Tag: Rasht

Two Baha’is Detained in Rasht

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News, Religious Minorities
Baha'is arrested, HRANA, Nazila Khanipour, Rasht, Vesal Heravi

On May 28, 2024, IRGC Intelligence agents arrested Nazila Khanipour and her son Vesal Heravi, both Baha’i residents of Rasht, and took them to an undisclosed location.

A source close to the family confirmed the arrests to HRANA. The agents raided Khanipour’s home, searched the premises, confiscated personal items, and detained her without presenting an arrest warrant. Concurrently, Heravi was arrested at his workplace. He managed to make a brief phone call to his family.
Previously, Khanipour had been arrested, and Heravi was expelled from the university by order of intelligence agencies.

Baha’is are subjected to violations of their religious rights, comprising 82% of reports on infringements against religious minorities, according to HRA’s 2023 annual report.

The Baha’i faith is not recognized as a legitimate religion by Iranian authorities, leading to systematic and longstanding violations of the rights of Baha’is in the country. This includes the denial of their fundamental right to practice their religion, which constitutes a clear breach of both Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The United Nations covenant holds that every person has the right to freedom of religion, freedom of converting religion, as well as freedom of expression, individually or collectively; openly or secretly.

Abbas Haghgooi Receives Six-Month Prison Sentence for Political Charges

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Freedom of Expression, News
Abbas Haghgooi, Abbas Haghgooi Takrami, Gilan province, Lakan prison, Rasht, عباس حقگوی

A judge from the Revolutionary Court in Shaft County, Gilan Province, has sentenced Abbas Haghgooi Takrami to six months in prison.

Haghgooi, approximately 55 years old, was found guilty of “propaganda against the regime.” This charge was supported by evidence of him publishing videos, pictures, and written articles on social media.

Earlier, the Criminal Court sentenced him to three months in prison and a fine for “disseminating false information” in a separate case. This verdict was upheld by the Appellate Court of Gilan Province. However, the court acquitted him of the charge of “insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran.”

Currently serving his sentence in Lakan Prison in Rasht, Haghgooi was recently granted furlough.

Haghgooi was arrested by security forces on April 26, 2023, and later was released pending legal proceedings.

Eleven Women’s Rights Advocates Sentenced to Over 60 Years in Combined Imprisonment

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Freedom of Expression, News, Women
Azadeh Chavoshian, Forough Saminia, Hooman Taheri, Jelveh Javaheri, Lakan prison, Matin Yazdani, Mehdi Rasekhi, Negin Rezaie, Rasht, Sara Jahani, Shiva Shah Sia, Women's Rights Advocates, Yasamin Hashdari, Zohreh Dadras

The Revolutionary Court in Rasht has delivered verdicts, sentencing eleven women’s rights advocates to a cumulative imprisonment exceeding 60 years and 6 months.

Judge Mehdi Rasekhi, presiding over the trial, sentenced Zohreh Dadras to nine years, six months, and two days for her alleged involvement in “forming a group to act against national security”. Forough Saminia, Sara Jahani, Yasamin Hashdari, Shiva Shah Sia, Negin Rezaie, Azadeh Chavoshian, Zohreh Dadras, and Matin Yazdani each received sentences of six years and 47 days for charges of “assembly and collusion to act against national security.” Additionally, Hooman Taheri and Jelveh Javaheri were each sentenced to one year in prison for “propaganda against the regime.”

The trial commenced on February 29, 2024. These individuals were initially detained during a mass arrest of citizens in Gilan Province on August 16 and 17, 2023. Subsequently, they were released on bail from Lakan Prison in Rasht pending the conclusion of legal proceedings.

Workers’ Rights Activist Sharifeh Mohammadi Endures 105 Days of Detention Amidst Uncertain Legal Status

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Freedom of Expression, News
Lakan prison, Rasht, Sharifeh Mohammadi, Sirus Fathi

Sharifeh Mohammadi, a prominent advocate for workers’ rights, has been held in custody for over 105 days with an ambiguous legal standing at Lakan Prison in Rasht.

Her husband, Sirus Fathi, disclosed that Mohammadi underwent surgery for her toe, which unfortunately sustained irreparable damage due to infection resulting from delayed treatment.

Regarding her legal situation, Fathi emphasized that despite baseless accusations, judicial authorities have denied Mohammadi bail, despite there being no substantial evidence in her case to warrant such denial.

The Ministry of Intelligence apprehended Mohammadi at her Rasht residence on December 5, 2023. Subsequently, she was transferred from Lakan Prison to Sanandaj Prison on December 30, 2023, only to be returned to Lakan Prison later on.

The motives behind Mohammadi’s arrest and the specific charges against her remain undisclosed at present.

Ten Teacher Union Activists Sentenced to a Collective 20 Years with Additional Penalties

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Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News
Ali Nahali, Anoosh Adeli, Aziz Ghasemzadeh, Gholamreza Akbarzadeh Baghian, Iranian Teachers, Jahanbakhsh Lajevardi, Mahmood Sedighipour, Mohammad-Javad Saeedi, Rasht, Tahmasb Sohrabi, Teacher Union Activists, Teymoor Bagheri Koodakani, Yadollah Baharestani

The Revolutionary Court of Rasht has sentenced ten teacher union activists to two years in prison each, along with additional penalties, as reported by the Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association channel.

The convicted teachers are Anoosh Adeli, Mahmood Sedighipour, Aziz Ghasemzadeh, Teymoor Bagheri Koodakani, Tahmasb Sohrabi, Gholamreza Akbarzadeh Baghian, Ali Nahali, Mohammad-Javad Saeedi, Jahanbakhsh Lajevardi, and Yadollah Baharestani. In addition to the prison terms, they have been barred from joining political/civil groups for two years.

The court session addressed charges related to “disturbing public order through participating in and holding protest union gatherings and defying police officers.” Sedighipour and Ghasemzadeh were imprisoned and did not attend the court.

Among them, Adeli, Sedighipour, and Ghasemzadeh had previously received a one-year prison term, which was upheld on appeal. They are currently serving their sentences in Lakan Prison, Rasht.

In 2023, the Department of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran documented 1,700 reports related to the rights of trade unions and associations. This included 53 individuals who received sentences totaling 1,230 months of imprisonment.

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Trial Commences for Twelve Women’s Rights Advocates at Revolutionary Court in Rasht

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Freedom of Expression, News
Azadeh Chavoshian, Forough Saminia, Hooman Taheri, Jelveh Javaheri, Matin Yazdani, Negin Rezaie, Rasht, Sara Jahani, Shiva Shah Sia, Vahedeh Khoshsirat, Yasamin Hashdari, Zahra Dadras, Zohreh Dadras

The Revolutionary Court of Rasht initiated the trial of twelve women’s rights advocates on February 29, 2024. The individuals facing charges include Forough Saminia, Sara Jahani, Zahra Dadras, Yasamin Hashdari, Shiva Shah Sia, Negin Rezaie, Vahedeh Khoshsirat, Azadeh Chavoshian, Zohreh Dadras, Matin Yazdani, Hooman Taheri, and Jelveh Javaheri.

Presided over by Judge Mehdi Rasekhi, the first nine women were charged with “membership in a group, assembly, and collusion to act against national security.” Meanwhile, Mr Taheri and Ms Javaheri face charges related to “forming groups to act against national security.”

These individuals were among those detained during a mass arrest of citizens in Gilan Province on August 16 and 17, 2023. Subsequently, they were released on bail from Lakan Prison in Rasht in the following days, pending the conclusion of legal proceedings.

Three Political Prisoners Held in Prolonged Detention for Over 13 Months

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Freedom of Expression, News
Arman Sedghi Sabet, Hafez Forouhi, HRANA, Lakan prison, Mehdi Mirzaie, Rasht

Hafez Forouhi, Arman Sedghi Sabet, and Mehdi Mirzaie have been trapped in legal limbo for over 13 months at Lakan Prison in Rasht.

A source close to one of the individuals’ families informed HRANA that the Rasht Criminal Court held a session on February 14, 2024, addressing multiple charges, including “membership in anti-regime groups.” Despite the court session, the judge dismissed their release on bail, opting to extend their detention further.

They were initially arrested by security forces in Rasht last year and later transferred to Lakan Prison on January 19, 2023.

Mohsen Hooshmand Receives One-Year Prison Term on Alleged Political Charges

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Mohsen Hooshmand, Rasht, Rasht Revolutionary Court

The Rasht Revolutionary Court has handed down a one-year sentence to Mohsen Hooshmand.

According to the verdict, Hooshmand has been convicted of “acting against national security.” During the court session held on November 14, 2023, Hooshmand’s social media and internet posts were cited as evidence supporting the charge.

Sources close to his family revealed to HRANA that the case has now been forwarded to the Executive Unit.

Having been arrested on October 25, 2023, Hooshmand spent 16 days in detention before being released on bail.

This isn’t Hooshmand’s first encounter with legal troubles, as the 29-year-old activist had previously faced arrest and conviction for his involvement in activism.

Execution of Eight Inmates for Various Crimes in Recent Days

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News
Eslah Allahbakhsh, Fathollah Jurkesh, Hamid Ebadi, Hassan Gorgij, Hossein-Ali Kootahi, Lakan prison, Mashhad Prison, Nouri Zamani, Qom, Rasht, Zahedan

In recent days, eight inmates have been executed in Qom, Mashhad, Isfahan, Rasht, and Zahedan for offenses including drug-related crimes and murder.

On January 17, 2024, Islam Amaneddin, a 29-year-old Afghan, was executed in Qom prison for a murder conviction dating back three years, as reported by Etemad Newspaper. Another execution reported by Etemad involved Mohsen (last name unknown), who was convicted of killing a man during a group altercation in Mashhad Prison.

On Saturday, January 20, three inmates were executed in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan, according to Iran Human Rights Organizations. The hanged individuals were identified as Nouri Zamani, 32, Fathollah Jurkesh, 30, and Hossein-Ali Kootahi, with separate drug offense convictions.

The same organization also documented the execution of Eslah Allahbakhsh, 36, an Afghan national, and Hamid Ebadi, both convicted of drug-related crimes in Lakan Prison, Rasht, on the same day.

Lastly, Haal Vsh reported the execution of 23-year-old Hassan Gorgij in Zahedan Prison, who was convicted of murder three years ago.

In 2023, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran registered the execution of  746 individuals. Out of these, 6 were carried out in public. Among the executed individuals whose genders were identified, 597 were male and 20 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.

Workers’ Rights Advocate Sharifeh Mohammadi Arrested in Rasht

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Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News
Rasht, Sharifeh Mohammadi, Workers' Rights Advocate

On December 5, 2023, the Ministry of Intelligence in Rasht arrested workers’ rights advocate Sharifeh Mohammadi, as reported by the Independent Iranian Workers Union.

Mohammadi was taken from her residence and subsequently transferred to an undisclosed location.
The reasons for her arrest, her current whereabouts, and the charges against her remain unknown at this time.