Category: News

Five Christians Sentenced to Prison

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Religious Minorities
Behroz Sadeq Khanjani, Mehdi Forotan, Mehrdad Gharoni, Mohammad Belyad, Nazli Kamarian, Parviz Khalaj, Yosef Nadarkhani

HRANA News Agency – Last week, five Iranian Christians were sentenced to a total of 5 years in prison despite the fact that they were exonerated of all charges by a lower court.They were retried because the prosecutor had objected to the initial verdicts.

According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), the Appeals Court of Fars Province has handed down a one year prison term for Behroz Sadeq Khanjani, Mohammad Belyad, Nazli Kamarian, Parviz Khalaj and Mehdi Forotan.

Mathias Hagh-Nejad who was recently released on a bail approximately equivalent to $28,000 confirmed the verdicts against these individuals and said, “Additionally, I am waiting for my trial, and Mehrdad Gharoni, another Christian citizen, is locked up behind bars in the Intelligence Agency’s detention center in Esfahan.Yosef Nadarkhani will also be tried in Gilan’s Revolutionary Court, Branch 11, on September 25, 2011.

After the new verdicts were issued by the Appeals Court, these five Christian citizens were summoned to serve their prison terms.

Today, Christian Democratic Union in Germany released a letter written to Iranian Embassy to vehemently object to the incarceration of Yosef Nadarkhani and to ask for his immediate release.Yosef Nadarkhani is a Christian priest sentenced by Gilan’s Revolutionary Court to die on charges of apostasy.

 

Tense Security Measures in Mahabad for Days

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Ethnic Minorities
Koohsar, Kurdistan, Madar Squares, Mahabad, Mokhaberaty Farhang, Salehi Farhangian

HRANA News Agency – During the last few days and while simultaneously celebrating the Army Day in the Islamic Republic of Iran, tense situation and tight security measures have been imposed in the city of Mahabad [Northwestern Iran, Kurdistan].

According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), the city of Mahabad has witnessed an increased presence of military and security forces throughout town in the past two days.

Police forces, Iranian Revolutionary Guard, the local Basiji militia, and plainclothes officers have been positioned on and around Hekmat Bridge, streets leading to Koohsar and Madar Squares, stations 1 and 2 of Farhangian region, Mokhaberaty Farhang Street, Salehi Farhangian Street, the hills around Melat Park and the region surrounding this park.  The heavy presence of security and military forces has created a tense atmosphere of fear and apprehension.

Additionally, the presence of military and police vehicles throughout the city has caused heavy traffic and is interfering with the daily lives of the residents.

Unlike previous years, simultaneous maneuvering of military troops and police forces has been conducted between Koohsar and Madar Squares.

Security Forces Threaten the Families of Those Killed after the Elections

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Freedom of Expression
Mostafa Karim-Beigi, Ramin Ramezani, Sohrab Erabi

HRANA News Agency reports that according to Jaras, families of those killed after the disputed presidential elections in Iran who were visiting their gravesite in Behesht-e Zahra Cemetery were harassed and threatened.
Families gathered to commemorate their loved ones were interrogated for several hours and ordered to leave. Family of Amir Arshad Tajmir who was killed last year in Ashura were in Behesht-e Zahra’s part 302 on the anniversary of his birthday. Families of Sohrab Erabi, Ramin Ramezani, and Mostafa Karim-Beigi were among the participants.

Security forces arrested and interrogated Sohrab Erabi’s mother for several hours before releasing her. In recent days, threats on the families of those killed after the elections have been escalated. Security forces have also attempted to attack some of the families’ houses and prevent them from gatherings to honor their loved ones.

 

Two Years Prison Term for Labor Activist Khosrow Bukani

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Labor and Guilds

HRANA – Khosrow Bukani, labor activist and executive for the Coordinating Committee for the Establishment of Labor Organizations, was sentenced to a two year prison term.

He was notified of his sentence by the revolutionary court in Orumieh this June. He was sentenced to two years in prison based on unsubstantiated charges and for his membership in the labor committee.

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Mehdi Tajik Sentenced to 37 Months in Prison and 30-Year Ban on Political Activity

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Prisoners
Mehdi Tajik

 

May 13, 2010

HRANA – Mehdi Tajik a Tehran University student and a human rights activist has been sentenced to 27 months in prison and a 30 year prohibition of political activity. The sentence was handed down by the Revolutionary Court, Branch 26.

His original crime was association and plotting against national security and had been sentenced to a 2 year sentence, a 91 day sentence for propaganda against the Government, and a one million touman ($1000) penalty for insulting the President.

He has been banned from reporting, blogging, interview, writing articles and even analysis of political events, as well as membership in any party or affiliation with any party, and any political activity.

This while there has been no evidence of any political activity presented in the Court pertaining to the post-election developments.

Three men were executed in Ghazvin, Iran

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Executions
Hassan R, Hossein S, Reza Ch

HRANA News Agency –Three men with charges related to drug trafficking were executed in Ghazvin, Iran, this morning.

According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA),  Judicial Informative website of Ghazvin Province, released a report that says three men with charges related to drug trafficking were executed in presence of agents from  Judicial office, police, prison authorities and several more governmental offices.

Their names were mentioned as: Hassan R., Reza Ch. and Hossein S.

The Judicial authorities also have informed of several executions in coming months.

The pardon request for these three prisoners sentenced to death was rejected by Pardon and Forgiveness Commission, two times.

Shutting Down Political Prisoners’ Cell Block in Urmia

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Prisoners
Ali Ahmad Solaiman, Habibullah Galiripour, Jahangir Badozadeh, Majid Dalaei Milan, Mehr Ali Farhang, Shafagh Dalaei Millan

HRANA News Agency –Following the transfer of six political prisoners to solitary confinement in the Urmia Central Prison, Mehr Ali Farhang who is in charge of political prisoners’ cell block has announced that Ward 12 will be closed down soon.

In recent months, Mehr Ali Farhang has continued to abuse and threaten political prisoners.Lately, he has announced that Ward 12 which houses political prisoners will be closed, and all inmates will be transferred to different cell blocks in the general prison population.
According to threats made by Mehr Ali Farhang, thirty political prisoners locked up in Ward 12 are scheduled to be transferred to other cell blocks where ordinary prisoners convicted of drug related crimes are being kept.
Two political prisoners, Majid Dalaei Milan and Shafagh Dalaei Millan, have already been transferred to a cell block housing drug addicts.Additionally, Azar Jafari after being beaten and battered was moved together with another political prisoner to different wards in Urmia Central Prison.
According to another report, Habibullah Galiripour, Ali Ahmad Solaiman and Jahangir Badozadeh were finally returned to political prisoners ward after being locked up in isolation cells since December 6, 2011.
 

Basiji Forces Opened Fire at Gonabadi Dervishes

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Religious Minorities
Majzooban Nur, Nimatullahi Gonabadi

HRANA News Agency – Sources related to Nimatullahi Gonabadi Sufi Sect have reported that a few hours ago, Basiji Militia opened fire at the members of this sect in the capital city of Kavar County, Fars Province.The shooting lasted almost an hour until Special Forces Unit dispatched from Shiraz put an end to it.

According to a report by Majzooban Nur, Nimatullahi Gonabadi Order News Site, clashes began when Basiji Militia shot tear gas canisters and also bullets at the members of Gonabadi Sufi Sect.Basiji agents then raided houses and set stores on fire.Following the outbreak of conflicts in the Kavar County, security forces installed closed-circuit cameras in assembly halls where religious ceremonies were held and prevented the members of Gonabadi Sufi Sect to enter the city of Kavar.

This report also explains the reason for the outbreak of violence in Kavar County:Apparently, when a young Muslim seminary student distributed pamphlets and CDs amongst Basiji forces and chanted “Death to American Dervish,” militia members were incited to act against Gonabadi Sufi Sect and set dervishes’ stores ablaze.

During today’s clashes, a number of individuals on both sides of the conflict were injured.Kavar County is now under tense military and security measures.

 

Ten Years Imprisonment for Three Citizens of Salmas

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Ethnic Minorities
Nemat Jalibagho, Poran Javadi, Vahid Jamali

HRANA News Agency – The judiciary system in Western Azerbaijan has issued a total of 10 years in prison for three Kurdish citizens in Salmas.

According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Nemat Jalibagho, Poran Javadi and Vahid Jamali are three Kurdish citizens who were arrested last year and charged with the assassination of Khoy County’s district Judge, Gholizadeh, but were eventually released after posting a heavy bail.

Based on a ruling issued by the Revolutionary Court in Salmas, Nemat Jalibagho and Poran Javadi have been condemned to four years of imprisonment each, and Vahid Jamali, the son of Yavr, has been sentenced to two years in prison.