Workers’ Rights Activist Farhad Sheikhi Arrested

HRANA, Human Rights Activists News Agency- On May 28, 2023, workers’ rights activist Farhad Sheikhi was apprehended at his residence in Hashtgerd, Karaj, and taken to an undisclosed location.

According to Sheikhi’s lawyer, Erfan Karam Veisi, it was revealed that agents from the Ministry of Intelligence were responsible for his arrest.

This is not the first time Sheikhi have faced arrest and legal action for his activism. Last time, on January 21, 2023, security forces arrested him and jailed him in Rajai Shahr Prison. He was relocated to the Central Prison of Karaj after 16 days.

This worker’s rights activist was released under the “pardon and commutation” directive on February 7, 2023.

Teenage Protestor Died from Injuries

Abolfazl Amir-Ataie, a 16-year-old participant in the 2022 nationwide protests, lost his life due to injuries sustained during the demonstrations.

Approximately eight months ago, during the protests in Shahr-e-Rey, Tehran, Ataie was struck in the head by a tear gas bullet. This devastating incident left him hospitalized, rendering him unable to speak or move.

Despite the passing of Ataie, neither the official media nor the authorities have issued a response thus far. However, his mother has confirmed the heartbreaking news of his death.

Background on 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. Protesters came to the streets with the central slogan “Women, Life, Freedom” in protest against the performance, laws and structure of the regime. During the nationwide protests, thousands of people, including journalists, artists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, were arrested.

 

Mohsen Sepehri Sentenced to Five Years in Prison

Mohsen Sepehri has been handed a five-year prison sentence by the Tehran Revolutionary Court. Sepehri was apprehended during the 2022 nationwide protests in Tehran and subsequently transferred to the Great Tehran Penitentiary following interrogations.

Judge Iman Afshari issued the verdict, ruling that Sepehri was found guilty of “assembly and collusion against national security,” resulting in a five-year sentence. An informed source, speaking to HRANA, revealed that Sepehri was denied access to legal representation throughout the entirety of the legal proceedings.

Background on 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. Protesters came to the streets with the central slogan “Women, Life, Freedom” in protest against the performance, laws and structure of the regime. During the nationwide protests, thousands of people, including journalists, artists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, were arrested.

 

Three Political Prisoners Beaten by Prison Officials in Great Tehran Penitentiary

On May 25, 2023, political prisoners Meysam Dehbanzadeh, Reza Nowrouzi and Majid Roshan-Nejad were beaten by prison officers at Great Tehran Penitentiary.

On May 25, 2023, Meysam Dehbanzadeh, Reza Nowrouzi, and Majid Roshan-Nejad, political prisoners at Great Tehran Penitentiary, were subjected to a violent beating by prison officials.

Their legal representative, Erfan Karam Veisi, reported, “Yesterday, at approximately 11 am, my clients were assaulted by six prison guards in Ward Type 5. Dehbanzadeh endured repeated strikes from batons on his head and body. He was then shackled to a bar for an entire day. Despite his injuries, the prison infirmary only provided him with a pill and refused proper medical attention. Currently, he is held in another ward.

On May 3, 2023, they were transferred from Rajai Shahr Prison to Great Tehran Penitentiary. These prisoners had previously faced an attack from a violent crime prisoner on May 10, 2023.

Nowrouzi is presently serving a five-year sentence and received an additional punishment of 74 lashes and a fine in August 2022, for “disturbing prison order.”

Two Inmates Executed in Gorgan Prison

The Gorgan Prison officials carried out the execution of two inmates convicted of murder.

HRANA has identified these individuals as Sha’aban Yousefi and Bazi (first name unknown). A source informed HRANA that Yousefi, convicted of murder, was executed on May 16, 2023, in Gorgan Prison.

According to his source, Bazi, who received the death penalty for killing someone during an inheritance dispute, was executed on May 23, 2023.

As of the time of this report, there have been no official statements or reports from domestic media outlets regarding 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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Six Inmates Executed Across Different Prisons in Iran

Over the course of May 24 and 25, 2023, six inmates faced execution in various prisons located in Maragheh, Kerman, Jiroft, and Isfahan.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on May 25, 2023, an inmate identified by his first name as Amir-Mehdi was executed publicly in a square in Maragheh, East Azerbaijan province. He was convicted of rape six years ago.

On the same day, Haal Vsh reported the executions of Nader Kalbali, 39, and Abdorasoul Jamshidi, 55, in Kerman Prison. Both individuals were sentenced to death for drug-related offenses.
Furthermore, Haal Vsh also reported that Mohammad Daraie, also known as Ahmad Golbacheh, aged 30 and a resident of Zahedan, was executed in Jiroft. Daraie had been convicted four years ago for drug-related crimes.

Lastly, according to the Iran Human Rights Organization, on May 24, Majid Jafari and Ali Tabib were executed in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan. Jafari had been sentenced to death two years ago for drug-related crimes, while Tabib had received a conviction for murder three years ago.

Recent updates reveal that the number of executed individuals in Kerman prison has now reached six. Among them, three have been identified as Nader Kalbali, Abdorasoul Jamshidi, and Ali Shahriari. Additionally, in Jiroft Prison, another inmate named Mehdi Salari was executed alongside Mohammad Daraie.

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.

 

 

Two Workers Detained by IRGC Intelligence for Alleged Role in Strikes

Two workers employed in the South Pars Gas-Condensate field have been detained by IRGC Intelligence for involvement in organizing worker strikes.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, citing Raja News, the arrests took place in Bushehr Province.

The identities of the workers have not been revealed, but a local official stated that they were allegedly leading strikes among workers at the South Pars Gas-Condensate field. Additionally, it is reported that they were non-native and engaged also in online activities related to these strikes.

Execution Carried Out in Urmia Prison

HRANA News Agency-On May 25, 2023, an inmate convicted of murder was executed in Urmia Prison.

HRANA has identified him as Ali Piri, 40 years old, who has been imprisoned in Urmia for three years.
Yesterday, HRANA reported his transfer to solitary confinement, signaling the imminent implementation of the death penalty.

At the time of writing, no official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have reported on this execution.

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.

 

Two Yarsan Believers Arrested in Kermanshah

Fariborz Shah-Ebrahimi and Seyed Farhad Zonnouri, followers of the Yarsan belief, were apprehended by security forces in Sahneh, Kermanshah Province on May 23, 2023, as reported by Kurdpa.

The arrest reportedly took place at their residences in a forceful manner, without the presentation of any arrest warrant.

According to an informed source, these people were arrested at their residences violently. The agents reportedly did not show any arrest warrant.
This is not the first instance of their persecution for their religious beliefs and practices. On November 18, 2022, they were violently detained during the 21st annual commemoration of Khalil Alinejad, a Kurdish singer-songwriter, and were subsequently released on bail.

Yarsanism, also known as Ahl-e Haqq, is a syncretic religion that originated in western Iran during the late 14th century under the leadership of Sultan Sahak. As a religious minority, Yarsan followers often face intimidation and persecution at the hands of the security and judicial systems of the regime.

 

Report Highlights 129 Instances of Security and Judicial Encounters with Attorneys in the Last Ten Months

HRANA News Agency – Since the inception of the 2022 nationwide protests, a significant number of attorneys in Iran have faced numerous encounters with the judicial and security authorities, including arrests and summons. This report includes a list of these detained or summoned lawyers.

According to HRANA, the news agency of human rights activists in Iran, 129 attorneys have been subject to various judicial encounters, such as arrests and summonses, due to reasons ranging from practicing their profession to expressing opinions on social media.

HRANA has verified the names of forty-three lawyers who have been summoned to court. Although the reasons behind many of these summonses remain unclear, reports and documents received by HRANA indicate that they are likely linked to incidents regarding the 2022 nationwide protests or the lawyers’ expressions of opinions on social media. In the past two months, most of the summonses issued by judicial authorities have been communicated to the attorneys, as reported by HRANA.

A judiciary attorney, whose name is confidential at HRANA, revealed, “Some of the lawyers summoned to Evin court have been compelled to sign a letter of commitment entitled ‘the necessity to adhere to the law and the principles of the regime.'” These commitments bear resemblance to a letter of commitment presented to some of those arrested during the nationwide protests as a condition for receiving a pardon.

Furthermore, fifty-five judiciary attorneys across the country have been arrested and faced legal action since the onset of the nationwide protests. It is important to note that the majority of these lawyers have been temporarily released on bail pending the conclusion of legal proceedings. Additionally, a number of these legal cases have been closed under the “pardon and commutation” directive.

In a recent statement, Mohammad Shiwayi, the Secretary of the Support Commission of the Central Bar Association, disclosed that approximately 70 attorneys have been summoned to Tehran’s security court. The identities of 43 out of a total of 70 summoned attorneys have been confirmed by HRANA and are included in the list. HRANA is currently reviewing the identities of the remaining 27 attorneys.

Speaking with Vokalapress, Shiwayi clarified, “Since May 8, 2023, some judiciary attorneys have received summonses from Tehran’s security court, primarily from Branch 7 of Evin (Shahid Moghaddas) Security Courthouse. However, these summonses do not specify any allegations or reasons.”

“During a meeting with Hassan Saffadoust, head of the Central Bar Association, and Hamidreza Mohammadi, the head of the public relations of this association, we decided to take action to protect the legal rights of attorneys across the country, with a particular focus on its members,” Shiwayi added.

Verified names of summoned attorneys from across the country:

1. Mohammad Hossein Aghasi – summoned in two stages in February-March 2023 and May 20, 2023 – Tehran (Evin court) – Reason for summons: Unclear (probably due to expression of opinion)
2. Ramin Safarnia – summoned on December 22, 2022 – Bushehr – Reason for summons: Representing the case of his client Mahmoud Molaki, a trade activist
3. Ali Sharifzadeh Ardakani – summoned on May 23, 2023– Tehran (Evin court) – Reason: Unclear (probably due to expression of opinion)
4. Mohammad Hadi Erfanian Kasab – summoned on February 28, 2023 – Tehran (Evin court) – Reason for summons: Unclear (probably due to expression of opinion)
5. Mohammad Seifzadeh – summoned on April 29, 2023 – Tehran (Evin court) – Reason for summons: Writing a letter to the Secretary-General of the United Nations
6. Ehsan Haqi – Summoned on unknown date – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for Summons: Unknown (Presumably due to expressing opinion)
7. Hassan Younesi – Summoned on May 23, 2023 – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for Summons: Unknown (Presumably due to expressing opinion)
8. Mohammad Ali Kamfirouzi – Summoned on unknown date – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for Summons: Unknown (Presumably due to expressing opinion)
9. Amin Adel Ahmadian – Summoned on May 22, 2023 – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for Summons: Unknown (Presumably due to expressing opinion)
10. Mohammad Hadi Jafarpour – Summoned on May 22, 2023 – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for Summons: Unknown (Presumably due to expressing opinion)
11. Samin Charaghi – Summoned on May 21, 2023 – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for Summons: Unknown (Presumably due to expressing opinion)
12. Sara Hamzehzadeh – Summoned on May 24, 2023 – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for Summons: Unknown (Presumably due to expressing opinion)
13. Mahmoud Sadeghi – Summoned on May 23, 2023 – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for Summons: Unknown (Presumably due to expressing opinion)
14. Farzaneh Zilabi – Summoned for June 6, 2023 – Ahvaz – Reason for Summons: Posting contents online
15. Tootia Partovi Amoli – Summoned on an unknown date – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for Summons: Unknown (Presumably due to expressing opinion)
16. Yashar Kazemi – Summoned on May 20, 2023 – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for Summons: Unknown (Presumably due to expressing opinion)
17. Shayan Zadegan – Summoned on May 22, 2023 – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for Summons: Unknown (Presumably due to expressing opinion)
18. Forough Sheikh al-Islami – Summoned on May 24, 2023 – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for Summons: Unknown (Presumably due to expressing opinion)
19. Amirhossein Ghafarian – Summoned on May 21, 2023 – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for Summons: Unknown (Presumably due to expressing opinion)
20. Mohammad Lavasani – Summoned on May 24, 2023 – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for Summons: Unknown (Presumably due to expressing opinion)
21. Abolfazl Hamzeh – Summoned on May 20, 2023 – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for Summons: Unknown (Presumably due to expressing opinion)
22. Marjan Esfahanian – Summoned on May 23, 2023 – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for Summons: Unknown (Presumably due to expressing opinion)
23. Marzieh Mohebi – Summoned on February 27, 2023 – Khorasan Razavi – Reason for Summons: Handling in the special court under Article 49 of the Constitution
24. Alireza Seyed Aghayi- Summoned on an unknown date – Tehran (Evin Courthouse)-Reason for summoning: Unknown (Possibly due to expressing opinions)
25. Rezvan Abbasi Farajzadeh-Summoned on May 21, 2023 – Tehran (Evin Courthouse)-Reason for summoning: Unknown (Possibly due to expressing opinions)
26. Mohammad-Reza Fard Parsa-Summoned on an unknown date – Tehran (Evin Courthouse)-Reason for summoning: Unknown (Possibly due to expressing opinions)
27. Parisa Ghasemi -Summoned on May 1, 2023 – Tehran (Evin Courthouse)-Reason for summoning: Unknown (Possibly due to expressing opinions)
28. Mitra Izadifar- Summoned on May 22, 2023 – Tehran (Evin Courthouse)-Reason for summoning: Unknown (Possibly due to expressing opinions)
29. Mehdi Karimi Farsi – Summoned on an unknown date – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for summoning: Unknown (Possibly due to expressing opinions)
30. Mohsen Borhani- Summoned on an unknown date – Tehran (Clergy Court) – Reason for summoning: Unknown (Possibly due to expressing opinions)
31. Elham Ayoubi – Summoned on April 30, 2023 – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for summoning: Accused of propaganda against the regime
32. Elnaz Moqimi – Summoned on May 22, 2023 – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for summoning: Unknown (Possibly due to expressing opinions)
33. Mostafa Shabani – Summoned on May 22, 2023 – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for summoning: Unknown (Possibly due to expressing opinions)
34. Mehran Heidari – Summoned on May 22, 2023 – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for summoning: Unknown (Possibly due to expressing opinions)
35. Majid Sabouri – Summoned on May 22, 2023 – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for summoning: Unknown (Possibly due to expressing opinions)
36. Saeed Sheikh – Summoned on an unknown date – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for summoning: Unknown (Possibly due to expressing opinions)
37. Abouzar Nasrallah – Summoned on an unknown date – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for summoning: Unknown (Possibly due to expressing opinions)
38. Ali Mojtehedzadeh – Summoned on an unknown date – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for summoning: Unknown (Possibly due to expressing opinions)
39. Reza Heidari – Summoned on May 30, 2023 – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for summoning: Unknown (Possibly due to expressing opinions)
40. Mahboubeh Joudaki – Summoned on May 30, 2023 – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for summoning: Unknown (Possibly due to expressing opinions)
41. Leila Ghasemi Pashaki – Summoned on June 1, 2023 – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for summoning: Unknown (Possibly due to expressing opinions)
42. Bahareh Fesharki – Summoned on an unknown date – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for summoning: Unknown (Possibly due to expressing opinions)
43. Zahra Mirbik Darvishond – Summoned on May 21, 2023 – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for summoning: Unknown (Possibly due to expressing opinions)

Names of lawyers arrested since the inception of the 2022 nationwide protests:

1. Ali Sharifzadeh Ardakani – January 8, 2023 – Tehran – Last status: Free on bail
2. Saideh Mirghorbani – December 3, 2022 – Babolsar – Last status: In detention
3. Fereshteh Tabanian – February 20, 2023 – Ahvaz – Last status: Free on bail
4. Hassan Younesi – February 20, 2023- Tehran – Last status: Free
5. Mostafa Nili – February 20, 2023 – Tehran – Last status: Free
6. Negin Kiani – October 23, 2022- Tabriz – Last status: Free and fined
7. Saeid Ataei Kachuei -October 8, 2022- Alborz – Last status: In detention
8. Oveis Hamed Tavasoli -November 16, 2022- Tehran – Last status: Free
9. Arash Keykhsorui -November 19, 2022- Tehran – Last status: Free
10. Maryam Arvin -November 30, 2022- Sirjan – Last status: Case closed (deceased)
11. Sina Yousefi -October 15, 2022 – Tabriz – Last status: Free on bail and sentenced to prison and a fine
12. Ghasem Badi -October 15, 2022 – Tabriz – Last status: Free
13. Mohammad Ali Kamfirouzi -December 15, 2022- Tehran – Last status: Free on bail
14. Hassan Asadi Zeydabadi – November 16, 2022- Tehran – Last status: Free
15. Saeid Sheikh -October 12, 2022- Tehran – Last status: Free on bail
16. Amin Adel Ahmadian – October 25, 2022- Last status: Free on bail
17. Nazanin Salari -November 1, 2022- Shiraz – Last status: Free on bail
18. Bahar Sahraeiyan – November 1, 2022- Shiraz – Last status: Free on bail
19. Mahmoud Taravat Rooi -November 1, 2022 – Shiraz – Last status: Free on bail
20. Behzad Hakimizadeh – 19th Dey 1401 – Sanandaj – Last status: Free on bail
21. Mohammad Reza Faghihi -October 12, 2022- Tehran – Last status: Free on bail
22. Ghodsiyeh Ghodsbin -November 2, 2022 – Shiraz – Last status: Free on bail
23. Ali Reza Zare -November 2, 2022 – Shiraz – Last status: Free on bail
24. Mehdi Safari – November 2, 2022 – Shiraz – Last status: Free on bail
25. Mohammad Hadi Jafarpour – November 2, 2022 – Shiraz – Last status: Free on bail
26. Sara Hamzehzadeh – December 2022-January 2023- Shahrood – Last status: Free with a guarantor
27. Farzaneh Zilabi -February 14, 2023- Ahvaz – Last status: Free with a guar
28. Babak Paknia –September 25, 2022– Tehran – Last status: Released on bail
29. Mahsa Gholamali – September 24, 2022 (Persian Calendar) – Tehran – Last status: Free
30. Amir Mehdi Pour -October 17, 2022– Tabriz – Last status: Released on bail
31. Hussein Rezai – October 18, 2022– Tehran – Last status: Free
32. Astarah (Maryam) Ansari -November 2, 2022 – Shiraz – Last status: Released on bail
33. Parisa Qasemi –October 9, 2022– Last status: Free
34. Asghar Mohammadi – Unknown date– Tabriz – Last status: Free
35. Reza Hamzeh I –November 20, 2022– Qazvin – Last status: Free
36. Milad Panahi Pour –September 24, 2022– Tehran – Last status: Released on bail
37. Saeed Jalilian –September 24, 2022– Tehran – Last status: Released on bail
38. Golaleh Vatan Doost –October 4, 2022– Sanandaj – Last status: Free
39. Amir Dehqani –October 8, 2022– Tehran – Last status: Released on bail
40. Reza Etemad Ansari –October 8, 2022– Isfahan – Last status: Released on bail
41. Zahra (Firoozeh) Khordadchi –October 8, 2022– Isfahan – Last status: Released on bail
42. Ruhollah Mohammadrezaei –September 30, 2022– Tehran – Last status: Released on bail
43. Mohammad Arman –February-March 2023 – Arak – Last status: Unknown
44. Fariba Tavakoli –January-February 2023 – Tehran – Last status: Released with a guarantor
45. Hadi Razavi –November-December 2022 – Mashhad – Last status: Free
46. Farzaneh Akbarian – November-December 2022 – Fars, Yasuj – Last status: Released on bail
47. Mohammad Taheran Pour – Unknown date– Tehran – Last status: Unknown
48. Zahra Nazari –November 21, 2022– Sari – Last status: Released on bail
49. Maryam Sadrnia –December 8, 2022– Tehran – Last status: Released on bail
50. Hussein Bayat – Unknown date – Tehran – Last status: Free
51. Ibrahim Sabety – December 2022, January 2023– Qazvin – Last status: Free
52. Amirafshar Najafi – January-February 2023 – Qazvin – Last status: Free
53. Qahraman Karimi –October 30, 2022– Kermanshah – Last status: Released on bail
54. Hussein Rezai -October 18, 2022– Tehran – Last status: Unknown
55. Mohammad Rezai – Unknown date– Tehran – Last status: Unknown

 

For further inquiries please contact Skylar Thompson, the Director of Global Advocacy and Accountability at Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) at [email protected]