Tag: HRANA

Journalist Omid Faraghat Sentenced to Six Months in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Karaj, Karaj Revolutionary Court, Musa Asif al-Hosseini, Omid Faraghat

Branch 1 of the Karaj Revolutionary Court has sentenced journalist Omid Faraghat to six months in prison.

The ruling, issued by Judge Seyed Musa Asif Al-Hosseini of Branch 1 of the Karaj Revolutionary Court, was communicated to Mr. Faraghat on Saturday, August 10. He has been sentenced to six months of imprisonment on charges of “propaganda against the regime.”

According to information received by HRANA, the ruling was communicated by requiring the defendant to transcribe the verdict. Judicial authorities have not provided specific details of the charges against Mr. Faraghat and have not recorded the ruling in the relevant electronic system.

The hearings for Mr. Faraghat’s charges were held on two occasions, May 13 and August 6, 2024.

Omid Faraghat is a journalist and media activist focused on political issues. In April 2024, he was also sentenced by Branch 7 of the Karaj Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office to a two-year ban from online activities.

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.

Death Sentences for Six Prisoners Upheld by the Supreme Court

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Executions, News, Prisoners
Abdolhakim Azim Gorgij, Abdolrahman Gorgij, Farhad Shakeri, HRANA, Isa Eidmohammadi, Malek Ali Fadaie-Nasab, Mashhad, Taj Mohammad Khormaly, Vakilabad prison

Branch 39 of  the Supreme Court has upheld the death sentences of Malek Ali Fadaie-Nasab, Farhad Shakeri, Isa Eidmohammadi, Abdolhakim Azim Gorgij, Abdolrahman Gorgij, and Taj Mohammad Khormali, political prisoners held in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.

In early July 2023, Branch 4 of the Mashhad Revolutionary Court sentenced each of these prisoners to death on the charge of “armed rebellion (Baghi)” after a retrial in a joint case.

A source close to the family of one of these political prisoners confirmed the news to HRANA, stating that the Supreme Court’s 39th Branch had upheld their death sentences.

In 2019, Branch 1 of the Mashhad Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Mahmoud Davoodabadi, sentenced these prisoners to death on charges of “armed rebellion through membership in the Salafi group Hizb al-Furqan and membership in the National Solidarity Front of Sunni Muslims of Iran.”

Subsequently, Branch 4 of the Supreme Court, presided over by Judge Ali Razini, overturned their death sentences and referred the case to a another court branch for retrial. In July 2023, Branch 4 of the Mashhad Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Ahmadian Salami, re-issued death sentences for these prisoners after a retrial.

After the death sentences were issued, the case was referred back to Branch 39 of the Supreme Court for further review.

A source close to the families of these prisoners previously informed HRANA that “this case is fraught with fundamental flaws, and there is insufficient evidence to convict these individuals of the charges against them. The use of pepper spray against one of the prisoners is an example of the torture inflicted upon them. The effects of such torture remain on their bodies even after several years.”

Meysam Basir Tavana Arrested

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Freedom of Expression, News
Fuman, HRANA, Mehran Basir Tavana, Meysam Basir Tavana

On Tuesday, August 6, Meysam Basir Tavana, the brother of Mehran Basir Tavana, who was killed during the nationwide protests in 2022, was arrested and transferred to an unknown location.

Based on reports received by HRANA, so far, the efforts of his family and relatives to find out his whereabouts and latest status have been unsuccessful.

In April of this year, Meysam Basir Tavana, along with two other family members, was arrested and released a few hours later.

In January of 2024, Basir Tavana was summoned to the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in Fuman.

On November 19, 2022, 29-year-old Mehran Basir Tavana was killed by regime forces’ gunfire during a protest in Someh Sara, Gilan Province.

Twenty-Two Prisoners Executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj

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Executions, News
Abdollah Shahnawazi, Esmaiel Sharafi, Ghezel Hesar prison, HRANA, Karaj, Mohammad Gholami, Shahab Maleki

Today, August 7, 2024, the execution of twenty-two prisoners, previously sentenced to death for non-political crimes including murder, drug-related offenses, and rape, was carried out in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj.

The identities of six of these prisoners, who were sentenced to death for drug-related offenses, have been confirmed by HRANA as Esmaiel Sharafi, Mohammad Gholami, Abdollah Shahnawazi, Shahab Maleki, Rasoul (last name unknown), and (first name unknown) Ghanbari.

Seven of these prisoners were previously sentenced to death for drug-related offenses, four prisoners for murder, three Afghan nationals for rape, seven Sunni prisoners and one other individual with unspecified charges.

In the past few days, these prisoners had been transferred to solitary confinement in Ghezel Hesar Prison in preparation for their execution. HRANA had reported the imminent danger of these 22 executions yesterday.

Further details on this matter are being investigated by HRANA.

As of the time of this report, the executions have not been officially announced by prison authorities or responsible organizations.
According to the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran, in 2023, at least 767 citizens, including 21 women and 2 juvenile offenders, were executed. Of these, the executions of 7 individuals were carried out in public. Additionally, during this period, 172 others were sentenced to death, with 5 of them sentenced to public execution. It is worth noting that during the same period, the initial death sentences of 49 other individuals were also upheld by the Supreme Court.

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Varuzh Moradi Arrested by Ministry of Intelligence

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Freedom of Expression, News, Other
Edris Moradi, HRANA, Kermanshah, Ravansar, Varouj Moradi

Varuzh (Edris) Moradi, a resident of Ravansar, was arrested and transferred to an unknown location on Sunday, August 4, following a summons to the Ministry of Intelligence Office of this county.

A source close to Moradi’s family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “Mr. Moradi was summoned to the Ministry of Intelligence Office of Ravansar County on Sunday, August 4. After appearing at this security institution, he was arrested.”

As of the time of this report, there is no information available on the reasons for the arrest, his whereabouts, or the charges against him.

Varuzh (Varouj) Moradi, a resident of Ravansar in Kermanshah province, has previously been arrested and faced judicial actions due to his activities.

Sixteen Prisoners Transferred to Solitary Confinement for Execution in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj

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Executions, News
Ghezel Hesar, HRANA, Karaj

On August 4th, sixteen prisoners in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj, who had previously been sentenced to death for non-political crimes, were transferred to solitary confinement for the execution of their sentences.

This transfer is for the execution of their death sentences. Four of them had previously been sentenced to death for murder charges. Additionally, five of these prisoners are Afhghan national.

Further details, including the identities of these prisoners and the charges against the remaining tweleve prisoners, are being investigated by HRANA.

In 2023, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran registered the execution of 767 individuals. Out of these, 7 were carried out in public. Among the executed individuals whose genders were identified, 21 were female. Additionally, 2 juvenile offenders, defined as individuals under the age of 18 at the time of their alleged crimes, were also executed.

Four Azerbaijani-Turk Activists Sentenced to Prison

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News
Ali Azizi, Ata Karimi, Azerbaijani Turk activists, Gholam Gholizadeh, HRANA, Sina Hassani, Urmia

Ata Karimi, Gholam Gholizadeh, Sina Hassani, and Ali Azizi, Azerbaijani-Turk activists, have each been sentenced to two years in prison by the Revolutionary Court of Urmia.

Based on a verdict issued by Branch 3 of the Urmia Revolutionary Court and delivered to these activists on Wednesday, July 31st, each of these individuals has been sentenced to two years in prison for the charge of “membership in a group aiming to disrupt national security.”

A source close to one of the families confirmed this news to HRANA, stating: “Previously, this case had been dismissed twice, but following an appeal by Mr. Khodaei, the Deputy Prosecutor, the case was reopened, and after nine years, this verdict was issued.”

In June 2015, these four citizens were arrested by security forces in Urmia in connection with this case and were released after about a week.

Gholam Gholizadeh, Ali Azizi, and Sina Hassani have faced legal actions and convictions in recent years due to their activities.

 

Singer Zara Esmaeili Detained in Legal Uncertainty for Over Nine Days

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Freedom of Expression, News, Women
Ekbatan town, HRANA, Zahra Esmaeili, Zara Esmaeili

Zara Esmaeili, a singer and resident of Karaj, has been detained for over nine days, with her legal status remaining uncertain. The lack of information about her condition has heightened the concerns of her family and friends.

A source close to her family confirmed this news to HRANA, stating: “Ms. Esmaeili was arrested by security forces at her private residence in Karaj on Friday, July 26th. We have no information about her fate and are extremely worried about Zara’s well-being.”

Zara (Zahra) Esmaeili, a 29-year-old resident of Karaj, has performed numerous street performances in various parts of Tehran, such as Ekbatan town and Ferdows Garden.

According to information obtained by HRANA, Ms. Esmaeili was subjected to violence and mistreatment by officers the day before her arrest while trying to prevent the arrest of a friend by Tehran’s security police.

So far, there is no information available regarding the reasons for her arrest, her whereabouts, or the charges against her.

Nasimeh Eslam-Zahi Detained for Over 11 Months in Evin Prison

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News, Prisoners
HRANA, Malard, Nasimeh Eslam-Zahi, Sistan and Baluchestan Province

Nasimeh Eslam-Zahi, a Sunni defendant facing security charges, remains in a state of uncertainty in the women’s ward of Evin Prison despite being detained for over eleven months.

Based on HRANA’s information, Ms. Eslam-Zahi and her husband have been held without trial for more than eleven months in Evin Prison. They were charged in August-September of 2023 in the prosecutor’s office with suspicion of “membership in the militant group ISIS,” but no court hearing has been held for them. Additionally, the couple has not had any in-person visits since their arrest.

A source close to the family of the couple confirmed this news to HRANA, saying, “About three months ago, Nasimeh gave birth to her second child in prison. Her first child, Aisha, who is about two years old and was with them at the time of their arrest, has been handed over to welfare services and is being cared for there. Despite requests, Aisha has not been returned to Nasimeh or her family.”

In August-September last year, Ms. Eslam-Zahi, along with her husband and child, was arrested in Malard and transferred to Zahedan for interrogation. Security forces reported that they were in possession of weapons at the time of their arrest.

Ms. Eslam-Zahi and her husband were charged in the Sistan and Baluchestan Province Prosecutor’s Office in September 2023 and then transferred to Evin Prison.

Eslam-Zahi, approximately 40 years old, spent three months in solitary confinement in the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility known as Ward 209 of Evin Prison and another three months in shared cells in the same detention facility. Finally, on March 4, 2024, she was transferred to the women’s ward of this prison.

Previously, an informed source without knowledge of the identity of Ms. Eslam-Zahi’s husband told HRANA, “Nasimeh’s husband is originally from the Kurdish provinces and is being held in one of the shared rooms in Ward 209 of Evin Prison.”