Ebrahim Raisi in Response to Questions About his Role in the 1988 Executions in Iran: “I Should be Praised and Admired”

In his first press conference since being announced as winner of Iran’s presidential election, Ebrahim Raisi was interviewed by Al Jazeera.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activist, Al Jazeera questioned the president elect about his role in the executions of the political prisoners in Summer 1988 in Iran, his inclusion on the human rights sanctions list, and the request for his trial by some human rights organizations.

In response, without claiming to have played a role in the 1988 executions, Raisi claimed that he has “always been a defender of the rights of the people, as a juristic”, and that “human rights has been at the axis of all (his) responsibilities”. He went on to state that he should be “praised and acclaimed” for this.

For the four decades of the Islamic Republic’s existence, Raisi has served in various positions in the judiciary against human rights and been responsible for the execution, imprisonment, torture, amputation to repression, justification of repression, violation of the rights of countless women, Bahai’s and others.

For his role in the massacre of political prisoners in the summer of 1988, in Tehran, he has been called the “Ayatollah of Massacre” by critics.

Ramin Sa’adat Beiglou Executed in Qazvin Prison

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Iran Human Rights (IHR), On June 20, Ramin Sa’adat Beiglou, a resident of Zanjan who had previously been sentenced to death for murder, was executed in Qazvin Central Prison.

The report quoted an informed source as saying, “Ramin has been in prison since 2017 on charges of murdering a person who owed Ramin 10 million tomans (less than $200).”

According to international organizations, Iran has the highest rate of citizen executions per-capita. Based on HRANA’s Statistics and Publication Center, during a one year period (January 1, 2020, to December 20, 2020), at least 236 citizens were executed from which two were juvenile offenders, and one case was a public execution. 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.”

The execution of this prisoner has not been announced by Iranian media or official sources as of this writing.

Ahmad Reza Jalali’s Lawyer Expresses Concern About His Condition in Evin Prison

Ahmad Reza Jalali’s lawyer, Helaleh Mousavian, has expressed concern about her client’s condition in Evin Prison. According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Reza Jalali is a university professor and dual citizen of Iran and Sweden currently on death row.

The professor, who traveled to Iran in May 2016 at the invitation of the University of Tehran, was arrested by security forces on charges of “moharebeh through espionage for Israel”. Moharebeh, loosely translated as “waging war against God”, is a pillar of Sharia Law that is typically applied to those suspected of connection to any acts against the state.

Mr. Jalali was sentenced to death for espionage, and the sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court in December 2017.

Ahmad Reza Jalali worked at the Center for Natural Disasters after graduating from medical school in Iran. He immigrated to Sweden in 2009 to continue his studies and earned a doctorate. He completed his postdoctoral in Disaster Medicine at the University of Piedmont in Italy, and later, settled in Sweden with his wife and two children.

According to a HRANA report published in November 2020, Ahmad Reza Jalali was transferred to solitary confinement for a week to be prepared for execution. In December of that year, Ms. Mousavian was informed that her client’s death sentence was put on hold and he was transferred to ward 209 of Evin prison.

“Fortunately, Mr. Jalali was transferred to a public ward in April, but so far, despite all the efforts, his death sentence has not changed,” Mousavian said. “I am very worried about my client, especially now that the presidential election is over and the result is out. Despite my repeated expressions of concern, no effective action has been taken by the country of dual citizenship and the European Union.”

Azad University Threatens to Expel Students Protesting Professor Who Killed a Healthy Dog For Dissection

On Tuesday, June 16, a professor of Veterinary Medicine in the Shushtar Branch of Azad University in Southwest Iran was criticized by students for killing a healthy dog for the purposes of a dissection lesson.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Rokna, the dog was still conscious after receiving several doses of anesthesia, and only finally died after the professor cut into its leg vein. Students who have criticized the killing and have posted images of the dissected animal online have been threatened by the school’s administration with expulsion.

Students at Azad University have also said that last year a donkey in the same class was killed in the same way. According to student posts online, the animal stumbled around the room for several hours after being beheaded before it died.

In 2019, all three Ministries of Science, Education, and Health issued directives restricting the use of live animals in laboratories and classrooms. The language of the Ministry of Education’s directive is significantly more decisive than its counterparts; it declares that the use of living beings for education is prohibited without exception. The circular of the Ministry of Health, however, despite emphasizing the importance of first seeking out alternative methods that do not harm the animals, states that it is ultimately up to the teachers to use their best judgement.

According to students in the class, the female dog did not have any specific diseases and the teacher had confirmed the dog’s health after the examination. The professor has as of yet not been reprimanded by the school.

Man Sentenced to Death in Tehran Under Qisas (Eye-for-an-Eye) Principle of Shariah Law

A man was recently sentenced to death in Tehran under the “Qisas” (loosely translated as eye-for-an-eye) principle of Shariah Law.

According HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Javaonline News, a defendant was sentenced to death on a charge of murder by the criminal court in Tehran province.

The victim’s wife, who orchestrated the killing, was also sentenced to a prison time of 15 years.

According to international organizations, Iran ranks first in the world in citizen executions per-capita. 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.

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Political Prisoner Keyhan Mokarram al-Nabi on a Hunger Strike in Urmia Prison

Political prisoner Keyhan Mokarram al-Nabi has been on a hunger strike since June 13 in Urmia Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Kayhan Mokarram al-Nabi, son of Jader, was arrested by security forces in January 2020.

He has been sentenced to five years in prison on charges of membership in an opposition group.

Mokarram is using the hunger strike to demand the modification and reduction of his sentence.

HRANA Recap: This Week’s Protests in Iran

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, a number of protests took place in different parts of the country this week. Below is a quick recap and footage from the demonstrations.

 

Saturday, June 12

On Saturday, June 12, a group of rice farmers in Khuzestan rallied in front of the governor’s office. In Tehran, retired drivers of the Tehran Bus Company gathered in front of the company’s headquarters. Contract workers of the maintenance unit for Tehran Metro Line 5 held a rally in front of Hashtgerd metro station, a group of shareholders of Cryptoland Exchange who lost money to the company rallied in front of the Economic Crimes Court building, and family members of SMA patients gathered in front of the Ministry of Health building.

Rice farmers in Khuzestan:

 

Retired bus drivers in Tehran:

Workers of the maintenance unit for Tehran Metro:

Shareholders of Cryptoland Exchange:

 

Sunday, June 13

On Sunday, June 13, a group of shopkeepers in Gachsaran in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province gathered in front of the governor’s office. A group of veterans who were injured during the Iran-Iraq war rallied in front of the Martyr Foundation building in Tehran, several drivers and workers of the Tehran Bus Company heled a rally in front of the city council building, and Cryptoland exchange shareholders gathered in front of the Economic Crimes court building again.

Shopkeepers in Gachsaran:

Injured Iraq-Iran war Veterans:

 

Bus drivers in Tehran:

Shareholders of Cryptoland Exchange:

 

Monday, June 14

On Monday, Several fishermen in Kharg city of Kharg Island gathered in front of the border checkpoint. A group of workers of Tehran Jonoob company protested in Mahshahr in Khuzestan Province.  Landowners in the new city of Pardis, rice farmers in Khuzestan Province, and fired workers of Khuzestan Pipe Industrial Company also held rallies.

Fishermen in Kharg island:

 

Workers of Tehran Jonoob company in Mahshahr:

 

Landowners in the new city of Pardis:

 

Tuesday, June 15

A group of delivery motorcyclists in Laleh Park in Tehran, and a group of families of Bafgh phosphate mine workers in the conference hall of Ahanshahr town held protest rallies.

Delivery motorcyclist in Laleh Park in Tehran:

Wednesday, June 16

The staff of Telecommunication Company of Khuzestan in the cities of Shushtar, Masjed Soleiman, and Ahvaz gathered in front of their cities’ Telecommunication Offices. Shareholders of the “Mashhad Mall” project rallied in front of the building of Ayandeh Bank in Mashhad. Workers of Tehran Jonoob Company held protest rallies for the third day in a row in Mahshahr.

 

Protest of staff of Telecommunication Company in Khuzestan:

Shareholders of Cryptoland Exchange:

 

Workers’ protest in Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry:

 

Protest of workers in Mashhad Mall project:

 

Milad Yazdan Nejad and Aram Fathi Arrested by Security Forces

Two citizens were arrested by security forces this week and taken to unknown locations.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on June 15, security forces arrested Milad Yazdan Nejad, and transferred him to an unknown location. Nejad is a former political prisoner and resident of Tehran.

According to Kurdistan Press Agency, on June 17, Aram Fathi, a resident of Marivan city in Kurdistan province was arrested by security forces at his private home and taken to an unknown location.

Per a relative of Mr. Fathi, he was arrested at his home without a court order, and judicial and security authorities refused to provide a clear answer as to the reasons for the detention.

Medical Staff Member Arrested For Protesting in Shiraz

On June 17, a member of the medical staff of Namazee Hospital in Shiraz was arrested by security forces after speaking out against the Islamic Republic.

Based on a video posted on social media, the citizen was forcefully arrested by security forces.

As of this writing, no information is available on his whereabouts.

27 Citizens Arrested In Gilan in Connection with the Presidential Election

Gilan deputy police chief Hossein Hassanpour stated 27 citizens in Gilan province were arrested for what he called “harming the health of the elections”.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting ISNA News, Hassanpour stated that the Gilan Public Security Police has verbally dealt with 85 other people so far.

The report does not mention the identities of the detained citizens or their detention status.