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Execution of Two Inmates in Khash and Gonbad-e Kavus

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Executions, News
Farshad Rakhshani, Gonbad-e Kavus, Khash, Milad Galavi, Zabol

In the past week, the execution of two individuals convicted of murder took place in Khash Prison, located in Sistan and Baluchestan province, and Gonbad-e Kavus Prison in Golestan province.

According to reports from Haal Vsh, Milad Galavi, a 29-year-old native of Zabol, was executed on March 3, 2024, in Khash Prison. Galavi was sentenced to death last year by the Khash Criminal Court for his alleged involvement in the killing of three members of a family.

Similarly, on March 6, Farshad Rakhshani, a 25-year-old father, was executed in Gonbad-e Kavus Prison. Rakhshani had been apprehended two years ago in connection with the death of an individual during a reported altercation.

No official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have provided coverage of these executions at the time of writing. The lack of official information raises concerns about transparency and accountability in the execution process.

In 2023, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran registered the execution of  746 individuals. Out of these, 6 were carried out in public. Among the executed individuals whose genders were identified, 597 were male and 20 were female. Additionally, 2 juvenile offenders, defined as individuals under the age of 18 at the time of their alleged crimes, were also executed. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s annual report.

Ten Teacher Union Activists Sentenced to a Collective 20 Years with Additional Penalties

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Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News
Ali Nahali, Anoosh Adeli, Aziz Ghasemzadeh, Gholamreza Akbarzadeh Baghian, Iranian Teachers, Jahanbakhsh Lajevardi, Mahmood Sedighipour, Mohammad-Javad Saeedi, Rasht, Tahmasb Sohrabi, Teacher Union Activists, Teymoor Bagheri Koodakani, Yadollah Baharestani

The Revolutionary Court of Rasht has sentenced ten teacher union activists to two years in prison each, along with additional penalties, as reported by the Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association channel.

The convicted teachers are Anoosh Adeli, Mahmood Sedighipour, Aziz Ghasemzadeh, Teymoor Bagheri Koodakani, Tahmasb Sohrabi, Gholamreza Akbarzadeh Baghian, Ali Nahali, Mohammad-Javad Saeedi, Jahanbakhsh Lajevardi, and Yadollah Baharestani. In addition to the prison terms, they have been barred from joining political/civil groups for two years.

The court session addressed charges related to “disturbing public order through participating in and holding protest union gatherings and defying police officers.” Sedighipour and Ghasemzadeh were imprisoned and did not attend the court.

Among them, Adeli, Sedighipour, and Ghasemzadeh had previously received a one-year prison term, which was upheld on appeal. They are currently serving their sentences in Lakan Prison, Rasht.

In 2023, the Department of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran documented 1,700 reports related to the rights of trade unions and associations. This included 53 individuals who received sentences totaling 1,230 months of imprisonment.

Political Detainee Saman Yasin Moved to Psychiatric Hospital

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Ghezel Hesar, judge Salavati, Karaj, Mahsa Amini Protests, Reza Shafa-Khah, Saman Seydi, Saman Yasin, سامان یاسین

Saman Seydi (Yasin), detained during the 2022 nationwide protests, was transferred from Ghezel Hesar prison in Karaj to Aminabad Psychiatric Hospital on March 5, 2024.

A source close to his family confirmed Seydi’s relocation to Aminabad Hospital. In a recent open letter addressed to the head of the Judiciary, Saman Yasin expressed his objection to his 18-month detention, stating a preference for a death sentence over being held in legal limbo.

Seydi has been temporarily moved to a hospital outside the prison environment. The Revolutionary Court of Tehran’s Branch 15, presided over by Judge Abolqasem Salavati, has taken charge of Seydi’s case. A recent court session was postponed due to the absence of the public defender. Frustrated by the prolonged detention and as a form of protest, Seydi injured himself by hitting his head on the wall.

Reza Shafa-Khah, Seydi’s legal representative, has condemned the extended detention, citing it as a violation of the law.

Arrested by security forces on October 2, 2022, during the nationwide Mahsa Amini Protests, Seydi faced convictions on various charges, including “enmity against God (Moharebeh)” and “assembly and collusion against national security,” resulting in a death sentence on October 29, 2023. However, the Supreme Court of Iran overturned this verdict, leading to the transfer of his case to another court branch for retrial.

Despite Seydi’s requests, he has not been granted representation from a private lawyer. On August 2, 2023, along with six other political prisoners, he was transferred from Rajai Shahr Prison, Karaj, to Evin Prison. On September 3, 2023, he was moved to Ghezel Hesar Prison, along with twelve other prisoners, without prior notice, and has since been held in the ward designated for prisoners with drug-related convictions.

On January 28 of this year, Seydi sustained injuries during an altercation between political prisoners and prison guards.

Political Prisoner Mostafa Ramezani Initiates Hunger Strike in Solitary Confinement

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News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, Ghezel Hesar prison, Karaj, Mostafa Ramezani

Mostafa Ramezani, a political prisoner, commenced a hunger strike at Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj on March 4, protesting his confinement in solitary quarters.

A reliable source close to Ramezani’s family disclosed this information to HRANA. According to the source, “Ramezani was transferred to solitary confinement as a punitive measure after a confrontation with prison guards on January 22, 2024. It has been more than 40 days since he has been held in solitary confinement.”

This political prisoner had been transferred from Evin Prison to Ghezel Hesar Prison on January 18, 2024.

Currently, in the third year of his sentence, Ramezani received an eight-year sentence for political charges, including “propaganda against the regime” and “assembly and collusion against national security.”

Jamshid Azizi’s Prison Sentence for Political Charges Upheld on Appeal

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Freedom of Expression, News
Gilan province, HRANA, IRGC Intelligence, Jamshid Azizi, Mehdi Rasekhi

The Appellate Court of Gilan Province has upheld the four-year, 47-day prison term imposed on Jamshid Azizi Nunakaran.

This verdict includes three years and six months and one day for “assembly and collusion against national security” and seven months and 16 days for “propaganda against the regime.” As per Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, dictating that in cases of multiple charges, the most severe penalty shall be enforced, he is sentenced to three years and six months in prison.

The initial verdict was issued by Branch 3 of the Revolutionary Court of Rasht, presided over by Judge Mehdi Rasekhi.

Azizi’s legal troubles began on April 16, 2023, when IRGC intelligence agents arrested him at his residence. Following 40 days of detention, he was released on bail. A reliable source confirmed to HRANA that Azizi was denied access to legal representation during his detention.

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Execution of Two Inmates in Adelabad Prison, Shiraz

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News
Adelabad Prison, Mostafa Jamil Samadi, Shiraz

On March 4, 2024, Adelabad Prison officials in Shiraz carried out the execution of two inmates, according to the Iran Human Rights Organization.

The individuals executed were Mostafa Jamil Samadi, 40 years old, and an Afghan national known by the first name Iman. Mostafa Jamil Samadi faced execution for drug-related crimes, while Iman was convicted of murder.

No official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have provided coverage of these executions at the time of writing. The lack of official information raises concerns about transparency and accountability in the execution process.

In 2023, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran registered the execution of  746 individuals. Out of these, 6 were carried out in public. Among the executed individuals whose genders were identified, 597 were male and 20 were female. Additionally, 2 juvenile offenders, defined as individuals under the age of 18 at the time of their alleged crimes, were also executed. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s annual report.

 

Political Activist Maryam Sadat Yahyavi Initiates Prison Term

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News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, Maryam Sadat Yahyavi, Revolutionary Court of Tehran, مریم سادات یحیوی

On March 3, 2024, political activist Maryam Sadat Yahyavi commenced her one-year imprisonment following her appearance at Evin Courthouse. A reliable source close to Sadat Yahyavi’s family has verified her confinement in Evin Prison.

Sadat Yahyavi was initially arrested at her residence on November 2, 2014, by security forces. After 17 days of detention in Evin Prison, she was released on bail.

The Revolutionary Court of Tehran had previously sentenced Yahyavi to nine years on charges such as “spreading propaganda against the regime” and “assembly and collusion against national security” during her arrest on November 2, 2014. However, this sentence was later reduced to one year following an appeal.

It is noteworthy that Sadat Yahyavi has faced previous arrests and judicial confrontations due to her active involvement in political activism.

Update on Abdolbaset Avarsan’s Situation in Vakilabad Prison

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News, Prisoners
Abdolbaset Avarsan, HRANA, Mashhad, Torbat-e-Jam, Vakilabad prison

Sunni prisoner Abdolbaset Avarsan is currently serving a 15-year prison term in Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad. Recent developments reveal that his request for release on probation has been rejected by judicial authorities, with sources citing influence from the Ministry of Intelligence.

A close family source, speaking to HRANA, confirmed that the judge, under the Ministry of Intelligence’s influence, dismissed Avarsan’s release request. Hailing from Torbat-e-Jam and a father of three, Avarsan’s family faces financial struggles. Despite holding a Master’s degree, his wife’s job application with the Ministry of Education was rejected during the interview due to her husband’s legal case, further complicating the family’s situation.

In 2019, the Mashhad Revolutionary Court sentenced Avarsan to 15 years in prison for his alleged involvement in “armed rebellion (Baghi) through membership in a Salafi-ISIS group.”

Execution of Inmate Over National Security Allegations

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News
Hazhir Faramarzi, IRIB, Israel, Mohsen Mazloum, Pezhman Fatehi, Vafa Azarbar

On March 3, Iran’s state TV, IRIB, reported the execution of a prisoner charged with “acting against national security through planning for an explosion at a complex of Iran’s Defense Industries Organization in Isfahan.”

According to IRIB, displaying the news on its news ticker, the executed individual was purportedly under the command of Mossad, planning to detonate a workshop complex owned by the Defense Ministry on January 28, 2023.

Security-affiliated channels shared videos of the explosions, claiming to have taken place in this complex in Isfahan, linked the execution to these incidents. However, the regime has not disclosed the identity of the executed inmate.

In recent months, several individuals have faced execution on charges of “collaboration with Israel.” Notably, on January 29, 2024, Mohsen Mazloum, Pezhman Fatehi, Vafa Azarbar, and Hazhir Faramarzi were executed, adding to a series of such cases.

Mehrdad Bakhtiari Faces Six-Year Prison Sentence and Additional Restrictions

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Freedom of Expression, News
Aban protests, Karaj, Mehrdad Bakhtiari, Nahid Shirpisheh, Pouya Bakhtiari

The Revolutionary Court of Karaj has handed down a six-year prison sentence to Mehrdad Bakhtiari, along with a two-year travel ban, and two-year exile in Shahrekord. He is the paternal uncle of Pouya Bakhtiari, who tragically lost his life at the hands of regime forces during the 2019 Protests, aka Aban Protests.

Bakhtiari publicly disclosed that he was given five years for “assembly and collusion against national security” and an additional one year for “spreading propaganda against the regime.”

This legal case unfolded in July 2022 when charges were filed against Bakhtiari and Nahid Shirpisheh, Pouya Bakhtiari’s mother. It is noteworthy that in a separate case initiated by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court, Bakhtiari was acquitted of the charges against him.

Bakhtiari’s arrest occurred on July 11, 2022, after he shared a video on social media about Shirpisheh’s arrest and posted pictures of her residence’s door, which had been broken by authorities. Following his arrest, Bakhtiari was transferred to Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj. He was released on bail on September 3, 2022, until the end of legal proceedings.
In a tragic and interconnected series of events, Bakhtiari’s son, Pouya, at the age of 27, was fatally shot by regime forces during the 2019 protests, also known as the Aban Protests, in Karaj. According to his sister and mother, Pouya succumbed to his injuries in the hospital after being shot in the head during the second day of the protest’s eruption.

The sentencing and associated restrictions underscore a worrisome development, exemplifying the state of freedom of expression and political dissent in Iran.