Tag: HRANA

Sepideh Rashno Released on Bail

Posted on by A MN
News, Women
HRANA, Sepideh Rashno

On August 30, 2022, Sepideh Rashno was released on an 800-million-tomans bail after being indicted. 

According to #HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, artist Sepideh Rashno was indicted and then released on bail until the end of the legal proceeding.

On August 29, Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court indicted Rashno on the charge of “assembly and collusion to act against national security”, “propaganda against the regime”, and “promotion of impurity and indecency.”

On July 16, security forces arrested Rashno after a quarrel on a city bus with a woman who harassed and assaulted her for what she deemed as improper hejab. Such incidents are on the rise in public places as the government has tightened the hejab enforcement. 

On July 30, Official media outlets inside Iran released a forced confession video of Rashno. HRANA revealed that prior to this confession, Rashno had been hospitalized due to the risk of internal bleeding indicating she had been tortured to make the confession.

Rashno, age 28, is a student of Tehran University and a resident of Khorramabad.

Update on Alireza Saghafi’s Condition in Kachooie Prison

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Alireza Saghafi, HRANA, Kachooie Prison

Workers’ rights activist Alireza Saghafi is serving his one-year sentence in Kachooie Prison in the same ward as the prisoners of violent crimes. Despite his poor health condition, he is denied medical furlough.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, workers’ rights activist Alireza Saghafi is held in the same ward as the prisoners of violent crimes in violation of prison rules.

An informed source told HRANA that Sagahafi suffers from high blood pressure. He also suffers from backache and walks with a cane.

Despite two times requests from the prison infirmary, Saghafi has not received proper medical treatment.

Saghafi was arrested in September 2019 and sentenced to one year in prison by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court in Karaj City on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”.

Students and Reporters Arrested in Tehran Protest 

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
compulsory military service, HRANA, Iranian Public Conscription Organization

On August 27, 2022, students held a protest against compulsory military service before the Iranian Public Conscription Organization in Tehran, which led to the arrest of several students and reporters. 

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on August 27, 2022, the police arrested several students and reporters during a protest against compulsory military service.

The identity and whereabouts of these individuals are unknown so far.

The students had previously demanded a response from the General Staff of the Armed Forces.

Two-year mandatory conscription for male individuals above 18 has caused a financial burden on poor families who cannot afford to buy out the conscription.

Journalist Vida Rabbani Sentenced to Prison

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Blasphemy, Evin Prison, HRANA, the Union of Islamic Iran People Party, Vida Rabbani

The Court of Appeal of Tehran sentenced Vida Rabbani to ten years and four months imprisonment and additional punishments. 

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Vida Rabbani, journalist and a member of the Union of Islamic Iran People Party, was sentenced to ten years and four months in prison.

According to this verdict, she has been sentenced to five years in prison on the charge of “blasphemy”, four years for “assembly and collusion to act against national security”, eight months for “propaganda against the regime”, and eight months for “disrupting public order”. Based on article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, five years for the first charge will be enforceable.

Rabbani has also been banned from practising journalism and engaging in political activities.

On November 22, 2020, Rabbani was arrested and transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison. She was released on bail later on December 20, 2020.

Female Afghan National Executed in Rajai-Shahr Prison

Posted on by A MN
Executions, News
executed Afghan national, HRANA, Rajai Shahr Prison, Senobar Jalali

On July 27, 2022, a female convict was executed in Rajai-Shahr Prison in Karaj.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on July 27, 2022, a female inmate was executed in Rajai-Shahr Prison in Karaj.

HRANA has identified this woman as Senobar Jalali, an Afghan national.

An informed source told HRANA that one day before the execution, Jalali had been relocated from Qarchak Prison in Varamin to Rajai Shahr Prison.

This execution has not been reported by the official sources and media outlets inside Iran so far.

The most recent report from the Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) states that between January 1 of 2021 and December 20 of 2021, at least 299 citizens, including four juvenile offenders, were executed. In addition, 85 citizens were sentenced to death in this period. 

As the report points out, Iran’s judicial authorities do not publicly announce over 88% of executions. These unreported executions are known as “secret executions” by human rights organizations.

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Inmate Denied Medical Care, Died in Prison

Posted on by A MN
News
Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary, HRANA, Saeed Kavoosi

An inmate died due to insufficient medical care in the Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on July 20, 2022, the lack of medical attention led to the death of an inmate in the Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary.

HRANA has identified the inmate as Saeed Kavoosi, age 46, who was imprisoned for charges related to financial crime.

An informed source told HRANA, “Last Wednesday, Kavoosi went to the prison infirmary but the prison’s physicians refused to receive him”.

“Kavoosi’s health condition was critical, other prisoners took him to the prison’s chapel where he died at 7:30 pm. Then prison officials took the body to the infirmary and declared cardiac arrest as the cause of death,” the source added.

According to this source, Kavoosi had just one kidney and suffered from diabetes and high blood pressure.

His death has not been reported by official sources and media outlets inside Iran so far. 

Three Baha’i Citizens Arrested in Bojnurd

Posted on by A MN
News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i citizens, Faran Senai, HRANA, Shayan Senai, Sholeh Shahidi

On July 13, three Baha’i individuals, Sholeh Shahidi and her two sons Faran and Shayan Senaei, were arrested in Bojnurd, North Khorasan Province. The agents searched their house and confiscated some of their personal belongings.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on July 13, 2022, Baha’i individuals, Sholeh Shahidi and her two sons Faran and Shayan Senaei were arrested and transferred to an unidentified location.

An informed source told HRANA that another Baha’i citizen’s house, whose identity remains unknown, has also been searched and some of her belongings have been confiscated.

The reason for these arrests, the charges, and the individuals’ whereabouts are unknown so far.

The deprivation of the freedom to practice their religion is a breach of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The United Nations covenant holds that every person has the right to freedom of religion, freedom of converting religion, as well as freedom of expression, individually or collectively; openly or secretly.

Inmate Executed in Gachsaran Prison

Posted on by A MN
Executions, News
Behzad Narooie, Gachsaran Prison, Hadi Moradi, HRANA, Zahedan Prison

On July 6, 2022, an inmate who is convicted of murder was executed in Gachsaran Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on July 6, 2022, an inmate identified by HRANA as Hadi Moradi was executed in Gachsaran Prison.

This execution has not been reported by the official sources and media outlets inside Iran so far. 

Haal Vsh News also reported that today, in Zahedan Prison, an inmate was relocated to solitary confinement awaiting execution. This inmate has been identified as Behzad Narooie, age 33, who was convicted of drug-related crimes.

The most recent report from the Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) states that between January 1 of 2021 and December 20 of 2021, at least 299 citizens, including four juvenile offenders, were executed. In addition, 85 citizens were sentenced to death in this period. 

As the report points out, Iran’s judicial authorities do not publicly announce over 88% of executions. These unreported executions are known as “secret executions” by human rights organizations.

 

Political Prisoner Ahmadreza Haeri Arrested in Tehran

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Ahmadreza Haeri, Cybercrime Court of Tehran, HRANA, The Black Thursday of Evin Prison, the Greater Tehran prison

On June 27, 2022, security forces arrested political prisoner Ahmadreza Haeri in Tehran.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Emtedad News, on Monday, June 27, 2022, security forces arrested political prisoner Ahmadreza Haeri. The arrest was ordered by Branch 3 of the Interrogation Office of Evin Court.

Last week, IRGC agents raided and searched Haeri’s house and confiscated some of his personal belongings. During the search, Haeri was verbally instructed to appear at Evin Courthouse.

In October of last year, he was summoned to the Cybercrime Court of Tehran following a complaint from the Prisons Security and Corrective Measures Organization of Tehran Province (PSCMO).

Earlier, Ahmadreza Haeri had faced other arrests and convictions. On April 17, 2014, dozens of political prisoners in Ward 350 of Evin Prison were beaten brutally by security agents. In protest against this incident which is called “The Black Thursday of Evin Prison”, prisoners’ families and other individuals held protests in front of the Parliament and Judiciary, which led to the arrest of several protestors including Ahmadreza Haeri. One month later, he was sentenced to 42 months in prison by Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran.

This initial verdict was upheld on appeal. However, following his lawyer’s objection, Haeri’s verdict was revoked and this time the case was undertaken by Branch 54 of the court of appeals, which sentenced him to six months in prison and 74 lashes. 

On July 25, 2020, Haeri endured the flogging by the Intelligence and Public Security Police of NAJA and was sent to the Greater Tehran prison to serve his six-month sentence. On October 8, 2020, he was released on probation from the Greater Tehran prison.

Concern over Prisoner Mohammad-Ali Mansouri’s Health 

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
HRANA, Iran Mansouri, javaid rehman, MEK, Mohammad Ali Mansouri, Sunni prisoners

Political prisoner Mohammad-Ali Mansouri, who is serving the fifteenth year out of his seventeen-year sentence in Rajai Shahr Prison, is denied urgent medical treatment and furlough despite prior approval. In an open statement, his mother, Iran Mansouri asked human rights organizations for help.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Mohammad-Ali Mansouri, a political prisoner who is held in  Rajai Shahr Prison is denied urgent medical treatment and furlough.

An informed source told HRANA, “Last year, Mansouri had a heart attack. Although it was suggested that he should be at a healthcare facility for further examination and supervision, the  prison authority rejected the request.”

“Mansouri has served his first sentence and now he is imprisoned for another sentence which he faced during prison time”, this source added.

In an open statement addressing Javaid Rehman, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iran, Amnesty International and United Nations Human Rights Council, Mansouri’s Mother, Iran Mansouri expressed concern about her son’s poor health and asked for help.

Mansouri was arrested in September 2007 after attending the 19th anniversary of the massacre of political prisoners in 1988. Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court, headed by Judge Abolghasem Salavati, sentenced him to 17 years in prison and a fine of 150,000 tomans on the charge of “communicating and collaborating with the People’s Mujahedin Organization (MEK)”. The sentence was upheld by the Court of Appeals.

In May 2018, on the pretext of [conducting] “activities inside the prison” such as going on a hunger strike, inciting prisoners, and writing a statement in support of the Sunni prisoners,  Mansouri was charged with “collusion against the regime” and sentenced to an additional five years in prison.