Category: News

Ten Inmates Executed in Rajai Shahr Prison

Posted on by A MN
Executions, News
Iman Safari-rad, Karaj, Mehdi Khlagaldi, Rajai Shahr Prison

On Wednesday, June 29, 2022, ten inmates were executed in Rajai Shahr Prison, eight were previously convicted of murder and two of rape.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Wednesday, June 29, 2022, the executions of ten inmates were carried out in Rajai Shahr Prison, in Karaj, Alborz Province.

HRANA has identified two inmates as Iman Safari-rad and Mehdi Khlagaldi.

These executions have not been reported by 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.

Michael Menbari Arrested in Sanandaj

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Kurdpa, Michael Menbari, Sanandaj Prison

On Wednesday, June 29, 2022, security forces arrested Michael Menbari in Sanandaj and took him to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, on Wednesday, June 29, 2022, Michael Menbari was arrested by security forces in Sanandaj, Kurdistan Province.

According to an informed source, “Menbari was arrested by intelligence agents at a shop. The agents did not show an arrest warrant.”

The reason for Menbari’s arrest, his whereabouts and the charges against him are unknown so far.

Earlier on June 15, 2022, Menbari was arrested and jailed in Sanandaj Prison. At the time of his arrest, the intelligence agents searched his house and confiscated some of his personal belongings. On October 2, 2021, he was released on bail.  

Journalist Vida Rabbani Sentenced to Five Years Imprisonment

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Union of Islamic Iran People Party, Vida Rabbani

The Revolutionary Court sentenced journalist Vida Rabbani to five years imprisonment and additional punishments. Of this sentence, two years have been suspended.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Vida Rabbani, journalist and a member of the Union of Islamic Iran People Party, was sentenced to five years in prison.

In a post on social media, Rabbani stated that she has been charged with ” blasphemy “, “disrupting public order”, “inciting violence, assembly ad collusion to act against national security”, and “propaganda against the regime.”

According to Rabbani, activities such as retweeting posts or a poem were presented to create evidence for the charges of “blasphemy” and “assembly and collusion” in trials. 

As additional punishment, Rabbani has been banned from posting on social media, political activities, and gatherings.

On November 22, 2020, Vida Rabbani was arrested by security forces and transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison. Twelve days later, in a phone call to her family, she informed them about her hunger strike. On December 20, 2020, she was released on bail.

HRANA’s Daily Review of Protests in Iran

Posted on by A MN
Labor and Guilds, News
Iranian pensioners, Ministry of Petroleum

On Wednesday, June 29, 2022, two protests took place in Iran.

A number of personnel of the Ministry of Petroleum from various cities gathered in Tehran in front of the building of this ministry to demand fair wages and improvements in pension funds.

In Ahvaz, the pensioners continued their protest in front of the Governor’s office. According to the protestors, the government is obliged to increase the pensions in compliance with the Supreme Labour Council’s enactment.

Update on Zeynab Jalalian’s Condition in Yazd Prison

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
enmity against God, life imprisonment, Yazd Prison, Zeynab Jalalian

Political prisoner Zeynab Jalalian is spending the fifteenth year of her life sentence in exile, in Yazd Prison. During this period, she did not have any furlough and was denied medical treatment despite suffering from several diseases.

An informed source told HRANA, “despite the recommendation of physicians, prison officials refuse to dispatch  Jalalian to a hospital outside the prison and her treatment is restricted to non-specialist examinations in the infirmary.”

Zeynab Jalalian is held in a ward of inmates convicted of violent crimes. Due to the fact that she is kept in an exiled city, she rarely receives family visits.

In 2007, Zeynab Jalalian was arrested by an Iranian intelligence agency. Subsequently, the Revolutionary Court sentenced her to death on the charge of “enmity against God through membership in an anti-regime group.” The verdict was commuted to life imprisonment on appeal.

Zeynab Jalalian went on hunger strike several times. During the detention, she was tortured,  beaten, and received rape threats. 

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Two Inmates Executed in Central Prison of Karaj

Posted on by A MN
Executions, News
Central Prison of Karaj, Execution in Iran, Nasrollah Iliad

On Monday, June 27, 2022, two inmates previously convicted of murder and rape were executed in Central Prison of Karaj, Alborz Province.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Iran Human Rights Organization, on Monday, June 27, 2022, two inmates were executed in the Central Prison of Karaj.

One of the inmates has been identified as Nasrollah Iliad, age 40, was convicted of murder. 

The other inmate was convicted of rape.

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.

French Tourist’s Sentence Upheld by Court of Appeals

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Benjamin Briere, French Tourist, Ukraine Flight 752, Vakilabad prison

Branch 7 of the Court of Appeals of Khorasan Razavi Province upheld the sentence of French Tourist Benjamin Briere. Initially, Briere was sentenced to eight years and eight months in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the prison sentence against Benjamin Briere was upheld on appeal.

Confirming this sentence in an interview with HRANA, Briere’s lawyer, Saeed Dehghan commented that in this verdict, France was considered hostile to Iran and statements such as expressing condolences to the families of the victims of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752, which was shot down by the IRGC, was presented as evidence for this conviction. Also, Briere’s information technology background and the possession of more than one hard drive and cell phone were considered by the court as evidence for the conviction.

In January of last year, Branch 4 of the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad sentenced Briere to eight years and eight months in prison on the charges of “espionage” and “propaganda against the regime”. Two other charges of “spreading corruption on earth” and “drinking alcohol” were dismissed by the court.

In May 2020, Briere was arrested by security forces and has since been kept in Vakilabad Prison. He has been in pre-trial detention for more than 600 days.

HRANA’s Daily Review of Protests in Iran

Posted on by A MN
Labor and Guilds, News
Faculty of Medical Sciences, Iranian pensioners, Ramak Khodro, Tehran Oil Refinery

On Tuesday, June 28, 2022, three protests and two worker strikes took place in Iran. Read our review below for details, photos, and videos from these demonstrations:

Iranian pensioners continued their protest in front of the Governor-General building in Ahvaz to demand increasing pensions. According to the protestors, the government is obliged to increase the pensions in compliance with the Supreme Labour Council’s enactment.

In Sarab, East Azerbaijan Province, a number of students of the Faculty of Medical Sciences gathered at campus to protest against the deputy dean’s incompetency.

A group of citizens who have lost money by the car dealership Ramak Khodro’s failure to deliver their purchased cars held a protest before Tehran Courthouse.

For the second consecutive day, the overhaul technicians of the Tehran Oil Refinery Company staged a strike in protest against increasing compulsory working overtime.

A number of medical interns of The University of Medical Sciences of Shahrekord went on strike in protest against not receiving internship wages and Covid bonuses.

 

Five Years Prison Sentence of Mohammad-Khaled Hamzehpour Upheld by Court of Appeals

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Kurdistan, Mohammad-Khaled Hamzehpour, Oshnavieh, Urmia

Recently, the Court of Appeal of West Azerbaijan Province upheld the verdict against Mohammad-Khaled Hamzehpour. Earlier, Hamzepour had been sentenced to five years imprisonment by the Revolutionary Court of Oshnavieh.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Center of Democracy and Human Rights in Kurdistan, the five years sentence against Mohammad-Khaled Hamzehpour, a resident of Oshnavieh, was upheld on appeal.

Hamzehpour and four others had been charged with “membership in an anti-regime group.”

On December 14, 2020, security forces arrested Hamzehpour and took him to a detention facility in Urmia. On December 24 of that year, he was released on bail.

During detention, these individuals were denied access to a lawyer and family visits. 

Two Inmates Executed in Kerman and Jiroft

Posted on by A MN
Executions, News
Eslamabad, Execution in Iran, Haal Vsh, Jilan Noorzehi, Jiroft Prison, Kerman Province, Yousef Sanjari

Last Thursday, June 23, 2022, an inmate convicted previously of murder was executed in Kerman Prison. One day prior, on June 22, another inmate convicted of murder was also executed in Jiroft, Kerman Province.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Haal Vsh, an Afghan national identified as Jilan Noorzehi was executed in Kerman prison.

Haal Vsh also reported the execution of Yousef Sanjari, a resident of Eslamabad, in Jiroft Prison.

Both were previously sentenced to death on the charge of murder.

None of these executions has been reported by 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.