Category: Other

Sadegh Mahmood-Nejad Sentenced to Five Years and Six Months in Prison

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News, Other
Naqadeh, Piranshahr, Sadegh Mahmood-Nejad

Sadegh Mahmood-Nejad, a resident of Piranshahr, has been handed a five-year-and-six-month prison sentence by the Mahabad Revolutionary Court, according to a report by Kurdpa.

Mahmood-Nejad was found guilty of “membership in an anti-regime political party and spreading propaganda against the regime.”

In another part of his legal case, the Criminal Court of Piranshahr has sentenced Mahmood-Nejad to pay a fine substituting a three-month prison term and 30 lashes.

The incident unfolded on July 3, 2023, when security forces arrested Mahmood-Nejad at his residence, subsequently detaining him in Naqadeh Prison. Following 12 days of incarceration, he was released on bail.

Security Forces Detain Two Minors in Piranshahr

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Children, News, Other
Farzin Nabi, Hidi Yousefi Aghdam, Piranshahr

On November 19, 2023, Hidi Yousefi Aghdam, 16, and Farzin Nabi, 14, were apprehended separately by security forces in Piranshahr and subsequently transported to undisclosed locations, according to Kurdpa.

Yousefi Aghdam was taken into custody at his parent’s residence without the presentation of an arrest warrant. In Nabi’s case, the arrest occurred at his workplace, where agents reportedly used violence during the apprehension.

As of now, the reasons behind their arrests and their current whereabouts remain unknown.

Two Civilians Fatally Shot by Military Forces in Sistan and Baluchestan Province

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News, Other
Amir Safari, Hirmand, Iranshahr, Matin Narui, Sistan and Baluchestan

On November 16, two tragic incidents unfolded in the Sistan and Baluchestan Province, where military forces, without warning, fired upon civilians, resulting in fatal outcomes in Hirmand and Iranshahr counties, as reported by Haal Vsh.

In the vicinity of Iranshahr, military forces opened fire on a vehicle traveling on the road, claiming the life of 18-year-old Matin Narui (Narooie) with a gunshot to the head.

In a separate incident on the same day, 45-year-old Amir Safari (Sarani) was fatally shot in the chest in a village within Hirmand County. Responding to a gunshot, he and fellow villagers emerged from their homes, only to be met with gunfire from military forces positioned in a watchtower. Amir Safari, located just 100 meters from his residence, succumbed to the injuries sustained. The family’s inquiries into the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident remain unanswered by local authorities.

Disturbingly, these incidents add to a concerning trend. According to data compiled by the Center of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA), a total of 845 individuals were shot by military forces in 2022. Of these victims, at least 571 lost their lives, including 22 Kolbar, 9 fuel carriers, and 540 civilians. Additionally, 274 people suffered injuries from military forces’ gunfire, comprising 134 Kolbar, 128 civilians, and 12 fuel carriers. The need for transparent investigations and accountability in these matters is paramount to address the alarming frequency of such incidents.

Two Individuals Detained in Zahedan

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News, Other
Abdolmatin Esmaeil Zahi Shah-Baksh, Mesbah Esmaeil Zahi Shah-Baksh, Zahedan

On Monday, November 13, Mesbah Esmaeil Zahi Shah-Baksh and Abdolmatin Esmaeil Zahi Shah-Baksh were taken into custody by security forces in Zahedan and subsequently moved to an undisclosed facility, according to Haal Vsh.

Mesbah, 20 years old, and Abdolmatin, 21 years old, were reportedly apprehended on the street in Zahedan. The grounds for their detention, their current location, and the specific allegations against them remain unknown as of now.

Mahnaz Tarah Arrested in Tehran

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News, Other
Evin Courthouse, Farzin Rezaie Roshan, Mahnaz Tarah, مهناز طراح

Security forces in Tehran detained Mahnaz Tarah on November 13, transferring her to Evin Courthouse. Reports indicate Tarah was violently apprehended in the streets, and her companion, Farzin Rezaie Roshan, was reportedly assaulted during the arrest.

The motive behind Tarah’s arrest remains unclear. Notably, the residence of Rezaie Roshan, a former political prisoner, was subjected to a search by agents in September.

Tarah, who has previously encountered security and judicial challenges, was granted amnesty in February of this year, leading to her release from prison under a “general pardon and commutation” directive.

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Kamyab Raei Arrested and Detained in Unspecified Location

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News, Other
Kamyab Raei

On November 8, 2023, security forces apprehended Kamyab Raei, taking him to an undisclosed location.

A source with ties to his family reported Raei’s arrest at his residence. During the operation, the agents conducted a search of his house and seized some of his belongings. The motives behind Raei’s arrest, his current location, and the specific allegations against him remain unknown at this time.

Makki Grand Mosque Staff Member Arrested in Zahedan

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Freedom of Expression, News, Other
Abubakr Tohidi, Zahedan

On the evening of November 6, Abubakr Tohidi, a member of the camera crew at the Makki Grand Mosque, was detained by security forces in Zahedan and taken to an undisclosed location, according to a report by Haal Vsh.

Tohidi was reportedly apprehended at a police checkpoint in Zahedan. The grounds for his arrest, his current location, and the charges against him remain undisclosed at this time.

Student Parastoo Faridi Arrested in Tabriz

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Freedom of Expression, News, Other, Students
Parastoo Faridi, Tabriz

On November 4, 2023, Parastoo Faridi, a student at the University of Tabriz, was apprehended by security forces and subsequently taken to an undisclosed location.

Faridi was detained at her father’s residence in Tabriz. During the apprehension, intelligence agents conducted a search of their home and seized some of her personal belongings.

Parastoo Faridi is pursuing her studies in industrial engineering at the University of Tabriz.

UNGA-78 Side Event Highlights The Ongoing Persecution of Minorities in Iran

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News, Other
Deepa Parent, HRA, javaid rehman, Mahsa Amini, OutRight International, Simin Fahendej, Skylar Thompson, Zhina Mahsa Amini

NEW YORK, NY – An event titled “One Year of ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’: The Ongoing Persecution of Minorities in the Islamic Republic of Iran” hosted by HRA in partnership with OutRight International was held yesterday in New York, at Scandinavia House. The gathering, in the margins of the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA-78), addressed the ongoing human rights situation in Iran.

The event was a reminder of the challenges faced by minorities in Iran, especially in the wake of the “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests. The demonstrations, which began a year ago following the tragic death in detention of Zhina Mahsa Amini, have drawn attention to the Iranian authorities’ excessive use of force and rampant human rights violations.

Independent journalist, Deepa Parent, expertly moderated the session. Opening remarks were courageously delivered by Iranian human rights activists, who, despite the risks, provided virtual comments directly from within Iran.

Dr. Javaid Rehman, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Iran, offered insightful keynote remarks that outlined the challenges and potential paths forward for improving human rights in the country.

Skylar Thompson, representing Human Rights Activists (HRA) presented three key areas the international community can urgently address the cycle of impunity in Iran including through continuing to support UN-led investigations including through the renewal of the FFMI mandate, the renewal of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Iran and steadfast support for resolutions on Iran. Second, she added the need for pursuing international pathways to justice notably through the use of universal jurisdiction in light of the unwillingness to investigate violations domestically. She concluded that the continued and united condemnation against violations of human rights and international law are essential because as she stated, “silence is complicity.”

Other panelists, including Simin Fahendej from the Baha’i International Community (BIC) and Awin Mostafazade from Kurdpa, provided rich context to the discussion, shedding light on the depth and breadth of discrimination that various minority groups encounter daily.

As the event concluded, the consensus was clear: the international community must redouble its efforts to address the plight of minorities in Iran. The event, which was open to the media, will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression on all who attended.

Watch the event here:

Four Sunni Religious Students Detained in Zahedan

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Freedom of Expression, News, Other, Religious Minorities
Makki Grand Mosque, Zahedan

On October 26, 2023, reports emerged that security forces apprehended four Sunni clerical students from the Makki Grand Mosque of Zahedan, taking them to an undisclosed location, according to Haal Vsh.

The arrests occurred shortly after the individuals had left the Mosque, and they were reportedly taken into custody by plainclothes agents.

As of now, the identities of these students, their current locations, and the specific charges against them remain undisclosed. The situation is being closely monitored for further developments.