According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists (HRA), quoting ROKNA news, 30-year-old Sohrab was sentenced to death for raping a teenage girl in Tehran.
Two other young men, Reza and Farhad, were sentenced to 10 years in prison each as they did not try to prevent the assault.
According to ROKNA news, in a separate story, a defendant in Tehran was sentenced to death for murder.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting RASANK news, all six had been previously arrested on drug-related charges. The report has identified the six as Javad Nakhaei, Mohammad Reza Harati, Reza Azarian, Ruhollah Rigi, and Alireza Farsi, all from Zabol, and Reza As’adi from Mashhad.
Iran ranks first in the world in citizen executions per-capita, according to international organizations. The Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRAI) reported that between January 1st and December 20th of 2020, at least 236 citizens were executed. One of these citizens was executed publicly, and two were juvenile offenders. An additional 95 citizens were sentenced to death.
According to the report, more than 72% of executions in Iran are not reported by the government or the judiciary. Human rights organizations call these “secret executions.”
At the time of this writing, their execution has not been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Kavousi had been on hunger strike since May 16 in protest of prison officials’ arbitrary behavior sending prisoners on leave during the outbreak of COVID-19.
Kavousi has been incarcerated for more than a year without leave. Her family has traveled from out of town to visit her but have been denied in-person visits and has only been permitted to meet through a cabin, behind glass.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Yekan is serving a two year sentence under charges from his previous conviction for participating in World Mother Language Day.
Farshi is charged with additional sentences including three years and six months in prison on charges of “Conspiracy and collusion against national security”, eight months in prison for “Propaganda against the regime”, “2 years of deprivation of membership in factions, parties, and groups” and a “2 months and 4 hours probation in the recycling department of Tehran Municipality”.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, The First Branch of the Revolutionary Court of Mahabad summoned Hosseini and informed him upon arrival that he had been sentenced in absentia.
Hosseini is facing 40 years in Urmia Prison on charges of Moharebeh (rebellion, or “waging war against God” in Shariah Law) through membership in an opposition group.
In April, Hosseini’s last hearing was held in the First Branch of the Revolutionary Court of Mahabad, presided over by Judge Javad Gholami. The political prisoner also faced a hearing for Moharebeh in July 2019.
Hosseini is currently being held in Naqadeh Prison in the West Azerbaijan Province.
Baha’i citizens Mahvash Adalati Aliabadi, Sepideh Keshavarz, and Farid Ismaili, residents of Tehran, were sentenced by Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals to a total of 10 years and 9 months in prison.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Ms. Aliabadi, Ms. Keshavarz, and Mr. Ismaili were each sentenced to three years and seven months in prison on a charge of “Acting against national security through administering the Baha’i organization”.
In their first hearing in Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran, presided by Judge Mohammad Reza Amouzad, Aliabadi, Keshavarz, and Ismaili, had been sentenced to 3 years and 7 months in prison on the same charge, in addition to eight months on charges of “Propaganda activities against the regime through the promotion of Baha’ism”.
According to unofficial sources, more than 300,000 Baha’is live in Iran, but the Iranian constitution recognizes only Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism. Because their faith is not considered legitimate by authorities, the rights of Baha’is in Iran have been systematically violated for years.
This deprivation of the freedom to practice their religion is a violation of 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.
Per the report, referring to the case of Anbouh Sazan Abtin Qom [housing development company], Gholam-Hossein Esmaeili, spokesman of the Judiciary, outlined the punishment.
“Mehdi Darkhani, the CEO of the company, was sentenced to 74 lashes, 20 years in prison, confiscation of property, restitution, deprivation of board membership, and a fine,” the spokesman said.
“In this regard, another defendant named Mohsen Asadi was also sentenced to 74 lashes, 12 years in prison, restitution, confiscation of property, and a fine,” Gholam-Hossein Esmaeili stated. “In addition, Ali Karimian was sentenced to lashes, 16 years in prison, and restitution.”
Iran is one of the few countries that still uses humiliating punishments, despite the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights’ explicit prohibition of the use of inhumane and degrading punishments, including the death penalty and flogging.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Vahid Dana has an acute type of chronic hypertension, and was under supervision of a specialist doctor prior to the arrest due to symptoms of angina pectoris. According to a source close to his family, Dana’s heart problems started in 2014, during a previous detention.
The continued detention of the two citizens during the COVID-19 outbreak, coupled with the failure of officials to provide any update on their condition, has raised concern among their families. Abedi and Dana have also been prohibited from contacting their families since the arrest.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on May 22, Nooshin Hemmat, Shurangiz Bahamin, Sara Shakib, Azita Rezvani, and Sholeh Ashouri were released from Dolatabad Prison. The following day, Mojgan Pourshafie, the last of the 11 women, was released as well.
More than 300,000 Baha’is live in Iran, unofficial sources say, but the Iranian constitution recognizes only Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism. Because their faith is not considered legitimate by authorities, the rights of Baha’is in Iran have been systematically violated for years.
This deprivation of the freedom to practice their religion is a violation of 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.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Kavousi has been on hunger strike since May 16 in protest of prison officials’ arbitrary behavior sending prisoners on leave during the outbreak of COVID-19.
45-year-old Kavousi is the daughter of Akbar and mother of two girls. Ms. Kavousi is a researcher, translator, and follower of the Yarsan faith.
The activist was arrested by security forces at her home in Nowshahr during the nationwide November Protests of 2019. She was released on a bail and later sentenced to two years in prison on charges of “inciting the people to disrupt the order and security of the country”. Ms. Kavousi was banned from leaving the country in September 2019, according to the Nowshahr Intelligence Office.
In May 2020, Kavousi was summoned to the women’s ward of Evin Prison to serve out her sentence, where she has been held since. Kavousi suffers from gastrointestinal disease, hemorrhoids, and cardiac arrhythmias. Given her previous conditions, a hunger strike of this duration could cause permanent damage.
