Tag: Karaj

Sanaz Ariantalab Summoned to Serve Prison Term for Political Charges

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Freedom of Expression, News
Gohardasht, Kachooie Prison, Karaj, Mahsa Amini, Sanaz Ariantalab, ساناز آریان طلب

Sanaz Ariantalab (Arian-Talab), a resident of Karaj, has been summoned to begin serving her prison term, imposed on political charges.

According to the summons, Ariantalab, aged around 38, must appear within five days at the executive branch of the judiciary.

Ariantalab was arrested on September 16, 2023, the first anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death, in Gohardasht, Karaj. She was detained in Kachooie Prison and released on bail of 500 million tomans (approximately $10,000) after ten days.

On March 10, 2024, the Revolutionary Court of Karaj sentenced Ariantalab to one year in prison for “presence in public without hijab, propaganda against the regime, and assembly and collusion to undermine national security.” Additionally, she was banned from leaving the country for two years and barred from membership in civil groups.

Execution of Four Death-Row Inmates Along with Khosrow Besharat

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Executions, News
HRANA, Karaj, Khosrow Besharat, Mohammad-Karim Fazeli, Mohammad-Reza Rahimpour, Sirus Hayatbini

On May 15, 2024, along with Sunni prisoner Khosrow Besharat, four other inmates convicted of murder and drug offenses, were executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj.

The inmates have been identified by HRANA as Mohammad-Reza Rahimpour, Sirus Hayatbini, Mohammad-Karim Fazeli, and an unidentified Afghan national. The first three were convicted of drug-related crimes, while the Afghan national was sentenced to death for murder.

No official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have provided coverage of these executions at the time of writing.

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. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s annual report.

Azerbaijani-Turk Activist Sayyad Mohammadian Arrested in Karaj

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Ethnic Minorities, News
Azerbaijani Turk activist, Karaj, Sayyad Mohammadian

On May 15, 2024, security forces arrested Sayyad Mohammadian, an Azerbaijani-Turk activist, at his residence in Karaj and transferred him to an undisclosed location.

During the arrest, the agents conducted a thorough search and confiscated some of his belongings.

The motives behind this arrest and his current whereabouts ARE unknown at this time.

Mohammadian has previously undergone arrest and interrogation due to his involvement in activist endeavors.

Sunni Death-Row Prisoner Khosrow Besharat Executed in Ghezel Hesar

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Executions, News
Abdolrahim Tina, Anvar Khezri, Ayoub Karimi, Davoud Abdollahi, Farhad Salimi, Ghasem Abasteh, Ghezel Hesar, Karaj, Mohammad Moghiseh

On May 15, 2024, Sunni prisoner Khosrow Besharat was executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj after enduring over 14 years of imprisonment.

As reported by HRANA earlier, he was moved to solitary confinement 14 days ago to await his execution. On May 13, he had his final family visit.

In the same legal case, Ghasem Abasteh, Ayoub Karimi, Davoud Abdollahi, Farhad Salimi, and Anvar Khezri were also executed in the same prison. Khezri was executed today, May 15, 2024.

The case stems from the assassination of Abdolrahim Tina, the Imam of a mosque in Mahabad, in September 2008. In January and February 2010, Besharat and six other Sunni suspects were arrested in connection with the killing.

Initially sentenced to death by Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Mohammad Moghiseh, Besharat’s sentence was initially overturned by the Supreme Court. The case was then reassigned to Branch 15 of the same court, presided over by Judge Salavati, who reinstated the death sentences for Besharat and six other defendants. The Supreme Court ultimately upheld their death sentences on February 3, 2020.

Political Prisoner Siamak Nasiri Sentenced to Imprisonment and Exile

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News, Prisoners
Alborz province, HRANA, Karaj, Musa Asef-Al-Hosseini, Siamak Nasiri

The Appellate Court of Alborz province has reduced political prisoner Siamak Nasiri’s sentence from six years to three years and one month.

Branch 12 of the Appellate Court of Alborz province issued the verdict, sentencing Nasiri to three years and one month in prison, plus two years of exile in Ahvaz County, following his appeal.

Initially, the Karaj Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Musa Asef Al-Hosseini, had sentenced Nasiri to five years in prison for “inciting people to violence and waging war against national security,” along with an additional year for “propaganda against the regime.” He was also required to reside in Ahvaz for two years.

Nasiri was arrested by IRGC Intelligence in Karaj on August 28, 2023, and is currently being held in the Central Prison of Karaj.

Previously, a source informed HRANA that Nasiri was detained in December 2022 in Karaj, where he was held in the Ministry of Intelligence’s facility. He was later transferred to the Central Prison of Karaj and subsequently released under a general pardon and commutation directive.

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Two Inmates Executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison for Drug Offenses

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Executions, News
Farzad Geravand, Ghezel Hesar prison, Karaj, Majid Barati

On May 1, 2024, Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj executed two inmates convicted of drug-related crimes.

The individuals were identified as Farzad Geravand and Majid Barati. HRANA reported on April 28 that the inmates had been moved to solitary confinement in preparation for their execution.

No official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have provided coverage of these executions at the time of writing.

According to data gathered by the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists, Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj witnessed the highest number of executions in 2023, with Zahedan Prison following closely behind. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s report.

 

Execution of Three Inmates in Karaj

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Executions, News
Citizen executed, Ghezel Hesar prison, Karaj

On April 25, 2024, three inmates, including a woman, were executed in Karaj for murder, according to Rokna.

The first inmate, a middle-aged man, allegedly killed his wife four years ago during a family dispute. The second inmate was executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison for fatally stabbing a young man during a street fight three years ago. Their identities were not disclosed in the report.

The third inmate, a woman identified only as Sahar, was convicted of killing her 70-year-old husband and stealing his gold in Tehran.

The Supreme Court confirmed the verdicts initially issued by the Tehran Criminal Court, leading to the executions.

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. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s annual report.

Two Inmates Executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison for Drug Offenses

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Executions, News
Abdolbari Pashto, Alireza Pourshahbaz, Ghezel Hesar prison, Karaj

On April 21, 2024, officials at Ghezel Hesar Prison executed two inmates who had been convicted of drug offenses.

The two individuals were identified as Abdolbari Pashto, an Afghan national, and Alireza Pourshahbaz. They had previously received death sentences for drug-related crimes and were moved to solitary confinement a day prior to their executions.

At the time of writing, no official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have covered these executions.

According to data gathered by the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists, Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj witnessed the highest number of executions in 2023, with Zahedan Prison following closely behind. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s report.

 

Sereen Curtis Arrested in Karaj on Allegations of Blasphemy

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News
Blasphemy, Karaj, Sahzadeh Sereen, Sereen Badiei, Sereen Curtis, سرین کرتیس, سرین کورتیس

Sereen Curtis (Badiei), also known as “Sahzadeh Sereen,” was apprehended on March 25, 2024, by security forces in Karaj on suspicion of blasphemy, as reported by Mizan, the judiciary’s news agency.

The arrest of Curtis, who is purportedly a dual national, came in the wake of the dissemination of videos on social media platforms.

Mizan disclosed that Curtis was formally charged and remanded into custody.

Abolfazl Pour-Hosseini Sentenced to Four Years in Prison with Additional Penalties

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News, Prisoners
Abolfazl Pour-Hosseini, Abolfazl PourHosseini, Erfan-e-Halgheh, Karaj, Qom, ابوالفضل پورحسینی, عرفان حلقه

The Revolutionary Court of Karaj has pronounced a four-year prison sentence on Abolfazl Pour-Hosseini, a member of the mystical group Erfan-e-Halgheh, alongside two years of exile, a fine, a prohibition from leaving the country, and other social restrictions.

This verdict, confirmed by a source close to Pour-Hosseini’s family, stems from charges of “propaganda against the regime” and “inciting people to act against national security.”

Pour-Hosseini was officially informed of this decision on March 17, 2024. Presently incarcerated in Karaj’s Central Prison, he faces further hardship as prison officials have imposed a three-month ban on family visits as a punitive measure.

The ordeal began on June 13, 2023, when Pour-Hosseini was apprehended by the IRGC’s intelligence in Karaj and confined to Ward 15 of the Central Prison of Karaj. Reports from HRANA suggest that his arrest was linked to the distribution of leaflets on behalf of Erfan-e-Halgheh.

In addition to his recent legal battles, Pour-Hosseini had previously been sentenced by the Revolutionary Court of Karaj to three years of imprisonment and two years of suspended imprisonment.

This is not Pour-Hosseini’s first brush with the authorities; he had been arrested in Qom for his participation in courses organized by the Erfan-e-Halgheh group.

Pour-Hosseini, aged 47 and a father of two daughters, resides in Karaj.

Data collected by the Department of Statistics and Publications of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) points to the involvement of IRGC Intelligence in 392 cases of human rights violations, including arbitrary arrests.