Category: Prisoners

Sedigheh Vasmaghi Denied Essential Medical Treatment in Detention

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News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, Sedigheh Vasmaghi

On April 2, 2024, Sedigheh Vasmaghi, an analyst specializing in political and social issues, has been denied essential medical attention as prison officials obstructed her transfer to a hospital outside the prison.

Today, April 2, suffering from high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar levels, and experiencing severe chest pain, Vasmaghi was initially treated in the prison infirmary. Despite the physician’s recommendation for further treatment in a hospital setting, the prison authorities refused to facilitate her transfer.

Vasmaghi was apprehended by security forces on March 16, 2024, and subsequently incarcerated in Evin Prison. She was later charged with “propaganda against the regime” and “public appearance without hijab,” and her case was assigned to Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

On March 24, 2024, Vasmaghi was prohibited from receiving family visits due to her refusal to adhere to mandatory hijab regulations.

This incident is not the first time Vasmaghi has faced legal action for her activism.

Political Prisoner Shahriar Bayat Sentenced to Death for Alleged Insult to Prophet of Islam

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Executions, News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, great tehran penitentiary, HRANA, Shahriar, Shahriar Bayat, شهریار بیات

Shahriar Bayat, a 64-year-old political prisoner currently held in Evin Prison, has been sentenced to death by the Tehran Criminal Court for allegedly “insulting the prophet of Islam.”

Confirming this conviction, a source close to Bayat’s family informed HRANA that Bayat received this sentence on March 24, 2024, the final day of his furlough from Evin Prison. This verdict was issued by Branch 13 of the Tehran Criminal Court. According to the source, Bayat’s wife, Nahid, is not in good health to inquire about her husband’s legal case.

Bayat faces legal proceedings in both the Criminal and Revolutionary Courts. Reports obtained by HRANA indicate that the majority of the board of judges in the Criminal Court convicted Bayat of “insulting the prophet of Islam, Shia Imams, and other Islamic sanctities through the publication of pictures and posts on social media.”

This verdict contradicts the earlier decision by a minority panel, which commuted Bayat’s sentence to six months in prison after he expressed remorse. The verdict can be appealed within 20 days of its issuance.

Notably, the Shahriar Public and Revolutionary Court initially had jurisdiction over this legal case and closed this case. However, due to the insistence of the Shahriar prosecutor, the court transferred the case to the Tehran Criminal Court.

Shahriar Bayat’s legal troubles began on September 25, 2022, when he was arrested by security forces during nationwide protests at his residence in the city of Shahriar and subsequently detained in the Great Tehran Penitentiary. He was later transferred to Evin Prison.

On March 1, 2023, the Shahriar Revolutionary Court sentenced Bayat to a total of 18 years in prison for various charges including “forming illegal groups to act against national security,” “assembly and collusion to act against national security,” “insulting the former and current Supreme Leader of Iran,” and “propaganda against the regime.” Pursuant to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, which mandates the enforcement of the harshest punishment in cases of multiple charges, Bayat’s sentence was initially ten years, later reduced to eight years and six months following his request for a reduction in punishment.

In July-August 2023, in a letter addressed to the judiciary, Bayat wrote about his imprisonment at the age of 63, emphasizing his lack of prior political activism and attributing his incarceration solely to content found on his cell phone, much of which he claimed was commonplace on the internet. He also highlighted his denial of medical care for digestive diseases during his detention in the Great Tehran Penitentiary.

Update on Political Prisoner Bahman Mavati’s Legal Status

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News, Prisoners
Bahman Mavati, HRANA, Urmia prison, Urmia Revolutionary Court, بهمن ماواتی

Bahman Mavati, a political prisoner, is currently serving a five-year sentence in Urmia Prison. Originally sentenced to ten years, his term was later reduced to five years.

A source close to Mavati’s family confirmed his conviction for “collaboration with anti-regime groups” by the Urmia Revolutionary Court. The Supreme Court subsequently reduced his sentence from ten to five years.

Mavati, hailing from Bukan, was arrested in March-April 2023 and has since been incarcerated in Urmia Prison.

Update on Political Prisoner Shirin Beyraghdar’s Legal Status in Vakilabad Prison

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News, Prisoners
Mashhad, revolutionary court, Vakilabad, Vakilabad prison, شیرین بیرق دار

Shirin Beyraghdar is presently serving her term at Vakilabad Prison.

Initially apprehended by security forces at her shop in Mashhad in June-July 2022, Beyraghdar spent approximately six months in detention before being released on bail amounting to one billion tomans (roughly 20,000 dollars).

Following her release, the Revolutionary Court in Mashhad convicted her on charges including “forming groups to act against national security,” “assembly and collusion against national security,” “insulting the Supreme Leader,” and “propaganda against the regime.” Pursuant to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, she received a sentence of four years and six months for the primary charge.

In June-July 2023, Beyraghdar commenced serving her sentence at Vakilabad Prison.

Civil Rights Activist Raheleh Rahemipour Denied Vital Medical Care in Evin Prison

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News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, Jila Karamzadeh Makvandi, Raheleh Rahemipour, Tehran, راحله راحمی پور

Raheleh Rahemipour, a civil rights advocate currently incarcerated in Evin Prison, has been unjustly denied access to crucial medical treatment due to non-compliance with compulsory hijab regulations.

According to a source close to Rahemipour’s family, she is battling multiple serious illnesses, including a brain tumor requiring specialized medical attention. Despite her urgent medical needs, authorities have refused to transfer her to an external hospital solely on the grounds of her refusal to adhere to hijab requirements.

Additionally, reports obtained by HRANA reveal that Rahemipour has been deprived of family visits, exacerbating her isolation and distress.

Rahemipour was briefly hospitalized in late January 2024 due to her deteriorating health, undergoing cardiac angiography before being abruptly returned to prison two days later.

The civil rights activist was initially arrested alongside Jila Karamzadeh Makvandi in Tehran on November 12, 2019, and detained in Ward 2-A of Evin Prison which is under the control of IRGC. After a period on bail, she was indicted by the Tehran Revolutionary Court on charges of “assembly and collusion against national security” and “propaganda against the regime,” leading to a six-year prison sentence beginning in November 2023.

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Political Prisoner Shakila Monfared Receives Additional 12-Month Prison Term and Further Penalties on Appeal

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News, Prisoners
Abbasali Hozan, Evin Prison, Narge Mohammadi, Political Prisoner, Shakila Monfared, Tehran, شکیلا منفرد

The Appellate Court of Tehran has imposed an additional twelve-month prison sentence and other penalties on Shakila Monfared, a political prisoner currently held in Evin Prison. This decision stems from a legal case initiated while she was incarcerated.

Presided over by Judge Abbasali Hozan, Branch 36 of the Tehran Appellate Court found Monfared guilty of allegedly “spreading propaganda against the regime,” leading to a 12-month imprisonment. Additionally, she faces restrictions, including a ban on residing in Tehran and its surrounding provinces, prohibition from joining political or civil groups, and limitations on smartphone usage.

Initially sentenced to 15 months in prison by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, Monfared’s appeal, along with her co-defendant Narge Mohammadi, was adjudicated in absentia in December. She was informed of the conviction on February 20, subsequent to the dismissal of her appeal request by the court.

This marks the third legal case resulting in a conviction that Monfared has encountered during her incarceration.

Monfared’s ordeal began on August 31, 2020, when security forces arrested her as she was leaving her home. She was transferred to one of the detention centers under the control of the IRGC in Tehran. After 14 days of detention, she was subsequently released on bail from Evin Prison.

Following that, Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, sentenced Monfared to six years in prison and four months of probation work in the Agricultural Jihad on charges of “propaganda against the regime” and “blasphemy.” This verdict was later reduced to four years and two months on appeal.

In January 2022, in a new legal case while imprisoned, Monfared received two years and eight months, this time for the charge of “membership in anti-regime groups” and paying a fine for “disseminating false information.”

It is worth noting that on June 6, 2023, once again, Monfared faced the charge of “assembly and collusion against national security,” and this time the case was closed after a while.

 

Death-Row Political Prisoner Nayeb Askari Moved to Solitary Confinement, Heightening Fear of Imminent Execution

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News, Prisoners
Baghi, moharebeh, Nayeb Askari, Political Prisoner, Urmia

Nayeb Askari, a political prisoner on death row in Urmia Prison, was transferred to solitary confinement at Urmia prison on March 27, 2024, sparking fears among his family that his execution may be imminent.

A source with close ties to Askari’s family has confirmed his relocation. While the exact reason for the transfer remains unclear, it is customary for prison authorities to move death-row inmates to solitary confinement before executing them.

Initially sentenced to death for “enmity against God (Moharebeh)” on April 15, 2023, his plea for a retrial was accepted, leading to a charge change to Baghi. In October 2023, the court reaffirmed the death sentence, with the hearings reportedly conducted without his lawyer’s presence. The charge is supported by his alleged membership in a Kurdish political opposition party.

Arrested by IRGC intelligence agents on March 27, 2021, in Urmia, Askari was later moved to a detention facility and, on June 17, 2021, to Urmia Prison.

HRANA’s source reveals another ongoing case accusing Askari of the murder of IRGC member Mostafa Soltani. In 2013-2014, Soltani was injured during a clash with a political opposition party member, passing away six years later from COVID-19. Soltani’s family claims alleged Askari’s involvement in the altercation caused the sustained injury leading to his eventual death.

A new case, opened on July 12, 2021, based on a complaint from the Urmia Prison head, resulted in a three-month imprisonment extension and 50 lashes for “disrupting prison order.”

According to HRA’s annual report, in 2023, Urmia Prison officials executed 29 inmates, positioning this facility as the sixth highest in terms of executions among the ranked prisons.

Political Prisoner Saeed Ahmadi Deljoo’s Legal Status Updated

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News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, Iman Afshari, Saeed Ahmadi Deljoo, سعید احمدی دلجو

Saeed Ahmadi Deljoo, a political prisoner, is currently serving a four-year sentence in Tehran’s Evin Prison, which began in mid-March 2024.

A source close to Ahmadi Deljoo’s family has informed HRANA that Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, sentenced him to four years on charges including “insulting the Supreme Leader, spreading propaganda against the regime, and disturbing public order.” He began serving his sentence on March 18, 2024. Ahmadi Deljoo was arrested by IRGC intelligence on March 15, 2023, in Tehran and was subsequently released on bail pending legal proceedings.

According to reports obtained by HRANA, during his detention, Ahmadi was held in solitary confinement for one month, during which he was subjected to torture, resulting in bruises and damage to his liver. Ahmadi Deljoo, 33 years old, is a graduate in accounting and computer science.

Reports from the Department of Statistics and Publication of HRA in 2023 indicate a total of 193 cases in which Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, has been involved in issuing verdicts that infringe upon the human rights of defendants.

Christian Convert Laleh Sa’ati Receives Prison Sentence and Travel Restriction

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News, Prisoners, Religious Minorities
Christian Citizen, Christian convert, Evin Prison, Lale Sa'ati, Laleh Sa’ati, Malaysia, لاله ساعتی

Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court has sentenced Christian convert Laleh Sa’ati to two years in prison, coupled with a travel ban preventing her from leaving the country.

Presiding Judge Iman Afshari delivered the verdict to Sa’ati on March 24, citing her conviction for “actions against national security.”

According to a source close to Sa’ati’s family, she is reportedly in poor mental health, grappling with severe depression while incarcerated.

Sa’ati was arrested by security forces on February 13, 2024, and initially detained in the Women’s Ward of Evin Prison. However, she was later transferred multiple times to Ward 209 for interrogation by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence.

HRANA has received reports indicating that Sa’ati had been residing in Malaysia before her return to Iran.

Abolfazl Pour-Hosseini Sentenced to Four Years in Prison with Additional Penalties

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News, Prisoners
Abolfazl Pour-Hosseini, Abolfazl PourHosseini, Erfan-e-Halgheh, Karaj, Qom, ابوالفضل پورحسینی, عرفان حلقه

The Revolutionary Court of Karaj has pronounced a four-year prison sentence on Abolfazl Pour-Hosseini, a member of the mystical group Erfan-e-Halgheh, alongside two years of exile, a fine, a prohibition from leaving the country, and other social restrictions.

This verdict, confirmed by a source close to Pour-Hosseini’s family, stems from charges of “propaganda against the regime” and “inciting people to act against national security.”

Pour-Hosseini was officially informed of this decision on March 17, 2024. Presently incarcerated in Karaj’s Central Prison, he faces further hardship as prison officials have imposed a three-month ban on family visits as a punitive measure.

The ordeal began on June 13, 2023, when Pour-Hosseini was apprehended by the IRGC’s intelligence in Karaj and confined to Ward 15 of the Central Prison of Karaj. Reports from HRANA suggest that his arrest was linked to the distribution of leaflets on behalf of Erfan-e-Halgheh.

In addition to his recent legal battles, Pour-Hosseini had previously been sentenced by the Revolutionary Court of Karaj to three years of imprisonment and two years of suspended imprisonment.

This is not Pour-Hosseini’s first brush with the authorities; he had been arrested in Qom for his participation in courses organized by the Erfan-e-Halgheh group.

Pour-Hosseini, aged 47 and a father of two daughters, resides in Karaj.

Data collected by the Department of Statistics and Publications of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) points to the involvement of IRGC Intelligence in 392 cases of human rights violations, including arbitrary arrests.