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Political Prisoner Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb Continues Hunger Strike Amidst Deteriorating Health in Ghezel Hesar Prison

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News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, Ghezel Hesar prison, HRANA, Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb

Political prisoner Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb persists in his hunger strike at Ghezel Hesar Prison, facing a decline in health.

A reliable source close to Ahmadi Ragheb confirmed his unwavering commitment to the hunger strike, revealing alarming symptoms such as low blood pressure, lethargy, and diminishing consciousness. The severity of his condition is evident, with his palm turning blue. Despite his deteriorating health, prison officials remain unresponsive to his demands, while judicial authorities have initiated two new legal cases, accusing him of propaganda against the regime.

The source stated that Ahmadi Ragheb initiated the hunger strike in protest against these legal charges and the increasing number of executions. His concerns have been met with indifference from the prison administration.

Ahmadi Ragheb’s arrest took place in March 2023, leading to his incarceration in Evin Prison. In May 2023, the Revolutionary Court of Tehran imposed a five-year and eight-month prison sentence along with additional penalties. Notably, five years of this term are currently enforceable.

In September of the same year, he, along with several other political prisoners, was transferred to Ghezel Hesar Prison. Ahmadi Ragheb has a history of previous convictions and imprisonments due to his commitment to peaceful activism. The current hunger strike underscores his continued resistance against perceived injustices and an appeal for attention to his grievances.

Trial Commences for Twelve Women’s Rights Advocates at Revolutionary Court in Rasht

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Freedom of Expression, News
Azadeh Chavoshian, Forough Saminia, Hooman Taheri, Jelveh Javaheri, Matin Yazdani, Negin Rezaie, Rasht, Sara Jahani, Shiva Shah Sia, Vahedeh Khoshsirat, Yasamin Hashdari, Zahra Dadras, Zohreh Dadras

The Revolutionary Court of Rasht initiated the trial of twelve women’s rights advocates on February 29, 2024. The individuals facing charges include Forough Saminia, Sara Jahani, Zahra Dadras, Yasamin Hashdari, Shiva Shah Sia, Negin Rezaie, Vahedeh Khoshsirat, Azadeh Chavoshian, Zohreh Dadras, Matin Yazdani, Hooman Taheri, and Jelveh Javaheri.

Presided over by Judge Mehdi Rasekhi, the first nine women were charged with “membership in a group, assembly, and collusion to act against national security.” Meanwhile, Mr Taheri and Ms Javaheri face charges related to “forming groups to act against national security.”

These individuals were among those detained during a mass arrest of citizens in Gilan Province on August 16 and 17, 2023. Subsequently, they were released on bail from Lakan Prison in Rasht in the following days, pending the conclusion of legal proceedings.

Update on the Health and Legal Situation of Political Prisoner Mehran Gharabaghi in Sheiban Prison

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News, Prisoners
Behbahan, HRANA, Mahshahr, Mehran Gharabaghi

Mehran Gharabaghi, a 31-year-old political prisoner, is serving his sentence in Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz. Despite facing deteriorating health and the urgent need for medical treatment, he has not been transferred to a hospital outside the prison.

According to a source close to his family who informed HRANA, Gharabaghi is suffering from heart disease. Despite receiving medical confirmation of the necessity for hospital treatment two weeks ago, prison officials have refused to facilitate his transfer to a hospital.

On September 20, 2023, the Criminal Court of Behbahan sentenced Gharabaghi to three years and six months for a legal case initiated against him while imprisoned. The charges include “destruction of public property (setting fire to a women’s seminary in Behbahan),” and an additional 45 lashes for “disturbing public order.” Of this sentence, two years have been suspended for five years.

In a previous legal case, Gharabaghi had received a 10-year and one-month sentence along with additional penalties from the Revolutionary Court of Mahshahr. Additionally, he has been handed a three-year imprisonment, with a two-year prison term enforceable by another Revolutionary Court branch. The concerning state of his health emphasizes the need for immediate attention and appropriate medical care.

Update on the Condition of Political Prisoner Sarina Jahani in Evin Prison

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News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, Mahsa Amini, Sarina Jahani, Shahriar, سارینا جهانی

Sarina Jahani, a political prisoner, is currently serving a two-year sentence at Evin Prison.

According to a source close to her family who informed HRANA, the Revolutionary Court in Shahriar convicted Jahani of “assembly and collusion against national security.” She began serving this prison term on February 6, 2024.

Twenty-year-old Jahani was apprehended by security forces in Shahriar on September 16, 2023, coinciding with the anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death. Initially held at Qarchak Prison in Varamin, she was later transferred to Evin Prison. On November 4, 2023, she was granted release on bail.

50 Arrested for Encouraging Election Boycott in West Azerbaijan

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Freedom of Expression, News
Election Boycott, West Azerbaijan

The Chief of Police in West Azerbaijan has revealed the arrest of 50 social media page administrators in this province for urging people to boycott the upcoming parliamentary election, as reported by IRNA.

Rahim Jahanbakhsh, the Chief of Police, cited charges of “disturbing public opinion and encouraging people to abstain from voting in the election.”

The report has not disclosed the identities of the detainees or the location of their detention.

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Update on the Health of Political Prisoner Mohammad Loveymi in Sheiban Prison

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News
ahvaz, Mohammad Loveymi, Sheiban Prison

Mohammad Loveymi, a political prisoner, is currently in his fifth month of a nine-month sentence at Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz. Despite his deteriorating health, he has been consistently denied access to essential medical treatment.

A source close to Loveymi’s family shared with HRANA that he is afflicted with both Hemophilia and Glanzmann disease. On Tuesday, February 27, his health took a severe turn as he lost consciousness in the prison infirmary due to a lack of necessary medication. Fellow inmates had to assist in taking him to the infirmary, where he received only inadequate medical care.

The source further revealed that Loveymi’s family’s repeated requests for a medical furlough, crucial for managing his rare diseases, have been consistently denied. The situation raises concerns about the well-being of the political prisoners in Sheiban Prison.

Prolonged Detention of Political Defendant Saber Balandeh Reaches 120 Days

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Freedom of Expression, News
Adelabad Prison, cyrus the great day, Nezam Prison, Saber Balandeh

Saber Balandeh has been held in Adelabad prison for over 120 days, facing charges of ‘spreading propaganda against the regime,’ ‘blasphemy,’ and ‘insulting the prophet of Islam,’ according to a source close to his family as reported by HRANA.

During his detention, Balandeh spent 18 days in a psychiatric hospital in Shiraz, indicating a decline in his mental health. Following a transfer from Adelabad Prison to Nezam Prison, complications arose due to his use of nerve medications, necessitating his return to Adelabad Prison.

The source expressed concern over the worsening mental instability of Balandeh after his hospitalization. The incident unfolded when Balandeh, hailing from northern Iran, was arrested by security forces during his trip to Shiraz on October 29, 2023, coinciding with Cyrus the Great Day.

Tragic Suicide at Ghezel Hesar Prison Claims Inmate’s Life

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News, Prisoners
Ghezel Hesar prison, Hossein Jalali, HRANA

On February 26, 2024, a devastating incident unfolded at Ghezel Hesar Prison as an inmate, identified as Hossein Jalali from Shiraz, took his own life by ingesting pills.

According to a source close to Jalali’s family, who confirmed this tragic occurrence to HRANA, the inmate had been incarcerated for drug-related offenses. Approximately seven months ago, he commenced serving a 25-year prison term at Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj and succumbed to a fatal pill overdose.

Regrettably, HRANA has learned that Jalali passed away before reaching the hospital.

In 2023, the Department of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran documented seven deaths attributed to illness, twelve suicides, one case of self-immolation, and four instances of prisoners being murdered within prisons nationwide.

Reza Nabavi Chashmi Commences Five-Year Prison Term

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Freedom of Expression, News
Nabavi Chashmi, Semnan prison, Seyed Reza Nabavi Chashmi

Seyed Reza Nabavi Chashmi began serving his five-year sentence on February 26, as he was incarcerated in Semnan Prison following the recent finalization of his sentence.

Nabavi was initially arrested by Ministry of Intelligence agents on August 26, 2023. Subsequently, he was released on bail amounting to one billion tomans, approximately 20,000 dollars. The specific charges against Nabavi, as well as details of the legal proceedings, remain undisclosed.

It’s worth noting that Nabavi had previously experienced arrest and imprisonment on charges of “spreading propaganda against the regime.”

Journalist Kimia Fathizadeh Receives Six-Month Sentence and Further Penalties

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Freedom of Expression, News
Kerman Province, Kimia Fathizadeh, Sirjan

In a recent development, the Criminal Court in Sirjan, Kerman province, has imposed a six-month prison sentence and additional penalties on Kimia (Zahra) Fathizadeh, a journalist based in Tehran.

According to the verdict issued on February 21, 2024, Fathizadeh was found guilty of “disseminating false information to cause harm and disturbing public opinion.” In addition to the six-month imprisonment, she is required to pay a fine and is prohibited from engaging in journalistic activities for two years.

Confirmation of Fathizadeh’s conviction comes from a reliable source close to the journalist who disclosed to HRANA that the legal action was initiated due to a report in which Fathizadeh criticized the head of the Intelligence Protection Organization and the former prosecutor of Sirjanو, who subsequently filed a complaint against her.

It is noteworthy that Fathizadeh, 50, experienced a raid on her residence in Tehran on August 27, 2023, conducted by Cyber Police. During the operation, several of her digital devices were confiscated.