Ali-P Executed in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad on Charge of Murder

At dawn on Monday, July 5, a prisoner who had previously been sentenced to death on a charge of murder was executed in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Khorasan newspaper, the report identifies the prisoner as Ali-P, 45, who killed his wife in August 2009.

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 (HRA) reported that between January 1 and December 20 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”.

Mohammad Hassan Taheri Haghighi Executed for Murder in Adelabad Prison in Shiraz

On Sunday, July 11, a prisoner who had previously been sentenced to death for murder was executed in Adelabad Prison in Shiraz.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the prisoner’s identity has been verified as “Mohammad Hassan Taheri Haghighi, son of Hassan, 33 years old, from Shiraz”.

Mr. Taheri Haghighi had been in Adelabad Prison in Shiraz since 2019.

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 (HRA) reported that between January 1 and December 20 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”.

Taheri Haghighi’s execution has not been announced by Iranian media or official sources as of this writing.

Maziar Seyednejad Still in Detention One Month After Arrest

A month after the arrest of labor activist Maziar Seyednejad, he is still in detention and his fate is unknown.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Seyednejad was arrested on June 7 by security forces at his home in Tehran.  From there, he was as transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison, one of the solitary confinement cells of the Ministry of Intelligence Detention Center.

A few days after his arrest, during a brief phone call under the supervision of security forces, Seyednejad informed his family that he is unaware of the reasons for his detention. Despite the family’s inquiries, the reasons for the arrest and the charges against the labor activist are unknown at the time of writing.

Recently, Branch 16 of the Court of Appeals in Khuzestan Province upheld Mr. Seyednejad’s 3-year prison sentence.

HRANA Recap: This Week’s Protests in Iran

Friday and Saturday, July 2 and July 3

 

Several young job seekers in the Ghal’e Chan’an in Koot-Abdollah city, a group of workers of Kaveh Float Glass in Saveh, a group of fired workers of Khuzestan Pipe Manufacturing Company, a group of Shiraz Telecommunication employees, workers of the transportation unit of South Zagros Oil and Gas Production Company in Shiraz, Agar and Delan, a group of Khorramshahr municipality workers, and a group of pest control workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company all held labor protests on between Friday and Saturday.

A group of Khuzestan environmental activists, teachers of Green Score Letter, a number of farmers of Hamidiyeh city, and a group activists  protesting the killing of Kurdish Kolbars (cross-border labors) also held rallies.

 

Job seekers in the Ghal’e Chan’an in Koot-Abdollah:

Protesters against the killing of Kolbars:

 

Employees of Kaveh Float Glass in Saveh:

Employees of Shiraz Telecommunication:

Workers on the transportation unit of South Zagros Oil and Gas in Shiraz:

Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Co. workers:

Khuzestan environmental activists:

 

Teachers of Green Score Letter:

Fired workers of Khuzestan Pipe Company

 

Khorramshahr municipality workers:

 

Sunday July 4:

A group of Karnameh Sabz teachers (Teachers of Green Score Letter) protested for a seventh day and night in a row. Animal rights advocates in Qazvin, ranchers in Takab city in West Azerbaijan province, shareholders of the Rezvan Qom project, retirees in Khorramabad , Shush, and Ahvaz, a group of Shush farmers, a group of pest control workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company for several consecutive days, a number of school janitors and caretakers in different provinces, retirees of Khuzestan Steel Company in Khuzestan and Isfahan Steel Company in Isfahan provinces, staff of Qom Health Centers, young job seekers from the village of Maravneh in Ahvaz, workers of Khorramshahr municipal for the second day in a row, and taxi drivers in Zanjan all also held protest rallies this Sunday.

 

Animal rights advocates in Qazvin:

Ranchers in Takab:

 

Shareholders of the Rezvan Qom project:

Qom Health Center staff:

Retirees in Khorramabad, Shush, and Ahvaz:

Shush farmers:

Khorramshahr municipally workers:

 

Pest control workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane:

School janitors:

 

Retirees of Khuzestan Steel and Isfahan Steel Companies:

Teachers of Green Score Letter:

 

Young job seekers from the village of Maravneh in Ahvaz:

 

Taxi drivers in Zanjan:

 

Monday, July 5

 

Following the general strikes of contract workers of refineries, petrochemicals and power plants, contract workers of Jofeir refinery in Khuzestan province, people in some cities of Golestan province including Gonbad Kavous, Bandar-e-Gaz, Bandar-e-Turkmen and Aqqala and also Kazerun in Keshavarzan in Fars province gathered after frequent, long-lasting power outages.  Farmers in Isfahan, shareholders and remitters of Azico Company, a group of pest control workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company for several consecutive days, a group of truck drivers from Rasht, a group of bakers in Qazvin, and a number of people with disabilities additionally organized demonstrations.

 

Protest of a of people in different cities with frequent, long-lasting power outages:

Kordkuy

Gonbad Kavus

 

Kazerun

 

Farmers in Isfahan:

 

Shareholders and remitters of Azico Company:

 

Pest control workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company:

Bakers in Qazvin:

Truck drivers in Rasht:

 

People with disabilities in Tehran:

 

Tuesday, July 6

 

Farmers in Ahvaz, a group of social security nurses in Tehran, kitchen workers in the Khark Offshore Oil Operation Area, employees in the Fars Region Telecommunication Company, a group of workers in the pest control department of Haft Tappeh Sugar Company for several consecutive days, a group of Retirees of Homa Airlines, Abadan bus contract workers, and contractors of the new city of Hashtgerd Metro all held protest rallies on Tuesday.

 

Ahvaz Farmers:

 

Social security nurses:

 

Kitchen workers in the Khark island Offshore:

Employees in the Fars Region Telecommunication Company:

Pest control workers of Haft Tappeh Sugar Company

Retirees of Homa Airline:

 

Abadan bus contract workers:

Staff contractors of Hashtgerd metro:

 

Wednesday, July 7

 

At least 4 rallies were held this Wednesday. Workers of Abadan Petrochemical, a group of third-party contract workers working in the South Pars Special Economic Zone, a group of Damghan cattle breeders, a group of railway maintenance workers in Azerbaijan all held protest rallies. Pest control workers from Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Cultivation also gathered for a twelfth for days in a row.

 

Workers of Abadan Petrochemical:

Contract workers South Pars Economic Zone:

 

Damghan cattle breeders:

 

Pest control workers of Haft Tappeh:

Lawyer and Defendant Amirsalar Davoodi to Face Retrial on July 13

The retrial of lawyer Amirsalar Davoodi will be held on July 13 in Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Davoodi’s request for a retrial was accepted in June of this year. After awaiting a verdict for nearly three years, he was released from Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj on a bail of 2 billion Tomans.

Amirsalar Davoodi was arrested by security forces in November 2018 and was transferred to Evin Prison after being charged.

In April 2019, Vahid Meshgani Farahani, Mr. Davoodi’s lawyer said 8 – 9 charges are filed against Mr. Davoodi, including forming a group to overthrow the regime, cooperating with hostile states, propaganda against the regime, spreading lies, insulting officials and the leadership, and several other charges, two of which have been referred to Branch 15 of the Islamic Revolutionary Tribunal.

In June 2019, on charges of conspiracy against national security, Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced Mr. Davoodi to 30 years in prison and 111 lashes. The sentence was confirmed by the court of appeals in August of that year.

Mr. Davoodi’s wife had previously stated that  15 out of 30 year prison sentence for Mr. Davoodi was for setting up a group on the social media application Telegram.

190 days after his arrest, Mr. Davoodi was transferred from the detention center of the Judiciary’s Intelligence Protection Organization to the General Ward of Evin Prison in June 2019.

Davoodi had defended many cases of prisoners and political defendants, including Soheil Arabi and Saeed Shirzad.

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Mohammad Nourizad Sent on Medical Leave from Evin Prison after 102 Day Hunger Strike

Yesterday, July 8, civil activist Mohammad Nourizad was sent on medical leave from Evin Prison on a bail of 800 million tomans following a 102 day hunger strike.

Nourizad’s lawyer, Mohammad Hossein Aghasi, confirmed the news on his social media, stating, “It is interesting [strange] that they did not consider one person’s sponsorship sufficient, so I and the client’s brother took care of the bail. Mr. Nourizad has to start treatment on Saturday.”

Previously Aghasi had told HRANA, “My client has lost 55 pounds following a 102-day hunger strike and a 105-day medicine strike and is experiencing severe hearing loss; he has been wounding himself every day as a sign of objection; he has fainted 37 times.”

Mohammad Nourizad suffers from myriad underlying diseases such as asthma, heart problems, and high blood pressure.

Family Expresses Growing Concern Over Condition of Baha’i Citizen Sina Kamali in Adelabad Prison

Baha’i citizen Sina Kamali Sarvestani is still being held in Adelabad Prison in Shiraz 24 days after his arrest, and his family has expressed growing concern over his condition.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Humen Rights Activists, Kamali Sarvestani informed his family during his last phone call on July 4 that he is in a very unfavorable mental condition. Kamali Sarvestani expressed that that he is anxious, in need of consultation, and worried that he will be sent back to the IRGC’s intelligence detention center.

Kamali Sarvestani’s family delivered the medications he needs to the prison following the call, but do not know if they were ever given to him. Kamali Sarvestani’s poor condition and the lack of transparency about the delivery of the drugs, coupled with recent cancellations of visit time by the authorities have raised concern among his family.

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.

Despite his family’s inquiries, officials have still given no reason for Kamali Sarvestani’s arrest or the charges against him.

Two Death Sentences Issued in Tehran

Two death sentences were recently issued in Tehran.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Shargh Newspaper, a man was sentenced to death for the murder of a police officer he committed in April, 2004. Mehdi was sentenced under Qisas (“eye-for-an-eye”),  a pillar of Islamic sharia law .

It took 14 years following the incident until police officers discovered that Mehdi had started a secret new life in the city of Bonab and arrested him. Now, three years after his arrest, Mehdi has been sentenced to death, five years in prison, and 50 lashes.

According to HRANA, quoting Shahrvand Newspaper, another man was sentenced to death in Tehran on a charge of Moharebeh. Moharebeh, loosely translated as “waging war against God”, is a pillar of Islamic sharia law that is typically applied to those suspected of connection to any acts against the state.

Per the report, in late May 2017, detectives from the capital’s police station began investigating the case, and several men were arrested for extortion.

The case was sent from the Theft Court to the Revolutionary Court after a confession was obtained from the accused. Finally, the judge sentenced the leader of the extortionists to death.

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 (HRA) 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.

16-Year-Old Girl Killed by Father in Kermanshah

On Sunday, July 4, 16-year-old Shakiba Bakhtiar was stabbed to death by her father after coming home late in Kermanshah.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Iran Human Rights (IHR), Iranian law provides for exemptions for those who commit “honor killings”.

It is notable that according to the Islamic Penal Code, a father who kills his child is sentenced to fines and imprisonment, not execution, if convicted in court.

In some cases, fathers have killed their children after learning that under the Islamic Penal Code, a father cannot be executed for the murder of his own child.

Some experts say that the discrimination and weakness of the law has an impact on the frequency of these murders.

 

Feizollah Ahmad Zadeh Executed in Qom Prison

On the morning of July 7, a prisoner who had previously been sentenced to death on drug-related charges was executed in Qom Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Iran Human Rights (IHR), Feizollah Ahmad Zadeh was married and had a child.  The report quoted an informed source as saying that Ahmad Zadeh was arrested and sentenced to death about four years ago on drug-related charges.

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 (HRA) 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”.

Ahmad Zadeh’s execution has not been announced by Iranian media or official sources as of this writing.