Category: Prisoners

Soheila Hejab Beaten and Threatened Following Protest Against Poor Quality Prison Food

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners, Women
Correctional Center of Kermanshah, Hunger Strike, Political Prisoner, Soheila Hejab

Since January 31, inmates of the women’s ward in the Correctional Center of Kermanshah have refused to get their meals in protest against the poor quality of the prison food. During the protest, the head of the prison guards beat political prisoner Soheila Hejab and threatened to open a new legal case against her and send her to an exile prison. Other protesting prisoners have been threatened with denial of visits and phone calls.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, an informed source stated that “on the first day, Soheila Hejab brought a piece of burned food to the head of the prison and asked her if he [could] eat it. He responded that they are running low on budget and therefore the food is what it is. When Soheila Hejab was returning to her ward, she saw the decorations for celebrating Fajr decade (an annual ten-day celebration for the triumph of the 1979 revolution). She protested why they do not use the costs of this celebration for improving food quality. Following a verbal quarrel, in response, the Head of Prison Guards Leila Hosseini-Nia beat her hard in the chest and hit her with a mirror.”

According to this source, prison officials have tried to accuse her of provoking a riot in prison. They have threatened to deny other prisoners visitations and phone calls unless they corroborated this and signed reports as witnesses.

Once before, in October 2021, Hejab was beaten in Qarchak Prison while on hunger strike.

Hejab was arrested by security forces on June 1, 2019, and then released from Evin Prison in Tehran on a bail of 3 billion tomans on March 14, 2020.

Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court sentenced her to 18 years in prison on charges of “propaganda against the regime”, “illegal assembly”, “incitement of public opinions to riot” and “organizing unlawful political groups”.

On May 23, 2020, the intelligence unit of the Revolutionary Guards arrested and transferred her to Gharchak Prison in Varamin City to serve her sentence. She was then transferred to Sanandaj Prison and then, on January 7, to the Correctional Center of Kermanshah City.

Keyvan Samimi Released From Jail

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Exile, Iran Farda, Keyvan Samimi, Mostafa Nili

On February 1,  Keyvan Samimi was released from jail by a stay of execution order. According to his lawyer, Mostafa Nili, this release is temporary and issued considering forensic medicine’s report on Samimi’s health.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Samimi, the imprisoned editor of Iran Farda Magazine and a member of the Iranian Writers’ Association, was released from jail by order of the prosecutor.

According to Nili, the order to suspend his incarceration has been issued considering Samimi’s health and is grounded on Article 533 of the Criminal Procedure code.

Samimi was sent into exile in Semnan Prison after several relocations.

He has been serving his two year sentence since December 7, 2020.

On May 1, 2019, he attended the workers’ protests on the anniversary of Labour Day before Parliament. The protest turned violent due to the interference of security forces, leading to his arrest along with dozens of other protestors. On May 12, 2019, security forces raided and searched the Iran Farda magazine office and confiscated many documents, including his computer. On June 17, 2019, he finally was released on bail until the end of legal proceedings.

On April 20, 2020, in a trial in absentia, Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced him to three years imprisonment on the charge of “assembly and collusion to act against national security”. The verdict was upheld on appeal but was reduced to two years in the retrial.

Samimi has previously served six years in prison in 2009 for questioning the 2009 Presidential Election, participating in protests, and writing articles critical of the Islamic Regime. His two political activist brothers were executed, one by this regime and the other by the former regime.

Ali Musa-Nejad Farkoosh On Hunger Strike in Rajai Shahr Prison

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Ali Musa-Nejad Farkoosh, hunger strikes

On February 1, imprisoned civil activist Ali Musa-Nejad Farkoosh went on hunger strike and refused to take his medicine as a way of demanding freedom for political prisoners and prisoners of conscience.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, he was sent on furlough for treatment, however, on October 27, 2021, he was forced to return to Rajai Shahr Prison despite the treatment remaining unfinished. Recently, forensic medicine confirmed that he prisoner suffers from acute diseases that require surgery.

On January 10, 2019, the security forces arrested Farkoosh before releasing him until the end of legal proceedings.

In June 2019, the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, headed by Judge Moghayeseh, sentenced Farkoosh to eight years in prison on charges of “assembly and collusion to act against national security”, “an offensive statement against the current and former supreme leaders of Iran” and “propaganda against the regime”. This verdict was upheld by Branch 36 of Tehran’s Court of Appeals. Grounded on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the severest punishment of five years for the count of “assembly and collusion” is enforceable.

On November 29, 2020, he was sent to Rajai Shahr Prison to serve his sentence.

In Iran’s prisons, hunger strikes are common among prisoners despite causing long-term physical and mental impairment. Hunger strikes are used as a last resort to achieve urgent demands such as unlawful long-term detention without trials, violations of prisoners’ rights and infringement in due process.

Keyvan Samimi Sent into Exile in Semnan Prison after Successive Relocations

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Exile, Keyvan Samimi, Mostafa Nili

After several relocations between prisons in Tehran and Alborz provinces, Keyvan Samimi, the imprisoned editor of Iran Farda Magazine and a member of the Iranian Writers’ Association, was finally exiled to Semnan Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, by the order of the court, Keyvan Samimi was transferred from Rajai Shahr Prison to Semnan Prison.

Initially, he was sent to Karaj Central Penitentiary Prison and thereafter to Rajai Shahr. However, since the Executive Unit of Karaj refused to accept him for reasons unkown, he was ultimately sent to Semnan Prison.

His lawyer, Mostafa Nili stated that during these relocations, Samimi was not allowed to bring his belongings, even medicines, which he needs urgently due to his health.

Samimi has been serving his two year sentence since December 7, 2020.

On May 1, 2019, he attended the workers’ protests on the anniversary of Labour Day before Parliament. The protest turned violent due to the interference of security forces, leading to his arrest along with dozens of other protestors. On May 12, 2019, security forces raided and searched the Iran Farda magazine office and confiscated many documents, including his computer. On June 17, 2019, he finally was released on bail until the end of legal proceedings.

On April 20, 2020, in a trial in absentia, Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, sentenced him to three years imprisonment on the charge of “assembly and collusion to act against national security”. The verdict was upheld on appeal but was reduced to two years in the retrial.

Samimi has previously served six years in prison in 2009 for questioning the 2009 Presidential Election, participating in protests, and writing articles critical of the Islamic Regime. His two political activist brothers were executed, one by this regime and the other by the former regime.

Keyvan Samimi Sent to Rajai Shahr Prison after Successive Relocations

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Iran Farda, Keyvan Samimi, Mostafa Nili

Keyvan Samimi, editor of Iran Farda Magazine and a member of the Iranian Writers’ Association was transferred to the quarantine zone of Rajai Shahr prison. Earlier, he had been relocated from Evin Prison to Karaj Central Penitentiary Prison. Last Wednesday, he was sent back to Evin Prison and the day after had to move out again.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Samimi’s lawyer, Mostafa Nili stated Thursday on his personal social media that “A few hours ago, Mr. Samimi called and informed [me] that on Tuesday, after the executive unit of Karaj refused to accept him to one of the prisons in Alborz Province, he was transferred to Rajai Shahr Prison and currently is being held in the quarantine zone.”

As mentioned by his lawyer, the reason for these successive relocations is that the Executive Unit of Karaj countermanded the orders of the Executive Unit Moghaddas and Branch 54 of the Revolutionary Court for the relocation of Samimi to Karaj Central Penitentiary Prison.

Samimi has been serving his two year sentence since December 7, 2020.

On May 1, 2019, he attended the workers’ protests on the anniversary of Labour Day before Parliament. The protest turned violent due to the interference of security forces, leading to his arrest along with dozens of other protestors. On May 12, 2019, security forces raided and searched the Iran Farda magazine office and confiscated many documents, including his computer. On June 17, 2019, he finally was released on bail until the end of legal proceedings.

On April 20, 2020, in a trial in absentia, Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, sentenced him to three years imprisonment on the charge of “assembly and collusion to act against national security”. The verdict was upheld on appeal but was reduced to two years in the retrial.

Samimi has previously served six years in prison in 2009 for questioning the 2009 Presidential Election, participating in protests, and writing articles critical of the Islamic Regime. His two political activist brothers were executed, one by this regime and the other by the former regime.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Now is definitely not the time to stop reading!

Sunni Prisoner Arkan Palani Jaf Beaten in a Solitary Confinement Cell

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

While still on hunger strike, Sunni prisoner Arkan Palani Jaf was relocated to a solitary confinement cell and beaten by prison guards. Last Wednesday, he sewed his lips shut and went on hunger strike in protest against the prison’s refusal to grant him furlough.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Sunni prisoner Arkan Palani Jaf was held in solitary confinement in Rajai Shahr Prison and beaten by prison guards. He has been on hunger strike since last Wednesday.

According to an informed source, the prisoner’s head Allah-Karam Azizi, the Head of Penitentiary No 4 and other prison officials have been ordered to punish him by beating. “They beat him and worn and ripped threads off of his sewed lips. They threatened him to beating every day if he continues his hunger strike,” he commented.

Palani Jaf has spent more than four years of his seven year sentence without furlough. His request for furlough has been dismissed several times.

Earlier, on Monday, December 17, 2021,  he went on a hunger strike, which ended after a few days.

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 for his association with ISIS.

Palani Jaf is 28 years old and a resident of Sarpol Zahab City. He is currently jailed in Rajai Shahr Prison.

Civil Activist Atena Daemi Released from Lakan Prison in Rasht City

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Atena Daemi, Evin Prison, Exile, Lakan prison

On January 24, civil activist Atena Daemi was granted an early release and freed from Lakan Prison in Rasht. Since December of 2016, she was spending her sentence in Evin Prison until March 2021 when she was sent to exile in Lakan Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Daemi was arrested on October 21, 2014 and was sentenced on May 15, 2015. Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced her to 14 years in prison on charges of “assembly and collusion to act against national security” and “offensive statements against the supreme leader of Iran.” This verdict was reduced to 7 years on appeal. The severest punishment of five years was enforceable from these two charges.

Daemi began serving her sentence in 2016 in Evin Prison. In 2018, while still in jail, Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran opened a new case against her and Golrokh Ebrahimi Iraee on a new charge of “membership in anti-regime groups”. She was sentenced to an additional three years and seven months and the verdict was upheld on appeal. Per Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the severest punishment of two years and one month was enforceable.

In July 2020, she was sentenced to two years and 74 lashes in another new case, this time opened by Branch 24 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran. Her request for a retrial was dismissed. During this time, she and her family were consistently pressured by judicial and security forces.

On March 16, 2021, she was transferred at night from Evin Prison to Lakan Prison to spend the rest of her sentence in exile.

Jailed Iranian-British Citizen Anoosheh Ashoori Goes On Hunger Strike

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Anoosheh Ashoori, Elica Ashoori, Javid Rehman

On January 24, jailed Iranian-British citizen Anoosheh Ashoori went on hunger strike in protest against his poor condition in prison and the refusal of his request of release on probation.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Elica Ashoori published a video on social media informing that her father, Ashoori went on a hunger strike to bring global attention to his poor condition in jail and to protest the refusal of his request for the release on probation.

Ashoori is a 67 years old Iranian-British citizen and an aeronautical engineer who was arrested in 2017 when he travelled to Iran to visit his mother. According to Spokesman of the Judiciary, he has been charged with spying for Israel and the acquisition of illegitimate property and thereafter sentenced to 12 years in prison and paying a fine of 33000 euros.

In a report, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran Javid Rehman expressed his concerns about the situation of this jailed Iranian-British citizen and criticized Iran’s regime for imprisoning the citizens of dual nationalities as leverage to meet its foreign policy goals.

Iran’s regime frequently makes accusations such as spying to either suppress its political dissidents or use citizens with dual nationality to gain leverage in negotiation with Western countries.

Nobel Laureates and Prominent Academics Demand Immediate Release of Ali Younesi and Amir Hossein Moradi

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Ali Younesi, Amirhossein Moradi, nobel, Randy Wayne Schekman

In a joint letter, a group of Nobel laureates and prominent academics urged Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet to ask that the Iranian regime release two detained Iranian students, Ali Younesi and Amir Hossein Moradi.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on the 18 January, in a joint letter, 16 Nobel laureates and prominent scholars called for the immediate release of Ali Younesi and Amir Hossein Moradi.

Earlier, on May 15, 2020, in an open letter, several Nobel laureates asked UN high commissioner, Michelle Bachelet to put efforts to ensure the immediate release of the two students.

Professor Noam Chomsky (linguist and philosopher), Randy Wayne Schekman ( Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 2013), Barry Barish (Nobel Laureate in Physics in 2017) and Richard John Roberts (Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1993) are among the writers of this letter.

On April 10, 2020, these two Sharif University of Technology students were violently arrested. Since the arrest, they have been subjected to torture-tainted interrogations to make forced confessions on television.

Amir Hossein Moradi is the winner of the silver medal of the National Astronomy Olympiad in 2017. Ali Younesi is the winner of the silver medal of the National Astronomy Olympiad in 2016 and the gold medal of the 2017 Astronomy Olympiad. Ali Younesi also won a gold medal in the 12th World Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiad in China.

Iran Farda Editor Keyvan Samimi Transferred from Evin Prison to an Unidentified Location

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Farda, Iran Farda, Iranian Writers Association, Keyvan Samimi

Keyvan Samimi, the editor of Iran Farda Magazine and a member of the Iranian Writers’ Association, was transferred from Evin Prison to an unidentified location. He is currently serving his two year sentence in Evin Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Emtedad, prison officials removed Samimi from his ward on the pretext of addressing a problem with his phone card, and transferred him to an unknown location.

Since Branch 54 of the Revolutionary Court ordered his exile from Evin Prison to one of the prisons in Alborz Province, it is likely they have sent him to an exile prison. This order stands at odds with a forensic medical assessment that he should be granted “intolerance of punishment”. This recommendation was rejected by the court after four months.

Samimi has been serving his two-year sentence since December 7, 2020.

On May 1, 2019, he attended the workers’ protests on the anniversary of Labour Day before Parliament. The protest turned violent due to the interference of security forces, leading to his arrest along with dozens of other protestors. On May 12, 2019, security forces raided and searched the Iran Farda magazine office and confiscated many documents including his computer. On June 17, 2019, he finally was released on bail until the end of legal proceedings.

On April 20, 2020, in a trial in absentia, Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, sentenced him to three years imprisonment on the charge of “assembly and collusion to act against national security”. The verdict was upheld on appeal, but was reduced to two years in the retrial.

Samimi had also previously endured six years in prison in 2009 for questioning the 2009 Presidential Election, participating in protests, and writing articles critical of the Islamic Regime. His two political activists brothers were executed, one by this regime and the other by the former regime.