Category: Prisoners

HRANA Recap: Recent Sentences and Summons in Iran

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Freedom of Expression, Other, Prisoners, Religious Minorities
Abdul Samad Ijbari, Afsaneh Yadegar Ardestani, Baha'i citizens, baha'i citizens arrested, Ehsanullah Yadegar Ardestani, Elham Karampisheh, Khabat Mafakheri, Khuzestan province, Maziar Seyednejad, Mona Mehrabi

Khabat Mafakheri sentenced to 4 years in prison by the Revolutionary Court of Sanandaj

 

Khabat Mafakheri, a citizen of Sanandaj in Kurdistan Province, was recently sentenced to 4 years suspended imprisonment by the Revolutionary Court of Sanandaj.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists (HRA), quoting Kurdpa, Mafakheri was arrested in early August 2020 and released on bail in mid-December of that year. According to the report, Mafakheri was notified of the verdict in the past few days and was charged with collaborating with one of the opposition parties.

 

 

Four Baha’is sentenced to a total of 12 years in prison

 

Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals upheld the convictions of Baha’i citizens Mona Mehrabi, Elham Karampisheh, Afsaneh Yadegar Ardestani, and Ehsanullah Yadegar Ardestani. The four citizens were previously sentenced by Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran to 3 years in prison each.

 

 

 

Court of Appeals upholds 3 year sentence for Maziar Seyednejad

 

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Branch 16 of the Court of Appeals of Khuzestan Province upheld the conviction of a labor activist Maziar Seyednejad. Seyednejad had previously been sentenced to three years in prison on charges related to his membership in an opposition group.

 

 

 

Citizen sentenced to 99 lashes and exile for extramarital affair

 

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Aftab News, the case of a citizen who was sentenced to 99 lashes and two years of exile in an area with a brutal climate for having an extramarital affair has been referred to a court of equal rank in Tehran.

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights explicitly prohibits the use of degrading and inhumane punishment such as flogging.

 

Sunni cleric summoned and interrogated by Zabul City intelligence forces

 

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Baloch Activists Campaign, on May 29, Sunni cleric Abdul Samad Ijbari, the director of the Quran Education School in Hassanabad village of Zabul province, was summoned to the Zabul city intelligence office in Sistan and Baluchestan province and was interrogated.

The report states that the Sunni cleric was summoned following the presence of Mohammad Othman Qalandarzahi at the Hassanabad Mosque. The reason for the summons and the accusations against Ijbari are not yet known.

 

 

Reza Mohammad Hosseini Beaten by Doctor in Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj

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Prisoners
Judge Ahmad Zargar, Karaj, Rajai Shahr Prison, Rajai-Shahr, Reza Mohammad Hosseini, Tehran, Tehran Court of Appeals

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists (HRA), Reza Mohammad Hosseini, a political prisoner in Rajai Shahr prison in Karaj, was beaten by a prison doctor on May 29 after objecting to the lack of medical treatment for fellow prisoner and labor activist Ali Ishaq.

Hosseini, who is serving a seven-year sentence, was beaten, insulted, and humiliated by prison officials for refusing to wear prison uniforms, handcuffs, and shackles last November.

In May of 2019, Reza Mohammad Hosseini was sentenced by the Revolutionary Court of Tehran to 16 and a half years in prison on charges of conspiracy, insulting the leadership, illegally leaving the country, illegally entering the country, and disobeying the orders of agents.

The verdict was upheld by Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals, presided over by Judge Ahmad Zargar in May 2020.

Based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, a maximum sentence of seven years imprisonment will be imposed on him on charges of conspiracy and collusion.

HRANA Recap: Recent Arrests and Detentions

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Freedom of Expression, Prisoners
Ahmad Gergij, Arsalan Kamalzehi, Buchanan, Karim Sameri, Mahboubeh Farahzadi, Mehrestan, Mohammad Nahtani, Mohammad Naroui, Qom, Rahim Safarzehi, Razavi Khorasan Province, riots in Astara and Ardabil, Shadegan, Soran Sharifian, Younes Gergij

Mahboubeh Farahzadi arrested and charged in Evin Court

 

On May 29, retired teacher, union activist and member of the Iranian Women’s Voice Association Mahboubeh Farahzadi was arrested.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists (HRA), quoting The Free Union of Iranian Workers, Farahzadi was released on bail later after the charges were explained to her by Branch 7 of Evin Court.

 

 

Karim Sameri arrested by security forces in Shadegan

 

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on May 29, Shadegan resident Karim Sameri was arrested by security forces after he filmed a funeral and poetry night held for the child of a famous local poet.

 

 

Citizen detained by security forces in Mehrestan

 

On May 28, Arsalan Kamalzehi, son of Kamhan, was arrested by security forces in the city of Mehrestan in Sistan and Baluchestan Province.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Baloch Activists Campaign, the report states that Kamalzehi was arrested for inviting people to boycott the presidential election. As of this writing, no information is available on the charges against him or where he is being held.

 

Citizen arrested by security forces in Buchanan

 

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, Soran Sharifian, a resident of Buchan County working in one of the county clinics was arrested by security forces and taken to an unknown location on May 24.

An informed source said that the citizen was arrested without a court order and that the security forces confiscated some of his personal belongings, including his mobile phone, computer, and books. Despite the pursuit of Mr. Sharifian’s family, the location of the detention and the charges against him are unknown.

 

 

 

13 people detained under pretext of “opposition to the regime” in riots in Astara and Ardabil

 

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA) , 13 citizens were recently arrested in Astara and Ardabil following protests and clashes between residents. The report did not specify the identities or whereabouts of the detainees.

 

At least 5 citizens detained by security forces in the city of Shahrabad, in Razavi Khorasan Province

 

 

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting RASANKNEWS, Mohammad Nahtani, Mohammad Naroui, Rahim Safarzehi, Ahmad Gergij, son of Aziz, and Younes Gergij, son of Nawab Khan, were arrested by security forces in the village of Shahrabad, Mashhad.

These citizens were beaten and violated at the time of arrest and their homes were searched without court order. According to local sources, a few other citizens whose identities are still unknown were detained in the village as well. As of this writing, their whereabouts and the reasons for their detention are unknown.

 

Instagram page admin arrested in Qom

 

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Rokna, the chief officer of the Iranian Cyber Police of Qom announced the recognition and arrest of an Instagram page admin for what he called the “publication of unusual images”. The admin was handed over to judicial authorities after the investigation was completed.

 

 

Married Couple Executed in Qazvin Prison on Drug-Related Charges

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Executions, Prisoners, Women
citizen executions per-capita, Citizens executed, Death Penalty, death penalty in iran, Pirastvan, secret execution, Secret executions, Yousef Pirastvan

On May 30, two prisoners were executed in Qazvin prison on drug-related charges.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Iran Human Rights (IHR), Mr. Yousef Pirastvan and Ms. Pirastvan (first name unknown) were a married couple at the time of their arrest.

An informed source said that Mr. and Ms. Pirastvan were arrested 7-8 years ago on the Qazvin-Karaj highway on charges of carrying 380 kilograms of drugs and were sentenced to death in their first court session.

According to international organizations, Iran ranks first in the world in citizen executions per-capita. The Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRAI) reported that between January 1st and  December 20th of 2020, at least 236 citizens were executed. One of these citizens was executed publicly, and two were juvenile offenders. An additional 95 citizens were sentenced to death.

More than 72% of executions in Iran are not reported by the government or the judiciary. Human rights organizations call these “secret executions.”

At the time of writing, their execution has not been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.

Three sentenced to Death in Tehran Under Qisas (Eye-for-an-Eye) Principle of Shariah Law

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Executions, Prisoners
Death Penalty, death penalty in iran, Death sentence, iran death penalty, Qisas, Shariah Law, Tehran

In two isolated incidents, three citizens were sentenced to death in Tehran, all on charges of murder.

According to the HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Rokna news,  death sentences were upheld by the Supreme Court for two defendants who were sentenced under the Qisas (loosely translated as eye-for-an-eye) principle of Shariah Law.

The sentence was issued after 37-year-old Meysam, a shopkeeper, was stabbed to death in Varamin in Tehran.

In a separate incident, according to the Javanonline News, a defendant was sentenced to death for murder under the Qisas principle by the criminal court in Tehran province.

The victim’s wife and two murder suspects, all suspected of orchestrating the killing, were also sentenced to prison time.

 

 

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Benjamin Berier Indicted on Charges of Espionage and Spreading Propaganda Against the System

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Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, Prisoners, Women
Benjamin Berier, Berier, Drone, Figaro, Mashhad, UAV, Vakilabad prison

Benjamin Berier, arrested last May and held in Vakilabad Prison in the city of Mashhad since, has been indicted more than two months after giving his last defense to the Mashhad Prosecutor’s Office.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Berier’s lawyer Saeed Dehghan wrote in a note on his social media that Benjamin Berier has been found guilty on charges of spying and spreading propaganda against the system. His other two charges of drinking and spreading depravity were dropped.

According to Dehghan, photographing forbidden areas, and asking the question “Why is the hijab mandatory in the Islamic Republic but optional in other Islamic countries?” are the reasons for the accusation of spying and propaganda against the regime.

Berier’s lawyer previously told HRANA, “Despite the ambiguities and contradictions in his charges against Mr. Berier, his case has not been allowed access to a lawyer thus far, which is a catastrophe.”

Mr. Dehghan also told HRANA that translational errors from a particular French publication have exacerbated the suspicion among officials.

“In a news story published by the French newspaper Figaro, Berier’s use of the common word “drone” has been misinterpreted as a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle)–Mr. Berier is a tourist who used a ‘helicam’ for photography,” Dehghan said. “The use of this word by the newspaper Figaro has caused this misconception by some media. Figaro also reported Mr. Berier is a French Iranian citizen while he actually is a French citizen.”

Six Baha’is Were Sentenced to a Total of 73 Years and Six Months in Prison

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Prisoners, Religious Minorities, Women
Baha'i, Baha'i arrests in Iran, baha'i citizens arrested, Borhan Ismaili, Dorna Isma’ili, Frank Sheikhi, Hayedeh Ram, Maryam Bashir, Minoo Bashir

Six Baha’i citizens, one man and five women, were sentenced to a total of 73 and a half years in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, On May 19, the Revolutionary Court of Borazjan, presided over by Alireza Kiani, issued the verdict.

Borhan Ismaili, Maryam Bashir, Frank Sheikhi, Hayedeh Ram, Minoo Bashir, and Dorna Ismaili are residents of Shiraz city in the Fars Province and Borazjan city in the Bushehr Province.

Borhan Ismaili was sentenced to 11 years in prison as a first-degree defendant on charges of “propaganda activities against the regime” by spreading Baha’i beliefs and “acting against the security of the country” by disseminating and propagating the Baha’i faith.

Maryam Bashir, Frank Sheikhi, Hayedeh Ram, Minoo Bashir, and Dorna Ismaili each were sentenced to 12 years and 6 months in prison on charges of “assisting in propaganda activities against the regime by spreading Baha’i beliefs, producing and publishing vulgar images in cyberspace and social networks, and acting against the security of the country through publication”.

Based on this verdict, all documents, pamphlets, books, pictures, videos, and CDs related to the Baha’i faith that were taken by the Bushehr provincial IRGC Intelligence Organization during the search of the house will be confiscated.

The court has issued this sentence based on (what the court called) “membership in the hostile and anti-regime Facebook website, and also referred to the educational activities related to Bahai’s’ children”.

According to unofficial sources, more than 300,000 Baha’is live in Iran, but the Iranian constitution recognizes only Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism. Because their faith is not considered legitimate by authorities, the rights of Baha’is in Iran have been systematically violated for years.

This deprivation of the freedom to practice their religion is a violation 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.

 

Two Defendants Sentenced to Death in Tehran, Two Others Sentenced to 10 Years

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Executions, Prisoners
Citizen executions, Citizens executed, Execution, Farhad, Reza, Sohrab, Tehran

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists (HRA), quoting ROKNA news, 30-year-old Sohrab was sentenced to death for raping a teenage girl in Tehran.

Two other young men, Reza and Farhad, were sentenced to 10 years in prison each as they did not try to prevent the assault.

According to ROKNA news, in a separate story, a defendant in Tehran was sentenced to death for murder.

6 Prisoners Executed in Birjand Prison in the South Khorasan Province 

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Executions, Prisoners
Alireza Farsi, Birjand Prison, Citizen executions, Citizens executed, executions, Javad Nakhaei, Mohammad Reza Harati, Reza Asadi, Reza Azarian, Ruhollah Rigi, Secret executions, South Khorasan, South Khorasan province

On May 25, six prisoners were executed in Birjand prison in South Khorasan.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting RASANK news, all six had been previously arrested on drug-related charges. The report has identified the six as Javad Nakhaei, Mohammad Reza Harati, Reza Azarian, Ruhollah Rigi, and Alireza Farsi, all from Zabol, and Reza As’adi from Mashhad.

Iran ranks first in the world in citizen executions per-capita, according to international organizations. The Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRAI) reported that between January 1st and  December 20th of 2020, at least 236 citizens were executed. One of these citizens was executed publicly, and two were juvenile offenders. An additional 95 citizens were sentenced to death.

According to the report, more than 72% of executions in Iran are not reported by the government or the judiciary. Human rights organizations call these “secret executions.”

At the time of this writing, their execution has not been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.

Mojgan Kavousi Ends Hunger Strike After 10 Days

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Prisoners, Women
Even Prison, Hunger Strike, hunger strike prisoner, Kavousi, Kavousi Hunger Strike, Mojgan Kavousi, Women's Ward of Evin Prison

On the evening of May 25, political prisoner Mojgan Kavousi ended her hunger strike in Evin Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Kavousi had been on hunger strike since May 16 in protest of prison officials’ arbitrary behavior sending prisoners on leave during the outbreak of COVID-19.

Kavousi has been incarcerated for more than a year without leave. Her family has traveled from out of town to visit her but have been denied in-person visits and has only been permitted to meet through a cabin, behind glass.