Category: Prisoners

Behnam Moosivand Hospitalized As a Result of Hunger Strike

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Behnam Moosivand, Evin Prison, Rajai Shahr Prison

On Sunday, April 24, 2022, civil activist Behnam Moosivand was sent to the quarantine section of Evin Prison from Rajai-Shahr Prison. He has been on hunger strike since April 19 and is currently hospitalized for low blood pressure and other side effects.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Civil activist Behnam Moosivand who is still on a hunger strike after seven days, was transferred to the quarantine section of Evin Prison from Rajai-Shahr Prison. On Tuesday, April 26, 2022, he was sent to a hospital for low blood pressure and other side effects.

According to an informed source, last Sunday, while Moosivand was suffering from life-threatening side effects of his hunger strike, without any prior notice, prison officials transferred him to Evin Prison.

On April 19, 2022, Mr Moosivand went on a hunger strike in protest against being beaten by prison officers following his objection to being handcuffed during the dispatching to the hospital.

On February 1, 2018, the intelligence officials raided Behnam Moosivand’s home and transferred him to the detention facility of the Ministry of Intelligence in Evin Prison, known as Ward209. He was released on bail on March 19, 2018.

Subsequently, in September 2019, branch 28 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court sentenced Moosivand to five years in prison on the charge of “assembly and collusion to act against national security”, and one year on a charge of “propaganda against the regime”. The verdict was upheld on appeal. On June 14, 2020, Moosivand went to Evin for sentencing. In September of 2020, he was sent into exile, to Rajai-Shahr prison in Karaj City.

Inmate Died in Prison Due to Medical Negligence

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News, Prisoners
Kamyran, medical negligence, Savad Eliasi

On Friday, April 22, 2022, an inmate in Kamyaran Prison died due to medical negligence.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, in Kamyran Prison, an inmate, identified by HRANA as Savad Eliasi, died because of the denial of medical care. He had been convicted of drug-related crimes.

An informed source told HRANA: “At 5 A.M. Savad Eliasi was transferred to prison health facility due to his critical health condition. Despite having a history of heart attacks, he was only injected a pain reliever. Consequently, Eliasi died after three hours.”

The most recent report from the Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) has registered twenty deaths by diseases, five cases of suicide in Iran prisons and five cases of arrestees who were killed by prison authorities between January 1 of 2021 and December 20 of 2021.

Vahid Bagheri Returned to Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary after Furlough

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Vahid Bagheri

Last Saturday, April 16, 2022, Vahid Bagheri, political prisoner and one of the individuals arrested in the 2019 Iranian protests returned to the Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary after furlough. He had been released on furlough after 19 months of imprisonment. In recent days, his request for early release on probation was rejected.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, political Prisoner Vahid Bagheri returned to The Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary after furlough.

Earlier, in an open letter, he wrote “I am the breadwinner of two families. Why should I be in prison  only for attending a protest?”

During the nationwide 2019–2020 Iranian protests known as the Aban Protests, the security forces arrested Bagheri and after a while transferred him from a detention facility to the Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary.

Subsequently, branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced Bagheri to six years in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime and assembly and collusion against national security”. Applying article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, of the two counts, five years in prison for the charge of “assembly and collusion” is enforceable.

Bagheri was not granted furlough to attend his brother’s funeral while in prison.

Vahid Bagheri is 33 years old, married and a father of two children.

In November of 2019, an unprecedented increase in fuel prices sparked a wave of protests in dozens of cities across Iran. According to reports from human rights organizations, hundreds were killed during these protests by the regime forces.

Inmate Majid Keshvari Committed Suicide for Lack of Medical Care in the Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary

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News, Prisoners
Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary, Majid Keshvari, suicide

On Tuesday, April 19, 2022, at the Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary, an inmate committed suicide after he was denied adequate medical treatment. Following the attempt, he was hospitalized in a hospital outside the prison. This inmate, who suffers from mental health problems, had attempted suicide several times before.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, feeling desperate for not receiving medical treatment, the inmate identified as Majid Keshvari committed failed suicide attempt in the Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary.

An informed source told HRANA, “It has been a long time since Mr. Keshvari is in need of surgery and the prison health providers had recommended his dispatch urgently to a hospital outside the prison. Instead, the prison officials sent him to a psychiatric ward and then sent him back to prison, ignoring care for his health issues. 

Keshvari then attempted to hang himself in protest against this unfair treatment and was hospitalized. There is still no news about his latest condition.”

Reportedly, Keshvari had attempted to commit suicide on another occasion as well.

 

Political Prisoner Khadijeh Mahdipour Denied Urgent Medical Treatment in Ilam Prison

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News, Prisoners
Ilam prison, IRGC intelligence agents, Khadijeh Mahdipour

Political prisoner Khadijeh Mahdipour was denied access to medical treatment despite having severe digestive issues.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, political Prisoner Khadijeh Mahdipour is in poor health in Ilam Prison due to the denial of medical care.

According to an informed source, Mrs  Mahdipour suffers from severe digestive issues that result in episodes of nausea. She has lost weight in the last two months, but the authorities deny sending her to Tehran to receive more adequate treatment.

After long procrastination, on January 4, 2022, prison officials sent Mahdipour to a hospital outside prison for treatment of a black fleck in her eyes. She is currently serving her 20-month sentence in Ilam Prison.

On October 10, 2021, IRGC intelligence agents arrested Mahdipour at her uncle’s house and transferred her to Ilam Prison after two days of interrogation.

She was sentenced to 20 months in prison on the charges of “propaganda against the regime” and “offensive statements against the supreme leader of Iran”. She was acquitted of the charge of “advocating for anti-regime groups”.

She had earlier faced other arrests and convictions. On October 3, 2020, the security forces arrested her in Ilam City and she was fined 3 million tomans to avoid imprisonment.

 

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Political Prisoner Mehdi Salehi’s Body Buried under Strict Security Measures

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Haroon Al-Rashidi, Khomeini Shahr, Mehdi Salehi, Yazdanshahr Cemetery

This morning, April 15, 2022, the body of political prisoner Mehdi Salehi was buried in Yazdanshahr Cemetery under tough security measures. Salehi’s death did not trigger an investigation and there was no official announcement about the cause of his death. 

During the 2018 protests in Khomeini Shahr City, Salehi was arrested and subsequently sentenced to death for crimes he never confessed to. Recently, he died suspiciously in prison health facility in Dastgerd prison in Isfahan.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Friday morning, Mehdi Salehi’s Body was buried in a cemetery in Yazdangerd under strict security measures.

One of his family members told HRANA that “his family’s frequent inquiries remained unanswered by the authorities. Ultimately, the security forces moved his body to Yazdanshahr cemetery and buried him. They informed the family about the funeral just one hour before the burial. The authorities threatened the family to keep Salehi’s ordeal a secret and  to guarantee the family’s silence in the matter, held his brother, Mehdi Salehi in custody during the funeral.”

During nationwide protests that broke out in December 2017 and continued into 2018, many people were killed by the regime forces, including Asghar Haroon Al-Rashidi who was shot dead in Khomeini Shahr in January  2018. His family filed a complaint against the IRGC forces, Basij and the police. Thereafter, on November 3, 2019, some of Haroon Al-Rashidi’s friends including Mehdi Salehi were arrested by security forces for taking part in the protests.

On February 8, 2020, the Revolutionary Court of Isfahan sentenced Salehi to death (two times) on the charges of “enmity against God by using a firearm and shooting in public” and “using weapons of war (Kalashnikov rifle) against the regime forces during the unrest”. Salehi was also sentenced to 5 years in prison on the charge of “spreading corruption on earth by disturbing the public order and leading the insurrectionists.”

Mehdi Salehi never accepted these allegations. In a statement, he claimed that he had witnessed when Haroon Al-Rashidi was shut in the back by the regime forces.

Salehi was also injured by a pallet gun bullet in his head when he was trying to help Haroon Al-Rashidi.

Mehdi Salehi was 38 years old, married and father of a nine-years girl.

 

Political Prisoner Mehdi Salehi Died In Prison

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News, Prisoners
Haroon Al-Rashidi, Mehdi Salehi

Political prisoner Mehdi Salehi Gale’eh-Shahrokhi has died in prison. He was one of those arrested during the 2018 protests in Khomeini Shahr City and was sentenced to death.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, political prisoner Mehdi Salehi Gale’eh-Shahrokhi who was on death row has died in prison.

Confirming Mr Salehi’s death, an informed source close to his family stated: “When I  contacted the prison officials, they only confirmed that he passed away without mentioning the cause of death.”

“Some of his fellow inmates ascribed his death to a medical error of prison healthcare. However, so far no official clarification has been given to his family.”, he added.

During nationwide protests that broke out in December 2017 and continued into 2018, many people were killed by the regime forces, including Asghar Haroon Al-Rashidi who was shot dead in Khomeini Shahr in January  2018. His family filed a complaint against the IRGCforces, Basij and the police. Thereafter, on November 3, 2019, some of Haroon Al-Rashidi’s friends including Mehdi Salehi were arrested by security forces for taking part in the protests.

On February 8, 2020, the Revolutionary Court of Isfahan sentenced Salehi to death (two times) on the charges of “enmity against God by using a firearm and shooting in public” and “using weapons of war (Kalashnikov rifle) against the regime forces during the unrest”. He also was sentenced to 5 years in prison on the charge of “spreading corruption on earth to disturb the public order and leading the insurrectionists.”

Mehdi Salehi never accepted these allegations. In a statement, he claimed that he had witnessed when Haroon Al-Rashidi was shut in his back by the regime forces.

Salehi was also injured by a pallet gun bullet in his head when he was trying to help Haroon Al-Rashidi.

Mehdi Salehi was 38 years old, married and father of a nine-years girl.

 

Political Prisoner Zahra Safai Denied Urgent Medical Treatment by Prison Officials

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners, Women
Parastoo Moeini, Zahra Safai

On Tuesday, April 12, 2022, despite prior agreement and a set appointment, prison officials denied dispatching the political prisoner Zahra Safai to a hospital. The denial was under the pretext of her disagreement with transfer with handcuff and foot cuffs. According to the State Prisons and Security and Corrective Measures Organization’s rules, transferring the prisoners with foot cuffs except for prisoners of violent crimes is forbidden.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, through the obstruction of prison officials, political prisoner Zahra Safai was denied medical treatment.

Mrs Safai suffers from heart disease and has had angiography surgery in the past. Since September of last year, she has been dispatched several times to a hospital outside the prison. This time, the prison officials denied her access to urgent medical care.

On February 24, 2020, security forces arrested Zahra Safai and her daughter Parastoo Moeini in Tehran and transferred them to Ward 209 of Evin Prison. In April 2020, they were sent in exile to Qarchak Prison in Varamin City. On June 28, 2020, Mrs Safai was released on bail with the amount of 300 million tomans. However, on July 26 of that year, they increased the bail ten times and subsequently arrested and sent her back to Qarchak Prison when she could not provide the set bail.

In February of 2021, Branch 23 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced Mrs Safai to 5 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 two years on the charge of “offensive statements against the former and current Supreme Leader of Iran”. As an additional punishment, she was banned from leaving the country and membership in any political parties or civil groups.

Zahra Safai has also faced arrest and conviction in 2006. Further, during the 1980’s she had been imprisoned for a while. Her father, Haji Safai was a well-known businessman who was executed on the charge of “advocacy for the People’s Mujahedin Organization of Iran (the Mujahedin-e-Khalq or MEK)”.

Narges Mohammadi and Aliyeh Motallebzadeh Arrested and Sent Back to Qarchak Prison

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News, Prisoners
Aliyeh Motallebzadeh, Narges Mohammadi, Qarchak Prison

On Tuesday, April 12, 2022, human Rights activist Narges Mohammadi and women’s rights activist Aliyeh Motallebzadeh were arrested and sent back to prison while there were on furlough. In late February, these citizens were released on medical furlough.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Tuesday, April 12, Narges Mohammadi and Aliyeh Motallebzadeh were arrested and sent back to Qarchak prison in Varamin City.

On her personal page on social media, Mrs Mohammadi informed  that she had to return to prison while she was still in recovery afopen-heart surgery recovery,

Also, Aliyeh Motallebzadeh, who was on furlough for medical treatment since February 23, 2022, returned to Qarchak prison.

Narges Mohammadi is a human rights activist and the vice president of the Defenders of Human Rights Center. Aliyeh Motallebzadeh is a photographer, women rights activist and a member of the One Million Signatures Campaign for Gender Equality as well as a campaign to protect acid attack victims. Narges Mohammadi and Aliyeh Motallebzadeh are currently serving respectively their eight and three years sentences in Qarchak prison located in Varamin City.

Political Prisoner Fatemeh Mosanna Returned to Evin Prison after Medical Furlough

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News, Prisoners
Fatemeh Mosanna, Hassan Sadeghi

Last Monday, April 4, political prisoner Fatemeh Mosanna returned to Evin Prison upon the end of her furlough. She had been on furlough for treatment as her health condition became worse following intestinal bleeding in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Fatemeh Mosanna returned to Evin prison after a medical furlough. Prior to furlough, she was denied adequate medical treatment in prison.

On August 19, 2020, Fatemeh Mosanna was dispatched to a hospital outside the prison when she fainted due to intestinal bleeding. By the order of Amin Vaziri, the Special Assistant to Political Prisoners, she was handcuffed to her bed and was forcefully sent back to the quarantine section of prison without finishing the treatment. At the time, she was not granted medical furlough under the pretext of unavailability of test results, as proof of her requirement for treatment. On September 8 of 2021, she was hospitalized again as her health condition further declined. One day after doing tests, the officials sent her back again to prison.

On January 28, 2013, along with her husband, Hassan Sadeghi, Mosanna was arrested by security forces while they were at the funeral of Sadeghi’s father. Their daughter and son, who is a minor, were also arrested and interrogated. The children were released after three days and 45 days respectively.

Branch 26 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court sentenced both individuals to 15 years in prison and the seizure of personal property, business and house. This verdict was upheld on appeal.

On September 30, 2015, Mosanna was arrested and sent to Evin Prison to endure her sentence. On February 7, 2016, Sadeghi was arrested and sent to Rajai Shahr Prison after he went to Evin Prison to visit his wife.