Christian Convert Rahmat Rostamipour Arrested in Bandar Anzali

Last Monday, April 18, 2022, security forces arrested Christian Convert Rahmat Rostamipour at his house. The day after the arrest, his wife was also summoned and interrogated for a few hours.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Article 18 News Outlet, Christian Convert, Rahmat Rostamipour was arrested by security forces at his house in Bandar Anzali located in Gilan Province.

Reportedly, 12 agents raided his house at 8 a.m. which caused a convulsion in one of his children. This incident dissuaded the agent from arresting Mr Rostamipour’s wife. The agents also searched the house and confiscated some of their belongings including children’s tablets and books related to the Christian faith.

The charges against Mr Rostamipour are still unknown so far. However, during the interrogation of his wife, the agents mentioned the charges of “propaganda against the regime and forming an illegal home church”.

Rahmat Rostamipour is 49 years old and a father of two children.

The persecution 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.

 

Afsaneh Azimzadeh & Negar Masoudi Summoned to the Judgement Enforcement Unit of Evin Court

Children’s Rights Activists Afsaneh Azimzadeh and documentary filmmaker and photographer Negar Masoudi were summoned to the Judgement Enforcement Unit of Evin. Earlier, they had been sentenced to a total of 6 years and 8 months in prison and a fine. Later on, the prison sentence was commuted to a fine.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists,  the Judgement Enforcement Unit of Evin summoned Children’s Rights Activists Afsaneh Azimzadeh and documentary filmmaker and photographer Negar Masoudi.

Earlier, Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court, headed by Judge Afshari, sentenced Negar Masoudi to four years and eight months in prison on the charge of “acting against national security and propaganda against the regime.” She also was fined the amount of 80 million tomans for “provocation of indecency and prostitution.” Afsaneh Azimzadeh was sentenced to two years in prison on the charge of “act against national security.” Later, the court commuted the prison sentence.

On December 14, 2020, security forces arrested Afsaneh Azimzadeh and transferred her to Ward 2-A of Evin Prison which is at disposal of IRGC’s intelligence unit. On January 26, 2021,  he was released on bail.

Afsaneh Azimzadeh is the co-founder of the Association in Defense of Child Laborers. For more than 15 years, she has been involved in the education and social aiding of child labourers.

On October 29, 2020, Negar Masoudi was arrested by security forces in Tehran and sent to Ward 2-A of Evin prison. On January 9, 2021, she was released temporarily on bail of 2.5 billion tomans.

Negar Masoudi is a documentary filmmaker and photographer. She has launched a various photo and video exhibitions and directed a number of documentaries.

Student Activist Adel Gorji Went to Evin Prison for Sentencing

On Wednesday, April 20, 2022, Adel Gorji was sent to Evin prison for serving a one-year sentence. He is a student of the Faculty of Art and Architecture of Islamic Azad University, Tehran Center Branch.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, On Wednesday, April 20, 2022, Adel Gorji went to Evin prison for sentencing.

In June of 2020, Branch 36 of the Court of Appeals of Tehran Province sentenced Gorji to one year in prison on the charge of “assembly and collusion to act against national security”. As additional punishments, he was also sentenced to three months of unpaid work at the Education Assistant Department of the Islamic Azad University and a two-year ban from political activities or membership in political parties.

Initially, Gorji has been sentenced to four months in prison, However, after the First Deputy Prosecutor opposed this sentence as being light, it was increased on appeals.

On August 29, 2019, following a campus protest against the relocation of the faculty, Gorji was arrested by security forces with two other students. Ten days later, he was released on bond until the end of legal proceedings. On September 21, 2019, however, in the last court session held by branch 7 of the Evin Courthouse, the release on bond was changed to release on bail and since he was unable to provide the bail,  was jailed again. Finally, on October 1, 2019, he was released after providing the bail in the amount of 200 million tomans.

On April 30, 2020, Gorji was arrested by security forces during a gathering again in celebration of International Labor Day. After five days, he was released on bond.

HRANA Recap: This Week’s Protests in Iran

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, a number of protests took place this week in Iran. Read our recap below for details, photos, and videos from the demonstrations.

Saturday, April 16

A number of job seekers gathered before the Arvand Petrochemical Company in Bandar Mahshahr to protest against prioritizing the recruitment of non-local workers. Reportedly, ignoring the frequent requests of these local workers, the company management recently recruited dozens of non-local workers.

 

A group of poultry farmers in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province assembled in Shahrekord City to protest against the shortage of livestock inputs, the low price of chickens, the ban on exporting the product out of provinces and the lack of support from the State Livestock Affairs Logistics Company.

The personnel of the Water and Sewerage Company of Behbahan assembled and protested at their workplace. They have not yet received the last two months’ wages as well as the end of year bonuses. They said that their problems have begun after the merger of the company with the Rural Water and Sewerage Company.

In Isfahan, a group of farmers gathered adjacent to a water channel to protest against not receiving their irrigation water.

 

Sunday, April 17

For the second consecutive day, the personnel of the Water and Sewerage Company of Behbahan gathered and protested at their workplace. They have not yet received the last two months’ wages as well as the end of year bonuses.

A group of workers of Iran National Steel Industrial Group gathered before the governorate building in Ahvaz to demand raising wages and extra payment for inclement weather.


A number of the retirees of the Social Security Organization held protests in Ahvaz, Bojnurd, Ilam, Rasht, Arak, Ardabil, Mashhad and Kermanshah and Isfahan before the organization’s headquarters in each city. They demanded levelling up wages and closing wage disparities.

 

 

 

 

 

A group of citizens of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province assembled and rallied against water shortage caused by water transfer projects.

A number of Railway Services & Technical Construction Engineering Company in Zanjan held protests against delays in payments and not receiving Ramadan coupons. Reportedly, they have not received any wages since two months ago.

 

Monday, April 18

A group of truck drivers and other citizens who have purchased imported trucks gathered before the Presidential Administration of Iran in Tehran. They protested against the increase in customs tariffs and clearance fees and the prices for car scrapping. They said that brokers have caused an increase in the expenses of scrapping a car. According to the regulation, the applicants for imported trucks have to provide a certificate of scrapping a used vehicle, in order to receive a car license plate for his imported truck.

A number of Pharmacists gathered before the building of the Food and Drug Administration in Tehran to protest against the illegal status of the Pharmacists Association, low and undetermined drug tariffs.

Tuesday, April 19

A number of the residents of the village Saravan in Rasht province held protests against ill-managed landfill sites leading to waste accumulation in forest areas. In recent days, they hampered the garbage trucks to come into the area and asked for addressing this issue.

A group of green maintenance workers of Robat Karim city located in Tehran province gathered and protests against low wages and their poor living conditions.

A number of laid-off workers of the Neyshabur municipality gathered before the city council to protest against job uncertainties. One of the protestors said: “We are about 96 workers of the municipality of zone 2 who are working for many years. Since the beginning of new year, after leaving the contractor, the municipality has suspended us.” According to them, the municipality has broken its promise to give them a contract with the new contractor.

A group of personnel of Islamic Azad University in Mashhad city held protests before the university building to ask for their demands.

A group of workers of Isfahan Tile Company gathered in front of the governorate building in Isfahan city. They protested against factory closure, lack of job security and temporary employment contracts.

 

Several technical protection and safety services advisers gathered before the Ministry of Cooperatives Labor and Social Welfare to protest against uncertainties regarding their job. According to a prior announcement, the government will not extend their license after the June of this year.

A group of people who have pre-purchased cars from Ramak Khodro Company protested before Tehran Province Justice Building. Reportedly, about 7000 people have not received their pre-purchased vehicles after several years.

A group of personnel of the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labour, and Social Welfare assembled before the Ministry to ask for raising wages.

A group of people who lost their money to the frauds of Negin Khordo and Irtoya Companies gathered before Judiciary Public Relations Office in Tehran and asked for more transparency in the legal case proceeding.

Likewise, a group of people who lost their money to frauds of Meftah Rahnavard Khordo Company gathered before the Head of the Judiciary Office. After five years, they have not yet received any vehicles from this company.

A number of truck drivers of Rudbar city located in Kerman Province protested against low Truck fares determined by the Road Maintenance & Transportation Organization of the province.

 

Wednesday, April 22

For several consecutive days, the residents of the village Saravan in Rasht province held protests against unhygienic and ill-managed landfill sites leading to waste accumulation in forest areas. The protesters said that they will continue the protest until their demands are addressed and dumping ground in the forest becomes forbidden.

A group of truck drivers gathered before the Parliament in Tehran to protest against the increasing costs of scrapping cars caused by the role of brokers and intermedia companies.  They also protested against the lack of supplementary insurance and high prices of spare car parts.

A group of the personnel of subsidiary companies of The National Iranian South Oil Company gathered each at their company premises. They asked for a 12-hour shift instead of an 8-hour one.

 

Thursday, April 21

In response to a call by the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations, retired and working educators in dozens of cities across the country gathered in front of the building of the Ministry of Education. During these protests, dozens of protestors were arrested by the police.

Once again, the residents of village Saravan in Rasht province protested against ill-managed landfill sites leading to waste accumulation in forest areas.

A number of seasonal workers of the Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company Haft-Tappeh went on strike and gathered in company premises. They demanded employment contracts.

A number of the residents of the village Emamzadeh Bagher in Tehran Province gathered beside the entrance road of the village to protest against the lack of proper telecommunication infrastructure.

 

Dozens of Teachers Arrested in Tehran

Mohammad Habibi, the spokesperson of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations, broke the news about the arrest of dozens of teachers in Tehran on Thursday, April 21, 2022.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists,  the spokesperson of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations said that in Tehran, dozens of teachers have been arrested.

Mr. Habibi stated that among about 40 teachers who participated in protests, four individuals have been identified as “Shahrzad Ghadiri, a member of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations, Maasoomeh Zamani, Ali Goodarzi and 82 years-old retired Ghodrat Forghani.”

In recent months, active and retired teachers all across the country protested to demand the implementation of the “Job Ranking Plan” as passed in Iran’s parliament, closing disparity in pensions, free education for students, a maximum class size of 16, and the release of jailed teachers.

 

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Three Individuals Arrested and Accused of Association with Foreign Intelligence Services

The Ministry of Intelligence announced that three individuals have been arrested and accused of “association with foreign intelligence services.”

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Fars News Agency, three individuals were arrested in Sistan and Baluchestan Province allegedly for “association with foreign intelligence services.”

Without mentioning any details about the individuals arrested, the Ministry of Intelligence’s statement  stated, “these individuals who are associated with Israel’s intelligence service have published classified documents.”

Although the prosecution of individuals for espionage is not considered a violation of human rights, there are concerns about the validity of these allegations due to the frequent use of such accusations by the Iranian regime to suppress its political dissidents and due to the ambiguities in legal proceedings and the lack of transparency about such legal cases.  

Mohammad Seddiq Azizi Sentenced to Two and a Half Years in Prison

Branch 1 of the Military Court of West Azerbaijan Province has sentenced Mohammad Seddiq Azizi to two and a half years in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa News, Seddiq Azizi, a resident of Oshnavieh County, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison.

According to this verdict issued on April 19, 2022, Mr. Azizi has been convicted of “collaboration with an anti-regime political party.”

On February 9, 2022, while he was serving in the army as a conscript, the Army Intelligence agents arrested and transferred him to a detention facility in Oshnavaieh County and from there to the prison of this city. He was taken several times back and forth between the prison and the detention center. He was denied access to a phone call and family visitation during the detention.

 Azizi’s father, Loghman Azizi had also been arrested on June 21, 2021. In mid-July, he was released on bail.

Vahid Bagheri Returned to Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary after Furlough

Last Saturday, April 16, 2022, Vahid Bagheri, political prisoner and one of the individuals arrested in the 2019 Iranian protests returned to the Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary after furlough. He had been released on furlough after 19 months of imprisonment. In recent days, his request for early release on probation was rejected.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, political Prisoner Vahid Bagheri returned to The Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary after furlough.

Earlier, in an open letter, he wrote “I am the breadwinner of two families. Why should I be in prison  only for attending a protest?”

During the nationwide 2019–2020 Iranian protests known as the Aban Protests, the security forces arrested Bagheri and after a while transferred him from a detention facility to the Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary.

Subsequently, branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced Bagheri to six years in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime and assembly and collusion against national security”. Applying article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, of the two counts, five years in prison for the charge of “assembly and collusion” is enforceable.

Bagheri was not granted furlough to attend his brother’s funeral while in prison.

Vahid Bagheri is 33 years old, married and a father of two children.

In November of 2019, an unprecedented increase in fuel prices sparked a wave of protests in dozens of cities across Iran. According to reports from human rights organizations, hundreds were killed during these protests by the regime forces.

Inmate Majid Keshvari Committed Suicide for Lack of Medical Care in the Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary

On Tuesday, April 19, 2022, at the Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary, an inmate committed suicide after he was denied adequate medical treatment. Following the attempt, he was hospitalized in a hospital outside the prison. This inmate, who suffers from mental health problems, had attempted suicide several times before.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, feeling desperate for not receiving medical treatment, the inmate identified as Majid Keshvari committed failed suicide attempt in the Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary.

An informed source told HRANA, “It has been a long time since Mr. Keshvari is in need of surgery and the prison health providers had recommended his dispatch urgently to a hospital outside the prison. Instead, the prison officials sent him to a psychiatric ward and then sent him back to prison, ignoring care for his health issues. 

Keshvari then attempted to hang himself in protest against this unfair treatment and was hospitalized. There is still no news about his latest condition.”

Reportedly, Keshvari had attempted to commit suicide on another occasion as well.

 

Rapper Tomaj Salehi Summoned by the Court

In a post on social media, rapper Tomaj Salehi informed that he has been summoned by the Judgement Enforcement Unit of Shahin Shahr City. Considering that Tomaj Salehi has already been sentenced to six months of suspended imprisonment, the reason for this summons is unclear.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, rapper Tomaj Salehi who is well-known for his political songs, was summoned by the Judgement Enforcement Unit of Shahin Shahr.

On September 12, 2021, Salehi was arrested by security forces at his home and nine days later, released on bond from Dastgerd Prison.

On January 12, 2022, he was sentenced to six months in prison and a fine. The imprisonment was suspended for one year. In the trial, he was exonerated from the charge of “provoking violence and insurrection”.