Category: Prisoners

Akram Rahimi Dies of Coronary Heart Disease in Amol Prison after being Unable to Pay Required Cash Bail

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Environment, Prisoners
Akram Rahimi, Amol, Amol Prison, cash bail, Coronavirus, COVID, covid-19, medical neglect, medical negligence, prison leave, Rahimi

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, an inmate in the women’s ward of Amol Prison died on the evening of Saturday, August 14 of coronary heart disease.

The prisoner, who has been identified by HRANA as 40-year-old Akram Rahimi, suffered from severe heart and lung disease, but was being kept in detention due to her inability to pay the required cash bail.

“Ms. Rahimi contracted Corona some time ago along with several other prisoners,” an informed source told HRANA. “After her condition worsened, she was regularly sent to the hospital, but due to lack of space, she was not accepted and received the same basic treatment services, ie serum injection in the hospital garden, and was transferred to prison again until she died two nights ago.

Supreme Court Rejects Heydar Ghorbani’s Request for Retrial

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Executions, News, Prisoners
Ghorbani, Heydar Ghorbani, Kamyaran, Kamyaran Public, Saleh Nikbakht, Sanandaj, Sanandaj Revolutionary Court, Tehran

Branch 27 of the Supreme Court rejected political prisoner Heydar Ghorbani’s latest request for retrial.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Mr. Ghorbani has been previously sentenced to death by the Sanandaj Revolutionary Court on a charge of “insurgency”.

Heydar Ghorbani, a native of the village of Bazvash in Kamyaran area in Kurdistan Province, was first sentenced in October 2019 to three charges of imprisonment each for 30 years on charges of assisting in murder, assault with a deadly weapon, helping offenders to escape from law enforcement, involvement in premeditated murder, murder attempt, affixing a license plate to another car, attempt to kidnap, and the acquisition of stolen property.

The First Branch of the Revolutionary Court of Sanandaj eventually sentenced Mr. Ghorbani to death on the charge of insurgency.

In August 2020, Branch 2 of the Supreme Court in Qom upheld the sentence and sent the case to the Kamyaran Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office for enforcement of the judgment.

Saleh Nikbakht, Mr. Ghorbani’s attorney, announced in August 2020 that his client’s request for retrial had been filed. In September 2020, this request was overturned by Branch 27 of the Supreme Court.

In December 2020, another retrial was requested which was overturned last week. Saleh Nikbakht, Gorbani’s defense lawyer, said he will request a retrial again.

“From a legal and jurisprudential point of view, the accusation of insurgent against Mr. Ghorbani is not valid because someone who is called [rebel] insurgence is someone who is a member of a group which revolts against the Islamic Republic,” Nikbakht said. “If the group members use weapons, then they will be sentenced to death. None of these are true about Mr. Heydar Ghorbani.”

Nasser Hemmati Transferred to Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan to Endure his Sentence

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News, Prisoners
Dastgerd, Dastgerd Prison, Hemmati, irgc, Isfahan, Isfahan Prosecutors Office, Nasser Hemmati

On Tuesday, August 10, Nasser Hemmati was detained after being summoned by the Isfahan Prosecutor’s Office, and transferred to Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan to endure his sentence.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Nasser Hemmati is a psychiatrist and a resident of Isfahan.

Mr. Hemmati had arrested by IRGC intelligence agents in January 2020 and was temporarily released on bail two weeks later.

He was sentenced to 2 years in prison by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Isfahan in June this year on charges of “insulting officials” and “propaganda against the regime”.

Abbas Akhoundi Sentenced to 60 Lashes and 3 Months Imprisonment

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Abbas Akhoondi, Akhoondi, cruel punishment, humiliating punishment, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Minister of Roads and Urban Development, Seyed Mehdi Hashemi, Tasnim

The Tehran Court of Appeals sentenced Abbas Akhoondi, former Minister of Roads and Urban Development of Iran, to 60 lashes and three months suspended imprisonment.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Tasnim news agency, Branch 78 of the Tehran Court of Appeals charged Akhoondi with “publishing lies”. The sentence was issued following the complaints from Seyed Mehdi Hashemi against the former Minister.

Iran is one of the few countries that has continued to use humiliating punishments despite the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights’ explicit prohibition of the use of inhumane and degrading punishments, including the death penalty and flogging.

Atena Daemi on a Hunger Strike in Lakan Prison in Rasht in Gilan Province

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners, Women
Atena Daemi, Evin, Evin Prison, Gilan province, Hunger Strike, hunger strikes, irgc, Lakan, Lakan prison, Rasht, Supreme Court, Tehran

On August 12, civil activist Atena Daemi went on a hunger strike in Lakan prison in Rasht in protest of repeated telephone cuts and prison mismanagement.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, it is said that the head of the prison has not been seen in the prison for about 4 weeks, and his absence has slowed down the release process of many prisoners.

According to an informed source, the frequent interruption of the prison phone raised concerns among Atena’s family members, and her parents had to travel to the Lakan Prison to visit Atena while they were infected with the coronavirus to confirm her well being.

Atena (Fatemeh) Daemi was sentenced to 14 years in prison on May 15, 2015, by Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, headed by Judge Mohammad Moghiseh, on charges of conspiracy against national security, propaganda against the regime, and insulting the leadership. After the appeal and application of Article 134, 5 years of prison were enforceable to her.

In 2018, while enduring her sentence in the women’s ward of Evin Prison, she and Golrokh Ebrahimi faced a new case, they were sentenced by Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran to an additional 2 years and 1 month in prison after applying Article 134.

In July 2020, Branch 24 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, presided over by Judge Mohammad Reza Amouzad, sentenced Ms. Daemi to two years in prison and 74 lashes for a new lawsuit filed against her while imprisoned. The case was opened by the complaint of the Ministry of Intelligence and the IRGC against Ms. Daemi.

In March 2021, the Supreme Court overturned a request for a retrial of Atena’s lawyers. Atena Daemi and her family members have also faced numerous other security and judicial cases and pressures. In March 2021, Atena was transferred in handcuffs and shackles from Evin Prison to Lakan Prison in Rasht in Gilan Province.

This is not the young activist’s first hunger strike. Atena Daemi once went on a hunger strike in 2015, which led to health problems and removal of her gallbladder. Her previous hunger strike experience has increased her family’s concern.

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Seven Political Activists Sentenced to Total of 53 Years in Prison

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Prisoners
Bahareh Soleimani, Elham Samimi, Mehran Raouf, Mohammad Hajinia, Nafiseh Malekijoo, Nahid Taghavi, Nazanin Mohammadnejad, Somayeh Kargar

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, political activists Nahid Taghavi, Mehran Raouf, Somayeh Kargar, Bahareh Soleimani, and Nazanin Mohammadnejad were sentenced to a total of 38 years in prison.

The other two defendants of the case, Nafiseh Malekijoo, and Mohammad Hajinia, were also sentenced in absentia. Ms. Malekijoo was sentenced to 6 years and nine months, and Mr. Hajiniya was sentenced to 8 years and eight months imprisonment.

Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, presided by Judge Iman Afshari, has sentenced the seven defendants to a total of 53 years and five months in prison on charges of “participating and administrating the Communist Party of Iran with the intention to disrupt security”, and “propaganda activities against the regime”.

Nafiseh Malekijoo and Mohammad Hajinia are currently living abroad. As of this writing, the status of the case of Elham Samimi, the eighth defendant of the case, is unknown.

The first session of the court hearing for these activists was held on April 28, and the second session was held on June 13.

Saba Kord Afshari Sent on 15 Day Leave from Qarchak Prison in Varamin

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners, Women
Iman Afshari, Kord Afshari, Qarchak, Qarchak Prison, Raheleh Ahmadi, Saba Kord-Afshari, Varamin

Yesterday, imprisoned civil activist Saba Kord Afshari was sent on a 15-day leave from Qarchak Prison in Varamin.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, yesterday, August 11, the activist was allowed medical leave after receiving a positive COVID test.

Saba Kord Afshari is a civil activist and prominent critic of the compulsory hijab in Iran. On September 5, 2019, Afshari  was sentenced by Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, presided over by judge Iman Afshari, to 15 years imprisonment for “promoting corruption and obscenity through appearing without a headscarf in public”,  and 1 year and 6 months of imprisonment for “propaganda against the regime” and 7 years and 6 months in prison for “assembly and collusion with an intent to commit a crime against national security” to a total of 24 years in prison along with other social deprivations, from which, after applying Article 134 and adjustment of the sentences, the most severe punishment of 7 years and 6 months in prison is enforceable to her.

On May 8 of this year, 22-year-old Kord Afshari began what would be a 10 day hunger strike to protest the increasing pressure on her family and family of fellow political prisoners, and to demand the release of her mother, Raheleh Ahmadi. Upon finishing her strike, the young activist said, in a statement, “I am fully aware that human lives are of no value to the Islamic Republic, so I am ending my hunger strike, but I am still seeking to fulfill my demands.”

Despite the widespread prevalence of COVID-19 within Iran’s prison system, inmates are frequently deprived of adequate and timely medical treatment.

Reza Asgharian Arrested by Security Forces in Sarab in East Azerbaijan Province

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Freedom of Expression, Prisoners
censorship, Reza Asgharian Sardhaei, Sarab, Sardhaei

Reza Asgharian Sardhaei, a native of Sarab, was recently detained by security forces and taken to an unknown location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Sardhaei is said to have been arrested for publishing information on an Instagram page.

The Sarab News also reported the arrest of the admins of an Instagram page in the city of Sarab, for publishing anti-religious and anti-revolutionary content.

As of this writing, no information is available on the charges against him or where he is being held.

Two Death Sentences Issued in Tehran

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News, Prisoners
Death Penalty, Death row, Death sentence, Death sentence issued, First Criminal Court of Tehran Province, Tehran

Two defendants were sentenced to death for separate murder charges by the Tenth Branch of the First Criminal Court of Tehran.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Shargh newspaper, a man named Reza was sentenced to death by the Tehran Criminal Court for a murder committed in 2019.

According to Rokna news, Yashar was sentenced to death by the Tehran Criminal Court for murder, also committed in 2019.

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.

Azerbaijani Turk Activists Mohammad Kazemi and Reza Shahrivar Transferred to Tabriz Prison

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Ethnic Minorities, Prisoners
Azerbaijani Turk, Azerbaijani Turk activists, Mohammad Kazemi, Reza Shahrivar, Tabriz Prison

Azerbaijani Turk activists Mohammad Kazemi and Reza Shahrivar announced their transfer to Tabriz Prison during a telephone call with their families on Tuesday, August 10th.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Mohammad Kazemi and Reza Shahrivar were arrested on July 27, 2021 by Ministry of Intelligence agents and were transferred to the detention center of this security institution in Tabriz.

These citizens were arrested on July 27, 2021 by Ministry of Intelligence agents and transferred to the detention center of this security institution in Tabriz. They have been living in the quarantine ward of Tabriz Prison since yesterday.

As of this writing, the reasons for the arrests and the charges against these citizens are unknown.