Category: News

Trade Union Activist Hassan Saeedi on hunger Strike 

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Hassan Saeedi, Hunger Strike

Trade Union Activist Hassan Saeedi has been in solitary confinement in Ward 209 of Evin Prison for about 50 days. Despite poor health conditions, he went on hunger strike about fourteen days ago.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Hassan Saeedi, a member of the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, is still on hunger strike in Evin Prison.

An informed source told HRANA that Saeedi is on the fourteenth day of his hunger strike in solitary confinement despite his poor health and in protest against the extension of his unlawful custody and delay in due process.”

In recent days, in an open letter, Saeedi’s family and nine other detained trade unionists’ families have demanded an end to what they called  baseless lawsuits against trade union activists and their immediate release.

Hassan Saeedi went on hunger strike for four days before to protest against his incarceration in solitary confinement and demanded relocation to the public ward.

On May 18, 2022, security forces arrested Saeedi at his house. They also search the house and confiscated some of Saeedi’s personal belongings.

Detained French Nationals Indicted in Iran

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News
Cécile Kohler, Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations, Eskandar Lotfi, FNEC FP-FO, Iran state TV, Jacques Paris, Masoud Nikkhah, Rasoul Bodaghi, Shaban Mohammadi

The spokesperson of Iran’s judiciary announced the indictment of two French individuals, Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris. Earlier, Iran state TV had accused the two of having relations with the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations and recent nationwide teachers’ protests.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Rokna, two French nationals  Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris have been indicted.

The spokesperson of the judiciary, Masoud Setayeshi said that on May 8, 2022, the French citizens were arrested and briefed on the charge of “assembly and collusion against national security”.

A few days after the arrest, Iran state TV claimed that the two French nationals are associated with teachers union activists, Eskandar Lotfi, Masoud Nikkhah, Shaban Mohammadi and Rasoul Bodaghi and accused them of “organizing protests to cause “unrest, chaos, and social disorder”.

Cécile Kohler is a member of the French education union FNEC FP-FO.

Former Political Prisoner Javad Seyedi Arrested in Tehran

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, Javad Seyedi, Ward 209 of Evin Prison

Last Saturday, July 2, intelligence agents arrested former political prisoner Javad Seyedi during a pensioners’ protest in Tehran and transferred him to Ward 209 of Evin Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, former political prisoner Javad Seyedi was arrested in Tehran.

An informed source told HRANA, “Seyedi was arrested during a pensioners’ protest. He is currently held in Ward 209 of Evin Prison without access to a lawyer and family visit.”

In August of 2021, Seyedi was released on probation from Evin Prison. He was previously sentenced to three years and nine months on the charge of “assembly and collusion to disrupt national security”, and eight months on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”. Later, his sentence was reduced to two years and nine months.

HRANA’s Daily Review of Protests in Iran

Posted on by A MN
Labor and Guilds, News
Dorud, Isfahan, Kemranshah and Ahvaz, Kerman, Shahrekurd, Shushtar, Sungun copper mine, Telecommunication personnel

On Wednesday, July 6, 2022, a number of protests and one labour strike took place in Iran.

In Shahrekurd, the Telecommunication personnel gathered on the organization’s premises to protest against the cuts in benefits.

In Shushtar, Isfahan, Kerman, Dorud, Kermanshah and Ahvaz, the pensioners of held protests in front of the Social Security Organization of each city.

For the second consecutive day, the workers of contractor companies working in the Sungun copper mine, went on strike and gathered at their workplace.

 

Reyhaneh Ansari in Pre-trial Detention over 50 Days

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News
Evin Prison, Reyhaneh Ansari, ward 209

Workers’ Rights Activist Reyhaneh Ansari is detained in Ward 209 of Evin Prison for over 50  days.

An informed source told HRANA, “Reyhaneh is a single mother of a daughter. As the detention continues, her daughter can no longer afford her living costs”.

The Ministry of Intelligence has delayed Ansari’s release despite the one billion tomans bail that she provided.

On May 13, 2022, security forces arrested Ansari and transferred her to Ward 209 of Evin Prison in Tehran. The agents searched her house and confiscated some of her personal belongings.

Reyhaneh Ansari has been arrested on previous occasions for her civil activities.

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Inmate Executed in Gachsaran Prison

Posted on by A MN
Executions, News
Behzad Narooie, Gachsaran Prison, Hadi Moradi, HRANA, Zahedan Prison

On July 6, 2022, an inmate who is convicted of murder was executed in Gachsaran Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on July 6, 2022, an inmate identified by HRANA as Hadi Moradi was executed in Gachsaran Prison.

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

Haal Vsh News also reported that today, in Zahedan Prison, an inmate was relocated to solitary confinement awaiting execution. This inmate has been identified as Behzad Narooie, age 33, who was convicted of drug-related crimes.

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.

 

Belgian National Arrested in Iran 

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
Belgium's justice minister, Olivier Vandecasteele, Van Quickenborne

Belgium’s justice minister has confirmed the arrest of a Belgium National accused of “espionage” in Iran.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Agence France-Presse (AFP), Belgium’s Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne confirmed the apprehension of a Belgian man in Iran.

Without revealing the individual’s identity, Van Quickenborne called the detention “illegal.”

Yesterday, Iran International TV Station revealed the identity of the Belgian individual as Olivier Vandecasteele, a 41-year-old aid worker who has served in various international humanitarian organizations since at least 2006.

Iran has frequently detained foreign or dual nationals for political aims such as prisoner swaps or gaining leverage in negotiations with the West.

There are serious concerns about the validity of espionage allegations due to the frequent use of such accusations by Iran, which is to suppress its opponents and the ambiguities in legal proceedings and the lack of transparency.

HRANA’s Daily Review of Protests in Iran

Posted on by A MN
Labor and Guilds, News
Arshad Kazempour, Ilam Tele-communication Company, Iranian medical interns, Sungun copper mine, Valiollah Mahmoodi, Varzaqan county, Yazd Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences

On Tuesday, July 5, 2022, at least ten protests and two labour strikes took place in Iran. Read our review below for details, photos, and videos from these demonstrations:

A number of medical interns of the Yazd Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences gathered on campus to demand unpaid Covid bonuses, internship wages and amenities Improvements for interns.

A number of workers of the Sungun copper mine located in Varzaqan county, East Azarbaijan went on strike and assembled at their workplace in protest against the arrest of two workers and other labour issues.

On Tuesday, July 5, two mining workers identified as Valiollah Mahmoodi and Arshad Kazempour were arrested by security forces and transferred to an unidentified location. For several months, the workers of this mining company have been protesting for their demands such as the implementation of the Job Classification plan.

 

A group of personnel of the Ministry of Agriculture Jihad protested in front of the Planning and Budget Organization in Tehran. According to the protestors, their wages are disproportionately lower than other government employees. This protest led to the arrest of several protestors by security forces.

The personnel of the Ilam Tele-communication Company went on strike and gathered at company premises. They protested against the company’s new recruitment policy, whereby an applicant with more than thirty years of work experience will not be prioritized anymore.

 

A group of workers on the Shafarud Dam in Rezvanshahr gathered in front of the Governor’s office to demand their seven-month unpaid wages.
In Kermanshah, the pensioners of the Social Security Organization gathered before the Pension Fund office and then demonstrated in the streets. Similar protests took place in Bandar Abbas, Dorud and Mazandaran Province.

A number of members of the housing cooperation of the Zanjan University of Medical Sciences held a protest in front of the Ministry of Labour in Zanjan to protest against the member board’s violation of the regulation.

Sunni prisoner Fereidoun Zakeri Nasab Went on Hunger Strike in Rajai Shahr Prison

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Fereidoun Zakeri Nasab, Kermanshah province, Rajai Shahr Prison, ran’s Sunni community, Sarpol-e Zahab

Fereidoun Zakeri Nasab is on the third day of his hunger strike in Rajai Shahr Prison in protest against the Tehran Prosecutor-General’s insulting statements against Sunni prisoners.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on July 4, 2022, Sunni prisoner, Fereidoun Zakeri Nasab went on hunger strike.  

An informed source confirmed Zakeri Nasab’s hunger strike to HRANA.

Last Thursday, the Prosecutor-General of Tehran Ali Salehi made a visit to Rajai Shahr Prison. During the conversation with Sunni prisoners, he used insulting statements against the prisoners and Iran’s Sunni community. In protest, three Sunni prisoners, including Fereidoun Zakeri Nasab went on a hunger strike.

Also in May of this year, Zakeri Nasab started a hunger strike to protest against infringement in due process, which he later ended after receiving word from the authorities that the conditions would improve.

In 2017, Zakeri Nasab was arrested and sentenced to death on the charge of “spreading corruption on earth”. This verdict was revoked by the Supreme Court of Iran and he is currently facing the charge of “assisting in the armed assault”. 

Zakeri Nasab is a resident of Sarpol-e Zahab in Kermanshah Province.  

In Iran’s prisons, hunger strikes are common among prisoners despite their physical and mental impairments. Hunger strikes are used as a last resort for protesting unlawful detention without trials, violations of prisoners’ rights and infringement on due process.

Four Individuals Arrested in Kermanshah for Spreading Falsehood 

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
Kermanshah, Shahram Karami, spreading falsehood

Shahram Karami, the prosecutor-general of Kermanshah Province, announced the arrest of four individuals by security forces for “association with foreign media and spreading falsehood.”

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Javan Online, four individuals were arrested by the Ministry of Intelligence in Kermanshah Province.

Without revealing the identities of the individuals, Karami claimed that they were arrested after publishing pictures of an Iranian rape victim in Iraq, in association with anti-regime networks and media abroad.