Category: Prisoners

Keyvan Samimi Sent into Exile in Semnan Prison after Successive Relocations

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News, Prisoners
Exile, Keyvan Samimi, Mostafa Nili

After several relocations between prisons in Tehran and Alborz provinces, Keyvan Samimi, the imprisoned editor of Iran Farda Magazine and a member of the Iranian Writers’ Association, was finally exiled to Semnan Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, by the order of the court, Keyvan Samimi was transferred from Rajai Shahr Prison to Semnan Prison.

Initially, he was sent to Karaj Central Penitentiary Prison and thereafter to Rajai Shahr. However, since the Executive Unit of Karaj refused to accept him for reasons unkown, he was ultimately sent to Semnan Prison.

His lawyer, Mostafa Nili stated that during these relocations, Samimi was not allowed to bring his belongings, even medicines, which he needs urgently due to his health.

Samimi has been serving his two year sentence since December 7, 2020.

On May 1, 2019, he attended the workers’ protests on the anniversary of Labour Day before Parliament. The protest turned violent due to the interference of security forces, leading to his arrest along with dozens of other protestors. On May 12, 2019, security forces raided and searched the Iran Farda magazine office and confiscated many documents, including his computer. On June 17, 2019, he finally was released on bail until the end of legal proceedings.

On April 20, 2020, in a trial in absentia, Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, sentenced him to three years imprisonment on the charge of “assembly and collusion to act against national security”. The verdict was upheld on appeal but was reduced to two years in the retrial.

Samimi has previously served six years in prison in 2009 for questioning the 2009 Presidential Election, participating in protests, and writing articles critical of the Islamic Regime. His two political activist brothers were executed, one by this regime and the other by the former regime.

Keyvan Samimi Sent to Rajai Shahr Prison after Successive Relocations

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Iran Farda, Keyvan Samimi, Mostafa Nili

Keyvan Samimi, editor of Iran Farda Magazine and a member of the Iranian Writers’ Association was transferred to the quarantine zone of Rajai Shahr prison. Earlier, he had been relocated from Evin Prison to Karaj Central Penitentiary Prison. Last Wednesday, he was sent back to Evin Prison and the day after had to move out again.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Samimi’s lawyer, Mostafa Nili stated Thursday on his personal social media that “A few hours ago, Mr. Samimi called and informed [me] that on Tuesday, after the executive unit of Karaj refused to accept him to one of the prisons in Alborz Province, he was transferred to Rajai Shahr Prison and currently is being held in the quarantine zone.”

As mentioned by his lawyer, the reason for these successive relocations is that the Executive Unit of Karaj countermanded the orders of the Executive Unit Moghaddas and Branch 54 of the Revolutionary Court for the relocation of Samimi to Karaj Central Penitentiary Prison.

Samimi has been serving his two year sentence since December 7, 2020.

On May 1, 2019, he attended the workers’ protests on the anniversary of Labour Day before Parliament. The protest turned violent due to the interference of security forces, leading to his arrest along with dozens of other protestors. On May 12, 2019, security forces raided and searched the Iran Farda magazine office and confiscated many documents, including his computer. On June 17, 2019, he finally was released on bail until the end of legal proceedings.

On April 20, 2020, in a trial in absentia, Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, sentenced him to three years imprisonment on the charge of “assembly and collusion to act against national security”. The verdict was upheld on appeal but was reduced to two years in the retrial.

Samimi has previously served six years in prison in 2009 for questioning the 2009 Presidential Election, participating in protests, and writing articles critical of the Islamic Regime. His two political activist brothers were executed, one by this regime and the other by the former regime.

Sunni Prisoner Arkan Palani Jaf Beaten in a Solitary Confinement Cell

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News, Prisoners
Arkan Palani Jaf, Rajai Shahr Prison, Sarpol Zahab City

While still on hunger strike, Sunni prisoner Arkan Palani Jaf was relocated to a solitary confinement cell and beaten by prison guards. Last Wednesday, he sewed his lips shut and went on hunger strike in protest against the prison’s refusal to grant him furlough.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Sunni prisoner Arkan Palani Jaf was held in solitary confinement in Rajai Shahr Prison and beaten by prison guards. He has been on hunger strike since last Wednesday.

According to an informed source, the prisoner’s head Allah-Karam Azizi, the Head of Penitentiary No 4 and other prison officials have been ordered to punish him by beating. “They beat him and worn and ripped threads off of his sewed lips. They threatened him to beating every day if he continues his hunger strike,” he commented.

Palani Jaf has spent more than four years of his seven year sentence without furlough. His request for furlough has been dismissed several times.

Earlier, on Monday, December 17, 2021,  he went on a hunger strike, which ended after a few days.

Palani Jaf was arrested in 2016 and sentenced by the Revolutionary Court to 7 years on the charge of “collaboration with ISIS”. According to an informed source, the security agents wanted to arrest his brother and when they failed, arrested him instead despite having no evidence for his association with ISIS.

Palani Jaf is 28 years old and a resident of Sarpol Zahab City. He is currently jailed in Rajai Shahr Prison.

Civil Activist Atena Daemi Released from Lakan Prison in Rasht City

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News, Prisoners
Atena Daemi, Evin Prison, Exile, Lakan prison

On January 24, civil activist Atena Daemi was granted an early release and freed from Lakan Prison in Rasht. Since December of 2016, she was spending her sentence in Evin Prison until March 2021 when she was sent to exile in Lakan Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Daemi was arrested on October 21, 2014 and was sentenced on May 15, 2015. Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced her to 14 years in prison on charges of “assembly and collusion to act against national security” and “offensive statements against the supreme leader of Iran.” This verdict was reduced to 7 years on appeal. The severest punishment of five years was enforceable from these two charges.

Daemi began serving her sentence in 2016 in Evin Prison. In 2018, while still in jail, Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran opened a new case against her and Golrokh Ebrahimi Iraee on a new charge of “membership in anti-regime groups”. She was sentenced to an additional three years and seven months and the verdict was upheld on appeal. Per Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the severest punishment of two years and one month was enforceable.

In July 2020, she was sentenced to two years and 74 lashes in another new case, this time opened by Branch 24 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran. Her request for a retrial was dismissed. During this time, she and her family were consistently pressured by judicial and security forces.

On March 16, 2021, she was transferred at night from Evin Prison to Lakan Prison to spend the rest of her sentence in exile.

Jailed Iranian-British Citizen Anoosheh Ashoori Goes On Hunger Strike

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News, Prisoners
Anoosheh Ashoori, Elica Ashoori, Javid Rehman

On January 24, jailed Iranian-British citizen Anoosheh Ashoori went on hunger strike in protest against his poor condition in prison and the refusal of his request of release on probation.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Elica Ashoori published a video on social media informing that her father, Ashoori went on a hunger strike to bring global attention to his poor condition in jail and to protest the refusal of his request for the release on probation.

Ashoori is a 67 years old Iranian-British citizen and an aeronautical engineer who was arrested in 2017 when he travelled to Iran to visit his mother. According to Spokesman of the Judiciary, he has been charged with spying for Israel and the acquisition of illegitimate property and thereafter sentenced to 12 years in prison and paying a fine of 33000 euros.

In a report, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran Javid Rehman expressed his concerns about the situation of this jailed Iranian-British citizen and criticized Iran’s regime for imprisoning the citizens of dual nationalities as leverage to meet its foreign policy goals.

Iran’s regime frequently makes accusations such as spying to either suppress its political dissidents or use citizens with dual nationality to gain leverage in negotiation with Western countries.

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Nobel Laureates and Prominent Academics Demand Immediate Release of Ali Younesi and Amir Hossein Moradi

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Ali Younesi, Amirhossein Moradi, nobel, Randy Wayne Schekman

In a joint letter, a group of Nobel laureates and prominent academics urged Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet to ask that the Iranian regime release two detained Iranian students, Ali Younesi and Amir Hossein Moradi.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on the 18 January, in a joint letter, 16 Nobel laureates and prominent scholars called for the immediate release of Ali Younesi and Amir Hossein Moradi.

Earlier, on May 15, 2020, in an open letter, several Nobel laureates asked UN high commissioner, Michelle Bachelet to put efforts to ensure the immediate release of the two students.

Professor Noam Chomsky (linguist and philosopher), Randy Wayne Schekman ( Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 2013), Barry Barish (Nobel Laureate in Physics in 2017) and Richard John Roberts (Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1993) are among the writers of this letter.

On April 10, 2020, these two Sharif University of Technology students were violently arrested. Since the arrest, they have been subjected to torture-tainted interrogations to make forced confessions on television.

Amir Hossein Moradi is the winner of the silver medal of the National Astronomy Olympiad in 2017. Ali Younesi is the winner of the silver medal of the National Astronomy Olympiad in 2016 and the gold medal of the 2017 Astronomy Olympiad. Ali Younesi also won a gold medal in the 12th World Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiad in China.

Iran Farda Editor Keyvan Samimi Transferred from Evin Prison to an Unidentified Location

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News, Prisoners
Farda, Iran Farda, Iranian Writers Association, Keyvan Samimi

Keyvan Samimi, the editor of Iran Farda Magazine and a member of the Iranian Writers’ Association, was transferred from Evin Prison to an unidentified location. He is currently serving his two year sentence in Evin Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Emtedad, prison officials removed Samimi from his ward on the pretext of addressing a problem with his phone card, and transferred him to an unknown location.

Since Branch 54 of the Revolutionary Court ordered his exile from Evin Prison to one of the prisons in Alborz Province, it is likely they have sent him to an exile prison. This order stands at odds with a forensic medical assessment that he should be granted “intolerance of punishment”. This recommendation was rejected by the court after four months.

Samimi has been serving his two-year sentence since December 7, 2020.

On May 1, 2019, he attended the workers’ protests on the anniversary of Labour Day before Parliament. The protest turned violent due to the interference of security forces, leading to his arrest along with dozens of other protestors. On May 12, 2019, security forces raided and searched the Iran Farda magazine office and confiscated many documents including his computer. On June 17, 2019, he finally was released on bail until the end of legal proceedings.

On April 20, 2020, in a trial in absentia, Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, sentenced him to three years imprisonment on the charge of “assembly and collusion to act against national security”. The verdict was upheld on appeal, but was reduced to two years in the retrial.

Samimi had also previously endured six years in prison in 2009 for questioning the 2009 Presidential Election, participating in protests, and writing articles critical of the Islamic Regime. His two political activists brothers were executed, one by this regime and the other by the former regime.

Jailed French Tourist Benjamin Briere Summoned to Appear in Court After 600 Days in Jail

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News, Prisoners
Benjamin Briere, saeed dehghan

On January 20, the trial of jailed French tourist Benjamin Briere will be held for the first time after 600 days in jail awaiting legal proceedings.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Briere is French citizen who has been jailed in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad City.

His lawyer, Saeed Dehghan, confirmed that the court session will be held and that his client will defend himself in court against the charges of “spying” and “propaganda against the regime”. Two other charges of “spreading corruption on earth” and “alcohol drinking” have already been dismissed by the court.

In May 2020, Briere was arrested by security forces and has since been jailed in Vakilabad Prison.

According to Dehghan, these charges were based on actions such as taking aerial photos with a remote-controlled helicam and posing questions like “why is the veil (Hijab) forced in Iran but not other Islamic countries”.

“Despite so many ambiguities and contradictions in this case, as his lawyer, I have been denied any access to the documents, which is disastrous,” Dehghan told HRANA.

Khaled Freidooni Granted Furlough After 21 Years In Prison

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News, Prisoners
Khaled Fereidooni

On January 16, political prisoner Khaled Freidooni was granted furlough for the first time after spending 21 years in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Freidooni was dispatched to furlough from Urmia Prison.

On August 31, 2000, Freidooni was arrested and charged with “acting against national security” and “enmity against God (Moharebeh) through association with an anti-regime political party”. The Revolutionary Court of Mahabad sentenced him to death. After three and half years, this verdict was reduced to live imprisonment on appeal.

During this period, Freidooni has been jailed in Piranshahr, Mahabad and Urmia prisons. In 2007, he went into exile in Rajai Shahr Prison. After ten years, he was sent back to Urmia Prison.

The Court of Appeals Upheld the Order of Seizure of Fatemeh Mosanna and Hassan Sadeghi’s House

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Fatemeh Mosanna, Ferdos Mahboobi, government seizure of personal property, Hassan Sadeghi, politcal prisoners

The Court of Appeals of Tehran Province upheld the initial order to seize the personal property of two political prisoners, Fatemeh Mosanna and Hassan Sadeghi. Recently, agents of Execution of Imam Khomeini’s Order seized the couple’s house. The two prisoners have been sentenced by the Revolutionary Court to a combined 30 years in prison, seizure of personal properties, namely their shop and house. In March 2019, their place of business was seized by court order.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the Court of Appeals of Tehran Province upheld the order to seize the house of Mosanna and Sadeghi, who are currently serving time in Rajai Shahr. Currently, their children and Mosanna’s mother are residing in the house. It is their only shelter. Mosanna’s 90 year mother, Ferdos Mahboobi, was operated on three times in recent years and suffers from dementia and osteoporosis.

“The agents went to their house with an eviction order. They told the agents: “this house is the last thing you have left for us, and if you want eviction, you have to throw our stuff into the street,” an informed source told HRANA.

The whole family was arrested, on January 28, 2013, following the funeral of Sadehgi’s father, a dissident against the regime. Their daughter and son, who was underage, were also arrested and interrogated. They were released after three days and 45 days respectively.

Branch 26 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court sentenced each member of the couple to 15 years in prison and the seizure of personal property (both shop 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.

Currently, Sadeghi is spending the ninth year of his sentence. His request for a retrial, for both him and his wife, has been dismissed twice by the Branch 33 of the Supreme Court of Iran.

In May of 2021, Mosanna was dispatched to a hospital from prison due to intestinal bleeding.

In 1980, while Mosanna was only 13 years old, she was arrested along with her mother and jailed for three years. During this period, her three brothers Ali, Mostafa and Morteza as well as the wife of one of her brothers were executed in prison for the charge of “enmity against God” and “advocating for The People’s Mujahedin Organization of Iran”.

Sadeghi was arrested in 1981 and jailed for six years. He was beaten harshly in prison by prison agents. He still suffers from the effects. Despite currently suffering from glaucoma, heel bone fracture in both feet, and ulcer, he has been denied adequate medical treatment and hospitalization outside the prison for no compelling reason.