Author: A MN

Five Inmates Executed in Yazd Central Prison

Posted on by A MN
Executions, News
Abbas Mousavi, Amir Shahiki, Hamid Narooie, Khodarahm Narooie, Saeed Kashani, Yazd central prison

On August 18, 2022, Yazd Central Prison authorities executed five inmates.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Haal Vsh, on August 18, 2022, five prisoners identified as Amir Shahiki, 23, Abbas Mousavi, Hamid Narooie, 45, Khodarahm Narooie, 43 and Saeed Kashani, 46, were executed in Yazd CentralPrison.

Hamid and Khodarahm Narooie were sentenced to death for drug smuggling in 2014. Shahiki and Mousavi were convicted of murder. 

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

  

Reza Nowroozi Sentenced to 74 Lashes

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Kachooie Revolutionary Court, Reza Nowroozi, Sarab

The Kachooie Revolutionary Court sentenced political prisoner Reza Nowroozi to 74 lashes and a fine. While Nowroozi was serving his sentence in Evin Prison, he was charged with “disrupting prison order” as well delivered to Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, political prisoner Reza Nowroozi was sentenced to 74 lashes and an 18 million tomans fine.

An informed source told HRANA that Nowroozi was charged with “disrupting prison order” due to his quarrel with a prison official. He has also been charged with “insulting the Supreme Leader” by the Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

Nowroozi is currently serving his five-year sentence in Evin Prison.

In May of 2021, security forces arrested Nowroozi in Tehran. The Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced Nowroozi to ten years in prison for “assembly and collusion against national security” and “propaganda against the regime”. This verdict was upheld on appeal. Based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, five years in prison for one charge is enforceable.

Nowroozi, 32, is a resident of Sarab, East Azerbaijan Province, and a father of two.

HRANA’s Daily Review of Protests in Iran

Posted on by A MN
Labor and Guilds, News
ahvaz, Bandar-Anzali, Golgohar Sirjan Mining and Industrial Company, Iranian farmers, unpaid wages

On Wednesday, August 17, 2022, at least three protests and one labour strike took place in Iran.

The pensioners of the Social Security Organization gathered in Ahvaz and Bandar-Anzali to protest against the insufficient increase in pensions.

In Isfahan, a number of farmers demonstrated to demand for their water portions.

A group of workers of Golgohar Sirjan Mining and Industrial Company went on strike in protest against unpaid wages and not addressing their other issues.

Journalist Vida Rabbani Sentenced to Prison

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Blasphemy, Evin Prison, HRANA, the Union of Islamic Iran People Party, Vida Rabbani

The Court of Appeal of Tehran sentenced Vida Rabbani to ten years and four months imprisonment and additional punishments. 

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 ten years and four months in prison.

According to this verdict, she has been sentenced to five years in prison on the charge of “blasphemy”, four years for “assembly and collusion to act against national security”, eight months for “propaganda against the regime”, and eight months for “disrupting public order”. Based on article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, five years for the first charge will be enforceable.

Rabbani has also been banned from practising journalism and engaging in political activities.

On November 22, 2020, Rabbani was arrested and transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison. She was released on bail later on December 20, 2020.

Eight People Arrested for Publishing Immodest Pictures

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Malek Hossein Chegini, Shazand

Malek Hossein Chegini, deputy police chief of Shazand County, Markazi Province, announced the arrest of eight people for publishing what he called “immodest pictures” on the internet.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Rokna, the police have arrested eight people in Shazand, Markazi Province.

According to Chegini, judicial authorities have summoned and arrested eight websites and social media administrators who were publishing unconventional and immodest pictures.

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Baha’is Banned from Higher Education in Iran

Posted on by A MN
News, Religious Minorities
Bahais, National Organization of Educational Testing, nationwide university entrance exam, NOET

HRANA has identified 60 Baha’is this year who sat for the nationwide university entrance exam and were banned from entering the university under the pretext of “document deficiencies.”

The individuals who complained to the National Organization of Educational Testing (NOET), have been threatened by the security apparatus.

Each year, numerous Baha’is participate in the nationwide university entrance examination and get rejected for various reasons by the official website of the NOET, an organization designated for holding the exams and announcing the results.

The enactment of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution of Iran, which ensures that education and culture remain in line with the Islamic teachings, barred Baha’is from taking an occupational position as well as tertiary education. This is at odds with Iran’s laws recognizing the right to education indiscriminately for all citizens.

 Such systematic discriminations stand in violation of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which both affirm that everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.

HRANA’s Daily Review of Protests in Iran

Posted on by A MN
Labor and Guilds, News
Homa Airline, Iranian farmers, Mobin Trust Consortium, Shahrekord, telecommunication staff, Water and Waste Water Organization, water outages

On Tuesday, August 16, 2022, at least five protests took place in Iran.

In Shahrekord, about 500 people rallied in front of the Governor-General’s Office in protest against several-day long water outages. Video published by official media shows the heavy presence of the police and security forces among the crowd.

The retirees of the Homa Airline gathered in front of the company premises to protest against the merger of the company fund and the Civil Servants Pension Organization. Reportedly, the police and security forces blocked the streets led to the location of the protest and arrested several retirees who were going to join the protest.

A number of applicants for the nationwide university entrance exam gathered before the National Organization of Educational Testing to protest against the recently announced modifications in application and exams.

A number of farmers in Isfahan Province gathered before the Water and Waste Water Organization to demand their water portions.

The telecommunication staff from different cities came to Tehran and gathered before the Mobin Trust Consortium building. They asked for the official contracts for all employees who have been recruited by contractors.

 

Five Individuals Arrested in Mahabad

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, Other
Amir Bayazidi Azar, Cia Pirzad, Geok Tepe, Jalal Mahmoudi, Kambiz Bayazidi Azar, Kurdpa, Mahabad, Shahram Bayazidi Azar

On August 16, 2022, security forces arrested five individuals in Mahabad, West Azerbaijan Province, and transferred them to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, on August 16, 2022, security forces arrested Amir Bayazidi Azar, Shahram Bayazidi Azar, Kambiz Bayazidi Azar, Chia Pirzad and Jalal Mahmoudi.

All these individuals are residents of the village Geok Tepe located in Mahabad County.

At the time of arrest, the agents searched their house and arrested them without showing any arrest and search warrant.

Last year, Amir Bayazidi Azar was arrested and sentenced to three months in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime.” He was released from jail on January 1, 2022, after serving out his sentence.  

Three Inmates Executed in Shiraz and Khorramabad

Posted on by A MN
News
Execution in Iran, Misagh Yavari, Mostafa Rasoulzadeh, Vahid Rahmani

On August 14, two inmates convicted of drug-related crimes were executed in Adel-Abad Prison in Shiraz. One day later, on August 15, another inmate convicted of murder was executed in Khorramabad Central Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Iran Human Rights Organization, Adel-Abad Prison authorities executed two inmates identified as Vahid Rahmani, 29, and Mostafa Rasoulzadeh, 37.

According to an informed source, Rahmani had been sentenced to death for drug smuggling three years ago. Rasoulzadeh was arrested for carrying drugs.

Also, in Khorramabad Central Prison, an inmate identified as Misagh Yavari who was convicted of murder, was executed.

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

Health Defenders’ Sentences Upheld on Appeal

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Arash Keykhosravi, Health Defenders, Mehdi Mahmoodian, Mohammad Reza Faghihi, Mostafa Nili, v

The Court of appeals of Tehran upheld the verdict against Mehdi Mahmoodian, Arash Keykhosravi, Mostafa Nili, Mohammad-Reza Faghihi, and Maryam Afrafaraz. Previously, these individuals, whose case is known as “Health Defenders”, had been sentenced to over ten years combined and additional punishments.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the Court of Appeals of Tehran upheld the verdict for the five defendants in the case known as “Health Defenders”.

The verdict was issued without a court hearing.

The sentences are issued as: :

  •       Mehdi Mahmoodian: four years in prison, banned from presence in media for two years,
  •       Mostafa Nili: four years in prison, banned from presence in media for two years, prohibited from practising law for two years,
  •       Arash Keykhosravi: two years in prison, banned from presence in media for one year, and prohibited from practising law for one year,
  •       Mohammad-Reza Faghihi: six months in prison,
  •       Maryam Afrafaraz: 95 days in prison.

Attorney Babak Paknia said that at a public court session, he was not allowed to attend the court even as a spectator.

The first three defendants were convicted on the charge of “creating anti-regime groups to disrupt national security and propaganda against the regime”. The two last were convicted of “membership in anti-regime groups.”

On August 14, 2021, during a meeting to make a decision on filing a lawsuit against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the government for banning foreign vaccines, nine Iranian lawyers and civil rights activists were arrested.