Author: . .

Five Inmates Executed in Arak and Urmia

Posted on by . .
Executions, News
Arak prison, Milad Jajooie Khanik, Mohammad-Ali Akhtari Kohlan, moharebeh, Urmia prison

On February 14, three inmates were executed in Arak Prison for drug-related crimes. Also, on the same day, two inmates convicted of murder were executed in Urmia Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on February 14, three unidentified death-row inmates convicted of drug-related crimes were executed in Arak Prison.

HRANA is working on identifying these prisoners and finding out details on their cases.

Also, Kurdpa reported the execution of two inmates, identified as Mohammad-Ali Akhtari Kohlan and Milad Jajooie Khanik, in Urmia prison. In October 2018, these individuals, reportedly, along with another person, were arrested for armed robbery of a jewellery store in Urmia. Subsequently, they were sentenced to death on the charge of enmity against God (Moharebeh).

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.

 

Journalist Siamand Mohtadi Arrested

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
Bukan, Siamand Mohtadi

On February 11, 2023, security forces arrested journalist Siamand Mohtadi, a resident of Bukan, and took him to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, on February 11, 2023, Siamand Mohtadi was arrested by security forces.

He was reportedly arrested at his home. His whereabouts and the allegations are still unknown.

 

Report on the Release of Prisoners in the Last 24 Hours

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News, Religious Minorities
Amir Mehdi Khadem, Arash Ganji, Besmellah Barahooie, Ebrahim Sargolzaie, Elmira Rahmani, Esmail Sargolzaie, Fariba Adelkhah, Fariba Afshar, Khaled Pirzadeh, mir Abbas Azarmvand, Mohammad-Reza Moradi, Naser Hemmati, Nasrollah Lashti, Niloofar Mirzaie Bafti, Zahra Kashkaki

Following the approval of a proposal to “pardon and commute” the sentence of some prisoners, in the last 24 hours, several prisoners of conscience were released from prison.

Of these pardoned prisoners, the most known prisoners are:

  1. Amir Mehdi Khadem from Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan
  2. Mohammad-Reza Moradi from Great Tehran Penitentiary
  3. Nasrollah Lashti from Rajai Shahr Prison, Karaj
  4. Fariba Afshar (Baha’i citizen) from Dolatabad Prison, Isfahan
  5. Elmira Rahmani (Baha’i citizen) from Dolatabad Prison, Isfahan
  6. Niloofar Mirzaie Bafti from Evin Prison, Tehran
  7. Zahra Kashkaki from a prison in Tehran
  8. Naser Hemmati from a prison in Isfahan, and

Three underage prisoners, Besmellah Barahooie, Esmail Sargolzaie and Ebrahim Sargolzaie, were also released from the Correctional Center of Zahedan.

Details on these releases are still unknown. They are, however, likely released under the recent pardon decree issued for some prisoners, including those arrested at protests.

In recent days, other known prisoners, including Iranian-French academic Fariba Adelkhah, journalist Amir Abbas Azarmvand, writer Arash Ganji and political prisoner Khaled Pirzadeh, were released.

Meanwhile, the Revolutionary and Public Prosecutor of Gachsaran announced the release of 106 convicts and defendants from Dogonbadan Prison, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province.

“The sentences of 60 prisoners have also been commuted,” he added.

Also, The Chief Justice of Kerman Province announced that about 1500 prisoners have been released in this province.

Earlier, the head of the Judiciary proposed the issuance of a pardon decree for some prisoners, including those arrested at recent protests, which was approved by Ali Khamenei under some conditions which the legal case should meet.

 

 

Farhad and Farzad Tahazadeh Indicted for “Enmity against God” and “Spreading Corruption on Earth”

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
aleh Nikbakht, Farhad Tahazadeh, Masoud Shams Nejad, Oshnavieh, Urmia

Brothers Farhad and Farzad Tahazadeh, arrested at recent nationwide protests, were indicted for “enmity against God (Moharebeh) ” and “spreading corruption on earth.” The case was delivered to the Urmia Revolutionary Court.

An informed source close to their family told HRANA that “a while ago, the Urmia Revolutionary and public prosecution office briefed Tahazadeh brothers about the charges of Moharebeh and spreading corruption on earth. After the indictment, the case was handed over to branch three of the Urmia Revolutionary Court.”

“Their lawyers, Masoud Shams-Nejad and Saleh Nikbakht, did not have any access to their client’s case until a few days ago,” the source added.

Tahazadeh brothers were arrested amid nationwide protests in Oshnavieh and jailed in Urmia Prison. It is still unknown which acts have been invoked as examples of these charges.

The charges of “enmity against God (Moharebeh) ” and “spreading corruption on earth” can result in severe punishment, even the death penalty.

 

Civil Rights Activist Farhad Meysami Set Free from Rajai Shahr Prison

Posted on by . .
News, Prisoners
Ali Khamenei, Farhad Meysami, HRANA, pardon decree

On February 10, 2023, imprisoned civil rights activist Doctor Farhad Meysami was set free from Rajai Shahr Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, civil rights activist Farhad Meysami was released from Rajai Shahr Prison in the fourth year of his sentence.

Details on his release are still unknown. He was likely, however, released under a recent pardon decree for some prisoners.

According to the sources close to Meysami, he had not requested any pardon, and during his entire incarceration, he did not have one day of furlough.
For several months, he has been severely restricting his food intake to demand the release of several prisoners, which has led to a lot of weight loss and endangered his health condition.

In recent days, dozens of prisoners, including political prisoners and those arrested at recent protests, were released. The exact number of released prisoners is still unknown. Earlier, the head of the Judiciary proposed the issuance of a pardon decree for some prisoners, including those arrested at recent protests, which was approved by Ali Khamenei under some conditions which the legal case should meet.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Now is definitely not the time to stop reading!

At Least 262 Prisoners Released from Prisons Across Iran

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Ali Khamenei, Golestan province, HRANA

In two recent days, dozens of prisoners were released from different prisons across the country.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, following the issuance of a pardon decree, at least 262 prisoners and detainees were released from prison across the country.
 
Details on these releases are still unknown. They are, however, likely released under the recent pardon decree issued for some prisoners, including those arrested at protests.
Following the issuance of this pardon, the Chief Justice of Golestan Province announced that 435 convicts and 80 defendants were pardoned, of which 234 people had already been set free.
 
Earlier, the head of the Judiciary proposed the issuance of a pardon decree for some prisoners, including those arrested at recent protests, which was approved by Ali Khamenei under some conditions which the legal case should meet.
 
 

Eleven Baha’i Citizens Sentenced to a Total of 36 Years in Prison

Posted on by . .
News, Religious Minorities
Afif Naimi, Alborz province, Baha'i citizens, Elham Shareghi Arani, Mahsa Tirgar, Nakisa Sadeghi, Negin Rezaie, Rameleh Tirgarnejad, Sabin Yazdani, Sadaf Sheikhzadeh, Saman OstovarKamyar Habibi, Shahrzad Mastouri

The Karaj Revolutionary Court sentenced eleven Baha’i citizens, out of 13 defendants of one legal case, to over 36 years and additional punishments.

According to these verdicts, Afif Na’imi, Saman Ostovar, Kamyar Habibi, Rameleh Tirgarnejad, Mahsa Tirgar, Shahrzad Mastouri, Sadaf Sheikhzadeh, Negin Rezaie, Nakisa Sadeghi, Elham Shareghi Arani and Sabin Yazdani, to 36 years for “insulting and propaganda against Islamic Sharia, forming and participating in groups to act against national security through teaching and preaching the Baha’i faith to children in Kindergartens, promoting against Islamic Sharia through holding coaching courses” They have also been fined and banned from residing in Alborz province, leaving the country and other social deprivations.

The jail sentences against these individuals go as follows:

  1. Afif Na’imi-seven years
  2. Saman Ostovar-five years
  3. Kamyar Habibi- five years
  4. Rameleh Tirgarnejad (Habibi’s wife)- three years
  5. Mahsa Tirgar-25 months
  6. Shahrzad Mastouri-25 months
  7. Sadaf Sheikhzadeh-25 months
  8. Negin Rezaie-25 months
  9. Nakisa Sadeghi-25 months
  10. Elham Shareghi Arani-three years
  11. Sabin Yazdani-three years

The details of the verdicts against two other defendants in this case, including Sahba Adiani are still unknown.

These individuals were arrested during the summer of last year and their houses were searched.
Although it is unknown which acts have been invoked as examples of the charges mentioned above, they seem to have been convicted of educational activities for children, especially preschool children.

Kourosh Jalil Sentenced to One Year in Prison

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
Kourosh Jalil, Yasuj

The Criminal Court sentenced Kourosh Jalil, a resident of Yasuj, to one year in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Kourosh Jalil was sentenced to one year in prison, including the pre-trial detention period, for “spreading falsehood to disturb public opinion.”

An informed source told HRANA that Jalil failed to appear at the court to defend himself since the intelligence agents had seized his cell phone; hence, he could not be informed about the court summons.

On September 21, 2022, security forces arrested Jalil in Yasuj and released him on bail on November 6, 2022. Before his arrest, he had been summoned by IRGC intelligence several times in recent months.

 

Six Women Released from Evin Prison

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
Ali Khamenei, Alieh Motalebzadeh, Evin Prison, Fariba Asadi, Gelareh Abbasi, Parastoo Moeinie, Shohreh Hosseini, Zahra Safaie

Fariba Asadi, Shohreh Hosseini, Gelareh Abbasi, Zahra Safaie, Parastoo Moeini and Alieh Motalebzadeh were released from Evin Prison.

Details on their releases are still unknown. It is likely, however, that they have been released under the recent pardon decree.
Gelareh Abbasi was previously sentenced to two years and six months in prison by the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

Hosseini was serving her two-year and seven-month sentence since February last year.

Safaie and her daughter Moeini were previously sentenced to five years in prison for “assembly and collusion against national security,” and one year for “propaganda against the regime.” Additionally, Safaie received two years for “insulting the former and current Supreme Leader of Iran.” Safaie’s verdict was upheld on appeal, but her daughter’s sentence was reduced to three years and nine months following her refusal not to lodge an appeal. They faced new legal cases, while they were imprisoned.

Asadi faced two legal cases for which she received three months in prison and four years of suspended imprisonment.
Motalebzadeh had been sentenced to three years in prison, of which two years were enforceable. On October 11, 2020, she was jailed in Evin Prison for sentencing. In July 2022, she and 13 other female prisoners faced new charges.

Earlier, the head of the Judiciary proposed the issuance of a pardon decree for some prisoners, including those arrested at recent protests, which was approved by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei under some conditions which the legal case should meet.

Iran Protests: Siamak Davoodi Sentenced to Three Years in Prison

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
Kurdpa, Sanandaj, Siamak Davoodi

The Sanandaj Revolutionary Court sentenced Siamak Davoodi to three years in prison. He was arrested at his workplace amid nationwide protests.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, Siamak Davoodi was sentenced to three years in prison for “assembly and collusion against national security.”

On October 27, 2022, security forces arrested Davoodi at his workplace in Sanandaj and took him to a detention facility at the disposal of the Ministry of Intelligence. He was released on bail on January 21, 2023.

Since the beginning of nationwide protests, over 19620 people, including journalists, artists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, have been arrested. So far, over protests, at least 777 people have been sentenced to a total of about 14063 months imprisonment.