Author: A MN

Inmate Executed in Aligudarz Prison

Posted on by A MN
Executions, News
Aligudarz Prison, executions, Mirza Roohifar, Secret executions

On February 8, an inmate previously convicted for murder was executed in Aligudarz Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Iran Human Rights Organization, on Monday, February 8, 2022, the inmate was identified as Mirza Roohifar, age 37.

“Before his arrest, Mirza Roohifar was a car tire seller. Four years ago, he was accused of killing his neighbor in a quarrel about financial issues and thereafter [was] sentenced to death,” an informed source stated in the report.

The execution has not been announced by judicial authorities or reported by media inside Iran.

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.

Asal Mohammadi Sentenced to One Year and Eight Months Imprisonment

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Asal Mohammadi, Hirad Pirbodaghi, Iman Soleymani

Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced workers’ rights activist Asal Mohammadi to one year and eight months in prison and a two years prohibition on membership in any political or civil group.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Mohammadi was charged with “propaganda against the regime” and “assembly and collusion against national security.” If confirmed on appeal, the one-year sentence on one count will be enforceable.

Her lawyer, Iman Soleymani, told HRANA that “During the detention, she had no access to a lawyer. During the trial process, I undertook her case but they did not allow me to study the case documents or attend the court, which is in violation of Article 48 of the Criminal Procedure Code. She was in poor mental condition. Contrary to what the law explicitly states, she had been interrogated without accompaniment of a lawyer during the interrogation”

On January 24, 2022, the trial was held and during the trial, participation in online campaigns such as “white torture” or membership in Marxist groups was evoked as the piece of evidence for the charges.

On November 6, 2021, she was arrested violently along with Hirad Pirbodaghi by security forces. Their house were searched.

Five days later, on November 11, she was transferred to Public Ward No. 209 of Evin Prison and was released on bond on November 22, 2021.

Hashem Amini Sentenced to 13 Years In Prison

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Bajestan, Hasem Amini, Torbat Heydariyeh

Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Torbat Heydariyeh sentenced Hashem Amini to 13 years in prison. Grounded on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, if confirmed on appeal, the severest punishment of 5 years will be enforceable.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Amini, a resident of Bajestan was charged with “membership in anti-regime groups, offensive statements against the Supreme Leader of Iran and participation in an illegal assembly”. The verdict was issued by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Torbat Heydariyeh.

Amini has to face other charges in a separate legal case. On June 17, 2021,  security forces arrested him at his home in Bajestan City and transferred him to a detention centre at the disposal of the Ministry of Intelligence in Mashhad City. On July 8, 2021, he was released on bail. For this case, his trial will be held at Branch 2 of the Criminal Court on February 27, 2022.

Transgender Citizen Dies By Suicide After Disallowance of Gender Affirming Surgery

Posted on by A MN
LGBTQ+, News
gender reassignment surgery, trans rights, transexual

On February 7, a transgender citizen and resident of Mariwan City died by suicide after taking pills. Reportedly, they committed suicide after a Sunni cleric disallowed their family to perform gender affirming surgery.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, 20 year old Ribwar Ebrahimi committed suicide and lost their life.

“His family asked a Sunni cleric about the religious authorization of a Sex Reassignment Surgery. Confronted with this disallowance, Ribwar got upset. He/she was also under pressure not to disclose his/her identity, which all led to committing suicide by pill,” told an informed source to HRANA.

Gender affirmation surgery has not been designated as legal or illegal under Iranian civil law. In 2013, however, Family Protection Bill set out some rules about the sex change process. In 1982, in a Fatwa, Ruhollah Khomeini, authorized religiously the sex-change surgery. Nonetheless, uncertainties in the law regarding this process and official acceptance of new identity have confused many transgender citizens who are afraid of being deprived of their rights by the erratic attitude of legal authorities.

Two Inmates Executed in Ardabil Prison

Posted on by A MN
Executions, News
Behzad Tahamtan, Secret executions, Yusef Tahamtan

Two inmates convicted for murder were executed in Ardabil Prison on February 7.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the inmates were identified as Yusef and Behzad Tahamtan, were arrested in Ardabil prison.

These executions have not been announced by judicial authorities or reported by media inside Iran.

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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Four Baha’i Citizens Still in Detention and Awaiting Legal Process

Posted on by A MN
News, Religious Minorities
Daniel Bani-Nejad, Natoli Derakhshan, Pari Kargarian Marvasti, Saba Sefidi

Four Baha’i citizens, Natoli Derakhshan, Saba Sefidi, Pari Kargarian Marvasti and Daniel Bani-Nejad, are still in detention and awaiting further legal proceedings. On January 11, Derakhshan and Sefidi were arrested in Sari and Tehran cities, respectively. Marvasti and Bani-Nejad were also arrested last week in Marlik District, located in Tehran Province.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Sefidi, a resident of Tehran, was arrested after an appearance at Branch 2 of Evin Courthouse. Yesterday, she was allowed to make a phone call to her family. Despite her family’s inquiry, the reason for her arrest and the charges against her are still unknown.

On the same day, Derkhshan, a poet and Baha’i citizen, was arrested by intelligence agents at his home in Sari City.

Last week, security forces arrested Marvasti and Bani-Nejad along with another non-Baha’i citizen at Marvasti’s house. They searched her house and confiscated some of her belonging,  including electronic devices, books and other writings related to the Baha’i faith.

According to unofficial sources, it is estimated that more than 300,000 Baha’is live in Iran, but the Iranian constitution recognizes only Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism. Because their faith is not considered legitimate by authorities, the rights of Baha’is in Iran have been systematically violated for years.

The deprivation of the freedom to practice 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.

Workers’ Rights Activist Alieh Eghdam Doost Arrested in Fuman City

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Alieh Eghdam Doost, worker's rights

On February 7, security forces arrested workers’ rights activist Alieh Eghdam Doost in Fuman City and transferred her to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Independent Iranian Workers Union, Doost was arrested at her home at 9 AM. The Branch 2 of Fuman Courthouse, on behalf of Evin Moghaddas Courthouse, issued the arrest warrant. Reportedly, she has been accused of “propaganda against the regime”.

Doost, 69 years old, is a workers’ rights activist and has faced other arrested and convictions.

17 Year Old Woman Beheaded by Her Husband

Posted on by A MN
Children, News, Women
honor killing, Mona Heydari, shame killing, spousal violence

On February 5, 17 year old Mona Heydari was killed and beheaded by her husband in Ahvaz City. A video circulated on social media shows the man walking around the street with his wife’s head in his hand. Reportedly, the murderer saw it as an honor killing. These horrific pictures brought about a wave of criticism on social media regarding the regime and the Islamic Penal Code, arguing they encourage honor killings by exempting the murderer from severe punishment.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting ROKNA, around 3 PM in Kasai Square, Ahvaz City, the murderer showed up with his wife’s head in his hand for a minute and then left. When the incident was reported, police, along with homicide detectives, went to the spot and began the investigation.

Further investigation showed that after running away to Turkey, Heydari had been recently brought back by her husband to Iran, where she was then killed by her husband and brother-in-law. Reportedly, both men have been arrested by police.

On Sunday, one day after reporting this news, ROKNA news agency was closed down by authorities, apparently due to the report.

Honor killing or “shame killing” is the murder of an individual, mostly girls and women, by her family members or relatives for an act— such as adultery, divorce, avoiding forced marriage— that religiously or traditionally is deemed dishonorable or shameful. The Islamic Penal Code of Iran exempts the perpetrator from severe punishment.

Azerbaijani Turk Activist Mohammad Aini Still in Incommunicado Detention

Posted on by A MN
Ethnic Minorities, News
Mohammad Aini

Azerbaijani Turk activist Mohammad Aini is still in incommunicado detention after 12 days. His whereabouts and the reason for his arrest are still unknown despite family inquiry.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Aini, a resident of Rasht, was arrested on January 23 after an appearance at the Ministry of Intelligence Office in Rasht City. After, he was transferred to an unidentified location. He was summoned by the Ministry of Intelligence the day before the arrest.

Since the arrest, he has not called his family and security and judicial authorities have not provided any info to his family about the reason for this arrest and his whereabouts.

Aini has faced other arrests. In October of 2020, amid the widespread protests in the Azerbaijani regions in the Western part of the country, he was arrested in Rasht City. After some time, he was released from jail on bail. In February of 2021, he was tried by Branch 12 of the Revolutionary Court of Rasht on the charge of “acting against national security” and was finally acquitted.

Inmates of Maragheh Prison Held in Poor Conditions

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
abuse of prisoners, addiction, Maragheh Prison, methadone, Political Prisoners, Prisoner rights

The inmates of Maragheh Prison are held in very poor conditions. Some of their problems include poor heating on cold days, co-housing political prisoners with prisoners of violent crimes and a shortage of sanitary services and beds. Moreover, the head of the prison has been ordered to deny adequate medical treatment to an inmate with a methadone addiction.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, prisoners in Maragheh Prison are held in poor, ill-equipped conditions and suffer from various problems.

Currently, about 1200 inmates are held in Maragheh Prison. This prison consists of four wards for men and one for women. Ward No. 1 houses inmates on death row and Ward No. 2 houses prisoners who are still in due process and awaiting their verdict.

An informed source explained the condition of Ward No. 4 to HRANA:

“140 inmates are held in this ward, while it has only 104 beds. Hence, some of the inmates have to sleep on the cold floor. Other wards have the same problem, which in cold days makes things harder for those [who] sleep on the floor.”

This ward has only three sanitary services for 140 inmates. The informed source also stated that the heating system can hardly warm the rooms and that inmates have to sleep with three blankets in order to keep themselves warm.

“Akbari, the head of the prison, has been ordered to refuse to accept any request, such as for furlough from the inmates with methadone addiction, until they [stop addiction]. Nonetheless, they do not provide these inmates with any adequate addiction treatment” the source added.

Our sources told a story of an inmate who used 20cc of methadone per day. They were forced to quit and consequently contracted a severe mental disorder. They have been hospitalized for two months.

The other problem is that political prisoners and prisoners of violent crimes are held in the same ward, which is in violation of prison rules.