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Prisoner Executed in Yazd Prison for Drug Offenses

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Executions, News
Manan Brahui, Yazd Prison, Zabol

At dawn September 19, the death sentence of a prisoner previously convicted on drug-related charges was carried out in Yazd Prison, according to a report by Haal Vsh.

The individual has been identified as “Manan Brahui (Barahouei)(Nasim Narui), approximately 50 years old, married, a resident of Zabol.”

According to this report, Mr. Brahui was arrested in 2019 on drug-related charges and was subsequently sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court of Yazd. On Tuesday, he was transferred to the quarantine section of Yazd Prison to await the execution of his sentence.

As of the time of this report, the execution of this prisoner has not been officially announced by prison authorities or relevant institutions.

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.

Hatem Ozdemir’s Death Sentence Upheld by the Supreme Court

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Executions, News, Prisoners
Baghi, HRANAHatem Ozdemir, Khoy, moharebeh, Najafzadeh

The Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence of Hatem Ozdemir, a Turkish citizen currently imprisoned in Urmia. In late May of this year, Branch 3 of the Revolutionary Court of Urmia sentenced Mr. Ozdemir to death on charges of “enmity against God” (Moharebeh).

According to HRANA, the Supreme Court recently confirmed Mr. Ozdemir’s death sentence, and this decision has been communicated to his defense attorney.

In late winter 2021, Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Khoy initially sentenced Ozdemir to death on charges of “armed rebellion” (Baghi). This verdict was delivered to him on March 15 of that year. However, the Supreme Court later overturned the ruling, sending the case back for a retrial in a parallel court.

Following a re-examination of the case and a new hearing, the Revolutionary Court of Urmia, presided over by Judge Najafzadeh, reaffirmed the death sentence in late May, again on charges of “enmity against God.”

Ozdemir was first arrested by security forces in Maku in the early summer of 2019. After two months, he was transferred to the political ward of Urmia Prison. On September 18 of the same year, he was moved to the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Urmia and, shortly afterward, returned to Urmia Central Prison.

Political Prisoners Behrooz Ehsani and Mehdi Hasani Sentenced to Death

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Executions, News
Behrooz Ehsani, Behrouz Ehsani. Mehdi Hasani, Evin Prison, Iman Afshari, Mehdi Hassani

Political prisoners Behrooz Ehsani and Mehdi Hasani have been sentenced to death. These verdicts were issued by Judge Iman Afshari, the head of Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

Based on the ruling issued by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari and communicated to their lawyer, they have been sentenced to death. The charges against them include “armed rebellion (Baghi), enmity against God (Moharebeh), spreading corruption on earth (Efsad-e Fel-Arz), membership in the Mojahedin, gathering classified information, and assembly and collusion against national security.”

On Monday, November 28, 2022, Mr. Ehsani was arrested at his home in Tehran and transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison. Mr. Hasani was also arrested on September 9, 2022, while attempting to leave the country in Zanjan and was transferred to Evin Prison. Both individuals spent months in a state of uncertainty and incommunicado detention.

Behrooz Ehsani is 64 years old. Mehdi Hasani, aged around 48, is married and the father of two children. Before his arrest, he was active in the real estate sector.

Journalist Fardin Mostafaie Arrested

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Freedom of Expression, News
Fardin Mostafaei, Fardin Mostafaie, Saqqez

Journalist Fardin Mostafaie was arrested by security forces in Saqqez today and transferred to an unknown location, as reported by Kurdpa.

According to the report, Mr. Mostafaie was detained on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, without a judicial warrant, at a café in Saqqez.

As of this report, there is no information regarding the charges against him or his current whereabouts.

A member of the International Federation of Journalists, Mostafaie was previously summoned and interrogated by the Cyber Police (FATA) in November 2023 on charges of “spreading falsehoods and disturbing public opinion.”

Mostafaie has a history of prior summons and interrogations.

Appeals Court Upholds Prison Sentence and Fine for Environmental Activist Yousef Farhadi Babadi

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Freedom of Expression, News
environmental activist, Tehran, Yousef Farhadi Babadi

The Appeals Court of Tehran Province has upheld the one-year prison sentence and monetary fine imposed on environmental activist Yousef Farhadi Babadi.

In a statement regarding the verdict, Mr. Farhadi Babadi said, “The one-year prison sentence and the fine have been confirmed without providing me the opportunity to defend myself in the Appeals Court, and without my knowledge of which branch issued the verdict.”

In July, Branch 29 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Mr. Farhadi Babadi to one year in prison on charges of “propaganda against the regime” and an additional year in prison along with a 15 million toman fine for “spreading falsehoods against the Ministry of Intelligence.”

Earlier, at the end of April, Farhadi Babadi was summoned to the First Branch of the Evin Prosecutor’s Office after receiving a summons. The indictment on the aforementioned charges was issued in May. This activist has a prior history of arrest.

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Baha’i Citizen Negar Misaghian Arrested by Security Forces in Shiraz

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News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i citizen, Negar Misaghian, Shiraz

On Wednesday, September 18, Negar Misaghian, a Baha’i citizen residing in Shiraz, was arrested by security forces and transferred to the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Shiraz, known as House No 100.

A source close to Misaghian told HRANA, “At 1:00 p.m. today, Wednesday, September 18, several security agents came to Ms. Misaghian’s home, arrested her, and transferred her to the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Shiraz, known as House No 100. The agents also searched the premises and confiscated several personal items, including her mobile phone, laptop, and passport.”

According to information received by HRANA, Misaghian’s arrest took place while she is the mother of a two-year-old child, leaving her husband and child in a difficult situation. The reasons for Misaghian’s arrest and the charges against this Baha’i citizen remain unknown.

Negar Misaghian has previously been arrested and faced judicial actions due to her activities.

Baha’is are subjected to violations of their religious rights, comprising 82% of reports on infringements against religious minorities, according to HRA’s 2023 annual report.

The Baha’i faith is not recognized as a legitimate religion by Iranian authorities, leading to systematic and longstanding violations of the rights of Baha’is in the country. This includes the denial of their fundamental right to practice their religion, which constitutes a clear breach of both 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.

 

Sina Mohammadi Arrested by Security Forces in Dehgolan

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News, Other
Kurdistan, Sina Mohammadi, University of Kurdistan

Today, September 18, Sina Mohammadi, a student at the University of Kurdistan, was arrested by security forces in Dehgolan and transferred to an undisclosed location, according to Kolbar News.

The individual has been identified as “Sina Mohammadi, 24 years old, and a sociology student at the University of Kurdistan.”

The report states that on Wednesday, September 18, security forces entered Mohammadi’s family home in Dehgolan, using force to arrest him. He was then transferred to an unknown location.

The reasons for his arrest and the charges against this student are still unknown.

Report on the Arrest of Mozhdeh Fallahi, Christian Convert, in Shiraz

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News, Religious Minorities
Christian convert, Mozhdeh Fallahi, Shiraz

Mozhdeh (Mojdeh) Fallahi, a Christian convert, is currently detained at the Ministry of Intelligence’s facility in Shiraz, known as House No. 100, according to a report by Article 18. She was arrested on September 4 after visiting the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in Shiraz.

The report details that Fallahi had gone to the prosecutor’s office to submit necessary documents for the release of a Christian friend who had been arrested the previous day. However, upon her arrival, she was immediately taken into custody and transferred to House No. 100, the detention center operated by the Ministry of Intelligence.

Fallahi faces charges related to “Christianity” and “illegal Christian activity.” Furthermore, she has been denied the right to choose her own legal representation.

While Christians are officially recognized as a religious minority in Iran, the authorities closely scrutinize Muslims who convert to Christianity and often respond harshly to those involved in Christian activities.

This crackdown on Christian converts continues in Iran despite Article 18 of both the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which affirm everyone’s right to freedom of religion, including the right to change their religion and to express their beliefs individually or collectively, in public or private.

Arian Shirpisheh Arrested in Tehran

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Freedom of Expression, News
Arian Shirpisheh, Mona Bakhtiari, Pouya Bakhtiari, Tehran

Arian Shirpisheh, the uncle of Pouya Bakhtiari, one of the victims of the November 2019 protests, was arrested by security forces in Tehran and taken to an undisclosed location.

Mona Bakhtiari, Pouya Bakhtiari’s sister, reported that at 7 a.m. on Monday, several agents from the Ministry of Intelligence raided Shirpisheh’s residence in Tehran and arrested him. During the operation, the agents also confiscated his mobile phones and other electronic devices.

No information has been released regarding the reasons for Shirpisheh’s arrest or his current whereabouts.

This is not the first time Arian Shirpisheh has been detained by security agencies.

Pouya Bakhtiari, born on September 10, 1992, was killed during the November 2019 protests in Mehrshahr, Karaj. According to his father, Pouya joined the protesters on the second day of demonstrations against the fuel price hike, accompanied by his sister and mother. He was shot in the head and succumbed to his injuries before reaching the hospital.

Sajjad Sadeghi Arrested in Tehran

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Freedom of Expression, News
Sajjad Sadeghi, Tehran

Sajjad Sadeghi, a former radio host and expert, was arrested by security forces in Tehran today, Wednesday, and transferred to an undisclosed location.

A source close to Mr. Sadeghi’s family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “On Wednesday, September 27, several security officers came to Mr. Sadeghi’s residence in western Tehran and arrested him. The officers also searched the premises and confiscated his electronic devices.”

As of the time of this report, there is no information on the reasons for his arrest, the charges against him, or his current whereabouts.

Mr. Sadeghi was previously arrested by security forces in October 2022 during nationwide protests. He was released five months later on bail.

Sadeghi was previously sentenced to three counts of 74 lashes each. The sentence was carried out in July 2020.