Author: A MN

Sepideh Rashno Coerced to Make TV Confession

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Sepideh Rashno, TV Confession

Official media outlets inside Iran have released a forced confession video of imprisoned artist Sepideh Rashno who is in custody for her resistance and confrontation against an individual who was enforcing the hejab code in public transportation, a practice which is praised by the Iranian authorities.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists,  the regime authorities forced detained artist Sepideh Rashno to make a coerced TV confession, which is a common practice and a violation of the individual’s human rights

In this confession video, Rashno, whose hand had been injured during the quarrel, blamed herself instead of the attacker.

 A video has been circulating on social media showing a woman harassing Rashno and blaming her for an improper hejab at public transportation. After the video was published, security forces arrested Rashno. 

An informed source told HRANA, “Mrs Rashno was allowed a short phone call to one of her relatives, but she has not called her family. The judicial officials told her family that a legal case has been opened against her in Branch 3 of Evin Prosecutor’s Office”.

Sepideh Rashno, age 28, is a student of Tehran University and a resident of Khorramabad.

Political Prisoner Khaled Freidooni Released after 22 Years in Prison

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Khaled Freidooni, Mahabad, moharebeh, Urmia prison

On July 26, political prisoner Khaled Freidooni was released from Urmia Prison after 22 years in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Mostafa Nili, Freidooni’s lawyer, announced the release of his client from Urmia Prison on social media.

On August 31, 2000, Freidooni was arrested and charged with “acting against national security” and “enmity against God (Moharebeh) through association with an anti-regime political party”. The Revolutionary Court of Mahabad sentenced him to death. After three and half years, this verdict was reduced to imprisonment on appeal.

During this period, Freidooni was held in Piranshahr, Mahabad and Urmia prisons. In 2007, he went into exile in Rajai Shahr Prison. After ten years, he was sent back to Urmia Prison.

On January 16, 2022, for the first time after 21 years, Freidooni was granted furlough.

HRANA’s Daily Review of Protests in Iran

Posted on by A MN
Labor and Guilds, News
Economic Crimes Court, green maintenance workers, Hashtgerd Industrial zone, Karoon Oil and Gas Production Company, Madiran Company, Neyshabur, Omran Pardis, Ramak Khodro

On Tuesday, July 26, five protests took place in Iran.

A number of citizens who have not received their purchased car from the car dealership Ramak Khodro protested in front of the Economic Crimes Court in Tehran.

In Tehran, a group of land proprietors in New Town Pardis protested against the confiscation of their lands by Omran Pardis New Town Company.

A number of workers of Madiran Company before the company in Hashtgerd Industrial zone. They protested against low wages and heavy workloads.

A group of the workers of Karoon Oil and Gas Production Company gathered before the National Iranian South Oil Company in Ahvaz to ask for their labour demands such as official permanent contracts and pertinent benefits.

A number of the green maintenance workers of the Neyshabur held a protest against delays in payments in front of the Municipality building.

 

 

Milad Eftekhari Sentenced to Three Years in Prison

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
irgc, Larestan, Milad Eftekhari

The Revolutionary Court of Shiraz sentenced Milad Eftekhari to three years in prison and additional limitations. If confirmed on appeal, based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, two years for one charge will be enforceable.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Eftekhari, who is a resident of Larestan, was sentenced to two years in prison on the charge of “insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran” and one year on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”. He was also banned from leaving the county and on social media presence for two years.

On May 23, 2022, security forces arrested Eftekhari at his house and transferred him to Larestan Prison. During the arrest, the agents searched his house and confiscated some of his personal belongings. He was released later on a 100 million tomans bail.

On June 22, 2021, IRGC’s intelligence office summoned and interrogated Eftekhari for his criticisms of IRGC and the Supreme Leader on social media. He was later released after signing a pledge.

Eftekhari, age 26, is a resident of Larestan, Fars Province, and a graduate student in Communication Science from Tehran University.

Meysam Kazemi Jailed in Behbahan Prison 

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Farzad Ansarifar, Mahmood Dashtinia, Mehrdad Dashinia, Meysam Kazemi, Mohammad Hashamdar, Mohammad Hossein Ghanavati

On July 23, 2022, Meysam Kazemi was taken to Behbahan to serve a 15 months sentence.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on July 23, 2022, Kazemi started his sentencing at the Behbahan Prison.

On  December 4, 2021, Kazemi was arrested and transferred to Behbahan Prison after appearing at Branch 4 of the Public and Revolutionary Court, where he was accused of “circulating social media posts about the individuals arrested after Behbahan’s protest on July 16, 2020”.

Subsequently, Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Bandar Mahshahr sentenced Kazemi to 22 months in prison, of which 7 months and 2 weeks were suspended. Based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, one year and three months of imprisonment is enforceable.

During the November 2019 protest, security forces in Behbahan City used live ammunition against the protestors, leading to the death of several protestors including Mehrdad Dashinia, Mahmood Dashtinia, Farzad Ansarifar, Mohammad-Hossein Ghanavati, and Mohammad Hashamdar.

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Three Detained Baha’is Released in Shiraz, Five Others Still Detained 

Posted on by A MN
News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i International Community, Bahais, Bahyeh Manavipour, Bani Dugal, Elhan Hashemi, Hanan Hashemi, Misagh Manavipour, Negar Ighani and Zhila Sharafi Nasrabadi, Niloofar Hosseini, Shaghayegh Khaneh-Zarin

On July 26, 2022, three detained Baha’i residents of Shiraz, Shaghayegh Khaneh-Zarin, Negar Ighani and Zhila Sharafi Nasrabadi were released from prison on bail. 

Five other Baha’is, Niloofar Hosseini, Misagh Manavipour, Bahyeh Manavipour, Elhan Hashemi and Hanan Hashemi are still held at a detention facility known as Number 100 in Shiraz. These individuals had been arrested on July 19, 2022.

An informed source told HRANA that the detained individuals are still under interrogation and the charges against them are unknown so far. 

According to the Baha’i International Community (BIC), during the last month, 44 Baha’is were arrested, arraigned or imprisoned.

Bani Dugal, BIC’s Principal Representative to the United Nations said “Baha’is in Iran have experienced ongoing persecution for their beliefs over the last 44 years, But the present acceleration is beyond troubling”

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.

HRANA’s Daily Review of Protests in Iran

Posted on by A MN
Labor and Guilds, News
Job Classification Plan, Khuzestan, Ministry of Roads & Urban Development, Pakdasht, Qazvin

On Monday, July 25, at least four protests took place in Iran.

A number of workers of the Qazvin-based chemical and consumer goods Company Tolypers held a protest in front of the Governor-general’s office to demand their delayed payments and ask for job security.

A number of shareholders of the Pakdasht housing cooperation blocked the road in protest against not receiving their pre-purchased houses. Due to a property dispute between the Ministry of Roads & Urban Development and the Union of Pakdasht Labor Housing Cooperatives, about four thousand shareholders are still waiting to receive their houses after 18 years.

A group of employees of the Regional power companies of Khuzestan and Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province protests in front of companies’ offices to demand an increase in wages to keep up with inflation.

A group of workers of Iran National Steel Industrial Group gathered in front of the Governor General building in Ahvaz to demand an increase in wages and the implementation of the Job Classification Plan.

 

IRGC Detained Artist Sepideh Rashno 

Posted on by A MN
News, Women
hejab, IRGC detention facility, Khorramabad, Sepideh Rashno

Artist and student Sepideh Rashno is still held at an IRGC detention facility known as Ward A-1. On July 16, security forces arrested Rashno after a quarrel on a city bus with a woman who harassed and assaulted her for what she deemed as improper hejab. Such incidents are on the rise in public places as the government has tightened the hejab enforcement. 

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Artist and student activist Sepideh Rashno is held at an IRGC detention facility awaiting further legal proceedings.

So far, she has been denied access to a lawyer and phone calls in prison.

The charges against Rashno are unknown so far.

Last week, a video circulated on social media showing a woman harassing another and blaming her for an improper hejab. After publishing the video, security forces arrested  Rashno, who is an artist and a resident of Khorramabad.

The Iranian regime encourages citizens to get involved in the enforcement of the Islamic code in public as a religious duty, which demonstrates how significant compliance with these rules is for the government.

Five Inmates Executed in Qom and Shiraz 

Posted on by A MN
Executions, News
Adel-Abad Prison, Ali Hosseini, Ali Mohamad Moradi, Ali Sabahi, Bahador Nowruzi, Mohammad Hossein Hasanipour

On  July 23, 2022, two inmates who were convicted of drug-related crimes in separate legal cases were executed in Adel-Abad Prison in Shiraz. On the same day, three inmates were executed for drug-related crimes in Qom Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Iran Human Rights Organization, on July 23, 2022, two convicts on death row identified as Ali Sabahi and Mohammad Hossein Hasanipour were executed in Adel-Abad Prison.

Sabahi and Hasanipour were arrested for drug smuggling a few years ago.

Haal Vsh reported the execution of three additional inmates convicted of drug-related crimes in one legal case in Qom Prison. Haal Vsh has identified them as Hamed Safa, Ali Mohamad Moradi and Ali Hosseini. Another individual, identified as Bahador Nowruzi was also executed on July 9, 2022.

None of these executions have been reported by the official sources and media outlets inside Iran so far.

Documentary Maker Hossein Dehbashi Sentenced 

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
hassan rouhani, Hossein Dehbashi, National Library of Iran, Oral History of Iran

Researcher and documentary maker Hossein Dehbashi was sentenced to six months in prison despite the fact that the Culture and Media Prosecutor’s Office had disagreed with the prosecution and closed the case.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, history researcher and documentary maker Hossein Dehbashi was sentenced to six months in prison.

Dehbashi announced on his social media account that after declining the prosecution by the Culture and Media Prosecutor’s Office and the Computer Crimes Prosecutor’s Office and the final confirmation that the case is closed,  another court sentenced him to six months in prison.

In 2020, Dehbashi was charged with “spreading falsehood”, “propaganda against the regime” and ” insulting the clergy” as a result of a complaint brought by the Ministry of Intelligence.

In 2019, the Ministry of Health filed a complaint against Dehbashi for “disturbing public opinion”, for which he was sentenced to four months in prison, and the verdict was upheld on appeal.

Hossein Dehbashi is known for producing President Hassan Rouhani’s presidential campaign advertisements and documentaries such as “According to the Royal Court”. He has also produced “Oral History of Iran” for the National Library of Iran.