Author: admin-hr

Payman Karimi in Danger of Blindness; Hassan Farji in Aftermath of Heart Attack

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Prisoners
Hassan Farji, Payman Karimi

HRANA News Agency – Medical conditions of two political prisoners locked up in Ward 350 of Evin Prison are reported critical.Payman Karimi suffers from diabetes and is in danger of losing his sight entirely; Hassan Farji has suffered a heart attack resulting in speech impediment and physical and mobility impairment.

According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Payman Karimi was arrested following the events after 2009 presidential elections in Iran.He was transferred to the prison hospital two months ago due to frequent volatility of blood glucose level and remains there to this day.Since his hospitalization, Payman Karimi has experienced many diabetic shocks and consequently has blurry vision.According to medical doctors, if the current situation continues, Payman Karimi will be in danger of losing his eye sight entirely.

Furthermore, Hassan Farji is another political prisoner suffering from a number of medical problems including heart and digestive diseases.Recently, when he was told that he had been sentenced to 10 years in prison, Hassan Farji suffered a heart attack and had to be taken to Modaress Hospital.However, he was again behind bars in Evin Prison before long.At this time, Hassan Farji has lost most of his ability to talk, can’t walk and is incapable of taking care of himself.

Hassan Farji’s cellmates have found out that prison officials mistakenly told him that a new 10 year prison term had been issued for him.The new verdict should have been given to another prisoner with the same name convicted of smuggling weapons.

Medical examiner and coroner’s office has issued two certificates indicating that these two prisoners are incapable of tolerating imprisonment due to their physical health.However, Tehran’s prosecutor, pressured by Iran’s security and intelligence apparatus, has refused to obey these legal orders.

 

Fate of Saman Ostevar in Bam’s Prison Uncertain

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Prisoners
Saman Ostevar

HRANA News Agency – Saman Ostevar, a Baha’i citizen and children’s rights activist, who was arrested on March 2, 2011 in the city of Kerman, still remains in Bam’s Prison, and uncertainty surrounds his future. 

 

According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Saman Ostevar is a Baha’i citizen who resided in Kerman.  He was arrested on March 2, 2011 and transferred to Bam’s prison.  For a period of 48 days, Saman Ostevar was locked up in solitary confinement and placed under horrific psychological pressure.  During this time, he was cut off from the world without being able to see or contact anyone.

 

Judicial authorities refuse to tell his family what charges have been filed against him.  Saman Ostevar’s arraignment was held on April 17, 2011 in one of the courts in the city of Bam.  Although Saman Ostevar’s wife has repeatedly visited judicial authorities to inquire about his case, they have refused to answer any of her questions.

 

It has been reported that on the morning of March 2, 2011, five security officers raided Saman Ostevar’s house and after searching the property, they seized his PC, laptop, books and CDs containing Baha’i teachings and cell phone.  Saman Ostevar’s wife had no news of him and didn’t know his whereabouts for 48 days following the arrest.

 

Saman Ostevar was a member of a charity organization dedicated to help children orphaned after the 2003 earthquake in Bam.  Currently, there are 100-120 children sponsored by this organization.

 

Following the court session, Saman Ostevar’s family asked the prosecutor to release him on bail.  However, the prosecutor opposed the bail sighting new evidence against the defender.

 

Six Prisoners Hanged in Zahedan; Executions Not Announced by IRI

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Executions
Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan

HRANA News Agency – On Saturday, October 15, 2011, six prisoners were hanged in Zahedan Central Prison on charges of drug trafficking.[Zahedan is the capital city in Sistan and Baluchestan Province in southeast corner of the country.]

According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), one of the prisoners hanged yesterday in Zahedan was an Afghani citizen.Although two days have passed since these prisoners were executed, Iran’s Judiciary Branch has not yet officially announced the news.

During the last few weeks, the number of executions throughout Iran has continued to increase while only a small number of these killings are formally confirmed by the Islamic Republic of Iran.Like before, the majority of hangings are performed secretly.

Copyright © 2009-2011 All Rights Reserved

Two Kurdish Prisoners on Hunger Strike – Day 24

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Prisoners
Farshad Kamangar, Hassan Akhtar Samand

HRANA News Agency – Despite physical weakness and fatigue, two Kurdish prisoners continue their hunger strike while locked up in Bijar Prison.

According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Hassan Akhtar Samand, Farshad Kamangar and two other prisoners who were transferred to Bijar Prison on July 25, 2011 began their hunger strike upon their arrival in protest to being exiled to Bijar.Hassan Akhtar Samand is a political prisoner.

Since their hunger strike began 24 days ago, these prisoners have been denied access to phone, and their families have not been able to see them.Consequently, concerns regarding their health and safety have increased.

 

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Baha’i Citizen Arrested in Karaj

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Religious Minorities
Ruhollah Zibahi

HRANA News Agency – On Wednesday, May 12, 2011, after being summoned and arraigned by Karaj’s Revolutionary Court, Ruhollah Zibahi, a Baha’i citizen from Karaj, was transferred to Ghezel Hesar Prison.

 

According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), in December 2010, Ruhollah Zibahi’s house was searched, and he was told not to leave town until his arraignment.  He has been charged acting against national security.

 

Although Ruhollah Zibahi’s family has posted his bail in the amount of approximately $50,000, he hasn’t been released so far.

Security Forces Raided the Home of a Baha’i Citizen in Yazd

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Religious Minorities
Majid Islamiof

May 7, 2010

HRA News Agency –On 29 April 2010, the home ofMr. Majid Islamiof Yazd was searched by Intelligence Ministry agents and his personal belongings, including his computer, and Bahá’í books and material were confiscated.

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Four Rapists Were Hanged Today

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Executions
Esfahan, Khomeini Shahr

HRANA News Agency – On Wednesday, October 12, 2011, four individuals convicted of rape were publicly hanged in Khomeini Shahr’s Behesht Park.After the death sentences were upheld by the Supreme Court, four rapists were hanged today while the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor of Esfahan Province and other local officials attended the event.

According to a report by Fars News Agency, the following individuals were hanged today after being convicted of charges of rape in Khomeini Shahr:

 

  • Abbas (single, 24 years old, with prior convictions for kidnapping and inappropriate relations in 2004 and 2008)
  • Rajab Ali (single, 23 years old, with prior convictions for consumption of alcohol, bullying and intimidation with a dagger and inappropriate relations)
  • Asghar (single, 20 years old, with prior convictions for bullying and intimidation with a knife, consumption of alcohol and inappropriate relations)
  • Mansor (single, 25 years old, with prior convictions for kidnapping in 2005)


On May 24, 2011, a group of women at a private party were abducted and gang raped at knife point in Khomeini Shahr.

More pictures of the public hanging can be seen here.

Copyright © 2009-2011 All Rights Reserved

Abdolreza Ghanbari’s Death Sentence Referred to the Enforcement Unit

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Executions, Freedom of Expression
Abdolreza Ghanbari

HRANA News Agency – After the Amnesty and Clemency Commission rejected Abdolreza Ghanbari’s plea for reprieve, his case has been referred to the Revolutionary Court’s Enforcement Unit tasked to carry out the verdict.

According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Abdolreza Ghanbari is a high school teacher in Varamin County and holds a PhD degree in Literature and Persian language.He was arrested on December 27, 2009 during Ashura protests and charged with participating in and videotaping the demonstrations and sending the videos to opposition groups.

After his arrest, Abdolreza Ghanbari was denied the right to legal counsel and was not informed of his basic rights.On January 30, 2010, after a month and few days following the events of Ashura protests, he was tried, found guilty of all charges and sentenced to death by Judge Salavati who presided over the Revolutionary Court, Branch 15.

According to legal proceedings, the death penalty verdict then had to be sent to the Supreme Court.Instead, the case was referred to the Provincial Appeals Court, Branch 36, where Judge Zargar presided over the trial and upheld the death sentence.

It has been over a year since Abdolreza Ghanbari’s wife sent a letter to the Amnesty and Clemency Commission to ask for reprieve. Since the clemency request for Abdolreza Ghanbari has been turned down, the death penalty verdict has been sent to the Revolutionary Court’s Enforcement Unit to be carried out.

 

Shutting Down Baha’i Citizen’s business in Abadan

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Religious Minorities
Hedayatollah Rezaei

HRANA – By a notice from ” Union of Retail workers & Manufacturers , Gold & Silver & Clock & Glasses” the business of a Baha’i citizen in Abadan was shut down.

According to the HRANA reporters, News Organization for  Human Rights Activists in Iran, following continuous pressure on the Iranian Baha’i citizens, the business of a Baha’i  citizen called “Hedayatollah Rezaei” living in Abadan ,(an optic shop), was shut down by a verdict and he was prohibited from working.

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