Category: Other

Five Cross-Border Fuel Carrier (Sookhtbar) Killed by IRGC Forces

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Iranshahr, irgc, kolbars, Sistan and Baluchestan, Sookhtbar

On February 7, IRGC forces killed at least five cross-border fuel carriers (Sookhtbar) by shooting in Iranshahr, Sistan and Baluchestan Province.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Baloch Activist Campaign, at least five individuals carrying fuel across the border were killed by IRGC forces in Iranshahr.

The IRGC forces reportedly began shooting at their vehicle without any warning, setting the car ablaze, and five people died.
The victims’ identities are unknown at the time of writing.

According to HRANA’s annual report, in 2022, a total of 845 people were shot by military forces. At least 571 of the victims lost their life.

This includes 22 kolbars, 9 fuel carriers, and 540 civilians. 274 people were injured by military forces open fire, including 134 kolbars, 128 civilians, and 12 fuel carriers.

Iran Protests: Six People Arrested in Piranshahr

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Ahmad Abdollahpour, Ghader Mohammadpour, Mohsen Ghaderi, Piranshahr, Shahoo Abdollahpour, Sina Deshmir, Taha Rasoulian

On January 18, 2023, security forces arrested Taha Rasoulian, Ahmad Abdollahpour, Shahoo Abdollahpour, Sina Deshmir, Ghader Mohammadpour and Mohsen Ghaderi in Piranshahr and took them to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, on January 18, 2023, six residents of a village in Piranshahr County, West Azerbaijan Province, were arrested.

The agents reportedly did not show any arrest warrant. The reason for their arrests, whereabouts and allegations are still unknown.

 

German National Arrested in Khuzestan

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Khuzestan, Tasnim

IRGC-affiliated news agency Tasnim reported the arrest of an unidentified German national due to photographing the oil facilities in Omidiyeh.

The report did not reveal the detainee’s identity and the allegations against him.

According to Article 503 of the Islamic Penal Code, taking photos of forbidden places can be punishable by a prison term from six months to three years.

Civil Rights Activist Hamid Haj-Jafar Kashani Arrested

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Evin Courthouse, Fariba Fereidooni, Hamid Haj-Jafar Kashani, Iranian Futsal Referee, Rajai Shahr Prison

On January 16, 2023, civil rights activist and futsal referee Hamid Haj-Jafar Kashani was arrested when he went to Evin Courthouse to inquire about a relative’s legal case. Currently serving his sentence in Rajai-Shahr prison, Haj-Jafar Kashani was spending his medical furlough before his arrest at Evin.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on January 16, 2023, civil rights activist Haj-Jafar Kashani was arrested.

An informed source told HRANA, “Kashani accompanied Fariba Fereidooni who was summoned to Evin Courthouse. Security forces apprehended him violently and took him inside the courthouse. After a few hours, they handcuffed him and took him to Evin Prison.”
According to this source, Kashani was on medical furlough to undergo surgery for his lumbar disc.

In the fall of 2020, security forces arrested Kashani and jailed him in Evin Prison. Subsequently, the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced him to three years and six months in prison for “assembly and collusion against national security” and six months for “propaganda against the regime.” He was also sentenced to additional punishment.

In August of this year, he faced new charges following the complaint of the head of the Tehran Prisons and Security and Corrective Measures Organization.

13 People Arrested for Allegedly Espionage

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Espionage, Golestan, Isfahan, Mizan Online, Tehran, West Azerbaijan, Yazd

Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence announced the arrest of 13 people accused of “espionage” in Tehran, Isfahan, Yazd, Golestan and West Azerbaijan Provinces.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Mizan Online News Agency, 13 individuals were arrested for allegedly “espionage.”

The Ministry of intelligence claimed that in Tehran, Isfahan, Yazd, Golestan and West Azerbaijan Provinces, 23 individuals working for Mossad (the intelligence agency of Israel) were detected, of which 13 people residing inside the country were apprehended before they could take any action. The Ministry claimed that the “head of this spy network” has been identified as “Sirus,” residing in one of the European Countries. This report did not disclose the detainees’ identities.

Although the prosecution of individuals for espionage is not considered a violation of human rights, there are concerns about the validity of these allegations due to the frequent use of such accusations by Iran’s regime in order to suppress its political dissidents and due to the ambiguities in legal proceedings and the lack of transparency about such legal cases.

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Belgian Olivier Vandecasteele Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison and Flogging

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flogging, HRANA, Olivier Vandecasteele, RTL News

Iran’s judiciary announced that the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Belgian Olivier Vandecasteele to 40 years imprisonment and 74 lashes.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Mizan Online news agency, jailed Belgian aid worker Olivier Vandecasteele was sentenced to imprisonment, flogging and paying a fine.

Vandecasteele received 12.5 years for “spying on the Islamic Republic of Iran for foreign intelligence services,” 12.5 years for “collaboration with the USA, as a hostile country against Iran’s regime,” 12.5 years for “money laundering half a million dollars,” as well as forfeiting this money and its revenues, and 2.5 years for “smuggling half million dollars.” He was also sentenced to a one-million-dollar fine and 74 lashes.

Appealing, reportedly, is admissible within 20 days.

At odds with this verdict, on December 14, 2022, quoting Vandecasteele’s family, RTL News reported that he had received 28 years.
Vandecasteele’s whereabouts are still unknown.

Three European Nationals Charged with Espionage

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detained Belgian, detained French, Espionage, Mizan

The spokesperson of Iran’s judiciary announced that three detained foreign nationals, two French and one Belgian, have been indicted on allegedly “espionage, assembly and collusion against national security.”

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Mizan, two French nationals and one Belgian have been charged with “espionage, assembly and collusion against national security.”

This judicial official did not reveal these individuals’ identities.

 

Four Political Prisoners Coerced to Make TV Confession

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Hajir Faramarzi, Komalah, Mohsen Mazloum, Pejman Fatehi, Tasnim, Vafa Azarbar

Recently, Iran’s state TV broadcasted coerced confessions of four political prisoners Mohsen Mazloum, Pejman Fatehi, Vafa Azarbar and Hajir Faramarzi. On July 23, 2022, these individuals were arrested in Urmia County. After three months of detention, their lawyer is still denied access to the clients and legal case documents.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Iran’s state TV broadcasted a forced confession video of four political detainees, raising concerns about their conditions and subsequent severe punishments.

After 136 days of detention, these individuals’ families are not informed about their whereabouts and the charges. They have also been denied any access to their lawyer.

On July 23, 2022, security-institution-affiliated news agency Tasnim reported the arrest of “a network of Israeli spies” referring to these individuals. Tasnim also claimed that “having operational and communication equipment and explosive materials, they crossed into the country from the Kurdistan region to carry out unprecedented terrorist operations in some secure-sensitive locations.”

In response, Komalah (CPI-a Kurdish oppositional political party) issued a statement denying all these allegations and warned about intelligence institutions’ conspiring against detainees.

One of the detainees’ wife told HRANA: “Since the arrest, we have been worrying about torturing them to extract confessions. As of yet, we do not even know if they are alive or dead.”

 

 

Iran Protests: Four Individuals Arrested in Kurdistan Province

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Hossein Yousefi, irgc

IRGC intelligence arrested four people accused of killing a police officer and took them to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting IRNA, four individuals were arrested in Kurdistan Province.

These individuals, reportedly, have been accused of killing the police officer colonel Hossein Yousefi. The report did not reveal the detainees’ identities.

These individuals’ whereabouts are still unknown.

Citizen Killed in Direct Shooting by Military Forces

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Khuzestan province, Musa Janami, Shadegan

On November 28, 2022, in Shadegan, Khuzestan Province, military forces shot a citizen dead on suspicion of fuel smuggling.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, a citizen identified by HRANA as Musa Janami, age 28, was shot dead by military forces in Shadegan County.

An informed source told HRANA that Janami was carrying empty diesel fuel barrels with a truck, and then military forces opened fire at the vehicle, causing his death.

According to this source, security forces have pressured Janami’s family not to publicize this incident.