Category: News

Families of Prisoners Arrested for Protesting Executions

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
death row prisoners, HRANA

During the recent protest of death-row prisoners’ families in Tehran, the police arrested several individuals. Some sources have reported that up to 30 protestors have been arrested. The reports obtained by HRANA confirm that currently, eight individuals are held in detention.

According to the latest information obtained by HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, eight protestors are still in custody at the time of this writing.

According to HRANA, the police arrested several protestors during a gathering of the families of prisoners who are currently on death row.

On September 11, 2022,  these family members gathered before the headquarters of the Judiciary in Tehran to continue the protests against the execution. The police cracked down on this gathering and arrested several protestors. 

 

Nine Inmates Executed in Zanjan, Birjand, and Zahedan Prisons.

Posted on by A MN
Executions, News
Abdolnasir She Bakhsh, Ahmad Panahi Khanghah, Amrollah Basij, Birjand, Hassan Aghamohammadi, Hooshang Kurd, Khaled Raisi, Mansoor Barahooie, Mehdi Aghoosh, Zahedan, zanjan

Nine inmates have been executed in Zanjan, Birjand, and Zahedan Prisons.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Haal Vsh, on September 10, 2022, the Zahedan Prison officials executed five inmates, including a woman. 

Four of the inmates have been identified as Khaled Raisi, 38, Amrollah Basij, 27, Abdolnasir She Bakhsh, 42, and Hooshang Kurd, 27. All have been convicted of murder. The female prisoner is still unidentified. 

Haal Vsh also reported the execution of an inmate identified as Mansoor Barahooie in Birjand Prison. Birjand Revolutionary Court sentenced Barahooie to death on drug-related charges in 2019.

On September 11, Iran Human Rights Organization further reported the execution of two inmates identified as Mehdi Aghoosh, 30, and Hassan Aghamohammadi, 27, in Zanjan and Isfahan Prisons, both convicted of murder. Four years ago, Aghoosh was accused and convicted of killing a man in a group fight. Aghamohammadi was convicted of murder three years ago.

Iran Human Rights Organization has additionally reported that an inmate identified as Ahmad Panahi Khanghah, 40, convicted of murder was executed in Ardabil Prison.

These executions have not been reported by official sources and media outlets inside Iran so far.

Hossein Shalibavi and Amir Daftarian Arrested

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News

On September 11, 2022, in Shadegan, Khuzestan Province, intelligence agents arrested Hossein Shalibavi and transferred him to an unidentified location. They also arrested Amir Daftarian in Abadan on September 9. Both individuals’ houses were searched during the arrest.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Hossein Shalibavi and Amir Daftarian were arrested in Shadegan and Abadan.

Agents arrested Daftarian at his office in the fire station and took him to the Ministry of Intelligence office.

Shalibavi had faced other arrests on prior occasions. On April 9, 2020, the security forces detained him for one month and then released him on bail.

The reasons for these arrests and the charges are unknown so far.

HRANA’s Daily Review of Protests in Iran

Posted on by A MN
Labor and Guilds, News
Achondroplasia, Asaluyeh, exceptional children, Fulad Pension Fund, Ghezel Hesar prison, Rudbar, Rudbar's Municipality, Sanandaj, Shalir Rasouli, Special Education Organization, the Food and Drug Administration, Urmia Lake

On September 10-11, 2022, at least eleven protests and two labour strikes took place in Iran.

Saturday, September 11

The families of prisoners who are on death row continued their protests before the Justice Building in Tehran. They asked judicial authorities to stop executions. According to HRANA’s latest statistics, there are 46 death-row convicts in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.

 

In Sanandaj, Kurdistan Province, a group of women’s rights activists gathered in front of the Justice Building to ask for safety for women following Shalir Rasouli’s death at a hospital last Thursday. Rasouli threw herself out of the window of her apartment to escape an assailant.

Along with their families, Achondroplasia (a genetic disorder) patients held a protest before the Food and Drug Administration in Tehran. They demanded supplying and importing their needed drugs such as Voxzogo.

In Alborz province, a group of citizens protested against demolishing a ski resort which is a tourist attraction.

A group of Urmia residents demonstrated to demand rescuing Urmia Lake from drying up completely.

 

Sunday, September 11

The families of prisoners presently on death row continued their protests before the Headquarters of the Judiciary in Tehran. They demanded stopping the executions.

The pensioners of the Fulad Pension Fund demonstrated in front of the building of this fund in Isfahan, Tehran and Ahvaz. They demanded addressing pensions disparities and a 38% increase in pensions.

The workers of the Rudbar’s Municipality protested to demand unpaid wages for the last two months and accumulated unpaid wages equivalent to four-month wages during the last year. Moreover, there are some unpaid benefits like severance and overtime pay accumulated during the past nine years.

In Tehran, a group of teachers and families with exceptional children protested against new restrictions on school transport service in front of the Special Education Organization.

In Asaluyeh, The workers of the petrochemical company Dena went on strikes to protest against the two months of non-payment.

The temporary workers of the Islamabad Petrochemical Company staged a labour strike to demand the last two months’ wages.

Update on Reza Khandan Mahabadi’s Condition in Evin Prison

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Baktash Abtin, Evin Prison, Iranian Writers Association, Reza Khandan Mahabadi

Writer and member of the Iranian Writers Association (IWA) Reza Khandan Mahabadi is currently serving a five-year sentence in Evin Prison since September 2019.

An informed source told HRANA that Khandan is suffering from heart disease and is being held in Ward 8 of Evin Prison. On December 21, 2021, h was hospitalized outside the prison after he contracted COVID-19. On January 8, 2021, another well-known writer, Baktash Abtin died of Covid-19  due to negligence.

Mahabadi was sentenced on May 15, 2019, by Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court, headed by Judge Mohammad Moghayeseh. His sentence included one year in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime” and five years on the charge of “assembly and collusion with the intention of acting against national security”. On September 26, 2020, he was arrested and sent to Evin Prison to serve his sentence.

Mahabadi’s career as a writer kicked off in 1978 with the publication of his book “Local Children”. Some of his publications include “Nothing Comes Out of the Sack, ExceptWhat Was In It”, a seven-volume story collection called “My Favorite Stories”, a collection of research titled “Razi War”, and the 19-volume fiction collection “Encyclopedia of Iranian Legends and Fairy Tales” (co-author Ali Ashraf Darvishian).

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Nahid Shirpisheh Denied Family Visitations

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
irgc, Nahid Shirpisheh, Pouya Bakhtiari

Kachooie Prison has denied Nahid Shirpisheh the right to make phone calls or have family visitations. Shirpisheh, Pouya Bakhtiari’s mother, has been detained for the past two months.

An informed source told HRANA thatShirpisheh is held in the quarantine section and is not allowed to have visitors. 

On July 28, 2022, Shirpisheh was transferred to Kachooie Prison where she was held in the same ward of prisoners of violent crimes, where she has been mistreated. 

On July 11, 2022, security forces arrested the mothers of the individuals killed during nationwide protests in 2019 known as the Aban protests, including Shirpisheh. In a news article, IRGC-affiliated Fars News Agency called these justice-seeking families “agitators and troublemakers”.

In November of 2019, an increase in fuel prices sparked a wave of protests in dozens of cities across the country. The spokesperson of the Parliamentary National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, Seyed Hossein Taghavi, announced that 7000 people were arrested during these protests. According to reports from human rights organizations, hundreds were killed by the security apparatus.

 

Update on Naeb Askari’s Condition in Urmia Prison

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Naeb Askari, Urmia prison

Naeb Askari is still in detention awaiting legal proceedings for more than 17 months in Urmia Prison. Despite suffering from neurological disorders, he is denied proper medical care.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Naeb Askari has been in pre-trial detention in Urmia Prison for more than 17 months.

According to an informed source, since Askari’s relocation along with other political prisoners to a new high-security ward in December 2021, he is denied medical care.  

In December 2021, Urmia Prison Officials relocated the political prisoners, including Askari, to a new high-security ward, after which the political prisoners went on a hunger strike.

On March 27, 2021, IRGC agents arrested Askari in Urmia and transferred him to a detention facility. On June 17, 2021, he was transferred to Urmia Prison, where he has been jailed until now. He was also charged with “disrupting prison order.”

HRANA’s Daily Review of Protests in Iran

Posted on by A MN
Labor and Guilds, News
Ghezel Hesar prison, Karaj Central Penitentiary, Mariwan, Shalir Rasouli

On Thursday, September 8, 2022, at least two protests took place in Iran.

The families of prisoners presently on death row in Ghezel Hesar Prison and Karaj Central Penitentiary protested before the Judiciary building in Tehran. These protestors held placards asking to stop executions.

Residents of Mariwan held a protest demanding security for women, following Shalir Rasouli’s death at a hospital, a woman who threw herself out of the window of her apartment to escape an assailant.

 

Several Protestors against Water Shortages Arrested in Hamedan

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Hamedan, Mohammad-Ali Mohammadi

Hamedan’s governor announced the arrest of 25 individuals during the recent protests against water shortages in Hamedan.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Entekhab News, 25 were arrested during the recent demonstrations in Hamedan.

Calling three last protests unlawful and the protestors the enemy of the state, Hamedan’s governor, Mohammad-Ali Mohammadi claimed, “25 people were arrested, of which 20 were not the residents of Hamedan, coming from other areas to cause a disturbance, fear and unrest.”

In recent days, the residents of Hamedan demonstrated several times against the drinking water shortages. The water transfer project was attributed as the cause, which is still ongoing. 

During the protest on August 24, the police mistreated a woman, which sparked an outcry on social media.

 

Baha’i Individual Fariba Ashtari Arrested in Yazd

Posted on by A MN
News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i, Bahais, Faez Bagheri, Fariba Ashtari, Naser Bagheri, Revolutionary Court of Yazd s

On September 7, 2022, the intelligence agents arrested Fariba Ashtari and transferred her to Yazd Prison.

An informed source told HRANA that Ashtari has been arrested to start her five-year sentence. She had a heart disease for which she had undergone surgery two times last year.

On December 2, 2019, the intelligence agents arrested Ashtari at her house and on February 2019, she was released on bail.

On June 20, 2020, the Revolutionary Court of Yazd sentenced Ashtari to five years on the charge of “membership in an anti-regime group” and one year in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”. Based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, five years imprisonment for the first charge is enforceable to her.

Previously, Ashtari and her husband and son had also faced arrests and convictions. Between 2014 to 2016, she had been imprisoned in Yazd Prison. Her husband, Naser Bagheri was imprisoned for nine months. Her Son, Faez Bagheri was arrested in March of 2015, when he was 17 years old. He was released on bail after five months. Later, he was sentenced to three years in prison but the verdict was commuted to a one-million-toman fine on appeal.