Tag: ahvaz

Political Prisoner Gholamhossein Kalbi Denied Medical Care in Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz

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News, Prisoners
ahvaz, Dezful, Gholamhossein Kalbi, Saeed Masouri, Sheiban Prison

Gholamhossein (Gholam Hossein) Kalbi, a political prisoner, is currently serving the 24th year of his life sentence in Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz. Despite suffering from various health issues, he has been deprived of adequate medical treatment.

A source familiar with the situation confirmed this news to HRANA, stating, “Mr. Kalbi has spent nearly 24 years in this prison without any leave. He suffers from a hernia and ear infection and has recently developed a fungal infection, causing severe and blackened infections in his toenails. Despite this, he has only been sent to the prison infirmary several times, where the authorities, due to a lack of facilities and medication, have merely conducted examinations. This political prisoner requires specialized medical care and should be transferred to a hospital outside the prison.”

Kalbi was arrested on January 8, 2001, along with Saeed Masouri, in Dezful, on charges of membership in the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran. In 2002, he was sentenced to death by the Tehran Revolutionary Court on charges of “enmity against God” (Moharebeh). His death sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment.

After his arrest, he spent 14 months in solitary confinement at the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Ahvaz before being transferred to Ward 209, and later to Ward 350 of Evin Prison. Following his sentencing, he was moved to Mahshahr Prison and later to Karun Prison in Ahvaz. After the closure of Karun Prison in February 2016, he was transferred along with other prisoners to Sheiban Prison.

In October 2016, his brother, the last remaining member of his family, suffered a stroke and passed away while en route to the prison for a face-to-face visit with him—a visit he had managed to secure after five years of effort. The judicial authorities denied Mr. Kalbi leave to attend his brother’s funeral.

The troubling case of Kalbi underscores a broader pattern of neglect within Iranian prisons. In 2023, the Department of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran documented 1,390 instances of denial or neglect of medical care for prisoners, highlighting a systemic issue that urgently demands attention.

Report on the Latest Status of Iman Salehi, a Christian Convert in Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz

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News, Prisoners, Religious Minorities
ahvaz, Ahvaz Revolutionary court, Bijan Gholizadeh, Esmaeil Narimanpour, Farshad Arzan Barzin, Hamid Afzali, Houshang Bagheri, HRANA, Iman Salehi, Nasrollah Mousavi, Sheiban Prison, Yasin Mousavi, Zohrab Shahbazi Nejad

Christian convert Iman Salehi is currently serving his sentence in Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz. He was previously sentenced by the Revolutionary Court to five years in prison and paying a fine.

Based on information received by HRANA, Mr. Salehi was arrested by security forces on December 24, 2024. Later, in late June of this year, he was sentenced by Branch 2 of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Fathinia, to five years in prison and a fine of 50 million tomans for “propaganda against the regime through promoting Zionist Christianity.” This Christian convert suffers from gum infection and has been denied specialized medical care in Sheiban Prison.

A source informed HRANA, “Iman Salehi, along with eight other Christian converts—Yasin Mousavi, Esmaeil Narimanpour, Hamid Afzali, Zohrab Shahbazi Nejad, Bijan Gholizadeh, Nasrollah Mousavi, Houshang Bagheri, and Farshad Arzan Barzin—are involved in a joint case. These individuals were separately arrested at the same time as Mr. Salehi and were later released on bail of 700 million tomans each, pending their appeal hearing. However, Iman Salehi remains in prison due to financial inability to post bail.”

The court session addressing their charges was held on May 27, 2024, in Branch 2 of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court. Shortly after, the sentences for these Christian converts were issued. Following an appeal, their case has been referred to Branch 16 of the Appeals Court.

It is worth noting that Bijan Gholizadeh passed away in a car accident on August 24, 2024, on the Boroujen road in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province.

Iman Salehi, 38, the father of one child, and resides in Ahvaz. Before his arrest, he worked as a farmer.

While Christians are legally recognized as a religious minority in Iran, the conversion of Muslims to Christianity is closely monitored by security agencies, often resulting in severe repercussions for those involved.

This persecution persists despite Article 18 of both the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantee the right to freedom of religion, including the right to change one’s faith and to practice it individually or collectively, publicly or privately.

Report on the Latest Status of Political Prisoner Ayoub Porkar in Sheiban Prison

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News, Prisoners
ahvaz, Ayoub Porkar, Behbahan prison, Evin Prison, Nasrin Sotoudeh, Sheiban Prison, Yahya Pir-Abbasi

Ayoub Porkar, a 69-year-old exiled political prisoner, is serving the sixteenth year of his sentence in Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz, without a single day of furlough.

Security forces arrested Mr. Porkar on January 3, 2009. He was later sentenced to death by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Yahya Pir-Abbasi, on charges of “enmity against God” (Moharebeh) through collaboration with the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO). This sentence was eventually reduced to 20 years in prison by Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals.

Nasrin Sotoudeh, the lawyer who represented Mr. Parkar at the time, had previously told the media that unexpectedly the “beliefs” of her client were the basis for the death sentence.

After his sentence was upheld, Ayoub Porkar was initially exiled from Ward 350 of Evin Prison to Behbahan Prison and then transferred to Karun Prison in Ahvaz. He is currently serving his sentence in Ward 5 of Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz. Throughout his imprisonment, this exiled political prisoner has been denied conditional release and even a single day of furlough.

A source familiar with Mr. Parkar’s condition had earlier informed HRANA: “Ayoub Porkar suffers from knee problems and has been deprived of specialized medical care.”

During the Iran-Iraq war, Porkar, aged around 69, served in the army for four years but was dismissed from his job due to his criticisms of the government.

Political Prisoner Reza Arabpour Detained for Over 21 Months Without Verdict

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Freedom of Expression, News
ahvaz, Bahman Bahmani, Behrooz Salahshoor, Esmail Mousavi Nazari, HRANA, Izeh, Mohsen Ahmadpour, Rasoul Bodaghi, Reza Arabpour, Sadegh Ghasemi, Sheiban Prison, Vahid Abbasi, رضا عرب پور

Reza Arabpour, a political defendant arrested during the nationwide protests of 2022 in Izeh, remains in Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz, over twenty-one months after his arrest, with no legal resolution in sight.

HRANA’s sources indicate that Mr. Arabpour has been in detention for over 600 days. Despite a court session being held in June of this year at Branch 4 of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court, no verdict has been issued for him. Arabpour, hence, remains in a state of uncertainty in Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz.
Previously, Hossein Ali Hatami, the defense attorney for this political defendant, had told HRANA that Arabpour, along with Mohsen Ahmadpour, Bahman Bahmani, Rasoul Bodaghi, Vahid Abbasi, and Esmail Mousavi Nazari, are involved in a joint case, and a court session was held to address charges including “enmity against God (Moharebeh), corruption on earth (Efsad-e-Fil-Arz), and forming a rebel group.”

In November 2022, Reza Arabpour, Mohsen Ahmadpour, Bahman Bahmani, Behrooz Salahshoor, Rasoul Bodaghi, Vahid Abbasi, Sadegh Ghasemi, and Esmail Mousavi Nazari were arrested by IRGC intelligence officers. After completing the interrogation process, they were transferred to Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz.

A few months later, the indictment of these individuals on the mentioned charges was referred to Branch 4 of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court.
Among these citizens, so far, Bahman Bahmani, Mohsen Ahmadpour, Vahid Abbasi, Esmail Mousavi Nazari, Behrooz Salahshoor, and Rasoul Bodaghi have been released from Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz, on bail.

Political Detainee Alireza Merdasi Denied Medical Care in Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz

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News, Prisoners
ahvaz, Alireza Mardasi, Alireza Merdasi, HRANA, Sheiban Prison

Alireza Merdasi, a teacher and political detainee, remains in legal limbo in Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz, more than a year after his arrest. He suffers from health issues and has been denied proper medical care and transfer to outside medical facilities.

A source close to the family of this political detainee confirmed the news to HRANA, stating, “Mr. Mardasi suffers from a lung condition and has been deprived of specialized medical care and transfer to medical facilities. Furthermore, he has been held in legal uncertainty for over a year in Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz, and has yet to face a court trial.”

Merdasi was arrested by security forces in Ahvaz on August 1, 2023.

He was later charged with “spreading corruption on Earth” and “membership in a rebellious group.”

Alireza Merdasi, approximately 45 years old, a father of one, a resident of Ahvaz, has over twenty years of experience teaching at the elementary level.

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Hooman Seydali Detained for over 19 Months in Legal Limbo

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News, Prisoners
ahvaz, Hooman Seydali, Izeh, Sheiban Prison, هومن صیدالی

Hooman Seydali, arrested during the nationwide protests of 2022, has remained in an uncertain state in Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz, for over nineteen months.

Based on information received by HRANA, Mr. Seydali has been held in Ward 8 of Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz, for 592 days. Branch 2 of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court has issued a hefty bail of fifty billion tomans for his temporary release, but his family’s inability to provide this amount has led to the continuation of his detention.

A source close to Seydali’s family confirmed this news to HRANA, stating, “Seydali has been charged with suspicion of membership in opposition groups.”

Hooman Seydali, 47 years old and a resident of Izeh, was arrested by security forces on December 20, 2022, during the nationwide protests and subsequently transferred to Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz.

Latest Status of Political Prison Jaber Sakhravi in Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz

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News, Prisoners
ahvaz, HRANA, Jaber Sakhravi, Sheiban Prison

Jaber Sakhravi, a political prisoner held in Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz has recently suffered a stroke but he has been denied transfer to a hospital in Ahvaz for a physiotherapy session due to opposition from the Ministry of Intelligence.

A source close to the political prisoner’s family told HRANA: “Mr. Sakhravi had a stroke 10 days ago and was hospitalized in Golestan Hospital for two days. Despite doctors’ recommendations for continued treatment, he was returned to Ward 5 of Sheiban Prison. Doctors have prescribed 12 physiotherapy sessions for his recovery, but the Ministry of Intelligence of Ahvaz is preventing his transfer to the hospital. As a result, the first physiotherapy session, scheduled for Monday, July 22, at Golestan Hospital, did not take place.”

According to information received by HRANA, in addition to suffering from a stroke that has slowed and slurred his speech, Mr. Sakhravi also suffers from multiple sclerosis (MS), right leg paralysis, testicular swelling, and stomach pain. Despite his family providing the necessary medications, prison officials refuse to deliver them to him.

Sakhravi is in his tenth year of imprisonment in Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz. HRANA has previously reported on his latest status.

Sakhravi was sentenced by “Judge Sha’bouni” at the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court to 14 years and six months of imprisonment on the charge of “acting against national security through moharebeh (enmity against God).” This sentence was later reduced to 12 years and five months by Branch 16 of the Ahvaz Court of Appeals

Extended Detention: Ongoing Uncertainty for Aman Jalali Nejad in Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz

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News, Prisoners
ahvaz, Aman Jalali Nejad, HRANA, Khuzestan, Sheiban Prison, امان جلالی نژاد

Aman Jalali Nejad, a teacher residing in Ahvaz, remains in detention and uncertainty for over ninety days in Sheiban Prison.

Based on information received by HRANA, recently, Jalali Nejad’s detention was extended for another month until August 10.

Jalali Nejad was arrested by security forces at the entrance of Ahvaz on April 8, 2024. In early June of this year, he was transferred from the quarantine ward of Sheiban Prison to the prison’s security ward.

This teacher was charged with “propaganda against the regime” on June 10, 2024, in Branch 13 of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court.

Aman Jalali Nejad is a teacher and painter employed by the Khuzestan Province Department of Education and resides in Ahvaz.

Ruhollah Kavousi Remains Detained for Over 300 Days, Facing Political Charges

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News, Prisoners
ahvaz, HRANA, Izeh, Ruhollah Kavousi, Sheiban Prison

Ruhollah Kavousi, a political detainee, has been held in Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz, for over 300 days without resolution. Despite his poor health, he has been denied proper medical care and transfer to medical facilities.

A source close to Kavousi’s family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “Mr. Kavousi has developed kidney and liver diseases, affecting his physical health. Nonetheless, he has been denied transfer to external medical facilities and proper medical care.”

Based on HRANA’s information, despite 306 days passing since his arrest, Kavousi remains in limbo in Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz. His case is under review by the second branch of the Izeh Prosecutor’s Office. He faces charges including “assembly and collusion against national security” and “propaganda against the regime.”

Kavousi, from Izeh, was arrested by security forces in Ahvaz on September 1, 2023, and subsequently transferred to Sheiban Prison in the city.

Christian Convert Yasin Mousavi Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison

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News, Religious Minorities
ahvaz, Izeh, Sheiban Prison, Yasin Mousavi, یاسین موسوی

Yasin Mousavi, a Christian convert, has been sentenced to fifteen years in prison by the Revolutionary Court of Ahvaz, as reported by Mohabat News.

Based on the verdict issued by the third branch of the Revolutionary Court of Ahvaz, presided over by Judge Fathinia, and communicated to Mr. Mousavi, he has been sentenced to fifteen years in prison on charges including “membership in groups aimed at disrupting national security” and “propaganda against the regime through promoting Zionist Christianity.”

Mousavi was previously arrested on December 24, 2023, along with several other Christian converts in the city of Izeh. After enduring twenty days of solitary confinement at the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, he was transferred to Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz. Mousavi was released on bail from Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz on April 30, 2024.

Mousavi has a history of previous arrests and imprisonment in October 2017, April 2021, and November 2022.

Despite the fact that Christians are recognized as a religious minority under Islamic law, the security services pursue the issue of Muslims converting to Christianity with particular sensitivity and deal harshly with those who convert to Christianity.

The persecution of Christian converts is a blatant violation of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which state that every individual has the right to freedom of religion and belief, including the freedom to express their faith openly or privately.