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Javad Azizi, Retiree Rights Activist, Arrested in Kermanshah

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Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News
Iranian Retirees Council, Javad Azizi, Kermanshah

On Sunday, September 8, Javad Azizi, a retired citizen and retiree rights activist in Kermanshah, was arrested by security forces and transferred to the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, according to Iranian Retirees Council.

The report states that the arrest of the retiree rights activist took place at his private residence on Sunday, September 8, 2024, by security forces. During the arrest, the agents also confiscated Mr. Azizi’s mobile phone.

As of the time of this report, no information has been made available regarding the reasons for his arrest or the charges against him.

Poet Ali Jahanian Arrested by Security Forces in Nahavand

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ali Jahanian, Fereshteh Souri, Hamedan, HRANA, Nahavand

On September 9, Ali Jahanian, a poet and political activist, was arrested by Ministry of Intelligence agents in Nahavand and transferred to the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Hamedan.

A source close to his family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “Mr. Jahanian and his wife, Mrs. Fereshteh Souri, were arrested by Ministry of Intelligence agents at their residence in Nahavand. His wife was released after several hours of interrogation on bail. Security agents also searched their home during the arrest and confiscated some of the couple’s personal belongings, including their mobile phones.”

The source added, “Ali Jahanian has been transferred to the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Hamedan following his arrest.”

So far, the reasons for his arrest and the charges against him have not been disclosed.

Ali Jahanian, a poet and political activist residing in Nahavand, has previously been arrested due to his activities.

Court of Appeals Upholds Prison Sentence for Baha’i Citizen Paridokht Shojaei

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News, Religious Minorities
HRANA, Kerman Province, Paridokht Shojaei Bagheini

The Court of Appeals of Kerman Province has upheld the two-year and one-month prison sentence for Paridokht Shojaei Bagheini, a Baha’i citizen from Kerman.

The ruling, issued by Branch 7 of the Kerman Court of Appeals on September 9, confirms her sentence of two years and one month for “engaging in educational/promotional activities contrary to or disruptive of Islamic Sharia.” The verdict was delivered to Ms. Shojaei recently.

A source close to the Shojaei family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating that the Court of Appeals upheld the lower court’s decision without holding a hearing. The family plans to pursue the case in the Supreme Court.

Shojaei Bagheini was arrested in July last year at the home of another Baha’i citizen in Kerman and was released on bail in early August. Her trial, along with the cases of four other Baha’i citizens, was held in Branch 1 of the Kerman Revolutionary Court.

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.

Prisoner Executed in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan

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Executions, News
Behnam Bagheri, Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan

Yesterday, September 11, a prisoner convicted of murder was executed in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan.

According to Iran Human Rights Organization, at dawn on Wednesday, September 11, Behnam Bagheri, a 30-year-old man, was executed in Dastgerd Prison.

Mr. Bagheri had been arrested five years ago on murder charges and was subsequently sentenced to death by the judiciary.

As of the time of this report, prison officials and relevant authorities have not officially announced the execution.

According to the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran, in 2023, at least 767 citizens, including 21 women and 2 juvenile offenders, were executed. Of these, the executions of 7 individuals were carried out in public. Additionally, during this period, 172 others were sentenced to death, with 5 of them sentenced to public execution. It is worth noting that during the same period, the initial death sentences of 49 other individuals were also upheld by the Supreme Court.

Revolutionary Court Sentences Esmaeil Gerami to One Year in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Esmail Gerami, Evin Prison, Iman Afshari

Esmail Gerami, a workers’ rights advocate imprisoned in Evin Prison, has been sentenced to one year in prison by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, according to Iranian Retirees Council.

The verdict, issued by Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran and delivered to Mr. Gerami in prison today, convicts him of “propaganda against the regime” for participating in retirees’ protests, sentencing him to one year of imprisonment. The court session for reviewing his charges took place on August 27 of this year.

On August 7, security forces searched Mr. Gerami’s residence, confiscating personal items including his laptop, mobile phone, and national ID card, and summoned him to Shahid Moghaddas Court in Evin.

Four day later, Esmail Gerami was arrested after appearing at Evin Court and transferred to Evin Prison’s quarantine ward. He was later moved to Ward 4 of Evin Prison.

Earlier this year, in July, Esmail Gerami was fined by Branch 1027 of the Tehran Criminal Court 2.

Esmail (Esmaeil) Gerami has a history of arrests and judicial encounters due to his activism.

Reports from the Department of Statistics and Publication of HRA in 2023 indicate a total of 193 cases in which Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, has been involved in issuing verdicts that infringe upon the human rights of defendants.

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Mina Soltani, Mother of a Victim of the 2022 Nationwide Protests, Arrested

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Freedom of Expression, News
Bukan, Mina Soltani, Shahryar Mohammadi, شهریار محمدی, مینا سلطانی

Yesterday, September 11, Mina Soltani, the mother of Shahryar Mohammadi, one of the victims of the 2022 nationwide protests, was arrested by security forces in Bukan and taken to an undisclosed location.

Milad Mohammadi, her son, shared the news, stating: “Security forces violently raided my mother’s house. She is not answering her phone, and we have no information about her whereabouts.”

As of the time of this report, the reasons for her arrest, the charges against her, and her place of detention remain unknown.

Mina Soltani’s son, Shahryar Mohammadi, was killed by gunfire on November 18, 2022, during the nationwide protests in Bukan.

Omid Izadi Sadeghabadi Arrested and Transferred to Prison to Serve Sentence

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Omid Izadi Sadegh-Abadi, Shahrekord

Omid Izadi Sadegh Abadi, a citizen with disabilities, has been arrested and transferred to Shahrekord Prison to serve his prison sentence. This is despite the fact that he suffers from multiple physical health issues.

Based on information received by HRANA, this citizen had gone to court on August 26 to pay his fine, but was arrested and transferred to Ward 4 of Shahrekord Prison to serve his sentence.

A source close to the family confirmed the news and explained Mr. Izadi’s health condition: “He suffers from an illness similar to MS (Multiple Sclerosis), which has affected his nervous system, mobility, and speech. He cannot walk independently and has difficulty speaking.”

The source added that the prison sentence and fine were recently upheld by the Court of Appeals of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province.

In April of this year, Omid Izadi Sadeghabadi was sentenced by Branch 101 of the Second Criminal Court of Saman County to four years of imprisonment and a fine for charges of “propaganda against the Islamic Republic (media activities supporting the Zionist regime)” and “spreading false information with the intent to disturb public opinion.”

Omid Izadi Sadeghabadi, aged around 36, resides in Saman County.

Motahareh Goonehi’s One-Year Prison Sentence Upheld on Appeal

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, IRGC Intelligence, Motahareh Goonehi, Tehran Court of Appeals, Toomaj Salehi

Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals has upheld the one-year prison sentence for Motahareh Goonehi, a suspended student from Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Branch 29 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court had initially handed down the sentence.

The charges stem from Gonei’s protest against the death sentence of Toomaj Salehi and her public comments regarding the “murder and assault” of Nika Shakarami. The Court of Appeals convicted her of “propaganda against the regime in favor of anti-revolutionary media.”

Goonehi was arrested by IRGC intelligence forces on May 1, 2023, and transferred to Evin Prison. She was released on bail four days later. Earlier, she and her husband, Mehdi Hadizadeh, both students at Tehran University of Medical Sciences, had been temporarily suspended and transferred to Ardabil University. More recently, Goonehi was expelled from Tehran University, and her academic file was forwarded to Ardabil University.

A dentistry student and activist, Goonehi had previously been arrested during the 2022 nationwide protests.

Two Prisoners Executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj

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Executions, News
Abdulrahman Tajik, Ghezel Hesar prison, HRANA, Karaj, Sajjad Bandegi

At dawn today, September 11, two prisoners previously arrested and sentenced to death on drug-related charges were executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj.

HRANA has confirmed the identities of the executed prisoners as Sajjad Bandegi and Abdulrahman Tajik, the latter being an Afghan national. Both had been sentenced to death for drug offenses. Yesterday, they, along with another inmate, were transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for their execution.

The third prisoner, whose identity remains undisclosed, is still being held in solitary confinement, awaiting further action.

As of this report, prison authorities and official sources have not formally announced the executions.

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.

Prisoner Executed in Nowshahr Prison for Drug Offenses

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Executions, News
Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, HRANA, Morteza Yousefi

Morteza Yousefi, who was a former champion of Iran’s national Greco-Roman wrestling team, was executed at dawn today, Wednesday, September 11, in Nowshahr Prison. He had previously been sentenced to death on charges related to drug offenses.

The identity of the prisoner has been confirmed by HRANA as Morteza Yousefi, approximately 41 years old, a resident of the village of Sang-e Tajen, Nowshahr, with a bachelor’s degree in physical education and a former champion of Iran’s national Greco-Roman wrestling team.

Mr. Yousefi had previously been arrested on drug-related charges and sentenced to death by the judiciary.

In a prior letter to Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the head of the judiciary, Yousefi had written that three judges involved in his case had requested a reduction in his sentence, and that the Supreme Court had overturned his death sentence, which had also been approved by the Supreme Leader’s pardon commission. In the letter, he wrote that the implementation of his pardon required only final approval and the order of the head of the judiciary.

Shortly after, Hassan Rangraz, head coach of Iran’s national Greco-Roman wrestling team, also shared an image of Yousefi’s letter and urged the head of the judiciary to revoke the death sentence and reduce his punishment.

However, the requests by Yousefi and the support of athletes and wrestling officials were ignored by the judiciary, and Morteza Yousefi was finally executed at dawn today in Nowshahr Prison.

As of the time of this report, prison authorities and relevant institutions have not officially announced his execution.

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.