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Two Individuals Arrested in Kelardasht for Social Media Activities

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Freedom of Expression, News
Kelardasht

The chief police of Kelardasht announced the arrest of two individuals for allegedly “association with anti-regime social media groups.”

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Asr-Iran news outlet, two citizens were arrested in Kelardasht, Mazandaran Province.

The chief police of Kelardasht claimed, “Iranian Public Security and Intelligence Police investigated activities against national security, taking pictures and publishing in anti-regime social media groups. They succeeded in detecting two individuals associated with these groups.”

About 550 Jailed Protestors Held in Poor Conditions in Great Tehran Penitentiary

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News, Prisoners
great tehran penitentiary, HRANA, Iran prisons

Ward 3, Type 6 of the Great Tehran Penitentiary, currently houses around 500 individuals who were arrested during the nationwide protests of 2022. This ward is overcrowded, and inmates suffer from poor living conditions, including unhealthy drinking water, inadequate sanitation, and insufficient food portions. Additionally, prison officials are not returning prisoners’ belongings upon their release, causing further distress.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, about 550 individuals arrested during the 2022 nationwide protests are held in poor conditions in Great Tehran Penitentiary.

They are held in Ward 3, Type 6, which is twice its intended capacity.
According to one family member of an inmate, “this ward has about 250 beds, and more than half of the inmates have to sleep on the floor.”
In addition to the lack of sleeping accommodations, prison officers do not provide any toiletries, and inmates must purchase these items from the overpriced prison store.
Another inmate’s family member expressed concern about the poor quality of drinking water, saying that “inmates have to purchase water from the prison store” and that “meals are also of low quality and insufficient.”

Furthermore, released prisoners are not receiving their personal belongings back, such as wristwatches and cell phones, and inquiries about these items have gone unanswered. One prisoner, who was recently released, reported this issue to HRANA.

Citizen Killed in Unrestrained Shooting by Military Forces

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News, Other
Baneh, Behzad Azizi, kolbars

On March 22, 2023, military forces shot dead Behzad Azizi, a resident of Baneh.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, on March 22, 2023, a man identified as Behzad Azizi was killed in a direct shooting by military forces.

Azizi reportedly took some Kolbars to border areas in Baneh County in his vehicle. He was killed by military forces while driving back.

According to HRANA annual report, in 2022, 845 people were shot by military forces. At least 571 of the victims lost their life. This includes 22 kolbars, 9 fuel carriers, and 540 civilians. 274 people were injured by military forces open fire, including 134 kolbars, 128 civilians, and 12 fuel carriers.

 

Golrokh Iraee Still in Detention after Five Months

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Freedom of Expression, News
Amol Perison, Evin Prison, golrokh iraee, HRANA

Former political prisoner Golrokh Iraee is detained in the women’s ward of Evin Prison for over five months.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Golrokh Iraee is still in detention at Evin Prison for over 170 days.

On September 26, 2022, security forces arrested Iraee violently at her home in Tehran. They also searched the house and seized some of her belonging.

In October 2022, she was arraigned and notified of the charges of “assembly and collusion against national security” and “propaganda against the regime.”

Iraee faced other arrests and convictions on prior occasions. In the last case, the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced her to three years and seven months, which was upheld later on appeal. Applying Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, two years and one month was enforceable.
Also earlier, in April 2021, the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced her in absentia to one year and additional punishments for “propaganda against the regime.” She was released on Amol Perison on May 9, 2022.

 

Update on Political Prisoner Mehdi Meskinnavaz’s Condition

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News, Prisoners
Asal Meskinnavaz, Evin Prison, Fahraj, great tehran penitentiary, Kerman, Mehdi Meskinnavaz, Rajai Shahr Prison

Political prisoner Mehdi Meskinnavaz is currently serving his seven-and-a-half-year sentence at Great Tehran Penitentiary. He has recently faced a new legal case while in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, political prisoner Mehdi Meskinnavaz faced new charges while in prison.

An informed source told HRANA, “this new legal case is related to incidents during his incarceration in Rajai-Shahr Prison. On March 14, the court held a session addressing the charges. Meskinnavaz refused to appear at the court in protest against unfair due process.”

On January 30, 2023, Meskinnavaz was relocated from Rajai Shahr Prison to Ward 209 of Evin Prison. Meanwhile, intelligence agents arrested his 17-year-old daughter, Asal Meskinnavaz. After 14 days, Meskinnavaz was transferred to Great Tehran Penitentiary.

On May 5, 2019, security forces arrested Meskinnavaz in Bandar Anzali for “running a Telegram channel advocating the overthrow of the regime.”

In August 2019, the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Meskinnavaz to 13 years for “assembly and collusion to act against national security, insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran, and Propaganda against the regime.” He was also banned from membership in political parties and groups and two-year compulsory residence in exile in Fahraj, Kerman. Applying Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, seven years and six months in prison for one charge was enforceable.

 

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Update on Mehdi Fathi’s Condition in Adelabad Prison

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News, Prisoners
Adelabad Prison, Fars Province, HRANA, Kordshul, Mehdi Fathi

Teacher union activist Mehdi Fathi, imprisoned in Adelabad Prison, was denied adequate medical care and medical furlough, despite suffering from heart failure and high blood pressure.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, teacher union activist Mehdi Fathi is currently serving his sentence in Adelabad Prison, Shiraz.

An informed source close to his family told HRANA, “Fathi suffers from heart failure and high blood pressure. Yet, prison officials deny him adequate medical care and refuse to dispatch him to a medical furlough.”

“Recently, prison officials promised him a medical leave. However, at the last minute, for unknown reasons, they changed their minds. Also, Fathi’s access to call his family was restricted in recent weeks.”

In March 2022, the court sentenced him to 12 years in prison on the charges of “assembly and collusion against national security,” “propaganda against the regime,” and “insulting the former and current Supreme Leader.” He was also sentenced to a two-year exile and banned from leaving the country for two years.

This sentence was reduced to eight years on appeal. Applying Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, five years for one charge was enforceable.

On June 8, 2022, security forces arrested him to start serving his sentence in Adelabad Prison.

Fathi is a history teacher, teacher union activist, and resident of the Kordshul village, Fars Province.

 

 

Update on Political Prisoner Sirus Moloodi’s Condition in Adelabad Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Adelabad Prison, Mahabad, Sirus Moloodi

Political prisoner Sirus Moloodi is currently serving his five-year sentence in Adelabad Prison in Shiraz. The Revolutionary Court sentenced him to five years in prison, of which two years he will serve in exile.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, political prisoner Sirus Moloodi, a resident of Mahabad, is serving his five-year sentence in Adelabad Prison, Shiraz.

An informed source told HRANA, “Moloodi, an athlete, was jailed in a detention centre at the disposal of security institutions for one year and ten months. Then the Revolutionary Court sentenced him to five years and two years exile for armed action against national security.”

“Although he was pardoned under a recent directive, prison officials told him he would not be released,” this source added.

On April 30, 2021, security forces arrested Moloodi in Shiraz.

Six Prisoners Go on Hunger Strike in Protest against Sentences

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Executions, News, Prisoners
Amir Moshtagh Gangachin, Aran Omri, Ashkan Othmanzadeh, Fakhreddin Doodkanloo, Milan Othmanzadeh, Rahman Parhazoo, Urmia prison

Six prisoners facing national-security-related charges, Rahman Parhazoo, Aran Omri, Amir Moshtagh Gangachin, Fakhreddin Doodkanloo, Milan and Ashkan Othmanzadeh, went on hunger strike against received death penalties and long sentences in Urmia Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on March 14, 2023, six prisoners of Urmia Prison went on hunger strike.

An informed source told HRANA, “they went on hunger strike to protest against the received sentences. Last month, Branch 3 of the Urmia Revolutionary Court sentenced Aran Omri and Rahman Parhazoo to death on the charge of spying for Israel. Amir Moshtagh Gangachin, Fakhreddin Doodkanloo, Milan and Ashkan Othmanzadeh received ten years for the same charge.”

In October-November 2021, security forces arrested these individuals accused of espionage. On March 11, 2021, they were jailed in Urmia Prison.

In May 2022, media outlets published a video of a man, allegedly an IRGC member interrogated by Israeli forces inside Iran, confessing that he was potting to hit on Israel. Later, this man called himself Mansour Rasouli denied his confession, claiming he is just a farmer who was abducted and forced to state these false statements.

Three weeks later, IRGC announced the arrest of several people who were working for Israel and kidnapping people to force them to extract false confessions.

On May 22, 2022, IRGC announced that the members of a network spying for Israel have been apprehended.

 

 

Teacher Union Activist Soleiman Abdi Arrested in Saqqez

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Labor and Guilds, News
Saqqez, Soleiman Abdi, Teacher union activist

On March 19, 2023, security forces arrested teacher union activist Soleiman Abdi at his home in Saqqez and took him to an undisclosed location. The agents also searched the house and seized some of his belongings.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations, on March 19 2023, Soleiman Abdi, a member of the Saqqez teacher union association, was arrested by security forces.

The reasons for his arrest and the place of detention are still unknown.

Soleiman Abdi faced other arrests for his civil activities as a teacher union activist on prior occasions.

 

 

Women’s Rights Activist Raoofeh Mirbagheri Sentenced to Imprisonment and Additional Punishments

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Freedom of Expression, News, Women
Raoofeh Mirbagheri, Sari, Tonekabon, women's rights activist

The Sari Revolutionary Court sentenced women’s rights activist Raoofeh Mirbagheri, arrested at the 2022 nationwide protests, to eight months in prison, a ban from leaving the country for two years and additional punishments.

According to the verdict issued by the Sari Revolutionary Court, Mirbagheri received eight months for “propaganda against the regime.” She was also banned from membership in and forming political and civil groups. Some of her belongings were also confiscated.

On October 26, 2022, IRGC intelligence agents arrested Mirbagheri in Tonekabon and transferred her to an undisclosed location. After 32 days of detention, she was released on bail until the end of the legal proceeding.

About the 2022 Nationwide Protests

The arrest of Mahsa Amini by Tehran Morality Police for her improper hejab and her suspicious death on September 16 sparked protests sweeping across Iran. During the nationwide protests, about 19600 people, including journalists, artists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, were arrested.