May 22, 2010
HRANA – Mohammad Noorizad, distinguished writer and director, has gone on hunger strike in protest after being severely beaten by prison guards at Evin prison.
Continue reading “A Severely Beaten Mohammad Noorizad Goes on Hunger Strike”
Category: Freedom of Expression
Student Sit-in at the University of Water and Power Technology
HRANA News Agency – Students at the University of Water and Power Technology have staged a sit-in to protest against the closure of student dormitories during summer.The University of Water and Power Technology is located in Hakimiye, north east of Tehran.
According to a report by Alef News, in an unprecedented move, university officials have decided to close student dormitories all summer.This decision has been reached despite the fact that the university has sufficient amenities and resources to keep the dormitories open.
Since yesterday, June 22, 2011, a number of undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Water and Power Technology have gathered in front of the school president’s office building to voice their objection.Thus far, school officials have not provided a logical and convincing argument to the students for the decision behind the closure of the dormitories.
As a general rule, during the summer semester, universities throughout the country routinely provide room and board to graduate students enrolled in seminars and undergraduate students working on their final projects.
Plain Clothes Agents Attack Mohammad Ali Abtahi
HRANA – On the morning of Thursday, May 20, 2010, a group of plain clothes agents attacked Mohammad Ali Abtahi’s car with tear gas, cables and knives.
According to Parleman News, Mohammad Ali Abtahi described the incident in the following manner: “This morning, at the end of a memorial for Mirza Javad Tehrani held in Shahre Ray that I was participating, I was attached by a number of plain clothes as I was exiting the event, and then in the middle of the highway, near the holly site a car turned in front of me and a group of motorcyclists attacked my car with kicks, cables and knives and broke the windows and threw tear gas inside my car and I was miraculously able to exit the area with broken windows and teary eyes. It was a vicious attack. No one came to help me. Very confident and without fear. God had mercy on me.”
Fars News Agency had its own, completely different, version of the story, offering the following description: “Abtahi who was supposed to participate in this event faced an attack by a group of individuals who intended to physically attack him, but police forces prevented an attack on his person. Nevertheless, Abtahi’s car was damaged, such that its windows were broken.”
Security Forces Destroy Public Property in Urmia Bazaar
HRANA News Agency – Iranian security and anti riot forces have attacked an indoor market on Mosom Street and destroyed public property.Earlier, this bazaar had been closed because of demonstrations.
According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Iranian security and anti riot forces entered the indoor market on Mosom Street and intentionally destroyed public property while this bazaar had been shut down earlier, and there was no reason for the security forces to enter the grounds.
Another report indicates that detained demonstrators from today’s protests in Urmia have been taken to the Police Station #11 located at Modares Square, Peleh Dentention Center #9, and Intelligence Agency’s Detention Center on Imam Musa Sadr Alley.
Today, thousands of demonstrators poured into streets of Tabriz and Urmia to protest against Lake Urmia drying up. During the majority of these protests, clashes broke out when security forces interfered with the demonstrations and confronted the crowds.
Furthermore, Tehran is under tense military and security measures, and police forces have been present heavily in a number of main squares throughout the capital including Baharestan Square and streets around the Parliament.
Two Iranian Weekly Publications on Trial
HRANA News Agency – On Sunday, June 26, 2011, the court hearing to review the charges against Chel Cheragh and Sayeh Tehran publications was held in Branch 76 of Tehran Province Criminal Court.A panel of judges presided over the trial while a jury consisting of representatives from Iranian press was also present.
According to a report by Iranian Student News Agency (ISNA), at the beginning of this court session, the indictment against the weekly magazine Chel Cheragh was read.Tehran Public and Revolutionary Court had filed charges against Chel Cheragh’s editor accusing him of the publication of women’s pictures as sex objects.
Additionally, the charges against the weekly publication Sayeh Tehran was dropped as the private plaintiff consented to withdraw the complaint.The publishers of Sayeh Tehran had been charged with distributing false reports.
Siamak Koshi, Student Activist, Expelled
HRANA News Agency – Siamak Koshi, a student activist, has been expelled from Tabriz Azad University after his release from prison.
According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), the Office of Student Affairs at Tabriz Azad University has sent an official letter to Siamak Koshi to inform him that he has been expelled from this university.No reason was given for his expulsion.
On May 20, 2011, Siamak Koshi, a Mechanical Engineering student, was arrested by Iran’s Intelligence Agency and charged with propaganda against the regime.
Political Activists Arrested in Ardabil
HRANA News Agency – On Sunday, August 28, 2011, intelligence and security agents stormed Abbas Lasani’s place of business.During this raid, a number of guests were beaten and detained.Abbas Lasani is an Azerbaijani political activist and leader.
According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Rahim Gholami, a well-known journalist, and Mohammad Badali are amongst those assaulted and then arrested.
Previously, Abbas Lasani was detained in June 2007 for leading peaceful demonstrations in Ardebil, following a string of protests in Azerbaijan.He was sentenced to 18 months in prison and 50 lashes.After serving time, he was released.
On Saturday, August 27, 2011, demonstrations were held in Ardabil and Tabriz against a proposal made by the Islamic Consultative Assembly of Iran (the Iranian Parliament) in order to address the crisis of Lake Urmia drying up fast.Peaceful demonstrations by Azerbaijani citizens turned violent when Iranian security forces interfered with the gathering to save Lake Urmia.Dozens of protesters were arrested.
Abbas Khazarlu, Nasser Alilo, Asgar Mahmoudlo, Behnam Haghi, Afshin Nori, Hossein Nouri, Arsalan Hosseinzadeh and Roghieh Hosseinzadeh are amongst those detained.
Shutting Down Underground Fashion Shows
HRANA News Agency – On Wednesday, June 22, 2011, in a press conference to announce the beginning of nightly highway patrol project, Hossein Sajedinia, Tehran’s police chief, said, “One week has passed since the implementation of the Moral Security Plan began throughout the country.During this time, we have witnessed 20% reduction in illegal activities and outlawed appearances.Since people have welcomed our efforts, we have decided to broaden the program.Police will try to give warnings first in order to guide individuals.Those who insist on breaking the law will be punished.”
Reporting that underground fashion shows have been identified and shutdown, Tehran’s police chief added, “These centers attempt to sell illicit and inappropriate attire.When the police finds out, we’ll react immediately.In the last two weeks, we have broadened our efforts and even arrested two men and one woman who were collaborating with each other in order to steal from such centers.”
Pointing out that the residents of Tehran feel much safer, Hossein Sajedinia said, “Increasing people’s sense of security is very important for the police.Fortunately, people feel much safer today in comparison to the past.”
Imprisoned Student, Ali Ajami, Beaten and Battered
HRANA News Agency – On the morning of June 22, 2011, for an unknown reason, the assistant warden of Rajai-Shahr Prison in Karaj beat and battered Ali Ajami in the prison’s medical clinic.
According to a report by Human Rights Activists for Democracy in Iran, Ali Ajami who is a leftist activist had gone to the prison hospital for medical care. While there, the Assistant Warden Khadem severely beat and battered Ali Ajami.
Once Ali Ajami returned to his prison cell in Ward 4, Hall 12, other prisoners having seen his bruises and injuries protested by demanding a public apology from the Assistant Warden Khadem.The prisoners also refused to accept their daily food rations.
The current assistant warden in Rajai-Shahr Prison is one of the known interrogators and torturers in this prison.In recent years, he has held various posts such as the director of ward 1, the director of prison’s intelligence agency and most recently the job of assistant warden at Rajai-Shahr Prison.
Some time ago, while two defenseless prisoners, Hussein Qazvini and Godarzi, were being held in isolation cells in Ward 1 of Rajai-Shahr Prison, the Assistant Warden Khadem tortured and beat them such that as a result, he broke their legs.
When the Assistant Warden Khadem was the director of intelligence agency in Rajai-Shahr Prison, he raped and impregnated a female officer.For this reason, he was fired from his job and transferred to Ghezel Hesar Prison for a while.
Tehran’s Prosecutor General: “Mal-Veiling is a Crime”
HRANA-While emphasizing the criminal nature of bad hejab or mal-veiling, Tehran’s prosecutor general said, “The social security of society must be a serious as well as primary concern of all agencies and organizations and dealing with issues related to social security should not be limited to the judiciary or law enforcement.”
Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi went on to say during a speech at the 21st District Public Prosecutors Office that although the judiciary and security forces have undertaken measures to deal with the issue, religious scholars have expressed great concern regarding dress making it necessary for cultural organizations and agencies to do their part as well.
Continue reading “Tehran’s Prosecutor General: “Mal-Veiling is a Crime””