Author: A MN

Polish Scientist Maciej Walczak Arrested in Iran

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
Fars News, irgc, Maciej Walczak, Polish scientist, U.K.Ambassador

The spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland confirmed the arrest of a Polish scientist named Maciej Walczak in Iran. Earlier,  Iran state TV had reported this individual’s arrest in Kerman Province. 

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the IRGC has arrested a Polish scientist named Maciej Walczak in Kerman. 

Polish officials have promised that they will do their best to free Walczak. 

On Wednesday, Iran state TV claimed that Walczak and three colleagues were taking soil samples at a restricted site of a missile test. 

IRGC-affiliated news agency Fars News published video footage from the arrest of several foreign diplomats including the deputy of the U.K.Ambassador in Iran,  accusing him of spying by taking samples of Iranian soil in restricted areas. The reports claimed that the official would be expelled after making an official apology. 

 

Two Inmates Executed in Zahedan and Zabol

Posted on by A MN
Executions, News
Behzad Narooie, Mohammad Shahi, Zabol Prison, Zahedan Prison

On  July 7, 2022, two inmates convicted of drug-related crimes were executed in Zabol and Zahedan Prison, Sistan and Baluchestan Province.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Haal Vsh, on Thursday, July 7, 2022, an inmate identified as Behzad Narooie, age 33, was executed in Zahedan Prison. Haal Vsh also reported the execution of an inmate identified as Mohammad Shahi, age 48 in Zabol Prison. He was sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court of Zahedan in 2018.

Mohammad Shahi was arrested for a drug-related crime in 2019.

Both inmates were allowed to have their last family visitation one day before the execution.

These executions have not been reported by the official sources and media outlets inside Iran so far. 

The most recent report from the Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) states that between January 1 of 2021 and December 20 of 2021, at least 299 citizens, including four juvenile offenders, were executed. In addition, 85 citizens were sentenced to death in this period. 

As the report points out, Iran’s judicial authorities do not publicly announce over 88% of executions. These unreported executions are known as “secret executions” by human rights organizations.

Three Individuals Arrested in Piranshahr

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Akam Khezrzadeh, Hazar Delsooz, Othman Delsooz, Piranshahr

On July 5, 2022, security forces arrested three individuals in Piranshahr, West Azerbaijan Province.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, on Tuesday, July 5, 2022, three individuals were arrested in Piranshahr.

These individuals have been identified as Akam Khezrzadeh, age 26, Othman Delsooz, age 64, and Hazar Delsooz, age 28, and were transferred to a detention facility in Urmia.

The reason for these arrests and the charges are unknown so far.

HRANA’s Daily Review of Protests in Iran

Posted on by A MN
Labor and Guilds, News
Cryptoland, gold dealer's scam, Iranian pensioners, Kermanshah, medical employees, oak forests, post-Covid mass layoff, Shush, Veysian, Yasuj

On Thursday, July 7, 2022, at least seven protests and two labour strikes took place in Iran.

About 20 workers of the municipality of Veysian, Lorestan Province walked off the job and went on strike to protest against delays in payments.

The mayor announced that due to this strike the municipality had to shut down. He said that workers’ and employees’ wages have not been fully paid for eight months.

For the third consecutive day, the workers of the Sungun copper mine went on strike and held a protest rally. This protest turned violent when the police attacked and arrested seven protestors.

Dozens of citizens whose digital assets have been frozen in the cryptocurrency exchange Cryptoland for over one year protested in front of the Economic Crimes Courthouse in Tehran.

At the same time, the victims of a gold dealer’s scam gathered before the Tehran Revolutionary Court to ask for expediting the process of this financial case.

In Kermanshah, a number of medical employees held a protest in front of the Lorestan University of Medical Sciences to protest against the post-Covid mass layoff.

The pensioners of the Social Security Organization held a protest in Shush to demand raising up pensions in accordance with Supreme Labor Council’s enactment.

In Yasuj, a number of citizens protested against local authorities’ failure to protect the oak forests in the area against caterpillar pests.

Trade Union Activist Hassan Saeedi on hunger Strike 

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Hassan Saeedi, Hunger Strike

Trade Union Activist Hassan Saeedi has been in solitary confinement in Ward 209 of Evin Prison for about 50 days. Despite poor health conditions, he went on hunger strike about fourteen days ago.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Hassan Saeedi, a member of the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, is still on hunger strike in Evin Prison.

An informed source told HRANA that Saeedi is on the fourteenth day of his hunger strike in solitary confinement despite his poor health and in protest against the extension of his unlawful custody and delay in due process.”

In recent days, in an open letter, Saeedi’s family and nine other detained trade unionists’ families have demanded an end to what they called  baseless lawsuits against trade union activists and their immediate release.

Hassan Saeedi went on hunger strike for four days before to protest against his incarceration in solitary confinement and demanded relocation to the public ward.

On May 18, 2022, security forces arrested Saeedi at his house. They also search the house and confiscated some of Saeedi’s personal belongings.

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Detained French Nationals Indicted in Iran

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News
Cécile Kohler, Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations, Eskandar Lotfi, FNEC FP-FO, Iran state TV, Jacques Paris, Masoud Nikkhah, Rasoul Bodaghi, Shaban Mohammadi

The spokesperson of Iran’s judiciary announced the indictment of two French individuals, Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris. Earlier, Iran state TV had accused the two of having relations with the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations and recent nationwide teachers’ protests.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Rokna, two French nationals  Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris have been indicted.

The spokesperson of the judiciary, Masoud Setayeshi said that on May 8, 2022, the French citizens were arrested and briefed on the charge of “assembly and collusion against national security”.

A few days after the arrest, Iran state TV claimed that the two French nationals are associated with teachers union activists, Eskandar Lotfi, Masoud Nikkhah, Shaban Mohammadi and Rasoul Bodaghi and accused them of “organizing protests to cause “unrest, chaos, and social disorder”.

Cécile Kohler is a member of the French education union FNEC FP-FO.

Former Political Prisoner Javad Seyedi Arrested in Tehran

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, Javad Seyedi, Ward 209 of Evin Prison

Last Saturday, July 2, intelligence agents arrested former political prisoner Javad Seyedi during a pensioners’ protest in Tehran and transferred him to Ward 209 of Evin Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, former political prisoner Javad Seyedi was arrested in Tehran.

An informed source told HRANA, “Seyedi was arrested during a pensioners’ protest. He is currently held in Ward 209 of Evin Prison without access to a lawyer and family visit.”

In August of 2021, Seyedi was released on probation from Evin Prison. He was previously sentenced to three years and nine months on the charge of “assembly and collusion to disrupt national security”, and eight months on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”. Later, his sentence was reduced to two years and nine months.

HRANA’s Daily Review of Protests in Iran

Posted on by A MN
Labor and Guilds, News
Dorud, Isfahan, Kemranshah and Ahvaz, Kerman, Shahrekurd, Shushtar, Sungun copper mine, Telecommunication personnel

On Wednesday, July 6, 2022, a number of protests and one labour strike took place in Iran.

In Shahrekurd, the Telecommunication personnel gathered on the organization’s premises to protest against the cuts in benefits.

In Shushtar, Isfahan, Kerman, Dorud, Kermanshah and Ahvaz, the pensioners of held protests in front of the Social Security Organization of each city.

For the second consecutive day, the workers of contractor companies working in the Sungun copper mine, went on strike and gathered at their workplace.

 

Reyhaneh Ansari in Pre-trial Detention over 50 Days

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News
Evin Prison, Reyhaneh Ansari, ward 209

Workers’ Rights Activist Reyhaneh Ansari is detained in Ward 209 of Evin Prison for over 50  days.

An informed source told HRANA, “Reyhaneh is a single mother of a daughter. As the detention continues, her daughter can no longer afford her living costs”.

The Ministry of Intelligence has delayed Ansari’s release despite the one billion tomans bail that she provided.

On May 13, 2022, security forces arrested Ansari and transferred her to Ward 209 of Evin Prison in Tehran. The agents searched her house and confiscated some of her personal belongings.

Reyhaneh Ansari has been arrested on previous occasions for her civil activities.

Inmate Executed in Gachsaran Prison

Posted on by A MN
Executions, News
Behzad Narooie, Gachsaran Prison, Hadi Moradi, HRANA, Zahedan Prison

On July 6, 2022, an inmate who is convicted of murder was executed in Gachsaran Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on July 6, 2022, an inmate identified by HRANA as Hadi Moradi was executed in Gachsaran Prison.

This execution has not been reported by the official sources and media outlets inside Iran so far. 

Haal Vsh News also reported that today, in Zahedan Prison, an inmate was relocated to solitary confinement awaiting execution. This inmate has been identified as Behzad Narooie, age 33, who was convicted of drug-related crimes.

The most recent report from the Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) states that between January 1 of 2021 and December 20 of 2021, at least 299 citizens, including four juvenile offenders, were executed. In addition, 85 citizens were sentenced to death in this period. 

As the report points out, Iran’s judicial authorities do not publicly announce over 88% of executions. These unreported executions are known as “secret executions” by human rights organizations.