahvaz City. Judicial authorities have not yet announced the reason for his death.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Kianpour was on hunger strike to protest the proceedings of his case.

Not much is known about his legal case. It is said that he was arrested after his return to Iran and has been imprisoned in Sheyban Prison for 14 months. He was sentenced to 3 years in prison for charges unknown in our report. Last October, he contracted COVID-19.

There are many precedents for the death of prisoners due to lack of adequate medical treatment in Iran’s prisons. In June 2021, political prisoner Sasan Niknafs died due to inadequate medical treatment in the Greater Tehran Prison. Also last year, Sufi Dervish activist Behnam Mahjubi was dispatched from Evin Prison to a hospital in Tehran City and allegedly died due to pill poisoning.

HRANA Recap: This Week’s Protests in Iran

Posted on by Editor
News
HRANA protest recap, weekly protest recap, weekly protest report

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

Saturday, December 25

Dozens of architects assembled before the building of the Ministry of Roads & Urban Development in Tehran. They asked the Ministry to address problems regarding the Construction Engineering Organization’s exam, which is held to grant engineering licenses. This ministry, which supervises the national exam, has not responded to the issues.

Residents of the village Shamsabad Noogh, located in Kerman Province, protested against the digging of a water well and a water transfer project. As video footage shows, this protest turned violent.

About 20 workers of the Saturation Railway Sleepers Company Shirgah assembled and protested for demands related to wages at the factory premise. Reportedly, the workers have not received wages for three months and their employer’s insurance contribution for 16 months.

Sunday, December 26

A number of retirees and pensioners of the Fulad Company Pension Fund assembled in Ahvaz, Isfahan and Damghan cities to ask for demands regarding pensions and benefits.

Monday, December 27

In Ardabil, a number of workers of the fabric company Sabalan assembled at their workplace to protest against layoffs and delays in payments. They had held protests the previous two days.

A number of retirees of Social Security Organization of Kermanshah Province assembled and protested against low wages.

 

Tuesday, December 28

Working and retired teachers and educators of more 19 cities across the country assembled before the building of the Ministry of Education (and Parliament in Tehran and Alborz Provinces). They demanded the implementation of a plan whereby teachers’ income, depending on a ranking, will be raised up to 80% of faculty members’ salaries.

About 70 workers working on the Shafa-Rud Dam project in Rezvanshahr held protests on the work premises. They asked that 7 months of delayed payments and 4 months of unpaid employers’ contribution for insurance be paid.

Several workers of Telecommunication companies in rural areas assembled before the parliament to protest unfair wage disparity between personnel in urban and rural areas.

Wednesday, December 29

For the third consecutive day, the workers of the petrochemical company Regal assembled at their workplace to ask for the implementation of the Job Classification Plan. The workers also demanded their currently unpaid Adverse Weather Benefit during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A group of retirees of the Social Security Organization assembled before Parliament in Tehran to asked for their demands.

A number of teachers a preschools in Delfan City, located in Lorestan Province, assembled before the Ministry of Education building to ask for their demands.

Vahid Bani-Amerian and Pooya Ghobadi Each Sentenced to 10 Years Imprisonment

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Babak Paknia, Evin Prison, Greater Tehran Prison, Moghayeseh, Mujahedin-e-Khalq, Peoples Mujahedin Organization of Iran, Pooya Ghobadi, Vahid Bani-Amerian

Two political prisoners, Vahid Bani-Amerian and Pooya Ghobadi, serving their sentences in Evin Prison and the Greater Tehran Prison respectively, were each sentenced to 10 years imprisonment in exile in their second legal case.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, headed by Judge Moghayeseh, sentenced Bani-Amerian and Ghobadi. In this new legal case, they were charged with the destruction of public property and advocating for the People’s Mujahedin Organization of Iran (Mujahedin-e-Khalq). According to their lawyer, Babak Paknia, the charge of “enmity against God” was dismissed by the court. The first court session was held in October of this year, but their lawyer asked for a retrial due to defective legal documents and failure to comply procedure.

In May of 2018, Bani-Amerian and Ghobadi were arrested by security forces in Tehran and transferred to Evin Prison. After four months of interrogation, they were sent to the public ward of Evin Prison. In November of 2019, Ghobadi was relocated to The Greater Central Prison while Bani-Amerian remained in Evin Prison.

In their first legal case, each was sentenced to 8 years in prison on charges of “assembly and collusion against national security”, offensive statements against the Supreme Court” and “propaganda against the regime”. For these charges, grounded in Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the most severe punishment of 5 years was enforced for each prisoner.

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Political Prisoner Khaled Pirzadeh Sewed His Eyelids in Protest

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, hunger strikes, Kaled Pirzadeh, Political Prisoner, prisoner protest, Sheyban Prison

Political prisoner Khaled Pirzadeh, who is exiled to Sheyban Prison, sewed his eyelids shut to protest refusal to release him on probation and furlough.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, judicial authorities did not keep their promise to grant him release on probation and furlough, prompting Pirzadeh to sew his eyelids in protest.

On August 23, 2021, Pirzadeh went on hunger strike to protest authorities’ refusal to release him on probation, the housing of political prisoners in the same ward as prisoners of violent crimes, and police officers’ brutal behavior towards family members during the delivery of an eviction order. Ultimately, he ended his hunger strike on November 14, 2021.

During the hunger strike, he developed extremely low blood pressure and blood sugar, backache and other physical problems.

On May 26, 2019, Pirzadeh was arrested violently by security forces and was sent to Evin Prison after interrogation. He was sentenced to 7 years in prison on the charges of “offensive statements against the supreme leader of Iran” and “assembly and collusion against the regime”. This sentence was confirmed in the Court of Appeals. According to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, 5 years of this sentence for the charge of “collusion against the regime” is enforceable.

He was relocated to Greater Tehran Prison on July 22, 2020. Reportedly, at the time of transferring, he was beaten by prison guards. In August 2020, he had surgery on his foot. He needs additional treatment and surgery for his injured spine. On July 14, 2021, he was transferred from Greater Tehran Prison to exile in Sheyban Prison, Ahvaz and held him unlawfully in a ward that also houses prisoners of violent crimes.

Inmate Executed in Yasuj Prison

Posted on by A MN
Executions, News
Death Penalty, Death sentence, prisoner executed, secret exeuctions, Yasuj City

On Thursday, December 30, an inmate previously sentenced to death for rape was executed in Yasuj Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting ISNA News Agency, the Public Prosecutor of Yasuj City announced that the execution had been carried out. The inmate was arrested and convicted last year, and the verdict was upheld by the Supreme Court of Iran. The Prosecutor did not reveal the identity of the executed prisoner.

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.

Jila Karamzadeh Makvandi Sent to Evin Prison to Endure her Five Years Sentence

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Jila Karamzadeh Makvandi, Raheleh Rahemipur, Tehran

On Wednesday, December 29, civil activist Jila Karamzadeh Makvandi was sent to Evin Prison to serve her five year sentence.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Makvandi was summoned to the Executive Unit of Shahid Moghaddas Courthouse.

On November 12, 2019, along with another civil activist, Raheleh Rahemipur, Makvandi was arrested by security forces in Tehran and sent to Ward 2 of Evin Prison. Thereafter, the security agents searched their house and confiscated some of their personal belongings. Later, they were released on bail.

Branch 29 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, in a trial in absentia, sentenced the civil activist to six years in prison. This verdict was upheld on appeal. The most severe punishment of 5 years is enforceable, grounded in Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code,

Makvandi has faced other arrests and convictions due to her civil activities.

 

Shirku Agooshi Sentenced to 10 Years In Prison

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
Gholam Karimkhani, Hossein Alvand-Kooi, Naghadeh, Piranshahr, Shirku Agooshi

On December 29, former political prisoner Shirku Agooshi was sentenced to 10 years in prison by the Criminal Court of Mahabad City.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Center of Democracy and Human Rights in Kurdistan, the resident of Piranshahr was sentenced by Branch 103 of the Criminal Court of Mahabad, headed by Judge Gholam Karimkhani. He was tried on the charge of alleged armed conflict with IRGC’s forces.

At the same time, the Criminal Court of Mahabad City sentenced Hossein Alvand-Koohi, resident of Mahabad City, to 10 years in prison on the same charge as Agooshi.

Agooshi has previously been faced with arrest and conviction. On August 31, 2019, he was injured and arrested by IRGC’s forces. Thereafter, he was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment by the Revolutionary Court of Piranshahr City on the charge of “membership in an anti-regime political party.”

On June 19, 2021, he was released on furlough from Naghadeh Prison with an electronic tag and restricted movement. He was finally freed on July 1, 2021.

Two Citizens Arrested in Kamyaran and Piranshahr Cities

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
arrests, Kamyaran, Karim Poormohammad, Kianoosh Rahmani, Piranshahr

On December 27, security forces arrested Kianoosh Rahmani in Kamyaran. The next day Karim Poormohammad was arrested in Piranshahr. Both were transferred to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, Rahmani, a resident of Kamyaran County, was arrested after a previous summons by IRGC’s intelligence unit.

“Last Sunday, the security forces raided his house to arrest him, but he was not at home and they searched the house”, an informed source said.

As of yet, the security institution responsible for these arrests has not revealed to either family the reason for arrest, the charges or their whereabouts.