Category: News

Shakila Monfared Indicted for New Legal Case While Imprisoned

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, Iman Afshari, IRGC Intelligence, Shakila Monfared, Tehran

An indictment has been issued for Shakila Monfared, a political prisoner, regarding a new case opened against her during her imprisonment.

Based on information received by HRANA, Monfared faces a new case in prison filed by Ms. Shaghaghi, the Deputy Prosecutor. On Wednesday, July 24, the indictment for this political prisoner was issued by Tehran’s District 8 Prosecutor’s Office with charges of “destruction of public property and disrupting order.”

On June 26 of this year, while on medical leave, Shakila Monfared was arrested and transferred to Evin Prison after appearing at Tehran’s District 8 Prosecutor’s Office to extend her leave, despite her treatment being incomplete and her being subjected to physical assault.

Ms. Monfared was initially arrested by security forces in Tehran on August 31, 2020, while leaving her home. After completing her interrogation at one of the IRGC’s detention centers, she was transferred to Evin Prison. Finally, on September 14, she was released on bail.

The court session for the joint case against Shakila Monfared and two others was held on January 20, 2021, in Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court. After the session, Monfared was re-arrested by IRGC intelligence agents and taken back to prison.

Ultimately, Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, sentenced her to six years of imprisonment and four months of compulsory labor in Ministry of Agriculture Jihad for charges of “propaganda against the regime” and blasphemy.” Branch 36 of the Tehran Appeals Court later reduced her sentence to four years and two months of definitive imprisonment.

In January 2022, Ms. Monfared was tried in Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court for another case opened during her imprisonment. In June 2023, Branch 36 of the Tehran Appeals Court sentenced her to two years and eight months of imprisonment for “membership in anti-regime groups” and a fine for “spreading falsehoods.”

It should be noted that on June 6, 2023, Monfared faced new charges for “assembly and collusion to commit crimes against national security,” but this case was ultimately dismissed.

Additionally, in April of this year, Shakila Monfared was sentenced to twelve months of imprisonment, two years of exile, and additional punishments by Branch 36 of the Tehran Appeals Court for another case opened during her imprisonment.

Shakila Monfared, aged around 31, is a resident of Tehran.

Mowloud Safaei Incarcerated in Evin Prison to Serve Sentence

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News, Prisoners
Abolghasem Salavati, Mowloud Safaei, Qarchak Prison, Zahra Safaie

On July, Mowloud Safaie was arrested and transferred to Evin Prison to serve her three-year sentence on political charges.

A source close to the political prisoner’s family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “Ms. Safaie was arrested at her residence in Tehran by security forces today, Tuesday, July 31st, and transferred to the women’s ward of Evin Prison to serve her three-year sentence.”

Mowloud Safaie was previously arrested by security forces in Tehran on June 16, 2021, and was released from Qarchak Prison on bail after a period of detention.
She was subsequently sentenced by the Revolutionary Court to four years in prison on charges including “propaganda activities against the regime.” With the application of Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the most severe punishment, which is three years in prison, is enforceable for her.

In 2012, Ms. Safaie was sentenced by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Abolghasem Salavati, to five years in prison and five years of compulsory residence in Semnan.

Safaie, 64, is the sister of Zahra Safaie, a political prisoner currently held in Evin Prison. Mowloud Safaie has a history of previous arrests and convictions due to her peaceful activities.

Ms. Safaie’s father, known as “Haji Safaei,” was a prominent merchant in Tehran who was executed in 1981 on charges of supporting the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran. Her husband, Ebrahim Saeidi, who was a telecommunications employee, was also executed in 1984.

Prisoner Executed in Minab Prison for Drug Offenses

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Executions, News
HRANA, Minab Prison, Nabi Bakhsh Mola-Zahi

On Tuesday, July 30th, an inmate convicted of drug-related charges was executed in Minab Prison, Hormozgan province, according to Haal Vsh.

The identity of this prisoner has been reported as Nabi Bakhsh Mola-Zahi, approximately 61 years old, father of one child, and a resident of a village in Bampur city, Sistan and Baluchestan province.

According to the report, Mola-Zahi was arrested in 2019 on drug-related charges in Minab and was subsequently sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court of this city.

No official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have provided coverage of these executions at the time of writing. In 2023, 66% of HRANA’s reports on executions lacked official announcements by judicial authorities and went unreported by media inside Iran, highlighting a troubling lack of transparency in due process.

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.

Hora Nikbakht Sentenced to One Year in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, Hora Nikbakht, حورا نیکبخت

Hora Nikbakht, a political prisoner held 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.

Based on the verdict recently issued by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court and delivered to Ms. Nikbakht in Evin Prison on Saturday, July 27th, she has been sentenced to one year in prison for charges of “propaganda against the regime” and “insulting the Supreme Leader.” The court session addressing these charges took place on July 10th in the mentioned branch.

Hora Nikbakht, a resident of Tehran, was arrested on June 12th after appearing at Branch 3 of the Evin Prosecutor’s Office and transferred to the women’s ward of Evin Prison.

Previously, this citizen had been summoned to the aforementioned judicial authority to defend against the assigned charges upon receiving a notice.

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.

Two Members of Mohammad Hassanzadeh’s Family Arrested in Bukan

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ahmad Hassanzadeh, Bukan, Solmaz Hassanzadeh

Kurdpa reports that on July 30, Ahmad Hassanzadeh and Solmaz Hassanzadeh, the father and sister of Mohammad Hassanzadeh, who was killed during the 2022 nationwide protests, were arrested by security forces in Bukan and taken to an unknown location.

The report states that these individuals were arrested by security forces with physical violence at their private residence in Bukan. The officers also confiscated the mobile phones of the father, daughter, and mother.

According to a source cited in the report, “This family was attempting to hold a ceremony to commemorate the birthday of Mohammad Hassanzadeh, who was killed during the 2022 nationwide protests. However, the security agencies prevented this and arrested them.”

As of the time of this report, the whereabouts and the charges against these citizens are unknown.

Ahmad Hassanzadeh and his approximately 30-year-old daughter, Solmaz, were summoned to the Ministry of Intelligence’s office in Bukan and interrogated on September 5, 2023.

Additionally, Ms. Hassanzadeh was arrested at a checkpoint between Bukan and Saqqez by security forces on September 27 last year and was released shortly thereafter.

It is worth noting that Mohammad Hassanzadeh, a 28-year-old resident of Bukan, was shot by regime forces during the 2022 nationwide protests and succumbed to his injuries on November 16 of the same year.

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Ali Rezaie Sentenced to Two Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ali Rezaie, Evin Prison, Reza Shafakhah, علی رضایی

Ali Rezaie, arrested during the 2022 nationwide protests, has been sentenced to two years in prison by the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

Reza Shafakhah, Mr. Rezaie’s defense attorney, announced this news and wrote: “My client Ali Rezaie, who was arrested during the 2022 protests while still a teenager, was sentenced to two years of imprisonment by Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court.”

Ali Rezaie, a resident of Tehran, was arrested by security forces at his residence on December 4, 2022, in connection with the nationwide protests. Following his arrest, he was initially taken to The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, known as Ward 209 of Evin Prison, and eventually transferred to Great Tehran Penitentiary. After one year, he was released from this prison on bail.

Last November, Reza Shafakhah provided an update on his client’s case: “My client was under 18 years old at the time of his arrest. After his case was referred to the Revolutionary Court, we challenged the jurisdiction of the court and requested that the case be referred to the juvenile court. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court made its decision and recognized Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court as competent to handle the case.”

Previously, the indictment against Mr. Rezaie was issued on charges of “assaulting a police officer” and “assembly and collusion to commit a crime against national security.”

 

Political Prisoner Reza Salmanzadeh Denied Medical Care in Ghezel Hesar Prison

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News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, Ghezel Hesar prison, Karaj, Payam Salmanzadeh, Reza Salmanzadeh, رضا سلمان زاده

Reza Salmanzadeh, a political prisoner in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj, despite his poor physical condition, has been deprived of proper medical care.

Payam Salmanzadeh, Reza Salmanzadeh’s son, released a video stating: “My father suffers from heart disease, hernia, and kidney stones, and these physical problems have worsened since the Evin Prison fire incident and him being beaten. Nonetheless, my father still has not received medical care.”
Reza Salmanzadeh was arrested by security forces at his residence in April-May 2022 and transferred to Evin Prison. He was later sentenced by the Revolutionary Court to three years and eight months in prison. This case was closed in February of 2023 following a “pardon and commutation” directive.

On the evening of October 15, 2022, a fire was seen rising over Evin Prison following a tense situation, and the sounds of gunfire and explosions were heard. Contrary to officials’ claims of controlling the fire and confrontation, the gunfire continued for hours. Following this incident, a case was filed by the Prisons Organization against several prisoners, including Reza Salmanzadeh.

On June 18, 2024, the trial session for forty defendants accused in the so-called Evin Prison fire case was held in Branch 1148 of Criminal Court Two in Tehran.

Salmanzadeh was subsequently sentenced to five years in prison and 74 lashes for the charge of “property destruction,” one year in prison for “disrupting prison order,” and one year in prison for “defying and disobeying officials’ orders.”

Report on Mohammad Rezvani Kashani’s Condition in Evin Prison

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News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, HRANA, Mohammad Rezvani Kashani, Political Prisoner

Mohammad Rezvani Kashani, a political prisoner, is serving his sentence in Evin Prison. Despite his poor physical condition, he has been deprived of proper medical care.

A source close to the family of this prisoner confirmed this news to HRANA and said: “Mr. Kashani suffers from multiple physical ailments such as a herniated disc, kidney infections, and urinary tract bleeding, and he needs treatment. However, he has been denied proper medical care and transfer to medical centers outside the prison.”

Mohammad Rezvani Kashani was arrested by The Ministry of Intelligence at his residence in July-August 2023 and was transferred to Wards 240 and 209 of Evin Prison. He was later moved to Ward 4 of this prison.

He was then sentenced to fifteen months of suspended imprisonment for the charge of blasphemy. In another part of his case, he was sentenced by Branch 29 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Seyed Ali Mazloumi, to one year in prison for the charge of propaganda against the regime. A quarter of this prison sentence was reduced by the Tehran Court of Appeals.

Mohammad Rezvani Kashani, aged around 49, is a researcher and philosophy lecturer.

Baha’i Citizen Nahid Behroozi Arrested

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News, Religious Minorities
Alborz province, Bahais, Fardis County, Nahid Behroozi, ناهید بهروزی

On July 29, the Ministry of Intelligence arrested Nahid Behroozi (Forouhari), a Baha’i citizen residing in Fardis County, Alborz Province. They also searched her residence and confiscated several of her personal belongings.

A source close to this citizen’s family confirmed the news to HRANA, saying: “Ms. Behroozi was arrested today, Monday, July 29, 2024, by Ministry of Intelligence agents at her home. The agents also searched her home and confiscated several items, including her mobile phone, laptop, and computer.”

So far, the reasons for her arrest and the charges against Ms. Behroozi have not been disclosed.

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.

Inmate Executed in Minab Prison for Murder

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Executions, News
Jask, Mahim Jangi-Zahi, Minab, Minab Prison

Today, July 29, the execution of a prisoner previously sentenced to death for murder was carried out in Minab Prison, Hormozgan province, acording to Haal Vsh.

The identity of this prisoner has been reported as “Mahim Jangi-Zahi, from Jask County.”

According to the report, Mr. Jangi-Zahi was arrested four years ago on charges of murder and was subsequently sentenced to death by the judicial authority.

No official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have provided coverage of these executions at the time of writing. In 2023, 66% of HRANA’s reports on executions lacked official announcements by judicial authorities and went unreported by media inside Iran, highlighting a troubling lack of transparency in due process.

In 2023, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran registered the execution of 767 individuals. Out of these, 7 were carried out in public. Among the executed individuals whose genders were identified, 21 were female. Additionally, 2 juvenile offenders, defined as individuals under the age of 18 at the time of their alleged crimes, were also executed.