Category: Prisoners

Jafar Panahi and Amirsalar Davoudi Contracted Covid-19 in Prison 

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Amirsalar Davoudi, covid-19, Evin Prison, Jafar Panahi

Following a new outbreak of Covid-19 in Evin Prison, film director Jafar Panahi and lawyer Amirsalar Davoudi have contracted Covid-19 in captivity.

Panahi is currently held in the Quarantine Section of Evin Prison. Prison officials denied his request to be sent to a hospital and similarly,  did not grant him access to a lawyer after three weeks of detention.

Panahi was arrested on July 11 in Tehran.

Similarly, Amirsalar Davoudi has fell ill with Covid-19 symptoms, but the prison infirmary has refused to test him and provide proper medical care.

On June 26, 2022, Davoudi was taken to prison to serve a ten-year sentence. Earlier, Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals sentenced him to 14 years in prison, of which, based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, ten years is enforceable.

Nahid Shirpisheh Beaten by a Violent Prisoner 

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News, Prisoners
Aban protests, Nahid Shirbisheh, Pouya Bakhtiari

Nahid Shirpisheh, Pouya Bakhtiari’s mother, was beaten by a prisoner of violent crimes in Kachooie Prison in Karaj, which she was taken to on July 28, 2022. Shirpisheh became a face of resistance and most of her family were arrested since they sought justice for their son, Pouya Bakhtiari, who was killed in widespread 2019 protests. 

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, political prisoner Nahid Shirpisheh was beaten by a prisoner of violent crime in Kachooie Prison.

The prison officials purposely hold political prisoners in the same ward as the prisoners of violent crime, which is a violation of prison rules and exposes the political prisoners to life-threatening violence.

An informed source told HRANA that Shirpisheh was beaten by an inmate convicted of violent crimes.

On July 11, 2022, security forces arrested the mothers of the individuals killed during nationwide protests in 2019 known as Aban protests, including Nahid Shirbisheh. In a news article, IRGC-affiliated Fars News Agency called these justice-seeking families “agitators and troublemakers”.

In November of 2019, an increase in fuel prices sparked a wave of protests in dozens of cities across the country. The spokesperson of the Parliamentary National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, Seyed Hossein Taghavi, announced that 7000 people were arrested during these protests. According to reports from human rights organizations, hundreds were killed by the security apparatus.

Prison Guards Assault Sunni Prisoner Arkan Palani Jaf 

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Arkan Palani Jaf, Rajai Shahr Prison

On August 2, 2022, prison guards assaulted Sunni prisoner Arkan Palani Jaf when he returned from hospital to prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, prison guards of Rajai Shahr Prison beat Sunni prisoner Arkan Palani Jaf.

An informed source told HRANA, “Palani Jaf suffers from Kidney, intestinal and stomach problems caused by a hunger strike. As a backlash to Palani Jaf’s complaint against the guards’ behavior, 10 prison guards beat him brutally.”

On June 10, 2022, Palani Jaf went on hunger strike by sewing his lips in protest against the rejection of his request for early release, medical furlough and inadequate medical care in prison. He was relocated to solitary confinement and beaten by prison guards. On June 30, Palani Jaf ended his hunger strike after the prison officials agreed to grant medical furlough.

Palani Jaf was arrested in 2016 and sentenced by the Revolutionary Court to 7 years on the charge of “collaboration with ISIS”. According to an informed source, the security agents wanted to arrest his brother and when they failed, arrested him instead despite having no evidence of his association with ISIS.

Political Prisoner Fatemeh Mosanna Denied Emergency Medical Care

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Fatemeh Mosanna, Hassan Sadeghi

Political Prisoner Fatemeh Mosanna was denied medical treatment and hospitalization despite critical intestinal bleeding.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Evin prison officials refused to dispatch political prisoner Fatemeh Mosanna to an urgent care facility outside prison despite her condition.

An informed source told HRANA that Mosanna suffers from intestinal colitis, digestive disease and acute Migraine and her health condition has deteriorated, causing internal bleeding. The prison officials, however, suggested she should be sent to the hospital next month as the hospitals are overcrowded. “Mosanna has been denied visiting her husband, Hassan Sadeghi who is currently jailed in Rajai Shahr Prison and has never been granted furlough,” the source added.

On January 28, 2013, with her husband, Hassan Sadeghi, Mosanna was arrested while they were at the funeral of Sadeghi’s father. Their daughter and son, who is a minor, were also arrested and interrogated, and later released.

Branch 26 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court sentenced both individuals to 15 years in prison and the seizure of personal property, business and house. This verdict was upheld on appeal.

Suspicious Death of Sunni Cleric Inside Prison

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News, Prisoners
Hasan Amini, Maulana Musa Rahimi

Imprisoned Sunni cleric Maulana Musa Rahimi died suspiciously in Bandar-Abbas Prison. In an open statement, offering condolence to Rahimi’s family and the Iranian Sunnis, the popular religious scholar of Kurdistan Hasan Amini demanded that the authorities clarify Rahimi’s cause of death.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on July 24, 2022,  Sunni cleric Musa Rahimi died in Bandar-Abbas Prison.

Last week, a video of Rahimi’s funeral was published on social media.

Sunni scholar Hassan Amini demanded that Iran’s judicial and security authorities should  “announce to the public the cause of Rahimi’s death clearly and backed with pieces of evidence. Otherwise, the rumours of his murder in prison will be proved true.”

According to local sources, security forces had arrested Rahimi two months ago.

The cause and circumstances that led to Rahimi’s death in prison are unknown so far.

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Political Prisoner Khaled Freidooni Released after 22 Years in Prison

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Khaled Freidooni, Mahabad, moharebeh, Urmia prison

On July 26, political prisoner Khaled Freidooni was released from Urmia Prison after 22 years in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Mostafa Nili, Freidooni’s lawyer, announced the release of his client from Urmia Prison on social media.

On August 31, 2000, Freidooni was arrested and charged with “acting against national security” and “enmity against God (Moharebeh) through association with an anti-regime political party”. The Revolutionary Court of Mahabad sentenced him to death. After three and half years, this verdict was reduced to imprisonment on appeal.

During this period, Freidooni was held in Piranshahr, Mahabad and Urmia prisons. In 2007, he went into exile in Rajai Shahr Prison. After ten years, he was sent back to Urmia Prison.

On January 16, 2022, for the first time after 21 years, Freidooni was granted furlough.

Inmate Committed Fatal Suicide in Rajai Shahr Prison

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Mostafa Jalilvand, suicide in iran

On July 19, 2022, an inmate in Ward 2 of Rajai Shahr Prison committed suicide by hanging.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on  July 19, in Rajai Shahr Prison, a death-row convict identified as Mostafa Jalilvand died as a result of suicide.

Jalilvand has been previously sentenced to death for murder.

Member of Iran’s Parliament Reveals Son’s Imprisonment

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, Mehdi Mirsalim, member of Iran's Parliament, Mostafa Mirsalim

Mostafa Mirsalim, a member of Iran’s Parliament, revealed that his son Mehdi Mirsalim has been imprisoned on the charge of “acting against national security” since February 2021 in Evin prison. According to his father, Mehdi Mir-Salim was arrested in July of 2019 and sentenced to five years in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Tasnim, Mehdi Mirsalim is currently serving a five-year sentence in Evin Prison.

Mostafa Mirsalim had claimed that his son was arrested after two years of surveillance in July 2019 and sentenced to five years on the charge of acting against national security and started his sentencing in February 2021. Mirsalim had claimed his son was arrested for his information and access privileges. 

Update on Khosro Sadeghi Boroujeni’s Condition in Prison

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners

Writer and journalist Khosro Sadeghi Boroujeni is currently serving his five-year sentence in Evin Prison. Although one-third of the sentence term has passed, his request for release on probation is denied.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, writer and journalist Khosro Sadeghi Boroujeni was serving his five-year imprisonment in Evin Prison.

Boroujeni suffers from acute back pain and recently his request for an early release has been denied.

Sadeghi Boroujeni was arrested and interrogated after he was summoned to the Branch 2 of Evin’s prosecutor’s office on May 8, 2019. He was later temporarily released from Evin Prison on a bail amount of 300 million tomans.

Boroujeni’s trial was on July 28, 2019. According to the verdict ordered by the Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, which was presided over by judge Mohammad Moghiseh, Boroujeni was sentenced to five years imprisonment on a charge of “assembly and collusion with an intention to commit a crime against national security”, one year imprisonment for the charge of “propaganda against the regime”, and two years imprisonment on a charge of “insulting the founder of the Islamic Republic”, adding up to a total of eight years. This sentence was later reduced to seven years after the charge of “propaganda against the regime” was dropped upon appeal.

Dutch National Arrested and Sentenced 

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Cécile Kohler, Dutch national, Jacques Paris, Kees Lunenburg, Maciej Walczak, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Olivier Vandecasteele, Polish scientist

HRANA has identified a European national who is jailed in Evin prison. Kees Lunenburg, a Dutch national, is currently serving his five-year sentence in Ward 8 of Evin Prison. Polish Maciej Walczak, who was sentenced to three years, is also housed in the same ward.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Dutch national Kees Lunenburg is currently jailed in Ward 8 of Evin Prison. HRANA has received variants of this individual’s last name and will update its database accordingly. 

The about-mentioned detained Dutch national was sentenced to five years imprisonment on the charge of “assembly and collusion to act against national security.” HRANA is trying to find out new details about his case. 

Polish scientist Maciej Walczak is housed in the same ward. The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland has confirmed his arrest.  Iran has claimed that Walczak and three others were arrested as they were collecting soil samples from a restricted site of a missile test. 

The spokesperson of Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Poland, has stated that in September of 2021, Walczak and his two colleagues were arrested in Iran. Two university professors were released but Walczak was sentenced to three years in prison.

In recent weeks, Belgian national Olivier Vandecasteele, a 41-year-old aid worker, and two French individuals, Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris were also arrested.