Category: Other

Five Individuals Arrested in Mahabad

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, Other
Amir Bayazidi Azar, Cia Pirzad, Geok Tepe, Jalal Mahmoudi, Kambiz Bayazidi Azar, Kurdpa, Mahabad, Shahram Bayazidi Azar

On August 16, 2022, security forces arrested five individuals in Mahabad, West Azerbaijan Province, and transferred them to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, on August 16, 2022, security forces arrested Amir Bayazidi Azar, Shahram Bayazidi Azar, Kambiz Bayazidi Azar, Chia Pirzad and Jalal Mahmoudi.

All these individuals are residents of the village Geok Tepe located in Mahabad County.

At the time of arrest, the agents searched their house and arrested them without showing any arrest and search warrant.

Last year, Amir Bayazidi Azar was arrested and sentenced to three months in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime.” He was released from jail on January 1, 2022, after serving out his sentence.  

Military Forces Shot an Individual, Injured Two Others in Urmia Border

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
Azir Saberi-Azar, Mohammad-Amin Ahmadi, Zarar Ahmadi

On August 9, 2022, at a border area, military forces shot a man dead and injured two others.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, a man identified as Mohammad-Amin Ahmadi was killed by the military forces’ direct shooting. Two other individuals identified as Zarar Ahmadi and Azir Saberi-Azar were injured.

Without a warning, the military began to shoot at these individuals on suspicion of smuggling.

Mohammad-Amin Ahmadi, age 30, was married with two children and a resident of the village Lajani in Urmia Province.

Police Shot Dead Two Children near Khorramabad 

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
Firoozabad, Khorramabad, kolbars, Mariwan, sukhtbars

On July 31, 2022, two minors were killed by the police’s unruly shooting toward a vehicle on a road leading to Khorramabad. The police arrested the children’s injured parents and transferred them to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, at a checkpoint in Firoozabad, the police shot at a vehicle, killing two children. 

The victims have been identified as two brothers, Mehdi and Matin Rashedi Manesh, ages 9 and 13, from a village in Mariwan County.

According to an informed source, no warning was given to stop the vehicle when the police fired at the vehicle. The two adults are severely injured and in critical condition.

According to HRANA’s annual report, in 2021, 242 citizens were targeted by unruly shootings by regime military forces, of which 94 were killed. This includes 23 kolbars (cross-border carriers) and 31 sukhtbars (cross-border fuel porters). 148 people have been injured, including 81 kolbars and 51 sukhtbars.

Shadi Dargahi Arrested in Mariwan

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News, Other
Iraj Rahimzadeh, Shadi Dargahi

On July 28, Shadi Dargahi was arrested after an appearance at the Ministry of Intelligence’s office in Marivan, Kurdistan Province. Dargahi’s husband, Iraj Rahimzadeh, was also transferred from a detention facility in Sanandaj to Mariwan Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, on July 28, in Mariwan, the Ministry of Intelligence’s office summoned Shadi Dargahi for interrogation when she was arrested and transferred to Sanandaj Correctional Center.

 Five Individuals Arrested for Espionage 

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
Espionage, Israel, Mossad

The Intelligence Protection Organization of Iranian Police announced the arrest of five individuals for espionage.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Mizan News, five individuals were arrested and accused of espionage for the “association with the national intelligence agency of Israel.”

Without revealing the identities of these individuals and providing further details, the above-mentioned agency announced: “These individuals were gathering information from sensitive areas. More than gathering information, they were committing arson, writing anti-regime slogans on walls and were training for sabotage and armed operations.”

There are serious concerns about the validity of espionage allegations due to the frequent use of such accusations by the Iranian intelligence officials, which is aimed at suppressing its opponents. Such claims are often ambiguous in legal proceedings due to the lack of transparency and their political nature.

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Hamid Nouri Sentenced to Life Imprisonment by Swedish Court

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
Hamid Nouri, Rajai-Shahr

A Swedish court sentenced former IRGC official Hamid Nouri to life imprisonment for his role in the mass execution of political prisoners in 1988. At the time, Nouri was working as the assistant to the Deputy Prosecutor of Rajai Shahr Prison. In 2019, Nouri was arrested upon arrival at the airport in Sweden for committing crimes against humanity under the rules of universal jurisdiction.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on July 15, 2022, Hamid Nouri was sentenced to life in prison by a Swedish court for “crimes against humanity (war crimes) and murder.”

As the assistant to the deputy prosecutor, Nouri had an important role in the execution of thousands of political prisoners between July and September of 1988.

On November 9, 2019, Nouri was arrested upon arrival at Stockholm’s Arlanda Airport.

At least 60 witnesses and 12 experts testified in his trial.

In an interview, a former Iranian Judge, who was the head of the so-called Death Committee at that time, justified these atrocities as “a necessary action against conspirators’ plots.”

In 1988, by the direct order of Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ruhollah Khomeini, a committee (later known as the Death Committee), including current President Ebrahim Raisi, was established to execute thousands of political prisoners.

Four Citizens Arrested in Oshnavieh County

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News, Other

On July 13, 2022, in Oshnavieh County, West Azerbaijan Province, four individuals, including a Sunni cleric, were arrested and transferred to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, on July 13, 2022, security forces arrested four individuals in Oshnavieh.

These individuals have been identified as Farhank Keramat, age 27, Molamohammad Tahazadeh, a Sunni cleric, Abdolrahman Dehyar, and Fara’an Ebrahimi.

The reason for these arrests is unknown so far. However, Kurdpa speculated that these arrests can be related to broadcasting a speech by the loudspeaker of a mosque in a village in Oshnavieh County.

Polish Scientist Maciej Walczak Arrested in Iran

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
Fars News, irgc, Maciej Walczak, Polish scientist, U.K.Ambassador

The spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland confirmed the arrest of a Polish scientist named Maciej Walczak in Iran. Earlier,  Iran state TV had reported this individual’s arrest in Kerman Province. 

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the IRGC has arrested a Polish scientist named Maciej Walczak in Kerman. 

Polish officials have promised that they will do their best to free Walczak. 

On Wednesday, Iran state TV claimed that Walczak and three colleagues were taking soil samples at a restricted site of a missile test. 

IRGC-affiliated news agency Fars News published video footage from the arrest of several foreign diplomats including the deputy of the U.K.Ambassador in Iran,  accusing him of spying by taking samples of Iranian soil in restricted areas. The reports claimed that the official would be expelled after making an official apology. 

 

Belgian National Arrested in Iran 

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
Belgium's justice minister, Olivier Vandecasteele, Van Quickenborne

Belgium’s justice minister has confirmed the arrest of a Belgium National accused of “espionage” in Iran.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Agence France-Presse (AFP), Belgium’s Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne confirmed the apprehension of a Belgian man in Iran.

Without revealing the individual’s identity, Van Quickenborne called the detention “illegal.”

Yesterday, Iran International TV Station revealed the identity of the Belgian individual as Olivier Vandecasteele, a 41-year-old aid worker who has served in various international humanitarian organizations since at least 2006.

Iran has frequently detained foreign or dual nationals for political aims such as prisoner swaps or gaining leverage in negotiations with the West.

There are serious concerns about the validity of espionage allegations due to the frequent use of such accusations by Iran, which is to suppress its opponents and the ambiguities in legal proceedings and the lack of transparency.

Four Individuals Arrested in Kermanshah for Spreading Falsehood 

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
Kermanshah, Shahram Karami, spreading falsehood

Shahram Karami, the prosecutor-general of Kermanshah Province, announced the arrest of four individuals by security forces for “association with foreign media and spreading falsehood.”

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Javan Online, four individuals were arrested by the Ministry of Intelligence in Kermanshah Province.

Without revealing the identities of the individuals, Karami claimed that they were arrested after publishing pictures of an Iranian rape victim in Iraq, in association with anti-regime networks and media abroad.