Tag: Akbar Faraji

Report on Mass Release of Prisoners in the Past 24 Hours

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ahad Barzgar, Akbar Faraji, Ashkan Omrjooie, Elvar Gholivand, Hossein Toyoori, Mahnaz Tarah, Masoud Kurdpour, Morteza Ghaderi, Pouya Mazloumi, Ramin Pouramin, Zeinab Mousavi

The large-scale releases of prisoners continued in the past 24 hours, as several prisoners of conscience were released from different prisons across the country. Meanwhile, the case against comedian and parody artist Zeinab Mousavi was closed without further legal proceedings.

Of these freed prisoners, the most known prisoners are:

  1. Political prisoner Akbar Faraji (Farajim) from Evin Prison
  2. Civil rights activist Elvar Gholivand from Evin Prison
  3. Hossein Toyoori, arrested during 2019 protests, from Evin Prison
  4. Mahnaz Tarah from Evin Prison
  5. Dancer and parkour Morteza Ghaderi, a resident of Tehran
  6. Ashkan Omrjooie, a student at the University of Kurdistan, from Urmia
  7. Ahad Barzgar from Rajai Shahr Prison, Karaj
  8. Student Pouya Mazloumi from the Great Tehran Penitentiary
  9. Ramin Pouramin, arrested at recent nationwide protests, from the Great Tehran Penitentiary
  10. Masoud Kurdpour, Mukrian News Agency chief editor, from Bukan Prison

Moreover, the legal case against comedian Zeinab Mousavi, known for her parody character ‘Empress of Kuzcoo’, was announced closed.

Details of these prison releases are still unknown. They are, however, likely released under recent approval to “pardon and commute” the sentence of some prisoners.

Earlier, the head of the Judiciary proposed the issuance of a pardon decree for some prisoners, including those arrested at recent protests, which was approved by Ali Khamenei under some conditions which the legal case should meet.

 

 

 

Update on Prisoner Akbar Faraji in Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Akbar Faraji, Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary

Political prisoner Akbar Faraji (Farajim), age 41, is serving a five-year sentence in the Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary.

On October 8, 2021, Faraji and 13 other inmates were relocated to a locked-door ward. After being kept there for several months, the inmates in this ward are suffering from many issues such as frequent water cuts, overcrowding and the lack of a ventilation system.

On February 10, 2019, security forces arrested Akbar Faraji for his activities on social media. He was held at one IRGC detention facility in Tehran and after ten days of interrogation, transferred to Evin Prison. On February 24, 2019, Faraji was released on bail of 300 million Tomans.

On April 9, 2019, Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced Akbar Faraji to five years in prison on the charge of “assembly and collusion against national security” and one year on the charge of “propaganda against the regime.” This verdict was upheld on appeal. Based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the five years sentence for the first charge is enforceable. On September 6, 2020, Faraji was jailed in the Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary to serve his sentence.

14 Political Prisoners Punitively Transferred to Locked-Door Ward of Greater Tehran Prison

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Akbar Bagheri, Akbar Faraji, Alireza Farshi, Dawood Abdollahi, Hojatollah Rafei, Hossein Ghasghaie, Ismail Gerami, Mehran Delfan-Azari, Meysam Gholoami, Morteza Olangi, Pouya Ghobadi, Reza Salavati, Shahab Soltanian, Shapur Ehsani-rad

Following a beating of political prisoners by a mob of fellow inmates of violent crimes in the Greater Tehran prison, the official authorities forced 14 of these political prisoners to relocate to a ward with locked doors and inadequate conditions.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, these political prisoners were housed in section 1, type 2 of the Greater Tehran prison. They were said that if they refuse to relocate, Special Prison Guards would take action to relocate them by force.

The inmates have been identified as Hossein Ghasghaie, Mehran Delfan-Azari, Meysam Gholoami, Hojatollah Rafei, Reza Salavati, Morteza Olangi, Shahab Soltanian, Dawood Abdollahi, Shapur Ehsani-rad, Pouya Ghobadi, Ismail Gerami, Akbar Bagheri, Alireza Farshi and Akbar Faraji.

The day after this incident, in response to this news, the head of state prisons and Security and Corrective Measures Organization, Muhammad Mehdi Haj-Mohammadi confirmed the news.

“In regard to inaccurate news of beating in the Greater Tehran prison, I would say that not intellectuals but criminals belong to the prison,” Haj-Mohammadi wrote on his personal page on social media. “Despite all controls, tensions and quarrels happen.”

On Friday, October 8, the above-mentioned prisoners were beaten by a mob of prisoners of violent crimes. Contrary to the laws of the prison, these political prisoners were being housed in the same ward as the prisoners of violent crimes. Reportedly, Pouya  Ghobadi and Akbar Bagheri were severely injured.

 

Political Prisoners Beaten After Being Held in Ward for Inmates Convicted of Violent Crimes

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Akbar Bagheri, Akbar Faraji, Branch 36, Greater Tehran Penitentiary, Greater Tehran Prison, Ismail Gerami, Pouya Ghobadi, Shapur Ehsani-rad, tehran prison

On Friday, October 8, in Greater Tehran Prison, a number of political prisoners were beaten by fellow inmates convicted of violent crimes.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, contrary to the laws of the prison, these political prisoners are being housed in the same ward as the prisoners of violent crimes.

In the incident, Shapur Ehsani-rad, Pouya Ghobadi, Ismail Gerami, Akbar Bagheri and Akbar Faraji were injured and a few were hospitalized.

The political prisoners held in this ward had already complained and asked the prison officials to relocate them to other wards.

Workers’ rights activist, Shapur Ehsani-rad is serving his six-year sentence. Despite poor health condition and backache, he has been denied furlough for medical treatment.

Political prisoner, Pouya Ghobadi is serving his five-year sentence. In August of this year, the trial addressing the second part of his for the charge of ” enmity against God” was held.

Recently, in the court of appeal, workers’ rights activists Ismail Gerami was sentenced to five years imprisonment and flogging of 74 laches and paying a 20-million fine.

In 2018, Akbar Bagheri was sentenced to a nine-year imprisonment. The court of appeals upheld the verdict without making any changes.

On February 10, 2019, Akbar Faraji was arrested by security forces for online political activities and sentenced to six years imprisonment by Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court. This verdict was upheld by Branch of 36 of Appellate Court. On September 6, 2020, he was arrested to serve his term in Greater Tehran Prison.