Category: News

Political Prisoner Ahmadreza Haeri Arrested in Tehran

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Ahmadreza Haeri, Cybercrime Court of Tehran, HRANA, The Black Thursday of Evin Prison, the Greater Tehran prison

On June 27, 2022, security forces arrested political prisoner Ahmadreza Haeri in Tehran.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Emtedad News, on Monday, June 27, 2022, security forces arrested political prisoner Ahmadreza Haeri. The arrest was ordered by Branch 3 of the Interrogation Office of Evin Court.

Last week, IRGC agents raided and searched Haeri’s house and confiscated some of his personal belongings. During the search, Haeri was verbally instructed to appear at Evin Courthouse.

In October of last year, he was summoned to the Cybercrime Court of Tehran following a complaint from the Prisons Security and Corrective Measures Organization of Tehran Province (PSCMO).

Earlier, Ahmadreza Haeri had faced other arrests and convictions. On April 17, 2014, dozens of political prisoners in Ward 350 of Evin Prison were beaten brutally by security agents. In protest against this incident which is called “The Black Thursday of Evin Prison”, prisoners’ families and other individuals held protests in front of the Parliament and Judiciary, which led to the arrest of several protestors including Ahmadreza Haeri. One month later, he was sentenced to 42 months in prison by Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran.

This initial verdict was upheld on appeal. However, following his lawyer’s objection, Haeri’s verdict was revoked and this time the case was undertaken by Branch 54 of the court of appeals, which sentenced him to six months in prison and 74 lashes. 

On July 25, 2020, Haeri endured the flogging by the Intelligence and Public Security Police of NAJA and was sent to the Greater Tehran prison to serve his six-month sentence. On October 8, 2020, he was released on probation from the Greater Tehran prison.

HRANA’s Daily Review of Protests in Iran

Posted on by A MN
Labor and Guilds, News
Iran Ofogh, Iranian pensioners, overhaul technicians, Tehran Oil Refinery Company

On Monday, June 27, 2022, a protest gathering and two worker strikes took place in Iran. Read our review below for details, photos, and videos from these demonstrations:

Continuing their protests, the pensioners of the Social Security Organization gathered before the Governor-General building in Ahvaz, Khuzestan Province.

The workers of the Iran Ofogh Industrial Development Company (and its two subsidiary companies) went on strike to protest against delays in payments. Reportedly, drivers and workers have not been paid for five and three months respectively.

The overhaul technicians of the Tehran Oil Refinery Company went on a strike in protest against increasing compulsory working overtime.

HRANA’s Daily Review of Protests in Iran

Posted on by A MN
Labor and Guilds, News
Mashhad, petrochemical companies, Social Security Organization

On Sunday, June 26, 2022, a number of protests took place in Iran. Read our review below for details, photos, and videos from these demonstrations:

The pensioners of the Social Security Organization continued their protest in Ahvaz, Shushtar, Kermanshah, Rasht and Ardabil. They protested against the government’s decision to increase the pensions by only 10 per cent, which falls below the amount that the Supreme Labor Council has enacted.

A number of driving school instructors held a protest in Mashhad. They protested against low wages and increasing car maintenance costs.

A number of teachers working in overseas schools gathered in front of the Courthouse of Tehran to protest against not addressing their demands.

A group of students of Islamic Azad University in Kish gathered at campus to ask for holding in-person exams.

The insulation workers of petrochemical companies went on strike to demand an increase in wages.

Four Citizens Arrested in Oshnavieh

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News

On Monday, June 27, 2022, security forces arrested four individuals in Oshnavieh and transferred them to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, on Monday, June 27, 2022, four citizens identified as Yaghob Mahmmodi Azar, Bahman Mahommodi Azar, Ebrahim Azizi and his son Mohsen Azizi were arrested in Oshnavieh.

According to an informed source, the intelligence agents did not show arrest warrants.

The reasons for these arrests, the whereabouts of the individuals and the charges are unknown so far.

Three Baha’i Citizens Arrested in Shiraz

Posted on by A MN
News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i citizen, Negar Ighani, Shaghayegh Khaneh-Zarin, Zhila Sharafi Nasrabadi

On Sunday, June 26, 2022, three Baha’i citizens, Shaghayegh Khaneh-Zarin, Negar Ighani and Zhila Sharafi Nasrabadi were arrested by security forces in Shiraz and taken to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Sunday, June 26, 2022, security forces arrested three Baha’i individuals in Shiraz.

An informed source told HRANA that  Khane-Zarin’s father had a heart attack due to stress during  his daughter’s arrest and was hospitalized in Shiraz.”

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

Also, Negar Iqani was denied entry to the University Entrance Exam of 2019, even though she is an employee of the institution. 

Even though Iran’s law recognized the right to education indiscriminately for all citizens, the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution of Iran bars Baha’is from working at official institutions and participating in higher education.

The deprivation of the freedom to practice their religion is a breach of 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.

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Lawyer and Human Rights Defender Amirsalar Davoudi Imprisoned

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Amirsalar Davoudi, Evin Prison

On June 26, 2022, lawyer and Human Rights Defender Amirsalar Davoudi was taken to prison to serve a ten-year sentence. Earlier, Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals sentenced him to 14 years in prison, of which, based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, ten years is enforceable. 

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Sunday, June 26, 2022, lawyer Amirsalar Davoudi was taken to prison for sentencing. 

An informed source told HRANA that while Davoudi was at Evin Courthouse to inquire about his case, he was arrested for sentencing without prior notice.

On December 1, 2021, Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeal sentenced Davoudi to two years in prison on the charge of “offensive statements against the Supreme Leader of Iran”, two years for “disturbing public opinion” and ten years for “creating a group which threatens national security.” Based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, ten years in prison for the last charge is enforceable. 

Davoudi was arrested by security forces on November 20, 2018, and transferred to Evin prison. Before his arrest, the intelligence agents had searched his office and confiscated some of his documents and personal belongings. 

Amirsalar Davoudi is a member of the Iranian Bar Association, who has worked as an attorney for many political activists including Soheil Arabi, Zeynab Jalalian and Saeed Shirzad.

HRANA’s Daily Review of Protests in Iran

Posted on by A MN
Labor and Guilds, News
fuel ration cards, Iranian pensioners, Railway Workers, Rezwan Dorud, scaffold workers, Tehran Darugar Company, Zahedan

On Saturday, June 25, 2022, five protests and one worker strike took place in Iran. Read our review below for details, photos, and videos from these demonstrations:

A group of workers of the Tehran Darugar Company held a protest against a three-month delay in payments. According to these workers, the employer’s claim that the raw materials are in short supply is baseless and ingredients of shampoo and detergent are available on the market.

The workers and personnel of the Railway Services and Technical Construction Engineering Company Rezwan Dorud gathered and protested in a railway station in Zarand City, Yazd Province, to ask for levelling up wages.

A group of pensioners of the Social Security Organization gathered before the Governor’s office in Ahvaz to ask for their demands.

A number of workers of Azarpark Company gathered in front of this company office in Tabriz to protest against a three months delay in wages and the company’s decision not to raise the wages.

A number of residents of Zahedan gathered before the National Iranian Oil Company to protest against the revocation of their fuel ration cards.

The scaffold workers of the contractor company Salahshur working in the oil industry went on strike to ask for increasing wages and a shift work schedule with 20 days working followed by 10 days off.

 

Inmates in Women’s Ward of Qarchak Prison Held in Inhumane Conditions

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Iranian women prisoners, Qarchak Prison

Women imprisoned in Qarchak Prison in Varamin are being held in poor and inhumane conditions, deprived of a ventilation system and healthy drinking water, which results in skin diseases and other health issues.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, inmates of women’s wards in Qarchak Prison are deprived of basic human needs.

In recent days, the quality of tap water has intolerably worsened. According to an informed source, low-quality water has caused many diseases. Many women inmates cannot afford to buy water bottles from the food store in prison.

These harsh conditions have also increased tensions and quarrels among inmates.

The conditions in the women’s ward have caused criticism of the authorities, including  Heshmatollah Hayat, the head of the Tehran Prisons Organization.

Update on Prisoner Akbar Faraji in Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Akbar Faraji, Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary

Political prisoner Akbar Faraji (Farajim), age 41, is serving a five-year sentence in the Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary.

On October 8, 2021, Faraji and 13 other inmates were relocated to a locked-door ward. After being kept there for several months, the inmates in this ward are suffering from many issues such as frequent water cuts, overcrowding and the lack of a ventilation system.

On February 10, 2019, security forces arrested Akbar Faraji for his activities on social media. He was held at one IRGC detention facility in Tehran and after ten days of interrogation, transferred to Evin Prison. On February 24, 2019, Faraji was released on bail of 300 million Tomans.

On April 9, 2019, Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced Akbar Faraji to five years in prison on the charge of “assembly and collusion against national security” and one year on the charge of “propaganda against the regime.” This verdict was upheld on appeal. Based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the five years sentence for the first charge is enforceable. On September 6, 2020, Faraji was jailed in the Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary to serve his sentence.

Concern over Prisoner Mohammad-Ali Mansouri’s Health 

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
HRANA, Iran Mansouri, javaid rehman, MEK, Mohammad Ali Mansouri, Sunni prisoners

Political prisoner Mohammad-Ali Mansouri, who is serving the fifteenth year out of his seventeen-year sentence in Rajai Shahr Prison, is denied urgent medical treatment and furlough despite prior approval. In an open statement, his mother, Iran Mansouri asked human rights organizations for help.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Mohammad-Ali Mansouri, a political prisoner who is held in  Rajai Shahr Prison is denied urgent medical treatment and furlough.

An informed source told HRANA, “Last year, Mansouri had a heart attack. Although it was suggested that he should be at a healthcare facility for further examination and supervision, the  prison authority rejected the request.”

“Mansouri has served his first sentence and now he is imprisoned for another sentence which he faced during prison time”, this source added.

In an open statement addressing Javaid Rehman, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iran, Amnesty International and United Nations Human Rights Council, Mansouri’s Mother, Iran Mansouri expressed concern about her son’s poor health and asked for help.

Mansouri was arrested in September 2007 after attending the 19th anniversary of the massacre of political prisoners in 1988. Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court, headed by Judge Abolghasem Salavati, sentenced him to 17 years in prison and a fine of 150,000 tomans on the charge of “communicating and collaborating with the People’s Mujahedin Organization (MEK)”. The sentence was upheld by the Court of Appeals.

In May 2018, on the pretext of [conducting] “activities inside the prison” such as going on a hunger strike, inciting prisoners, and writing a statement in support of the Sunni prisoners,  Mansouri was charged with “collusion against the regime” and sentenced to an additional five years in prison.