Tag: Qarchak Prison

Iran Protests: Samaneh Asghari Sentenced to over 18 Years

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Freedom of Expression, News, Students
Kharazmi University, Qarchak Prison, Samaneh Asghari, Varamin

The Tehran Revolutionary Court recently sentenced jailed student Samaneh Asghari to 18 years and 3 months in prison. If the verdict is upheld on appeal, based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, six years and three months for one charge will be enforceable.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, student Samaneh Asghari was sentenced to eighteen years and three months imprisonment.

In January 2023, Asghari’s lawyer, Erfan Karam-Veisi, stated that the Shahr-e-Rey Public and Revolutionary Court pressed multiple charges against her client, including “assembly and collusion against national security,” “disturbing public order and peace,” “inciting people to wage war,” “propaganda against the regime,” “going in public without a hijab,” “membership in groups to act against national security,” and “spreading falsehood.” Karam-Veisi also stated that the court refused her temporary release on bail.

On October 11, 2022, amid nationwide protests, Asghari, an industrial engineering student at Kharazmi University, was arrested by security forces and jailed in Evin Prison. After a while, she was relocated to Qarchak Prison in Varamin.

About Iran Nationwide Protests 2022
The arrest of Mahsa Amini by Tehran Morality Police for her alleged improper hejab and her suspicious death on September 16 sparked protests sweeping across Iran. During these protests, at least about 19760 people, including journalists, artists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, were arrested.

Student Samaneh Asghari Still Detained after Three Months

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Freedom of Expression, News, Students
Erfan Karim-Veisi, Evin Prison, Kharazmi University, Qarchak Prison, Samaneh Asghari

Samaneh Asghari, a student at Kharazmi University, is still detained in Qarchak Prison, Varamin, for over three months. The Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office of Shahr-e-Rey recently filed an indictment against her.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, student Samaneh Asghari is still detained for over three months.

Her lawyer, Erfan Karim-Veisi, announced, Asghari has been charged with “assembly and collusion against national security, disturbing public order, inciting people to commit violence and murder, propaganda against the regime and provoking women to be present in public without Hejab, membership in groups to act against national security and spreading falsehood.”

He also stated that the court refused to grant a release on bail.
On October 11, 2022, security forces arrested Asghari and jailed her in Ward 209 of Evin Prison. After a while, she was relocated to Qarchak Prison.

Iran Protests: Parisa Nikkhoo Sentenced to Two Years

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Freedom of Expression, News
Parisa Nikkhoo, Qarchak Prison, Varamin

The Tehran Court of Appeals sentenced Parisa Nikkhoo to two years in prison. Initially, the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced her to five years in prison. She is currently jailed in Qarchak Prison in Varamin.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Parisa Nikkhoo, arrested at recent protests, was sentenced to two years in prison on appeal.

An informed source told HRANA, “Nikkhoo did not have a right to choose a lawyer. She was charged with assembly and collusion against national security and disturbing public order. The judicial authorities promised her a release on bond if she pleaded guilty.”

“The judge granted a 600 million-toman bail, but she cannot afford this bail.”

On September 24, 2022, Nikkhoo, age 36, was arrested at protests in Tehran and taken to a police station and then to Qarchak Prison. The informed source said she had bruises on her body during custody at the police station.

 

Iran Protests: Saeedeh Mohammadi Sentenced Five Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Qarchak Prison, Saeedeh Mohammadi, Varamin

The Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Saeedeh Mohammadi to five years in prison and banned her from leaving the country for two years. In late September, she was arrested at protests by security forces and jailed in Qarchak Prison in Varamin.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Saeedeh Mohammadi was sentenced to five years in prison.

Mohammadi is still jailed since she cannot afford to pay bail.

Since the outbreak of nationwide protests, over 18400, including journalists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, have been arrested. For more details and statistics on the nationwide protest across Iran, read the latest HRANAs comprehensive report here.

Golrokh Iraee Still in Detention after 52 Days

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News, Prisoners
golrokh iraee, Qarchak Prison, Varamin

Former political prisoner Golrokh Iraee is still in detention in poor conditions in the quarantine section of Qarchak Prison. A while ago, she was briefed on her charges.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Golrokh Iraee is still detained, awaiting further legal proceedings after 52 days.

Recently, she has been notified about the charges of “assembly and collusion” and “propaganda against the regime.”

According to an informed source, Iraee is currently held in an ill-equipped, overcrowded ward in Qarchak Prison in Varamin.

On September 26, 2022,  security forces arrested Iraee violently at her house in Tehran.

 

 

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Political Prisoner Masoumeh Askari Assaulted in Prison

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News, Prisoners, Women
Evin Prison, Masoumeh Askari, Qarchak Prison

Retired teacher and political prisoner Masoumeh Askari was beaten by the prisoners of violent crime in Kachooie Prison. The prison officials purposely hold political prisoners in the same ward as the prisoners of violent crime, which is a violation of prison rules and exposes the political prisoners to life-threatening violence.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, political prisoner Masoumeh Askari was beaten by eight prisoners of violent crime.

An informed source told HRANA that about four days ago, eight prisoners of violent crimes assaulted Askari. She suffers from psychiatric diseases, kidney, liver and diabetes. Prison officials refused to send her to a healthcare facility to assess her condition.

On August 2, 2018, security forces arrested Askari in Tehran and transferred her to Qarchak Prison in Varamin. After a few days, she was released on bail.

Askari was arrested in December of 2018 and was detained for one month in Ward 209 of Evin Prison and later transferred to the public ward. The Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced her to five years in prison on the charge of “assembly and collusion.” This verdict was upheld on appeal. 

Askari is a retired teacher and single mother.

Inmates in Women’s Ward of Qarchak Prison Held in Inhumane Conditions

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News, Prisoners
Iranian women prisoners, Qarchak Prison

Women imprisoned in Qarchak Prison in Varamin are being held in poor and inhumane conditions, deprived of a ventilation system and healthy drinking water, which results in skin diseases and other health issues.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, inmates of women’s wards in Qarchak Prison are deprived of basic human needs.

In recent days, the quality of tap water has intolerably worsened. According to an informed source, low-quality water has caused many diseases. Many women inmates cannot afford to buy water bottles from the food store in prison.

These harsh conditions have also increased tensions and quarrels among inmates.

The conditions in the women’s ward have caused criticism of the authorities, including  Heshmatollah Hayat, the head of the Tehran Prisons Organization.

Female Inmate Executed in Qarchak Prison

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Executions, News
Execution in Iran, Ladan Molla-Saeedi, Qarchak Prison

On Wednesday, May 25, 2022, a female inmate who was convicted of murder was executed in Qarchak Prison in Varamin City.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Wednesday, May 25, 2022, a female inmate identified as Ladan Molla-Saeedi was executed. She was taken to solitary confinement prior to the execution.

Molla-Saeedi had been taken to solitary confinement last month as well, but her execution was delayed after she received a moratorium from the victim’s family.

The most recent report from the Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) states that between January 1 of 2021 and December 20 of 2021, at least 299 citizens, including four juvenile offenders, were executed. In addition, 85 citizens were sentenced to death in this period. 

Narges Mohammadi and Aliyeh Motallebzadeh Arrested and Sent Back to Qarchak Prison

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News, Prisoners
Aliyeh Motallebzadeh, Narges Mohammadi, Qarchak Prison

On Tuesday, April 12, 2022, human Rights activist Narges Mohammadi and women’s rights activist Aliyeh Motallebzadeh were arrested and sent back to prison while there were on furlough. In late February, these citizens were released on medical furlough.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Tuesday, April 12, Narges Mohammadi and Aliyeh Motallebzadeh were arrested and sent back to Qarchak prison in Varamin City.

On her personal page on social media, Mrs Mohammadi informed  that she had to return to prison while she was still in recovery afopen-heart surgery recovery,

Also, Aliyeh Motallebzadeh, who was on furlough for medical treatment since February 23, 2022, returned to Qarchak prison.

Narges Mohammadi is a human rights activist and the vice president of the Defenders of Human Rights Center. Aliyeh Motallebzadeh is a photographer, women rights activist and a member of the One Million Signatures Campaign for Gender Equality as well as a campaign to protect acid attack victims. Narges Mohammadi and Aliyeh Motallebzadeh are currently serving respectively their eight and three years sentences in Qarchak prison located in Varamin City.

Imprisoned Civil Activist Saba Kord Afshari Attacked in Qarchak Prison

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News, Prisoners
Qarchak Prison, Saba Kord-Afshari

On February 20, imprisoned civil activist Saba Kord Afshari was attacked by one of her fellow inmates in Qarchak Prison. Afshari’s attacker is a prisoner of violent crime. Due to co-housing with prisoners of violent crime, which violates prison rules, political prisoners and prisoners of conscience’s life and safety are jeopardized. On Monday, Afshari was granted furlough for a short period.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, an informed source told HRANA that “Today at 12:30 an inmate charged with a violent crime attacked Saba from behind in the corridor. She tried to choke Saba by encircling the arm around her neck. One of the inmates, however, helped Saba to free herself from the attacker. All this time, the guards are just watching. The verbal quarrel between Saba and this inmate had been neglected before as well”.

Afshari is a civil activist and prominent critic of the compulsory hijab in Iran. She was convicted for her civil activities and in February of 2019, she was freed after serving her sentence. On June 1, 2019, she was arrested at her home and transferred to prison after completing an interrogation.

On September 5, 2019, Afshari was sentenced by Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran to 15 years imprisonment for “promoting corruption and obscenity through appearing without a headscarf in public”, 1 year and 6 months of imprisonment for “propaganda against the regime” and 7 years and 6 months in prison for “assembly and collusion to act against national security” . This totals 24 years in prison along with social deprivation. After applying Article 134 and adjusting the sentences, the severest punishment of 7 years and 6 months in prison is enforceable.

This verdict, which was increased two and half times more due to a previous record, was finally corrected and reduced from 15 years to 7 years and 6 months.
 
On May 8 of this year, 22 year old Afshari went on a 10 day hunger strike to protest against increasing pressure on her family as well as the families of fellow political prisoners, and to demand the release of her mother, Raheleh Ahmadi. Upon finishing her strike, the young activist said: “I am fully aware that human lives are of no value to the Islamic Republic, so I am ending my hunger strike, but I am still seeking to fulfill my demands.”

On December 9, 2020, she was transferred from Evin Prison to exile to Qarchak Prison.