Tag: Tabriz

Four Prisoners Executed in Tabriz Prison

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Executions, News
Ali Mahdian, Mohammad Ansari Qeshlaq, Tabriz, Tabriz Prison

According to Iran Human Rights Organization, the death sentences of four prisoners, including two Afghan nationals who had previously been convicted of murder, were carried out in Tabriz Prison

Two of these prisoners were Afghan nationals. The identities of the other two prisoners have been reported as “Mohammad Ansari Qeshlaq, 44, from Qeshlaq village in Tabriz, and Ali Mahdian, 32, from Hashtrood.”

They had been arrested on charges of murder and subsequently sentenced to death by the judiciary.

The report states that Ali Mahdian had been arrested three years ago on charges of premeditated murder following a financial dispute. Mohammad Ansari Qeshlaq had spent the last four years in this prison and was recently transferred from Ward 4 to solitary confinement in preparation for his execution.

As of the time this report was compiled, the executions have not been officially announced by prison authorities or relevant institutions.

Three Inmates Executed in Tabriz Prison

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Executions, News
Bahram Moharrami, Reza Ahmadzadeh, Tabriz, Tabriz Prison

On July 2, the execution of three prisoners, previously sentenced to death on separate murder charges, was carried out in Tabriz Prison, as reported by Iran Human Rights Organization.

The identities of two of these prisoners, Reza Ahmadzadeh, 47, and Bahram Moharrami, 36, both from Tabriz, have been reported.
According to this report, Ahmadzadeh was arrested three years ago on murder charges and sentenced to death. Similarly, Moharrami was arrested two years ago on charges of murdering his wife and sentenced to death.

The report also mentioned that Rokna News Agency had reported the execution of a prisoner named Mansour in Tabriz Prison the previous day for the murder of his mother-in-law, which appears to refer to the third executed individual.

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.

Mohammad-Reza Amani Nazarlu Sentenced to Imprisonment

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Ethnic Minorities, Freedom of Expression, News
Araz Amani, Azerbaijani Turk activist, Mohammad Reza Amani Nazarlu, Shabestar, Tabriz, آراز امانی نظرلو

Mohammad Reza (Araz) Amani Nazarlu, an Azerbaijani-Turk activist, was sentenced to three months and one day in prison by the Revolutionary Court of Shabestar.

Based on a ruling issued on July 2nd by the Revolutionary Court of Shabestar and delivered to Mr. Amani Nazarlu, he was sentenced to three months and one day in prison on charges of “propaganda in favor of groups or organizations opposed to the Islamic Republic of Iran.” He was acquitted of the charge of “insulting ordinary people.”

The court session to address this citizen’s charges was held on October 14, 2023, in the mentioned branch.

Amani was arrested by security forces in Shabestar on May 21st of last year. He was released on bail from Tabriz prison on June 10, 2023.

Azerbaijani-Turk Activist Morteza Nourmohammadi Sentenced to Prison

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Ethnic Minorities, News
Azerbaijani Turk activist, Morteza Nourmohammadi, Shabestar, Tabriz

Morteza Nourmohammadi Nadarli (also known as Nazarlu), an Azerbaijani-Turk activist, was sentenced to three months and one day in prison by the Revolutionary Court of Shabestar County.

Based on a recent verdict issued by the Revolutionary Court of Shabestar County and communicated to Nourmohammadi, he has been sentenced to three months and one day of imprisonment on charges of propaganda against the regime through publishing material online. This Azerbaijani-Turk activist was acquitted of other charges such as “membership in anti-regime groups” and “insulting the Supreme Leader.”

On May 28, Mr. Nourmohammadi was summoned for questioning via a phone call to the Shabestar Security Police.

Nourmohammadi was initially charged in early November last year by the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office of Shabestar with “assembly and collusion to act against national security.” Shortly thereafter, a new case was opened against him in the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office of Tabriz, charging him with “membership in a group aimed at acting against national security.”

On September 9, 2023, after visiting the Civil Registration Office in the city of Sofian, he was arrested by security forces and transferred to the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Tabriz. He was eventually moved to the city’s prison and then returned to the detention center a few days later. He was once again transferred to Tabriz prison on November 26, 2023.

Nourmohammadi was finally released on bail on November 28 of the same year.

In 2023, the Department of Statistics and Publications of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) recorded 329 reports, citing the arrest of 324 citizens linked to ethnic and national rights. Notably, 156 of these arrests occurred without the issuance of a judicial warrant.

Tabriz: Maryam Bayramian Sentenced to Two Years in Prison

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News, Prisoners
Ebrahim Raisi, Maryam Bayramian, Tabriz, Tabriz Prison, مریم بایرامیان

Maryam Bayramian, a prisoner held in Tabriz Prison, has been sentenced to two years in prison by the Revolutionary Court of Tabriz.

According to a verdict recently issued by the Revolutionary Court of Tabriz and delivered to this imprisoned citizen, Ms. Bayramian has been sentenced to two years in prison on charges of “insulting officials and acting against national security.” Bayramian was arrested by security forces on June 8, 2023, during a speech by the late President Ebrahim Raisi in Tabriz and transferred to the Prison of this city.

Maryam Bayramian, a 45-year-old resident of Tabriz, is a mother of two.

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Student Ehsan Faridi Arrested and Jailed in Tabriz Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News, Other
Ehsan Faridi, Tabriz

Ehsan Faridi, a student at Tabriz University, was arrested and transferred to Tabriz prison on Tuesday, June 18th, after being summoned to the General and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in this city.

Based on reports received by HRANA, after appearing at this judicial institution, Faridi was arrested and transferred to the city’s prison. As of now, the charges against him remain unknown.

Ehsan Faridi is a 21-year-old student of Manufacturing Engineering at Tabriz Technical College. He was previously arrested on March 9th, 2023, and transferred to Tabriz prison. He was eventually released on bail on March 19th of the same year.

Ali Reyhani Kujuvar Detained for Remarks on Iranian President’s Death

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ali Reyhani Kujuvar, Ebrahim Raisi, Tabriz

Security forces have detained Ali Reyhani Kujuvar after he posted comments about the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash. Reyhani is currently held in Tabriz prison.

The incident occurred on the afternoon of Sunday, May 19th, when a helicopter carrying President Raisi and several officials, including Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, crashed in the Dizmar forest between Varzaqan and Jolfa. Official media reported the deaths of Raisi and his companions the following morning, after locating the crash site and the wreckage. Numerous citizens have been arrested or faced legal action for expressing views on the incident, which the authorities have found objectionable.

Father Sentenced to Three Years for Murder of Transgender Son

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Children, LGBTQ+, News
Iranian LGBTQ Community, Iranian LGBTQ+, Tabriz, transgender

In February of last year, the Criminal Court of Tabriz sentenced a man to three years in prison for the murder of his 17-year-old transgender son, sparing him from more severe punishment. According to the report by Rokna, the man killed his son, Parsa, because he wore makeup.

During his trial, the father defended his actions by stating, “Parsa had feminine sexual inclinations, and we did everything we could to treat him, but none were effective because Parsa did not cooperate and kept running away from home. His behavior was completely uncontrollable.” He also attempted to place Parsa in the care of the State Welfare Organization, which declined due to Parsa’s conditions.

The father further claimed that Parsa had recently tried to influence his younger brother, asserting, “His brother said that when we are alone at home, Parsa shows pictures of his friends and talks about the ‘immoral acts’ they perform together. I could no longer bear it. I felt so disgraced and embarrassed among friends and relatives.”

Ultimately, referencing Article 612 of the Fifth Book of the Islamic Penal Code, the court sentenced the man to three years in prison, including time already served. The Islamic Republic’s laws designate the father as the primary “blood avenger,” a status that can spare him from severe punishment in cases involving the killing of a child. This provision has been widely criticized by many who argue that it sometimes enables repeat offenses.

It is important to note that transgender individuals have a gender identity that differs from the sex assigned to them at birth. Not all transgender individuals seek gender confirmation surgeries. However, under Iranian law, a transgender person’s identity is recognized officially only after undergoing surgery and sterilization.

No specific regulations have yet been established in Iranian law regarding the transition process for transgender individuals; however, a section was included in the 2013 Family Protection Bill. In 1983, Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa legitimizing gender reassignment surgery. The absence of uniform laws for changing documents and obtaining necessary surgical permits has created significant challenges for transgender citizens, navigating legal complexities and facing arbitrary and sometimes exploitative behaviors by certain legal authorities.

Jebreil Pakrooh Arrested by Security Forces

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Freedom of Expression, News
Farhad Pakrooh, Jebreil Pakrooh, Tabriz, جبرئیل پاکروح

On May 13, 2024, Jebreil Pakrooh, a resident of Tabriz, was arrested at his home by security forces. Pakrooh’s children published a video inquiring about their father’s well-being, but they have not received any response from the security institution.

The family is concerned for Pakrooh’s health, as he suffers from various age-related illnesses. While Pakrooh had been summoned by judicial authorities previously, the reason for his recent arrest and the charges against him remain unknown.

Pakrooh’s son, Farhad, is an Azerbaijani-Turk activist. Both he and his father have faced previous confrontations with security institutions due to their activism.