Category: News

Maisam Kazemi Sentenced to 22 Months by the Court of Appeal

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Behbahan prison, Khuzestan province, Maisam Kazemi

The Court of Appeal of Khuzestan Province upheld the sentence against Meysam Kazemi, a resident of Behbahan City. Initially, he was sentenced by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Bandar Mahshahr to 22 months in prison. Applying article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, one year and three months imprisonment is enforceable.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the Court of Appeal of Khuzestan Province upheld the 22-month sentence against Maisam Kazemi.

According to the verdict issued by Branch 16 of the Khuzestan Court of Appeal, Kazemi was sentenced to 22 months in prison on the charges of “propaganda against the regime in favor of anti-regime groups and offensive statements against Iran’s Supreme Leader”. Seven and a half months of this prison term have been suspended.

The court session was held on February 14, 2022.

On Saturday, December 4, 2021, Maisam Kazemi was arrested and transferred to Behbahan Prison after appearing at Branch 4 of the Public and Revolutionary Court, where he was accused of “circulating social media posts about the individuals arrested after Behbahan’s protest on July 16, 2020”.

On January 9, 2022, the Behbahan Public and Revolutionary Court indicted Kazemi for “propaganda against the regime in favor of anti-regime groups and offensive statements against Iran’s Supreme Leader”. On February 2, 2022, he was released on a 600 million tomans bail.

Azerbaijani Turk Activist Abbas Lesani Sentenced to Eight Years

Posted on by A MN
Ethnic Minorities, Freedom of Expression, News
Abbas Lesani, Azerbaijani Turk activist, babak fort, Tabriz

In a retrial, Branch 1 of Iran’s Supreme Court sentenced Azerbaijani Turk activist Abbas Lesani to eight years in prison and two years of living in exile in Yazd County.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Azerbaijani Turk activist Abbas Lesani was sentenced to eight years imprisonment and two years compulsory residence in Yazd. He has been convicted on the charge of “creating and running groups with the purpose of disrupting national security.”  Lesani was later exonerated of the charge of “acting against national security” for which he had been initially sentenced to five years in prison.

Lessani has been held in Ardabil Prison since January 2019. In two separate cases, he has been sentenced to ten years and ten months combined.

Lesani had suffered from medical issues and requires further treatment outside of the prison, which he was denied.

On January 15, 2019, Abbas Lessani was summoned by Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court in Tabriz and was arrested and transferred to Ardabil Prison.

The Ardabil Revolutionary Court sentenced Lesani to eight years imprisonment and 2 years exile in Yazd City on a charge of “creating a group with the purpose of disrupting national security”.

The verdict was increased to 15 years imprisonment and two years exile on appeal. In July 2020, his appeal was dismissed. Under Article 134, a maximum sentence of 10 years is enforceable. 

In May 2019, in another legal case, Branch 26 of the Court of appeal in Eastern Azerbaijan sentenced Lessani to ten months in prison on a charge of “propaganda against the regime in favor of opposition political groups”.

Abbas Lessani has faced other arrests and convictions due to his civil activities. On July 2, 2018, together with three residents of Ardabil, he was arrested by the intelligence agents, prior to holding an annual gathering in Babak Fort (a gathering to celebrate the Babak Khorramdin’s birthday).

 

Azerbaijani Turk Activist Akbar Abolzadeh Arrested in Ahar

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Akbar Abolzadeh, Azerbaijani Turk activists

On Tuesday, June 7, 2022, Azerbaijani Turk Activist Akbar Abolzadeh was arrested by security forces in Ahar City and transferred to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Tuesday, June 7, 2022, Security forces arrested Azerbaijani Turk Activist Akbar Abolzadeh in Ahar City, East Azerbaijan Province.

The reason for this arrest, his whereabouts and the charges are unknown so far.

 

Teacher Union Activist Jabbar Doosti Arrested in Mariwan

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Jabbar Doosti, Mariwan, Teacher union activist

On Tuesday, June 7, 2022, security forces arrested teacher union activist Jabbar Doosti at his house in Mariwan and transferred him to an unidentified location. During the arrest, the agents searched his house and confiscated some of his personal belongings, including his laptop and cell phone.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, on Tuesday, June 7, 2022, teacher union activist Jabbar Doosti was arrested by security forces at his house in Mariwan.

The reason for his arrest and the charges are unknown so far.

In recent months, teachers have organized nationwide rallies all across the country. In return, security and judicial authorities have repeatedly harassed, arrested and convicted teacher union activists.

Ronak Rezai Arrested and Taken to Sepidar Prison in Ahvaz

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
ahvaz, Arash Ghaleh-Golab, Khuzestan province, Metropol building collapse, Mohammad Soveylat, Ronak Rezai, Sepidar Prison, Shadegan

Security forces arrested Ronak Rezai, a resident of Abadan and transferred her to Sepidar Prison in Ahvaz. Her arrest is related to the recent protests following Abadan’s Metropol building collapse.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Ronak Rezai was arrested in Abadan and jailed in Sepidar Prison in Ahvaz.

The reason for the arrest and the charges are unknown so far.

In recent days,  a number of citizens were arrested during the protests. HRANA has earlier reported the arrest of the journalist and poet Arash Ghaleh-Golab in Abadan and Mohammad Soveylat, age 22, in Shadegan, in Khuzestan Province.

On Monday afternoon, May 23, 2022, a 10-story building which was known as Metropol collapsed in the city of Abadan in Khuzestan Province. Over 30 individuals were killed, injured or trapped in the rubble. Following the collapse, hundreds of citizens in Abadan and several other cities demonstrated against the government and its failure to impose safety standards on the construction which led to the disaster.

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Teacher Union Activists Shaaban Mohammadi and Masoud Nikkhah Transferred from Sanandaj to Evin Prison in Tehran

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Eskandar Lotfi, Masoud Nikkhah, Shaaban Mohammadi

On Saturday, June 4, 2022, two detained teacher union activists, Shaaban Mohammadi and Masoud Nikkhah were transferred from a detention center in Sanandaj to Evin Prison in Tehran. These inmates had been arrested on May 1, 2022, with another teacher Eskandar Lotfi. Shaaban Mohammadi was released on that day but arrested again later on May 11, 2022.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Saturday evening, June 4, 2022, in a phone call, two detained teacher union activists, Shaaban Mohammadi and Masoud Nikkhah informed their families about their relocation from Sanandaj to Evin Prison in Tehran.

According to an informed source, during the call, security agents interrupted and cut the phone connection so that the Ward in which they are held is not revealed, as it may reveal the institution responsible. 

On Sunday, May 1, 2022, security forces arrested Masoud Nikkhah and Eskandar Lotfi in Sanandaj. They went on hunger strike right after the arrest. On May 11, 2022, Masoud Nikkhah was released on bond but one day after he was arrested again.

Three weeks ago, in a report, a state-controlled TV channel tried to connect the recent detention of two French citizens, Cécile Kohler and her husband, to nationwide teachers’ protests and these teachers’ activists. In response, in a statement, the Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association condemned these attempts to make such connections and allegations. 

On Sunday, May 1, in response to a call by the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association, the retired and active teachers in 45 cities assembled in front of the building of the Ministry of Education. In Mariwan and Bushehr, these protests were attacked and several protestors were arrested. 

 

Ten Inmates Executed in Zahedan Prison, One in Isfahan Prison

Posted on by A MN
Executions, News
executions in iran, sfahan Prison, Zahedan Prison

On Monday, June 6, 2022, ten inmates convicted of drug-related crimes were executed in Zahedan Prison., On Sunday, June 5, 2022, an inmate convicted of drug-related crimes was also executed in Isfahan Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Baloch Activists Campaign, on Sunday, June 5, 2022, the execution of an inmate identified as Mehdi Sarhadi, age 36, a resident of Zahedan, was carried out in Isfahan Prison.

According to an informed source, “the prison officials told Sarhadi that he would be pardoned if he was able to memorize one of thirty parts of the Quran. However, he was executed. He had been sent to the gallows several times and brought back, as it is done in prisons at times.”

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

Haal Vsh News also reported that on Monday, June 6, ten inmates convicted of drug-related crimes were executed in Zahedan Prison. Earlier, Haal Vsh had reported that they were taken to solitary confinement to be executed.

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.

 

 

Azerbaijani Turk Activists Sima Alipour and Davood Drakhshan Arrested in Tabriz

Posted on by A MN
Ethnic Minorities, News
Azerbaijani Turk activist, Davood Drakhshan, Sima Alipour, Tabriz

Azerbaijani Turk Activists Sima Alipour and Davood Drakhshan were arrested in Tabriz and transferred to a detention facility.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, in recent days, the Ministry of Intelligence arrested an Azerbaijani Turk Activists couple, Sima Alipour and Davood Drakhshan, in Tabriz.

The reasons for this arrest and the charges are unknown so far.

Convictions against Three Christians Upheld on Appeal

Posted on by A MN
News, Religious Minorities
Abbas Soori, Anoushavan Avodian, Iman Soleimani, Iranian Christians, Maryam Mohammadi

The Court of Appeals upheld a ten-year prison sentence and other convictions against Christian Citizen Anoushavan Avodian. Additionally, in this legal case, two other Christian converts, Abbas Soori and Maryam Mohammadi had been fined 50 million tomans, which all were upheld on appeal.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Article 18, the convictions against three Iranian Christians were upheld by the Court of Appeals.

In May of 2022, Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, headed by Judge Afshari, sentenced Anoushavan Avodian to 10 years in prison, paying a fine and restrictions of rights for 10 years. Two other defendants of this case, Abbas Soori and Maryam Mohammadi were fined 50 million tomans, prohibited from membership in political groups, banned from leaving the country, and residing in Tehran Province and neighboring provinces. Also, they were ordered to appear once every three weeks at the Supervision and Follow Up office of the Judiciary for two years.

The above individuals have been convicted on the charge of “organizing and running evangelical “Zionist” home church with the intention to act against national security,” and, ” owning satellite dish and receivers.”

Their Attorney Iman Soleimani told HRANA: “All arguments provided by the defense lawyer in the court have been ignored and the verdict was issued based on the judicial officers’ workflow.”

The prosecution of Christian converts stands in blatant violation of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which state that every individual has the right to freedom of religion and belief and freedom to express it openly or secretly.

Update on Civil Activist Barzan Mohammadi’s Condition in Mariwan Prison

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Barzan Mohammadi, Imprisoned Iranian Civil Activist, Mariwan Prison

Civil activist Barzam Mohammadi is currently serving his sentence in Mariwan Prison. On May 16, 2022, he went on a hunger strike in protest against his relocation to the quarantine section of the prison, which he ended last week once he was relocated back to the Public Ward.

Mohammadi was sent to the quarantine section as a punishment for his refusal to attend a religious ceremony.

On June 7, 2021, security forces arrested Barzan Mohammadi and transferred him to the Sarvabad IRGC detention center. He was then sent to Mariwan Prison. Subsequently, the Revolutionary Court of Mariwan sentenced him to 22 months imprisonment on the charge of “offensive statement against the Supreme Leader.”

Mohammadi had previously been arrested for his activities in cyberspace during the nationwide protests in July 2018 and was sentenced to 6 years in prison, which later was reduced to three years and six months on appeal. On July 5, 2020, he was freed on early release from Evin Prison.