Category: News

Vahid Bani-Amerian and Pooya Ghobadi Each Sentenced to 10 Years Imprisonment

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Babak Paknia, Evin Prison, Greater Tehran Prison, Moghayeseh, Mujahedin-e-Khalq, Peoples Mujahedin Organization of Iran, Pooya Ghobadi, Vahid Bani-Amerian

Two political prisoners, Vahid Bani-Amerian and Pooya Ghobadi, serving their sentences in Evin Prison and the Greater Tehran Prison respectively, were each sentenced to 10 years imprisonment in exile in their second legal case.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, headed by Judge Moghayeseh, sentenced Bani-Amerian and Ghobadi. In this new legal case, they were charged with the destruction of public property and advocating for the People’s Mujahedin Organization of Iran (Mujahedin-e-Khalq). According to their lawyer, Babak Paknia, the charge of “enmity against God” was dismissed by the court. The first court session was held in October of this year, but their lawyer asked for a retrial due to defective legal documents and failure to comply procedure.

In May of 2018, Bani-Amerian and Ghobadi were arrested by security forces in Tehran and transferred to Evin Prison. After four months of interrogation, they were sent to the public ward of Evin Prison. In November of 2019, Ghobadi was relocated to The Greater Central Prison while Bani-Amerian remained in Evin Prison.

In their first legal case, each was sentenced to 8 years in prison on charges of “assembly and collusion against national security”, offensive statements against the Supreme Court” and “propaganda against the regime”. For these charges, grounded in Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the most severe punishment of 5 years was enforced for each prisoner.

Political Prisoner Khaled Pirzadeh Sewed His Eyelids in Protest

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, hunger strikes, Kaled Pirzadeh, Political Prisoner, prisoner protest, Sheyban Prison

Political prisoner Khaled Pirzadeh, who is exiled to Sheyban Prison, sewed his eyelids shut to protest refusal to release him on probation and furlough.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, judicial authorities did not keep their promise to grant him release on probation and furlough, prompting Pirzadeh to sew his eyelids in protest.

On August 23, 2021, Pirzadeh went on hunger strike to protest authorities’ refusal to release him on probation, the housing of political prisoners in the same ward as prisoners of violent crimes, and police officers’ brutal behavior towards family members during the delivery of an eviction order. Ultimately, he ended his hunger strike on November 14, 2021.

During the hunger strike, he developed extremely low blood pressure and blood sugar, backache and other physical problems.

On May 26, 2019, Pirzadeh was arrested violently by security forces and was sent to Evin Prison after interrogation. He was sentenced to 7 years in prison on the charges of “offensive statements against the supreme leader of Iran” and “assembly and collusion against the regime”. This sentence was confirmed in the Court of Appeals. According to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, 5 years of this sentence for the charge of “collusion against the regime” is enforceable.

He was relocated to Greater Tehran Prison on July 22, 2020. Reportedly, at the time of transferring, he was beaten by prison guards. In August 2020, he had surgery on his foot. He needs additional treatment and surgery for his injured spine. On July 14, 2021, he was transferred from Greater Tehran Prison to exile in Sheyban Prison, Ahvaz and held him unlawfully in a ward that also houses prisoners of violent crimes.

Inmate Executed in Yasuj Prison

Posted on by A MN
Executions, News
Death Penalty, Death sentence, prisoner executed, secret exeuctions, Yasuj City

On Thursday, December 30, an inmate previously sentenced to death for rape was executed in Yasuj Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting ISNA News Agency, the Public Prosecutor of Yasuj City announced that the execution had been carried out. The inmate was arrested and convicted last year, and the verdict was upheld by the Supreme Court of Iran. The Prosecutor did not reveal the identity of the executed prisoner.

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.

Jila Karamzadeh Makvandi Sent to Evin Prison to Endure her Five Years Sentence

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Jila Karamzadeh Makvandi, Raheleh Rahemipur, Tehran

On Wednesday, December 29, civil activist Jila Karamzadeh Makvandi was sent to Evin Prison to serve her five year sentence.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Makvandi was summoned to the Executive Unit of Shahid Moghaddas Courthouse.

On November 12, 2019, along with another civil activist, Raheleh Rahemipur, Makvandi was arrested by security forces in Tehran and sent to Ward 2 of Evin Prison. Thereafter, the security agents searched their house and confiscated some of their personal belongings. Later, they were released on bail.

Branch 29 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, in a trial in absentia, sentenced the civil activist to six years in prison. This verdict was upheld on appeal. The most severe punishment of 5 years is enforceable, grounded in Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code,

Makvandi has faced other arrests and convictions due to her civil activities.

 

Shirku Agooshi Sentenced to 10 Years In Prison

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
Gholam Karimkhani, Hossein Alvand-Kooi, Naghadeh, Piranshahr, Shirku Agooshi

On December 29, former political prisoner Shirku Agooshi was sentenced to 10 years in prison by the Criminal Court of Mahabad City.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Center of Democracy and Human Rights in Kurdistan, the resident of Piranshahr was sentenced by Branch 103 of the Criminal Court of Mahabad, headed by Judge Gholam Karimkhani. He was tried on the charge of alleged armed conflict with IRGC’s forces.

At the same time, the Criminal Court of Mahabad City sentenced Hossein Alvand-Koohi, resident of Mahabad City, to 10 years in prison on the same charge as Agooshi.

Agooshi has previously been faced with arrest and conviction. On August 31, 2019, he was injured and arrested by IRGC’s forces. Thereafter, he was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment by the Revolutionary Court of Piranshahr City on the charge of “membership in an anti-regime political party.”

On June 19, 2021, he was released on furlough from Naghadeh Prison with an electronic tag and restricted movement. He was finally freed on July 1, 2021.

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Two Citizens Arrested in Kamyaran and Piranshahr Cities

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
arrests, Kamyaran, Karim Poormohammad, Kianoosh Rahmani, Piranshahr

On December 27, security forces arrested Kianoosh Rahmani in Kamyaran. The next day Karim Poormohammad was arrested in Piranshahr. Both were transferred to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, Rahmani, a resident of Kamyaran County, was arrested after a previous summons by IRGC’s intelligence unit.

“Last Sunday, the security forces raided his house to arrest him, but he was not at home and they searched the house”, an informed source said.

As of yet, the security institution responsible for these arrests has not revealed to either family the reason for arrest, the charges or their whereabouts.

Four Workers Dead, Four Others Injured Due to Unsafe Workplace Conditions

Posted on by A MN
Labor and Guilds, News
Alborz province, Artin Kamali, Bahar County, Fardis City, Gachsaran City, Gorgan City, workplace death, workplace injusry, workplace safety

Four workplace accidents in recent days killed four workers and injured four others.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting IRNA, Artin Kamali, the head of Forensic Medicine of Hamadan Province, announced that a fire broke out in a workshop located in Bahar County. The fire killed a 36 year old worker.

“Investigation shows that defects in a heater in the workshop caused the fire,” he added.

According to ROKNA, a worker in Fardis City, Alborz Province, died after falling for a high height. “110 Police Emergency Center was called about the fall of a worker from the fourth floor of a building under construction in Fardis. Immediately, 11 central police officers were dispatched to the spot,” the police commander in Fardis County commented.

“The worker lost his life right after the fall,” he added.

In another workplace accident, one worker died and two others were severely injured in a turning workshop located in Gorgan City after an oxygen cylinder exploded.

Reportedly, when one of the workers was unloading the cylinders from a truck, one cylinder fell to the ground and blasted.

According to TABNAK News Agency, on December 28, in Gachsaran City, a contractor working on the city sewer network died due to the collapse of channel walls. Two other workers were also injured. According to the experts’ report, the ground became frail due to recent rainfalls, leading to the fall of the channel walls.

Iran ranks 102nd in workplace safety out of 189 countries.

Ten Year Old Child Killed by Landmine Blast in Elam Province

Posted on by A MN
Children, News
child killed, child killed by landmine, Dehloran County, Elam Province, landmine, landmines

In a border area near Dehloran County in Elam Province, a landmine blast killed a 10 year old child.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Mehr News Agency,

“A 10 year old child from nomadic people was grazing the cattle when one of the cattle stepped on a landmine and the child was hit in the chest by the shreds”, commented Dehloran police commander Colonel Manoochehr Makki.

“The wounded child was sent to a hospital but was lost due to severe injuries,” he added.

Every year, landmine explosions take several victims in  Iran’s border areas. There are about 42,000 square kilometres of war zones in Iran that have not yet been fully demined from the Iran-Iraq war.

In flagrant violation of international conventions, the regime is still using these landmines to secure its borders.

Accordingly, there are still thousands of landmines planted in Iran in the border areas with Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq. The regime also planted many landmines during the conflicts of the 1980s in Kurdistan.

Reza Mazaheri Arrested By Security Forces

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, Reza Mazaheri, Tehran City

On December 25, Reza Mazaheri, a resident of Tehran City, was arrested by security forces and transferred to Evin Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, family inquiry to Evin Courthouse regarding his conditions and the reasons for arrest have remained unanswered.

On December 29, 2018, the security forces arrested Mazaheri. After being indicted by Branch 2 of Evin Courthouse prosecutors, he was jailed in Ward 4 of Evin prison. On April 15, 2019, he was released from jail on bail of 2 billion tomans (475,910 USD) pending further legal proceedings.

On March 15, 2020, the Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced him to two years in prison. This verdict was upheld by Branch 36 of Tehran’s court of appeals.

He has been already summoned to Branch 1 of Evin’s Executive unit.

Imprisoned French Tourist Benjamin Briere On Hunger Strike in Vakilabad Prison

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Benjamin Briere, Mashhad City, saeed dehghan, Vakilabad

French Tourist Benjamin Briere, currently imprisoned in Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad City went on hunger strike to protest being deprived of his inalienable right as a prisoner to contact his family on Christmas night.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Briere has been jailed in Vakilabad since May 2020 when he was arrested by security forces.

“What is the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad waiting for in order to proceed Benjamin Briere’s case after 570 days in detention?” his lawyer, Saeed Dehghan, asked on his personal page on social media.

Dehghan was informed about charges of spying and propaganda against the regime against his client. Two other charges of “spreading corruption on earth” and “alcohol drinking” had been already dismissed by the court.

Per Briere’s lawyer, actions such as taking aerial photos with a remote-controlled helicam and posing some questions like “why is the veil (Hijab) forced in Iran but not other Islamic countries” were invoked as examples for charges of “spying” and “propaganda against the regime” respectively during in the last court session held in February 2021.

“A report published by Figaro used the word “drone”, while he had just used a normal helicam. This mistranslation brought about some misunderstanding regarding the charges in the media. Additionally, this report wrongly called him a French-Iranian dual citizen, while he is a French citizen,” Dehghan told HRANA.