Author: A MN

Azerbaijani Turk Activist Abdollah Sadooghi Sentenced to Imprisonment 

Posted on by A MN
Ethnic Minorities, Freedom of Expression, News
Abdollah Sadooghi, Azerbaijani Turk activist, Tabriz

In a retrial, Branch 3 of the Revolutionary Court of Tabriz sentenced Azerbaijani Turk Activist Abdollah Sadooghi to three years and six months in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Abdollah Sadooghi was sentenced to three years and six months in prison.

According to the verdict issued by Branch 3 of the Revolutionary Court of Tabriz, Sadooghi was sentenced to two years and six months imprisonment on the charges of “membership in separatist groups” and six months on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”. If the verdict is confirmed on appeal, based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, two years and six months for the first charge will be enforceable.

Initially, Sadooghi had been sentenced to six years imprisonment in absentia. However, his request for a retrial was accepted.

On September 23, 2020, security forces arrested Sadooghi at his house in Tabriz. He was released after a while.

Sadooghi had previously been arrested and convicted for his civil activities.  

Man Arrested After Being Shot in Shushtar

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
Hossein Karamollah Kaab, Khuzestan province, Shushtar

In Shushtar, Khuzestan Province, security forces injured a man known as Hossein Karamollah Kaab by direct shooting during the arrest attempt.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Hossein Karamollah Kaab, age 36, was shot. He was arrested and hospitalized.

An informed source told HRANA, “security forces raided Kaab’s shop and beat him violently. He tried to escape, but got shot in the foot and was badly injured. The security agents took him to a hospital in Ahvaz.”

According to this source, the reason for the arrest was that Karamollah Kaab had been summoned to the Ministry of Intelligence office but he refused to appear.

At Lease 20 Coffee Shop Closed in Shiraz

Posted on by A MN
Cultural, Freedom of Expression, News
Coffee Shop, Department of Public Safety, forced veiling, Go SkateBoarding Day, Shiraz, skateboarding

At least 20 coffee shops were shut down by the order of the Shiraz Department of Public Safety. In recent days in Shiraz, as a retaliation measure against a youth gathering to promote skateboarding on June 21, an annual ‘Go SkateBoarding Day’, authorities have taken strict measures to prevent similar cultural activities. 

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Rokna News Agency, in Shiraz, at least 20 coffee shops were closed by the local authorities.

Earlier, on June 21, police arrested ten individuals for organizing a youth gathering called the “Go Skateboarding Day” event. Following the authorities’ requests for restrictive measures, the Shiraz Department of Public Safety shut down at least 20 coffee shops, which were considered skateboarding youth’s hangout locations.

According to one of the shop owners,  the police had warned that they want the coffee shops closed by night time. The police did not provide any written notice. The same individual said it is unclear when the coffee shops would re-open. 

 

The police and plainclothes agents have also increased the harassment of women in the streets allegedly for failing to comply with forced veiling. A few days after the event, some unverified pictures circulating on social media showed some individuals praying at the place of the event to repel the wrath of God for skateboarding.

Iran’s regime routinely violates citizens’ privacy rights and cultural activities, which they say are unlawful according to Islamic values.

HRANA’s Daily Review of Protests in Iran

Posted on by A MN
Labor and Guilds, News
ahvaz, cryptocurrency exchange, Cryptoland, Gatvand, Iranian farmers, Iranian farmers protest, Iranian tractor drivers, Keshavarzi Bank, Khuzestan province

On Thursday, June 30, 2022, five protests took place in Iran. Read our review below for details, photos, and videos from these demonstrations:

In Ahvaz, a number of pensioners continued their protest in front of the Governor’s office. They chanted slogans against the government and called the president a liar. According to the protestors, the government is obliged to increase the pensions in compliance with the Supreme Labour Council’s enactment.

A number of farmers and tractor drivers parked their tractors and gathered before the Governor’s office in Gatvand city, Khuzestan Province, to protest against decreasing fuel rations.

In recent days, the personnel of Keshavarzi Bank gathered in front of the headquarter of this bank as well as a chapel inside the building to protest against their poor living conditions.

A number of the medical staff of the Allameh Karami Hospital in Ahvaz held a protest to ask for their unpaid wages and benefits.

The citizens who lost their money in the cryptocurrency exchange Cryptoland gathered in front of the Public and Revolutionary Court in Tehran to ask for the return of their money. Reportedly, their deposits in the form of cryptocurrencies have been frozen.

Ten Inmates Executed in Rajai Shahr Prison

Posted on by A MN
Executions, News
Iman Safari-rad, Karaj, Mehdi Khlagaldi, Rajai Shahr Prison

On Wednesday, June 29, 2022, ten inmates were executed in Rajai Shahr Prison, eight were previously convicted of murder and two of rape.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Wednesday, June 29, 2022, the executions of ten inmates were carried out in Rajai Shahr Prison, in Karaj, Alborz Province.

HRANA has identified two inmates as Iman Safari-rad and Mehdi Khlagaldi.

These executions have not been reported by 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.

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Michael Menbari Arrested in Sanandaj

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Kurdpa, Michael Menbari, Sanandaj Prison

On Wednesday, June 29, 2022, security forces arrested Michael Menbari in Sanandaj and took him to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, on Wednesday, June 29, 2022, Michael Menbari was arrested by security forces in Sanandaj, Kurdistan Province.

According to an informed source, “Menbari was arrested by intelligence agents at a shop. The agents did not show an arrest warrant.”

The reason for Menbari’s arrest, his whereabouts and the charges against him are unknown so far.

Earlier on June 15, 2022, Menbari was arrested and jailed in Sanandaj Prison. At the time of his arrest, the intelligence agents searched his house and confiscated some of his personal belongings. On October 2, 2021, he was released on bail.  

Journalist Vida Rabbani Sentenced to Five Years Imprisonment

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Union of Islamic Iran People Party, Vida Rabbani

The Revolutionary Court sentenced journalist Vida Rabbani to five years imprisonment and additional punishments. Of this sentence, two years have been suspended.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Vida Rabbani, journalist and a member of the Union of Islamic Iran People Party, was sentenced to five years in prison.

In a post on social media, Rabbani stated that she has been charged with ” blasphemy “, “disrupting public order”, “inciting violence, assembly ad collusion to act against national security”, and “propaganda against the regime.”

According to Rabbani, activities such as retweeting posts or a poem were presented to create evidence for the charges of “blasphemy” and “assembly and collusion” in trials. 

As additional punishment, Rabbani has been banned from posting on social media, political activities, and gatherings.

On November 22, 2020, Vida Rabbani was arrested by security forces and transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison. Twelve days later, in a phone call to her family, she informed them about her hunger strike. On December 20, 2020, she was released on bail.

HRANA’s Daily Review of Protests in Iran

Posted on by A MN
Labor and Guilds, News
Iranian pensioners, Ministry of Petroleum

On Wednesday, June 29, 2022, two protests took place in Iran.

A number of personnel of the Ministry of Petroleum from various cities gathered in Tehran in front of the building of this ministry to demand fair wages and improvements in pension funds.

In Ahvaz, the pensioners continued their protest in front of the Governor’s office. According to the protestors, the government is obliged to increase the pensions in compliance with the Supreme Labour Council’s enactment.

Update on Zeynab Jalalian’s Condition in Yazd Prison

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
enmity against God, life imprisonment, Yazd Prison, Zeynab Jalalian

Political prisoner Zeynab Jalalian is spending the fifteenth year of her life sentence in exile, in Yazd Prison. During this period, she did not have any furlough and was denied medical treatment despite suffering from several diseases.

An informed source told HRANA, “despite the recommendation of physicians, prison officials refuse to dispatch  Jalalian to a hospital outside the prison and her treatment is restricted to non-specialist examinations in the infirmary.”

Zeynab Jalalian is held in a ward of inmates convicted of violent crimes. Due to the fact that she is kept in an exiled city, she rarely receives family visits.

In 2007, Zeynab Jalalian was arrested by an Iranian intelligence agency. Subsequently, the Revolutionary Court sentenced her to death on the charge of “enmity against God through membership in an anti-regime group.” The verdict was commuted to life imprisonment on appeal.

Zeynab Jalalian went on hunger strike several times. During the detention, she was tortured,  beaten, and received rape threats. 

Two Inmates Executed in Central Prison of Karaj

Posted on by A MN
Executions, News
Central Prison of Karaj, Execution in Iran, Nasrollah Iliad

On Monday, June 27, 2022, two inmates previously convicted of murder and rape were executed in Central Prison of Karaj, Alborz Province.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Iran Human Rights Organization, on Monday, June 27, 2022, two inmates were executed in the Central Prison of Karaj.

One of the inmates has been identified as Nasrollah Iliad, age 40, was convicted of murder. 

The other inmate was convicted of rape.

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.