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Prisoner Executed on Drug-Related Charges in Isfahan Prison

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Executions
Bakhsh, Citizen executed, Citizen executions, Ebrahim Shah Bakhsh, Isfahan, Isfahan Prison, Zahedan

At dawn on Sunday, July 25, a prisoner named Ebrahim Shah Bakhsh was executed in Isfahan Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Baloch Activist Campaign, Bakhsh had previously been sentenced to death on drug-related charges. Mr. Shah Bakhsh was 23 years old and a native of Zahedan.

Iran ranks first in the world in citizen executions per capita, according to international organizations. The Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) reported that between January 1 and December 20 of 2020, at least 236 citizens were executed.

One of these citizens was executed publicly, and two were juvenile offenders. An additional 95 citizens were sentenced to death.

According to the same report, more than 72% of executions in Iran are not reported by the government or the judiciary, which human rights organizations call “secret” executions.

Bakhsh’s execution has not yet been announced by Iranian media or official sources.

Bakhtiar Salemi Executed in Shirvan Prison

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Executions, Prisoners
Bakhtiar Salemi, Citizen execution, Citizen executions, Iran death sentence, North Khorasan, North Khorasan province, Secret executions, Shirvan, Shirvan Prison

At dawn on Sunday, July 25, a prisoner named Bakhtiar Salemi from Hashtrood, who had previously been sentenced to death for murder, was executed in Shirvan Prison in North Khorasan Province.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Iran Human Rights (IHR), Salemi had previously been sentenced to death on a charge of murder. But, according to an informed source, he claimed innocence for the entirety of his imprisonment.

“Bakhtiar had two children and had been in prison for four years,” the report quoted the source as saying. “He had repeatedly insisted on his innocence and that another citizen who took refuge in Turkey was the main perpetrator”

Iran ranks first in the world in citizen executions per capita, according to international organizations. The Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) reported that between January 1 and December 20 of 2020, at least 236 citizens were executed.

One of these citizens was executed publicly, and two were juvenile offenders. An additional 95 citizens were sentenced to death.

According to the same report, more than 72% of executions in Iran are not reported by the government or the judiciary, which human rights organizations call “secret” executions.

Salemi’s execution has not yet been announced by Iranian media or official sources.

Khuzestan Protests: 102 Detained and 10 are said to be Killed, HRANA can only Confirm 5

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Environment, Freedom of Expression, Prisoners
ahvaz, Elhayi, hamidiyeh, khorramshahr, Khuzestan, Khuzestan province, Khuzestan water crisis, Khuzestan water shortages, Ramshir, Shavur, Susangard, Susangerd

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, several people have been killed, dozens injured, and hundreds more arrested in the last week in relation to protests in Khuzestan. HRANA has been able to identify 102 detained in cities in Khuzestan, 3 detained in Tehran in support of the people of Khuzestan, and 10 are said to have been killed, 5 of whom HRANA has confirmed so far. Names follow.

Widespread protests started in Khuzestan province on the night of Thursday, July 15, in response to the resource mismanagement that has led to the water crisis. Protests have been going for the past seven days and have spread to at least 30 cities.

HRANA has received videos showing the heavy presence of security forces and special forces vehicles in a number of cities in Khuzestan province, including Izeh and Masjed Soleiman.

Citizens in cities such as Meybod in Yazd province and Robat Karim around Tehran have rallied in support of the Khuzestan protesters.

Meanwhile, cities in Khuzestan Province are experiencing a severe decrease in internet speed and connection. The global internet watchdog website “Netblocks” earlier confirmed the internet disruptions since the protests took place in Khuzestan saying that “widespread Internet disruptions in Iran have occurred since Thursday last week following popular protests in Khuzestan province and it continues.”

Today, the Deputy Commander of the Lorestan Police confirmed that a young man was killed and seven others were injured in a shooting during last night’s protests in Aligudarz.

Detention of hundreds of protesting citizens

HRANA has received several reports pointing to the detention of hundreds of people, but verifying the identities of all detainees has been difficult due to the lack of transparency in reports from Iran’s official authorities, and the Islamic republic of Iran does not allow human rights organizations operate inside Iran. However, HRANA was able to identify 102 detained in Khuzestan and 3 in Tehran, and while reportedly 10 have been killed, HRANA has verified the identities of 5, as follows:

Identity of 10 killed citizens:

1- Mostafa Naeemawi – killed on July 16 at Shadegan – Status: Verified by HRANA

2- Ghasem Naseri (Khaziri) – was wounded on July 16 and died on July 17 at Kut Abdollah – Status: Verified by HRANA

3- Meysam Echrash – was wounded on July 18 and died on July 21 Karkhe – Status: Verified by HRANA

4- Hadi Bahmani – was killed on 21-Jul at Izeh – Status: Verified by Hrana

5- Omid Azarkhosh – was killed on 22-Jul at ` Aligudarz – Status: Verified by HRANA

6- Amir Moshari (Ebadi)– from Mahshahr– Status: Status: under review

7- Isaa Baledi – from Taleghani town in Mahshahr – Status: under review

8- Mohammad Chenani –from Shush – Status: under review

9- Hamzeh (Farzad Farisat) – from Ahvaz – Status: under review

10- Hamid Mojaddam (Jokari) – from Mahshahr – Status: under review

 

HRANA has been able to verify the names of 105 arrested citizens in different cities as are listed below.

People arrested in the city of Ahvaz:

1 – Mohammad Koroshat – Arrested on date not specified

2 – Abas Zargani – Arrested on July 21

3 – Abbas Savari – Arrested on date not specified

4 – Ahmad Savari – Arrested on July 20

5 – Ali Ka’b Alhaei – Arrested on July 20

6 – Amer Zuhairi – Arrested on July 17

7 – Basem Zargani – Arrested on July 21

8 – Basem Heydari – Arrested on date not specified

9 – Fahd Heydari – Arrested on July 21

10 – Fallah Chaldavi – Arrested on July 21

11 – Hamoud Chenani – Arrested on July 17

12 – Hamoud Shamousi – Arrested on July 17

13 – Hassan Saeedi – Arrested on date not specified

14 – Isa Mazra’eh – Arrested on July 16

15 – Meysam Savari – Arrested on July 21

16 – Milad Savari – Arrested on July 21

17 – Mohammad Sakhrawi – Arrested on date not specified

18 – Mohammad Askari – Arrested on July 21

19 – Naser Zargani – Arrested on July 21

20 – Ra’d Heydari – Arrested on July 21

 

People arrested in the city of Bostan:

21 – Faraj Obaidai – Arrested on July 19

22 – Jasem Chaldavi – Arrested on July 19

23 – Malek Chaldavi – Arrested on July 19

24 – Milad Obaidawi – Arrested on July 19

25 – Milad savari – Arrested on July 21

 

People arrested in the city of Chamran:

26 – Ahmad Mujaddam – Arrested on July 22

27 – Ali Mujaddam – Arrested on July 22

28 – Mohammad Mujaddam – Arrested on July 22

 

People arrested in the city of Elhaei:

29 – Abbas Alhaei – Arrested on July 22

30 – Abbas Khovin – Arrested on July 22

31 – Abdol Razzaq Vahid – Arrested on July 22

32 – Amir Alhaei – Arrested on July 22

33 – Mobarak Alhaei – Arrested on July 22

 

People arrested in the city of Hamidiyeh:

34 – Abas Saedi – Arrested on July 22

35 – Ghasem Saedi – Arrested on July 22

36 – Mahmoud Saedi – Arrested on July 22

37 – Rasool Sava’edi – Arrested on July 22

38 – Razi Dahimawi – Arrested on July 21

39 – Sadegh Abyat – Arrested on July 22

40 – Sadegh Saedi – Arrested on July 22

41 – Tiban Saedi – Arrested on July 22

 

People arrested in the city of Khorramshahr:

42 – Abdolreza Soleimani – Arrested on July 18

43 – Ali Soleimani – Arrested on July 18

44 – Ali Soleimani Tamimi – Arrested on July 18

45 – Ali Abdol Hossein Gatafah – Arrested on July 18

46 – Basem Soleimani – Arrested on July 18

47 – Darem Soleimani – Arrested on July 18

48 – Mansour Soleimani – Arrested on July 18

49 – Yarallah Soleimani – Arrested on July 18

 

People arrested in the city of Lordegan:

50 – Ahura Mohammadi – Arrested on July 22

51 – Behnam Hassani – Arrested on July 22

52 – Hamed Hassani – Arrested on July 22

53 – Majed Hamidi – Arrested on date not specified at city of Mollasani

 

People arrested in the city of Ramshir:

54 – Ahmad Asli – Arrested on July 21

55 – Ali Amoori – Arrested on July 22

56 – Falak Amoori – Arrested on July 22

57 – Farzad Atabi – Arrested on July 21

58 – Hamed Khaledi – Arrested on July 21

59 – Hassan Amoori – Arrested on July 20

60 – Heydar AlBushoke – Arrested on July 21

61 – Jasem Tusi – Arrested on July 20

62 – Javad Jaberi – Arrested on July 21

63 – Khaled Amoori – Arrested on July 22

64 – Khaled Amoori – Arrested on  July 21

65 – Majid Mousavi – Arrested on July 21

66 – Mehdi Hamid – Arrested on July 19

67 – Mehdi Zoghibi – Arrested on July 20

68 – Mohammad Amoori – Arrested on July 21

69 – Moslem Echrash – Arrested on  July 22

70 – Muhammad AlBushoke – Arrested on July 21

71 – Omid Tusi – Arrested on July 20

72 – Sajad Mousavi – Arrested on July 21

73 – Saleh Khaledi – Arrested on July 21

 

People arrested in the city of Shavur:

74 – Abdollah Obaidawi – Arrested on July 22

75 – Ali Khosraji – Arrested on July 21

76 – Ali Mohsen Zidan – Arrested on July 21

77 – Ali Ka’bi – Arrested on July 21

78 – Ali Agbi – Arrested on date not specified

79 – Ali Mazrae – Arrested on July 17

80 – Ali Ka’bi – Arrested on July 22

81 – Ayub Abboud al-Namnum – Arrested on July 22

82 – Faysal Mazrae – Arrested on July 17

83 – Ghasem Mazrae – Arrested on July 17

84 – Hassan Mohsen Zidan – Arrested on July 21

85 – Hossein Shomli – Arrested on July 22

86 – Jamil Obaidawi – Arrested on July 21

87 – Khaled Mazrae – Arrested on  July 17

88 – Mehdi Khosraji – Arrested on July 22

89 – Mohammad Ka’bi – Arrested on July 22

90 – Saleh Obaidawi – Arrested on July 21

91 – Seyed Hassoun Iraqi – Arrested on July 22

 

People arrested in the city of Susangerd:

92 – Abdol Amir Jalali (Abu Yahya) – Arrested on July 20

93 – Adel Naderi – Arrested on July 20

94 – Ayad Abiyat – Arrested on date not specified

95 – Emad Abiyat – Arrested on date not specified

96 – Hamze Afrawi – Arrested on  July 20

97 – Ismail Jalali – Arrested on July 21

98 – Mansour Jalali – Arrested on July 20

99 – Mohammad Harizawi – Arrested on date not specified

100 – Mujtaba Salehi – Arrested on July 20

101 – Nader Abiyat – Arrested on date not specified

102 – Reza Afrawi – Arrested on July 20

 

People arrested in the city of Tehran:

103 – Mohammad Niyazi – Arrested on July 23

104 – Mostafa Arfai – Arrested on July 23

105 – Omid Saeedi – Arrested on July 23

***

Read our  Day 8 fact sheet for more info on what is going on in Khuzestan. For media interviews, contact Skylar Thompson at [email protected].

 

 

Citizen from Tehran Executed on Saturday

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Executions
Citizen executed, Citizen execution, citizen executions per-capita, iran executions, Rokna News, Tehran

On Saturday, July 17th, a prisoner from Tehran was executed. Few details are available about the execution.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists,  quoting Rokna news, the prisoner was executed on a charge of murder.

Iran ranks first in the world in citizen executions per capita, according to international organizations. The Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) reported that between January 1 and December 20 of 2020, at least 236 citizens were executed.

The report does not mention the identity of the accused or the place of execution.

Update on Khuzestan: Military Atmosphere and Internet Outages

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Environment, Freedom of Expression
Bushehr, Bushehr Province, Farahmandpour, Hadi Bahmani, Izeh, Khuzestan, Khuzestan protests, Khuzestan province, Khuzestan water crisis

On the evening of Thursday, July 22, reports and images were published showing that protests took place in Genaveh in Bushehr Province.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, as of today internet access has been cut off in most parts of Khuzestan.

Protests started in Khuzestan province on the night of Thursday, July 15, in response to the resource mismanagement that has led to the water crisis.  The protests began on Thursday, July 15, and have now spread to at least 28 cities.

During the last eight days, several citizens have been injured and the killing of three protesting citizens and a police officer has been confirmed by provincial officials. 17-year-old Hadi Bahmani, who was killed during the protest in Izeh yesterday, was buried today. Local sources say the death toll is at least double that number, but HRANA has thus far been unable to confirm its accuracy.

Ali Shamkhani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, has published an article on his social media in which he states, “The security forces have been ordered to immediately release the detainees who did not commit any criminal acts in the recent incidents in Khuzestan.”

At the same time, various judicial and security officials have said they will counter “anti-revolutionaries”. Dezful Governor Ali Farahmandpour called the protests “riots”.

“The rioters will be dealt with severely,” Farahmandpour said. “These riots have nothing to do with agricultural water. The rioters are opportunists who call for a counter-revolution.”

These remarks have raised concerns about the violent treatment of protesters.

The Iran Music House, and the Theater Forum issued statements in support of the protests of the people in Khuzestan and condemned any violent treatment of the legitimate demands of the people.

The global internet watchdog website “Netblocks” has confirmed the internet disruptions since the protests took place in Khuzestan saying that “widespread Internet disruptions in Iran have occurred since Thursday last week following popular protests in Khuzestan province and it continues.”

Read our fact sheet for more info on what is going on in Khuzestan.

 

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Sepideh Gholiyan and Mahboubeh Rezaei Severely Beaten in Bushehr Prison

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Prisoners, Women
Bushehr, Bushehr prison, Fatemeh Aliverdi, Gholiyan, Mahboubeh Rezaei, Ministry of Intelligence, Sepideh Gholiyan

On Tuesday, July 20, civil activist Sepideh Gholiyan and political prisoner Mahboubeh Rezaei were severely beaten in Bushehr Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Gholiyan and Rezaei were beaten by prisoners accused of violent crimes in front of prison officials. It is said that the incident happened at the instigation of the head of the women’s ward of the prison, Fatemeh Aliverdi.

Sepideh Gholiyan has been denied the right to make telephone calls for about two months.

“Ms. Gholiyan and Ms. Rezaei were both beaten and threatened with death and for this reason,” an informed source told HRANA. “Sepideh Gholiyan spent the night at a temperature of 117 in the small backyard of the ward. After the threats, Mahboubeh Rezaei submitted a request to be transferred to Shiraz Prison, which was immediately rejected”

Ms. Gholiyan was sentenced to 5 years in prison by the Tehran Court of Appeals in December 2019. Mahboubeh Rezaei was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison by Branch 17 of the Fars Province Court of Appeal, after reduction.

The two citizens have stated that they were tortured by the Ministry of Intelligence and other security forces.

Kurdistan Province Court of Appeals Sentences Saman Karimi to Imprisonment

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Prisoners
freedom of expression, Karimi, Kurdistan, Kurdistan Court of Appeals, membership in an opposition group, Saman Karimi, Supreme Court

On Saturday, July 17, Branch 4 of the Court of Appeals of Kurdistan Province sentenced Saman Karimi to 9 years in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Karimi was sentenced on charges of”conspiracy acts against the security of the country”, “membership in opposition groups”, and “propaganda against the regime”.

By applying Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the most severe sentence enforceable to him is 4 years in prison.

According to article 134 of Iran’s penal code, “If the number of offenses that are committed is more than three, the penalty shall not be more than the maximum prescribed punishment provided that it shall not exceed 1.5 times the longest sentence. In these cases, only the harshest prison sentence shall be served.”

Mr. Karimi was sentenced to death in November 2019, but the sentence was overturned by the Supreme Court in September of last year.

Civil Activists Released Hours After Arrest in Tehran During March Supporting Khuzestan

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Freedom of Expression, Prisoners
arash kaykhosravi, Arash Sadeghi, Behzad Homayouni, Hamid Asefi, Jafar Azimzadeh, Khuzestan, Khuzestan province, Khuzestan water crisis, Narges Mohammadi, Pouran Nazemi, Rasoul Bodaghi, Ruhollah Mardani, Tehran

On Tuesday, July 20, civil activists Narges Mohammadi, Arash Sadeghi, Arash Kaykhosravi, Ruhollah Mardani, Jafar Azimzadeh, Rasoul Bodaghi, Pouran Nazemi, Hamid Asefi, and Behzad Homayouni, were released from custody a couple of hours after their arrest.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the activists were beaten and arrested while marching in support of the people of Khuzestan.

Before their arrest, they had said in a video that a number of them had been beaten in front of the Interior Ministry by military forces.

During the last six days, people in Khuzestan province have been protesting frequent water cuts, and lack of water resources management in the cities of Ramhormoz, Shavur, Karkheh, Chamran, Kut Seyed Naeem, Shush, Ahvaz, Abadan, Hamidiyeh, Bostan, Susangard, Mahshahr, Khorramshahr, Shadegan, Kut Abdollah, Mollasani, Hoveyzeh, Abu Homeyzeh, and Veys.

Mass Protests in Khuzestan Continue for Seventh Day

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Environment, Freedom of Expression
ahvaz, Behbahan, Izeh, khorramshahr, Khuzestan, Khuzestan province, Khuzestan water crisis, Khuzestan water shortages, Masjed, Ramshir, Shadegan, Shahrui, Soleyman, Yazdanshahr

Today, the cities of Susangard, Behbahan, Abadan, Izeh, Ahvaz, Khorramshahr, Ramhormoz, and Shadegan, staged protest rallies that were confronted by military forces with arrests, tear gas, and bullets.

 

 

Widespread protests started in Khuzestan province on the night of Thursday, July 15, in response to the resource mismanagement that has led to the water crisis. Protests have been going for the past seven days and have spread to at least 22 cities.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, at least four civilians and one police officer have been confirmed as killed since the start of the protests. HRANA was able to verify the identities of those killed since Thursday as Meysam Echresh from Taleghani in Mahshahr, Mostafa Naeemawi from Shadegan, Ghasem Naseri from Kut Abdollah, and officer Zargham Parast in Mahshahr. According to local sources, a number of additional citizens have been injured during the protests as well.

Disconnections and a severe decrease in Internet speed in some cities of Khuzestan province have been reported on social media. Previously, a resident of Ahvaz told HRANA that the internet of all carriers is disconnected, and people cannot access the internet through phones.

Received videos show the presence of a large number of military forces around Azadi Square in Tehran and the security atmosphere for facing possible protests.

The scope of the violence against the protesting people of Khuzestan have elicited reactions from numerous different sections of society. In a statement, the Tehran Teachers’ Union condemned the suppression of the Khuzestan protests and blamed the government for the resource problems. 330 artists gave a statement which condemned the suppression of protests and expressed solidarity with the protesters.

Several film and television artists gathered in front of the Artists’ House to show their support. The players of the Abadan Oil Industry soccer team, the Iranian Writers Association, and the Iranian Cinema House all issued statements in support of the protesters, and calling on the relevant authorities to address the situation.

Today, videos broadcasted on social networks show people marching in Yazdanshahr in Isfahan in support of the people of Khuzestan. Also, people in Masjed Soleyman, Ramshir, Shahrui village of Behbahan, and Ahvaz in Khuzestan marched and held protest rallies.

***

Read our fact sheet for more info on what is going on in Khuzestan. For media interviews, contact Skylar Thompson at [email protected].

 

Khuzestan Update: IRIB Confirms that Citizen was Shot and Killed During Last Night’s Protests in Izeh

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Environment, Freedom of Expression
Abadan, ahvaz, Behbahan, IRIB, Izeh, khorramshahr, Khuzestan, Khuzestan water crisis, Khuzestan water shortages, Shadegan, Susangard, Tehran

The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) confirmed that a citizen was killed during last night’s protests in Izeh, Khuzestan.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Actiists, the IRIB report did not specify the identity of the killed citizen. However, it described his death as a result of a “suspicious” shooting—notably vague phrasing, considering that the overwhelming majority of gunfire throughout the protests has come from government forces.

Widespread protest rallies in Khuzestan started Thursday, July 15, in response to the negligence of officials that led to frequent cuts of drinking water and the drying of Karun River.

The demonstrations against the water cuts and lack of proper resource management continued yesterday into their sixth day. Rallies were held in Susangard, Behbahan, Abadan, Izeh, Ahvaz, Khorramshahr and Shadegan.

Hassan Nabovati, acting governor of Izeh, stated that one police officer was killed and another injured during the protests in Mahshahr last night.

As released videos show, the protests in Izeh were disrupted by violence from military forces. There were reports of military officers spraying tear gas and opening fire at protesters.