Tag: irgc

Iranian Labour News Agency Staff Intimidated and Arrested by Security Forces

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Freedom of Expression, News
eyyed Mostafa Jafari, ILNA, irgc, Qatar, Qazvin, Reza Asad Abadi, Somayeh Masroor

Since the outbreak of nationwide protests, Labour News Agency (ILNA) staff have been subjected to intimidation and arrest by security institutions.

Somayeh Masroor, the head of ILNA, was arrested at protests and released on bail after a few days.

In another case, leaving the country toward Qatar in order to cover the football world cup news, ILNA’s sports editor was stopped at the airport by security forces. The agents arrested him and seized his passport.

Several other staff have also been summoned, interrogated and forced to sign a letter of commitment.
 
On Wednesday, November 23, IRGC forces arrested ILNA’s reporter Reza Asad-Abadi at his house. Since then, he has not called his family.
 
Also, in mid-November, judicial authorities banned another ILNA reporter in Qazvin, Seyyed Mostafa Jafari, from practising journalism. He was also banned from leaving the country for six months.

 

Former Political Prisoner Hassan Asadi Zeidabadi Arrested

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Freedom of Expression, News
Hassan Asadi Zeidabadi, irgc

On November 16, 2022, security forces arrested former political prisoner Hassan Asadi Zeidabadi in Tehran and took him to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on November 16, 2022, Hassan Asadi Zeidabadi was arrested in Tehran.

According to an informed source, IRGC’s intelligence is responsible for his arrest. The reason for Zeidabadi’s arrest and his whereabouts are still unknown.

Zeidabadi faced other arrests and convictions on prior occasions. In 2015, he was released from prison after serving five years. In 2020, he faced others charges for signing a statement known as 77 political activists’ statement condemning the regime’s violence against the protestors and asking for bringing the perpetrators of the shooting to justice.

 

Six Individuals Arrested in Fardis

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Freedom of Expression, News
Alborz province, Fardis County, irgc, Musalla

An IRGC commander in Fardis County, Alborz Province, announced the arrest of six individuals allegedly for “setting fire on a Musalla” (a complex used for congregation prayers and other ceremonies).

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Fars, six citizens were arrested in Fardis.

This IRGC official claimed, “on November 8, six people who had set fire to Emam Khomeini Musalla by throwing Molotov cocktails, were identified and arrested.”

“These individuals were in association with anti-regime media. Their cases were delivered to judicial authorities,” he added.

Nahid Shirpisheh Sentenced to Five Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
irgc, Kachooie Prison, Nahid Shirpisheh, Pouya Bakhtiari

Karaj Revolutionary Court sentenced Nahid Shirpisheh, Pouya Bakhtiari’s mother, to five years in prison. Shirpisheh has been jailed for two months. Bakhtiari was among the protestors who were killed in November 2019. 

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Shirpisheh was sentenced to five years in prison on the charges of “assembly and collusion”, and “propaganda against the regime.”

Shirpisheh is currently held in Kachooie Prison in Karaj. She has been prohibited from phone calls and family visits. She also has been denied medical care.

On July 11, 2022, security forces arrested the mothers of the individuals killed during the nationwide protests in 2019 known as the Aban protests, including Nahid Shirpisheh. In a news article, IRGC-affiliated Fars News Agency called these justice-seeking families “agitators and troublemakers”.

In November of 2019, an increase in fuel prices sparked a wave of protests in dozens of cities. The spokesperson of the Parliamentary National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, Seyed Hossein Taghavi, announced that 7000 people were arrested during these protests. According to reports from human rights organizations, hundreds were killed by the security apparatus.

Nahid Shirpisheh Denied Family Visitations

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
irgc, Nahid Shirpisheh, Pouya Bakhtiari

Kachooie Prison has denied Nahid Shirpisheh the right to make phone calls or have family visitations. Shirpisheh, Pouya Bakhtiari’s mother, has been detained for the past two months.

An informed source told HRANA thatShirpisheh is held in the quarantine section and is not allowed to have visitors. 

On July 28, 2022, Shirpisheh was transferred to Kachooie Prison where she was held in the same ward of prisoners of violent crimes, where she has been mistreated. 

On July 11, 2022, security forces arrested the mothers of the individuals killed during nationwide protests in 2019 known as the Aban protests, including Shirpisheh. In a news article, IRGC-affiliated Fars News Agency called these justice-seeking families “agitators and troublemakers”.

In November of 2019, an increase in fuel prices sparked a wave of protests in dozens of cities across the country. The spokesperson of the Parliamentary National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, Seyed Hossein Taghavi, announced that 7000 people were arrested during these protests. According to reports from human rights organizations, hundreds were killed by the security apparatus.

 

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Milad Eftekhari’s Three-Year Sentence Upheld

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

The Court of Appeals of Fars Province upheld Milad Eftekhari’s sentencing verdict. Earlier in July,  Eftekhari was sentenced to three years in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the Court of Appeals of Fars Province sentenced Milad Eftekhari to three years in prison.

According to the verdict, Eftekhari was sentenced to one year on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”, and two years on the charge of “insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran”. He was also banned from leaving Iran and having a social media presence for two years. Based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, two years imprisonment will be enforceable for the first charge.

On May 23, 2022, security forces arrested Eftekhari at his home and transferred him to Larestan Prison. He was released later on a 100 million tomans bail.

On June 22, 2021, IRGC Intelligence summoned and interrogated Eftekhari for his criticisms of the IRGC and Supreme Leader on social media. He was later released.

Eftekhari, age 26, is a resident of Larestan, Fars Province, and a graduate student at Tehran University.

 

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

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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.