Category: Other

Twelve Citizens Arrested for Attending a Nowruz Celebration at Kurdistan Province 

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News, Other
Nowruz, Sanandaj

On Monday, March 21, 2022, in Sanandaj city, the security forces raided a gathering and arrested twelve citizens. The gathering was held to celebrate Nowruz, the spring celebration and the Iranian New Year. 

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Monday, March 21, 2022, twelve citizens were arrested by security forces during a gathering for the celebration of Nowruz.

The arrestees have been identified as Sohrab Jalali, Jamal Asadi, Foad Enayati, Abed Khorshidi, Keyvan Zand-Karimi, Sahand Barzanji, Arash Shkeiba, Khaled Hosseini, Jamshid Farzi, Fardin Peymnankar, Keyhan Kakeh-Khani and Keyvan Mahmoodi. 

 It is still unknown where these arrestees have been detained.

Earlier, in October of 2019, Foad Enayati was arrested during a protest along with two other citizens, Faramarz Shariati and Mobin Khosravi. They were released on bail of 300 million tomans after the interrogation.

Subsequently, Branch 104 of the Criminal Court of Sanandaj, headed by Judge Omidi, sentenced Foad Enayati to 10 months imprisonment and 74 lashes. This prison sentence was changed to two years suspended prison on appeal. On July 27, 2020, the flagellation was carried out.

On March 7, 2021, Jamal Asadi had been summoned and interrogated by the Public Security and Intelligence Police of Sanandaj.

Two Citizens Arrested in Mariwan and Piranshahr

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News, Other
Bahman Chashteh, Borhan Derakhshani, Nowruz

Last Saturday, March 19, 2022, security forces arrested two citizens in Mariwan and Piranshahr cities.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa News Agency, last Saturday, March 19, 2022, one citizen identified as Bahman Chashteh, age 48, was arrested by security forces in Piranshahr city of West Azerbaijan Province.

Reportedly, they arrested Mr Chashteh without presenting an arrest warrant.

On the same day, IRGC’s Intelligence Organization summoned a citizen identified as Borhan Derakhshani and arrested him upon appearance. Mr. Derakhshanie had been summoned on another occasion and interrogated three times. He is a resident of Nay village located in Mariwan County.

The reason for these arrests and the charges are still unknown. An informed source, however, in the report stated that they arrested Mr Derakhshani in an effort to prevent the gathering to celebrate Nowruz in Nay village.

Four People Arrested and Accused of Spying for Foreign Intelligence in Khuzestan Province 

Posted on by A MN
News, Other

Iran’s chief of police announced that in Khuzestan several people have been arrested and accused of “spying for foreign intelligence services.”

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting ISNA, several people were arrested and accused of “spying for foreign intelligence services” in Khuzestan province.

Without getting into the details and mentioning the names, the chief of police stated: “in addition to having a  relationship with foreign intelligence services and receiving the money to carry out sabotage operations and terror attack against influential figures with explosives, the individuals arrested had carried out arson attacks on houses and public place across the province.”

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 the regime in order to suppress its political dissidents and due to the ambiguities in legal proceedings and the lack of transparency about these legal cases.

Police Shuts Down 16 Apparel Stores in Lorestan Province 

Posted on by A MN
Labor and Guilds, News, Other

The Public Security and Intelligence Police Chief of Lorestan province announced that 16 clothing stores were shut down for selling what he called “unconventional apparel.” The police and judicial authorities routinely violate citizens’  privacy and trade rights in Iran. 

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting ISNA, 16 stores in Lorestan province were shut down for selling the apparel considered by the police as indecent.

Ahmad-Reza Ahmadian, The Public Security and Intelligence Police Chief of Lorestan Province claimed that “Iranian Public Security and Intelligence Police has launched an operation to combat the manufacturers and retailers of unapproved apparel. In this plan, we inspected 140 stores and collected 5854 various garments.”

“36 retailers committed to complying with regulations,” he added.

Imposing a certain lifestyle on citizens stands in blatant violation of Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which entitles everyone the right to life, liberty and security. Additionally, Article 12 of this declaration states, “Individuals shall not be subjected to arbitrary interference with their privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honor and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks”. 

Two Citizens Killed By Police’s Unruly Shooting

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
Dalahoo, killed by police shooting, Pouria Rezai, Soorat Sayyadi

Last Sunday, March 13, 2022, two residents of a village in Dalahoo County of the Kermanshah Province were shot dead by the police near the Mausoleum of Baba-Yadegar.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, the police killed two citizens identified as Pouria Rezai, age 24, and her mother Soorat Sayyadi in Dalahoo County.

According to an informed source, the police began to shoot towards the two individuals in the vehicle without any warning. This mother and son had been there to visit the Mausoleum of Baba-Yadegar.

HRANA’s annual human rights report has specifically documented cases in which military forces’ use of live ammunition against citizens has led to their injury or death.

According to the 2021 report, 242 citizens have been shot by the police and military forces, from which, 94 have lost their lives including 23 Kolbars, 31 Sukhtbar and 40 other citizens. The rest who have been injured include 81 Kolbars, 16 Sukhtbar and 51 other citizens.

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Four Citizens Arrested by Security Forces in Ahvaz 

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
Abdolsadeh Azari, Ahvaz city, Hasan Nisi, Jome Naami, Mostafa Khosraji, religious gathering

Last Thursday, in Ahvaz city, four citizens were arrested by security forces during a religious gathering.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Thursday, March 10, 2022, the security forces arrested four citizens and transferred them to an unidentified location in Ahvaz

HRANA has identified the arrestees as Abdolsadeh Azari, age 69, Jome Naami, age 63, Hasan Nisi, age 66 and Mostafa Khosraji, age 35. According to an informed source, they were arrested during a religious gathering at Mr. Naami’s house.

The reason for the arrest, the charges and the individuals’ whereabouts are still unknown.

 

Forty One Citizens Summoned By the Ministry of Intelligence of Marivan City

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News, Other

In recent days, 41 residents of the village Ney in Marivan County, Kurdistan Province were summoned by the Ministry of Intelligence. They have been threatened and told not to hold gatherings to celebrate Nowruz, the day of the Iranian New Year.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, intelligence agents summoned them via phone and interrogated them for hours.

Three Kolbars Injured in Direct Shooting by Military Forces in Nowsud

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
kolbars, Mansoor Abdi, Pejman Abdi, Pouria Abdorahmani-Nejad

On March 8, military forces at a border area in Nowsud opened fire on three Kolbars (cross border carriers) without warning, injuring them.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, the Kolbars were identified as Pouria Abdorahmani-Nejad, Pejman Abdi and Mansoor Abdi, all residents of Salas-Babbai County.

They have been hospitalized and reportedly, their conditions are stable.

Many poor people living in border areas work as Kolbars to make ends meet. This work is illegal and involves carrying loads on foot across national borders. Yearly, dozens of Kolbars are injured and killed from accidents, dangerous conditions, and border guard shootings.

Two Citizens Arrested in Rask County, One Arrested in Mahabad City by Security Forces

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
Abdolghafar Arbabi, Mahabad City, Rask County, Shahab Alizadeh, Zahed Hayat-Zehi, Zahedan City

On March 1, security forces arrested two citizens in Rask County. On March 5, a citizen in Mahabad City was arrested by security forces.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Rasank news, two citizens identified as Zahed Hayat-Zehi and Abdolghafar Arbabi were arrested in Rask County. Reportedly, they have been transferred to Zahedan City.

Kurdpa reported that a citizen identified as Shahab Alizadeh was arrested in Mahabad City and was transferred to a detention centre at disposal of the Ministry of Intelligence.

The reasons for these arrests and charges are unknown at the time of this writing.

Kolbar Freezes to Death in Sardasht County

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
Foad Mehdi Ebrahimian, kolbar injured, Kolbar killed, kolbars, Mohammad Soor-Vardeh

On March 4, a Kolbar (cross border carrier) froze to death at a border area in Sardasht County. Last Monday, in an accident in Baneh County, a Kolbar was severely injured and lost his right foot and vision in his left eye due to a landmine explosion.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, the Kolbar who died was identified as Mohammad Soor-Vardeh, a resident of Sardasht.

Kurdpa also reported that last Monday, a landmine explosion severely injured severely another Kolbar, identified as Foad Mehdi Ebrahimian, age 24, also a resident of Sardasht.

Many poor people living in border areas work as Kolbars to make ends meet. This work is illegal and involves carrying loads on foot across national borders. Yearly, dozens of Kolbars are injured and killed from accidents, dangerous conditions, and border guard shootings.

HRANA’s annual human rights report has specifically documented cases in which military forces’ use of live ammunition against citizens has led to their injury or death. According to the 2020 report, beyond material damages— such as loss of pack animals due to road accidents, frost, or avalanche— 36 Kolbars have been shot dead, and 109 have been injured by military forces and border guards. In this year, five Kolbars lost their lives and five were injured due to freezing cold weather or falling from high.