Category: News

Mojgan Kavousi Freed from Kachooie Prison

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Alborz province, Kachooie, Karaj city, Mojgan Kavousi, Yarsanism

On January 5, political prisoner Mojgan Kavousi was released on furlough. By the end of her furlough period, she will have completed her sentence and will not return to prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Kavousi was released on furlough from Kachooie Prison in Karaj City.

On November 20, 2019, Kavousi was arrested by security forces in her home in Noshahr amid the nationwide protests that occurred in the fall of that year. After being held in detention for three weeks, she was sent to Noshahr Prison. On December 19, 2019, she was released on bail.

The Revolutionary Court in Noshahr sentenced her to six months in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”, 33 months in prison for “membership in an opposing party” and 30 months in prison for “provocation in order to disturb public order”. During the appeal process, the first sentence was increased from six to seven and a half months due to the influence of the prosecutor. Moreover, she was sentenced to an additional 36 months on a new charge of “agitation in order to disturb public order”. The severest punishment of 36 months for the last charge was enforced, grounded in Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code.

On May 19, 2020, she was arrested and sent to Evin Prison to serve her sentence.

On July 26, 2021, Branch 28 of the Court of Appeals issued an order to relocate her to prison in Alborz Province to serve the rest of her sentence. Therefore, she was transferred from Evin Prison to Kachooie Prison in Karaj City on October 13, 2021.

Mojgan Kavouci is a writer, researcher and follower of Yarsanism.

Ahad Mahmood Hassan Sentenced to Six Months Imprisonment

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
Ahad Mahmood Hassan, Piranshahr

Ahad Mahmood Hassan, resident of Piranshahr, was sentenced to six months in prison by the Criminal Court of Piranshahr City.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Center of Democracy and Human Rights in Kurdistan, one of Hassan’s charges was “collaboration with one of the opposition political parties”.

On April 24, 2020, he was arrested by security forces and sent to Naghadeh Prison after interrogation. On June 10, 2020, he was released on a surety bond until the end of legal proceedings.

Three Citizens Sentenced to 12 Years In Prison and Seizure of Personal Property

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Azar Karvandi Musazadeh, Makhsoos Bakharai, Roghayeh Soltani Mirzai, seizure of personal property, Tehran City, The People's Mujahedin Organizatio

Recently, Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced three citizens to a combined 12 years in prison and government seizure of personal property (in the case, a garden).

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the defendants were Makhsoos Bakharai, Azar Karvandi Musazadeh and Roghayeh Soltani Mirzai, all residents of Tehran City. In this verdict, the first two defendants were sentenced to five years in prison each, and the third to two years and seizure of private property. They all have been charged with “collusion and assembly in collaboration of anti-regime groups to act against national security.”

An informed source stated that, “in the summer of 2019, following a family counselling meeting in a personal garden, these citizens were accused of “assembly and collusion via collaboration with The People’s Mujahedin Organization as well as propaganda against the regime”. Thereafter, they were released on bail”.

“Since there was no evidence to support the charges, and they had been summoned by security agents due to holding several family counselling meetings, they were tried without an attorney and condemned based on irrelevant pretexts such as family background. Along with imprisonment, the personal property of Mirzai was seized,” the source added.

Fifteen Year Old Girl Dies by Suicide in Sanandaj City

Posted on by A MN
Children, News
adolescent suicide, Sanandaj City, suicide

On January 2, a fifteen year old girl in Sanandaj City died by suicide. According to statistics by the Forensic Medicine Organization, 7 percent of those who died by suicide are underage.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the girl was identified as Arnika Jahanbin. Her motivation for suicide is still unknown.

HRANA earlier reported on deaths by suicide from three other underage children over the last month in the Kurdish region of Iran.

Three Citizens Arrested By Security Forces in Naqadeh

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
Ahad Mulavi, Chakoo Ghalandari, Hossein Khaliani, Naqadeh County

On January 4, security forces in Naqadeh County arrested three people and transferred them to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, two citizens identified as Ahad Mulavi and Hossein Khaliani were arrested. Reportedly, intelligence agents did not show an arrest warrant.

On Tuesday, another citizen identified as Chakoo Ghalandari was arrested at his home in a village in Naqadeh.

The reasons for these arrests, their whereabouts and charges are still unknown at the time of writing.

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Two Citizens Killed and Injured by Direct Police Shooting in Iranshahr City

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
Omid Ameeri, police shooting, Police violence, Saeed Ameri, Saeed and Omid Ameri, shooting

On January 2 in Iranshahr City, police forces from Station 13 used live ammunition to stop a vehicle that they had been chasing, leading to the death and injury of two brothers.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Haal Vsh News Outlet, the two brothers were identified as Saeed and Omid Ameri.

The reasons for the chase and shooting are unknown at the time of writing.

According to HRANA’s annual report, in 2021, 242 citizens were targeted by unruly shootings by regime military forces, of which 94 have been killed. This includes 23 Kolbars (cross border carriers), 31 Sukhtbar (cross-border fuel porters). 148 people have been injured including 81 Kolbars and 51 Sukhtbars.

Two Inmates Executed in Adel-Abad Prison

Posted on by A MN
Executions, News
Amin Alipanahi, executions, Mohammad Salarzehi, Secret executions

On January 2, an inmate was executed in Adel-Abad Prison after being sentenced to death for drug-related crimes. Last Wednesday, another inmate on death row for murder was executed in the same prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Rasank News Outlet, Mohammad Salarzehi, a native of Zahedan City was executed for drug related crimes without informing his family. He had reportedly been in Adel-Abad Prison since 2019.

According to the Iran Human Rights Organization, Amin Alipanahi was executed in Wednesday Adel-Abad prison.

“Four years ago, Amin Alipanahi was arrested for committing murder. He was accused of killing his wife’s cousin for honour issues. During this time, he never could exact satisfaction from the victim’s family,” an informed source in the report stated.

None of the official sources and media outlets inside the country have reported these executions at the time of writing.

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.

Civil Activist and Former Political Prisoner Payam Shakiba Arrested, Transferred to Evin Prison

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Activist arrested, Evin Prison, Payam Shakiba, Rajai-Shahr

Civil activist and former political prisoner Payam Shakiba was arrested and transferred to Evin Prison after being summoned by the Executive Unit of Evin Courthouse to serve his 13 month sentence.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Shakiba was arrested after his appearance at the Executive Unit of Evin Courthouse. He was then imprisoned in the quarantine section of Evin Prison.

On June 14, 2021, Shakiba was arrested by security forces in Tehran and held in Ward 209 of Evin Prison. On July 4, he was released on a bail of 100 million tomans (23,800 USD) pending further legal proceedings.

Shakiba has faced another arrest and conviction due to his civil activities. On February 22, 2017, he was arrested by security forces. He was sentenced in November 2017 to 11 years in prison on charges of “acting against national security through assembly and collusion,” and “propaganda against the regime”. This verdict was upheld on appeal. Ultimately, he was freed from Rajai Shahr Prison on February 3, 2021.

Adel Kianpour Dead in Sheyban Prison After a Week on Hunger Strike

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Adel Kianpour, Ahvaz city, Behnam Mahjubi, Death in prison, Hunger Strike, prisoner death, Sasn Niknafs, Sheyban Prison

On January 1, after a week on hunger strike, political prisoner Adel Kianpour died in Sheyban Prison in Ahvaz City. Judicial authorities have not yet announced the reason for his death.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Kianpour was on hunger strike to protest the proceedings of his case.

Not much is known about his legal case. It is said that he was arrested after his return to Iran and has been imprisoned in Sheyban Prison for 14 months. He was sentenced to 3 years in prison for charges unknown in our report. Last October, he contracted COVID-19.

There are many precedents for the death of prisoners due to lack of adequate medical treatment in Iran’s prisons. In June 2021, political prisoner Sasan Niknafs died due to inadequate medical treatment in the Greater Tehran Prison. Also last year, Sufi Dervish activist Behnam Mahjubi was dispatched from Evin Prison to a hospital in Tehran City and allegedly died due to pill poisoning.

HRANA Recap: This Week’s Protests in Iran

Posted on by Editor
News
HRANA protest recap, weekly protest recap, weekly protest report

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

Saturday, December 25

Dozens of architects assembled before the building of the Ministry of Roads & Urban Development in Tehran. They asked the Ministry to address problems regarding the Construction Engineering Organization’s exam, which is held to grant engineering licenses. This ministry, which supervises the national exam, has not responded to the issues.

Residents of the village Shamsabad Noogh, located in Kerman Province, protested against the digging of a water well and a water transfer project. As video footage shows, this protest turned violent.

About 20 workers of the Saturation Railway Sleepers Company Shirgah assembled and protested for demands related to wages at the factory premise. Reportedly, the workers have not received wages for three months and their employer’s insurance contribution for 16 months.

Sunday, December 26

A number of retirees and pensioners of the Fulad Company Pension Fund assembled in Ahvaz, Isfahan and Damghan cities to ask for demands regarding pensions and benefits.

Monday, December 27

In Ardabil, a number of workers of the fabric company Sabalan assembled at their workplace to protest against layoffs and delays in payments. They had held protests the previous two days.

A number of retirees of Social Security Organization of Kermanshah Province assembled and protested against low wages.

 

Tuesday, December 28

Working and retired teachers and educators of more 19 cities across the country assembled before the building of the Ministry of Education (and Parliament in Tehran and Alborz Provinces). They demanded the implementation of a plan whereby teachers’ income, depending on a ranking, will be raised up to 80% of faculty members’ salaries.

About 70 workers working on the Shafa-Rud Dam project in Rezvanshahr held protests on the work premises. They asked that 7 months of delayed payments and 4 months of unpaid employers’ contribution for insurance be paid.

Several workers of Telecommunication companies in rural areas assembled before the parliament to protest unfair wage disparity between personnel in urban and rural areas.

Wednesday, December 29

For the third consecutive day, the workers of the petrochemical company Regal assembled at their workplace to ask for the implementation of the Job Classification Plan. The workers also demanded their currently unpaid Adverse Weather Benefit during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A group of retirees of the Social Security Organization assembled before Parliament in Tehran to asked for their demands.

A number of teachers a preschools in Delfan City, located in Lorestan Province, assembled before the Ministry of Education building to ask for their demands.