Category: News

Death Sentence Issued in Tehran

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Executions, News, Prisoners
Citizen death sentences, Citizen sentenced to death, Death Penalty, Death row, Death sentence, Death sentence issued, Secret executions, Tehran, Tehran Province

A man in Tehran was recently sentenced to death by the first criminal court of Tehran Province.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting ILNA, the man was sentenced after being charged with murder.

Iran ranks first in the world in citizen executions per capita, according to international organizations. The Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) reported that between January 1 and December 20 of 2020, at least 236 citizens were executed.

One of these citizens was executed publicly, and two were juvenile offenders. An additional 95 citizens were sentenced to death. According to the same report, more than 72% of executions in Iran are not reported by the government or the judiciary, which human rights organizations call “secret” executions.

HRANA Recap: This Week’s Protests in Iran

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Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News
ahvaz, Bostan, Bostan Municipality, Haft Tapeh Sugarcane Agro-Business, Haft Tappeh, Jijad Nasr Company, Kermanshah, Miandoab, Omideh, Tehran
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, August 28

A group of workers from Arkan-Sales of the National Iranian Drilling Company NIDC, a group of teachers  and educators in Tehran, and workers of Omidieh Municipality held protest rallies this Saturday.

Workers from Arkan-Sales of NIDC:

Workers of Omidieh Municipality:

Teachers and educators in Tehran:

 

Sunday August 29 and Monday August 30

A group of workers of Omidieh Municipality for the second and third day in a row, some workers of Bostan Municipality, a number of staff and employees of Khuzestan Health plan Project in Ahvaz, some employees of Jihad Nasr Company of Kermanshah, and a group of workers of Miandoab Municipality held demonstrations on Sunday and Monday of this week.

Employees of Jihad Nasr Company of Kermanshah:

Workers of Omidieh Municipality:

Workers of Khuzestan Health Project:

Workers of Bostan Municipality:

Workers of Miandoab Municipality:

Tuesday, September 31

A group of project workers of Izeh City, several employees of Shiraz Health Center, a group of workers of Miandoab municipality, a number of workers of Omidieh municipality for the fourth consecutive day, some of the shareholders of Rigan Khodro and Shahr Khodro in Tehran, and contractor workers of ODCC  of Isfahan refinery all rallied this Tuesday to protest authorities’ ongoing neglect of their demands.

Employees of Shiraz Health Center:

Project workers of Izeh city:

Workers of Miandoab municipality:

Workers of Omidieh Municipality:

Protest of shareholders of Rigan Khodro and Shahr Khodro in Tehran:

Workers of ODCC of Isfahan refinery:

Wednesday, September 1

A group of employees of Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences in Sanandaj, a number of workers of Omidieh Municipality for the fifth day in a row, a group of fired workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Co., and a number of workers of Khorramshahr Municipality held protest rallies on Wednesday. 

Employees of Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences:

Workers of Omidieh Municipality:

Dismissed workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company:

Thursday, September 2

A group of municipal service workers of Miandoab Municipality and a number of employees of Sarvan Municipality demanded their requests to be addressed in protest rallies.

Workers of Miandoab Municipality:

14-Year-Old Mobina Murdered in Lorestan in what Islamic Penal Code Classifies as “Honor Killing”

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Children, Cultural, News, Women
honor crime, honor killing, Islamic Law, Lorestan, Lorestan province, Mobina, Suri, Violence Against Women

On Monday, August 30, 14-year-old Mobina, who was from the Suri area of Lorestan Province was murdered by a family member in what is classified under Islamic Law as an “honor killing”.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Rokna, Mobina was the victim of a child marriage who was married to a young cleric in her village. She was murdered after relatives presumed she had an affair.

Under Islamic Law, in murder cases where the (usually-female) victim has been accused of  “disgracing the family’s honor”, exemptions and sentence reductions are frequently granted to the murderers.

“The murder happened due to family disputes, and the accused has been identified and arrested,” said the Lorestan police chief. “He is one of the relatives of the victim.”

“Honor crimes” or “honor killings” are acts of assault or murder, usually towards women and usually committed by male relatives.

The scope of the ways “disgracing family honor” can be defined is extremely broad; women can be accused for being victims of rape, getting a divorce (even from an abusive husband), committing adultery, or even just having sexual relations before marriage.

Mostafa Nili, Arash Kaykhosravi and Mehdi Mahmoudian Still in Detention in Evin Prison

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News
arash kaykhosravi, Citizens detained, Evin, Evin Prison, Leila Heydari, Maryam Afrafaraz, Mehdi Mahmoudian, Mohammad Hadi Erfanian Kaseb, Mohammad Reza Faghihi, Mostafa Nili, Tehran

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, lawyers and civil activists Mostafa Nili, Arash Kaykhosravi, and Mehdi Mahmoudian are still in detention weeks after their arrest.

The citizens are being held in Ward 241 of Evin Prison under the supervision of the intelligence service of Judiciary.

On August 14, several lawyers and civil activists, including Mostafa Nili, Arash Kaykhosravi, Mehdi Mahmoudian, Mohammad Reza Faghihi, Mohammad Hadi Erfanian Kaseb, Maryam Afrafraz, and Leila Heydari, were arrested during a meeting at the office of the Association for the Protection of Civil Rights in Tehran.

Leila Heydari and Mohammad Hadi Erfanian Kaseb were released on bail a day after their arrest, and Mohammad Reza Faghihi and Maryam Afrafaraz were released on bail on August 29, but Nili, Kaykhrosravi, and Mahmoudian remain in detention.

These lawyers and civil activists have been accused of “running an illegal organization” under Article 498 of the Islamic Penal Code. Apart from being allowed to contact their families on the first day of their detention, these citizens have been largely denied the right to make telephone calls.

Appellate Court Upholds Prison Sentence for Baha’i Citizens Abbas Taef and Ataollah Zafar

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News, Prisoners, Religious Minorities
Abbas Taef, Ataollah Zafar, Baha'i, Baha'i arrests in Iran, Baha'i citizen, Baha'i citizens, baha'i citizens arrested, Freedom of religion, Judge Seyed Ahmad Zargar, Seyed Ahmad Zargar, Tehran, Tehran Court of Appeals

Branch 26 of the Tehran Court of Appeals recently upheld the primary court’s sentence for Baha’i citizens Abbas Taef and Ataollah Zafar.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on July 6, Branch 26 of the Tehran Court of Appeals, presided by Judge Seyed Ahmad Zargar, had sentenced each of these citizens to one year in prison on charges of “acting against national security through the administration and activity in the Baha’i sect”.

According to unofficial sources, 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 beeen systematically violated for years.

This deprivation of the freedom to practice their religion is a violation 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.

Below is the picture of the AppealsCourt verdict.

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Five Citizens Arrested in Naqadeh in West Azerbaijan Province

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News
As’ad Ramin, Caqal Mostafa, Davood Rahimi, Khaled Ramin, Naqadeh City, Naqdeh, Qarna, Ramin Ramin, Sardar Ramin

On Wednesday, September 1, five citizens were arrested by security forces in Naqadeh City.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, after the citizens were arrested they were transferred to an unknown location.

The report identifies  these citizens as As’ad Ramin, Khaled Ramin, Davood Rahimi, Sardar Ramin, and Ramin Ramin, all of whom are from the villages of Qarna and Chaqal Mostafa in the Naqadeh area.

As of this writing, no information is available on the whereabouts of the detainees and the charges against them.

Baha’i Citizen Arsalan Yazdani Arrested in Tehran

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News
Arsalan Yazdani, Baha'i, Baha'i arrests in Iran, Baha'i citizen, Baha'i citizen arrested, Freedom of religion, Religious Minorities, Security forces, Tehran, United Nations

On Wednesday, September 1, Bah’ai citizen Arsalan Yazdani was arrested and transferred to an unknown location by security forces in Tehran.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, security forces searched Mr. Yazdani’s home and confiscated some of his personal belongings at the time of the arrest.

According to unofficial sources, 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 beeen systematically violated for years.

This deprivation of the freedom to practice their religion is a violation 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.

No information is available on the detainee or his whereabouts as of this writing.

 

Yasin Rezaeipour Executed in Yazd Prison on Drug-Related Charges

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News
Capital Punishment, Citizen executed, Citizen execution, Death Penalty, Death row, Death sentence, Qazvin, Qazvin native Yasin Rezaeipour, Rezaeipour, Yasin Rezaeipour, Yazd, Yazd Prison

On Wednesday, September 1, a prisoner who had previously been sentenced to death on drug-related charges was executed in Yazd Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Iran Human Rights (IHR), the identity of this prisoner is Yasin Rezaeipour, a native of Qazvin.

Iran ranks first in the world in citizen executions per capita, according to international organizations. The Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) reported that between January 1 and December 20 of 2020, at least 236 citizens were executed.

One of these citizens was executed publicly, and two were juvenile offenders. An additional 95 citizens were sentenced to death. According to the same report, more than 72% of executions in Iran are not reported by the government or the judiciary, which human rights organizations call “secret” executions.

As of this writing, the execution of Mr. Rezaeipour has not been announced by Iranian media or official sources.

Abbas Vahedian Shahroudi Detained by Security Forces in Rezvanshahr

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News
Abbas Vahedian Shahroudi, Activist arrested, civil activist arrested, Mashhad, Rezvanshahr, Security forces, Vahedian Shahroudi, Vakilabad prison, Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad

At noon on Wednesday, September 1, writer, teacher, and civil activist Abbas Vahedian Shahroudi was arrested by intelligence agents in Rezvanshahr and taken to an unknown location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, meanwhile, Vahedian’s daughter’s home in Mashhad was searched and inspected by security forces and some personal belongings were confiscated.

Mr. Vahedian has previously been arrested and convicted for his writings and activistm. He was arrested in Mashhad in October 2018 and later charged by Branch 903 of the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad with “acting against national security”, and “attempting to overthrow the regime”. He was released on bail of 350 million tomans from Vakilabad prison in Mashhad in December 2018.

Shortly after his interrogation, in August 2019, Vahedian was again arrested and transferred to Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad . He was one of the 14 signatories of a letter of request for the resignation of Ayatollah Khamenei, the supreme leader. Mr. Vahedian was released on bail from Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad in July 2020.

The Return of Genghis Khan the Mongol is one of Abbas Vahedian Shahroudi’s published books.

Amir Abbas Azarmvand Arrested by Security Forces in Tehran

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Amir Abbas Azramvand, Azramvand, Citizen arrest, Citizen arrested, Citizen arrests, Citizen detained, detention, Labor activist, Tehran

Yesterday morning, Wednesday, September 1, Amir Abbas Azarmvand was arrested by security forces at his home in Tehran and taken to an unknown location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Azarmvand is a journalist and labor activist who has previously been detained for his activities. He was briefly detained by security forces in December 2019 and December last year.

As of this writing, the reasons for the arrest, the charges against him, and the whereabouts of the citizen are unknown.