Category: News

Azerbaijani Turk Activist Saeed Soltani Sentenced to Two Years Imprisonment

Posted on by A MN
Ethnic Minorities, News
Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani Turk activist, Babak Kiumarsi, Iranian Azerbaijan, Kolfa City, Saeed Soltani

Branch 3 of Tabriz’s Revolutionary Court sentenced Azerbaijani Turk activist Saeed Soltani to two years in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Soltani’s lawyer was notified by the court, headed by Judge Fath-Nejad that his client had been sentenced to two years in prison, minus the detention period, on the charge of “membership in dissident groups in order to disturb national security”.

Babak Kiumarsi, the other Azerbaijani Turk activist involved in the case, was recently sentenced by the court to two years in prison on the same charge.

On October 4, 2020, the security forces arrested Soltani and Kiumarsi at Kiumarsi’s workplace in Jolfa City. At the time of arrest, the intelligence agents searched Soltani’s house and confiscated some of his personal belongings such as a laptop, cell phone, books and car.

On December 1, 2020, Kiumarsi was transferred from the detention centre to Tabriz Prison. Soltani was transferred the next day. On December 3, both were released on bail until the end of legal proceedings.

Many citizens were arrested during widespread protests in numerous cities which lasted from September 30 to October 18, 2020, in two parts of Iranian Azerbaijan. In an earlier report, HRANA identified 81 of these detainees. Security forces used violence during these mass arrests which, in some cases, led to broken hands or noses.

Political Prisoner Habibollah Latifi Granted Furlough after Fourteen Years Imprisonment.

Posted on by A MN
Prisoners
death sentences, furlough, Habibollah Latifi, Hasan Babaei, Latifi, life in prisopn, Sanadaj

On December 15, political prisoner Habibollah Latifi was granted furlough on bail in the fourteenth year of his life imprisonment.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, Latifi was finally granted furlough for medical treatment. Reportedly, years of refusal by security and judicial authorities has exacerbated his illness. Sanadaj’s Revolutionary Court agreed to the request after vigorous persuasion from Latifi’s family and lawyer.

Latifi was an engineering student in his final year at the University of Ilam when he was arrested on October 22, 2007. After more than three months of torture and solitary confinement, he was sentenced to death by the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Sanandaj on charges of “enmity against God” and “spreading corruption on Earth” by Judge Hasan Babaei.

His lawyers appealed the sentence but in the winter of that year, the Court of Appeals confirmed his death sentence. The verdict was the referred to the Supreme Court for a final appeal where it was upheld.

Finally, in 2015, in the eighth year of his imprisonment, he was pardoned by the leadership and his death sentence was suspended.

Ahmad Tamouei Freed After Fifteen Years in Prison

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Ahmad Tamouei, irgc, Mahabad City, PJAK, Political Prisoner, Prisoner released, Urmia prison

Political prisoner Ahmad Tamouei was freed on December 16 after fifteen years in prison, ten months before serving his full sentence. He is currently on furlough and therefore, by court order, will not return to Urmia Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Tamouei was arrested by IRGC’s intelligence unit  on October 24, 2007. He was arrested by in Mahabad City while on a motorbike.

After spending time in a detention facility at the disposal of the IRGC, he was relocated to Mahabad Prison. On December 31, 2007, Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court sentenced him to 15 years in prison, exiled in Urmia Prison on the charge of “enmity against the God through membership in Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK)”. The verdict was upheld on appeal. On September 8, 2008, he was transferred to Urmia Prison where he has been held until now.

Azerbaijani Turk Activist Babak Kiumarsi Sentenced to Two Years In Prison

Posted on by A MN
Ethnic Minorities, News
Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani, Babak Kuimarsi, Iranian Azerbaijan, Jolfa City, Saeed Soltani

Branch 3 of Tabriz’s Revolutionary Court sentenced Babak Kiumarsi, an Azerbaijani Turk activist, to two years in prison. The resident of Jolfa City was arrested by security forces in Jolfa on October 4, 2020 and released on bail on December 3 of that year.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Kiumarsi was sentenced to two years in prison minus the detention period. The court, headed by Judge Fath-Nejad, notified Kiumarsi’s lawyer of the verdict. Kiumarsi was charged with “membership in dissident groups in order to disturb national security.”

Kiumarsi was arrested by security forces on October 4 along with Saeed Soltani. After being apprehended at his workplace in Jolfa City, he was transferred to a detention centre at the disposal of the Ministry of Intelligence in Tabriz.

On December 1, he was sent to Tabriz Prison after interrogations. Two days later, he was released on bail until the end of legal proceedings.

Many citizens were arrested during widespread protests in numerous cities which lasted from September 30 to October 18, 2020 in two parts of Iranian Azerbaijan. In an earlier report, HRANA identified 81 of these detainees. Security forces used violence during these mass arrests which, in some cases, led to broken hands or noses.

Zana Kasrai Sent to Marivan Prison to Serve One Year Sentence

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Marivan County, Ney Village, Sanandaj, Zana Kasrai

On Tuesday, December 14, political activist Zana Kasrai was sent to Marivan Prison to serve his one year sentence.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, Kasrai had been previously convicted on political charges. Initially, he was sentenced to 3 years in prison by Sanandaj’s Revolutionary Court. This verdict was reduced to one year on appeal.

On July 19, 2020, the security forces arrested and transferred him to a security detention facility in Sanandaj City. After 22 days of interrogation, he was released on bail.

He is 29 years old and a resident of Ney Village in Marivan County.

 

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Inmate Executed in Ghayen Prison

Posted on by A MN
Executions, News
Ali Nahtani, executions, Ghayen Prison, Zahedan

On December 14, an inmate on death row due to his conviction for drug-related crimes was executed in Ghayen Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Rasank News Outlet, Ali Nahtani, a resident of Zahedan City, was executed in Ghayen Prison.

None of the official sources and media outlets inside the country has reported this execution 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 October 8 of 2020 and October 9 of 2021, at least 266 citizens, three of whom were juvenile offenders, were executed and 90 citizens were sentenced to death.

As the report points out, Iran’s judicial authorities do not publicly announce over 82% of executions. These unreported executions are known as “secret executions” by human rights organizations.

Azerbaijani Turk Activist Roozbeh Piri Sentenced to Six Years In Prison

Posted on by A MN
Ethnic Minorities, News
Navid Etedal, Roozbeh Piri, Tabriz Azad University, Tabriz Magazine

Recently, Branch 3 of Tabriz’s Revolutionary Court sentenced Azerbaijani Turk activist Roozbeh Piri to six years in prison. If upheld on appeal, the severest punishment of 5 years from this sentence is enforceable as dictated by Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the court, headed by Judge Fath-Nejad, sentenced to one year in prison on the charge of propaganda against the regime and five years on the charge of “membership in anti-regime political groups”.

On September 9, security forces arrested him in Tabriz City. After holding him in detention, they transferred him to Tabriz Prison. On September 29, he was released on bail.

Piri had previously been arrested and convicted for peaceful activities. He was arrested during the nationwide protests in Tabriz in November 2019 and sentenced by the court of appeals to 91 days in prison. Piri was released from Tabriz Prison in July 2020 after serving his sentence.

Later, he was charged with “spreading lies” on the Internet and sentenced to pay a fine of 5 million tomans (1190 USD) by Branch 103 of Tabriz’s Criminal Court. This sentence was upheld on appeal. Reportedly, the conviction was in retaliation for revealing his brother’s harassment and torture by intelligence agents.

Piri is the editor of Tabriz Magazine and the founder of Navid Etedal, an independent student organization at Tabriz Azad University.

Two Baha’i Citizens Arrested and Sent to Yazd Prison to Serve Their Sentences

Posted on by A MN
News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i, Baha'i arrest, Hiva Yazdan Mehdi Abadi, Mitra Bandi Amirabadi, religious minorities in iran, Religious persecution, Yazd Prison

On December 13, Baha’i citizens Mitra Bandi Amir-Abadi and Hiva Yazdan Mehdi-Abadi were arrested at their home by security forces and sent to Yazd Prison to serve their sentences.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Amir-Abadi and Mehdi-Abadi, along with two other Baha’i citizens, had been sentenced by Branch 2 of Yazd’s Revolutionary Court, headed by Judge Reza Javad Mousavi. They were sentenced to a combined 13 years and 4 months on the charge of “membership in Baha’i anti-regime groups and propaganda against the regime”. On appeal, they were acquitted from the first charge and the verdict was changed to 8 months imprisonment each.

Amir-Abadi and Mehdi-Abadi were arrested on May 30, 2020, and released on bail after three months of detention. Both women had previously faced other arrests and convictions. In December 2017, Mehdi-Abadi was detained for “teaching music to children” and transferred to Yazd Prison. She was released on bail on December 25 of that year.

Regarding the prosecution and harassment of Baha’is by Iran’s regime, HRA Senior Advocacy Coordinator Skylar Thompson stated that HRA strongly condemned these discriminatory acts against religious minorities in Iran. She asked that the regime take action to ensure Iranian people, and particularly Baha’i citizens, are entitled to the freedom of religion and can perform religious acts freely.

According to unofficial sources, it is estimated that more than 300,000 Baha’is live in Iran, but the Iranian constitution recognizes only Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism. Because their faith is not considered legitimate by authorities, the rights of Baha’is in Iran have been systematically violated for years.

This deprivation of the freedom to practice their religion is a breach of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The United Nations covenant holds that every person has the right to freedom of religion, freedom of converting religion, as well as freedom of expression, individually or collectively; openly or secretly.

Inmate Dead After Hunger Strike and Suicide Attempt in Ilam Prison

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
death of a prisoner, Hunger Strike, Ilam prison, Lack of medical care in prison, prisoner death, prisoner suicide, Ruhollah Maleki, suicide

On December 1, an inmate in Ilam Prison died of injuries stemming from a suicide attempt and inadequate medical treatment. The day before, the inmate had attempted suicide by pill following a four day hunger strike. After having his stomach pumped in prison healthcare, he was sent back to his ward without any medical supervision.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, the inmate was 30 year old Ruhollah Maleki. His death ultimately resulted from inadequate medical treatment and supervision by prison officials.

Maleki was sent back to his ward while he was still in critical health condition and in need of regular medical supervision. Moreover, he was beaten by prison guards and held in a solitary confinement cell on the second day of his hunger strike.

On March 6, 2013, Maleki was arrested for committing murder. He was sentenced to capital punishment in 2014.

The Latest on the Teachers and Educators’ Protests

Posted on by A MN
Labor and Guilds, News
Alborz province, Amanj Amini, Isfahan, protests, Saqqez city, Teacher protests, Teachers, Tehran

After several consecutive days of protests, thousands of retired and working teachers and educators, joined by supporters, demonstrated in more than 100 cities across the country. These protests were held on December 13 by the call of the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, demands included the implementation of an already-enacted plan whereupon the incomes of teachers will be increased depending on rank, to up to 80% of the salaries of faculty members. 

They also asked for unpaid severance payments for retirees who went into pension last year. The implementation of this plan will reduce disparities in income and pay gaps. 

Chants included “teacher wake up, stand up against discrimination”, “Free Imprisoned teachers”, “If our problem is not solved, the school will be closed”.

In these demonstrations, some protesters had some handheld placards with slogans in support of the recent protests in Isfahan against water supply mismanagement.

In Alborz Provinces and in Tehran (in front of Parliament), these protests turned violent due to the interference of security forces.

In Saqqez City, teachers chanted in support of Amanj Amini, the teacher who had been previously arrested, beaten and mistreated by security forces during the protest.