Category: Prisoners

Detained Protestor Died in Police Station

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Freedom of Expression, News, Other, Prisoners
Ebrahim Rigi, Haal Vsh, Zahedan

On February 22, Ebrahim Rigi died in the custody of the police a few hours after his arrest in Zahedan. He had been arrested for the second time over protests.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Haal Vsh, detained protestor Ebrahim Rigi died in custody in Zahedan.

On February 22, two police agents arrested Rigi in Zahedan and took him to a police station, where he was reportedly beaten in the police station. “The Judge of the homicide branch, a Judge on duty and Zahedan Forensic medicine have confirmed beating as the cause of his death,” Haal Vsh reported.

Nonetheless, police claimed that Rigi has been beaten outside the police station. Rigi’s family reportedly are under pressure not to follow up on this case.

Also earlier, on October 13, 2022, Rigi, age 24, was arrested over protests by security forces near his house in Zahedan. He was released on bail on January 1, 2023.

Jailed Rapper Saman Seydi on Hunger Strike

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News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, Hunger Strike, Rajai Shahr Prison, Saman Seydi, Saman Yasin

Singer Saman Seydi (Yasin), arrested amid nationwide protests, went on a hunger strike in Ward 209 of Evin Prison.

An informed source told HRANA that Seydi has been on hunger strike since February 16 to protest against uncertainty in due process.

On January 28, the prison officials took Seydi to an unknown location from Rajai Shahr Prison, leaving his family unaware of his whereabouts. After a few days, he was allowed to inform his family about his relocation to Evin Prison.

On January 7, HRANA reported the prison official’s refusal to provide Seydi with adequate medical care.

On October 2, 2022, Seydi was arrested at protests in Tehran. Twenty-seven days later, he received a death sentence for allegedly “enmity against God (moharebeh), assembly and collusion to commit a crime and act against national security.” After a while, the Supreme Court revoked this verdict and delivered his case to another court branch for a retrial.

Report on the Release of Prisoners in the Last 24 Hours

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners, Religious Minorities
Aakbar Naeimi, Asrin Darkaleh, Esmail Gerami, Farshad Ahmadi, Forough Taghipour, Kazem Alinejad Baraloo, Khadijeh Mehdipour, Mahsa Mohammadi, Maryam Mohammadi, Mehdi Abbaspour, Mohammad Rasoulof, Mojtaba Tavakol, Mostafa Abdi, Shahrooz Ramezan Afshar, Soheila Ojaghi, Tohid Goreishi, Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb

In the past 24 hours, several prisoners of conscience were released from different prisons across Iran. Although details of these releases are still unknown, they are likely released under recent approval to “pardon and commute” the sentence of some prisoners.

Of these pardoned prisoners, the most known prisoners are:

  1. Film Director Mohammad Rasoulof from Evin Prison
  2. Azerbaijani (Turk) activist Akbar Naeimi from Evin Prison
  3. Gonabadi Dervish Mostafa Abdi from Evin Prison
  4. Political prisoner Forough Taghipour from Evin Prison
  5. Women rights activist Maryam Mohammadi from Evin Prison
  6. Women rights activist Asrin Darkaleh from Evin Prison
  7. Political prisoner Kazem Alinejad Baraloo Evin Prison
  8. Farshad Ahmadi from Evin Prison
  9. Political prisoner Khadijeh Mehdipour from Ilam Prison
  10. Mahsa Mohammadi from Isfahan Prison
  11. Tohid Goreishi from Rajai Shahr Prison, Karaj
  12. Worker’s rights activist Esmail Gerami from Rajai Shahr Prison, Karaj
  13. Political prisoner Mojtaba Tavakol from Rajai Shahr Prison, Karaj
  14. Shahrooz Ramezan Afshar from Rajai Shahr Prison, Karaj
  15. Mehdi Abbaspour from Rajai Shahr Prison, Karaj
  16. Civil rights activist Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb from Rajai Shahr Prison, Karaj
  17. Soheila Ojaghi from Qarchak Prison, Varamin

Moreover, the legal cases against Milad Alavi,(journalist), Elham Sayrafi and Amir Sheibani Zaveh were closed without further legal proceedings.

Earlier, the head of the Judiciary proposed the issuance of a pardon decree for some prisoners, including those arrested at recent protests, which was approved by Ali Khamenei under some conditions which the legal case should meet.

Civil Rights Activist Farhad Meysami Set Free from Rajai Shahr Prison

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News, Prisoners
Ali Khamenei, Farhad Meysami, HRANA, pardon decree

On February 10, 2023, imprisoned civil rights activist Doctor Farhad Meysami was set free from Rajai Shahr Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, civil rights activist Farhad Meysami was released from Rajai Shahr Prison in the fourth year of his sentence.

Details on his release are still unknown. He was likely, however, released under a recent pardon decree for some prisoners.

According to the sources close to Meysami, he had not requested any pardon, and during his entire incarceration, he did not have one day of furlough.
For several months, he has been severely restricting his food intake to demand the release of several prisoners, which has led to a lot of weight loss and endangered his health condition.

In recent days, dozens of prisoners, including political prisoners and those arrested at recent protests, were released. The exact number of released prisoners is still unknown. Earlier, the head of the Judiciary proposed the issuance of a pardon decree for some prisoners, including those arrested at recent protests, which was approved by Ali Khamenei under some conditions which the legal case should meet.

At Least 262 Prisoners Released from Prisons Across Iran

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Ali Khamenei, Golestan province, HRANA

In two recent days, dozens of prisoners were released from different prisons across the country.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, following the issuance of a pardon decree, at least 262 prisoners and detainees were released from prison across the country.
 
Details on these releases are still unknown. They are, however, likely released under the recent pardon decree issued for some prisoners, including those arrested at protests.
Following the issuance of this pardon, the Chief Justice of Golestan Province announced that 435 convicts and 80 defendants were pardoned, of which 234 people had already been set free.
 
Earlier, the head of the Judiciary proposed the issuance of a pardon decree for some prisoners, including those arrested at recent protests, which was approved by Ali Khamenei under some conditions which the legal case should meet.
 
 

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French Tourist Benjamin Briere on Hunger Strike

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News, Prisoners
Benjamin Briere, Blandine Briere, Catherine Colonna, Mashhad, Vakil-Abad Prison

Imprisoned French tourist Benjamin Briere went on a hunger strike to protest against not addressing his issues. He is currently serving his sentence in Vakil-Abad Prison, Mashhad.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Benjamin Briere went on a hunger strike for the second time during his incarceration.

Informing the public about her brother’s hunger strike, Blandine Briere stated that “It’s the only weapon he has.”

A while ago, French foreign minister Catherine Colonna asked Iranian authorities for the release of “seven French hostages.” She urged Iran to stay in compliance with International laws and stop “arbitrary” arrests.

In May 2020, Briere was arrested by security forces and spent 600 days in pre-trial detention. On January 25, 2022, Branch 4 of the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad sentenced Briere to eight years and eight months in prison for “espionage and propaganda against the regime.” Two other charges of “spreading corruption on earth” and “alcohol drinking” was dismissed by the court. In July of this year, this verdict was upheld on appeal.

 

Mehdi Moghadari Goes on Hunger Strike

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News, Prisoners
Ali Moeini, Dastgerd Prison, Hunger Strike, Isfahan, Mehdi Moghadari

Imprisoned Mehdi Moghadari, a former member of Isfahan city council, went on a hunger strike in protest against judicial officials’ refusal to release him temporarily.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Mehdi Moghadari went on a hunger strike in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan.

Suffering from rheumatism, Moghadari needs treatment. According to student activist Ali Moeini, Moghadari has been on a hunger strike for two days.

In November 2022, security forces arrested Moghadari in Isfahan and jailed him in Dastgerd Prison.

 

Imprisoned Film Director Jafar Panahi Goes on Hunger Strike

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News, Prisoners
Hunger Strike, Jafar Panahi, Tahereh Saeedi

Imprisoned film director and screenwriter Jafar Panahi went on a hunger strike in Evin Prison in protest against his prolonged incarceration and judicial official’s refusal to grant him bail.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Jafar Panahi went on a hunger strike in Evin Prison.

His wife, Tahereh Saeedi, mentioned his prolonged incarceration and the judicial official’s refusal of his temporary release as the reason for this hunger strike.

Announcing his hunger strike, Panahi wrote in an open letter: “according to law, once my request for a retrial was accepted and my legal case was delivered to a court branch for review, I should have been released on bail immediately. While we witnessed the execution of the innocent young men of our country within 30 days, by the interference of intelligence agents, delivering my case to a court branch took over 100 days.”

A while ago, the six-year sentence against Panahi was quashed by the Supreme Court o Iran and the case was delivered to Branch 21 of the Tehran Court of Appeals for a retrial.

Panahi was sentenced to six years in prison and banned from filmmaking for 20 years and leaving the country. This verdict was upheld on appeal. On July 11, 2022, Panahi was arrested in front of Evin prison to serve his sentence.

 

17-Year-old Political Prisoner’s Daughter Arrested

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News, Prisoners
Asal Meskin-Navaz, Evin Prison, Fahraj, Karaj, Kerman, Mehdi Meskin Navaz, Rajai-Shahr

On January 30, political prisoner Mehdi Meskinnavaz was relocated from Rajai Shahr Prison to Ward 209 of Evin Prison. Meanwhile, intelligence agents arrested his 17-year-old daughter, Asal Meskinnavaz .

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on January 30, 2023, Asal Meskinnavaz was arrested by intelligence agents.

An informed source told HRANA that the prosecutor’s representative, Eliasi, directly ordered Mehdi Meskinnavaz’s relocation to Ward 209 of Evin Prison. The agents also confiscated some of his personal belongings in prison.

On May 5, 2019, security forces arrested Meskinnavaz in Bandar Anzali for “running a Telegram channel advocating the overthrow of the regime.” He was transferred to the public ward of Evin Prison in Tehran after ending the interrogation.

In August 2019, the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Meskinnavaz to 13 years for “assembly and collusion to act against national security, insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran, and Propaganda against the regime.” He was also banned from membership in political parties and groups and two-year compulsory residence in exile in Fahraj, Kerman.

On April 20, 2020, he was transferred from Evin to Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj.

 

 

Three Death Sentences and 58 Years Imprisonment for Five Protestors

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners

In a legal case over protests in Isfahan, Saleh Mirhashemi, Majid Kazemi, and Saeed Yaghoubi were sentenced to death and a total of 30 years in prison on several charges, including “enmity against God” (Moharebeh). Also, two other co-defendants, football player Amir Nasr Azadani and Soheil Jahangiri, were sentenced to 26 years and 2 years, respectively.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Mizan, Saleh Mirhashemi, Majid Kazemi, and Saeed Yaghoubi, were sentenced to death.

On November 16, 2022, during Isfahan protests in Mahallah Khaneh and Malek Shahr districts, Colonel Esmail Cheraghi and two Basij Militia Forces Mohammad-Hossein Karimi and Mohsen Hamidi were killed.

 

According to these verdicts, each of these individuals was sentenced to death on “enmity against God” and ten years for “membership in illegal groups to act against national security” and “assembly and collusion against national security.”

The fourth-row defendant Amir Nasr Azadani was sentenced to 16 years for “assisting in enmity against God”, 5 years for “membership in illegal groups to act against national security,” and 5 years for “assembly and collusion against national security.”

The fifth-row defendant Soheid Jahangiri was sentenced to two years for “assembly and collusion against national security.” The sixth-row defendant Jaber Mirhashemi was acquitted of all counts.