Prisoner Executed in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan

Yesterday, September 11, a prisoner convicted of murder was executed in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan.

According to Iran Human Rights Organization, at dawn on Wednesday, September 11, Behnam Bagheri, a 30-year-old man, was executed in Dastgerd Prison.

Mr. Bagheri had been arrested five years ago on murder charges and was subsequently sentenced to death by the judiciary.

As of the time of this report, prison officials and relevant authorities have not officially announced the execution.

According to the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran, in 2023, at least 767 citizens, including 21 women and 2 juvenile offenders, were executed. Of these, the executions of 7 individuals were carried out in public. Additionally, during this period, 172 others were sentenced to death, with 5 of them sentenced to public execution. It is worth noting that during the same period, the initial death sentences of 49 other individuals were also upheld by the Supreme Court.

Revolutionary Court Sentences Esmaeil Gerami to One Year in Prison

Esmail Gerami, a workers’ rights advocate imprisoned in Evin Prison, has been sentenced to one year in prison by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, according to Iranian Retirees Council.

The verdict, issued by Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran and delivered to Mr. Gerami in prison today, convicts him of “propaganda against the regime” for participating in retirees’ protests, sentencing him to one year of imprisonment. The court session for reviewing his charges took place on August 27 of this year.

On August 7, security forces searched Mr. Gerami’s residence, confiscating personal items including his laptop, mobile phone, and national ID card, and summoned him to Shahid Moghaddas Court in Evin.

Four day later, Esmail Gerami was arrested after appearing at Evin Court and transferred to Evin Prison’s quarantine ward. He was later moved to Ward 4 of Evin Prison.

Earlier this year, in July, Esmail Gerami was fined by Branch 1027 of the Tehran Criminal Court 2.

Esmail (Esmaeil) Gerami has a history of arrests and judicial encounters due to his activism.

Reports from the Department of Statistics and Publication of HRA in 2023 indicate a total of 193 cases in which Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, has been involved in issuing verdicts that infringe upon the human rights of defendants.

Mina Soltani, Mother of a Victim of the 2022 Nationwide Protests, Arrested

Yesterday, September 11, Mina Soltani, the mother of Shahryar Mohammadi, one of the victims of the 2022 nationwide protests, was arrested by security forces in Bukan and taken to an undisclosed location.

Milad Mohammadi, her son, shared the news, stating: “Security forces violently raided my mother’s house. She is not answering her phone, and we have no information about her whereabouts.”

As of the time of this report, the reasons for her arrest, the charges against her, and her place of detention remain unknown.

Mina Soltani’s son, Shahryar Mohammadi, was killed by gunfire on November 18, 2022, during the nationwide protests in Bukan.

Omid Izadi Sadeghabadi Arrested and Transferred to Prison to Serve Sentence

Omid Izadi Sadegh Abadi, a citizen with disabilities, has been arrested and transferred to Shahrekord Prison to serve his prison sentence. This is despite the fact that he suffers from multiple physical health issues.

Based on information received by HRANA, this citizen had gone to court on August 26 to pay his fine, but was arrested and transferred to Ward 4 of Shahrekord Prison to serve his sentence.

A source close to the family confirmed the news and explained Mr. Izadi’s health condition: “He suffers from an illness similar to MS (Multiple Sclerosis), which has affected his nervous system, mobility, and speech. He cannot walk independently and has difficulty speaking.”

The source added that the prison sentence and fine were recently upheld by the Court of Appeals of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province.

In April of this year, Omid Izadi Sadeghabadi was sentenced by Branch 101 of the Second Criminal Court of Saman County to four years of imprisonment and a fine for charges of “propaganda against the Islamic Republic (media activities supporting the Zionist regime)” and “spreading false information with the intent to disturb public opinion.”

Omid Izadi Sadeghabadi, aged around 36, resides in Saman County.

Motahareh Goonehi’s One-Year Prison Sentence Upheld on Appeal

Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals has upheld the one-year prison sentence for Motahareh Goonehi, a suspended student from Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Branch 29 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court had initially handed down the sentence.

The charges stem from Gonei’s protest against the death sentence of Toomaj Salehi and her public comments regarding the “murder and assault” of Nika Shakarami. The Court of Appeals convicted her of “propaganda against the regime in favor of anti-revolutionary media.”

Goonehi was arrested by IRGC intelligence forces on May 1, 2023, and transferred to Evin Prison. She was released on bail four days later. Earlier, she and her husband, Mehdi Hadizadeh, both students at Tehran University of Medical Sciences, had been temporarily suspended and transferred to Ardabil University. More recently, Goonehi was expelled from Tehran University, and her academic file was forwarded to Ardabil University.

A dentistry student and activist, Goonehi had previously been arrested during the 2022 nationwide protests.

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Two Prisoners Executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj

At dawn today, September 11, two prisoners previously arrested and sentenced to death on drug-related charges were executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj.

HRANA has confirmed the identities of the executed prisoners as Sajjad Bandegi and Abdulrahman Tajik, the latter being an Afghan national. Both had been sentenced to death for drug offenses. Yesterday, they, along with another inmate, were transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for their execution.

The third prisoner, whose identity remains undisclosed, is still being held in solitary confinement, awaiting further action.

As of this report, prison authorities and official sources have not formally announced the executions.

The reports from the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists for the year 2023 reveal a concerning prevalence of executions for drug offenses in Iran, constituting 56.4% of the total executions. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s report.

Prisoner Executed in Nowshahr Prison for Drug Offenses

Morteza Yousefi, who was a former champion of Iran’s national Greco-Roman wrestling team, was executed at dawn today, Wednesday, September 11, in Nowshahr Prison. He had previously been sentenced to death on charges related to drug offenses.

The identity of the prisoner has been confirmed by HRANA as Morteza Yousefi, approximately 41 years old, a resident of the village of Sang-e Tajen, Nowshahr, with a bachelor’s degree in physical education and a former champion of Iran’s national Greco-Roman wrestling team.

Mr. Yousefi had previously been arrested on drug-related charges and sentenced to death by the judiciary.

In a prior letter to Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the head of the judiciary, Yousefi had written that three judges involved in his case had requested a reduction in his sentence, and that the Supreme Court had overturned his death sentence, which had also been approved by the Supreme Leader’s pardon commission. In the letter, he wrote that the implementation of his pardon required only final approval and the order of the head of the judiciary.

Shortly after, Hassan Rangraz, head coach of Iran’s national Greco-Roman wrestling team, also shared an image of Yousefi’s letter and urged the head of the judiciary to revoke the death sentence and reduce his punishment.

However, the requests by Yousefi and the support of athletes and wrestling officials were ignored by the judiciary, and Morteza Yousefi was finally executed at dawn today in Nowshahr Prison.

As of the time of this report, prison authorities and relevant institutions have not officially announced his execution.

The reports from the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists for the year 2023 reveal a concerning prevalence of executions for drug offenses in Iran, constituting 56.4% of the total executions. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s report.

Kamran Afsari Arrested by Security Forces in Marivan

On Tuesday, September 10, Kamran Afsari, a resident of Marivan, was arrested by security forces in the city and transferred to an unknown location, according to Kolbar News.

The individual has been identified as “Afsari, 29 years old, from the village of Ney, a suburb of Marivan.”

The report states, “Security forces, without presenting a judicial warrant, violently searched the family home and arrested this citizen. Additionally, the agents assaulted Mr. Afsari’s mother.”

As of the time of this report, there is no information on the reasons for his arrest, his whereabouts, or the charges against him.

Afsari has previously been summoned and interrogated by authorities.

Denial of Medical Treatment for Alireza Torfi, Detained Citizen in Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz

Alireza Torfi, a political detainee, has been held in Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz, for six months without formal charges. He has also been denied proper medical care and transfer to healthcare facilities.

A source familiar with Torfi’s health confirmed to HRANA: “Alireza suffers severely from kidney stones, to the extent that he is unable to move. Yet, he has been deprived of specialized medical attention and transfer to a hospital.”

Torfi, 36, was arrested by security forces in March of this year and transferred to Sheiban Prison.

As of this report, no information regarding the charges against Torfi has been made available.

Appeals Court: Mashallah Karami Sentenced to Prison

Mashallah Karami, father of executed protester Mohammad Mehdi Karami, was sentenced to four years and three months in prison by the Alborz Province Appeals Court in relation to part of his case, according to Shargh Newspaper.

Ali Sharifzadeh, Karami’s defense lawyer, explained that Karami was sentenced to three years and seven months for “assembly and collusion against national security,” and eight months for “propaganda against the regime.”

The lawyer emphasized, “We will appeal the Appeals Court’s decision, and we hope that by filing for a retrial, the Supreme Court will overturn the ruling.”

In a previous trial by the Karaj Revolutionary Court, Karami had been sentenced to five years in prison for “assembly and collusion against national security,” and one year for “propaganda against the regime.”

In August of this year, Karami was sentenced by Branch 102 of the Nazarabad Criminal Court 2 to eight years and ten months in prison, along with a fine of 1.9 billion tomans and asset confiscation, for “money laundering and illicit acquisition of wealth.”

Sharifzadeh had earlier argued that the security charges brought against his client were not consistent with his actions. He added, “Mr. Karami simply distributed charity meals, funded by public donations. This was presented to the court, but it was not adequately considered. Moreover, my client’s assets had no connection to the security charges against him.”

It is worth noting that in recent days, five citizens were fined by the Alborz Appeals Court for providing financial support to Mashallah Karami. These citizens had previously been sentenced by the Karaj Revolutionary Court to two years in prison and fined 24 million tomans each for “aiding in assembly and collusion against national security” through their financial support of Karami.

Mashallah Karami, the father of Mohammad Mehdi Karami, an executed protester, was arrested by security forces on August 22, 2023. He was transferred from The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility to Karaj Central Prison on October 28 of the same year.

Notably, on the morning of Saturday, January 7, 2023, Mohammad Mehdi Karami, a protester arrested during the nationwide protests and implicated in the case known as the “murder of Basij member Rouhollah Ajamian,” was executed.