A Statistical Look at the Violations of Human Rights in Iran During the Past 12 Months – 1402 AH

HRANA – The year 1402 (April 14, 2023 – March 15, 2024) paints a vivid picture of the ongoing human rights violations in Iran. The persistent threats to freedom of thought and expression, the crackdown on peaceful protestors, increased pressures on ethnic and religious minorities, trials and harassment of human rights activists, executions of juveniles, the plight of child laborers, violations of the rights of women and sexual and gender minorities, and the unsatisfactory conditions of detention centers and prisons are just some examples of the daily infringements on human rights in Iran. The comprehensive report from the HRA Center for Statistics and Data (HRACSD) that follows presents a regrettable state of human rights violations in Iran over the past year.

According to data from 10,133 reports registered at the HRACSD during the past year (March 21, 2023, to March 15, 2024), 3,187 citizens were arrested in Iran based on ideological or political grounds or in direct conflict with human rights principles. In addition, 672 arrests were related to individuals’ lifestyles.

Key areas of arrest included 2,491 cases in the realm of the right to freedom of thought and expression, with 112 of those detained being under the age of 18. There were also 61 cases of worker and labor activist arrests, 30 cases involving professional activists, 132 arrests of religious minorities, 45 arrests of women protestors and women’s rights activists, 16 in the cultural sector, 5 arrests of sexual and gender minorities, 56 environmental activists, and 351 individuals arrested on an ethnic basis. It should be noted that the charges against 330 individuals in the latter category are unspecified, but based on patterns and the security institution’s history in the mentioned areas, these arrests are classified under ethnic-national rights.

Aside from the 3,187 arrests with a political or ideological basis, at least another 672 citizens were detained for choosing their lifestyle and attending private parties across various cities in Iran. These detentions highlight the intrusion into citizens’ private lives and inspection of their lifestyle choices, contrary to the law and accepted human rights principles.

Moreover, general and revolutionary courts across the country issued sentences in 843 cases, amounting to a total of 31,809 months of custodial sentences and 1,981 months of suspended sentences for ideological or security-related offences. Of these, 25,197 months of imprisonment were issued by first-instance courts, 8,113 months by appellate courts, and 480 months by the Supreme Court. In addition to imprisonment, monetary fines were also levied against the convicts, totalling approximately seven billion, six hundred twenty-three million, two hundred fifty-nine thousand Tomans.

Due to the silence of families and governmental institutions, precise statistics on the extent of child abuse are not available. However, based on collected reports, at least 17 cases of sexual assault or abuse of children, 47 child murders, 5 honor killings, 62 child suicides, and over 929,000 children dropping out of school have been documented this year.

In 1402 (April 14, 2023 – March 15, 2024), no new statistics on child marriage were published by the Statistical Center of Iran or official media. However, a look at the data from previous years reveals the dire situation. The Statistical Center of Iran had announced that in 1401, at least 27,000 girls who were married were under the age of 15. This center did not mention marriages among individuals aged 15 to 18, which would be considered, under international conventions, as child marriages. The year before, in 1400, the total number of registered marriages for individuals under 18 was 56,343.

Amidst the negligence of the responsible organizations and the existence of a mafia exploiting child labor in the country, no precise data on the number of working and street children are provided by the relevant authorities. However, according to an estimate by the Iranian Scientific Association of Social Work in 1402, at least 35,000 child laborers were active in Iran.

The annual report also addresses the continuation of “inhumane” sentences last year, punishments that starkly deviate from the spirit of human rights and human dignity. Among these were 1 amputation sentence and 2 cases of amputation sentence executions.

From a multitude of reports, it is observed that Iranian citizens received sentences totalling 5,071 lashes in various courts across the country, with a minimum of 442 lashes being administered. Among these, 160 lashes were carried out publicly.

In 1402, Iranian women, like other segments of society, experienced a challenging year. Alongside legal shortcoming and the absence of assurances for sexual and gender equality within social and legal frameworks,  the were a reported a minimum of 37 cases of sexual assault and abuse, 98 instances of women being murdered, 40 honor killings including 7 men, 2 self-immolations, 36 cases of suicide, 8 acid attacks, and 3,176 instances of confrontations stemming from improper or absent adherence to hijab norms.

Throughout 1402, a total of 540 citizens were shot at by military forces, resulting in 129 deaths, including 29 kolbars (cross-border labor), 29 fuel carriers, and 71 other citizens. 411 citizens were injured by indiscriminate shooting by military forces, including 353 kolbars, 33 ordinary citizens, and 25 fuel carriers.

Additionally, 11 other kolbars faced accidents due to climatic and geographical conditions such as frostbite and falls from heights, resulting in 6 injuries and 5 deaths.

On another note, this year saw two horrific explosions during the fourth anniversary of Qasem Soleimani’s death in Kerman, killing more than 100 people and injuring 170 others.

In addition to the fatalities directly caused by the actions of military personnel, at least 9 citizens lost their lives due to landmine explosions in various parts of the country; additionally, 25 others were injured. Most of these mines are remnants of war, for which the Iranian government bears specific responsibilities to neutralize or fence off contaminated areas to protect citizens’ lives and ensure their safety.

Consistent with the pattern observed in the decades following the 1979 revolution, the practice of executions in Iran persists as one of the most glaring human rights violations. In 1402 (April 14, 2023 – March 15, 2024), at least 767 citizens, among them 21 women and 2 juvenile offenders, were executed. Of these, 7 individuals were executed in public. Furthermore, during this period, 172 individuals were sentenced to death, with 5 of them sentenced to public execution. It’s noteworthy that the preliminary sentences of another 49 individuals were also upheld by the Supreme Court.

Regarding prisoners’ rights in 1402, there were 31 instances of political prisoner beatings, 276 instances of neglect or denial of medical services to prisoners, 307 instances of illegal solitary confinement transfers, 90 hunger strike attempts by prisoners, 397 instances of forced transfers or exiles of prisoners, 2773 instances of threats and pressures on political and ideological prisoners, 76 instances of preventing prisoner visits, 6 prisoner deaths due to illness, 20 instances of prisoner suicide, 8 instances of prisoner murder, 190 instances of denied access to legal representation, 134 instances of denied communication rights, 145 instances of failure to separate crimes, 2876 instances of prisoners kept in inappropriate conditions, 81 instances of coerced confessions, and 96 instances of denial of medical furlough were documented. Additionally, 459 instances of lack of information and 1258 instances of indefinite detention of detainees were documented.

The preceding year proved to be unfavorable for workers as well. Within this timeframe, at least 7066 workers were laid off or became unemployed, 1527 individuals were killed in work-related accidents, and 4215 instances of physical injuries to workers on the job were reported. Moreover, 3996 cases of worker uncertainty, 2,266,000 instances of lack of insurance, and 47 factory closures were recorded. Additionally, at least 82,206 workers reported wage arrears, cumulatively amounting to at least 1020 months of unpaid wages.

In 1402, at least 2257 protest gatherings took place in Iran, including 408 labor gatherings, 1465 professional gatherings, 200 in the realm of thought and expression, 32 student gatherings, 2 religious minority gatherings, 4 women’s gatherings, 1 cultural gathering, and 20 environmental gatherings. Additionally, 125 protest gatherings were held by citizens, mostly by those who had been defrauded or other individuals whose civic rights had been violated, across all 31 provinces. Alongside the protest gatherings, at least 38 professional strikes, 134 labor strikes, and 2 student strikes took place.

In conclusion, it is imperative to acknowledge that the statistics presented in this report cannot be deemed a comprehensive portrayal of the human rights landscape in Iran. The Iranian government’s restrictions on independent human rights organizations hinder their ability to operate freely and access vital resources. Consequently, these reports should be regarded as a minimal representation of Iran’s human rights situation, solely documented by civil institutions such as HRANA and compiled and registered through the HRACSD.

For more information, please refer to the organization’s 2023 report, which has been recently published. You can download the PDF file of the images of this report here.

Iranian-Swedish Saeed Azizi’s Five-Year Prison Term Upheld on Political Charges

The Appellate Court of Tehran has affirmed a five-year prison sentence for Iranian-Swedish citizen Saeed Azizi.

Currently incarcerated in Evin Prison, Azizi was initially handed the five-year term for charges of “assembly and collusion against national security” by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, under the jurisdiction of Judge Iman Afshari.

Azizi’s legal representative has revealed that he is battling cancer, adding an extra layer of difficulty to his detention. His health has further deteriorated following a recent fall down a flight of stairs.

Previously, Sweden’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs had expressed concern over the arrest of a Swedish national man in Iran, citing a lack of clarity regarding the reasons behind it.

Protest Rapper Toomaj Salehi Acquitted of Disseminating False Information and Inciting Violence

Toomaj Salehi, the protest singer, has been acquitted by the Criminal Court of Isfahan of charges related to “disseminating false information” and “inciting people to violence.” His lawyer, Amir Raisian, confirmed this development, clarifying that these charges stemmed from a video Salehi published in November 2023.

Presently held in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan, Salehi faces a one-year prison sentence imposed by the Revolutionary Court for allegedly “spreading propaganda against the regime.” Alongside this verdict comes a two-year travel ban, revocation of his passport, and mandatory enrollment in behavior management and knowledge skills programs. This sentence was upheld on appeal.

Salehi’s legal saga began in late October 2022 when he was initially detained by security forces during nationwide protests. Subsequently, the Isfahan Revolutionary Court sentenced him to six years and three months in prison, among other penalties. However, he secured release on bail after the Supreme Court overturned the verdict.

Nevertheless, Salehi’s freedom was short-lived as he was re-arrested in Babol on November 30, just twelve days after being bailed out from Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan. The Judiciary spokesperson cited Salehi’s post-release statement as grounds for this subsequent arrest.

It’s worth noting that Salehi has a prior conviction from January 12, 2022, where he received a six-month prison term and a fine, with the imprisonment suspended for one year.

Journalist Ali Moslehi Receives Six Years and Two Months in Prison

Journalist Ali Moslehi has been sentenced to six years and two months in prison through two verdicts issued by the Criminal and Revolutionary Court of Kashan, with 22 months suspended for five years.

According to Moslehi’s lawyer, Saeed Gholamian, the Kashan Revolutionary Court handed down a 15-month sentence for “insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran” and a seven-month sentence for “spreading propaganda against the regime,” both suspended for five years. Additionally, the Criminal Court of Kashan sentenced him to three years and one month for “blasphemy” and one year and three months for “disseminating false information.”

Moslehi was arrested by security forces in Kashan on July 20, 2023. Following his arrest, he was transferred from the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility to Kashan Prison in August. He was later released on bail of one billion tomans (approximately 20,000 dollars).

Ali (Abbas-Ali) Moslehi has a history of previous arrests and judicial confrontations due to his activism.

Maryam Khalili Detained by Security Forces in Isfahan

Maryam (Marzieh) Khalili, aged 24, was apprehended by security forces in Isfahan on March 14, 2024, and transferred to an undisclosed facility.

A source close to Khalili’s family verified her arrest to HRANA. According to reports obtained by HRANA, Khalili has been repeatedly summoned and interrogated by judicial authorities, and previously released on bond. She now faces charges including “spreading propaganda against the regime,” “insulting the Supreme Leader,” and “blasphemy,” as declared by the Revolutionary Court of Isfahan.

At present, the reasons behind Khalili’s arrest and her current whereabouts remain undisclosed.

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Extension of Mohammad-Hossein Sepehri’s Detention Continues Legal Limbo

Political detainee Mohammad-Hossein Sepehri’s confinement in Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad, has surpassed 168 days, with his uncertain legal status persisting. Recently, authorities prolonged his detention for an additional month.

Asghar Sepehri confirmed to HRANA the extension of his brother’s detainment by the Public and Revolutionary Courthouse in Mashhad.

Sepehri was apprehended by security forces in Mashhad on September 28, 2023, facing charges of “assembly and collusion against national security” and “spreading propaganda against the regime.” Moreover, on January 20, 2024, his employment was terminated by the Ministry of Education.

Notably, Sepehri’s sister, Fatemeh Sepehri, also languishes as a political detainee in the same prison.

Execution Carried Out in Qazvin Prison for Drug Conviction

As confirmed by Iran Human Rights Organizations, Qazvin Prison authorities proceeded with the execution of an inmate on March 14, 2024, for drug-related offenses.

The individual, Behzad Biderang, 42 years old and a father of two, was hanged after being convicted of a drug-related crime two years prior.

No official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have provided coverage of this execution at the time of writing. In 2023, 66% of HRANA’s reports on executions lacked official announcements by judicial authorities and went unreported by media inside Iran, highlighting a troubling lack of transparency in due process.

The reports from the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists for the year 2023 reveal a concerning prevalence of executions for drug offenses in Iran, constituting 56.4% of the total executions. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s report.

 

Five Citizens Arrested in Tabriz by Security Forces

Five Azerbaijani-Turk activists, Siamak Seifi, Milad Zeinolabedini, Samad Heydari, Amin Taghizadeh, and Amir Taghizadeh, were arrested by security forces in Tabriz on March 13, 2024.

They were detained while leaving the football stadium. The charges against them remain undisclosed.
Among these people, Siamak Seifi, known for his activism, has faced previous arrests and legal challenges.

Concerns Rise Over Health of Political Prisoner Hamzeh Savari

Political prisoner Hamzeh Savari Laftah, currently serving a life sentence in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj, is facing alarming health issues amidst inadequate medical care. Despite his urgent need for treatment outside the prison walls, authorities have repeatedly denied him access to essential medical attention.

According to a source close to Savari’s family, he has been enduring a painful baker’s cyst in his knee for five years, which has worsened over time, extending to his tendon due to the absence of proper medical intervention. Shockingly, prison officials, under orders from the prosecutor, have refused to transfer him to a hospital for necessary treatment.

Reports obtained by HRANA indicate that Savari has also been battling Varicose disease for eleven years, with a recurrence three years ago following a surgery nine years ago. Despite his persistent requests for medical assistance, he has been consistently denied access to treatment.

Arrested at the tender age of 16 on September 2, 2005, Savari was initially sentenced to death by the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court on charges of “spreading corruption on earth, enmity against God (moharebeh), and acting against national security.” However, his sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment.

The troubling case of Savari adds to a larger pattern of neglect within Iranian prisons. In 2023, the Department of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran documented 1,390 instances of denial or neglect of medical care for prisoners, highlighting a systemic issue that demands urgent attention.

Woman Killed in Police Shooting Incident

In Aligudarz, Lorestan Province, tragedy struck when police mistakenly opened fire on a vehicle, resulting in the death of 21-year-old Negar Karimian.

According to her sister’s social media post, on March 9, 2024, police fired upon their vehicle, mistaking it for another, injuring Negar. Despite efforts, she succumbed to her injuries in the hospital.

Reports suggest that the police suspected the vehicle of involvement in drug smuggling, leading to the tragic mistake.

In 2023, the Department of Statistics and Publications of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) documented 402 incidents of civilians being shot by military forces. These incidents resulted in 120 civilian deaths, including 20 Kolbars (border carriers), 37 fuel carriers, and 63 other civilians. Additionally, 282 individuals were injured, comprising 228 Kolbars, 31 ordinary civilians, and 23 fuel carriers.