Category: News

Execution Carried Out in Dezful Prison for Drug Conviction

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Executions, News
Dezful, Ebrahim Mouloud Pour

On Wednesday, August 16, an inmate found guilty of drug-related crimes was executed in Dezful Prison.

HRANA has verified the identity of the individual as Ebrahim Mouloud Pour, who had been imprisoned for five years.

As of now, no official statements from authorities or domestic media channels have provided coverage of this execution.

In 2022, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran registered 457 reports related to the death penalty. This included 92 death sentences, including the conviction of 6 people to public execution and 565 execution sentences were carried out, 2 of which have been carried out in public. Based on the announced identifications of some of the executed individuals, 501 were male and 11 were female. In addition, 5 juvenile offenders were executed in 2022, meaning they were under the age of 18 at the time they committed the crime.

 

Additional Four Individuals Detained in Gilan Province

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Freedom of Expression, News, Women
Gilan province, Hooman Taheri, Sara Jahani, Shiva Shah Siah, Vahedeh Khoshsirat

In a recent development on Wednesday, August 16, security forces apprehended Shiva Shah Siah, Vahedeh Khoshsirat, Hooman Taheri, and Sara Jahani in Gilan Province.

This event follows HRANA’s report of the arrest of seven women’s rights activists on the same day within the province.

Khoshsirat and Shah Siah, both advocates for women’s rights, were taken into custody in Lahijan. Meanwhile, Mr. Taheri and Mrs. Jahani were apprehended separately in Rasht.

The precise reasons underlying their detentions, their current locations, and the specific charges brought against them all remain undisclosed at this juncture.

Blogger Elaheh Askari Detained in Evin Prison Following Arrest

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Freedom of Expression, News
Elaheh Askari, Evin Prison

Elaheh Askari, a blogger, was taken into custody by agents from the Ministry of Intelligence on August 16, 2023. She has subsequently been placed in detention at Evin Prison.

Reports indicate that Askari’s arrest occurred outside the Immigration & Passport Police Office, where she had gone to retrieve her passport. Following her apprehension, law enforcement agents conducted a search of her residence.

At present, the precise grounds for Askari’s detention and the specific allegations against her remain undisclosed.

Baha’i Citizen Suzan Eid Mohammadzadegan Apprehended in Babol

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News, Religious Minorities
Babol, Baha'i citizen, Niusha Badiei Sabet, Suzan Eid Mohammadzadegan

On Tuesday, August 15, Baha’i citizen Suzan Eid Mohammadzadegan was arrested by security forces at her residence in Babol and taken to an undisclosed location.

A family insider disclosed to HRANA that the arresting officers failed to produce an official arrest warrant during the apprehension. The absence of any information pertaining to her current state and location has intensified concerns among her family members.

Furthermore, Niusha Badiei Sabet, another Baha’i individual who happened to be a guest at Mohammadzadegan’s residence, was also taken into custody during the incident.

As of now, the motives behind Mohammadzadegan’s detention, her current whereabouts, and the specific charges levied against her remain shrouded in uncertainty.

HRANA’s annual report has highlighted a concerning trend where, in 2022, 64.63% of reported human rights violations against religious minorities are directed toward the Baha’i community.

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.

Seven Women’s Rights Activists Arrested in Gilan Province

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Freedom of Expression, News, Women
Bandar-Anzali, Frough Saminia, Fuman, Jelveh Javaheri, Matin Yazdani, Negin Rezaie, Rasht, Yasamin Hashdari, Zahra Dadras, Zohreh Dadras

On August 16, 2023, a total of seven women’s rights activists were apprehended individually in Rasht, Fuman, and Bandar Anzali, subsequently being transported to undisclosed locations. The detained individuals include Zahra Dadras, Zohreh Dadras, Negin Rezaie, Matin Yazdani, Frough Saminia, Jelveh Javaheri, and Yasamin Hashdari.

Zahra and Zohreh Dadras were taken into custody by security forces at their residence in Rasht. However, inquiries made by their family members regarding their condition have gone unanswered thus far. Moreover, Frough Saminia, Yasamin Hashdari, and Matin Yazdani, a photographer, have also been apprehended individually within the same city.

The exact motives behind their arrests, their current locations, as well as the nature of the charges against them, all remain undisclosed at present.

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Appeal Court Confirms Six-Year Sentence for Baha’i Citizen Hooshidar Zarei

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News, Religious Minorities
Adelabad Prison, Baha'i citizen, Hooshidar Zarei

The Court of Appeals of Fars province has upheld a six-year sentence against Baha’i Citizen Hooshidar Zarei. He has also been sentenced to a two-year travel ban, a fine, and other social restrictions.

Zarei has been found guilty of multiple charges including “propaganda against the regime” and “sectarian propaganda in favor of anti-regime groups.”

Zarei will serve five years of his sentence as per Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code.

Zarei was arrested on April 29, 2023, by security forces in Shiraz and was released after 22 days of detention on a 1.2 billion Tomans bail from Adelabad Prison. Zarei, who is approximately 43 years old, is a Judo Coach and a resident of Shiraz.

 

Baha’i Citizen Niusha Badiei Sabet Arrested

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News, Religious Minorities
Babol, HRANA, Niusha Badiei, Niusha Badiei Sabet

On August 15, 2023, security forces apprehended Niusha Badiei Sabet, a Baha’i citizen, in Babol, Mazandaran province, and subsequently transferred her to an undisclosed facility.

According to a source close to her family who spoke with HRANA, Mrs. Badiei Sabet had traveled from Tehran to Babol. On Tuesday evening, security forces detained her and transported her to an undisclosed location. Her family is yet to receive information about her current state.

Badiei Sabet has recently faced a new legal case opened by the Babol Public and Revolutionary Court, the source added.
Badiei Sabet, 38 years old, is a psychologist, translator, and resident of Tehran. Notably, this is not her first encounter with legal challenges.

HRANA’s annual report has highlighted a concerning trend where, in 2022, 64.63% of reported human rights violations against religious minorities are directed toward the Baha’i community.

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.

Shahab Dalili on Fourth Day of Hunger Strike

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News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, HRANA, Hunger Strike, Iran-US prisoner swap, Shahab Dalili

Shahab Dalili is now on the fourth day of a hunger strike within Evin Prison. He has been serving ten years sentence in prison since 2016 when he was arrested by security forces while leaving the country.

A family member of Dalili corroborating this information during a talk with HRANA, revealed, “Shahab Dalili initiated his hunger strike on Sunday night in response to his omission from the roster of prisoners set for release as stipulated by the recent Iran-US prisoner swap agreement.” His protest has brought about physiological effects such as reduced blood pressure, dizziness, and headaches.

Shahab Dalili and his family have made a specific appeal to the US government. They are urging the authorities to figure in the release of Dalili, who holds permanent residency in the United States, during the impending negotiations between the two nations.

Notably, in the wake of the recent prisoner swap accord, prisoners including Siamak Namazi, Emad Sharqi, Morad Tahbaz, and two unidentified US nationals, have been relocated to house arrest within a hotel.

Shahab Dalili’s ordeal began in 2016 when he traveled to Iran to attend his father’s funeral. It was during his departure back to the US that he was apprehended by security personnel. Subsequently, he was sentenced to a decade in prison on charges of “collaborating with an adversarial nation.” Nonetheless, his name remains absent from the roster of beneficiaries within the current agreement.

Baha’i Couple’s Sentence Upheld by Court of Appeals

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News, Religious Minorities
Anisa Samieian, Baha'i citizen, Gilan province, HRANA, Rasht, Vesal Momtazi

The Gilan Province Court of Appeals has maintained the prison sentence for the Baha’i couple, Vesal Momtazi and Anisa Samieian.

Originally sentenced by the Rasht Revolutionary Court, Momtazi and Samieian received a combined term of nine years and six months. Mrs. Samieian’s sentence encompasses three years and six months for “engaging in educational activities and propaganda against Sharia law,” in addition to seven months and 16 days for “propaganda against the regime.” Meanwhile, Mr. Momtazi has received seven months and 16 days for “propaganda against the regime,” along with one year and three months for “insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran” and three years and six months for “insulting Sharia law.” He is also facing a fine of 38 million tomans. Both individuals are further subjected to social restrictions lasting a decade.

Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code dictates that each of them will serve three years and six months in prison.

According to an HRANA source close to the family, more than 50 individuals, including friends, colleagues, art students, and their parents, compiled an affidavit attesting to the couple’s adherence to the law. Regrettably, this affirmation was not permitted for presentation during the appellate court proceedings.

On November 4, 2022, security forces searched their residence, resulting in their apprehension. Following his arrest on December 6, 2022, Momtazi was granted bail. Samieian, who was pregnant at the time of her arrest, secured her release on bail after undergoing two interrogation sessions. It’s noteworthy that this Baha’i couple is responsible for the care of two young sons, aged five and about four months.

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.

 

Filmmaker Saeed Roustayi Receives Prison Sentence over “Leila’s Brothers”

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Freedom of Expression, News
iranian filmmaker, Leila's Brothers, Saeed Roustaee, Saeed Roustayi

Renowned filmmaker and screenwriter Saeed Roustayi has been handed a six-month prison sentence, along with supplementary penalties, by the Tehran Revolutionary Court, as revealed by Didban Iran.

Approximately nine days of this prison term will be carried out, while the remainder has been suspended for a five-year period.

Roustayi’s conviction stems from charges of “propaganda against the regime,” linked to his creation of the movie “Leila’s Brothers”, which he showcased at the Cannes Film Festival.
In addition to the prison sentence, Roustayi has been subjected to various restrictions affecting his career as a director and producer, including limitations on engaging with fellow cinema professionals. Further, he has been directed to complete a 24-hour filmmaking course at IRIB University in Qom.

The 2022 drama film “Leila’s Brothers” garnered significant attention. It secured a spot in the competition for the Palme d’Or at the renowned 2022 Cannes Film Festival and notably clinched the International Federation of Film Critics prize.