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Baha’i Citizen Parva Behdad Sentenced to Imprisonment and Additional Punishments

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News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i citizen, Dolataad Prison, Isfahan, Parva Behdad

The Isfahan Revolutionary Court recently sentenced Baha’i citizen Parva Behdad to three years in prison, a ban from leaving the country for two years and other punishments.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Baha’i citizen Parva Behdad was sentenced to three years in prison, a ban from leaving the country for two years, paying a fine and participating in a religion course for indoctrination.

On November 14, 2022, security forces arrested Behdad in Isfahan and detained her in solitary confinement for over 21 days. After that, she was jailed in Dolataad Prison. On December 18, 2022, she was released on bail.

The charges against her are still unknown.

The Iranian Constitution recognizes only Islam as the official religion, in addition to Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism. Bahai faith is not considered legitimate by the authorities, and the rights of Baha’is in Iran have been systematically violated for years.

According to HRANA annual report, in 2022, from the total of human rights reports regarding the violation of religious minorities’ rights, 64.63% belonged to the violation of the rights of Baha’is.

 

Iran Protests: Journalist Ruhollah Nakhaei Sentenced to Imprisonment

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ruhollah Nakhaei, Saeed Khalili, the 2022 Nationwide Protests

The Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced journalist Ruhollah Nakhaei to two years and seven months.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, journalist Ruhollah Nakhaei was sentenced to imprisonment.

Lawyer Saeed Khalili informed the public that Nakhaei received this sentence for “assembly and collisions against national security” and “propaganda against the regime.”

Security forces arrested Nakhaei On September 23, 2022. After four months of detention, he was released from the Great Tehran Penitentiary on bail.

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.

 

Retired Teacher Zeinab Hamrang Arrested in Tehran

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News, Other
Evin Prison, Tehran, Zeinab Hamrang

On March 12, 2023, security forces arrested retired teacher Zeinab Hamrang Seyed-Beglu in Tehran and took her to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on March 12, 2023, Zeinab Hamrang was arrested in Tehran while leaving home.

The reason for her arrest, the location she is detained, and the allegations against her are still unknown.

Hamrang, age 50, faced other arrests and convictions on prior occasions. In September 2020, she was arrested while she was on a trip to West Azerbaijan Province and transferred to Evin Prison. Subsequently, the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced her to five years for “assembly and collusion against national security” and one year for “propaganda against the regime.” Based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, five years in prison for the first charge was enforced. In October 2022, she was released early from Evin Prison.

 

 

 

Inmate Executed in Arak Prison

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Executions, News
Arak, Salman Momeni

On March 12, 2023, Araka Prison officials executed an inmate convicted of drug-related crimes.

According to reports obtained by HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on March 12, 2023, an inmate identified as Salman Momeni was executed in Arak Prison, Markazi Province, Iran.

An informed source told HRANA, “Momeni was executed without having last family visitation.”

None of the official sources and media outlets inside the country has reported this execution at the time of writing.

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.

 

Masoud Ghalandari Arrested in Yasuj

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News, Other
Masoud Ghalandari, Yasuj

On March 14, 2023, IRGC intelligence agents arrested Masoud Ghalandari at his father’s house in Yasuj. The agents searched the house and confiscated some of his belonging.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on March 14, 2023, Masoud Ghalandari was arrested in Yasuj, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province.

An informed source told HRANA, “today, ten IRGC intelligence agents raided his father’s house, beaten and arrested him. They searched the house and confiscated some of his belonging.”

Ghalandari was also previously arrested amid the 2022 nationwide protests.

The location he is detained and the allegations against him are unknown at the time of writing.

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Inmate Died in Prison due to Delay in Medical Care

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News, Prisoners
Farhad Naghizadeh, HRANA, Urmia prison

On March 8, an inmate died in Urmia Prison due to the lack of medical care and prison officials’ delay in dispatching him to a hospital.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, an inmate identified as Farhad Naghizadeh died in Urmia prison due to a delay in medical care.

An informed source told HRANA that “Naghizadeh suffered from heart disease. Last Wednesday, he fell ill severely. Prison officials, however, delayed his dispatch to a hospital. He died while they were transferring him out of the ward.”

For Five years, Naghizadeh was imprisoned for drug-related crimes.

In 2022, the Department of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran registered 1127 reports of violations of prisoner’s rights including; 133 physical assaults of prisoners, 4322 of deprivation of medical care, 204 of illegal transfer to solitary confinement, 102 of attempted hunger strikes, 166 of forced transportation or exile, 4983 of threats against prisoners, 46 of banning prisoners from having visitors, 652 of psychological and physical torture, 20 prisoners died due to illness, 2 arrestees were killed by prison authorities, and 14 prisoners committed suicide.

 

Five Inmates Executed in Khorramabad and Shiraz

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Executions, News
Adelabad Prison, Ahmad Baji-Zahi, Khorramabad Prison, Nader Ebrahimpour, Younes Koolmarzi, Zafar Hadipour, Zahedan

On March 11, four inmates convicted of drug-related crimes were executed in Khorramabad Prison. In addition, on March 10, Adelabad Prison officials carried out the execution of an inmate convicted of drug offenses.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Iran Human Rights Organization, on March 11, 2023, four inmates were executed in Khorramabad Prison, Lorestan Province.

This report has identified three of them as Zafar Hadipour, Nader Ebrahimpour and Younes Koolmarzi.

Haal Vsh also reported the execution of an inmate identified as Ahmad Baji-Zahi in Adelabad Prison, Shiraz. Baji-Zahi, age 39, was a resident of Zahedan and father of five children. Four years ago, he was reportedly sentenced by the Shiraz Revolutionary Court to death for drug-related crimes.

None of the official sources and media outlets inside the country has reported these executions at the time of writing.

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.

 

Kamyar Fakoor and Sarvenaz Ahmadi Sentenced to a Total of Four years and Two Months

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Freedom of Expression, News
Kamyar Fakoor, Sarvenaz Ahmadi, the Tehran Court of Appeals, workers rights activist

Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals reduced the sentence of workers’ rights activist Kamyar Fakoor and his wife, Sarvenaz Ahmadi, to a total of four years and two months. Initially, they had been sentenced to seven years.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Kamyar Fakoor and his wife, Sarvenaz Ahmadi, were sentenced to eight months and three and a half years, respectively.

Fakoor received this sentence for “propaganda against the regime”. Ahmadi was charged with “propaganda against the regime” and “assembly and collusion against national security.”

Security forces arrested this couple on November 6, 2022, amid nationwide protests. After a while, Fakoor was imprisoned in Evin prison to start serving his sentence. Ahmadi was released on December 7, 2022. On February 8, 2023, Fakoor was released from Evin Prison upon the directive to “pardon and commute” the sentences of some prisoners. Nonetheless, unlike many others prisoners, their case was not closed.

 

 

Former Political Prisoner Khosro Rahnama Arrested in Tehran

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News, Other
irgc, Khosro Rahnama, Tehran

Yesterday, March 12, 2023, security forces arrested former political prisoner Khosro Rahnama at his home in Tehran. The agents searched his house and confiscated some of his belonging.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on March 12, 2023, former political prisoner Khosro Rahnama was arrested in Tehran.

An informed source told HRANA, “Around 2:30 AM, about ten intelligence agents raided Rahnama’s house, arrested him, searched the house and confiscated some of his belonging and his family’s.”

“Following frequent inquiries, his family was told that he was not transferred to the prison and is likely held in an IRGC detention facility,” he added.

Rahnama, age 63, faced other arrests and convictions on prior occasions. The last time, the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced him to five years imprisonment and two years in exile for “propaganda against the regime” and “assembly and collusion against national security in collaboration with anti-regime groups.”

On August 28, 2022, Rahnama was jailed in Evin Prison for sentencing. In October 2022, he was released on 500-million-toman bail.

 

 

Tahereh Bajrovani Sentenced to Imprisonment

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ali Fotoohi Koohsare, Evin Prison, Shahriar, Tahereh Bajrovani

The Shahriar Revolutionary Court sentenced Tahereh Bajrovani, imprisoned in Evin Prison, to one and a half years. Bajrovani’s husband, Ali Fotoohi Koohsare, was killed by regime forces during the 2019–2020 Iranian protests.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Tahereh Bajrovani was sentenced to one year and six months in prison.

According to this verdict issued by the Shahriar Revolutionary Court, headed by Judge Esmail Barjesteh, Bajrovani was convicted of “insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran.”

On December 21, 2022, security forces arrested Bajrovani at her workplace in Tehran and took her to Ward 209 of Evin Prison. After 33 days of interrogation, she was relocated to the women’s ward of Evin Prison.

About Iran Nationwide Protests 2022

The arrest of Mahsa Amini by Tehran Morality Police for her alleged improper hejab and her suspicious death on September 16 sparked protests sweeping across Iran. During these protests, at least about 19760 people, including journalists, artists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, were arrested.