Category: Prisoners

Imprisoned Civil Activist Saba Kord Afshari Attacked in Qarchak Prison

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Qarchak Prison, Saba Kord-Afshari

On February 20, imprisoned civil activist Saba Kord Afshari was attacked by one of her fellow inmates in Qarchak Prison. Afshari’s attacker is a prisoner of violent crime. Due to co-housing with prisoners of violent crime, which violates prison rules, political prisoners and prisoners of conscience’s life and safety are jeopardized. On Monday, Afshari was granted furlough for a short period.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, an informed source told HRANA that “Today at 12:30 an inmate charged with a violent crime attacked Saba from behind in the corridor. She tried to choke Saba by encircling the arm around her neck. One of the inmates, however, helped Saba to free herself from the attacker. All this time, the guards are just watching. The verbal quarrel between Saba and this inmate had been neglected before as well”.

Afshari is a civil activist and prominent critic of the compulsory hijab in Iran. She was convicted for her civil activities and in February of 2019, she was freed after serving her sentence. On June 1, 2019, she was arrested at her home and transferred to prison after completing an interrogation.

On September 5, 2019, Afshari was sentenced by Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran to 15 years imprisonment for “promoting corruption and obscenity through appearing without a headscarf in public”, 1 year and 6 months of imprisonment for “propaganda against the regime” and 7 years and 6 months in prison for “assembly and collusion to act against national security” . This totals 24 years in prison along with social deprivation. After applying Article 134 and adjusting the sentences, the severest punishment of 7 years and 6 months in prison is enforceable.

This verdict, which was increased two and half times more due to a previous record, was finally corrected and reduced from 15 years to 7 years and 6 months.
 
On May 8 of this year, 22 year old Afshari went on a 10 day hunger strike to protest against increasing pressure on her family as well as the families of fellow political prisoners, and to demand the release of her mother, Raheleh Ahmadi. Upon finishing her strike, the young activist said: “I am fully aware that human lives are of no value to the Islamic Republic, so I am ending my hunger strike, but I am still seeking to fulfill my demands.”

On December 9, 2020, she was transferred from Evin Prison to exile to Qarchak Prison.

Imprisoned Civil Activist Farhad Meysami Faces New Charges

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Farhad Meysami, propaganda against the regime, Rajai Shahr Prison

On February 17, civil activist Farhad Meysami, who is spending the fourth year of his sentence in Rajai Shahr Prison, was indicted on the charge of “propaganda against the regime” in a new legal case opened by Branch 1 of Karaj’s Revolutionary Court.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Meysami is serving his fourth year in prison without a day of furlough. Yesterday, Karaj’s Revolutionary Court summoned and indicted him with a new charge of “propaganda against the regime”. These charges are pressed due to notes on social media and the internet that have been attributed to him.

On July 31, 2018, security forces arrested him, and thereafter Branch 15 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court sentenced him to five years in prison on the charge of “assembly and collusion to act against national security” and one year on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”. Moreover, he was deprived of any political activities and membership in political parties and groups on social media, as well as press both inside the country and abroad for two years.

Grounded in Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the sentence of five years as the severest punishment is enforceable, which is related to his first charge.

On November 9, 2019, he was transferred suddenly from Evin to Rajai Shahr Prison.

Jailed Human Rights Activist Narges Mohammadi Hospitalized Due to Respiratory Problems

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Ebrahim Ketabdar, Narges Mohammadi, Taghi Rahmani

Narges Mohammadi, human rights activist and the spokesperson of the Defenders of Human Rights Center was hospitalized due to respiratory problems. Since November 16 of last year, she has been detained and held, first in a detention centre in Karaj City, and then in Ward 209 of Evin Prison. Ultimately, she was moved to Qrachak Prison in Varamin City.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, her husband Taghi Rahmani wrote in a social media post that, “she has been sent to a hospital due to respiratory problems. We do not any detailed information on her latest health condition”.

On November 16, 2021, she was arrested by security forces during her attendance at a ceremony honouring Ebrahim Ketabdar, who was killed by security forces in Karaj during the November 2019 protests. She was detained in a solitary confinement cell in Ward 209 of Evin Prison. On November 22, 2021, she was notified about the charges in Evin Courthouse.

On December 29, 2021, security agents raided and searched her house and confiscated some of her personal belongings.

She has already faced other arrests and convictions and was imprisoned from May 5, 2015, until October of last year, Narges Mohammadi was imprisoned.

In January of this year, she was transferred from Ward 209 of Evin prison to Qarchak prison in Varamin city. Recently, she was sentenced to eight years imprisonment, 74 lashes and two years being in exile and other social deprivations.

Sunni Prisoner Hamzeh Darvish Still on Hunger Strike After 12 Days

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Hamzeh Darvish, ISIS

Sunni Prisoner Hamzeh Darvish, who is serving a 15 year sentence in Lakan Prison, is still on hunger strike after 12 days. On February 5, he went on hunger strike to protest his conditions and being held in the same ward of prisoners of violent crimes. He ask to be returned to Rajai Shahr Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on February 3, the first interrogation session was held for a new case recently opened against him in Branch 16 of the Public and Revolutionary Court of Rasht City. In this new case, he was charged with “offensive statements against the current and former Supreme Leader of Iran”.

This case has been opened following the complaints of the ministry of intelligence and regarding audio of Darvish circulated on social media. In this audio recording, Darvish explains his conditions in prison.

Darvish claims that in 2014, ISIS troops tricked him into Turkey and then he travelled to Syria. He had been in ISIS jail for some time, then escaped to Iran and introduced himself to the security forces.

After spending one year in detention, he was released on bail. However, he was arrested again and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment in a trial which raised many questions. On May 11, 2020, he was transferred from Rajai Shahr Prison to Lakan Prison. On September 30, 2020, he was held in solitary confinement for more than two months for the second time.

Political Prisoner Ebrahim Seddigh Hamedani Relocated to Solitary Confinement While Still on Hunger Strike

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News, Prisoners
Ebrahim Seddigh Hamedani, Mariwan Prison, Maryam Seddigh Hamedani, Salar Seddigh Hamedani

Political prisoner Ebrahim Seddigh Hamedani, who is on hunger strike and refusing to take medicine, was relocated to a solitary confinement cell in Mariwan Prison. Since February 12, he has been on hunger strike in protest against a failure by prison officials to fulfill their promises. His son, Salar Seddigh Hamedani, is jailed in Kamyaran Prison. He went on hunger strike for a few days on February 3.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on January 3, Hamedani, along with his son, went on hunger strike to protest the housing of political prisoners in the same ward as prisoners of violent crime, which violates prison regulations. Ten days ago, they ended their hunger strike following promises by prison officials.

On February 23, 2019, Hamedani, his son Salar, and his daughter Maryam Seddigh were arrested. He was transferred to Urmia Central Prison on April 23, 2019.

Maryam Seddigh Hamedani was released from prison on April 25, 2019.

Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court of Urmia sentenced each to 16 years imprisonment on the charges such as “acting against national security through membership in one of the anti-regime organizations” and “propaganda against the regime.”

In August of 2020, while they were spending their sentence terms, they were relocated to the detention centre of the Ministry of intelligence in Urmia city and interrogated for allegedly “propaganda against the regime inside prison.” Subsequently, a new legal case was opened against them.

In 2005, Ebrahim Seddigh Hamedani had earlier been sentenced to six years imprisonment for the same charges. He was released after serving two and a half years of his sentence on probation.

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Civil Activist Raheleh Ahmadi Granted Furlough After Contracting COVID-19

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners, Women
Coronavirus, covid-19, medical furlough, Raheleh Ahmadi, Saba Kurd Afshari

On February 16, civil activist Raheleh Ahmadi, currently imprisoned in Evin Prison, was dispatched for five days of medical furlough after contracting COVID-19.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Ahmadi showed worrying COVID-19 symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, diarrhea, nausea, sore throat, acute body aches and fever for several days, yet was deprived of adequate medical treatment, along with other inmates. According to an informed source, she fell twice due to acute dizziness. Ahmadi suffers from a low functioning thyroid, which worsens her health condition.

On July 9, 2019, Ahmadi was arrested by security forces. In December of 2019, the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced her to three years and six months in prison on charges of “assembly and collusion against national security through collaboration with anti-regime media” and eight months on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”. She was acquitted from the charge of “promoting indecency through removing the veil from her head in public and publishing its picture on the internet”.

Based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the sentence of three years and six months is enforceable for the count of “assembly and collusion”. Instead of objecting and appealing the sentence, she asked for commutation and consequently, the verdict was reduced to two years and seven months in prison.

On February 15, 2020, she was sent to Evin Prison to serve her sentence.

On July 18, 2021, she was granted furlough to attend her mother’s funeral. During her incarceration, a new legal case was opened against her in Branch 1 of Evin Courthouse. However, she refused to appear in court after being unable to access a selected lawyer.

Ahmadi is the mother of Saba Kurd Afshari. She is a political prisoner and civil activist.

Civil Activist Arasham Rezai On Hunger Strike, Refuses to Take Medicine

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Activist imprisoned, Arasham (Mahmood) Rezai, Arasham Rezai, Hunger Strike, prisoners rights

Imprisoned civil activist Arasham (Mahmood) Rezai went on hunger strike and refused to take medicine in protest against the refusal of his request for medical furlough. He needs urgent treatment for a hiatal hernia, stomach infection and duodenal ulcer.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Rezai, a civil activist imprisoned in Rajai Shahr Prison, went on a hunger strike and refused to take his medicines.

On February 2, 2022, he was dispatched to the Hospital in Karaj City where he was diagnosed with a hiatal hernia, stomach infection and duodenal ulcer for which he needs treatment. Nonetheless, his request for a medical furlough has been rejected.

Moreover, he is suffering from damages to his left knee due to torture and being beaten by a shocker.

According to an informed source, prison officials will not dispatch him to a hospital for an MRI despite the prescription of a prison doctor.

Rezai was arrested on January 7 of 2019 by the regime’s intelligence and security forces. On November 13 of that year, he was released on bail for 2 billion Rial (approx. 8000 dollars).

On February 26, 2019, the Islamic Revolutionary Court sentenced Rezai, without informing the defendant’s attorney that the court session was taking place, to eight years and six months imprisonment on the charges of “propaganda against the regime”, “assembly and collusion against national security”, and “offensive statements against the supreme leader of Iran”. Grounded on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, for the second charge, the severest punishment of 5 years was enforceable.

To serve his sentence, on October 18, 2020, he was arrested and transferred to a solitary confinement cell in Rajai Shahr Prison. Finally, he was relocated to a public section of this prison on December 19 2020.

On January 20 of this year, on new charges, the revolutionary court sentenced him to an additional 15 months imprisonment (which was later reduced to 11 months on appeal) and 4 months penal labour.

Khadijeh Mehdipour Beaten in Ilam Prison

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News, Prisoners
Khadijeh Mehdipour, Political Prisoners, Qasem Soleimani

On February 10, political prisoner Khadijeh Mehdipour was beaten by several prisoners of violent crime in Ilam Prison. Mehdipour is currently held in a ward where she is housed alongside prisoners of violent crime, which is in violation of the prison rules.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Mehdipour was beaten by her three fellow inmates.

According to an informed source, the beating was instigated by the head of the prison. Mehdipour has been hurt in her eyes.

Confirming this news, Public Relations of the Ilam Prison Organization in an announcement claimed that after watching a documentary about Qasem Soleimani and the marching following his death, Mehdipour uttered offensive statements against Soleimani, leading to a quarrel with one of her fellow inmates.

He claimed further that this quarrel occurred without any instigation from prison officials and no one got hurt seriously.

Mehdipour is currently serving her 20 month sentence in Ilam Prison.

On October 10, 2021, the IRGC’s intelligence agents arrested her at her uncle’s house and transferred her to Ilam Prison after two days of interrogation.

Finally, she was sentenced to 20 months in prison on charges of “propaganda against the regime” and “offensive statements against the supreme leader of Iran”. She was acquitted of the charge of “advocating for anti-regime groups”.

She had earlier faced other arrests and convictions. On October 3, 2020, the security forces arrested her in Ilam City and thereafter she was fined 3 million tomans in exchange for imprisonment.

Shakila Monfaed Fined and Sentenced to Imprisonment

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Qarchak, Shakila Monfared, Varamin City

Political prisoner Shakila Monfared was fined and sentenced to two years and eight months in prison on charges in a new case recently opened against her.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran Monfared to two years and eight months in prison and a 10 million toman fine.

While serving her prison sentence in Qarchak Prison in Varamin City, she faced a new case and was charged with “membership in one of the anti-regime groups and spreading lies”, for which she was respectively sentenced to two years and eight months in prison and paying a fine of 10 million.

On August 31, 2020, the security forces arrested Monfared while she was leaving her home. They transferred her to one of the detention centers at disposal of the IRGC in Tehran. Reportedly, they did not have a warrant for this arrest.

On September 9, of last year she was relocated to the quarantine section of the women ward of Evin Prison. On September 14, she was released on bail of 400 million tomans until the end of legal proceedings.

In January of this year, the joint court trial of Shakila Monfared, Arsham Rezaei, and Mohammad Abolhassani was held in Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari. 27-year-old Monfared was sentenced to 6 years in prison and 4 months of probation work in the Agricultural Jihad on charges of “propaganda activities against the system” and “insulting the sanctities of Islam”.

Monfared was granted furlough on August 23 of this year and returned to jail on September 7.

Inmates of Maragheh Prison Held in Poor Conditions

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
abuse of prisoners, addiction, Maragheh Prison, methadone, Political Prisoners, Prisoner rights

The inmates of Maragheh Prison are held in very poor conditions. Some of their problems include poor heating on cold days, co-housing political prisoners with prisoners of violent crimes and a shortage of sanitary services and beds. Moreover, the head of the prison has been ordered to deny adequate medical treatment to an inmate with a methadone addiction.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, prisoners in Maragheh Prison are held in poor, ill-equipped conditions and suffer from various problems.

Currently, about 1200 inmates are held in Maragheh Prison. This prison consists of four wards for men and one for women. Ward No. 1 houses inmates on death row and Ward No. 2 houses prisoners who are still in due process and awaiting their verdict.

An informed source explained the condition of Ward No. 4 to HRANA:

“140 inmates are held in this ward, while it has only 104 beds. Hence, some of the inmates have to sleep on the cold floor. Other wards have the same problem, which in cold days makes things harder for those [who] sleep on the floor.”

This ward has only three sanitary services for 140 inmates. The informed source also stated that the heating system can hardly warm the rooms and that inmates have to sleep with three blankets in order to keep themselves warm.

“Akbari, the head of the prison, has been ordered to refuse to accept any request, such as for furlough from the inmates with methadone addiction, until they [stop addiction]. Nonetheless, they do not provide these inmates with any adequate addiction treatment” the source added.

Our sources told a story of an inmate who used 20cc of methadone per day. They were forced to quit and consequently contracted a severe mental disorder. They have been hospitalized for two months.

The other problem is that political prisoners and prisoners of violent crimes are held in the same ward, which is in violation of prison rules.