Author: Editor

HRANA Recap: This Week’s Protests in Iran

Posted on by Editor
Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News
ahvaz, Bostan, Bostan Municipality, Haft Tapeh Sugarcane Agro-Business, Haft Tappeh, Jijad Nasr Company, Kermanshah, Miandoab, Omideh, Tehran
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, a number of protests took place this week in Iran, many of which were continuations of ongoing movements.  Read our recap below for details, photos, and videos from the demonstrations.

 

Saturday, August 28

A group of workers from Arkan-Sales of the National Iranian Drilling Company NIDC, a group of teachers  and educators in Tehran, and workers of Omidieh Municipality held protest rallies this Saturday.

Workers from Arkan-Sales of NIDC:

Workers of Omidieh Municipality:

Teachers and educators in Tehran:

 

Sunday August 29 and Monday August 30

A group of workers of Omidieh Municipality for the second and third day in a row, some workers of Bostan Municipality, a number of staff and employees of Khuzestan Health plan Project in Ahvaz, some employees of Jihad Nasr Company of Kermanshah, and a group of workers of Miandoab Municipality held demonstrations on Sunday and Monday of this week.

Employees of Jihad Nasr Company of Kermanshah:

Workers of Omidieh Municipality:

Workers of Khuzestan Health Project:

Workers of Bostan Municipality:

Workers of Miandoab Municipality:

Tuesday, September 31

A group of project workers of Izeh City, several employees of Shiraz Health Center, a group of workers of Miandoab municipality, a number of workers of Omidieh municipality for the fourth consecutive day, some of the shareholders of Rigan Khodro and Shahr Khodro in Tehran, and contractor workers of ODCC  of Isfahan refinery all rallied this Tuesday to protest authorities’ ongoing neglect of their demands.

Employees of Shiraz Health Center:

Project workers of Izeh city:

Workers of Miandoab municipality:

Workers of Omidieh Municipality:

Protest of shareholders of Rigan Khodro and Shahr Khodro in Tehran:

Workers of ODCC of Isfahan refinery:

Wednesday, September 1

A group of employees of Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences in Sanandaj, a number of workers of Omidieh Municipality for the fifth day in a row, a group of fired workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Co., and a number of workers of Khorramshahr Municipality held protest rallies on Wednesday. 

Employees of Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences:

Workers of Omidieh Municipality:

Dismissed workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company:

Thursday, September 2

A group of municipal service workers of Miandoab Municipality and a number of employees of Sarvan Municipality demanded their requests to be addressed in protest rallies.

Workers of Miandoab Municipality:

HRA Joins 10 Other Human Rights Groups in Calling on UN Representatives to Protect Human Rights

Posted on by Editor
News

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, several rights organizations have written a statement calling for increased accountability from UN representatives in Iran

Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) has joined 10 other organizations in urging UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, UN Resident Coordinator Stefan Priesner, and a number of county directors of UN agencies in Iran to uphold the UN’s promise to prioritize human rights and commit to “use all leverages they have to promote and protect human rights in the framework of their fieldwork activities in Iran”.

The statement demands that, in order to ensure accountability from UN representatives, the signatory organizations be directly involved in the oversight process, and outlines the ways in which current endeavors to work with the Islamic Republic have failed to sufficiently highlight human rights.

“We regret that the current UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), signed between the Islamic Republic of Iran and 15 UN agencies in 2015, had marked the UN system’s failure to acknowledge and address core human rights issues as part of its activities in Iran,” the statement reads.

The letter concludes that the first step towards adhering to the above values is to “consult, involve, and listen to the input from independent human rights monitors both within and outside the country”.

You can read the full letter here .

 

 

HRANA Recap: This Week’s Protests in Iran

Posted on by Editor
Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News
Asaluyeh, Azarkam Company, Azarkam Company in Urmia, Babol, Haft Tappeh, Haft Tappeh Sigarcane Agro-Industry Company, Kut Abdollah, Pardis-e-Rasht Housing Investment Company, Sari, Tehran, Urmia, Urmis workers
A number of protests took place this week in Iran, many of which were continuations of ongoing movements. According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, employees of Haft-Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company continued their protests for a 7th week. Read our recap below for details, photos, and videos from the demonstrations.

 

Saturday, August 21

A group of workers of Azarkam Company in Urmia, a number of dismissed workers from security department of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Co in the management office of this company, and for the 40th day in a row, the Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Co in Shush, held protest rallies this Saturday.

Workers of Azarkam Company in Urmia:

Workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company:

Dismissed staff of security department of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company:

Sunday, August 22

A group of workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Co for the 41st consecutive day, as well as several young people from Qala-e-Chenan village of Kut Abdollah district in Khuzestan called for their demands to be addressed this Sunday.

Workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company:

People of Qala-e-Chenan village:

 

Monday August 23

This Monday, several workers in Asaluyeh in Pars Special Economic Energy Zone, a group nurses in the cities of Tehran and Sari, a group of medical staff in Babol, a number of municipal gardeners in Kut Abdollah, and a group of shareholders of the Pardis-e-Rasht Housing Investment Company held protest rallies.

Nurses in Tehran and Sari:

Medical staff in Babol:

Tuesday August 24


A group of workers of Bostan Municipality located in Dasht-e Azadegan city of Khuzestan, and a number of bus drivers in Qazvin in protest rallies called on their demands to be addressed.

Bus drivers in Qazvin:

Wednesday August 25


A group of bus drivers in Urmia, and workers of the oil project in Izeh in protest rallies called on their demands to be addressed.

Bus drivers in Urmia:

 

Workers of the oil project in Izeh:

Thursday August 26

A group of farmers in East Isfahan rallied yesterday, Thursday, August 26.

Farmers in Isfahan:

 

HRA Publishes Book on History, Obstacles, and Achievements

Posted on by Editor
News, Other
Behrouz Sadegh Khanjani, George Haroonian, Habibollah Sarbazi, Jamal Hosseini, Kavian Sadaghzadeh Milani, keyvan rafiee, Kouhyar Goudarzi, Rezvaneh Mohammadi, Roya Boroumand, Shahed Alavi, Simin Fahandaj, Simin Rouzgard

“To all those who sacrificed to advance the rights of others. To those who went to prison, into exile, to our mothers-  who were our first human rights teachers, to those who died in love along the way. To Jamal Hosseini, Farzad Kamangar, Michael Cromartie, Taher Elchi, Ali Ajami” 

————

Human Rights Activists in Iran is pleased to announce the forthcoming August 30th release of ‘Human Rights Activists in Iran: History, Obstacles, Achievements’ now available for pre-order at Barnes and Noble. 

Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) has been documenting abuses and advocating for the rights of victims inside of Iran since 2006. Founded by Director Keyvan Rafiee, the organization has grown from grassroots activism to a multi-divisional non-profit organization headquartered in Washington D.C. USA. Today, HRA is one of the oldest operating organizations focused on human rights in Iran and boasts the largest network of in-country volunteers. 

The story of HRA is fraught with struggle; members have worked tirelessly to promote respect for human rights and have consequentially faced imprisonment, exile, and death. 

Human Rights Activists in Iran: History, Obstacles, Achievements is dedicated “To all those who sacrificed to advance the rights of others. To those who went to prison, into exile, to our mothers-  who were our first human rights teachers, to those who died in love along the way. To Jamal Hosseini, Farzad Kamangar, Michael Cromartie, Taher Elchi, Ali Ajami” 

The opening chapter, written by Keyvan Rafie, tells the story of how HRA was formed during a time when he and his founding colleagues were imprisoned. He reflects on the challenges, widespread as they were, including a lack of technology, citing a time before the widespread availability of the internet in Iran, as well as targeted harassment. Determined to create an organization that would stand the test of time, he writes, “We realized that without planning, discipline, and a coherent structure, there was no hope for our survival. By studying and by gaining experience [in human rights], we were able to develop certain principles… The lack of any of [these principles] would have meant the end of our activism.” 

Keyvan also notes core principles that were established at the organization’s founding, principles that continue to lead HRA today: being youth-led, maintaining a social base inside the country, and the principle of non-discrimination, among others. The book features sections dedicated to HRA members that have lost their lives as a result of their dedication to human rights, including Farzad Kamangar, executed at the hands of the regime, and Jamal Hosseini, who lost his life while working in exile. 

Throughout the book, prominent human rights activists, lawyers, and community leaders share their stories and experiences of both being part of HRA and witnessing its work, in the hopes of inspiring future generations of activists. They include:

  • Keyvan Rafiee – Founder and Director of Human Rights Activists in Iran
  • Behrouz Sadegh Khanjani – Head of the Iranian Church organization and a former prisoner of conscience
  • George Haroonian – Iranian-American Jewish human rights activist
  • Simin Rouzgard – Former Editor of Peace Mark Magazine
  • Ladan & Roya Boroumand – Founders and directors of Abdorrahman Boroumand Center
  • Rezvaneh Mohammadi – A Gender and Sexual Minorities activist who was sentenced to 5 years because of her activism
  • Shahed Alavi – Journalist and Kurdish rights activist
  • Habibollah Sarbazi – Journalist and founder of the Baloch Activists Campaign
  • Shirin Ebadi – Lawyer, founder of Defenders of Human Rights Center in Iran, a former judge who received the Nobel Prize for Peace in 2003
  • Kavian Sadaghzadeh Milani – Founder of the Center for Health and Human Rights, Baha’i rights activist
  • Simin Fahandaj – Spokesperson for the Baha’i International Community
  • Dian Alaei – The Baha’i International Community representative
  • Kouhyar Goudarzi – Journalist and co-founder of the Committee of Human Rights Reporters
  • Hossein Raeesi – Lawyer and author
  • Hadi Ghaemi – Founder of the Center for Human Rights in Iran
  • Dr. Abdolkarim Lahiji – Lawyer and President of the International Federation for Human Rights
  • Mehrangiz Kar – Lawyer, author, and human rights activist
  • Elahe Sharifpour-Hicks – Former Human Rights Watch researcher and director of the Human Rights and Planning Group in New York
  • Shadi Sadr – Lawyer, and Co-founder of Justice for Iran
  • Karim Khalaf Dahimi – Arab human rights activist
  • Ali Kalaei – Journalist and former prisoner of conscience
  • Ali Ajami – Former editor of HRANA, a former prisoner of conscience (he passed away in 2020)
  • Behrouz Javid Tehrani – Former prisoner of conscience for a decade, research assistant at Human Rights Watch
  • Jamshid Barzegar – Former BBC Persian site editor, director of the Persian section of Deutsche Welle (Germany)
  • Morteza Kazemian – Journalist and member of the Central Council of the Association for the Defense of Press Freedom
  • Najaf Nemati – Researcher, writer, and Turkish rights activist
  • Siamak Ghaderi – Editor-in-Chief of various newspapers in Iran, including the State News Agency (IRNA), a former prisoner of conscience, and winner of the Hellman Prize –Human Rights Watch
  • Reza Haghighat-Nejad – Author and analyst who is a contributor to many news media
  • Reza Haji-Hosseini – Editor of Human Rights section in Radio Zamaneh
  • Kaveh Ghoreishi – Activist, author, and reporter
  • Kambiz Ghafouri – Political analyst and journalist for various media outlets, including Radio Free Europe and Iran International

 

 

‘Human Rights Activists in Iran: History, Obstacles, Achievements’ is published in hopes that the tireless work of those who have sacrificed everything will forever be ingrained in history.

HRANA Recap: This Week’s Protests in Iran

Posted on by Editor
Freedom of Expression
Eslam Ali Akbarloo, Eslamashahr, Haft Tapeh Sugarcane Agro-Business, Haft Tappeh, Haft Tappeh Sugar Company, Khuzestan, Power outage in Eslamashahr, Tehran, Tehran Protests
A number of protests took place this week in Iran, many of which were continuations of ongoing movements. According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, employees of Haft-Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company continued their protests for a 6th week. Read our recap below for details, photos, and videos from the demonstrations.

 

Saturday, August 14

A group of workers of the Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry entered the 33rd day of their strike in Shush. Several teachers of Literacy Movement Organization of Iran in front of the parliament building, rallied and called on their demands to be addressed. Also, following the power outage in Eslamshahr, many citizens held a protest rally in Tehran.

Citizens in Tehran following power outage in Eslamshahr:

 

Workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company:

 

Sunday, August 15 and Monday, August 16

Workers of the Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry continued their strike for a 34th day in a row in Shush, a number of Isfahan farmers rallied in front of the Isfahan Governor’s Office, and a group of workers of Pajan Company held protest rallies in Tehran.

Farmers in Isfahan:

 

Workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company:

 

Workers of Pajan Company in Tehran:

 

Tuesday, August 17 and Wednesday, August 18

For the second day in a row, workers of Pajan company protested in Tehran, also, a group of civil activists in Karaj, gathered in a protest calling on their demands to be addressed.

Workers of Pajan company in Tehran:

 

Civil activists in Karaj:

Friday, August 20

A group of farmers in Parsabad gathered in front of the governor’s office to protest water cuts for their farms.

 

Farmers in Parsabad:

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Now is definitely not the time to stop reading!

Saqqez Citizen Khaled Karimnia Sentenced to 7 Months in Prison

Posted on by Editor
Prisoners
irgc, Javad Mostafaei, Karimnia, Khaled Karimnia, Kurdistan, Kurdistan Province, Saqqez, Saqqez city

Saqqez citizen Khaled Karimnia was recently sentenced by the Saqqez Revolutionary Court to 7 months in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, Mr. Karimonia was summoned to the IRGC on June 8, 2010 and was released on bail after being interrogated.

Khalid Karimnia, a citizen of Saqqez, was sentenced to imprisonment by the First Branch of the Revolutionary Court of this city, headed by Judge Javad Mostafaei.

According to the report, the First Branch of the Revolutionary Court of Saqqez, headed by Judge Javad Mostafaei, sentenced this citizen to 7 months in prison on charges of “propaganda against the regime”.

This citizen has a history of interrogation by security agencies. Mr. Karimonia was summoned to the IRGC on June 8, 1400, and after completing his interrogation, he was released on bail until the end of the trial.

He has appealed against the verdict and his case has been referred to the court of appeals for review.

Akram Rahimi Dies of Coronary Heart Disease in Amol Prison after being Unable to Pay Required Cash Bail

Posted on by Editor
Environment, Prisoners
Akram Rahimi, Amol, Amol Prison, cash bail, Coronavirus, COVID, covid-19, medical neglect, medical negligence, prison leave, Rahimi

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, an inmate in the women’s ward of Amol Prison died on the evening of Saturday, August 14 of coronary heart disease.

The prisoner, who has been identified by HRANA as 40-year-old Akram Rahimi, suffered from severe heart and lung disease, but was being kept in detention due to her inability to pay the required cash bail.

“Ms. Rahimi contracted Corona some time ago along with several other prisoners,” an informed source told HRANA. “After her condition worsened, she was regularly sent to the hospital, but due to lack of space, she was not accepted and received the same basic treatment services, ie serum injection in the hospital garden, and was transferred to prison again until she died two nights ago.

HRANA Recap: This Week’s Protests in Iran

Posted on by Editor
Environment, Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News
Amarloo, Damash, Damash Village, Haft Tappeh, Haft Tappeh Sugar Company, Isfahan, Khuzestan, Khuzestan province, Rudbar, Sepahan, Tehran
This week, nationwide protests continued in Iran following the widespread protests in Khuzestan. A number of labor protests took place as well. According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, employees of Haft-Tappeh Agro Industry Co. continued their strike into a 5th week. Read our recap below for details, photos, and videos from the demonstrations.


Saturday, August 7

Several residents of Damash village from Amarloo district of Rudbar city, a group of workers of Sepahan Isfahan Cement Factory, medical intern students in Kermanshah, bakers in Zanjan, and several workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company for a 26th consecutive day, held rallies in which they called on their demands to be addressed.

Residents of Damash village from Amarloo district of Rudbar:

Workers of Sepahan Isfahan Cement Factory:

 

Medical intern in Kermanshah:

 

Workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company:

 

Sunday, August, 8


Several workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Co. for a 27th consecutive day, a group of Caspian Financial Institution shareholders in Tehran, a group of Steel Fund retirees in Isfahan and Khuzestan, a number of medical interns for the second consecutive day in Kermanshah, workers,  personnel of Hoveyzeh Water and Sewerage in Khuzestan Province, and a group of employees of Saveh Fire Department held protest rallies on Sunday.

 

People in the city of Junqan in support of Habib Fadaei:

Workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company:

Palm farmers in Khuzestan Province:

 

Bakers in Yazd:

Wednesday, August 11

On the 30th day of their strike in Shush, several workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company protested.  In Tehran, teachers of Literacy Movement Organization of Iran protested and called on their demands be addressed.

 

Workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company:

 

Teachers of Literacy Movement Organization:

 

 

Thursday, August 12

Several workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Co for the thirtieth first day of their strike in Shush protested and called on their demands be addressed.

 

Workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company:

 

Friday, August 13, 2021

Workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Co went on strike for the 32 days on the row to protest the non-compliance with their demands.

Seven Political Activists Sentenced to Total of 53 Years in Prison

Posted on by Editor
Prisoners
Bahareh Soleimani, Elham Samimi, Mehran Raouf, Mohammad Hajinia, Nafiseh Malekijoo, Nahid Taghavi, Nazanin Mohammadnejad, Somayeh Kargar

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, political activists Nahid Taghavi, Mehran Raouf, Somayeh Kargar, Bahareh Soleimani, and Nazanin Mohammadnejad were sentenced to a total of 38 years in prison.

The other two defendants of the case, Nafiseh Malekijoo, and Mohammad Hajinia, were also sentenced in absentia. Ms. Malekijoo was sentenced to 6 years and nine months, and Mr. Hajiniya was sentenced to 8 years and eight months imprisonment.

Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, presided by Judge Iman Afshari, has sentenced the seven defendants to a total of 53 years and five months in prison on charges of “participating and administrating the Communist Party of Iran with the intention to disrupt security”, and “propaganda activities against the regime”.

Nafiseh Malekijoo and Mohammad Hajinia are currently living abroad. As of this writing, the status of the case of Elham Samimi, the eighth defendant of the case, is unknown.

The first session of the court hearing for these activists was held on April 28, and the second session was held on June 13.

Saba Kord Afshari Sent on 15 Day Leave from Qarchak Prison in Varamin

Posted on by Editor
Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners, Women
Iman Afshari, Kord Afshari, Qarchak, Qarchak Prison, Raheleh Ahmadi, Saba Kord-Afshari, Varamin

Yesterday, imprisoned civil activist Saba Kord Afshari was sent on a 15-day leave from Qarchak Prison in Varamin.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, yesterday, August 11, the activist was allowed medical leave after receiving a positive COVID test.

Saba Kord Afshari is a civil activist and prominent critic of the compulsory hijab in Iran. On September 5, 2019, Afshari  was sentenced by Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, presided over by judge Iman Afshari, to 15 years imprisonment for “promoting corruption and obscenity through appearing without a headscarf in public”,  and 1 year and 6 months of imprisonment for “propaganda against the regime” and 7 years and 6 months in prison for “assembly and collusion with an intent to commit a crime against national security” to a total of 24 years in prison along with other social deprivations, from which, after applying Article 134 and adjustment of the sentences, the most severe punishment of 7 years and 6 months in prison is enforceable to her.

On May 8 of this year, 22-year-old Kord Afshari began what would be a 10 day hunger strike to protest the increasing pressure on her family and family of fellow political prisoners, and to demand the release of her mother, Raheleh Ahmadi. Upon finishing her strike, the young activist said, in a statement, “I am fully aware that human lives are of no value to the Islamic Republic, so I am ending my hunger strike, but I am still seeking to fulfill my demands.”

Despite the widespread prevalence of COVID-19 within Iran’s prison system, inmates are frequently deprived of adequate and timely medical treatment.