Category: Prisoners

Report on the Latest Status of Political Prisoner Ayoub Porkar in Sheiban Prison

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News, Prisoners
ahvaz, Ayoub Porkar, Behbahan prison, Evin Prison, Nasrin Sotoudeh, Sheiban Prison, Yahya Pir-Abbasi

Ayoub Porkar, a 69-year-old exiled political prisoner, is serving the sixteenth year of his sentence in Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz, without a single day of furlough.

Security forces arrested Mr. Porkar on January 3, 2009. He was later sentenced to death by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Yahya Pir-Abbasi, on charges of “enmity against God” (Moharebeh) through collaboration with the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO). This sentence was eventually reduced to 20 years in prison by Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals.

Nasrin Sotoudeh, the lawyer who represented Mr. Parkar at the time, had previously told the media that unexpectedly the “beliefs” of her client were the basis for the death sentence.

After his sentence was upheld, Ayoub Porkar was initially exiled from Ward 350 of Evin Prison to Behbahan Prison and then transferred to Karun Prison in Ahvaz. He is currently serving his sentence in Ward 5 of Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz. Throughout his imprisonment, this exiled political prisoner has been denied conditional release and even a single day of furlough.

A source familiar with Mr. Parkar’s condition had earlier informed HRANA: “Ayoub Porkar suffers from knee problems and has been deprived of specialized medical care.”

During the Iran-Iraq war, Porkar, aged around 69, served in the army for four years but was dismissed from his job due to his criticisms of the government.

A Report on the Latest Status of Three Political Prisoners in Evin Prison

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News, Prisoners
Dastgerd Prison, Evin Prison, Hossein Jafar, Isfahan, Reza Rezaie, Yasin Mokhtari

Political prisoners Reza Rezaie, Hossein Jafar, and Yasin Mokhtari are currently serving their sentences in Evin Prison. These individuals were previously sentenced by the Revolutionary Court to prison, exile, and flogging.

Based on information received by HRANA, these citizens were arrested in June-July last year and initially transferred to Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan. They were then moved to the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, known as Ward 209 of Evin Prison, and later to Ward 4 of the same prison. The Revolutionary Court sentenced them each to 3 years and 9 months in prison, 3 years of forced residence in Kahnooj, loacted in Kerman Province, or Hajjiabad in Hormozgan Province, and 80 lashes.

The charges against them include “aiding and abetting in enmity against God (Moharebeh) through the destruction and burning of public property with the intent to oppose the Islamic regime, membership in the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO) and other opposition groups described as armed and rebellious, engaging in propaganda activities in favor of anti-regime groups, and forming a terrorist group.”

According to an informed source, “Despite the finalization of their sentences in February last year, their sentences have not been officially recorded in the prison system. As a result, they have been unable to pursue their cases, request furlough, or apply for conditional release, and they continue to be in a state of legal limbo.”

Rezaie, Jafar, and Yasin Mokhtari are 30, 27, and 22 years old, respectively, and are from Isfahan.

Teacher Union Activist Mokhtar Asadi Remains Detained in Evin Prison

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News, Prisoners
HRANA, Mokhtar Asadi, Sanandaj, مختار اسدی

Mokhtar Asadi, a teachers’ union activist from Sanandaj, remains in detention at Evin Prison despite the judiciary setting bail at 500 million tomans.

Based on information received by HRANA, Mr. Asadi is currently in Ward 4 of Evin Prison. In a phone call with his family, he mentioned that the Evin Prosecutor’s Office has set a bail of 500 million tomans for his temporary release.

Mr. Asadi was arrested on Monday, August 19, after reporting to Iran’s cyber police.

As of the time this report was prepared, no information has been obtained regarding the reasons for his arrest or the charges against him.

in May of this year, this teachers’ union activist was summoned and interrogated by the Ministry of Intelligence in Sanandaj.

Mokhtar Asadi has a history of arrests and legal confrontations due to his union activities.

Detention Order for Baha’i Citizen Nahid Behroozi Extended

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News, Prisoners, Religious Minorities
Alborz province, Baha'i citizen, HRANA, Kachooie Prison, Nahid Behroozi

Nahid Behroozi (Forouhari), a Baha’i citizen, remains in a state of uncertainty in Kachooie Prison, Karaj, 26 days after her arrest. Today, her detention order was extended for another week.

A source close to Behroozi’s family confirmed to HRANA: “Today, Ms. Behroozi’s detention order was extended for another week. Despite 25 days having passed since her arrest, she remains in a state of uncertainty in Kachooie Prison, Karaj.”
This Baha’i citizen was transferred to Kachooie Prison, Karaj, on August 15th after completing interrogation at The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility.

Behroozi was arrested by the Ministry of Intelligence agents at her home in Fardis, Alborz province, on Monday, July 29, 2024.

The reasons for Behroozi’s arrest and the charges against her remain unknown.

Mazaher Heydari Continues Hunger Strike in Shahr-e Kord Prison

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News, Prisoners, Religious Minorities
Gonabadi Dervish, HRANA, Mazaher Heydari, Shahr-e Kord, Shahrekord, مظاهر حیدری

Mazaher Heydari, a Gonabadi Dervish currently imprisoned in Shahr-e Kord, has been on a hunger strike for over 12 days and has been denied the right to make phone calls to his family.

A source close to Heydari’s family confirmed to HRANA, “Mr. Heydari began his hunger strike on Saturday, August 10, in protest against the 40-month prison sentence issued against him. Since then, the authorities have deprived him of phone calls to his family, and in protest, he has sewn his lips shut.”

In June of this year, Heydari was arrested by security forces in Shahr-e Kord and later transferred to the city’s prison. That same month, he was sentenced in absentia by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Shahr-e Kord, presided over by Judge Balanian, to a total of 40 months in prison on charges of “disturbing public opinion,” “propaganda against the regime,” and “assembly and collusion against national security.” Under Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the most severe sentence, 32 months in prison, will be enforced.

Mazaher Heydari has previously faced legal actions due to his activities.

The Gonabadi Dervishes (Darvishes) are members of a Sufi Muslim community in Iran, known for their spiritual practices and emphasis on mysticism. Despite their peaceful beliefs, the Gonabadi Dervishes have faced increasing persecution by the Iranian regime, which views their independence and religious practices as a threat to the state’s control over religious expression. Over the years, many members of this community have been subjected to arrests, imprisonment, and harassment, with their leaders often targeted by the authorities.

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Mohammad Rezvani Transferred to Gachsaran Prison to Serve Sentence

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News, Prisoners
Gachsaran, Gachsaran Prison, Mohammad Rezvani

On Wednesday, August 21, Mohammad Rezvani was arrested in Gachsaran and transferred to the local prison to serve his sentence.

According to HRANA, Mr. Rezvani was taken into custody after reporting to the Criminal Enforcement Branch of the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in Gachsaran. He was then transferred to the city’s prison.

In January 2023, Mr. Rezvani was sentenced by the Gachsaran Revolutionary Court to eight months in prison for “propaganda against the regime” through his online activities and an additional one year, three months, and one day for “insulting the Supreme Leader,” with his previous detention time considered.

Rezvani was initially arrested on September 21, 2022, during the nationwide protests and was released on bail in late December of that year. His first case was closed in February 2023 following the issuance of an amnesty decree.

Hamraz Sadeghi Sent to Evin Prison to Serve Her Sentence

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News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, Hamraz Sadeghi

Hamraz Sadeghi, a Tehran resident, was sent to Evin Prison on Saturday, August 10, to begin serving her one-year prison sentence.

Based on information received by HRANA, Ms. Sadeghi, aged 40, was sent to Evin Prison on Saturday, August 10, to serve her one-year sentence. A source close to her family confirmed this to HRANA, stating, “Hamraz Sadeghi, who had been residing in Turkey for a period, was sentenced to one year in prison by the Revolutionary Court for her activities on social media on charges of ‘propaganda against the regime.'”

Ms. Sadeghi, one of the women opposing mandatory hijab and associated with the “Girls of Enghelab Street” movement, was arrested on February 24, 2018, by security forces who used violence during the arrest. She was eventually released after posting bail.

Political Detainee Alireza Merdasi Denied Medical Care in Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz

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News, Prisoners
ahvaz, Alireza Mardasi, Alireza Merdasi, HRANA, Sheiban Prison

Alireza Merdasi, a teacher and political detainee, remains in legal limbo in Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz, more than a year after his arrest. He suffers from health issues and has been denied proper medical care and transfer to outside medical facilities.

A source close to the family of this political detainee confirmed the news to HRANA, stating, “Mr. Mardasi suffers from a lung condition and has been deprived of specialized medical care and transfer to medical facilities. Furthermore, he has been held in legal uncertainty for over a year in Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz, and has yet to face a court trial.”

Merdasi was arrested by security forces in Ahvaz on August 1, 2023.

He was later charged with “spreading corruption on Earth” and “membership in a rebellious group.”

Alireza Merdasi, approximately 45 years old, a father of one, a resident of Ahvaz, has over twenty years of experience teaching at the elementary level.

Death Sentences for Six Prisoners Upheld by the Supreme Court

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Executions, News, Prisoners
Abdolhakim Azim Gorgij, Abdolrahman Gorgij, Farhad Shakeri, HRANA, Isa Eidmohammadi, Malek Ali Fadaie-Nasab, Mashhad, Taj Mohammad Khormaly, Vakilabad prison

Branch 39 of  the Supreme Court has upheld the death sentences of Malek Ali Fadaie-Nasab, Farhad Shakeri, Isa Eidmohammadi, Abdolhakim Azim Gorgij, Abdolrahman Gorgij, and Taj Mohammad Khormali, political prisoners held in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.

In early July 2023, Branch 4 of the Mashhad Revolutionary Court sentenced each of these prisoners to death on the charge of “armed rebellion (Baghi)” after a retrial in a joint case.

A source close to the family of one of these political prisoners confirmed the news to HRANA, stating that the Supreme Court’s 39th Branch had upheld their death sentences.

In 2019, Branch 1 of the Mashhad Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Mahmoud Davoodabadi, sentenced these prisoners to death on charges of “armed rebellion through membership in the Salafi group Hizb al-Furqan and membership in the National Solidarity Front of Sunni Muslims of Iran.”

Subsequently, Branch 4 of the Supreme Court, presided over by Judge Ali Razini, overturned their death sentences and referred the case to a another court branch for retrial. In July 2023, Branch 4 of the Mashhad Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Ahmadian Salami, re-issued death sentences for these prisoners after a retrial.

After the death sentences were issued, the case was referred back to Branch 39 of the Supreme Court for further review.

A source close to the families of these prisoners previously informed HRANA that “this case is fraught with fundamental flaws, and there is insufficient evidence to convict these individuals of the charges against them. The use of pepper spray against one of the prisoners is an example of the torture inflicted upon them. The effects of such torture remain on their bodies even after several years.”

Report on the Latest Status of Amin Sokhanvar in Evin Prison

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News, Prisoners
Ali Harati Mokhtari, Amin Sokhanvar, Amir Shah Velayati, Ehsan Ravazjiyan, Evin Prison, Hamidreza Sahlabadi, Hossein Ardestani, Hossein Mohammad Hosseini, Nasim Gholami Simiyari, Tehran

Political detainee Amin Sokhanvar remains for over fifteen months in legal limbo in Evin Prison.

Although two court sessions have been held for Sokhanvar, Judge Iman Afshari has not yet issued a verdict. The charges against this citizen include “propaganda against the regime” and “assembly and collusion to commit crimes against national security.”

Sokhanvar is part of a joint case with seven other defendants: Hamidreza Sahlabadi, Ehsan Ravazjiyan, Nasim Gholami Simiyari, Ali Harati Mokhtari, Hossein Mohammad Hosseini, Amir Shah Velayati, and Hossein Ardestani.

Amin Sokhanvar, aged around 25, was arrested by security forces at his residence in Tehran, in April-May 2023.

A source close to the family of this political detainee confirmed this news to HRANA, stating: “Amin’s arrest was due to his membership in the People’s Army group and suspicion of armed action.”