HRANA – Mrs. Shahnaz Ranjbar Oladi, a Baha’i resident, was arrested on Monday, June 7, 2010.
Category: News
Political Prisoner Kamal Sharifi Transferred to Prison Hospital
HRANA News Agency – Following four weeks of ongoing hunger strike, political prisoner Kamal Sharifi has been transferred to the prison hospital in Minab Prison, Hormozgan Province.It has been reported that he is in critical condition. Kamal Sharifi is a journalist and political activist from the city of Saghez, Kurdistan Province.
According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Kamal Sharifi began his hunger strike four weeks ago to protest prison conditions.Subsequently, he has been the target of prison official’s wrath and ill-treatment.
Iranian Security forces arrested Kamal Sharifi in the city of Saghez and charged him with the attempt to overthrow the government and acting against the national security.Kamal Sharifi has been sentenced to 30 years in prison and exiled to Hormozgan Province.Currently, he is serving his third year in prison with rapidly deteriorating physical health. During the last three years of incarceration, Kamal Sharifi has not been permitted to have any visitors.
Five Mass Executions in Vakil Abad Prison Confirmed
HRANA News Agency – While confirming five mass hangings of prisoners in Vakil Abad Prison, the public and revolutionary prosecutor in the city of Mashhad said, “The media exaggerates the execution of citizens accused of drug trafficking.”
According to a report by the Iranian Students News Agency (ISANA), in an attempt to justify recent mass executions, Mahmoud Zoghi said, “Foreign and counter-revolutionary news agencies are making a big deal about this issue.It must be noted that Razavi Khorasan Province and the city of Mashhad border Afghanistan from where illegal drugs enter the country.”
Mahmoud Zoghi added, “Currently, Razavi Khorasan Province and the city of Mashhad have the worst drug-related crimes throughout the country.In some cases, drugs are even imported into Mashhad from other parts of Iran.”
Furthermore, the public and revolutionary prosecutor explained, “According to drug trafficking laws, the punishment for the transportation, possession and trading of more than 30 grams of heroin is the death sentence.Since the largest amount of heroin is imported into the Razavi Khorasan Province, naturally, the highest number of executions will take place here.”
Confirming that five mass executions have occurred this year, Mahmoud Zoghi added, “A lot of our drug trafficking cases are related to crimes involving more than 10 kilograms of heroin.”
While mentioning the names of various individuals who have been hanged for drug trafficking, Mahmoud Zoghi said, “Considering the number of cases we have had, these many hangings are proportionally adequate.Foreign media is exaggerating the issue for no reason.”
Destruction and Vandalism of Baha’i Cemetery in Mashhad
HRANA – The Baha’i cemetery in Mashhad was vandalized on the night of May 29, 2010, by unknown intruders.
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Behrouz Javid Tehrani and Three Others in Isolation Cells
HRANA News Agency – Four political prisoners in Karaj’s Rajai-Shahr Prison have been transferred to solitary confinement for an unknown reason.
According to a report by Human Rights Activists for Democracy in Iran, on Tuesday, June 28, 2011, Behrouz Javid Tehrani, Mohammad Ali Mansouri, Farzad Maddadzadeh and Salih Kahandel have been locked up in isolation cells in Sepa Ward.No reason has been announced for this transfer.
It has been reported that more than sixty prisoners in Hall 12 of Ward 4 are kept in isolation and away from the general population in Rajai-Shahr Prison.
Thirteen Were Executed in a Month for Rape
HRANA News Agency – The Statistics, Publications and Achievements Division of Human Rights Activists in Iran has reported that thirteen prisoners accused of rape have been executed in various cities throughout Iran during the last thirty days.According to the policy set forth by Iran’s Judiciary Branch, twelve of these individuals were hanged in public in order to set examples and frighten the masses.
These executions have been happening while in recent days, the news of gang-rapes in Esfahan and Kashmar has caused increasingly sharp criticism of the Judiciary System that has failed to assist the victims who called the emergency services for help.
According to the report released by the Statistics, Publications and Achievements Division of Human Rights Activists in Iran, nine prisoners were also hanged in different cities throughout Iran from mid April to mid May.
It seems as if punishing the perpetrators of rape violently has produced reverse effects in dealing with this harmful social phenomenon such that the spokesman for Iran’s Judiciary Branch has indirectly pointed out that there are tens of rapes cases only in the city of Kashmar.
Baha’i Resident of Semnan Imprisoned
HRANA – Ms. Sousan Tebyanian, a Baha’i resident of Semnan, began serving her prison sentence on June 7, 2010.
Hasan Hussianpour Beaten by Rajai-Shahr Prison Officials
HRANA News Agency – Prison officials at Rajai-Shahr Prison in the city of Karaj have beaten and battered Hasan Hussianpour and locked him up in solitary confinement.
According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), In mid May of this year, Hasan Hussianpour who is a regular prisoner was attacked and beaten by other inmates.He was subsequently transferred to the prison hospital and then to solitary confinement.Afterwards, because he protested to being locked up in an isolation cell, Hasan Hussianpour was beaten again but this time by prison officials.
Hasan Hussianpour was once more transferred to the prison hospital while being in critical condition.After he received stitches for his wounds, and his other injuries were treated, he was locked up in a solitary confinement in Ward 1 again.Although his wounds have not healed, prison officials refuse to provide further medical care to him.
It has been reported that after 45 days of solitary confinement, Hasan Hussianpour’s wounds have been infected, and he is in critical condition.
Two Prisoners in Nishapur Hanged in Public
HRANA News Agency – On Thursday morning, May 9, 2011, two prisoners were hanged in public in the city of Nishapur, [Khorasan Province.]
In an interview with the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), Mahmoud Rafsanjani, the Chief Justice of Nishapur, identified the prisoners “Mohammad M.” and “Mokhtar A.”While Mahmoud Rafsanjani didn’t disclose the prisoners’ ages, he further explained that they were charged with raping a woman.
On Wednesday, May 8, 2011, another prison in the city of Kerman was also executed.
Baha’i Family Finally Granted Burial Permit
HRANA – The family of Mrs. Jamileh Athari of Makou (West Azarbaijan Province) were finally able to obtain the requisite permit for her burial.
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