Update on Naeb Askari’s Condition in Urmia Prison

Naeb Askari is still in detention awaiting legal proceedings for more than 17 months in Urmia Prison. Despite suffering from neurological disorders, he is denied proper medical care.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Naeb Askari has been in pre-trial detention in Urmia Prison for more than 17 months.

According to an informed source, since Askari’s relocation along with other political prisoners to a new high-security ward in December 2021, he is denied medical care.  

In December 2021, Urmia Prison Officials relocated the political prisoners, including Askari, to a new high-security ward, after which the political prisoners went on a hunger strike.

On March 27, 2021, IRGC agents arrested Askari in Urmia and transferred him to a detention facility. On June 17, 2021, he was transferred to Urmia Prison, where he has been jailed until now. He was also charged with “disrupting prison order.”

HRANA’s Daily Review of Protests in Iran

On Thursday, September 8, 2022, at least two protests took place in Iran.

The families of prisoners presently on death row in Ghezel Hesar Prison and Karaj Central Penitentiary protested before the Judiciary building in Tehran. These protestors held placards asking to stop executions.

Residents of Mariwan held a protest demanding security for women, following Shalir Rasouli’s death at a hospital, a woman who threw herself out of the window of her apartment to escape an assailant.

 

Several Protestors against Water Shortages Arrested in Hamedan

Hamedan’s governor announced the arrest of 25 individuals during the recent protests against water shortages in Hamedan.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Entekhab News, 25 were arrested during the recent demonstrations in Hamedan.

Calling three last protests unlawful and the protestors the enemy of the state, Hamedan’s governor, Mohammad-Ali Mohammadi claimed, “25 people were arrested, of which 20 were not the residents of Hamedan, coming from other areas to cause a disturbance, fear and unrest.”

In recent days, the residents of Hamedan demonstrated several times against the drinking water shortages. The water transfer project was attributed as the cause, which is still ongoing. 

During the protest on August 24, the police mistreated a woman, which sparked an outcry on social media.

 

Baha’i Individual Fariba Ashtari Arrested in Yazd

On September 7, 2022, the intelligence agents arrested Fariba Ashtari and transferred her to Yazd Prison.

An informed source told HRANA that Ashtari has been arrested to start her five-year sentence. She had a heart disease for which she had undergone surgery two times last year.

On December 2, 2019, the intelligence agents arrested Ashtari at her house and on February 2019, she was released on bail.

On June 20, 2020, the Revolutionary Court of Yazd sentenced Ashtari to five years on the charge of “membership in an anti-regime group” and one year in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”. Based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, five years imprisonment for the first charge is enforceable to her.

Previously, Ashtari and her husband and son had also faced arrests and convictions. Between 2014 to 2016, she had been imprisoned in Yazd Prison. Her husband, Naser Bagheri was imprisoned for nine months. Her Son, Faez Bagheri was arrested in March of 2015, when he was 17 years old. He was released on bail after five months. Later, he was sentenced to three years in prison but the verdict was commuted to a one-million-toman fine on appeal.

Nine Inmates Executed in Rajai Shahr, Gonbad-e Kavus, and Bandar Abbas

On September 7, 2022, Rajai Shahr Prison officials executed seven inmates who were previously convicted of murder.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on September 7, 2022, seven inmates were executed in Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj.

HRANA has identified three out of the seven inmates as Khosro Noorbakhsh, Mohammad Arab, and Abolfazl Shahi.

On that day, in Gonbad-e Kavus, Golestan Province, an inmate identified as Ghafoor Nejat Pour, age 22, was executed. He was convicted of murder.

Haal Vsh also reported the execution of an Afghan National, Yarmohammad Eshagh-Zehi, age 40, in Bandar Abbas. He was arrested and sentenced to death on drug-related charges two years ago. Eshagh-Zehi’s family has not yet been informed about his execution.

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

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HRANA’s Daily Review of Protests in Iran

On Wednesday, September 7, 2022, at least three protests took place in Iran.

For the second consecutive day, a group of families and relatives of prisoners presently on death row protested before the Judiciary building in Tehran and the Revolutionary Court in Karaj. These protestors held placards asking to stop executions. In August, HRANA identified 46 death row convicts in Ghezel Hesar Prison.

In Pardis Town, Tehran, several individuals protested in front of the Prosecutor’s Office to claim property rights. Pardi Omran Company obstructs the enforcement of the court order confirming the ownership of these individuals, protesters said.

 

Sa’ada Khadirzadeh Sentenced to 12 Years Imprisonment

The Criminal Court of Mahabad sentenced Sa’ada Khadirzadeh to 12 years and 6 months in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, Sa’ada Khadirzadeh, a resident of Piranshahr, was sentenced to 12 years and 6 months in prison on the charges of “accessory to the murder of an IRGC member,” and “membership in an anti-regime political group.”

On November 8 2021, Khadirzadeh was transferred to Urmia Prison and conceived a child, but later attempted suicide.  

Four Baha’is’ Pre-trial Detention Extended 

The judicial authorities extended four Baha’i individuals’ detention time for a month. The individuals are identified as Basir Samimi, Negar Darabi, Samieh Gholinejad, and Bita Haghighi. Two last individuals contracted Covid-19 in Qaemshahr Prison and were denied proper medical care.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the pre-trial detentions of four Baha’is, Basir Samimi, Negar Darabi, Samieh Gholinejad, and Bita Haghighi were extended for one month.

On August 31, security forces arrested 14 Baha’is in Qaemshahr, of which two were released after a few hours and eight later on bail. During the arrest,  agents mistreated the individuals and caused injuries.

One informed source told  HRANA that judicial authorities cited “the lack of cooperation with interrogators” as the reason for the prolonged detention of these individuals.

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

HRANA’s Daily Review of Protests in Iran

On Tuesday, September 6, 2022, at least seven protests and one labour strike took place in Iran.

A group of families of prisoners presently on death row gathered in front of the Karaj Revolutionary Court to demand the end of executions. Three inmates were executed in Karaj Central Penitentiary and six are at risk of imminent execution in Ghezel Hesar Prison.

A group of Women Rights Activists protested at the Justice Building in Marivan, Kurdistan Province. The protestors demanded security for women, following a recent incident.

 

For the third consecutive day, the workers of Kian Tire Manufacturing Company went on strike and assembled at their workplace to protest unpaid wages and job uncertainty.

A group of contract teachers gathered before the Governorate Building in Arak to demand official recruitment by the Ministry of Education.

The residents of the Morgmalek village in Shahrekord County held a protest against slow court proceedings in handling a lawsuit in regard to their lands.

A number of school service workers held a protest in Mahabad and Kermanshah.

The workers of Ardestan Cement Factory gathered before the Ministry of Labour in Ardestan, Isfahan Province.

Nine Inmates Executed in Minab and Taybad Prisons

On September 7, 2022, nine inmates convicted of drug-related crimes were executed in Minab and Taybad Prisons.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Haal Vsh, seven inmates were executed in Minab Prison.

The inmates have been identified as Soleyman Narooie, Abdolghafoor Bahadorzadeh Rigi, Abbas Nobakht, Mohammad Zobeiri, Mohammad Kazemi, and Mohammad-Reza Hedayati.

Iran Human Rights Organization also reports the execution of two inmates in Taybad Prison in Khorasan Razavi Province. These individuals have been identified as Khalghollah Fahim-Zadeh who is an Afghan National, and Hassan Hagh Verdi-Zadeh.