Category: Prisoners

Mohammad Hossein Ahangari Released With Electronic Tag From Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary

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News, Prisoners
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Mohammad Hossein Ahangari, who was arrested during nationwide protests in November 2019, was released with an electronic tag and restricted movement from the Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary. He will serve the rest of his three-year sentence outside the prison with restrictions on his movement.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Ahangari was released on bail on November 26 2019, pending legal proceedings. In November 2020, he was sentenced to three years imprisonment by Branch 101 of the Criminal Court of Eslamshahr on the charge of “an arson attack on Basij Base”. On December 8, 2020, he was jailed to serve his sentence.

Iranian-American Citizen Emad Sharghi and Political Prisoner Reza Ghalandari Contract COVID-19 in Evin Prison

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News, Prisoners
Bahareh Amidi, Coronavirus, COVID, covid-19, Emad Sharghi, Reza Ghalandari, Salavati

Imprisoned Iranian-American citizen Emad Sharghi and political prisoner Reza Ghalandari tested positive for COVID-19 in Evin Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Sharghi’s family has previously expressed concerns about his health in case he contracts COVID-19, as he suffers from high blood pressure and cholesterol. He has been deprived of the COVID-19 vaccine.

In April of 2018, Sharghi was arrested by IRGC intelligence agents on the charge of espionage. After nine months in detention, he was released on bail. IRGC confiscated his passport as well as the passport of his wife, Bahareh Amidi, in order to prevent them from leaving the country.

An informed source told HRANA regarding Shargi’s arrest that “about 20 security agents— later it turned out that they were IRGC agents— raided his house in Tehran at night to arrest him and his wife. Mr. Sharghi was detained for nine months in Evin Prison awaiting his legal proceedings. Finally, he was temporarily released on bail”.

On November 30, 2020,  Tehran’s Revolutionary Court, headed by Judge Salavati, sentenced him to 10 years in prison in a trial in absentia. He was charged with “espionage and collecting gathering military intelligence.” He was not summoned to attend the trial and was denied the right to defend himself.

In January of 2021, HRANA reported his arrest at the border area of Sardasht by IRGC intelligence agents during an attempt to flee the country.

He is currently spending his sentence in Salon 9 of Ward 8 in Evin Prison.

Ghalandari, age 40, is serving his sentence in the same ward. He was sentenced five years in prison on the charge of “assembly and collusion against national security” by Tehran’s Revolutionary Court. The verdict was upheld on appeal.

Christian Convert Naser Navard Goltappeh’s Request for Retrial Rejected

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Christian convert, christian converts in iran, Naser Navard Goltappeh, Religious Minorities, religious minorities in iran

Branch 9 of the Supreme Court rejected the imprisoned Christian convert Naser Navard Goltappeh’s request for a retrial for the fourth time. He is currently serving a 10 year sentence in Evin Prison. Despite suffering from oral and dental diseases and severe visual impairment, he has been denied medical treatment in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, his lawyer, Iman Soleymani, called the Supreme Court’s decisions arbitrary and erratic. He told HRANA that “the Supreme Court issued its verdict regardless of defendant’s rights, which is in violation of citizen rights and the principle of legality of crime and punishments, the principle of innocence and Article 474 of the Criminal Procedure Code whereby different punishment in degrees for similar charges is not allowed”.

“His request has invoked the recent retrial of nine Christian converts which subsequently led to their acquittal”, he added. In November of last year, Branch 28 of the Supreme Court of Iran announced that promoting Christianity and forming a home church is neither a crime nor an act against national security.

On June 24, 2016, Naser Navard Goltappeh was arrested along with three people of Azerbaijan nationality. All four were interrogated for two months and detained in solitary confinement cells. After four months, they were released on bail of 100 million tomans. The Azerbaijani citizens returned to their country after the release.

Branch 26 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court sentenced Goltappeh to 10 years in prison on the charge of “acting against national security by organizing an illegal home church”. The verdict was upheld on appeal on November 12, 2017.

He is currently serving his sentence in Ward 8 of Evin Prison.

Despite the fact that Christians are recognized as a religious minority under Iranian law, security forces nevertheless harass and prosecute Muslims who convert to Christianity.

The prosecution of Christian converts stands in blatant violation of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which state that every individual has the right to freedom of religion and belief and freedom to express it openly or secretly.

Inmate on Death Row Dies by Suicide in Lakan Prison

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News, Prisoners
Hossein Besazandi, prisoner suicide, Seyyed Ali Rezai, suicide

On February 23, an inmate on death row in Lakan Prison, Rasht City, died by suicide after a fight with his fellow inmate.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the inmate cut the artery in his wrist and lost his life.

HRANA has identified the inmate as Seyyed Ali Rezai, age 18, a resident of Someh-Sara City.

An informed source told HRANA: “Yesterday, at 4 pm, this inmate had a quarrel with his fellow inmate, Hossein Besazandi, age 20, who also has been convicted for murder and held in Ward 8 of Lakan Prison. In this fight, Hossein Besazandi was injured by a sharp object and lost consciousness due to wounds. After that, Ali Rezai, who thought he was dead, committed suicide.”

Political Prisoner Peyman Gholami Hospitalized Due to COVID-19 Acute Respiratory Distress

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News, Prisoners
Coronavirus, covid-19, Payam Shakiba, Peyman Gholami, Reza Mazaheri, Saeed Samimi, Seyed Hossein Taghavi

Political prisoner Peyman Gholami was dispatched from Evin Prison to a hospital in Tehran due to acute respiratory distress from COVID-19. Because of severe hypoxia, he has been transferred to the ICU.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Gholami has been hospitalized in the ICU of the hospital in Tehran.

According to an informed source, many inmates housed in Salon 10, Ward 8 of Evin Prison, including Saeed Samimi and Payam Shakiba, have shown COVID-19 related symptoms such as headache, dizziness and cough. Nonetheless, they have not been allowed to test. From them, Reza Mazaheri has tested positive, but has been denied of any medical treatment.

Amid the nationwide 2019–2020 Iranian protests, Gholami was arrested and sentenced by Branch 24 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court to five years in prison on the charge of “assembly and collusion against the national security.”

In November of 2019, an unprecedented increase in fuel prices sparked a wave of protests in dozens of cities across the country. The spokesperson of the Parliamentary National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, Seyed Hossein Taghavi, announced that 7000 people were arrested during these protests. According to reports of human rights organizations, hundreds were killed by regime forces.

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Political Prisoner Soheila Hejab Hospitalized for COVID-19

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On February 24, imprisoned political prisoner Soheila Hejab was hospitalized outside of prison due to her critical health condition.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Hejab, who is imprisoned in the women’s ward of the Correctional Center of Kermanshah City was dispatched to a hospital due to her critical health condition.

An informed source told HRANA that she fainted in a cell and her fellow inmates carried her to prison healthcare. Later, her fellow inmates were told that she has been hospitalized in a hospital outside the prison. The lack of info about her latest condition has increased her family’s concerns.

Recently, she has contracted COVID-19 along with 13 other inmates in her ward. Despite the requirement for treatment, prison healthcare had been closed due to absence of physicians.

Hejab was arrested by security forces on June 1, 2019, and then released from Evin Prison in Tehran on a bail of 3 billion tomans on March 14, 2020.

Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court sentenced her to 18 years in prison on charges of “propaganda against the regime”, “illegal assembly”, “incitement of public opinions to riot” and “organizing unlawful political groups”.

On May 23, 2020, the intelligence unit of the Revolutionary Guards arrested and transferred her to Gharchak Prison in Varamin City to serve her sentence. She was then transferred to Sanandaj Prison and then, on January 7, to the Correctional Center of Kermanshah City.

Final Verdict of 8 years and 74 Lashes Issued Against Narges Mohammadi

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Narges Mohammadi, Taghi Rahmani

On February 20, Taghi Rahmani, husband of Narges Mohammadi, was informed that Branch 26 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court issued their definitive verdict of eight years imprisonment, 74 lashes and other social deprivations against his wife. From her eight year sentence, Mohammadi will be imprisoned in exile for two years.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Mohammadi is a human rights activist and spokesperson of the Defenders of Human Rights Center. Rahmani commented to HRANA that following Mohammadi’s refusal to request for appeal, the initial verdict was upheld definitively.

In recent days, she was hospitalized for a few days due to respiratory problems and then sent back to jail.

On November 16, 2021, she was arrested by security forces during her attendance at a ceremony honouring Ebrahim Ketabdar, who was killed by security forces in Karaj during the November 2019 protests. She was detained in a solitary confinement cell in Ward 209 of Evin Prison. On November 22, 2021, she was notified about the charges in Evin Courthouse.

On December 29, 2021, security agents raided and searched her house and confiscated some of her personal belongings.

She has already faced other arrests and convictions and was imprisoned from May 5, 2015, until October of last year, Mohammadi was imprisoned.

In January of this year, she was transferred from Ward 209 of Evin Prison to Qarchak Prison in Varamin City.

Imprisoned Civil Activist Saba Kord Afshari Attacked in Qarchak Prison

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News, Prisoners
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On February 20, imprisoned civil activist Saba Kord Afshari was attacked by one of her fellow inmates in Qarchak Prison. Afshari’s attacker is a prisoner of violent crime. Due to co-housing with prisoners of violent crime, which violates prison rules, political prisoners and prisoners of conscience’s life and safety are jeopardized. On Monday, Afshari was granted furlough for a short period.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, an informed source told HRANA that “Today at 12:30 an inmate charged with a violent crime attacked Saba from behind in the corridor. She tried to choke Saba by encircling the arm around her neck. One of the inmates, however, helped Saba to free herself from the attacker. All this time, the guards are just watching. The verbal quarrel between Saba and this inmate had been neglected before as well”.

Afshari is a civil activist and prominent critic of the compulsory hijab in Iran. She was convicted for her civil activities and in February of 2019, she was freed after serving her sentence. On June 1, 2019, she was arrested at her home and transferred to prison after completing an interrogation.

On September 5, 2019, Afshari was sentenced by Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran to 15 years imprisonment for “promoting corruption and obscenity through appearing without a headscarf in public”, 1 year and 6 months of imprisonment for “propaganda against the regime” and 7 years and 6 months in prison for “assembly and collusion to act against national security” . This totals 24 years in prison along with social deprivation. After applying Article 134 and adjusting the sentences, the severest punishment of 7 years and 6 months in prison is enforceable.

This verdict, which was increased two and half times more due to a previous record, was finally corrected and reduced from 15 years to 7 years and 6 months.
 
On May 8 of this year, 22 year old Afshari went on a 10 day hunger strike to protest against increasing pressure on her family as well as the families of fellow political prisoners, and to demand the release of her mother, Raheleh Ahmadi. Upon finishing her strike, the young activist said: “I am fully aware that human lives are of no value to the Islamic Republic, so I am ending my hunger strike, but I am still seeking to fulfill my demands.”

On December 9, 2020, she was transferred from Evin Prison to exile to Qarchak Prison.

Imprisoned Civil Activist Farhad Meysami Faces New Charges

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Farhad Meysami, propaganda against the regime, Rajai Shahr Prison

On February 17, civil activist Farhad Meysami, who is spending the fourth year of his sentence in Rajai Shahr Prison, was indicted on the charge of “propaganda against the regime” in a new legal case opened by Branch 1 of Karaj’s Revolutionary Court.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Meysami is serving his fourth year in prison without a day of furlough. Yesterday, Karaj’s Revolutionary Court summoned and indicted him with a new charge of “propaganda against the regime”. These charges are pressed due to notes on social media and the internet that have been attributed to him.

On July 31, 2018, security forces arrested him, and thereafter Branch 15 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court sentenced him to five years in prison on the charge of “assembly and collusion to act against national security” and one year on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”. Moreover, he was deprived of any political activities and membership in political parties and groups on social media, as well as press both inside the country and abroad for two years.

Grounded in Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the sentence of five years as the severest punishment is enforceable, which is related to his first charge.

On November 9, 2019, he was transferred suddenly from Evin to Rajai Shahr Prison.

Jailed Human Rights Activist Narges Mohammadi Hospitalized Due to Respiratory Problems

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Ebrahim Ketabdar, Narges Mohammadi, Taghi Rahmani

Narges Mohammadi, human rights activist and the spokesperson of the Defenders of Human Rights Center was hospitalized due to respiratory problems. Since November 16 of last year, she has been detained and held, first in a detention centre in Karaj City, and then in Ward 209 of Evin Prison. Ultimately, she was moved to Qrachak Prison in Varamin City.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, her husband Taghi Rahmani wrote in a social media post that, “she has been sent to a hospital due to respiratory problems. We do not any detailed information on her latest health condition”.

On November 16, 2021, she was arrested by security forces during her attendance at a ceremony honouring Ebrahim Ketabdar, who was killed by security forces in Karaj during the November 2019 protests. She was detained in a solitary confinement cell in Ward 209 of Evin Prison. On November 22, 2021, she was notified about the charges in Evin Courthouse.

On December 29, 2021, security agents raided and searched her house and confiscated some of her personal belongings.

She has already faced other arrests and convictions and was imprisoned from May 5, 2015, until October of last year, Narges Mohammadi was imprisoned.

In January of this year, she was transferred from Ward 209 of Evin prison to Qarchak prison in Varamin city. Recently, she was sentenced to eight years imprisonment, 74 lashes and two years being in exile and other social deprivations.