Category: News

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

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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
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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.

Five Citizens Arrested in Naqadeh in West Azerbaijan Province

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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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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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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.

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Abbas Vahedian Shahroudi Detained by Security Forces in Rezvanshahr

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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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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.

Mohammad Sadeghzadeh Executed in Ardabil Prison on Charge of Murder

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Ardabil, ardabil prison, Citizen executed, Citizen execution, Death Penalty, Death row, Death sentence, Mohammad Sadeghzadeh, Secret executions

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, 30-year-old Mohammad Sadeghzadeh was executed in Ardabil Prison on the morning of this Wednesday, September 1.

Sadeghzadeh, whose identity has been verified by HRANA, had previously been sentenced to death for murder.  Mr. Sadeghzadeh was arrested about four years ago and had since been held in Ardabil 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.

Mr. Sadeghzadeh’s execution has not been announced by Iranian media or official sources as of this writing.

HRA Joins 10 Other Human Rights Groups in Calling on UN Representatives to Protect Human Rights

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According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, several rights organizations have written a statement calling for increased accountability from UN representatives in Iran

Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) has joined 10 other organizations in urging UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, UN Resident Coordinator Stefan Priesner, and a number of county directors of UN agencies in Iran to uphold the UN’s promise to prioritize human rights and commit to “use all leverages they have to promote and protect human rights in the framework of their fieldwork activities in Iran”.

The statement demands that, in order to ensure accountability from UN representatives, the signatory organizations be directly involved in the oversight process, and outlines the ways in which current endeavors to work with the Islamic Republic have failed to sufficiently highlight human rights.

“We regret that the current UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), signed between the Islamic Republic of Iran and 15 UN agencies in 2015, had marked the UN system’s failure to acknowledge and address core human rights issues as part of its activities in Iran,” the statement reads.

The letter concludes that the first step towards adhering to the above values is to “consult, involve, and listen to the input from independent human rights monitors both within and outside the country”.

You can read the full letter here .

 

 

Citizen Detained by IRGC intelligence in Ardabil Province

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IRGC intelligence agents recently arrested a citizen in one of the cities of Ardabil Province.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting ILNA, the citizen was arrested for what is being called “insulting Islamic sanctities”, “disturbing the public mind”, and “publishing [disappointing] content to blacken [catastrophize] the situation in the country”.

The citizen was transferred to prison by order of a judicial official. The report does not mention the identity of the detainee, the name of the city he was detained in, or the prison where he is being held.