HRANA – The court date for the next trial of the imprisoned Baha’i leaders has been set for June 12, 2010, at 9:00 a.m.
Continue reading “Court Date for Baha’i Leaders Set for June 12, 2010”
Category: News
A Teen on Trial for Killing a Basiji
HRANA News Agency – Two years ago, at the age of seventeen, Ali Nasiri was arrested and charged with vehicular homicide resulting in the death of a basiji.During this time, Ali Nasiri has been locked up in Rajai-Shahr Prison in a state of limbo.It is believed that the case against him has been fabricated by the security and judiciary officials.
Born in 1992, Ali Nasiri was only seventeen years old when he was arrested on June 14, 2009 during the protests following the presidential elections in Iran.Together with his friends, Ali Nasiri was stopped while driving his car on Paknejad Blvd. in Saadat Abad and was immediately transferred to the Shahpur Detention Center.Although he was released on bail after eight days, his vehicle remained impounded by the Shahpur Intelligence Agency.
According to a report by Human Rights Activists for Democracy in Iran, on the same night after Ali Nasiri had been locked up for several hours at the Shahpur Detention Center, a few members of Iran’s Basiji Militia were run over by an unknown motorist while they were stopping vehicles on Kakh Square.As a result of this hit and run incident, a Basiji named Hussein Qollam Kabiri was killed.
After a few days following his release, Ali Nasiri received a letter informing him that in order to pick up his vehicle, he had to go to the Intelligence Agency on July 31, 2009. When he showed up at the agency on the designated date, Ali Nasiri was arrested again and subsequently first transferred to the Juvenile Center and then to Rajai-Shahr Prison.
After spending two years in prison in a state of limbo and uncertainty, Ali Nasiri was finally put on trial this month on charges of not having a driving license and also participating in the murder of Hussein Qollam Kabiri.Although there is an obvious time discrepancy between when the accused was detained while driving and when the hit and run occurred, during the trial, Judge Aziz Mohammadi insisted on finding Ali Nasiri responsible for the charges.
A Prisoner Hanged in Behbahan
HRANA News Agency – Early Monday morning, May 23, 2011, a citizen was hanged in Behbahan prison (Khuzestan Province).
According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), this prisoner has been identified as the thirty year old Saeid S., charged with trafficking narcotics and transporting 80 kilograms of opium. The death sentence was confirmed by Iran’s Attorney General.
Two Baha’i Residents Begin Their Sentences in Hamedan
HRANA – On Sunday, May 23, 2010, two Baha’i residents from Hamedan commenced their prison terms at Hamedan prison.
Continue reading “Two Baha’i Residents Begin Their Sentences in Hamedan”
Three Kurdish Political Prisoners on Hunger Strike in Rajai-Shahr Prison
HRANA News Agency – Since a week ago, three Kurdish political prisoners have been on hunger strike in Rajai-Shahr Prison to protest being locked up amongst ordinary criminals such as rapists, murderers and drug traffickers.
According to a report by Kalame News, Anvar Khezri, Kamran Shakhi and Seyed Ebrahim Seyedi have been illegally transferred from Ward 350 of Evin Prison to Rajai-Shahr Prison in violation of their basic rights.While ordinary prisoners only spend one day in the quarantine ward of Rajai-Shahr Prison in order to determine whether they are addicted to narcotics or not, these three political prisoners spent 50 days in the same ward which lacks basic health and sanitary conditions.After this time, they were transferred to Ward 6 of Rajai-Shahr Prison instead of the political prisoners’ cell block.
These three political prisoners are currently locked up amongst inmates convicted of violent crimes and also prisoners with dangerous communicable diseases.According to the principles governing the separation of prisoners based on their crimes, these three individuals must be kept in the cell block allocated to inmates arrested for political reasons.
While these three individuals are even denied basic rights extended to other prisoners, their families are deeply concerned about their physical and emotional well-being.These three political prisoners demand to be transferred to the ward housing other political prisoners.
Three Were Hanged at Central Prison in Urmia
HRANA News Agency – Early this morning, Sunday, May 22, 2011, three inmates were hanged on prison grounds in the city of Urmia, [West Azerbaijan Province], by the order of judicial authorities.
According to a report by Mukrian News Agency, two of the inmates were from Shiraz, and the other one was from Urmia. All three individuals were charged with and convicted of drug-related crimes.
Yesterday, these three inmates were transferred to the Quarantine Ward in preparation to carry out the execution orders.
Baha’i Family Denied Burial Permit in Makou
HRANA – The family of Mrs. Jamileh Athari of Makou (West Azarbaijan Province) have not been granted a permit to bury their loved one.
Continue reading “Baha’i Family Denied Burial Permit in Makou”
Hussein Ronaghi Malaki Denied Medical Treatment
HRANA News Agency – Hussein Ronaghi Malaki’s second surgery has been postponed for the third consecutive time due to the interference of prison officials following orders issued by security and judicial apparatus.
According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Hussein Ronaghi Malaki is an imprisoned blogger and human rights activist who was scheduled to have a surgery on May 22, 2011.However, prison officials have once again interfered with Hussein Ronaghi Malaki’s medical care, endangering his life.Illegal actions taken in violation of prison statute have delayed this prisoner’s medical treatment for 17 days.
Hussein Ronaghi Malaki is serving a 15 year prison term and also suffers from gallbladder discomfort.Despite his attending physician’s recommendations, Hussein Ronaghi Malaki has been denied furlough to seek medical care.
Mohammad and Abdullah Fathi Executed in Esfahan for Enmity with God
HRANA News Agency – Mohammad and Abdullah Fathi were hanged in Esfahan prison on Tuesday morning, May 17, 2011.
According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), in early morning hours, the two brothers who were 27 and 28 years old were hanged in Esfahan’s Dastgerd prison while a group of people together with the Fathi family gathered outside since the night before to ask for the verdict to be repealed.
Mohammad and Abdullah Fathi were charged with the crime known as Moharebeh [Waging War Against God] through armed robbery and organizing an illegal group against the Islamic Republic regime. The two brothers had confused to their crimes as a result of being tortured for a long time.
On March 28, 2010, seven individuals were arrested by law enforcement officers in Chalus (Mazandaran Province) and were subsequently transferred to Esfahan. These seven individuals have been identified to be Mohammad and Abdullah Fathi (son of Bijan), Davood Jamshidian (son of Mohammad Reza), Saied Javanmardi (son of Yadollah), Mohsen Goudarzi (son of Lotfollah), Daniel Amiryavary (son of Mohammad Reza), and Ibrahim Javanmardi (son of Reza).
Judge Moghazi presided over Esfahan’s Revolutionary Court, Branch 24, in a trial which lasted two hours and sentenced the aforementioned individuals to death. After the cases were referred to the higher court, the Supreme Court judges announced that the maximum penalty for each individual should have been seven to fifteen years in prison. Accordingly, the death sentences for five of these individuals were repealed. However, Mohammad and Abdullah Fathi’s punishment was not reversed, and their family was notified by the officials who said, “The order has come from the above that these two must be executed.”
Bijan Fathi, Mohammad and Abdullah Fathi’s father, in an interview with HRANA pointed out that their home was near the front lines during the Iran-Iraq war in the 80’s and mentioned, “My sons suffered from neurological disorders because of bombings and explosions. Mohammed developed stuttering, and Abdullah didn’t begin talking until he was three years old. From 1986, they were receiving psychological counseling and treatment, and four years ago, their treatment began again. The records are still kept by their doctor. Consequently, they either aren’t capable of committing such crimes or are not in control of their actions.”
Bijan Fathi added, “My sons’ medical records have been sent to the court, but unfortunately, no one has bothered to conduct an investigation by referring the records to the medical examiner. They have just said that they want to execute these two individuals.”
Mohammad Seyfzadeh Transferred to Evin Prison
HRANA News Agency – Mohammad Seyfzadeh, an attorney and the co-founder of the Center for Human Rights Defenders, has been transferred from Urmia Prison to ward 209 in Evin.
According to a report by the Campaign for the Independence of Iranian Bar Association, Mohammad Seyfzadeh was arrested two months ago in Urmia and charged with acting against national security by attempting to leave the country illegally.This report also indicates that Mohammad Seyfzadeh was held captive for one month in a solitary confinement in Evin Prison, ward 209 but now has been transferred out of isolation units into prison cells housing multiple inmates.Mohammad Seyfzadeh remains in temporary custody for the time being while his case is pending review by the fourth branch of Evin Prison’s court system.
It has been reported that Mohammad Seyfzadeh’s physical and psychological condition isn’t good, and his family has been allowed to visit him only twice during his detention.