Ministry of Intelligence Withholds Details on Death of Yasser Mangouri in Detention Center

On Thursday, September 9, following a call attributed to the Ministry of Intelligence, the family of Yasser Mangouri was informed of his death while he was being held in a detention center.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Mangouri had been arrested by security forces on July 17.

No information has been provided to the family about the details of the death or its date.

Mr. Mangouri is said to had been previously interrogated on charges of “collaborating with an opposition party”.

Yaser Mangouri, a native of Piranshahr in West Azerbaijan Province, was a married father of three. He was also a welding worker.

The security agency has so far refused to return the body of Mr. Mangouri to his family.

 

Citizens Accused of Robbery Humiliated by Police in Parade Through Streets of Khorramabad

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting IRIB, police recently shamed a number of citizens who had previously been arrested on charges of robbery in Khorramabad.

Dariush Shahonvand, prosecutor of Khorramabad said, “These people are armed thieves who stole in Poldakhtar, Khorramabad, Doroud, and Aleshtar counties. The arrested armed robbers will be charged for Moharebeh (rebellion, or waging war against God in Shariah Law) with the most severe punishment, which is the death penalty. The hearings of these defendants will be public.”

In recent years, law enforcement officers have occasionally humiliated accused criminals in a similar manner, by parading them around the city. This violates human rights treaties, domestic law, and violates human dignity.

Three Citizens Detained by Security Forces in Mahabad and Taken to Unknown Location

Three citizens from the village of Kuseh Kahriz ​in Mahabad County were recently arrested by security forces.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, after their arrest the citizens were taken to an unknown location.

According to this report, Hossein Dudkanlu Milan and Zaher Rozkhoon were arrested on August 29, and Mr. Shaho Ahmadi was arrested a week after them.

Despite the follow-up of the families of these citizens, the reasons for their detention, the charges against them, and their whereabouts  are not known.

Death Sentence and Lashes Issued to Defendants in Tehran

A defendant in Tehran was recently sentenced, in absentia, to death after being charged with murder.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Rokna, the case’s other defendants were sentenced to other punishments, including prison time and lashes.

According to this report, a man named Reza, who is not currently in Iran, was sentenced to death in absentia for committing murder and to 10 years in prison and 74 lashes for other crimes he committed.

The second person who was involved in the conflict was sentenced to pay a ransom, a fine to the government, and 55 months in prison and lashes for injuring the victim’s father.

A third person was sentenced to 20 months in prison and lashes for disturbing public order and committing other crimes, and the other individuals involved in the bloody conflict were sentenced to one year in prison and 74 lashes for disturbing public order.

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.

Iran is one of the few countries that has continued to use humiliating punishments despite the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights explicit prohibition of the use of inhumane and degrading punishments, including the death penalty and flogging.

Saeed Afkari Beaten and Arrested on the Anniversary of the Execution of Navid Afkari

On Sunday, September 12, Saeed Afkari, the brother of Navid Afkari, was beaten and arrested by six plainclothes officers and taken to an unknown location in Shiraz.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, he was released after a couple of hours.

Mr. Afkari tweeted the day before that the security forces were pressuring the Afkari family to stop Navid Afkari’s execution anniversary. Following this tweet, Mr. Afkari’s twitter account has become unavailable.

It is also said that during Mr. Afkari’s arrest, security forces beat his sister, Elham Afkari.

Navid, Vahid, and Habib Afkari were arrested in 2018 in connection with the nationwide protests in August 2018. The brothers have been repeatedly beaten and tortured during interrogations. Navid Afkari, an Iranian wrestler, was executed at Adelabad Prison in Shiraz at dawn on September 12, 2020. Habib and Vahid have been sentenced to long imprisonment.

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79 Citizens Arrested for Promoting Emergence of a New Mysticism in Gilan Province

Maleki, the commander of the Gilan police force, recently announced the arrest of 79 citizens in one of the province’s forests.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Rokna, the citizens were arrested for what Maleki called “promoting emerging mysticism”.

“79 members of a tourist tour, including 27 women and 52 men, were arrested on charges of promoting false mysticism by holding superstitious rituals in the unsafe environment of a remote forest area,” he said.

Intrusion into citizens’ privacy and interference in their personal affairs are among the criticisms leveled at Iran’s judicial and disciplinary system.

“After receiving news about individuals who use cyberspace trying to propagate and promote emerging false mysticism through fraud,” Maleki continued, “receiving money, and setting up illegal tourist tours by holding superstitious rituals, the investigation of the issue was put on the agenda of the police.”

Inmate Executed in Iranshahr Prison in Sistan and Baluchistan Province

On Saturday, September 11, Adham Maksani, a native of Shamsabad village of Bampour district, was executed in Iranshahr Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting The Baloch Activists Campaign, Maksani was previously sentenced to death for murder and had spent 10 years in Iranshahr prison.

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. Maksani has not been announced by Iranian media or official sources.

Inmate Executed in Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj

A man named Jafar was recently executed in Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the prisoner had previously been sentenced to death for murder, and the sentence was later upheld by the Supreme Court.

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

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.

 

Friday, September 3 and Saturday September 4

Several job applicants for Qeshm Refinery Heavy Oil, a group of job applicants for Literacy Movement Instructors in Tehran, a group of workers in Yasuj Municipal Services, a number of dismissed workers of Ahvaz Municipality, a group of shareholders of Cryptoland exchange in Tehran, a group of job applicants of Karname-Sabz, personnel of Kermanshah Jihad Nasr, and Khorramshahr municipal workers held protest rallies on Friday September 3, and Saturday September 4.

Job applicants for Qeshm Refinery Heavy Oil:

Instructor Job applicants of the Literacy Movement:

Workers of Yasuj Municipal Services:

Dismissed workers of Ahvaz Municipality:

Shareholders of Cryptoland exchange in Tehran:

Job applicants of Karname-Sabz:

Sunday, September 5

A group of job applicants of Karname-Sabz for the second day in a row in Tehran, a number of preschool teachers in Izeh city, a group of job  Literacy Movement Instructor applicants for the second consecutive day in Tehran, a number of Khorramshahr municipal workers, a group of Mehrafarin educators in Tehran, and independent contractor teachers in Yazd called on their demands to be addressed in protest rallies.

Job applicants of Karname-Sabz:

Instructor job applicants of the Literacy Movement:

Mehrafarin educators in Tehran:

Preschool teachers in Izeh city:

Monday, September 6

A group of job applicants of Karname-Sabz for the third day in a row in Tehran, a number of  shareholders of Cryptoland exchange in Tehran, a group of job applicants for Literacy Movement Instructors for the third day in a row in Tehran, a few workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-
Industry Co., a group of educators in Varamin, educators of Dezful city Literacy Movement, and a group of residents of Ghiazi village in Shadegan held protest rallies and called on their demands to be addressed.

 

Educators of Dezful City’s Literacy Movement:

Job applicants for Literacy Movement Instructors in Tehran:

Job applicants of Karname-Sabz:

Shareholders of Cryptoland Exchange in Tehran:

Workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company:

Educators in Varamin:

Villagers of Ghiazi in Shadegan:

Tuesday, September 7

A group of job applicants of Karname-Sabz for the fourth day in a row in Tehran and Bandar Imam Petrochemical staff rallied in protest this Tuesday.

Job applicants of Karname-Sabz:

Workers of Bandar Imam Petrochemical:

Wednesday, September 8

A group of telecommunication company personnel for a second consecutive day, several workers of oil and gas projects in Tehran, a group of shareholder drivers of the transport fleet modernization project, and a group of teachers from different cities in front of the parliament building in Tehran rallied this Wednesday. In Tehran, a group of citizens and civil activists rallied protests in front of the Pakistani embassy in support of the Afghan people.

Telecommunication company personnel:

Workers of oil and gas projects:

Shareholder drivers of the transport fleet modernization project:

Rally of teachers in front of the parliament building:

Thursday, September 9

For the sixth day in a row, a group of job applicants of Karname-Sabz in Tehran in protest rallies called for their demands to be addressed. Many citizens and civil activists held rallies reacting to the recent changes in Afghanistan in the cities of Tehran, Mashhad, Bushehr, and Kerman.

Job applicants of Karname-Sabz in Tehran:

Rallies of citizens in support of the people of Afghanistan and against Taliban:

Friday, September 10

A group of job applicants of Karname-Sabz for the seventh day in a row in Tehran in protest rallies called for their demands to be addressed.

 

Mohammad Ali Mansouri Sent on Leave after Enduring 14 Years in Prison

On Thursday, September 9, Mohammad Ali (Piruz) Mansouri was sent on leave for the first time after serving 14 years in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Mansouri is a political prisoner in poor health who has been serving out his sentence in Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj.

Previously, on September 3, following a heart attack, Mr. Mansouri was transferred to a hospital in Karaj, where he was shackled to the bed despite his condition.

Mansouri was arrested in September 2007 after attending the 19th anniversary of the massacre of political prisoners in 1988. Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court, headed by Judge Abolghasem Salavati, sentenced Mr. Mansouri to 17 years in prison, transfer to Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj, and a fine of 150,000 tomans on a charge of “communicating and collaborating with the People’s Mujahedin Organization (MEK)”. The sentence was upheld by the Court of Appeals.

In May 2018, on the pretext of [conducting] “activities inside the prison” such as going on a hunger strike, inciting prisoners, and writing a statement in support of the Sunni prisoners, Mr. Mansouri was charged with “community and collusion against the regime” and sentenced to another five years in prison.