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Comedian Shaker Boori Arrested by IRGC Intelligence in Abadan

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Freedom of Expression, News
Abadan, irgc, Shaker Boori

On Monday, July 31, comedian Shaker Boori was arrested after being summoned to the IRGC Intelligence office in Abadan. He was subsequently taken to an undisclosed location.

A source close to his family, who shared information with HRANA, disclosed that security agents had recently conducted a raid at Boori’s residence, arresting him and seizing his cell phone. Following a few hours of detention, he was released. However, shortly after regaining his freedom, Boori received a summons via phone.

The reasons behind Shaker Boori’s arrest and the allegations against him remain undisclosed.

 

Isfahan Resident Pouya Dana Arrested by Security Forces

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Isfahan, Pouya Dana, Roozbeh Dana

On August 2, 2023, security forces arrested Pouya Dana, aged about 31, at his father’s residence in Isfahan and took him to an undisclosed location.

A reliable source, who spoke to HRANA, disclosed that during the arrest, the security forces seized Pouya Dana’s cell phone and that of his father.

The exact reasons behind Pouya Dana’s arrest, his current location, and the charges filed against him remain shrouded in uncertainty. His brother, Roozbeh Dana, is also among the twelve Isfahan residents who were arrested on July 11, 2023.

 

Two Prisoners Executed for Drug Crimes in Arak and Birjand

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News
Arak, Birjand, Rahim Ghiljaei, Ruhollah Azizi

On August 1, 2023, in Arak Prison, Ruhollah Azizi, aged 40, was executed after being convicted of drug-related crimes, as reported by Rasank News.

Haal Vsh also reported the execution of an inmate for drug offenses in Birjand Prison on July 31. He has been identified as Rahim Ghiljaei, 46, married, the father of one child. He had been sentenced to death two years prior, and his execution occurred without prior notice to his family, leaving them deprived of a final visitation.

These executions have thrust the issue of capital punishment for drug-related offenses into the spotlight. In 2022, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran recorded 457 reports concerning the death penalty. Approximately 43% of these executions were linked to drug-related charges.

 

Former Political Prisoner Ali-Asghar Hassani-Rad Arrested by IRGC Intelligence

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ali-Asghar Hassani Rad, Ali-Asghar Hassanirad, HRANA, irgc, Nowshahr

In a recent development, former political prisoner Ali-Asghar Hassani-Rad has been arrested by IRGC intelligence and taken to an undisclosed location.

A reliable source close to his family confirmed the involvement of the IRGC intelligence unit in the arrest. The incident occurred approximately two months ago when security forces visited his mother’s residence but failed to apprehend him due to his absence. Since then, Hassani-Rad had been in hiding in Nowshahr.

The reasons behind his arrest, his current location, and the specific charges against him remain unknown at this time.

Notably, this is not the first time Ali-Asghar Hassani-Rad has faced arrest. In May 2020, the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced him to 16 years and seven months in prison, with seven years enforceable. Additionally, he was banned from leaving the country, joining political groups, and engaging in social media/media activities.

However, following the “pardon and commutation” directive, Hassani-Rad was granted amnesty, leading to his release from Evin Prison on February 15, 2023.

Three Inmates Executed in Khorramabad for Drug-Related Offenses

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Executions, News
HRANA, Khorramabad, Kianoosh Teymoori, Mohammad-Javad Akbari, Parsilon Prison, Sharif Akbari

On August 2, 2023, three inmates were executed at Parsilon Prison in Khorramabad after being convicted of drug-related crimes.

The executed prisoners have been identified by HRANA as Mohammad-Javad Akbari, Sharif Akbari, and Kianoosh Teymoori.
The execution process commenced after the inmates were transferred to solitary confinement last Monday, as a precursor to the implementation of the sentence.

At present, no official sources or domestic media outlets in the country have reported on these executions.

In 2022, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran registered 457 reports related to the death penalty. This included 92 death sentences, including the conviction of 6 people to public execution and 565 execution sentences were carried out, 2 of which have been carried out in public. Based on the announced identifications of some of the executed individuals, 501 were male and 11 were female. In addition, 5 juvenile offenders were executed in 2022, meaning they were under the age of 18 at the time they committed the crime.

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Poet and Writer Habib Mousavi Arrested in Gorgan

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Freedom of Expression, News
Golestan province, Gorgan, Habib Mousavi, iranian poet, irgc

On July 31, 2023, Habib Mousavi, a poet and writer, was arrested shortly after receiving a summons and visiting the IRGC’s intelligence office in Gorgan, Golestan Province.

A credible source, who is close to Mousavi’s family and spoke to HRANA, disclosed that the poet was called in by the IRGC Intelligence Unit and subsequently detained during the meeting. The precise reasons behind Mousavi’s arrest have not been made public.

Habib Mousavi, aged approximately 50, is a poet, writer, and resident of Gorgan.

Meysam Dehbanzadeh Sentenced to Six Years in Prison on National Security Charges

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, Iman Afshari, Meysam Dehbanzadeh, Tehran, Tehran Revolutionary Court

Former political prisoner Meysam Dehbanzadeh has been handed a six-year prison sentence by the Tehran Revolutionary Court after being found guilty of “assembly and collusion against national security” and “forming groups to act against national security.”

Presiding judge Iman Afshari delivered the verdict and additional restrictions, including a travel ban and limitations on social activities.

Dehbanzadeh’s lawyer, Erfan Karam Veisi, was informed of the court’s decision. Along with the prison sentence, Dehbanzadeh will face several punitive measures, including a prohibition from entering Tehran Province and neighboring regions, leaving the country, and joining civil and social groups. He will also be required to make monthly appearances at the Supervision and Follow-up Office of the Judiciary for two years.

This legal case against Dehbanzadeh was linked to the fire incident at Evin prison, which occurred last year.

On May 27, 2023, he was granted release from the Great Tehran Penitentiary under a “pardon and commutation directive.” However, his release was contingent on providing bail for the new legal case that had been opened against him during his time in prison, as confirmed by his lawyer, Karam Veisi.

Khosrow Alikordi, Attorney, Arrested and Jailed in Vakilabad Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Abolfazl Adinehzadeh, Khosrow Alikordi, Khosrow Alikurdi, Mashhad, Vakilabad prison

Khosrow Alikordi, an attorney at law, has been arrested and incarcerated today in Vakilabad Prison following his presence at the Mashhad Courthouse.

According to a reliable source, who spoke to HRANA, the prosecutor’s office investigator denied bail after arraignment, resulting in Alikordi’s imprisonment.

The charges against Alikordi include “spreading falsehood and breach of confidentiality.” He was also previously indicted for “propaganda in favor of anti-regime groups” and was released on a 150-million-toman bail in early July.

It’s important to note that Alikordi has been actively handling the legal case of Abolfazl Adinehzadeh, a minor who was allegedly killed by regime forces during the 2022 nationwide protests.

Five Inmates Executed in Zahedan and Birjand

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Executions, News
Ali Brahui, Birjand, Farhad Badroozeh, Khodarahm Mohammadani, Saeed Brahui, Shahsavar Shahriari, Zahedan

On July 31, 2023, Birjand Prison in South Khorasan province witnessed the execution of an inmate convicted of drug-related crimes, according to Rasank News.

The inmate was identified as Farhad Badroozeh, a married individual hailing from Sistan and Baluchestan Province, who had been sentenced to death six years ago. Shockingly, the execution occurred without any prior notice to his family, depriving him of a final visitation.

On the same day, Haal Vsh reported the execution of four more inmates in Zahedan Prison. They were identified as Khodarahm Mohammadani (55), Saeed Brahui (38), Ali Brahui (39), and Shahsavar Shahriari (53). These inmates had been convicted of drug offenses four years ago.

These executions have raised concerns about the use of capital punishment in drug-related cases. In 2022, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran registered 457 reports related to the death penalty. This included 92 death sentences, including the conviction of 6 people to public execution and 565 execution sentences were carried out, 2 of which have been carried out in public. Based on the announced identifications of some of the executed individuals, 501 were male and 11 were female. In addition, 5 juvenile offenders were executed in 2022, meaning they were under the age of 18 at the time they committed the crime.

 

 

 

 

 

Hami Bahadori’s Six-Year Sentence Upheld by Tehran Court of Appeals

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News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i citizen, Evin Prison, Hami Bahadori, Tehran

The Tehran Court of Appeals has upheld the six-year sentence against Hami Bahadori, a Baha’i citizen currently incarcerated in Evin Prison.

On June 21, Judge Salavati, presiding over branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, delivered a verdict sentencing Bahadori to five years for “assembly and collusion against national security” and one year for “propaganda against the regime.” Pursuant to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the five-year term for the first charge will be enforceable.

In addition to the sentence, Bahadori will face a two-year travel ban, and some of his and his wife’s belongings have been confiscated.

A reliable source close to Bahadori’s family, who spoke to HRANA, revealed that judicial officials initially attempted to link his charges to the nationwide protests in 2022. However, they eventually abandoned those allegations, invoking only his activities as examples of the charges.

Bahadori’s arrest took place on October 22, 2022, by security forces, and he was subsequently detained in Evin Prison. On April 3, 2023, he conveyed his grievances about the unjust treatment of religious minorities within the judicial system through a written letter.

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 deprivation of the freedom to practice their religion is a breach of 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.