Tag: Behesht-e-Zahra

Ariana Akbari Arrested in Tehran

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ariana Akbari, Armita Garavand, Behesht-e-Zahra, Tehran

On December 6, 2023, security forces apprehended Ariana Akbari, a resident of Tehran, immediately after his participation in the memorial ceremony for Armita Geravand on the 40th day since her passing. Akbari was escorted to an undisclosed location by the arresting agents.

HRANA’s reports confirm that the arrest occurred at Behesht-e Zahra cemetery where the commemoration ceremony had been held.

It is noteworthy that Akbari had previously experienced arrest during the nationwide protests in 2022.

On October 1, 2023, Armita Garavand, a 17-year-old student, sustained a head injury while on her way to school at a metro station in Tehran. She was hospitalized and tragically passed away after 28 days in the hospital. Iranian authorities claim that she suffered a head injury due to a “pressure drop” and falling to the ground. However, some media outlets and human rights groups consider her a victim of harassment and an altercation with a hijab enforcement officer.

Report on Eleven Political Prisoners and Detainees Held in Evin Prison’s Quarantine Section

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News
Alireza Hajian, Arash Keykhosravi, Behesht-e-Zahra, Behfar Laleh Zari, Evin Prison, Hamed Mohagheghi, HRANA, Mohsen Haj Mohammadi, Payam Bastani Parizi, Pouria Shokoohi Rad, Reza Mohammad Hosseini, Rezavaneh Ahmadkah Beigi, Sajjad Bakhshali, Saman Rezaie, Zaman Esmaeili

Eleven political prisoners and detainees find themselves in the quarantine section of Evin Prison.

Nine among them were apprehended between September 11 and September 18, in a state of legal uncertainty. This group includes Mohsen Haj Mohammadi, Sajjad Bakhshali, Pouria Shokoohi Rad, Hamed Mohagheghi, Behfar Laleh Zari, Payam Bastani Parizi, Saman Rezaie, Alireza Hajian, and Zaman (Arash) Esmaeili. Additionally, Reza Mohammad Hosseini, a former political prisoner, faced punitive relocation to this section following his arrest on May 1, 2023. Lawyer Arash Keykhosravi, most recently arrested at his residence by security forces, completes the group.

According to information gathered by HRANA, in addition to these eleven prisoners, there are several other individuals currently detained in the same section. These individuals were recently arrested for participating in the anniversary ceremony commemorating the protestors who lost their lives during the 2022 nationwide protests at Behesht-e Zahra cemetery. HRANA is actively engaged in efforts to identify these detainees.

Here is an overview of the eleven prisoners:

1. Sajjad Bakhshali: Arrested on September 18, 2023. He spent seven days in solitary confinement at a public security police station, charged with “assembly and collusion against national security.” Bakhshali has previously faced multiple arrests and incarcerations for his activism.

2. Behfar Laleh Zari: Arrested alongside his wife, Rezavaneh Ahmadkah Beigi, on September 18, 2023. He spent seven days in solitary confinement at a public security police station, charged with “assembly and collusion against national security.” A former political prisoner, Laleh Zari was released from Evin prison in February 2019. His wife is currently detained in Qarchak Prison, Varamin.

3. Payam Bastani Parizi: Arrested on September 11, 2023, he has been charged with “assembly and collusion against national security.” After 12 days in IRGC’s detention facility 1-A, he was transferred to Evin Prison.

4. Reza Mohammad Hosseini: Arrested on May 1, 2023, Hosseini faces charges of “spreading propaganda against the regime, assembly and collusion against national security, and association with anti-regime news channels.” Hosseini is being held punitively in the quarantine section and has a history of prior arrests and convictions related to his activism.

5. Arash Keykhosravi: An attorney at law, arrested on September 25, 2023. Keykhosravi is among the nine Iranian lawyers and human rights defenders apprehended on August 14, 2021, during a meeting to discuss a lawsuit against Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the government regarding the ban on foreign vaccines. He was sentenced to two years in prison, a one-year ban from practicing law, and a ban on media activities, with the sentence upheld on appeal. Keykhosravi was also previously detained in Evin Prison from November 19, 2022, to March 6, 2023.

6. Mohsen Haj Mohammadi: Arrested on September 18, 2023, he is charged with “assembly and collusion against national security.” He spent seven days in solitary confinement at a Public Security Police station.

7. Pouria Shokoohi Rad: Arrested on September 18, 2023, charged with “assembly and collusion against national security.” He also spent seven days in solitary confinement at a Public Security Police station.

8. Hamed Mohagheghi: Arrested on September 18, 2023, charged with “assembly and collusion against national security.” He spent seven days in solitary confinement at a Public Security Police station.

9. Saman Rezaie: Arrested on September 12, 2023, he faces the charge of “assembly and collusion against national security.” Rezaie spent 11 days in IRGC’s detention facility 1-A.

10. Alireza Hajian: Arrested on September 15, 2023, charged with “assembly and collusion against national security.” He also spent 12 days in IRGC’s detention facility 1-A.

11. Zaman (Arash) Esmaeili: Arrested on September 15, 2023, facing the charge of “assembly and collusion against national security.” He also spent 12 days in IRGC’s detention facility 1-A.

Notably, as per Article 217 of Iran’s Criminal Procedure Law, the case investigator is obliged to grant the defendant bail after indictment. However, these detainees have been denied this right by prison and judicial authorities.

 

Zia Nabavi’s One-Year Sentence Upheld by Court of Appeals

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News, Students
Behesht-e-Zahra, Branch 36, Nabavi, Revolutionary Court of Tehran, Student activist, Students, Tehran, Zia Nabavi, Zie (Zia-el-din) Nabavi

Branch 36 of the Court of Appeals in Tehran recently upheld a one year sentence for student activist Zia (Zia-el-din) Nabavi.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the Revolutionary Court of Tehran had initially convicted Nabavi on a charge of “propaganda against the regime”.

The sentence included one year in prison including other unconventional punishments like monthly attendance of martyrs’ burial grounds in Behesht-e Zahra cemetery, disabled veteran sanatorium, emotional control courses and the prohibition of leaving the country for two years.

On February 25, 2020, Nabavi was arrested by security forces in Tehran and released on bail on March 2, 2020. He had previously faced other arrests and convictions due to his non-violent activities.

Part 41 of Behesht-e-Zahra: Broken Graves of Political Opponents

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Freedom of Expression
Behesht-e-Zahra

HRANA News Agency – Part 41 of Behesht-e-Zahra cemetery is among the most famous burial places where a large number of critics and opponents of the Islamic Republic of Iran, especially the executed prisoners, have been buried. This place has been subjected to destruction and disrespect throughout the years after the revolution. Recently some news of the possibility of further destruction of this part has been published in the media.

According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency in Iran (HRANA), you would not see any explanations about the people buried in the graves. Perhaps the most eloquent explanation is the “Broken Tombstones” of part 41.

Most of the gravestones are completely crushed and it’s hard to read their writings. Some survivors have put the bouquet of flowers, some chocolate or fruit for charity on the same stones.

This part is deliberately kept dry unlike the abacus and green parts of Behesht-e-Zahra, its rubbish is not collected and cleaned, its graves are mostly without signs or with crushed stones and even those who refer to these parts to visit the graves of their loved ones had experienced a hefty security environment.