Category: News

Sorena Chatri Still in Detention and Awaiting Legal Proceedings in Behbahan Prison

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Behbahan County, Sorena Chatri

Sorena Chatri, resident of Behbahan County, is still in detention and awaiting further legal proceedings. Late January of this year, IRGC’s intelligence agents arrested him in Behbahan city.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Sorena Chatri is still in detention and uncertainties regarding his condition in prison and legal proceedings.

Late January, he was arrested by IRGC’s intelligence agents and transferred to one of the detention centers at disposal of IRGC and after a week to Behbahan Prison.

He is a sports coach and resident of Tashan City located in Behbahan County.

Two Christian Converts Summoned to Serve Their Sentence

Posted on by A MN
News, Religious Minorities
Catherine Sajjad-Pour, Christian, Hadi Rahimi, Ramin Hassan-Pour, Saeedeh Sajjad-Pour

Two Christian converts, Ramin Hassan-Pour and Saeedeh Sajjad-Pour, were summoned by Branch 1 of the Executive Unit of Evin Criminal Courthouse to serve their sentences. In August of 2020, they were sentenced to 5 and 2 years imprisonment respectively.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Article 18 Organization, two Christian converts Ramin Hassan-Pour and Saeedeh Sajjad-Pour were summoned to appear at the Executive Unit of Evin Criminal courthouse within 20 days to endure their sentence.

In February of 2020, along with two other Christian converts, Catherine Sajjad-Pour and Hadi Rahimi, the two citizens were interrogated at their home by security forces. They searched the house and confiscated some of their personal belongings. Thereafter, they were told that they would be indicted soon.

In May of 2020, Branch 10 of the Revolutionary Court of Rasht City summoned and notified them about the charges and thereafter set bail of 500 million for each. On May 14, 2020, all four were transferred to Lakan Prison in Rasht City following the failure to provide bail. In the following days, they were released from detention after reducing the bail to 200 million tomans.

In August of 2020, Hassan-Pour was sentenced to five years and Sajjad-Pour to two years in prison.

Despite the fact that Christians are recognized as a religious minority under Iranian law, security forces nevertheless harass and prosecute Muslims who convert to Christianity.

The prosecution 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.

Ebrahim Tari-Moradi Fined and Sentenced to One Year In Prison

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Ebrahim Tari-Moradi, Sanandaj

On February 9, Ebrahim Tari-Moradi, a resident of Sanandaj City, was notified that Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Sanandaj sentenced him to one year in prison and a 30 million toman fine.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, Tari-Moradi was charged with “propaganda against the regime” and “collaboration with one of an opposing political parties.”

On July 24, 2021, security forces raided and searched his house, arrested him and confiscated some of his personal belongings. After interrogation in one of the security detention centers in Sanandaj, they transferred him to Sanandaj Prison. On September 26 of last year, he was released on bail from Sanandaj prison.

Tari-Moradi is 55 years old and a resident of Sanandaj County.

Shakila Monfaed Fined and Sentenced to Imprisonment

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Qarchak, Shakila Monfared, Varamin City

Political prisoner Shakila Monfared was fined and sentenced to two years and eight months in prison on charges in a new case recently opened against her.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran Monfared to two years and eight months in prison and a 10 million toman fine.

While serving her prison sentence in Qarchak Prison in Varamin City, she faced a new case and was charged with “membership in one of the anti-regime groups and spreading lies”, for which she was respectively sentenced to two years and eight months in prison and paying a fine of 10 million.

On August 31, 2020, the security forces arrested Monfared while she was leaving her home. They transferred her to one of the detention centers at disposal of the IRGC in Tehran. Reportedly, they did not have a warrant for this arrest.

On September 9, of last year she was relocated to the quarantine section of the women ward of Evin Prison. On September 14, she was released on bail of 400 million tomans until the end of legal proceedings.

In January of this year, the joint court trial of Shakila Monfared, Arsham Rezaei, and Mohammad Abolhassani was held in Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari. 27-year-old Monfared was sentenced to 6 years in prison and 4 months of probation work in the Agricultural Jihad on charges of “propaganda activities against the system” and “insulting the sanctities of Islam”.

Monfared was granted furlough on August 23 of this year and returned to jail on September 7.

Christian Convert Sekineh Behjati Summoned to Serve Her Two Year Sentence

Posted on by A MN
News, Religious Minorities
Christian convert, Christianity, religious freedom, Religious Minorities, Sekineh Behjati

Christian Convert Sekineh Behjati was summoned to appear at Branch 1 of the Public and Revolutionary Court in Tehran within 30 days to serve her two year sentence. She was convicted in August of 2020.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, security forces raided and interrogated Behjati in August of 2020 at her house, accusing her of “propaganda against the regime and assembly and collusion against national security.” They also searched the house and confiscated some of her personal belongings. She was told that she will be indicted soon.

In May of 2020, she was arrested after being summoned by Branch 10 of the Revolutionary Court of Rasht City. On May 14, 2020, she was sent to Lakan Prison after failing to provide a bail of 500 million tomans. Finally, she was released six days later after reducing the bail to 200 million tomans.

Despite the fact that Christians are recognized as a religious minority under Iranian law, security forces nevertheless harass and prosecute Muslims who convert to Christianity.
The prosecution 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.

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Inmate Executed in Aligudarz Prison

Posted on by A MN
Executions, News
Aligudarz Prison, executions, Mirza Roohifar, Secret executions

On February 8, an inmate previously convicted for murder was executed in Aligudarz Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Iran Human Rights Organization, on Monday, February 8, 2022, the inmate was identified as Mirza Roohifar, age 37.

“Before his arrest, Mirza Roohifar was a car tire seller. Four years ago, he was accused of killing his neighbor in a quarrel about financial issues and thereafter [was] sentenced to death,” an informed source stated in the report.

The execution has not been announced by judicial authorities or reported by media inside Iran.

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.

Asal Mohammadi Sentenced to One Year and Eight Months Imprisonment

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Asal Mohammadi, Hirad Pirbodaghi, Iman Soleymani

Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced workers’ rights activist Asal Mohammadi to one year and eight months in prison and a two years prohibition on membership in any political or civil group.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Mohammadi was charged with “propaganda against the regime” and “assembly and collusion against national security.” If confirmed on appeal, the one-year sentence on one count will be enforceable.

Her lawyer, Iman Soleymani, told HRANA that “During the detention, she had no access to a lawyer. During the trial process, I undertook her case but they did not allow me to study the case documents or attend the court, which is in violation of Article 48 of the Criminal Procedure Code. She was in poor mental condition. Contrary to what the law explicitly states, she had been interrogated without accompaniment of a lawyer during the interrogation”

On January 24, 2022, the trial was held and during the trial, participation in online campaigns such as “white torture” or membership in Marxist groups was evoked as the piece of evidence for the charges.

On November 6, 2021, she was arrested violently along with Hirad Pirbodaghi by security forces. Their house were searched.

Five days later, on November 11, she was transferred to Public Ward No. 209 of Evin Prison and was released on bond on November 22, 2021.

Hashem Amini Sentenced to 13 Years In Prison

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Bajestan, Hasem Amini, Torbat Heydariyeh

Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Torbat Heydariyeh sentenced Hashem Amini to 13 years in prison. Grounded on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, if confirmed on appeal, the severest punishment of 5 years will be enforceable.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Amini, a resident of Bajestan was charged with “membership in anti-regime groups, offensive statements against the Supreme Leader of Iran and participation in an illegal assembly”. The verdict was issued by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Torbat Heydariyeh.

Amini has to face other charges in a separate legal case. On June 17, 2021,  security forces arrested him at his home in Bajestan City and transferred him to a detention centre at the disposal of the Ministry of Intelligence in Mashhad City. On July 8, 2021, he was released on bail. For this case, his trial will be held at Branch 2 of the Criminal Court on February 27, 2022.

Transgender Citizen Dies By Suicide After Disallowance of Gender Affirming Surgery

Posted on by A MN
LGBTQ+, News
gender reassignment surgery, trans rights, transexual

On February 7, a transgender citizen and resident of Mariwan City died by suicide after taking pills. Reportedly, they committed suicide after a Sunni cleric disallowed their family to perform gender affirming surgery.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, 20 year old Ribwar Ebrahimi committed suicide and lost their life.

“His family asked a Sunni cleric about the religious authorization of a Sex Reassignment Surgery. Confronted with this disallowance, Ribwar got upset. He/she was also under pressure not to disclose his/her identity, which all led to committing suicide by pill,” told an informed source to HRANA.

Gender affirmation surgery has not been designated as legal or illegal under Iranian civil law. In 2013, however, Family Protection Bill set out some rules about the sex change process. In 1982, in a Fatwa, Ruhollah Khomeini, authorized religiously the sex-change surgery. Nonetheless, uncertainties in the law regarding this process and official acceptance of new identity have confused many transgender citizens who are afraid of being deprived of their rights by the erratic attitude of legal authorities.

Two Inmates Executed in Ardabil Prison

Posted on by A MN
Executions, News
Behzad Tahamtan, Secret executions, Yusef Tahamtan

Two inmates convicted for murder were executed in Ardabil Prison on February 7.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the inmates were identified as Yusef and Behzad Tahamtan, were arrested in Ardabil prison.

These executions have not been announced by judicial authorities or reported by media inside Iran.

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.