Category: Freedom of Expression

Five Azerbaijani Turk Activists on Hunger Strike in Ardabil Prison

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Ethnic Minorities, Freedom of Expression, Prisoners
Abbas Lesani, Adrabil, Ali Vaseghi, ardabil prison, Azerbaijani Turk activist, Hunger Strike, Mehrdad Sheikhi, Reza Vaseghi, Yousef Kari

Azerbaijani Turk activists Yousef Kari, Abbas Lesani, Mehrdad Sheikhi, Ali Vaseghi, and Reza Vaseghi have gone on hunger strike to protest prison authorities failing to comply with their demands.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the prisoners were transferred to the quarantine center of Ardabil Prison for isolation on Sunday, June 13, and have been barred from phone calls.
Mehrdad Sheikhi, Ali Vaseghi and Reza Vaseghi have been on a hunger strike since June 13 to protest the non-observance of the principle of separation of crimes and the transfer of political prisoners to wards with prisoners of violent crimes. Abbas Lesani and Yousef Kari have been on strike since Saturday, June 12th.
Despite the long term physical and mental harm that hunger strikes can cause, many prisoners in Iran are resorting to this mode of protest, as it is one of the only tools of expression available to them. Many of these strikes take place in protest of the lack of attention to problems in prisoners’ cases, non-observance of inmates’ rights, and prolonged uncertainty about the status of their detention.
 

HRANA Recap: This Week’s Protests in Iran

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Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, Students
Ahvas ABFA, Cryptoland exchange, Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry, HRANA protest recap, iran protests, Izeh, Karun city, Khuzestan, Kut Abdullah Municipality, Mansoureh village, protest, Protest rallies, Shadegan district, Shush city, Tehran, Tehran City Council, Water Supply and Sewerage of Khuzestan

Sunday, June 6

 

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Workers’ union, on June 6, workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry went on strike for the fifth day in a row to protest the non-payment of their wages for the past two months and the detention of three of their colleagues.

 

Monday, June 7

 

On Monday,  group of workers of Kut Abdullah Municipality protested wage arrears in front of Karun city court. Several Haft Tappeh sugarcane workers gathered in front of Shush city governor’s building. Shareholders of Cryptoland exchange protested in front of Economic Crimes Court building in Tehran. Teachers of Izeh primary schools protested in front of the Khuzestan governor’s office in Ahvaz. A group of residents of Mansoureh village of Shadegan district gathered in front of the city governor building in protest of frequent water shortages. Ahvas ABFA workers held rallies in front of the office building of the General Administration of Water Supply and Sewerage of Khuzestan.

 

Kut Abdullah Municipality workers:

Crypto-land exchange shareholders:

 

Haft Tappeh sugarcane workers in Shush:

 

Izeh primary school teachers:

 

 

Mansoureh villagers in Shadegan:

 

Tuesday, June 8

 

This Tuesday, several owners of addiction clinics and associations (rehabs) protested in front of the Food and Drug Administration in Tehran. Members of the Islamic Labor Council of the Bus Company rallied in front of Tehran City Council. A group of shareholders of crypto exchange protested for the second day in a row in front of the Economic Crimes Court in Tehran. Teachers from non-governmental schools and remote education schools protested in front of the Islamic Consultative Assembly in Tehran, and a number of Khuzestan rice farmers protested in front of the Khuzestan governor’s office in Ahvaz.

 

Addiction clinic and rehabilitation center owners:

 

 

 

Islamic Labor Council of the Bus Company members:

 

Shareholders of crypto-land exchange:

 

Teachers from non-governmental schools and remote education:


 

Khuzestan farmers:

 

 

Wednesday, June 9

 

A group of workers from the Ahvaz Pipe Company in front of the governor’s office, several Stalak landowners of the new town of Pardis stationed in front of the Judiciary building in Tehran, and a group of health stations workers in front of the Ministry of Health building in Tehran all held protest rallies this Wednesday.

 

Ahvaz Pipe Company workers:

 

Stalak landowners:

 

Health station workers:

Thursday, June 10

 

According to HRANA, quoting Asr-e-Jonub News, a group of farmers from the Shavur section of Karkheh city gathered this Thursday to protest the ban on summer planting.

Afkari Brothers Denied Medical Care Amidst Ongoing Torture in Adelabad Prison

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Executions, Freedom of Expression, Prisoners
Adelabad, Adelabad Prison, Adelabad Prison in Shiraz, Habib Afkari, medical neglect, medical negligence, prison guard violence, Shiraz, Unlawful detainment, Unlawful detention, unlawful summons, Vahid Afkari, Vahid and Habib Afkari

Political prisoners Vahid and Habib Afkari have been denied medical care during their 9 month detention in Adelabad Prison in Shiraz. During this time, they have been repeatedly beaten and tortured by prison officials attempting to force confessions related to their role in the 2018 nationwide protests.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the brothers are being held in the Ebrat ward, also known as the “closed ward” of the prison.

The inmates and their family repeatedly requested to be transferred to a political prison, but despite the prosecutor’s promise, authorities have thwarted all efforts to make the move happen. Saeed Afkari has commented on the condition of his imprisoned brothers.

“According to medical jurisprudence, my brother Habib suffered a broken toe, a non-welded wrist fracture, and a torn shoulder during his detention,” Saeed said. “My other brother Vahid suffered neck and arm injuries as a result of a suicide attempt in protest of physical and mental torture. They have been in solitary confinement for 279 days and have not been allowed treatment.”

In mid-September 2020, the two political prisoners were transferred to the Ebrat ward (closed ward), a detention center for prisoners deprived of phone contact. After nearly nine months, they are still being held in this ward of Adelabad prison in Shiraz.

Based on prison regulations and laws, definitive convicts should only be held in public wards under the supervision of the Prisoners’ Organization. According to the same by-laws, keeping the accused in detention should be permitted only with a written order from the judicial authorities. Thus, keeping Habib and Vahid Afkari outside the public ward of the prison without a written order is against the law.

Navid Afkari, Vahid Afkari, and Habib Afkari were arrested in connection with the nationwide protests in 2018.

Navid Afkari, an Iranian wrestler, was executed at Adelabad Prison in Shiraz in September 2020 despite serious ambiguities in the case and a worldwide wave of support for him. Vahid Afkari was sentenced to 54 years and 6 months in prison and 74 lashes, Habib Afkari to 27 years and 3 months in prison and 74 lashes.

 

 

Citizen Detained by IRGC Intelligence Agents in Mazandaran

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Freedom of Expression, Prisoners
election, Iran elections, Iran presidential election, irgc, Mazandaran, Mazandaran province, Ministry of Intelligence, Politics

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Mehr News Agency, a citizen was arrested by IRGC intelligence agents in Mazandaran province for what they described as “links to a monarchist group based abroad”.

The report says: “This operation revealed that this trained person and his associates were trying to recruit members in cyberspace and real-world to increase people’s dissatisfaction and to reduce the maximum turnout in the presidential election, and, like in 2009, inflame the political atmosphere.”

The report does not mention the identity of the detained citizen.

Parliament Approves General Plan to Reward Individuals Sanctioned by “Hostile” Countries and Increase Punishment for Espionage

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Executions, Freedom of Expression, Other
ICANA, irgc, Ministry of Intelligence, NAJA Intelligence Operation, Parliament, Parliamentary Judiciary Commision, Sanctions, Self sacrificers, Veteran status

The general plan to increase the punishment of espionage was approved by Parliament. The plan will also extend  benefits to individuals sanctioned by countries deemed “hostile” by a designated committee.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Islamic Consultative Assembly News Agency (ICANA), under the proposed plan, those who spy for “hostile” countries will be considered “corruptors on earth” and sentenced to execution.

The determination of whether the spying country is hostile or not will fall under the responsibility of a committee consisting of representatives of the IRGC Intelligence Organization, the NAJA Intelligence Organization, and the Ministry of Intelligence, headed by the representative of the General Staff of the Armed Forces.

A member of the Parliamentary Judiciary Commission has stated that those who are on the list of sanctions of countries deemed hostile will be considered “self sacrificers” (a citizen classification most commonly reserved for veterans) and enjoy the attached rights and privileges.

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Frank Jamshidi Transferred to Correction and Rehabilitation Center in Sanandaj

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Freedom of Expression, Prisoners, Women
First Branch of the Revolutionary Court of Sanandaj, Frank Jamshidi, Jamshidi, Judge Saeedi, Kurdistan Province, Sanandaj

Frank Jamshidi, a resident of Sanandaj in Kurdistan Province, was transferred to the city’s correctional center to serve out her prison sentence.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, Jamishidi is facing a charge of “membership in an opposition party”.

In February 2020, a hearing on her case was held in the First Branch of the Revolutionary Court of Sanandaj, presided over by Judge Saeedi, and Ms. Jamshidi was sentenced to four years in prison. The sentence was later reduced to one year in prison by Branch 4 of the Court of Appeals of Kurdistan Province.

Ms. Jamshidi was arrested by security agents in June 2020 and was released on a bail after 4 months of detention.

 

Citizen Arrested for Posting Online About Upcoming Presidential Election

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Freedom of Expression, Prisoners
Akbar Nosrati, censorship, Cyber Police, FATA police, Iran elections, Iran presidential election, West Azerbaijan Province

Akbar Nosrati, head of the Iranian Cyber Police in West Azerbaijan province, announced the arrest of an Instagram page admin for “publishing tense information about the elections”.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Rokna News, Nosrati stated that during the police experts’ monitoring, an Instagram page with the “tense content about the elections” that could have “disrupted public opinion” was identified and its admin was arrested.

Nosrati said the accused claimed his “illegal” act occurred since he was unaware of what the election irregularities are.

Farhad Mohammadi, a Lawyer, Sentenced to prison by Court of Appeals

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Freedom of Expression, Prisoners
Farhad Mohammadi, First Branch of the Sanandaj Revolutionary Court, Kurdistan Court of Appeals, Mohammadi, Sanandaj Revolutionary Court

Attorney Farhad Mohammadi was sentenced to ten months in prison on charges of “acting against national security”.

According to the HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, last June, Farhad Mohammadi was sentenced to four years in prison by the First Branch of the Sanandaj Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Saeedi.

Mohammadi’s sentence was reduced to 10 months imprisonment by the Fourth Branch of the Kurdistan Court of Appeals.

 

Nine Sweeper Workers of Ahvaz Municipality were Arrested After Protest

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Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, Prisoners
Ahvaz Municipality, Davoodi, District 3 of Ahvaz, Mansouri, Protesters arrested, Protesters detained, Worker protest, Worker strike

In recent days, 9 workers in District 3 of Ahvaz Municipality were arrested by police following a strike .

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Asr-e-Junub News, the protest was over the workers’ not having received their job benefits.

The mayor of District 3 of Ahvaz expressed he was not informed about the detention of these workers, adding that “The municipality deals with a third-party contractor, not the workers, and the contractor has been paid”.

As of this writing, two of the nine workers, Davoodi and Mansouri, are still in custody.

HRANA Recap: This Week’s Protests in Iran

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Environment, Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, Students
ahvaz, Ahvaz city, Ali Dabeh Hovaizeh, Azad University, Caspian Financial Institution, Imam Khomeini hospital, iran protests, Isfahan, Izeh Teacher Protest, Khuzestan, Khuzestan Steel Company, Mahshahr, Mahshahr Petrochemical, National Iranian Drilling Camp, Pardis, Persian Gulf Holding, Protest recap, Protests in Iran, Rudbar, Salman, Shiraz, Teacher protests, Teacher's protest

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, a number of protests took place in different parts of the country this week. Below is a quick recap and footage from the demonstrations.

 

Saturday, May 29

 

On Saturday, May 29, A group of farmers in Ahvaz city held a rally in front of the Khuzestan governor’s building near the Salman water supply canal to protest water shortages. Teachers of Green Result-Letter rallied in front of the Ministry of Education building in Tehran. Staff of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Karaj gathered after receiving inaccurate salary payments in the hospital area. Izeh preschool teachers rallied in the city’s education building and protested uncertainty over their employment status. Persian Gulf Holding staff protested in front of the gate of the special Mahshahr site. Protestors called on their demands to be addressed.

 

Farmers in Ahvaz city and rural areas:

 

 

Teachers of Green Result-Letter:

 

 

Staff of Imam Khomeini Hospital:

 

 

Izeh preschool teachers:

 

 

Workers from the Persian Gulf Holding:

 

 

Sunday, May 30

 

On June 30, farmers from different villages of Ahvaz city held a rally for the second consecutive day in front of the Khuzestan governor’s building. Retirees of Khuzestan Steel Company held rallies in several cities including Tehran, Ahvaz, Isfahan, and Rudbar in front of their cities’ Civil Servants Pension Fund buildings. A group of teachers and staff of non-profit schools from different cities gathered in front of the Islamic Consultative Assembly building in Tehran, in front of the Education Department in Isfahan. Several professors at Azad University in Ahvaz, Shiraz, and Isfahan rallied in front of the campus buildings of their towns. Several fired workers of Mahshahr Petroleum Products Distribution Company gathered in front of the entrance of the oil depot of this city. Bankrupted investors in Caspian Financial Institution rallied in front of the Judiciary building in Tehran. Villagers of Bloband from the Kharqan section of Zarandieh city in Markazi Province held rallies as well.

 

Farmers from different villages of Ahvaz:

 

 

Retirees of Khuzestan Steel Company:

 

 

Tehran

 

 

Khuzestan province

 

 

Teachers and staff of non-profit schools in Tehran and Isfahan:

 

 

Azad University Protesters:

 

Ahvaz

 

Shiraz

 

 

Isfahan

 

 

 

Fired workers of Mahshahr Petroleum Products Distribution:

 

 

Bankrupted investors in Caspian Financial Institution:

 

 

Monday, May 31

 

Several employees of the Persian Gulf Holding Oil protested in front of Mahshahr Petrochemical Site 4. A group of teachers rallied in front of the Islamic Consultative Assembly building in Tehran. Service staff of the National Iranian Drilling Camp protested in Ahvaz. Staff of Imam Hospital Khomeini protested in Karaj. A group of temporarily employed staff of Mahshahr Petrochemical Special Zone and Bandar Imam held rallies.

 

Employees of the Persian Gulf Holding Oil:

 

 

Temporary employees of Mahshahr Petrochemical:

 

Service staff of the National Iranian Drilling Camp in Ahvaz:

 

Staff at Imam Khomeini Hospital in Karaj:

 

 

Tuesday, June 1

 

A group of Haft Tappeh Sugar Cane workers protested in front of the management office complex. A group of landowners in the new city of Pardis gathered in front of the Judiciary building, several of whom lost money to the Mehr View Housing project in Tabriz, at the project’s site.  Masjed-e-Soleiman ranchers who lost their livestock to sewage water pollution of Masjed Soleiman Petrochemical protested the devastating oversight.  A group of bus drivers in the bus terminal of Shiraz held protest rallies and called on their demands to be addressed.

 

Landowners in the new city of Pardis:

 

 

Masjed-e-Soleiman ranchers:

 

 

Mehr View Housing project:

 

 

Bus drivers in Shiraz:

 

 

Wednesday, June 2

 

Workers of Haft Tappeh Sugar Cane gathered in front of the complex’s management building for the second day in a row and protested. A group of Ahwaz Water and Wastewater personnel rallied in front of the company’s building.

 

Workers of Haft Tappeh Sugar Cane (Day 2) :

 

 

Thursday, June 3

 

Workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Cane, who say they have not yet received their salaries for the past two months, rallied for the third day in a row in the company’s yard. Police responded violently to the demonstration. In Tehran, BRT bus drivers  rallied to call on their demands to be addressed.

 

Workers of Haft Tappeh Sugar Cane (Day 3):