Category: News

Singer Behrad Ali Kanari Sent to Prison to Serve His Sentence

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Freedom of Expression, News
Behrad Ali Kanari, Central Prison of Karaj, Karaj, Qom prison, Ruhollah Ajamian

Behrad Ali Kanari, arrested during the nationwide protests of 2022, has been jailed in Qom Prison.on Saturday, August 24, 2024, to start serving a six-month prison term.

In a video message, Mr. Ali Kanari announced that he was recently sentenced to six months in prison by the judiciary on charges of “propaganda against the regime through cooperation with anti-regime media.” On Saturday, August 24, 2024, he was sent to Qom Prison to serve his sentence.
Kanari was arrested by security forces on May 13 of this year and was released shortly afterward on bail.
Behrad Ali Kanari, a singer, was among those arrested during the 2022 nationwide protests in the case known as the “murder of Basij member Ruhollah Ajamian.” He was released from the Central Prison of Karaj in April of 2023, following the issuance of a “pardon” directive.

A Prisoner Executed in Tabriz Prison for Drug Offenses

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Executions, News
Khaled Jahangiri, Tabriz, Tabriz Prison

On Thursday, August 22, 2024, the execution of a prisoner previously sentenced to death on drug-related charges was carried out in Tabriz Prison, as reported by Kurdpa.

The identity of the prisoner has been reported as Khaled Jahangiri, a resident of the village of “Balu” in the Urmia region, and a father of three children.

According to this report, Mr. Jahangiri was arrested about five years ago on drug-related charges and was sentenced to death by the judicial authorities.

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

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.

Elham Ostadi Sentenced to One Year in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Chabahar, Ebrahim Kouchakzai, Elham Ostadi, Iranshahr, Zahedan, Zahedan Revolutionary Court

The Revolutionary Court of Zahedan sentenced Elham Ostadi, a resident of Iranshahr, to one year in prison, according to Resanak.

Branch Two of the Zahedan Revolutionary Court issued the sentence, convicting her of “propaganda against the regime.”

The charges against Ostadi stem from her Instagram posts, where she protested the rape of a 15-year-old girl by the former police chief of Chabahar.

Elham Ostadi, a 30-year-old resident of Iranshahr, was arrested by security forces in August of 2023. She was released on bail on September 2, 2022, after posting a 200-million-toman bond (approximately 4000 dollars).

The report also mentioned that Ostadi had previously been fined for “disturbing public opinion” in a separate case.

Local sources had earlier reported that on September 1, 2022, Ebrahim Kouchakzai, the police chief of Chabahar, lured a 15-year-old girl to his private quarters under the pretext of interrogation and raped her. This incident sparked protests across Sistan and Baluchestan province.

In February of 2022, the judiciary announced that Kouchakzai had been convicted by the Military Court of Sistan and Baluchestan for the rape of the 15-year-old girl in the village of Sedighzahi. He was sentenced to imprisonment and dismissed from public service.

Detention Order for Baha’i Citizen Nahid Behroozi Extended

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News, Prisoners, Religious Minorities
Alborz province, Baha'i citizen, HRANA, Kachooie Prison, Nahid Behroozi

Nahid Behroozi (Forouhari), a Baha’i citizen, remains in a state of uncertainty in Kachooie Prison, Karaj, 26 days after her arrest. Today, her detention order was extended for another week.

A source close to Behroozi’s family confirmed to HRANA: “Today, Ms. Behroozi’s detention order was extended for another week. Despite 25 days having passed since her arrest, she remains in a state of uncertainty in Kachooie Prison, Karaj.”
This Baha’i citizen was transferred to Kachooie Prison, Karaj, on August 15th after completing interrogation at The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility.

Behroozi was arrested by the Ministry of Intelligence agents at her home in Fardis, Alborz province, on Monday, July 29, 2024.

The reasons for Behroozi’s arrest and the charges against her remain unknown.

Mazaher Heydari Continues Hunger Strike in Shahr-e Kord Prison

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News, Prisoners, Religious Minorities
Gonabadi Dervish, HRANA, Mazaher Heydari, Shahr-e Kord, Shahrekord, مظاهر حیدری

Mazaher Heydari, a Gonabadi Dervish currently imprisoned in Shahr-e Kord, has been on a hunger strike for over 12 days and has been denied the right to make phone calls to his family.

A source close to Heydari’s family confirmed to HRANA, “Mr. Heydari began his hunger strike on Saturday, August 10, in protest against the 40-month prison sentence issued against him. Since then, the authorities have deprived him of phone calls to his family, and in protest, he has sewn his lips shut.”

In June of this year, Heydari was arrested by security forces in Shahr-e Kord and later transferred to the city’s prison. That same month, he was sentenced in absentia by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Shahr-e Kord, presided over by Judge Balanian, to a total of 40 months in prison on charges of “disturbing public opinion,” “propaganda against the regime,” and “assembly and collusion against national security.” Under Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the most severe sentence, 32 months in prison, will be enforced.

Mazaher Heydari has previously faced legal actions due to his activities.

The Gonabadi Dervishes (Darvishes) are members of a Sufi Muslim community in Iran, known for their spiritual practices and emphasis on mysticism. Despite their peaceful beliefs, the Gonabadi Dervishes have faced increasing persecution by the Iranian regime, which views their independence and religious practices as a threat to the state’s control over religious expression. Over the years, many members of this community have been subjected to arrests, imprisonment, and harassment, with their leaders often targeted by the authorities.

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Mohammad Rezvani Transferred to Gachsaran Prison to Serve Sentence

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News, Prisoners
Gachsaran, Gachsaran Prison, Mohammad Rezvani

On Wednesday, August 21, Mohammad Rezvani was arrested in Gachsaran and transferred to the local prison to serve his sentence.

According to HRANA, Mr. Rezvani was taken into custody after reporting to the Criminal Enforcement Branch of the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in Gachsaran. He was then transferred to the city’s prison.

In January 2023, Mr. Rezvani was sentenced by the Gachsaran Revolutionary Court to eight months in prison for “propaganda against the regime” through his online activities and an additional one year, three months, and one day for “insulting the Supreme Leader,” with his previous detention time considered.

Rezvani was initially arrested on September 21, 2022, during the nationwide protests and was released on bail in late December of that year. His first case was closed in February 2023 following the issuance of an amnesty decree.

Charges Filed Against 89 Residents of Likak Five Years After November 2019 Protests

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Freedom of Expression, News
Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, Likak, November 2019 Protests

89 residents of Likak, a city in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, who were arrested during the November 2019 protests and later released on bail, have been indicted in a joint case nearly five years later.

Branch 1 of the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in Likak, presided over by Mehrdad Soltani, has charged these individuals with “disturbing public order,” “destruction,” and “arson of public and government property.” The investigating judge cited several pieces of evidence in issuing the indictment, including video reports from law enforcement, dozens of pages of reports from The Ministry of Intelligence’s office in Bahmai County, and confessions from the accused—though it remains unclear under what conditions these confessions were obtained.

Background on November 2019 Protests

The November 2019 protests were widespread demonstrations that began on Friday, November 15, 2019, in response to an unprecedented increase in gasoline prices. The protests occurred in dozens of cities across Iran, with an unprecedented number of protesters taking to the streets for several days. Mohammad Javad Kolivand, a representative from Karaj in Parliament, stated that these protests took place in 719 locations across the country. Seyyed Hossein Naqavi Hosseini, the then-spokesperson for the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee of Parliament, reported that several thousand people were arrested during these protests. According to human rights organizations, hundreds of people lost their lives in the bloody aftermath of these events.

Parivash Moslemi Sentenced to Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, HRANA, Mahsa Amini, Parivash Moslemi, Pariwash Moslemi, Qarchak Prison, Varamin

Parivash Moslemi, a political defendant imprisoned in Evin Prison, has been sentenced to three years and eight months in prison by the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

Based on a ruling recently issued by the Tehran Revolutionary Court and delivered to Ms. Moslemi in prison two days ago, she has been sentenced to two years in prison for the charge of “assembly and collusion,” one year for “insulting the Supreme Leader,” and eight months for “propaganda against the regime.”

A source close to the family of this political defendant confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “Moslemi did not attend any of the sessions related to her charges, including interrogations and court hearings. She had previously declared in writing and verbally that she did not recognize these proceedings and would not participate.”

Moslemi was arrested on July 7 after reporting to the Evin Prosecutor’s Office and was subsequently transferred to the women’s ward of Evin Prison.

Ms. Moslemi, aged around 46, was arrested by security forces in the city of Nur in March-April this year. She was released three days later from one of the city’s security detention facilities.

Parivash Moslemi was previously detained by security forces in September 2023, coinciding with the anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death. She was finally released a month later after posting bail from Qarchak Prison located in Varamin.

Three Baha’i Citizens Sentenced to Prison and Other Penalties on Appeal

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News, Religious Minorities
Ahmad Ganjali Darani, Arash Nabavi, Arshia Rouhani, Baha'i citizens, Hamid Monzavi, HRANA

Arshia Rouhani, Hamid Monzavi, and Arash Nabavi, Baha’i citizens residing in Isfahan, have been sentenced by the province’s Appeals Court to two years in prison each, along with fines and additional penalties.

The ruling, issued by Branch 37 of the Isfahan Appeals Court under the presidency of Ahmad Ganjali Darani, sentences each of these Baha’i citizens to two years in prison, a fine of 24 million tomans, and a two-year ban on leaving the country and engaging in online activities. A source close to the family of one of these Baha’i citizens confirmed the news to HRANA, stating that the appeal hearing took place earlier this month in the mentioned branch.

Previously, Arshia Rouhani and Hamid Monzavi Joshaghani had been sentenced by Branch 1 of the Isfahan Revolutionary Court to five years in prison each, a fine of 50 million tomans, a two-year ban on online activities and leaving the country, and the confiscation of their assets. Mr. Nabavi had also been sentenced by the same branch to ten years in prison, a fine, confiscation of assets, and other additional penalties.

Arash Nabavi, approximately 38 years old, was arrested in August of last year and released after two months on bail.

In September of last year, two businesses owned by Rouhani and Monzavi in Isfahan were sealed by the Ministry of Intelligence but were reopened after a month. On October 30, 2023, Rouhani and Monzavi were summoned and arrested by Branch 13 of the Isfahan Public Prosecutor’s Office. They were released the next day on 300 million toman bail. Rouhani had previously faced legal action due to his religious beliefs.

Baha’is are subjected to violations of their religious rights, comprising 82% of reports on infringements against religious minorities, according to HRA’s 2023 annual report.

The Baha’i faith is not recognized as a legitimate religion by Iranian authorities, leading to systematic and longstanding violations of the rights of Baha’is in the country. This includes the denial of their fundamental right to practice their religion, which constitutes a clear breach of both Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The United Nations covenant holds that every person has the right to freedom of religion, freedom of converting religion, as well as freedom of expression, individually or collectively; openly or secretly.

Prisoner Executed in Urmia Prison for Drug-Related Crimes

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Executions, News
HRANA, Mohammad Daghestani, Urmia prison, محمد داغستانی

At dawn today, August 21, the execution of a prisoner who had previously been sentenced to death on drug-related charges was carried out in Urmia Prison.

HRANA has identified the prisoner, who was hanged at dawn today, as “Mohammad Daghestani.” He had been arrested on drug-related charges and was subsequently sentenced to death by the judiciary.

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