Tag: Urmia prison

Turkish National Hatem Ozdemir Receives Death Sentence in Retrial

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Executions, News, Prisoners
Baghi, Hatem Ozdemir, Khoy, Najafzadeh, Urmia, Urmia prison, حاتم اوزدمیر

The Revolutionary Court in Urmia has once again sentenced Turkish national Hatem Ozdemir to death for “enmity against God (Moharebeh)” after his initial death sentence was overturned by the Supreme Court.

The verdict was delivered by Branch 3 of the Urmia Revolutionary Court and communicated to Ozdemir on May 19, 2024, who is currently detained in Urmia Prison.

Ozdemir was arrested by security forces in early summer 2019 in Maku City. After two months of interrogation in a detention center, he was transferred to Urmia Prison. He was briefly moved to another detention center on September 19, 2019, before being returned to Urmia Prison.

Originally in March 2022, the Revolutionary Court in Khoy, under Judge Najafzadeh, convicted Ozdemir of “armed rebellion (Baghi).” However, this sentence was overturned by the Supreme Court, leading to a retrial in a different branch.

Abdolghani Darvishi’s Sentence Reduced on Appeal

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Freedom of Expression, News
Abdolghani Darvishi, Evin Prison, Urmia, Urmia prison

The Appellate Court of West Azerbaijan Province has reduced Abdolghani Darvishi’s prison sentence from five years to two years and six months. Originally convicted on political charges for “collaboration with anti-regime groups,” his sentence is now suspended for two years.

Darvishi was first detained by security forces on May 22, 2020, in Urmia and subsequently held in Tehran’s Evin prison, controlled by the Ministry of Intelligence. After a month, he was moved back to a detention center in Urmia and later placed in solitary confinement on October 22, 2020, at Urmia Prison.

He was released on bail from Urmia Prison on March 2, 2021. Darvishi, a resident of Urmia and a father of two, continues to reside there with his family.

Five Inmates Executed for Drug-Related Crimes in Urmia Prison

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Executions, News
Mansour Naseri, Parvin Mousavi, Parviz Ghasemi, Ramin Lavandpour, Urmia prison, Yousef Saeedi

On May 18, 2024, five prisoners, including a woman, were executed at Urmia Prison in West Azerbaijan province for drug offenses.

HRANA reports the individuals executed are Parvin Mousavi, the female inmate, alongside Ramin Lavandpour, Parviz Ghasemi, Yousef Saeedi, and Mansour Naseri. Each had previously been sentenced to death on charges related to drug crimes.

No official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have provided coverage of these executions at the time of writing. In 2023, 66% of HRANA’s reports on executions lacked official announcements by judicial authorities and went unreported by media inside Iran, highlighting a troubling lack of transparency in due process.

The reports from the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists for the year 2023 reveal a concerning prevalence of executions for drug offenses in Iran, constituting 56.4% of the total executions. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s report.

Four Death-Row Inmates Facing Imminent Execution for Drug Offenses in Urmia Prison

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Executions, News
Ghezel Hesar prison, HRANA, Urmia prison

Today, May 7, 2024, officials at Urmia Prison moved four inmates, all convicted on drug-related charges, into solitary confinement, signaling that their executions may be imminent. Efforts are underway by HRANA to confirm their identities.

Additionally, two death-row inmates at Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj, sentenced for murder and drug-related offenses, have been similarly placed in solitary confinement.

According to HRANA, in 2023, approximately 66% of execution reports were neither officially announced by judicial authorities nor covered by domestic media in Iran, underscoring a significant transparency issue in the judicial process.

Execution Carried Out in Urmia Prison for Drug Conviction

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Executions, News
Afshin Bagh-Shirin, Kermanshah, Urmia, Urmia prison

On April 16, 2024, authorities at Urmia Prison executed an inmate convicted of drug-related offenses.

The individual put to death has been identified by HRANA as Afshin Bagh-Shirin, hailing from Kermanshah. He had been sentenced to death six years prior.

No official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have provided coverage of this execution at the time of writing. In 2023, 66% of HRANA’s reports on executions lacked official announcements by judicial authorities and went unreported by media inside Iran, highlighting a troubling lack of transparency in due process.

The reports from the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists for the year 2023 reveal a concerning prevalence of executions for drug offenses in Iran, constituting 56.4% of the total executions. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s report.

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Alireza Ghanbari and Javad Mohammadi-Fard Begin Prison Sentences on Political Charges

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Alireza Ghanbari, HRANA, Javad Mohammadi-Fard, Urmia, Urmia prison

Alireza Ghanbari and Javad Mohammadi-Fard, both residents of Urmia, have been incarcerated in Urmia Prison to commence their sentences.

Confirming their imprisonment, a source close to their families informed HRANA that they were arrested on April 2 by security forces at their residences and subsequently transferred to Urmia Prison.

Their initial arrests occurred in June-July 2022 by security forces. Initially detained in the Ministry of Intelligence’s facility in Urmia, they were later moved to Urmia Prison after approximately six months.

In June-July 2023, the Urmia Revolutionary Court convicted them of political charges. Mohammadi-Fard was sentenced to four years for “heading a group for causing unrest and acting against national security,” along with 16 months for “insulting the Supreme Leaders of Iran and the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran.” Ghanbari received a four-year sentence for “joining anti-regime groups,” along with 16 months for “insulting the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran” and eight months for “propaganda against the regime,” including detention time. These verdicts were upheld on appeal.

Pursuant to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, which stipulates that in cases of multiple charges, the harshest punishment shall be enforced, both individuals will serve four years in prison.

Mohammadi-Fard, aged 44, is single, while Ghanbar, aged 50, is the father of two.

Update on Political Prisoner Bahman Mavati’s Legal Status

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News, Prisoners
Bahman Mavati, HRANA, Urmia prison, Urmia Revolutionary Court, بهمن ماواتی

Bahman Mavati, a political prisoner, is currently serving a five-year sentence in Urmia Prison. Originally sentenced to ten years, his term was later reduced to five years.

A source close to Mavati’s family confirmed his conviction for “collaboration with anti-regime groups” by the Urmia Revolutionary Court. The Supreme Court subsequently reduced his sentence from ten to five years.

Mavati, hailing from Bukan, was arrested in March-April 2023 and has since been incarcerated in Urmia Prison.

Political Prisoner Nayeb Askari Faces Execution in Urmia Prison on Baghi Charges

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Executions, News, Prisoners
Baghi, moharebeh, Mostafa Soltani, Nayeb Askari, Urmia prison

Nayeb (Naeb) Askari, held in Urmia Prison, is at risk of execution after the Urmia Revolutionary Court sentenced him to death for Baghi (armed rebellion) in a recent retrial.

Initially sentenced to death for “enmity against God (Moharebeh)” on April 15, 2023, his plea for a retrial was accepted, leading to a charge change to Baghi. In October 2023, the court reaffirmed the death sentence, with the hearings reportedly conducted without his lawyer’s presence. The charge is supported by his alleged membership in a Kurdish political opposition party.

Arrested by IRGC intelligence agents on March 27, 2021, in Urmia, Askari was later moved to a detention facility and, on June 17, 2021, to Urmia Prison.

HRANA’s source reveals another ongoing case accusing Askari of the murder of IRGC member Mostafa Soltani. In 2013-2014, Soltani was injured during a clash with a political opposition party member, passing away six years later from COVID-19. Soltani’s family claims alleged Askari’s involvement in the altercation caused the sustained injury leading to his eventual death.

A new case, opened on July 12, 2021, based on a complaint from the Urmia Prison head, resulted in a three-month imprisonment extension and 50 lashes for “disrupting prison order.”

According to HRA’s annual report, in 2023, Urmia Prison officials executed 29 inmates, positioning this facility as the sixth highest in terms of executions among the ranked prisons.

Execution of Inmate in Urmia Prison

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Executions, News
Mehdi Azarioon, Urmia prison

Update: HRANA has received reports indicating the execution of another inmate, Hossein Habibi, convicted of murder, on January 31 in Urmia Prison.

On January 31, 2024, Urmia Prison carried out the execution of Mehdi Azarioon, a resident of Urmia, convicted of murder.

HRANA has identified the executed individual as Mehdi Azarioon, who had been transferred to solitary confinement in anticipation of his imminent execution the day before.

As of now, there is no official confirmation from government sources or domestic media outlets in the country regarding these executions. The absence of official information raises apprehensions about transparency and accountability in the execution process.

According to HRA’s annual report, in 2023, Urmia Prison officials executed 29 inmates, positioning this facility as the sixth highest in terms of executions among the ranked prisons.

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.

Four Alleged Spies Executed in Urmia Prison Amidst Iran-Israel Tensions

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Executions, News, Prisoners
Aran Omari, Nasim Namazi, Rahman Parhazoo, Urmia prison, Vafa Henareh

On December 29, 2023, against the backdrop of heightened tensions between Iran and Israel, Aran Omari, Rahman Parhazoo, Vafa Henareh, and Nasim Namazi were executed in Urmia Prison on charges of espionage for Israel.

The individuals, including Mansour Rasouli, received death sentences as part of a contentious legal case known as “interrogating Mansour Rasouli.” Yesterday, HRANA reported their relocation to solitary confinement the day before, heightening concerns about their impending execution. In an unexpected turn of events, Rasouli was returned to prison, reportedly due to a significant development in his legal case.

In October 2021, these five individuals, along with three others, were apprehended and interrogated on charges of espionage. Subsequently, in February-March 2022, they were incarcerated in Urmia Prison, receiving death sentences for their alleged “intelligence collaboration with Israel.”

In May 2022, media outlets released a video featuring a man claiming to be an IRGC member, interrogated by Israeli forces within Iran, confessing to planning an attack on Israel. Later, the same individual, Mansour Rasouli, retracted his confession, stating he was a farmer abducted and coerced into making false statements. Three weeks later, the IRGC announced the arrest of several individuals allegedly collaborating with Israel and engaging in kidnappings to extract fabricated confessions.

An informed source disclosed to HRANA that Rasouli had been a former IRGC member, paid to record voice and video files for use against other defendants. Rasouli was arrested after obtaining confessions from other defendants in this case.