Tag: irgc

Civil Rights Activist Peyman Sokooti Still in Detention  

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Gilaki Civil Rights Activist, irgc, Lakan prison, Peyman Sokooti

Gilaki civil rights activist Peyman Sokooti has been detained for the past three months in Lakan Prison, awaiting due process while he is denied access to a lawyer.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, civil rights activist from Gilan Province Peyman Sokooti has been detained for three months.

Sokooti has been charged with “acting against national security through membership in anti-regime groups, insulting the Supreme Leader and propaganda against the regime”.

On May 23, 2022, security forces arrested Sokooti, held him for ten days in an IRGC detention facility, and then transferred him to Lakan Prison in Rasht.

Milad Eftekhari Sentenced to Three Years in Prison

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
irgc, Larestan, Milad Eftekhari

The Revolutionary Court of Shiraz sentenced Milad Eftekhari to three years in prison and additional limitations. If confirmed on appeal, based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, two years for one charge will be enforceable.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Eftekhari, who is a resident of Larestan, was sentenced to two years in prison on the charge of “insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran” and one year on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”. He was also banned from leaving the county and on social media presence for two years.

On May 23, 2022, security forces arrested Eftekhari at his house and transferred him to Larestan Prison. During the arrest, the agents searched his house and confiscated some of his personal belongings. He was released later on a 100 million tomans bail.

On June 22, 2021, IRGC’s intelligence office summoned and interrogated Eftekhari for his criticisms of IRGC and the Supreme Leader on social media. He was later released after signing a pledge.

Eftekhari, age 26, is a resident of Larestan, Fars Province, and a graduate student in Communication Science from Tehran University.

Former Deputy Interior Minister Mostafa Tajzadeh Arrested

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Iranian Green Movement, irgc, Mohammad Khatami, Mostafa Tajzadeh

On Friday, July 8, 2022, the IRGC Intelligence agents arrested former deputy interior minister Mostafa Tajzadeh in Tehran.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Mehr News Agency, former deputy interior minister and former political prisoner, Mostafa Tajzadeh was arrested.

According to Mehr News Agency, Tajzadeh is accused of “assembly and collusion to act against national security” and “publishing falsehood to disturb public opinion.” It was further reported that Tajzadeh’s arrest warrant was issued by the judicial authorities.

In the aftermath of the Iranian Green Movement in 2009, Tajzadeh was arrested and sentenced to six years imprisonment on the charges of “assembly and collusion against national security” and “propaganda against the regime.”

During his incarceration, Tajzadeh published an open letter criticizing the Supreme Leader. Consequently, IRGC filed a lawsuit and accused him of “propaganda against the regime” for which his sentence was increased to seven years, most of which was spent in solitary confinement and ended in 2016. 

Mostafa Tajzadeh was the deputy interior minister of President Mohammad Khatami.

Polish Scientist Maciej Walczak Arrested in Iran

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
Fars News, irgc, Maciej Walczak, Polish scientist, U.K.Ambassador

The spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland confirmed the arrest of a Polish scientist named Maciej Walczak in Iran. Earlier,  Iran state TV had reported this individual’s arrest in Kerman Province. 

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the IRGC has arrested a Polish scientist named Maciej Walczak in Kerman. 

Polish officials have promised that they will do their best to free Walczak. 

On Wednesday, Iran state TV claimed that Walczak and three colleagues were taking soil samples at a restricted site of a missile test. 

IRGC-affiliated news agency Fars News published video footage from the arrest of several foreign diplomats including the deputy of the U.K.Ambassador in Iran,  accusing him of spying by taking samples of Iranian soil in restricted areas. The reports claimed that the official would be expelled after making an official apology. 

 

Teacher Union Activist Majid Karimi Arrested in Sanandaj

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Iranian Teacher Union Activist, irgc, Majid Karimi, Masoud Farhikhteh, Sanandaj City

On Tuesday, May 31, 2022, security forces arrested teacher union activist Majid Karimi in Sanandaj City and transferred him to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, on Tuesday, May 31, 2022, teacher union activist Majid Karimi was arrested. Reportedly, he and several others had gathered before the IRGC Intelligence Office to inquire about detained teacher union activist Masoud Farhikhteh, when several IRGC agents came out and took him to an unidentified location.

The reason for his arrest and his whereabouts are unknown so far.

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Kiumars Latifi Arrested by IRGC Intelligence Agents in Sanandaj City

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
irgc, Kiumars Latifi, Sanandaj City

On February 15, IRGC intelligence agents arrested Kiumars Latifi, a resident of Sanandaj City.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, they have transferred Latifi, age 41, to a security detention centre in Sanandaj City. He was accused of “collaboration with one of the anti-regime political parties.”

He has had another arrest on his rap sheet. In September of 2019, he was arrested with the same accusation and released on bail on December 26 of that year.

Teacher’s Union Activist Fatemeh Bahmani Arrested in Shazand city

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
Arak City, Arrest without warrant, Fatemeh Bahmani, irgc, Mohammad Kurd, Shazand City

On December 24, security forces arrested teacher and union activist Fatemeh Bahmani at her house in Shazand City. Her cell phone was confiscated during the arrest.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations, IRGC’s security agents arrested Bahmani without showing an arrest warrant.

The reasons for the arrest and her whereabouts are unknown at the time of writing.

Bahmani was arrested earlier in 2018 along with her husband Mohammad Kurd. They were arrested during a protest and sit-down strike in Arak City and transferred to the city’s prison. In two different cases for each, they were sentenced to two years suspended imprisonment for three years and fined 8 million tomans (1904 USD).

Ahmad Tamouei Freed After Fifteen Years in Prison

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Ahmad Tamouei, irgc, Mahabad City, PJAK, Political Prisoner, Prisoner released, Urmia prison

Political prisoner Ahmad Tamouei was freed on December 16 after fifteen years in prison, ten months before serving his full sentence. He is currently on furlough and therefore, by court order, will not return to Urmia Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Tamouei was arrested by IRGC’s intelligence unit  on October 24, 2007. He was arrested by in Mahabad City while on a motorbike.

After spending time in a detention facility at the disposal of the IRGC, he was relocated to Mahabad Prison. On December 31, 2007, Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court sentenced him to 15 years in prison, exiled in Urmia Prison on the charge of “enmity against the God through membership in Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK)”. The verdict was upheld on appeal. On September 8, 2008, he was transferred to Urmia Prison where he has been held until now.

Leila Hosseinzadeh’s Five Year Sentence Upheld by The Court of Appeals

Posted on by A MN
News, Students, Women
Amir Raisian, Gonabadi Dervish, irgc, Leila Hosseinzadeh, Mohammed Sharifi Moghaddam, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran

Branch 36 of the Court of Appeals in Tehran upheld the verdict of student activist and former political prisoner, Leila Hosseinzadeh. Hosseinzadeh was sentenced to five years in prison and a two year ban on online social activity by Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran due to her attendance at the birthday ceremony of imprisoned Gonabadi Dervish, Mohammad Sharifi Moghaddam, held at the entrance of the Sharif University of Technology.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Hosseinzadeh’s lawyer, Amir Raisian, was notified about the court;’s decision to uphold the initial verdict.

In February 2021, Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran convicted her on the charge of “assembly and collusion for the purpose of acting against national security”.

Amid the nationwide protests which broke out in December 2017, Hosseinzadeh was arrested alongside other student activists and released on bail after spending 16 days in detention. On March 7, 2018, she was sentenced to five years in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”, as well as one year in prison and a two year ban on leaving the country on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”. The sentence for her first charge was reduced on appeal from five years to two years and six months. Grounded on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, 30 months of this sentence was enforceable.

On July 28, 2019, she was arrested and detained for 10 days in a facility at the IRGC’s intelligence unit. Afterwards, she was sent to Evin prison to serve her sentence.

On March 11, 2020, while on furlough, she was set free due to her “intolerance of punishment”.

Iranian Citizens Run Bandaged-Eye Campaign in Solidarity with Protesters Injured in Violent Police Crackdown in Isfahan

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
Bandaged-eye Campaign, Chile, Gonabadi Dervishes, irgc, Isfahan, Noor Ali Tabandeh, Police violence, Security forces

Several citizens have posted photos of their faces with bandages over their eyes as an act of protest against the Regime’s brutal crackdown in Isfahan on Friday, during which several were injured from the direct shooting of military and security forces.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, local doctors and medical staff have reported high numbers of patients in recent days. Official sources say that at least 19 protesters were injured last Friday, and two are reportedly in critical condition. However, the number of injured people are estimated to be significantly higher.

“In just one hospital, there were about 19 patients who were injured by shooting last Friday and Saturday. Therefore, with all likelihood, contrary to what official media have reported, far more than 19 people have been injured,” a specialist and eye surgeon in Isfahan told HRANA. “The distance of pellets on these patients’ faces indicates that they have been shot from a close range–maybe only a few meters. If the bullets are made of lead, even being hit from a 30-meter distance can cause irreparable damages.”

Military forces using pellet guns against protesters is by no means unprecedented. On February 3, 2018, during a protest of Gonabadi Dervishes in front of the home of their spiritual leader, Noor-Ali Tabandeh, security forces fired pellet guns at the protesters, after which several were injured and some even lost their sight.

Since the widespread use of pellet guns by Chile Police in 2019, which led to the injury of the eye injury of 445 people and permanent blinding of 34, the bandaged eye became a rallying symbol in Chile. Iranian protesters have also used this symbol to express their protest against the regime’s brutality.