Category: News

Five Inmates Executed in Sanandaj, Bam and Rasht

Posted on by A MN
Executions, News
Bam, Hiwa Ahmadi, MohammadRezaShiahaki, Payam Yazdani, Rasht, Sanandaj

On July 27 and 28, five inmates convicted of murder were executed in Sanandaj, Bam and Rasht.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, on July 28, 2022, two convicts identified as Hiwa Ahmadi and Payam Yazdani were executed in the Sanandaj Central Prison, Kurdistan Province.

A day prior, on July 27, Snanadaj Prison officials carried out the execution of another prisoner identified as Abdollah Rahimi.

Additionally, Rasank News reported the execution of an inmate identified as Mohammad-Reza Shiahaki in Bam Prison in Kerman Province.

Rokna News also reported that an inmate identified by the initials M.F., age 27, was executed in Lakan Prison, Rasht Province. He was arrested last year for killing a police officer.

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

The most recent report from the Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) states that between January 1 of 2021 and December 20 of 2021, at least 299 citizens, including four juvenile offenders, were executed. In addition, 85 citizens were sentenced to death in this period. 

As the report points out, Iran’s judicial authorities do not publicly announce over 88% of executions. These unreported executions are known as “secret executions” by human rights organizations.

 Five Individuals Arrested for Espionage 

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
Espionage, Israel, Mossad

The Intelligence Protection Organization of Iranian Police announced the arrest of five individuals for espionage.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Mizan News, five individuals were arrested and accused of espionage for the “association with the national intelligence agency of Israel.”

Without revealing the identities of these individuals and providing further details, the above-mentioned agency announced: “These individuals were gathering information from sensitive areas. More than gathering information, they were committing arson, writing anti-regime slogans on walls and were training for sabotage and armed operations.”

There are serious concerns about the validity of espionage allegations due to the frequent use of such accusations by the Iranian intelligence officials, which is aimed at suppressing its opponents. Such claims are often ambiguous in legal proceedings due to the lack of transparency and their political nature.

Suspicious Death of Sunni Cleric Inside Prison

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Hasan Amini, Maulana Musa Rahimi

Imprisoned Sunni cleric Maulana Musa Rahimi died suspiciously in Bandar-Abbas Prison. In an open statement, offering condolence to Rahimi’s family and the Iranian Sunnis, the popular religious scholar of Kurdistan Hasan Amini demanded that the authorities clarify Rahimi’s cause of death.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on July 24, 2022,  Sunni cleric Musa Rahimi died in Bandar-Abbas Prison.

Last week, a video of Rahimi’s funeral was published on social media.

Sunni scholar Hassan Amini demanded that Iran’s judicial and security authorities should  “announce to the public the cause of Rahimi’s death clearly and backed with pieces of evidence. Otherwise, the rumours of his murder in prison will be proved true.”

According to local sources, security forces had arrested Rahimi two months ago.

The cause and circumstances that led to Rahimi’s death in prison are unknown so far.

Female Afghan National Executed in Rajai-Shahr Prison

Posted on by A MN
Executions, News
executed Afghan national, HRANA, Rajai Shahr Prison, Senobar Jalali

On July 27, 2022, a female convict was executed in Rajai-Shahr Prison in Karaj.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on July 27, 2022, a female inmate was executed in Rajai-Shahr Prison in Karaj.

HRANA has identified this woman as Senobar Jalali, an Afghan national.

An informed source told HRANA that one day before the execution, Jalali had been relocated from Qarchak Prison in Varamin to Rajai Shahr Prison.

This execution has not been reported by the official sources and media outlets inside Iran so far.

The most recent report from the Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) states that between January 1 of 2021 and December 20 of 2021, at least 299 citizens, including four juvenile offenders, were executed. In addition, 85 citizens were sentenced to death in this period. 

As the report points out, Iran’s judicial authorities do not publicly announce over 88% of executions. These unreported executions are known as “secret executions” by human rights organizations.

HRANA’s Daily Review of Protests in Iran

Posted on by A MN
Labor and Guilds, News
Ahvaz National Steel Industrial Group workers, Evin Prison, Tehran

On Wednesday, July 27, for several consecutive days, Ahvaz National Steel Industrial Group workers gathered before the Governor-General’s office to demand levelling up wages and weather payment.

A number of Iran-Iraq war veterans gathered before Evin Prison in Tehran and asked to free the detained veterans. Last Saturday, during their protest before the parliament, several veterans were arrested by security forces.

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Three Teachers Arrested in Divandareh

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News

On July 26, 2022, security forces arrested three teachers during a protest in front of the Ministry of Education in Divandareh and transferred them to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, three teachers, Mohyedin Karimian, Asa’ad Alavi and Kurosh Babamoradi were arrested in Divandarreh, Kurdistan Province.

These teachers had gathered with others to protest against the detention of five Divandarreh Teachers’ Trade Union Association members who are detained for over a month.

Sepideh Rashno Coerced to Make TV Confession

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Sepideh Rashno, TV Confession

Official media outlets inside Iran have released a forced confession video of imprisoned artist Sepideh Rashno who is in custody for her resistance and confrontation against an individual who was enforcing the hejab code in public transportation, a practice which is praised by the Iranian authorities.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists,  the regime authorities forced detained artist Sepideh Rashno to make a coerced TV confession, which is a common practice and a violation of the individual’s human rights

In this confession video, Rashno, whose hand had been injured during the quarrel, blamed herself instead of the attacker.

 A video has been circulating on social media showing a woman harassing Rashno and blaming her for an improper hejab at public transportation. After the video was published, security forces arrested Rashno. 

An informed source told HRANA, “Mrs Rashno was allowed a short phone call to one of her relatives, but she has not called her family. The judicial officials told her family that a legal case has been opened against her in Branch 3 of Evin Prosecutor’s Office”.

Sepideh Rashno, age 28, is a student of Tehran University and a resident of Khorramabad.

Political Prisoner Khaled Freidooni Released after 22 Years in Prison

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Khaled Freidooni, Mahabad, moharebeh, Urmia prison

On July 26, political prisoner Khaled Freidooni was released from Urmia Prison after 22 years in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Mostafa Nili, Freidooni’s lawyer, announced the release of his client from Urmia Prison on social media.

On August 31, 2000, Freidooni was arrested and charged with “acting against national security” and “enmity against God (Moharebeh) through association with an anti-regime political party”. The Revolutionary Court of Mahabad sentenced him to death. After three and half years, this verdict was reduced to imprisonment on appeal.

During this period, Freidooni was held in Piranshahr, Mahabad and Urmia prisons. In 2007, he went into exile in Rajai Shahr Prison. After ten years, he was sent back to Urmia Prison.

On January 16, 2022, for the first time after 21 years, Freidooni was granted furlough.

HRANA’s Daily Review of Protests in Iran

Posted on by A MN
Labor and Guilds, News
Economic Crimes Court, green maintenance workers, Hashtgerd Industrial zone, Karoon Oil and Gas Production Company, Madiran Company, Neyshabur, Omran Pardis, Ramak Khodro

On Tuesday, July 26, five protests took place in Iran.

A number of citizens who have not received their purchased car from the car dealership Ramak Khodro protested in front of the Economic Crimes Court in Tehran.

In Tehran, a group of land proprietors in New Town Pardis protested against the confiscation of their lands by Omran Pardis New Town Company.

A number of workers of Madiran Company before the company in Hashtgerd Industrial zone. They protested against low wages and heavy workloads.

A group of the workers of Karoon Oil and Gas Production Company gathered before the National Iranian South Oil Company in Ahvaz to ask for their labour demands such as official permanent contracts and pertinent benefits.

A number of the green maintenance workers of the Neyshabur held a protest against delays in payments in front of the Municipality building.

 

 

Milad Eftekhari Sentenced to Three Years in Prison

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
irgc, Larestan, Milad Eftekhari

The Revolutionary Court of Shiraz sentenced Milad Eftekhari to three years in prison and additional limitations. If confirmed on appeal, based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, two years for one charge will be enforceable.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Eftekhari, who is a resident of Larestan, was sentenced to two years in prison on the charge of “insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran” and one year on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”. He was also banned from leaving the county and on social media presence for two years.

On May 23, 2022, security forces arrested Eftekhari at his house and transferred him to Larestan Prison. During the arrest, the agents searched his house and confiscated some of his personal belongings. He was released later on a 100 million tomans bail.

On June 22, 2021, IRGC’s intelligence office summoned and interrogated Eftekhari for his criticisms of IRGC and the Supreme Leader on social media. He was later released after signing a pledge.

Eftekhari, age 26, is a resident of Larestan, Fars Province, and a graduate student in Communication Science from Tehran University.