Category: Prisoners

Update on Arash Ganji’s Condition in Evin Prison 

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Arash Ganji, Evin Prison, Iranian Writers Association

Writer, translator and a member of the Iranian Writers Association (IWA), Arash Ganji is currently serving a five-year sentence in Evin Prison. He has been imprisoned since October 2022.

On December 22, 2019,  security forces raided Gaji’s home, arrested and transferred him to Ward 209 of Evin Prison. 

Ganji was released in January 2019 on the bail amount of 450 million tomans.

During the first court session on June 14, 2020, the judge increased the bail to 3 billion tomans, and he was arrested and transferred to Evin Prison and was later released on bail on June 21, 2020.

In December 2020, the court, headed by judge Mohammad-Reza Amoozad, sentenced Gangi to five years in prison on the charge of “assembly and collusion to act against national security”, one year on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”, and five years on the charge of “membership and collaboration with one of the anti-regime groups”.In February 2021, this verdict was upheld by the court of appeals of Tehran for 11 years imprisonment.

Update on Alireza Saghafi’s Condition in Kachooie Prison

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Alireza Saghafi, HRANA, Kachooie Prison

Workers’ rights activist Alireza Saghafi is serving his one-year sentence in Kachooie Prison in the same ward as the prisoners of violent crimes. Despite his poor health condition, he is denied medical furlough.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, workers’ rights activist Alireza Saghafi is held in the same ward as the prisoners of violent crimes in violation of prison rules.

An informed source told HRANA that Sagahafi suffers from high blood pressure. He also suffers from backache and walks with a cane.

Despite two times requests from the prison infirmary, Saghafi has not received proper medical treatment.

Saghafi was arrested in September 2019 and sentenced to one year in prison by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court in Karaj City on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”.

Imprisoned Mohammad Abolhasani Faces New Charges

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Arsham Rezai, Mohammad Abolhasani, Shakila Monfared

Judicial authorities have indicted civil rights activist Mohammad Abolhasani on the charges of “propaganda against the regime,” and “association with anti-regime media”. Abolhasani is currently serving his sentence in Evin Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on August 24, 2022, the Evin prosecutor’s office indicted imprisoned civil rights activist Mohammad Abolhasani. This is the second time that he faces a new legal case during incarceration.

An informed source close to Abolhasani’s family told HRANA that there is concern that this new case has been opened to deter his release.  

On June 13, 2019, security forces arrested Abolhasani. Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced him to two years on the charge of “assembly and collusion against national security”. This verdict was later reduced to 18 months. For the charge of “spreading falsehood”, he was banned from leaving the country for two years and additional punishments. 

While Abolhasani was serving his sentence, judicial authorities opened a new case against him and two other civil rights activists Arsham Rezai and Shakila Monfared. He was then sentenced to 15 months in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”. In April 2021, he served his sentence and was released from Evin Prison. However, he had to provide bail for the new charge. Presently, as he is approaching the end of his prison sentence, he is facing new charges again.

Trade Union Activist Reza Shahabi still in Detention

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, Reza Shahabi, Trade Union Activist

Trade Union Activist Reza Shahabi had been detained in Ward 209 of Evin Prison for the past 100 days. Shahabi is a board member of the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Trade Union Activist Reza Shahabi is still in detention for the past 105 days, awaiting processing.

An informed source told HRANA that Shahabi suffers from several illnesses, but the prison officials have not provided proper medical care.

On May 12, 2022, security forces arrested Shahabi at his house in Tehran and transferred him to Evin Prison.

On June 13, Shahabi started his hunger strike in protest against his prolonged detention, which he has ended.

Teachers Union Activist Mohammad Habibi still in Detention

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Ali Akbar Baghani, and Jafar Ebrahimi, Evin Prison, mohammad habibi, Rasoul Bodaghi

Teachers Union Activist Mohammad Habibi is still in temporary detention. He was arrested on April 30, 2022, and transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison. On July 31, he was relocated to the Public Ward of this prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Mohammad Habibi, the spokesperson of the Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association, has been in detention for three months.

An informed source told HRANA that generally, temporary detentions do not exceed three months, but the authorities have extended Habibi’s detention for the fourth month, without access to a lawyer.

On April 30, 2022, one day before the nationwide teachers’ protests, security forces arrested Habibi and three other members of the Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association, Ali Akbar Baghani, Rasoul Bodaghi, and Jafar Ebrahimi and transferred them to Ward 209 of Evin prison.

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Maryam Akbari Monfared Assaulted in Semnan Prison

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Maryam Akbari-Monfared, Semnan prison

On August 24, 2022, political prisoner Maryam Akbari Monfared was beaten by a prison official in Semnan Prison.

According to an informed source, the prison deputy chief cancelled Monfared’s family visit because he considered her daughters’ cover improper. He ordered the guards to return Monfared to the ward. When she resisted, a prison guard squeezed her throat and beat her violently. Ultimately, they let Monfared visit her children.

Akbari Monfared is currently serving her 15-year sentence in Semnan Prison. She has been imprisoned since 2009 without a furlough.

Four Teacher Union Activists in Detention for 70 Days

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Hiwa Qoreishi, Kaweh Mohammadzadeh, Kurdistan Teachers Trade Association, Omid-Shah Mohammadi, Parviz Ahsani

Omid Shah Mohammadi, Parviz Ahsani, Kaweh Mohammadzadeh, and Hiwa Qoreishi, four members of the Kurdistan Teachers Trade Association, have been held at a detention facility for the past 70 days.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Omid Shah Mohammadi, Parviz Ahsani, Kaweh Mohammadzadeh, and Hiwa Qoreishi are jailed at a detention facility.

These union activists have been denied access to a lawyer and family visits. According to an informed source, despite frequent requests from their families, judicial authorities refused to grant them bail.

On June 15, 2022, security forces arrested these activists in Divandarreh, Kurdistan Province.

HRANA has reported the mass arrest of teachers and teacher union activists in different cities in June 2022.

Civil Rights Activist Peyman Sokooti Still in Detention  

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Gilaki Civil Rights Activist, irgc, Lakan prison, Peyman Sokooti

Gilaki civil rights activist Peyman Sokooti has been detained for the past three months in Lakan Prison, awaiting due process while he is denied access to a lawyer.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, civil rights activist from Gilan Province Peyman Sokooti has been detained for three months.

Sokooti has been charged with “acting against national security through membership in anti-regime groups, insulting the Supreme Leader and propaganda against the regime”.

On May 23, 2022, security forces arrested Sokooti, held him for ten days in an IRGC detention facility, and then transferred him to Lakan Prison in Rasht.

Political Prisoner Masoumeh Askari Assaulted in Prison

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners, Women
Evin Prison, Masoumeh Askari, Qarchak Prison

Retired teacher and political prisoner Masoumeh Askari was beaten by the prisoners of violent crime in Kachooie Prison. The prison officials purposely hold political prisoners in the same ward as the prisoners of violent crime, which is a violation of prison rules and exposes the political prisoners to life-threatening violence.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, political prisoner Masoumeh Askari was beaten by eight prisoners of violent crime.

An informed source told HRANA that about four days ago, eight prisoners of violent crimes assaulted Askari. She suffers from psychiatric diseases, kidney, liver and diabetes. Prison officials refused to send her to a healthcare facility to assess her condition.

On August 2, 2018, security forces arrested Askari in Tehran and transferred her to Qarchak Prison in Varamin. After a few days, she was released on bail.

Askari was arrested in December of 2018 and was detained for one month in Ward 209 of Evin Prison and later transferred to the public ward. The Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced her to five years in prison on the charge of “assembly and collusion.” This verdict was upheld on appeal. 

Askari is a retired teacher and single mother.

Sa’ada Khadirzadeh Commited Suicide in Urmia Prison

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Piranshahr, Sa'ada Khadirzadeh, Urmia

On August 18, 2022, Sa’ada Khadirzadeh attempted suicide in Urmia Prison. According to unverified sources, she has also tried to kill her infant child with pills before committing suicide. Two days earlier, she was interrogated by intelligence agents. 

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on August 18, 2022, Sa’ada Khadirzadeh committed suicide in Urmia Prison.

Currently, she and her infant child are under treatment in the prison infirmary.

Khadirzadeh tried to hang herself with her scarf. She also tried to kill her infant child with pills, which HRANA cannot verify independently.

On October 14, 2021, security forces arrested Khadirzadeh in Piranshahr.

On June 20, 2022, she conceived a child at a hospital in Urmia.

The reason for her arrest and the charges are still unknown.