Category: News

Inmate Executed in Mashhad Prison

Posted on by A MN
Executions, News
Abdollah, Capital Punishment, Citizen executed, Citizen execution, Death Penalty, Death row, Death sentence, Khorasan Province, Mashhad, Mashhad Prison, Secret executions, Vakilabad prison

On Wednesday, November 3, an inmate who had been previously convicted of murder was executed in Mashhad Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Rokna, an inmate, identified by his first name as Abdollah had been arrested in 2018 along with two other men and accused of murdering a 60-year-old man.

Following the completion of the investigation, the criminal case was delivered to Branch 15 of the Criminal Court in Khorasan Province. The court sentenced Abdollah to the death penalty on a charge of murder and imprisonment and lashes on a charge of stealing. The second defendant was sentenced to 25 years in prison on the charge of aiding in murder and murder planning. The third-row defendant, identified as 19-year-old Saeed, was sentenced to 15 years in prison on the charge of aiding and abetting the murder.

The defendants have also been sentenced to long-term imprisonment for previous attempting to murder and murder planning. These verdicts were upheld by branch 39 of the Supreme Court of Iran.

The most recent report of 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.

Three Family Members of Sattar Beheshti Arrested Approaching Anniversary of his Death

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
Gohar Eshghi, Mostafa Eslami, Sahar Eshghi, Sattar beheshti

On Wednesday, November 3, approaching the anniversary of Sattar Beheshti’s death, three members of Beheshti’s family were arrested.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Sahar Eshghi, Gohar Eshghi and Mostafa Eslami were arrested by security forces. Security agents reportedly also searched Sattar’s mother’s house and confiscated several of the family’s belongings.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, security forces arrested Sattar Beheshti’s mother, Gohar Eshghi, his sister Sahar Eshghi and his brother-in-law, Mostafa Eslami. Reportedly, Mostafa Eslami was beaten by security agents during the arrest.

Sattar Beheshti was a blogger and worker who was tortured to death in a detention center. He had been arrested by the Iranian Cyber Police (FATA) for his civil and political activities on the Internet.

Seven Political Activists Arrested in Robat Karim County

Posted on by A MN
Cultural, News, Other
Ali Rostami, Arash Soleymani, Esmaeel Moftizadeh, Heshmatullah Tabarzadi, Imamzadeh Mohammad-Taghi, Mohammad-Reza Khosravi, Parviz Safari, Robat Karimi County, Sattar beheshti, Yasamin Hanifeh

On Wednesday, November 3, seven political activists were arrested by security forces in Robat Karim County at Sattar Beheshti’s burial place.

The activists have been identified as Heshmatullah Tabarzadi, Esmaeel Moftizadeh, Parviz Safari, Arash Soleymani, Mohammad-Reza Khosravi, Ali Rostami and Yasamin Hanifeh

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, these political activists were arrested after gathering to visit Sattar Beheshti’s grave and to mark the anniversary of his death in Imamzadeh Mohammad-Taghi Cemetery in Robat Karim County.

Sattar Beheshti was a blogger and worker who was tortured to death in a detention center. He had been arrested by the Iranian Cyber Police (FATA) for his civil and political activities online.

The specific reason for the arrests is unknown as of this writing.

Inmate Beaten to Death By Prison Officers in Sanandaj Prison

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Abdollahi, carceral brutality, CCTV, Khosro Jamalifar, prison brutality, Prison conditions, prison guard brutality, Sanandaj, Sanandaj Prison

On the evening of Tuesday, November 2, an inmate was brutally beaten to death by officers in Sanandaj Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, 26-year-old Khosro Jamalifar, who had previously been indicted on a murder charge and was awaiting the verdict, died from a strike to the head sustained during the beating.

The incident broke out after Jamalifar became involved in a quarrel with a fellow inmate in the quarantine section of Sanandaj.

Thereafter, as an informed source told HRANA, “Prison officers began to beat him with batons which led to his death. In this incident, the failure of the prison nurse, named Abdollahi, to send (Jamalifar) to the healthcare center in a timely manner also played a role in his death.”

In the aftermath of Jamalifar’s killing, Sanandaj inmates are calling for authorities to take accountability and conduct a real investigation.

“Since there are many CCTV cameras in corridors, the prisoners demand from the Prison organization and judiciary authorities to investigate the incident,” the informed source said. “However, until now, they have not received any response and the prison is at a high-security level.”

Iran’s prisons are notorious for their frequent incidents of brutality from authorities.  Acts of violence such as this one are at serious odds with the basic responsibility of prisons to provide for the safety and health of their inmates.  Institutions’ reluctance to conduct thorough investigations into acts of violence from their officials only perpetuates, and often even reinforces, a culture of abuse within Iran’s carceral system.

Three Workers Killed and One Injured Due to Unsafe Workplace Conditions

Posted on by A MN
Labor and Guilds, News
Hafshejan, labor laws, Mahabad, Qorveh, Qorveh city, Sanandaj, Sanandaj City, Shahrokh, Shahrokh Mohammadi, workplace conditions, workplace safety

A total of three workers have been killed and one injured in recent accidents that were brought about by unsafe workplace conditions.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Rokna, on November 2, in three workplace accidents in Qorveh, Mahabad and Hafshejan cities, three workers lost their lives and one more was injured.

Ali Naseri, the head of the fire department in Qorveh announced the death of a worker due to the fire that broke out in a bakery.

“In a bakery in a district in the center city of Qorveh, a gas leak from a gas pipe, which had been branched off illegally to be used for bread baking machine, caused a fire in this bakery,”  Naseri commented. “After the neighbors reported the fire, the fire department dispatched the firefighting team to the spot. The firefighters saved two workers from the fire. One of them had severe burns, who was transferred to the hospital.”

The head of the pre-hospital emergency care unit of Qorveh Shahrokh Mohammadi revealed that the 55-year-old baker died in a hospital in Sanandaj city due to severe burns in several parts of his body.

It is worth noting that many bakeries in both urban and rural areas use off-brand gas lines which are not up to code, and this can lead to gas leaks and fires.

In another workplace accident in Mahabad, a worker was poisoned by carbon monoxide gas.

“Following an emergency call, the Emergency Center of Police 110 sent a team to the spot,” the police commander of Mahabad stated. “Preliminary examination of the emergency team revealed the victim, a 50-year-old man, has died of poisoning due to inhaling carbon monoxide gas while he was asleep.”

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting ISNA, two months after a work accident, in a sugar factory in Hafshjan city in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, one worker died from severe injuries. Reportedly, the victim died from a neck fracture after eight heavy sugar bags fell on top of on him.

“The height of the sugar bag piles should not be more than 1.8 meters,” HSE manager of Hafshjan sugar factory Arash Heyday said. “The government has to take action to unload these warehouses. However, because of the delay in unloading and lack of room, we have to make higher stacks which endanger the workers.”

Iran ranks 102 in workplace safety out of 189 countries.

 

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Inmate Executed in Shiraz Central Prison

Posted on by A MN
Executions, News
Citizen executed, Death Penalty, Death row, Death sentence, Execution, Mohammad Raisi, Secret executions, Shiraz, Shiraz Central Prison, Sistan and Baluchestan, Sistan and Baluchestan Province

On Tuesday, November 2, an inmate who had been previously convicted of murder was executed in Shiraz Central Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Rasank news outlet, 23-year-old Mohammad Raisi was a resident of a village in Sistan and Baluchestan Province.

“Last night, Mohammad called his family to tell them that he has been transferred to the quarantine section of the prison,” an informed source was quoted as saying in the report. “This morning, his family came to Shiraz to receive his body from prison officials, but they were referred to a hospital mortuary.”

The most recent report of 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.

Raisi’s execution has not been reported by official sources in Iran as of this writing.

 

Kamyar Fakoor Sentenced to Eight Months Imprisonment and Flogging

Posted on by A MN
Labor and Guilds, News, Students
cash bail, Evin, Evin Prison, flogging, Inhumane punishment, Kamyar Fakoor, lashes, Mahmood Haj Moradi, Ministry of Cooperatives, Ministry of Labor, Ministry of Social Welfare, Moradi

Workers’ rights activist Kamyar Fakoor was sentenced to 50 lashes, eight months imprisonment and paying a fine of 15 million tomans.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the verdict has been suspended for 5 years.

Branch 26 of the Tehran revolutionary court, headed by judge Mahmood Haj Moradi, sentenced Kamyar Fakoor to eight months in prison, 50 lashes and paying a fine of 15 million tomans on charges of “propaganda against the regime, spreading lies in the purpose to disturb public opinions and public order”.

As conditions for the sentence suspension, he will be obligated to ask permission from the judiciary before leaving the country, participate in emotional control courses, inform authorities about any changes in employment or place of residence, and avoid any political activities on social media.

On August 28, along with two other workers’ rights activists, Kamyar Fakoor was arrested during a protest of retirees and working educators in front of the building of the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare. Ten days later, he was released from Evin Prison on bail until the end of legal proceedings.

Baha’i Citizen Manijeh Azamian’s One Year Sentence Upheld by Court of Appeals

Posted on by A MN
News, Religious Minorities, Women
Article 18, Azamian, Babol, Babol Prison, Baha'i, Maniijeh Azamian, Mazandaran

The court of appeals in Mazandaran Province recently upheld Baha’i citizen Manijeh Azamian’s one year prison sentence.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, 52-year-old Azamian had previously been sentenced on a charge of “propaganda against the regime” by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Babol.

On April 10, security forces searched Azamian’s house and confiscated several of her personal belonging such as her cell phone, PC hard drive, flash drives, and books about the Baha’i faith. They summoned her to appear at the Ministry of Intelligence office on the same day afternoon.

An informed source told HRANA, “During the interrogation, they called several phone numbers from the list on her cell phone and at least three of her non-Baha’i friends or neighbors were summoned for interrogation.”

Three days later, security forces arrested her and transferred her to Babol Prison. The next day, she was released on bail of 50 million tomans.

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.

 

 

Man Shot Dead by Regime’s Military Forces in Border Area of Urmia County

Posted on by A MN
Labor and Guilds, News, Other
Badini, border patrol, cross border laborer, Kolbar, Kolbar killed, Kurdpa, military forces, Sukhtbar, Urmia, Urmia county, Veisi Badini

Earlier this Tuesday, November 2, a man was shot dead by military forces in border areas of Urmia county.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, the victim has been identified as Veisi Badini, a resident of the village Soorkan. Badini was married and has two children.

Military forces reportedly began to shoot directly towards Veisi Badini, who was pasturing livestock, without any warning beforehand. In the aftermath of their shooting, the forces did not allow any medical treatment, which led to his death from bleeding. As of yet, they have refused to deliver the body to Badini’s family.

HRANA’s annual human rights report has specifically documented cases in which military forces’ use of live ammunition against citizens has led to their injury or death.

According to the 2020 report, 36 cross-border laborers (kolbars), 5 cross-border fuel carriers (sukhtbar) and 33 other citizens have been shot dead by military forces and border guards in the last year. In addition, 130 people have been injured of which 109 are kolbars, 5 are sukhtbars, and 16 are citizens.

Several Citizens Arrested by IRGS’s Intelligence Unit in Robat Karim

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
arrest warrant, Citizen detentions, Citizens arrested, Citizens detained, court order, irgc, IRGS, Robat-Karim City, Roobat Karim, unknown location

The County Prosecutor of Robat Karim City recently announced the arrest of several citizens by IRGS’s intelligence unit.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Rokna, the citizens were arrested largely on charges of membership in what he called an “anti-revolutionary network”.

“In the last week, IRGS’s intelligence agents could detect and arrest the heads of an anti-revolutionary network in Robat-Karim city”, the County Prosecutor commented. “These arrested people were transferred to the jail after being notified of the charge and the issuance of an arrest warrant.”

He added, “Investigation and identification of the related people to this case is still ongoing.”

This report does not mention the number of arrestees, their identities, or their current whereabouts.