Category: News

Four Prisoners Executed in Tabriz Prison

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Executions, News
Erfan Abdulazizi, Kirkuk, Shapour Hosseini, Tabriz Prison

On Monday, August 26th, four prisoners, including two Afghan nationals and one Iraqi national, were executed in Tabriz Prison. They had previously been sentenced to death on charges related to drug offenses and murder.

According to Iran Human Rights Organization, the identities of these prisoners are Shapour Hosseini, a resident of Tabriz; Mohibullah (last name unknown), 32 years old, Afghan national; Moshref (last name unknown), 27 years old, Afghan national; and Erfan Abdulazizi, a resident of Kirkuk, Iraq.

A reliable source stated: “Shapour Hosseini was arrested two years ago on drug trafficking charges and sentenced to death. Mohibullah and Moshref were also arrested two years ago in a joint case for armed drug trafficking and sentenced to death. Additionally, Erfan Abdulazizi was arrested three years ago for the premeditated murder of a cement factory guard and was sentenced to death.”

As of the time of this report, the executions have not been officially announced by prison officials or relevant authorities.

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.

Political Prisoner Hossein Kooshki Nejad Denied Medical Care in Evin Prison

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News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, Hossein Kooshki Nejad, HRANA, حسین کوشکی نژاد

Hossein Kooshki Nejad, a political prisoner currently serving his sentence in Evin Prison, has been suffering from physical ailments for some time. His repeated requests for transfer to medical centers outside the prison have been denied.

A source familiar with the situation confirmed this to HRANA, stating: “Mr. Kooshki Nejad is suffering from a meniscus tear in his knee, and doctors have emphasized that he needs surgery. He has submitted multiple written requests for transfer to a hospital. Despite his need for medical attention, his requests have consistently been denied.”

Kooshki Nejad was arrested on April 7th of this year to serve his sentence and was transferred to Ward 8 of Evin Prison.

Last year, he faced new legal charges in Khorramabad’s Prosecutor’s Office. The indictment for this case, accusing him of “propaganda activities against the regime,” was referred to the Tehran Revolutionary Court. Subsequently, a judge sentenced him to one year in prison.

Kooshki Nejad, born in 1988, is the brother of Reza Koushki Nejad, who was arrested during the nationwide protests in 2022.

Report on the Latest Status of Political Prisoner Ayoub Porkar in Sheiban Prison

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News, Prisoners
ahvaz, Ayoub Porkar, Behbahan prison, Evin Prison, Nasrin Sotoudeh, Sheiban Prison, Yahya Pir-Abbasi

Ayoub Porkar, a 69-year-old exiled political prisoner, is serving the sixteenth year of his sentence in Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz, without a single day of furlough.

Security forces arrested Mr. Porkar on January 3, 2009. He was later sentenced to death by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Yahya Pir-Abbasi, on charges of “enmity against God” (Moharebeh) through collaboration with the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO). This sentence was eventually reduced to 20 years in prison by Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals.

Nasrin Sotoudeh, the lawyer who represented Mr. Parkar at the time, had previously told the media that unexpectedly the “beliefs” of her client were the basis for the death sentence.

After his sentence was upheld, Ayoub Porkar was initially exiled from Ward 350 of Evin Prison to Behbahan Prison and then transferred to Karun Prison in Ahvaz. He is currently serving his sentence in Ward 5 of Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz. Throughout his imprisonment, this exiled political prisoner has been denied conditional release and even a single day of furlough.

A source familiar with Mr. Parkar’s condition had earlier informed HRANA: “Ayoub Porkar suffers from knee problems and has been deprived of specialized medical care.”

During the Iran-Iraq war, Porkar, aged around 69, served in the army for four years but was dismissed from his job due to his criticisms of the government.

A Report on the Latest Status of Three Political Prisoners in Evin Prison

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News, Prisoners
Dastgerd Prison, Evin Prison, Hossein Jafar, Isfahan, Reza Rezaie, Yasin Mokhtari

Political prisoners Reza Rezaie, Hossein Jafar, and Yasin Mokhtari are currently serving their sentences in Evin Prison. These individuals were previously sentenced by the Revolutionary Court to prison, exile, and flogging.

Based on information received by HRANA, these citizens were arrested in June-July last year and initially transferred to Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan. They were then moved to the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, known as Ward 209 of Evin Prison, and later to Ward 4 of the same prison. The Revolutionary Court sentenced them each to 3 years and 9 months in prison, 3 years of forced residence in Kahnooj, loacted in Kerman Province, or Hajjiabad in Hormozgan Province, and 80 lashes.

The charges against them include “aiding and abetting in enmity against God (Moharebeh) through the destruction and burning of public property with the intent to oppose the Islamic regime, membership in the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO) and other opposition groups described as armed and rebellious, engaging in propaganda activities in favor of anti-regime groups, and forming a terrorist group.”

According to an informed source, “Despite the finalization of their sentences in February last year, their sentences have not been officially recorded in the prison system. As a result, they have been unable to pursue their cases, request furlough, or apply for conditional release, and they continue to be in a state of legal limbo.”

Rezaie, Jafar, and Yasin Mokhtari are 30, 27, and 22 years old, respectively, and are from Isfahan.

Teacher Union Activist Mokhtar Asadi Remains Detained in Evin Prison

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News, Prisoners
HRANA, Mokhtar Asadi, Sanandaj, مختار اسدی

Mokhtar Asadi, a teachers’ union activist from Sanandaj, remains in detention at Evin Prison despite the judiciary setting bail at 500 million tomans.

Based on information received by HRANA, Mr. Asadi is currently in Ward 4 of Evin Prison. In a phone call with his family, he mentioned that the Evin Prosecutor’s Office has set a bail of 500 million tomans for his temporary release.

Mr. Asadi was arrested on Monday, August 19, after reporting to Iran’s cyber police.

As of the time this report was prepared, no information has been obtained regarding the reasons for his arrest or the charges against him.

in May of this year, this teachers’ union activist was summoned and interrogated by the Ministry of Intelligence in Sanandaj.

Mokhtar Asadi has a history of arrests and legal confrontations due to his union activities.

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Political Activist Ali Moeini Remains Detained in Isfahan

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ali Moeini, HRANA, Isfahan, علی معینی

Despite 17 days having passed since his arrest, Ali Moeini, a political activist residing in Isfahan, remains in indefinite detention. The lack of information regarding his condition has heightened concerns among his family.

A source confirmed to HRANA: “Despite 17 days having passed since Mr. Moeini’s arrest and his family’s repeated follow-ups with judicial authorities, the relevant officials continue to refrain from providing a clear response regarding his situation. This has escalated the concerns of his family and close associates. Two days ago, he was only able to confirm his well-being in a brief phone call.”

Mr. Moeini has been denied access to a lawyer during his detention.

This political activist was arrested on August 10, 2023, in Isfahan.

So far, no information has been obtained regarding the reasons for his arrest, his place of detention, or the charges against him. Ali Moeini, who has a history of legal confrontations due to his activism, is married and the father of a three-year-old child.

Matin Hasani Sent to Bukan Prison to Serve His Sentence

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Freedom of Expression, News
Bukan, Bukan Prison, Matin Hasani, Matin Hassani

Today, August 26, 2024, Matin Hasani (Hassani), injured during the November 2019 protests, was sent to Bukan Prison to serve his sentence.

Mr. Hasani, who was injured during the November 2019 protests, was sentenced to 31 months in prison by the 101st Branch of the Criminal Court 2 of Bukan in July of this year.

On January 23, 2024, Hasani was arrested by security forces at his family home without a court order. He was released on bail from Bukan Prison on February 22, 2024.

His trial was held on May 16, 2024, in the 101st Branch of the Criminal Court 2 of Bukan, where he was charged with “inciting warfare and violence to disrupt national security, as well as propaganda against the regime.”

Hasani lost the sight in one of his eyes at the age of 19 when he was shot during the nationwide protests in Bukan in November 2019.

Political Prisoner Zia Nabavi Faces News Charges for Reporting the Presence of Bedbugs in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, Iman Afshari, Zia Nabavi

Zia Nabavi, a political prisoner held in Evin Prison, has been faced with a new legal case initiated in connection with Nabavi’s reports about the presence of bedbugs in Ward 8 of Evin Prison, Shargh Newspaper reports.

Amir Raeisian, Mr. Nabavi’s lawyer, stated, “Following the publication of Zia Nabavi’s note about the presence of bedbugs in Evin Prison, he was summoned to Branch 7 of the Prosecutor’s Office and was charged with spreading false information.”

The lawyer added that Mr. Nabavi’s case was then referred to the 1207th Branch of the Criminal Court with an indictment. The court session for this case is scheduled to be held on August 28, 2024, in the mentioned branch.

In May of this year, Zia Nabavi wrote a letter addressing the rampant presence of bedbugs in Ward 8 of Evin Prison.

Later, on May 19, 2024, this political prisoner was punitively transferred to solitary confinement and was eventually returned to Ward 8 of Evin Prison a week later, on May 25, 2024.

In August 2023, Zia Nabavi was sentenced to one year in prison by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, on charges of “propaganda against the regime.” This sentence was later upheld in full by Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals. The case was opened against Nabavi following his protest against the serial poisoning of school students.

Nabavi started serving his sentence in EvinPrison on April 6, 2024. He has a history of arrests and legal confrontations due to his activism.

Attorney Mehdi Shakibafar Sent to Saveh Prison to Serve His Sentence

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Freedom of Expression, News
Karaj, Markazi Province, Mehdi Shakibafar, Saveh, مهدی شکیبافر

Today, August 26, 2024, Mehdi Shakibafar, an attorney, was sent to Saveh Prison to serve his sentence.

Shakibafar announced that he was leaving his mother’s home in Karaj on his birthday to report to the Enforcement of Judgments Office in Saveh to begin serving his prison term.

Previously, Shakibafar was sentenced by Branch 9 of the Court of Appeals in Markazi Province to 15 months and one day in prison for “insulting the Supreme Leader,” seven months and 16 days for “propaganda against the regime,” and one year for “spreading falsehoods,” 11 months of which was suspended for five years. Additionally, he was sentenced to 21 months of disqualification from practicing law as supplementary punishment.

Initially, Shakibafar was acquitted of the charges in the preliminary court. However, following an appeal by the prosecutor, who argued that “his acquittal would embolden him further,” the case was re-examined.

A Prisoner Executed in Nahavand Prison

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Executions, News
Hamadan province, Nahavand, Vahid Abbasi

On Thursday, August 22, a prisoner, previously sentenced to death on murder charges, was executed in Nahavand Prison, Hamadan province, as reported by Iran Human Rights Organization.

The prisoner has been identified as “Vahid Abbasi, 33 years old and a resident of Nahavand.”

The report cites a source stating that Mr. Abbasi was arrested three years ago on murder charges and was later sentenced to death by the judiciary.

As of the time of this report, the execution has not been officially announced by prison authorities or relevant institutions.

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.