Category: News

Journalist and Political Activist Hossein Roointan Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Blasphemy, HosseinRoointan

Recently, the Revolutionary Court of Dashtestan sentenced journalist and political activist Hossein Roointan to 20 years in prison and a fine. If the verdict is confirmed on appeal, 10 years of this sentence will be enforceable.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, journalist and political activist Hossein Roointan was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment

According to this verdict which was issued on March 15, 2022, Mr. Roointan has been sentenced to ten years in prison on the charges of “acting against national security” and one year for “propaganda against the regime”, 5 years for “blasphemy against the Imams and the prophet’s family”, two years for “offensive statements against the former and current Supreme Leader of Iran”, and 2 years for “spreading lies and disturbing public opinion.” Moreover, he has been fined in the amount of 15 million tomans.

In his trial, running an online advocacy campaign and inciting people for an illegal gathering were invoked as examples of these charges.

If the verdict is confirmed on appeal, ten years for the charge of “acting against national security” will be imposed.

On October 17, 2017, the Ministry of Intelligence’s agents arrested Mr. Roointanin Dashtestan. After one month, he was released on a bail amount of 200 million tomans.

Hossein Roointan, age 58, had previously faced other arrests and convictions due to his civil activities.

One Kolbar Injured in Direct Shooting by Iran’s Military

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
cross-border carrier, Kolbar

On Tuesday, March 22, 2022, the military forces injured a kolbar (Cross Border Carrier) through direct shooting at the border area of Hangazhall, located in Kurdistan Province.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kolbarnews, a kolbar was wounded in a direct shooting by military forces.

The kolbar has been identified as Molan Khezri, a resident of Bukan County.

Many poor people living in border areas work as kolbars to make ends meet. This type of work is illegal and involves carrying loads on foot across national borders. Each year, dozens of kolbars are injured and killed due to unexpected accidents, hazardous conditions, and border guard shootings.

According to HRANA’s annual report, during the period of March 21 of 2021, and March 16 of 2022, a total of 203 citizens were shot by the regime’s military forces. In these incidents, 91 people were shot dead including 26 Kolbars (Cross Border Carriers), 13 Sukhtbar (Fuel Border Carriers), and 52 other civilians. 112 people were injured, of the injured, 82 people were Kolbars, 12 Sukhtbar, and 18 other civilians.

Additionally, 34 Kolbars were affected by climate and geographic factors such as frostbite and falling from heights. In these accidents, 21 Kolbars were injured and 13 ultimately died. 

Death Sentence of Hossein Kheiri Commuted to Five Years Imprisonment

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Babak Paknia, Death sentence, Hossein Kheiri, moharebeh

Branch 29 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced political prisoner Hossein Kheiri to five years in prison. He had been sentenced to death for “enmity against God (Moharebeh), through destruction of public property with the intention to defy the regime.” Once the verdict was revoked by the Supreme Court of Iran in mid-January of this year, the case was handed over to Branch 29. Recently, Mr. Kheiri was relocated from Evin to Rajai Shahr Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the death sentence of Hossein Kheiri was commuted to five years imprisonment.

Seven other defendants of this case, Majid Kahrari, Fardin Asgari, Nima Heidari, Milad Karami, Mahmood Karami, and two others were sentenced to a total of 34 years and 6 months by Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran. The charges against them varied from “assembly and collusion to act against national security” to “enmity against God.”

Earlier, in reaction to the death penalty verdict against his client, attorney Babak Paknia stated that “there are many flaws in this case” and “the charge of Moharebeh does not fit the actions taken by my client.” He had expressed hope that the Supreme Court would reduce the verdict.

In 2020, along with seven other individuals, Hossein Kheiri, age 35, was arrested by security forces in Tehran.  

Two Citizens Arrested in Piranshahr City

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
Ahmad Rasooli, Nowruz, Piranshahr, Sasan Padash

On Tuesday, March 22, 2022, in Piranshahr city, security forces arrested two citizens and transferred them to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, two citizens identified as Ahmad Rasooli and Sasan Padash were arrested by security forces in Piranshahr.

According to an informed source, these citizens were arrested due to participation in Nowruz celebration in the village Qalateh Rash located in Piranshahr.

The whereabouts of these arrestees are still unknown.

Twelve Citizens Arrested for Attending a Nowruz Celebration at Kurdistan Province 

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News, Other
Nowruz, Sanandaj

On Monday, March 21, 2022, in Sanandaj city, the security forces raided a gathering and arrested twelve citizens. The gathering was held to celebrate Nowruz, the spring celebration and the Iranian New Year. 

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Monday, March 21, 2022, twelve citizens were arrested by security forces during a gathering for the celebration of Nowruz.

The arrestees have been identified as Sohrab Jalali, Jamal Asadi, Foad Enayati, Abed Khorshidi, Keyvan Zand-Karimi, Sahand Barzanji, Arash Shkeiba, Khaled Hosseini, Jamshid Farzi, Fardin Peymnankar, Keyhan Kakeh-Khani and Keyvan Mahmoodi. 

 It is still unknown where these arrestees have been detained.

Earlier, in October of 2019, Foad Enayati was arrested during a protest along with two other citizens, Faramarz Shariati and Mobin Khosravi. They were released on bail of 300 million tomans after the interrogation.

Subsequently, Branch 104 of the Criminal Court of Sanandaj, headed by Judge Omidi, sentenced Foad Enayati to 10 months imprisonment and 74 lashes. This prison sentence was changed to two years suspended prison on appeal. On July 27, 2020, the flagellation was carried out.

On March 7, 2021, Jamal Asadi had been summoned and interrogated by the Public Security and Intelligence Police of Sanandaj.

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Two Citizens Arrested in Mariwan and Piranshahr

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News, Other
Bahman Chashteh, Borhan Derakhshani, Nowruz

Last Saturday, March 19, 2022, security forces arrested two citizens in Mariwan and Piranshahr cities.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa News Agency, last Saturday, March 19, 2022, one citizen identified as Bahman Chashteh, age 48, was arrested by security forces in Piranshahr city of West Azerbaijan Province.

Reportedly, they arrested Mr Chashteh without presenting an arrest warrant.

On the same day, IRGC’s Intelligence Organization summoned a citizen identified as Borhan Derakhshani and arrested him upon appearance. Mr. Derakhshanie had been summoned on another occasion and interrogated three times. He is a resident of Nay village located in Mariwan County.

The reason for these arrests and the charges are still unknown. An informed source, however, in the report stated that they arrested Mr Derakhshani in an effort to prevent the gathering to celebrate Nowruz in Nay village.

Two Inmates Executed in Qazvin and Miandoab Prisons

Posted on by A MN
Executions, News

On Wednesday, March 16, 2022, an inmate convicted of murder was executed in Qazvin Central Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Iran Human Rights Organization, on Wednesday, March 16, 2022, an inmate identified as Yusef Hashemi, resident of Hamedan, was executed in Qazvin Central Prison.

Reportedly, earlier he was taken to be executed but at the last moment, he got a moratorium from the victim’s family.

Iran Human Rights Organization also reported the execution of an inmate identified as Ali Mirzai in Miandoab prison. He had been previously convicted of murder.

None of these executions have 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.

Iranian-Australian Citizen Shokrollah Jebeli Died in Prison

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Death in prison, dual nationals, Iranian-Australian citizen, Shokrollah Jebeli

Iranian-Australian citizen Shokrollah Jebeli died in prison. He had been imprisoned since February 2020 when following a complaint of the Ministry of Intelligence, a financial legal case was opened against him.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Sunday, March 20, 2022, Shokrollah Jebeli’s son announced on social media that his father has died in prison. 

On January 31, 2020, Shokrollah Jebeli was arrested due to financial accusations made by the Ministry of Intelligence.

Earlier, Amnesty International had warned about the consequences of denying adequate medical care, in light of his age and poor health, and asked for Jebeli’s immediate release.

This 82-year-old Iranian-Australian citizen suffered from kidney stones, sciatica and high blood pressure. His health had worsened since the arrest. In 2021, Jebeli was hospitalized due to a stroke, but he was sent back to prison without adequate medical care.

Reportedly, he had been sentenced to 4 years and 6 months for one count of financial-related charges. For the second count of the charges, he was still awaiting the verdict. He had been denied access to a lawyer in due process. 

Eight Defendants Humiliated by Police by Shame-Parading in the Streets of Isfahan

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Chaharshanbe, Shame-Parading

By the order of the prosecutor of Isfahan city, the police paraded eight detainees through the city on a truck to be made examples of. The public shaming of certain tier of prisoners is a flagrant violation of their rights and their dignity. Occasionally, the Iran police used public shame-parading which is in violation of domestic laws as well as human dignity.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting IRIB News Agency, eight defendants accused of the crimes related to Chaharshanbe Suri festival were paraded by police through the streets of Isfahan.

The Deputy Chief of police of Isfahan province claimed these individuals used homemade grenades in order to frighten people during the Chaharshanbe Suri festival.

“Following the investigation, these people were identified and arrested. A number of weapons, including broadswords and daggers, as well as explosives, were discovered during a search,” he added.

In recent years, law enforcement officers have occasionally humiliated certain accused criminals in a similar manner, by parading them around the city, which violates human rights treaties, domestic laws, and human dignity.

Jailed Turkish National Hatem Ozdemir Sentenced to Death in Urmia Prison

Posted on by A MN
Executions, News, Prisoners
Citizen death sentence, Hatem Ozdemir, Jailed Foreign National, Urmia prison

The Revolutionary Court of Khoy city in Azerbaijan province sentenced Turkish national Hatem Ozdemir to death.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, jailed Turkish citizen Hatem Ozdemir was sentenced to the death penalty in Urmia prison.

On March 15, 2022, Branch 1 of The Revolutionary Court of Khoy notified Mr Ozdemir that he had been sentenced to death on the charge of “Baghi”, which is an armed rebellion against the state.”

In the early summer of 2019, the security forces arrested Hatem Ozdemir in Maku city and transferred him to Urmia Prison after two months of interrogation at a detention centre. On September 19, 2019, they relocated him again to a detention centre for a while.

As reported earlier by HRANA, in September of last year, 43 political prisoners refused to receive food rations to protest the lack of medical care for 11 prisoners including Hatem Ozdemir.

In mid-January of this year, he and seven other prisoners were sent to solitary confinement. Subsequently, the prison’s special guards relocated them to a newly-built high-security ward.