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Execution of Nine Inmates in Qezel Hesar Prison, Karaj

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Executions, News
Bahman Fathollah Zadeh, Ghezel Hesar prison, Karaj, moharebeh, Qezel Hesar Prison, Rasoul Teymouri

On November 8, 2023, Qezel (Ghezel) Hesar Prison officials carried out the execution of nine inmates.

Among these inmates, three were convicted of drug offenses, with two of them identified as Bahman Fathollah Zadeh and Rasoul Teymouri by HRANA.
Five individuals were convicted of murder and one was convicted of “enmity against God (Moharebeh) via armed robbery.” HRANA is actively working on identifying these individuals to shed light on their cases.

Just a day earlier, HRANA reported that ten inmates had been relocated to solitary confinement, a move that signaled their imminent execution.

As of the time of writing, no official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have reported on these executions, raising concerns about the lack of transparency and accountability in the process.

According to data compiled by the Center of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA), between October 10, 2022, and October 8, 2023, a total of 659 individuals were executed by hanging in Iran, representing a 24% increase compared to the corresponding period in the previous year. Seven of these executions were conducted publicly. Concerningly, many of the defendants were denied access to a fair trial and due process. For details and statistics, read HRANA’s report.

 

Ten Death-Row Inmates Face Imminent Execution at Qezel Hesar Prison

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Executions, News
Ghezel Hesar prison, HRANA, moharebeh, Qezel Hesar Prison

On November 7, ten death-row inmates at Qezel (Ghezel) Hesar Prison were moved to solitary confinement, signaling their impending execution.

Among these individuals, four have been convicted of drug-related offenses, five for murder, and one for Moharebeh through armed robbery. HRANA is diligently working on identifying these individuals and monitoring the situation as it unfolds.

Makki Grand Mosque Staff Member Arrested in Zahedan

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Freedom of Expression, News, Other
Abubakr Tohidi, Zahedan

On the evening of November 6, Abubakr Tohidi, a member of the camera crew at the Makki Grand Mosque, was detained by security forces in Zahedan and taken to an undisclosed location, according to a report by Haal Vsh.

Tohidi was reportedly apprehended at a police checkpoint in Zahedan. The grounds for his arrest, his current location, and the charges against him remain undisclosed at this time.

Siamak Ebrahimi and Shahrokh Ahmadi Receive Combined Nine-Year, Eight-Month Sentences

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Freedom of Expression, News
Iman Afshari, Shahrokh Ahmadi, Siamak Ebrahimi, Tehran Revolutionary Court

The Tehran Court of Appeals has recently confirmed a joint sentence of nine years and eight months for Siamak Ebrahimi and Shahrokh Ahmadi.

The court’s decision stipulates that Ebrahimi will serve five years in prison for “assembly and collusion against national security” and an additional eight months for “spreading propaganda against the regime.” Ahmadi has been sentenced to four years for “assembly and collusion against national security.”

Pursuant to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, which dictates that in cases of multiple charges, the harshest punishment shall be enforced, Ebrahimi will spend five years in prison.

These sentences were initially issued by the Tehran Revolutionary Court under the leadership of Judge Iman Afshari.

Ebrahimi and Ahmadi were apprehended by security forces in Tehran on February 7, 2023, and subsequently released on bail from Evin Prison.

Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Narges Mohammadi Initiates Hunger Strike

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News, Prisoners
Ebrahim Ketabdar, Narges Mohammadi, Nobel Peace Prize

On November 6, Narges Mohammadi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and a prominent political prisoner detained at Evin Prison, commenced a hunger strike in protest of the prison’s failure to offer her the necessary medical care.

Just last week, Mohammadi was denied access to medical treatment at an outside hospital due to her refusal to adhere to compulsory hijab requirements during the transfer to the medical facility.

It is noteworthy that Mohammadi has a history of prior arrests and convictions linked to her activism. In October 2020, she was released from Zanjan Prison after enduring approximately five and a half years of imprisonment. However, her ordeal persisted as she faced another legal case, culminating in a sentence of 30 months of imprisonment, 80 lashes, and two fines.

On November 16, 2021, Mohammadi was arrested once again during a commemorative event honoring Ebrahim Ketabdar, who had lost his life during the November 2019 protests in Karaj. Subsequently, Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court handed down a staggering eight-year prison sentence, accompanied by seventy-four lashes, two years of exile, and various social restrictions.

Adding to her ordeal, Mohammadi received an additional one-year prison sentence in early August, stemming from a new case initiated during her incarceration.

 

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Writer Mehrzad Mousavi Arrested

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Freedom of Expression, News
Mehrzad Mousavi, Shiraz

Writer and historian, Mehrzad Mousavi, was apprehended by security forces in Shiraz and subsequently moved to an undisclosed location.

As of now, the grounds for Mousavi’s arrest, his current whereabouts, and the nature of the charges against him remain shrouded in uncertainty.

Mousavi has made contributions to the realm of literature and historical research, with notable works to his name such as “An Inquiry into Achaemenid Art Antecedents” and “Iran in Two Invasions.”

Student Parastoo Faridi Arrested in Tabriz

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Freedom of Expression, News, Other, Students
Parastoo Faridi, Tabriz

On November 4, 2023, Parastoo Faridi, a student at the University of Tabriz, was apprehended by security forces and subsequently taken to an undisclosed location.

Faridi was detained at her father’s residence in Tabriz. During the apprehension, intelligence agents conducted a search of their home and seized some of her personal belongings.

Parastoo Faridi is pursuing her studies in industrial engineering at the University of Tabriz.

Sunni Prisoner Ghasem Abasteh Executed in Qezel Hesar, Karaj

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Executions, News
Anvar Khezri, Ayoub Karimi, Davoud Abdollahi, enmity against God, Farhad Salimi, Ghasem Abasteh, Ghasem Abesteh, Kamran Sheikheh, Khosro Besharat, moharebeh

On November 5, 2023, Ghasem Abasteh, a Sunni prisoner who had spent 13 years and 9 months behind bars, was executed in Qezel Hesar, Karaj.

Abasteh’s ordeal through the legal system began in January-February 2010 when he was initially arrested. After enduring 14 months of uncertainty in Evin and Urmia Prisons, he found himself in Rajai Shahr Prison, located in Karaj. This year, in August, he was transferred to Qezel (Ghezel) Hesar Prison.

Throughout his ordeal, Abasteh faced multiple charges, including the serious accusation of “enmity against God” (Moharebeh) due to his alleged sympathies with Salafi Groups, a religious movement within Sunni Islam, which he consistently denied.

In February-March 2016, he and six other Sunni prisoners received a death sentence from Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court. However, this verdict was later overturned by the Supreme Court, leading to the case being transferred to Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

Judge Salavati, presiding over this court, handed down the death sentence to these six individuals again on June 17 and 18, 2019. This time, the Supreme Court upheld the death sentence for Ghasem Abasteh, along with Anvar Khezri, Kamran Sheikheh, Farhad Salimi, Khosro Besharat, Ayoub Karimi, and Davoud Abdollahi.

According to data compiled by the Center of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA), between October 10, 2022, and October 8, 2023, a total of 659 individuals were executed by hanging in Iran, representing a 24% increase compared to the corresponding period in the previous year. Seven of these executions were conducted publicly. Concerningly, many of the defendants were denied access to a fair trial and due process. For details and statistics, read HRANA’s report.

Fourteen Baha’i Citizens Receive Sentences and Fines in Mazandaran

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News, Religious Minorities
Afnaneh Nematian, Anis Senaei, Basir Samimi, Bita Haghighi, Golin Falah, Hengameh Alipour, HRANA, Mahsa Fathi, Majir Samimi, Mani Ghoi-Nejad, Mazandaran, Nazanin Goli, Negar Darabi, Qaem Shahr, Sam Samimi, Samieh Gholi-Nejad, Sanaz Hekmat Shoar

The Mazandaran Court of Appeal has handed down sentences and fines to 14 Baha’i citizens.

On November 2, verdicts were delivered, with Bita Haghighi and Sanaz Hekmat Shoar sentenced to three years in prison and a 30-million-toman fine (approximately 600 dollars). Mani Ghoi-Nejad, Negar Darabi, Sam Samimi, Mahsa Fathi, Samieh Gholi-Nejad, Majir Samimi, Anis Senaei, Afnaneh Nematian, Basir Samimi, Hengameh Alipour, Golin Falah, and Nazanin Goli were sentenced a fifty-million-toman fine (approximately 1000 dollars) in exchange for the initial sentence of two years and one month.

A source has informed HRANA that the individuals were verbally notified of these verdicts, seemingly in an attempt to prevent them from appealing. Their legal representation has also been denied access to the case documents. Additionally, they have been given ten days to pay the imposed fines.

These citizens had previously received a cumulative sentence of 31 years and were fined by the Qaem Shahr Revolutionary Court. Furthermore, all of their assets were seized.

The individuals were arrested by security forces in Sari and Babolsar, both located in Mazandaran Province, on August 31, 2022. They were subsequently released on bail in the months following their arrest.

At the time of their apprehension, the Ministry of Intelligence released a statement, accusing these citizens of being members of an espionage organization and claiming that two of them had received training from individuals in Israel.

According to HRANA annual report, from the total human rights reports regarding the violation of religious minorities’ rights, 64.63% belonged to the violation of the rights of Baha’is.

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.

Four Inmates Executed in Isfahan Prison

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Executions, News
Ebrahim Narooie, Ebrahim Narui, Haal Vsh, Isfahan, Rasht, Tehran

On Thursday, November 2, 2023, Isfahan Prison officials carried out the execution of four inmates, as reported by Haal Vsh.

Among the hanged inmates, Ebrahim Narui (Narooie), aged 42 and hailing from Sistan and Baluchestan Province, was identified. Narui had been sentenced to death for drug offenses by the Naeen Revolutionary Court. The other three inmates were residents of Tehran, Rasht, and Isfahan.

As of the time of this report, no official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have provided information regarding these executions.
According to data compiled by the Center of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA), between October 10, 2022, and October 8, 2023, a total of 659 individuals were executed by hanging in Iran, representing a 24% increase compared to the corresponding period in the previous year. Seven of these executions were conducted publicly. Concerningly, many of the defendants were denied access to a fair trial and due process. For details and statistics, read HRANA’s report.