Tag: moharebeh

Eight Protestors Remain in Detention Amid Legal Uncertainty

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Alireza Barmarz Pournak, Alireza Kafaie, Amir-Mohammad Khosh Eghbal, Arman Aliverdi, Ekbatan, Hossein Nemati, Mehdi Imani, Milad Armoon, Mohammad-Mehdi Hosseini, moharebeh, Navid Najaran, Qezel Hesar Prison, Salavati

Milad Armoon, Alireza Kafaie, Amir-Mohammad Khosh Eghbal, Alireza Barmarz Pournak, Mohammad-Mehdi Hosseini, Hossein Nemati, Mehdi Imani, and Navid Najaran are detained in Qezel (Ghezel) Hesar Prison with an uncertain legal status.

The arrest of these individuals during the 2022 nationwide protests links them to a legal case stemming from an incident in Ekbatan town, Tehran, resulting in the death of Basij Militia agent Arman Aliverdi.

According to a source with close ties to one defendant’s family, the Tehran Criminal Court had previously confirmed the release of two detainees on bail. However, Judge Salavati, presiding over Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court, rejected their release and asserted control over the entire case. Such discrepancies within Iran’s judicial system contribute to legal insecurity and uncertainty, causing distress for the detainees and their families.

Another source reports that, despite multiple court sessions in October and November of this year, the defendants await a verdict. Earlier, it was revealed that the case had been divided between the Revolutionary and Criminal Courts. The Criminal Court initiated proceedings on October 7, 2023, addressing charges of “assisting in murder, assembly and collusion against national security, and enmity against God (Moharebeh).”

The protests in Ekbatan Town in Tehran in 2022 resulted in the death of Basij Militia agent Arman Aliverdi. Subsequently, in November 2022, police and security forces arrested over 50 young residents of the district, with 14 individuals facing legal action. The indictments detail charges such as “enmity against God” for Azmoon, Hosseini, and Imani, while Kafaie, Khosh Eghbal, Barmarz Pournak, and Nemati face charges of “assisting in murder and disturbing public order.” The charges against Najaran, arrested in Ahvaz, remain unknown.

Kamran Rezaie Executed in Shiraz

Posted on by . .
Executions, News
Aban protests, Adelabad Prison, HRANA, Kamran Rezaie, moharebeh, Shiraz

On November 30, 2023, Kamran Rezaie, 33, was executed in Adelabad Prison, located in Shiraz.

As per the Iran Human Rights Organization, Rezaie, apprehended during the 2019-2020 nationwide protests (Aban Protests), faced accusations of killing a Basij militia force member. The nature of the charges remains unclear, leaving uncertainty as to whether intentional murder was the sole accusation or if additional charges, such as “enmity against God” (Moharebeh), were involved.

Remarkably, over the past six years, neither media outlets nor human rights organizations have reported on Rezaie’s case. As of the latest update, HRANA has been unable to independently verify the details surrounding his case.

According to data compiled by the Center of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA), between October 10, 2022, and October 8, 2023, a total of 659 individuals were executed by hanging in Iran, representing a 24% increase compared to the corresponding period in the previous year. Seven of these executions were conducted publicly. Concerningly, many of the defendants were denied access to a fair trial and due process. For details and statistics, read HRANA’s report.

 

Sunni Prisoner Ayoub Karimi Executed in Karaj

Posted on by . .
Executions, News
Abdolrahim Tina, Anvar Khezri, Ayoub Karimi, Davoud Abdollahi, Farhad Salimi, Ghasem Abasteh, Ghezel Hesar, Kamran Sheikheh, Khosro Besharat, Mahabad, moharebeh, sunni prisoner

Ayoub Karimi, a Sunni prisoner, was executed today, November 29, in Qezel (Ghezel) Hesar Prison, Karaj, after enduring more than 13 years of incarceration.

Karimi had been moved to solitary confinement in the prison the previous Sunday, foreshadowing his imminent execution.
Notably, in this legal case, another Sunni prisoner, Ghasem Abasteh, met the same fate in the same prison on November 5 of this year.

The legal case traces back to September 2008 when Abdolrahim Tina, the Imam of a mosque in Mahabad, was assassinated by unidentified individuals. In January-February 2010, Ayoub Karimi and six other Sunni suspects were arrested and accused in connection to the assassination.

Subsequently, Karimi was charged with “enmity against God (Moharebeh) through sympathizing with Salafism,” a charge he consistently refuted. After spending fourteen months in legal limbo, Karimi was transferred to Rajai Shahr prison, Karaj, where he remained until his relocation to Qezel Hesar Prison in August of this year.

Initially sentenced to death by Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Mohammad Moghiseh, the verdict was later overturned by the Supreme Court. The case was then assigned to Branch 15 of the court, presided over by Judge Salavati, who reinstated the death sentences for Ayoub Karimi and six others – Anvar Khezri, Kamran Sheikheh, Farhad Salimi, Khosro Besharat, Ghasem Abasteh, and Davoud Abdollahi.

This time, the Supreme Court confirmed the death sentences for Ayoub Karimi and his co-defendants.

Mohammad Boroughani Receives Five-Year Prison Term and Ten Years Exile

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Ghezel Hesar, Isfahan, Karaj, Mohammad Boroughani, moharebeh, Naeen, Pakdasht, Qezel Hesar Prison

The Tehran Revolutionary Court has issued a verdict, sentencing Mohammad Boroughani, a detainee from the 2022 nationwide protests, to five years in prison and ten years of mandatory residence in Naeen County, situated in Isfahan province, as reported by Shargh Newspaper.

Initially facing a death sentence on charges of “enmity against God (Moharebeh) through the use of a cold weapon, altercation with police officers, and setting fire to the Pakdasht governorate building,” Boroughani’s fate took a different turn. The Supreme Court overturned the initial verdict, leading to a retrial in another court branch.

Currently held in Qezel Hesar Prison in Karaj, Boroughani was apprehended during the 2022 protest in Pakdasht, Tehran Province.

Update on Amir-Nasr Azadani’s Current Situation in Dastgerd Prison

Posted on by . .
Executions, News
Amir Nasr Azadani, Dastgerd Prison, HRANA, Isfahan, Khaneh e Isfahan, Majid Kazemi, moharebeh, Saeed Yaghoubi, Saleh Mir Hashemi

Amir-Nasr Azadani, a former soccer player involved in the legal case “Khaneh e Isfahan (Isfahan House),” is presently incarcerated in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan, serving a sixteen-year sentence imposed by the Isfahan Revolutionary Court.

A source close to Azadani’s family informed HRANA that in January 2023, he received five years for “membership in illegal groups to act against national security,” five years for “assembly and collusion against national security,” and sixteen years for “enmity against God (Moharebeh).” In May of the same year, the Supreme Court accepted his retrial plea, leading to the review of his case by another branch court.

“In the review, the Isfahan Revolutionary Court acquitted him of the first two charges, yet upheld his 16-year prison term for Moharebeh,” the source clarified.

Azadani’s lawyer has submitted a request for a retrial, and the case is currently pending before the Supreme Court.

Amid nationwide protests on November 17, 2022, Azadani was arrested by security forces in connection to the “Khaneh e Isfahan” case. Notably, three other defendants in the same case, Saleh Mir Hashemi (36), Majid Kazemi (30), and Saeed Yaghoubi (37), were executed on May 19, 2023, for charges of enmity against God (Moharebeh).

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Now is definitely not the time to stop reading!

Execution of Nine Inmates in Qezel Hesar Prison, Karaj

Posted on by . .
Executions, News
Bahman Fathollah Zadeh, Ghezel Hesar prison, Karaj, moharebeh, Qezel Hesar Prison, Rasoul Teymouri

On November 8, 2023, Qezel (Ghezel) Hesar Prison officials carried out the execution of nine inmates.

Among these inmates, three were convicted of drug offenses, with two of them identified as Bahman Fathollah Zadeh and Rasoul Teymouri by HRANA.
Five individuals were convicted of murder and one was convicted of “enmity against God (Moharebeh) via armed robbery.” HRANA is actively working on identifying these individuals to shed light on their cases.

Just a day earlier, HRANA reported that ten inmates had been relocated to solitary confinement, a move that signaled their imminent execution.

As of the time of writing, no official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have reported on these executions, raising concerns about the lack of transparency and accountability in the process.

According to data compiled by the Center of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA), between October 10, 2022, and October 8, 2023, a total of 659 individuals were executed by hanging in Iran, representing a 24% increase compared to the corresponding period in the previous year. Seven of these executions were conducted publicly. Concerningly, many of the defendants were denied access to a fair trial and due process. For details and statistics, read HRANA’s report.

 

Ten Death-Row Inmates Face Imminent Execution at Qezel Hesar Prison

Posted on by . .
Executions, News
Ghezel Hesar prison, HRANA, moharebeh, Qezel Hesar Prison

On November 7, ten death-row inmates at Qezel (Ghezel) Hesar Prison were moved to solitary confinement, signaling their impending execution.

Among these individuals, four have been convicted of drug-related offenses, five for murder, and one for Moharebeh through armed robbery. HRANA is diligently working on identifying these individuals and monitoring the situation as it unfolds.

Sunni Prisoner Ghasem Abasteh Executed in Qezel Hesar, Karaj

Posted on by . .
Executions, News
Anvar Khezri, Ayoub Karimi, Davoud Abdollahi, enmity against God, Farhad Salimi, Ghasem Abasteh, Ghasem Abesteh, Kamran Sheikheh, Khosro Besharat, moharebeh

On November 5, 2023, Ghasem Abasteh, a Sunni prisoner who had spent 13 years and 9 months behind bars, was executed in Qezel Hesar, Karaj.

Abasteh’s ordeal through the legal system began in January-February 2010 when he was initially arrested. After enduring 14 months of uncertainty in Evin and Urmia Prisons, he found himself in Rajai Shahr Prison, located in Karaj. This year, in August, he was transferred to Qezel (Ghezel) Hesar Prison.

Throughout his ordeal, Abasteh faced multiple charges, including the serious accusation of “enmity against God” (Moharebeh) due to his alleged sympathies with Salafi Groups, a religious movement within Sunni Islam, which he consistently denied.

In February-March 2016, he and six other Sunni prisoners received a death sentence from Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court. However, this verdict was later overturned by the Supreme Court, leading to the case being transferred to Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

Judge Salavati, presiding over this court, handed down the death sentence to these six individuals again on June 17 and 18, 2019. This time, the Supreme Court upheld the death sentence for Ghasem Abasteh, along with Anvar Khezri, Kamran Sheikheh, Farhad Salimi, Khosro Besharat, Ayoub Karimi, and Davoud Abdollahi.

According to data compiled by the Center of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA), between October 10, 2022, and October 8, 2023, a total of 659 individuals were executed by hanging in Iran, representing a 24% increase compared to the corresponding period in the previous year. Seven of these executions were conducted publicly. Concerningly, many of the defendants were denied access to a fair trial and due process. For details and statistics, read HRANA’s report.

Brutal Attack on Abbas Korkori in Prison Leads to Hospitalization

Posted on by . .
News, Prisoners
Abbas Korkori, ahvaz, Izeh, Kiran Pirfalak, moharebeh, Mojahed Korkori, Zeinab Molaei-Rad

Abbas (Mojahed) Korkori, currently imprisoned at Sheyban Prison in Ahvaz, has been subjected to a violent assault by prison guards, resulting in his hospitalization. He is currently facing a death sentence.

A source closely connected to Korkori’s family has disclosed to HRANA that Korkori was brutally beaten by prison guards. He has been hospitalized since October 31, and visible bruises and wounds mar his face and body.

The same source has revealed that Korkori is being denied access to make a phone call.

Korkori, a resident of Izeh, has been sentenced to death by the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court on charges of  “enmity against God (Moharebeh)” and “spreading corruption on earth.” Korkori was also convicted of the destruction of private and public properties, forming and participating in anti-regime groups, and armed rebellion against the regime.

The Revolutionary Court claims that Korkori was found guilty based on evidence obtained by CCTV cameras and Criminal Justice expert reports, which testify that the bullets that led to the death of 10-year-old Kian Pirfalak during protests in Izeh, were shot from the gun discovered with the defendant. Additionally, weapons, bullets, and Molotov cocktails were discovered at the defendant’s hideout, and the Governor of Izeh reported damages caused by the defendant and his associates to public and government properties.

“This verdict is not final and can be appealed to the Supreme Court,” the report asserts.

However, Pirfalak’s parents have repeatedly denied these accusations and claimed that their son was killed in a shooting by regime forces. Zeinab Molaei-Rad, Kian’s mother, said during his funeral, “On the way back home, the regime agents opened fire on our car.”

“As Kian’s mother, I will refute any claims that any regular citizen can be the murderer of my son,” his mother said in reaction to the accusations against Abbas Korkori and several others.

During the protest in Izeh, on November 16, 2022, at least seven individuals, including Kiran Pirfalak, were killed in the shooting by regime forces.

 

Political Prisoner Nayeb Askari Initiates Hunger Strike in Protest of Death Sentence

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
HRANA, moharebeh, Naeb Askari, Nayeb Askari, Urmia prison

Nayeb (Naeb) Askari, a political prisoner currently held in Urmia Prison, commenced a hunger strike on September 28 to protest against his death sentence.

A source close to Askari’s family relayed the news of his hunger strike to HRANA on Thursday. Another source disclosed that Askari initiated his hunger strike upon being transferred to the quarantine section.

IRGC intelligence agents apprehended Askari on March 27, 2021, in Urmia, subsequently relocating him to a detention facility. On June 17, 2021, he was transferred to Urmia Prison, where he has remained in detention.

In April 2023, Nayeb Askari was sentenced to death by Branch 2 of the Urmia Revolutionary Court, charged with “enmity against God (Moharebeh).”

Sources closely connected to his family have reported Askari’s deteriorating health during his detention. In February/January 2022, he experienced a convulsion but was denied adequate medical attention. The prison infirmary was allegedly ill-equipped, resorting to the arbitrary prescription of non-specific medication in such cases.

Furthermore, on July 12, 2021, he faced a new case stemming from a complaint by the head of Urmia Prison. As a result, he received an additional three months of imprisonment and 50 lashes for the charge of “disrupting prison order.”

Nayeb Askari is a father of two children, underscoring the urgency of addressing his situation.