Category: Prisoners

French Tourist’s Sentence Upheld by Court of Appeals

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Benjamin Briere, French Tourist, Ukraine Flight 752, Vakilabad prison

Branch 7 of the Court of Appeals of Khorasan Razavi Province upheld the sentence of French Tourist Benjamin Briere. Initially, Briere was sentenced to eight years and eight months in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the prison sentence against Benjamin Briere was upheld on appeal.

Confirming this sentence in an interview with HRANA, Briere’s lawyer, Saeed Dehghan commented that in this verdict, France was considered hostile to Iran and statements such as expressing condolences to the families of the victims of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752, which was shot down by the IRGC, was presented as evidence for this conviction. Also, Briere’s information technology background and the possession of more than one hard drive and cell phone were considered by the court as evidence for the conviction.

In January of last year, Branch 4 of the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad sentenced Briere to eight years and eight months in prison on the charges of “espionage” and “propaganda against the regime”. Two other charges of “spreading corruption on earth” and “drinking alcohol” were dismissed by the court.

In May 2020, Briere was arrested by security forces and has since been kept in Vakilabad Prison. He has been in pre-trial detention for more than 600 days.

Inmates in Women’s Ward of Qarchak Prison Held in Inhumane Conditions

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Iranian women prisoners, Qarchak Prison

Women imprisoned in Qarchak Prison in Varamin are being held in poor and inhumane conditions, deprived of a ventilation system and healthy drinking water, which results in skin diseases and other health issues.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, inmates of women’s wards in Qarchak Prison are deprived of basic human needs.

In recent days, the quality of tap water has intolerably worsened. According to an informed source, low-quality water has caused many diseases. Many women inmates cannot afford to buy water bottles from the food store in prison.

These harsh conditions have also increased tensions and quarrels among inmates.

The conditions in the women’s ward have caused criticism of the authorities, including  Heshmatollah Hayat, the head of the Tehran Prisons Organization.

Update on Prisoner Akbar Faraji in Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Akbar Faraji, Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary

Political prisoner Akbar Faraji (Farajim), age 41, is serving a five-year sentence in the Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary.

On October 8, 2021, Faraji and 13 other inmates were relocated to a locked-door ward. After being kept there for several months, the inmates in this ward are suffering from many issues such as frequent water cuts, overcrowding and the lack of a ventilation system.

On February 10, 2019, security forces arrested Akbar Faraji for his activities on social media. He was held at one IRGC detention facility in Tehran and after ten days of interrogation, transferred to Evin Prison. On February 24, 2019, Faraji was released on bail of 300 million Tomans.

On April 9, 2019, Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced Akbar Faraji to five years in prison on the charge of “assembly and collusion against national security” and one year on the charge of “propaganda against the regime.” This verdict was upheld on appeal. Based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the five years sentence for the first charge is enforceable. On September 6, 2020, Faraji was jailed in the Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary to serve his sentence.

Concern over Prisoner Mohammad-Ali Mansouri’s Health 

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
HRANA, Iran Mansouri, javaid rehman, MEK, Mohammad Ali Mansouri, Sunni prisoners

Political prisoner Mohammad-Ali Mansouri, who is serving the fifteenth year out of his seventeen-year sentence in Rajai Shahr Prison, is denied urgent medical treatment and furlough despite prior approval. In an open statement, his mother, Iran Mansouri asked human rights organizations for help.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Mohammad-Ali Mansouri, a political prisoner who is held in  Rajai Shahr Prison is denied urgent medical treatment and furlough.

An informed source told HRANA, “Last year, Mansouri had a heart attack. Although it was suggested that he should be at a healthcare facility for further examination and supervision, the  prison authority rejected the request.”

“Mansouri has served his first sentence and now he is imprisoned for another sentence which he faced during prison time”, this source added.

In an open statement addressing Javaid Rehman, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iran, Amnesty International and United Nations Human Rights Council, Mansouri’s Mother, Iran Mansouri expressed concern about her son’s poor health and asked for help.

Mansouri was arrested in September 2007 after attending the 19th anniversary of the massacre of political prisoners in 1988. Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court, headed by Judge Abolghasem Salavati, sentenced him to 17 years in prison and a fine of 150,000 tomans on the charge of “communicating and collaborating with the People’s Mujahedin Organization (MEK)”. The sentence was upheld by the Court of Appeals.

In May 2018, on the pretext of [conducting] “activities inside the prison” such as going on a hunger strike, inciting prisoners, and writing a statement in support of the Sunni prisoners,  Mansouri was charged with “collusion against the regime” and sentenced to an additional five years in prison.

Update on Political Prisoner Ayoub Porkar’s Condition 

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
ahvaz, Ayoub Porkar, Iranian Political prisoner, Nasrin Sotoudeh, Sheyban Prison

Political prisoner Ayoub Porkar is currently spending the fourteenth year out of his twenty-year sentence in Sheyban Prison in Ahvaz. During this period, he has not been granted any furlough. 

In 2008, Porkar was arrested by security forces and later sentenced to death by Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran on the charge of “enmity against God through cooperation with The People’s Mujahedin Organization of Iran (MEK).” This verdict was commuted to 20 years in prison on appeal. 

Nasrin Sotoudeh, his attorney at the time of trial, stated that the arguments for his conviction were based on his beliefs rather than actions. 

Porkar is currently serving the fourteenth year of his sentence in exile, in Sheyban prison in Ahvaz. During the entire fourteen years, he has not been granted any furlough. 

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Update on Zahra Mohammadi’s Condition 

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
cultural association Nojin, environmental activist, Kurdish language teacher, Sanandaj, Sanandaj Correctional Center, Zahra Mohammadi

Civil rights activist Zahra Mohammadi is currently serving a five-year sentence in the Sanandaj Correctional Center where she is housed in the ward of prisoners of violent crimes. Despite suffering from intestinal and gastrointestinal problems, Mohammadi is denied adequate medical care and furlough.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, civil rights activist Zahra Mohammadi who is imprisoned in the Sanandaj Correctional Center is denied adequate medical care and furlough.

An informed source told HRANA, “Despite Mohammadi’s intestinal problems and several requests for medical furlough, influenced by Sanandaj Intelligence, prison officials refuse to send her on medical furlough.”

On May 23, 2019, security forces arrested Mohammadi and on December 2 of that year, released her on a bail of  700 million Tomans. In July 2020, Branch 1 of Sanandaj’s Revolutionary Court sentenced Mohammadi to 10 years in prison on the charge of “organizing people to disrupt national security”. In February of 2021, this verdict was reduced to 5 years on appeal. Mohammadi’s request for a retrial was rejected by the Supreme Court of Iran.

On January 8, 2022, Mohammadi was taken to the women’s ward of the Correctional Center of Sanandaj City to serve her sentence.

Mohammadi, 29 years old, is a member of the cultural association Nojin which is engaged in environmental activities, forest protection and Kurdish language teaching.

Update on Javad Laal Mohammadi’s Condition in Vakil-Abad Prison

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Aida Laal Mohammadi, Ezzat Javadi Hesar, Javad Laal Mohammadi, Vakil-Abad Prison

Political Activist Javad La’al Mohammadi is detained in Vakil-Abad Prison for more than eight months where the due process in his case has been unclear. In April of 2022, he was transferred from a detention facility to Vakil-Abad Prison in Mashhad.

La’al Mohammadi was one of the 14 signatories of a letter which requested the resignation of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran, which has had consequences for its signatories.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Civil Activist Javad La’al Mohammadi is still in detention in an uncertain condition for more than eight months in Vakil-Abad Prison in Mashhad.

La’al Mohammadi is currently held in a cell with another activist Abbas Vahedian Shahroudi. In February of the last year, his court session was held in Branch 903 of the Public and Revolutionary Court of Mashhad.

During the legal process, he was allowed to choose a lawyer only from those the judiciary confirmed.

On October 13, 2021, security forces arrested this civil activist at his house. During the arrest, the agents searched his house and confiscated some of his belongings. They also threatened his family members. Earlier, on September 1, 2021, with his wife, Ezzat Javadi Hesar and his daughter Aida La’al Mohammadi, he had been arrested in Mashhad. During this detention, La’al Mohammadi was beaten up and tortured.

Update on Prisoner Kamal Sharifi in Minab Prison

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners

Political prisoner Kamal Sharifi is serving the fourteenth year out of a 30 years sentence in Minab Prison. In violation of prison rules, he was housed with violent prisoners. Moreover, he suffers from heart disease and digestive disorders, for which he has been denied adequate medical treatment.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Kamal Sharifi is serving the fourteenth year of his sentence in a ward for prisoners of violent crimes in Minab Prison.

In March of 2021, he was dispatched to a hospital outside prison after a heart attack. After four days, however, he was sent back to prison before completing medical treatment. Also, due to damaged tendons in his foot, Sharifi can hardly walk for which he has not received medical treatment.

Earlier, HRANA reported that Sharifi is not allowed furlough, family visitation or regular phone calls.

Kamal Sharifi was arrested in 1998 in the city of Saqqez, when Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court sentenced him to 30 years imprisonment.

On several occasions, Kamal Sharifi was arrested in 1989 and 1990 on the charges of supporting and working for the Kurdistan Democratic Party, and eventually, the Revolutionary Court of Saqqez sentenced him to one additional year of imprisonment and 40 lashes.

Trade Union Activist Reza Shahabi Goes on Hunger Strike in Evin Prison

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Hunger Strike, Iranian Trade Union Activist, Reza Shahabi, Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, Ward 209 of Evin Prison

On Monday, June 13, 2022, Reza Shahabi, trade union activist and a board member of the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company started his hunger strike in protest against his prolonged detention. Shahabi who suffers from poor health has been detained in Ward 209 of Evin Prison for over 30 days.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Monday, June 13, 2022, trade union activist Reza Shahabi went on hunger strike to protest against his detention.

Last Sunday, Shahabi’s detention was extended for one month.

On Thursday, May 12, 2022, security forces arrested Reza Shahabi at his house in Tehran.

In previous years, Reza Shahabi faced other arrests and convictions for his civil activities.

Teacher Union Activists Shaaban Mohammadi and Masoud Nikkhah Transferred from Sanandaj to Evin Prison in Tehran

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Eskandar Lotfi, Masoud Nikkhah, Shaaban Mohammadi

On Saturday, June 4, 2022, two detained teacher union activists, Shaaban Mohammadi and Masoud Nikkhah were transferred from a detention center in Sanandaj to Evin Prison in Tehran. These inmates had been arrested on May 1, 2022, with another teacher Eskandar Lotfi. Shaaban Mohammadi was released on that day but arrested again later on May 11, 2022.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Saturday evening, June 4, 2022, in a phone call, two detained teacher union activists, Shaaban Mohammadi and Masoud Nikkhah informed their families about their relocation from Sanandaj to Evin Prison in Tehran.

According to an informed source, during the call, security agents interrupted and cut the phone connection so that the Ward in which they are held is not revealed, as it may reveal the institution responsible. 

On Sunday, May 1, 2022, security forces arrested Masoud Nikkhah and Eskandar Lotfi in Sanandaj. They went on hunger strike right after the arrest. On May 11, 2022, Masoud Nikkhah was released on bond but one day after he was arrested again.

Three weeks ago, in a report, a state-controlled TV channel tried to connect the recent detention of two French citizens, Cécile Kohler and her husband, to nationwide teachers’ protests and these teachers’ activists. In response, in a statement, the Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association condemned these attempts to make such connections and allegations. 

On Sunday, May 1, in response to a call by the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association, the retired and active teachers in 45 cities assembled in front of the building of the Ministry of Education. In Mariwan and Bushehr, these protests were attacked and several protestors were arrested.