Tag: HRANA

Baha’i Couple’s Sentence Upheld by Court of Appeals

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News, Religious Minorities
Anisa Samieian, Baha'i citizen, Gilan province, HRANA, Rasht, Vesal Momtazi

The Gilan Province Court of Appeals has maintained the prison sentence for the Baha’i couple, Vesal Momtazi and Anisa Samieian.

Originally sentenced by the Rasht Revolutionary Court, Momtazi and Samieian received a combined term of nine years and six months. Mrs. Samieian’s sentence encompasses three years and six months for “engaging in educational activities and propaganda against Sharia law,” in addition to seven months and 16 days for “propaganda against the regime.” Meanwhile, Mr. Momtazi has received seven months and 16 days for “propaganda against the regime,” along with one year and three months for “insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran” and three years and six months for “insulting Sharia law.” He is also facing a fine of 38 million tomans. Both individuals are further subjected to social restrictions lasting a decade.

Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code dictates that each of them will serve three years and six months in prison.

According to an HRANA source close to the family, more than 50 individuals, including friends, colleagues, art students, and their parents, compiled an affidavit attesting to the couple’s adherence to the law. Regrettably, this affirmation was not permitted for presentation during the appellate court proceedings.

On November 4, 2022, security forces searched their residence, resulting in their apprehension. Following his arrest on December 6, 2022, Momtazi was granted bail. Samieian, who was pregnant at the time of her arrest, secured her release on bail after undergoing two interrogation sessions. It’s noteworthy that this Baha’i couple is responsible for the care of two young sons, aged five and about four months.

The Baha’i faith is not recognized as a legitimate religion by Iranian authorities, leading to systematic and longstanding violations of the rights of Baha’is in the country. This includes the denial of their fundamental right to practice their religion, which constitutes a clear breach of both 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.

 

Journalist Nazila Maroufian Re-Arrested Just One Day After Release

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, HRANA, Iman Afshari, Mahsa Amini, Nazila Maroufian, Qarchak Prison, Saqqez, Tehran Revolutionary Court

On Monday, August 14, journalist Nazila Maroufian was re-arrested by security forces and promptly taken to Qarchak Prison in Varamin. Her recent arrest comes after being granted bail and released from Evin Prison on August 13.

A reliable source close to Maroufian’s family, speaking to HRANA, has confirmed that she is now held at Qarchak Prison.

Maroufian’s ordeal began on October 30, 2022, when she was initially arrested by security forces and incarcerated in Ward 209 of Evin Prison. Subsequently, she was transferred to Qarchak Prison before being granted temporary freedom upon payment of a 600-million-toman bail (approximately $12,000 USD).

In January 2023, the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, handed down a two-year suspended imprisonment sentence to Maroufian. This sentence was related to charges of “spreading propaganda against the regime and disseminating falsehoods to disrupt public opinion through an interview with Mahsa Amini’s father.” Alongside the suspended sentence, she also received a fine and a five-year ban on leaving the country.
On July 4, security forces conducted a raid and search on her residence, subsequently summoning her to Evin Courthouse. Four days later, she was re-arrested and confined once again to Evin Prison, following her appearance at Evin Courthouse. After a period of time, she was charged with “propaganda against the regime.”

Nazila Maroufian, a journalist and student at Allameh Tabatabai University, hails from Saqqez and currently resides in Tehran. With a notable career in media, she has contributed to outlets such as Didban Iran and Rouydad24.

 

 

Activist Mehdi Shaki Mashhadi Detained in Mashhad

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Mashhad, Mehdi Shaki Mashhadi

Mashhad, August 12 – Security forces took activist Mehdi Shaki Mashhadi into custody on Saturday, with his current whereabouts undisclosed.

According to a reliable course who spoke to HRANA, Mashhadi was arrested at his residence in Mashhad. The precise reasons behind his detainment, his present location, and the nature of the charges remain undisclosed.

It’s worth noting that Shaki Mashhadi has a prior history of arrests linked to his activism. His last arrest dates back to December 2022 when he was apprehended by security forces in relation to the 2022 nationwide protests.

Two Inmates Executed in Bam Prison for Drug-Related Charges

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Executions, News
Bam prison, Hamed Jamshidi, HRANA

On August 13, the Bam Prison officials carried out the execution of two inmates found guilty of drug-related offenses.

HRANA has identified one of them as Hamed Jamshidi.

Despite the occurrence of these executions, no official statements from governmental sources or national media channels within the country have shed light on these incidents.

In 2022, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran documented a total of 457 cases involving the death penalty. Among these cases, approximately 43% were associated with drug-related convictions.

Kermanshah Resident Vahid Sorkh Gol Apprehended

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Kermanshah, Vahid Sorkh Gol

On August 9, 2023, Vahid Sorkh Gol was apprehended in Kermanshah and transferred to an undisclosed location after his appearance at the Public and Revolutionary Court.

According to a source with close ties to his family, the exact location where he is being held remains undisclosed.

Some time ago, Sorkh Gol received a summons to appear at the Kermanshah courthouse, for facing the charges of “spreading anti-regime propaganda” and “assembly and collusion against national security.”

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Students Hasti Amiri and Zia Nabavi Each Sentenced to One-Year Prison Terms

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Freedom of Expression, News, Students
Allameh Tabatabai University, Hasti Amiri, HRANA, Iman Afshari, Tehran, Zia Nabavi

Tehran, August 9, 2023: In a recent development, Hasti Amiri and Zia Nabavi, both students at Allameh Tabataba’i University, have been each handed a one-year prison sentence by the Tehran Revolutionary Court, as reported by Emtedad News.

Presiding Judge Iman Afshari conveyed the verdict to the students, indicating that they have been found guilty of “propaganda against the regime.” This decision was reached during a court session held on July 10, 2023.

The legal action against Amiri and Nabavi stems from their participation in protests against a series of poison attacks targeting schoolgirls across Iran.

Furthermore, during a protest assembly at Allameh Tabataba’i University on December 7, 2022, more than 30 students were barred from entering the university premises and subsequently faced disciplinary measures. As a consequence, The Student Basij of the university sought the involvement of security institutions and the initiation of legal proceedings against Amiri and Nabavi.

Both of these students have a documented history of arrests and convictions due to their involvement in various activist initiatives.

Between late November 2022 and March 7, 2023, at least 290 schools, primarily girls’ schools, were targeted by poison attacks using an unspecified toxic gas, affecting at least 7,068 students in 103 schools. For further details and statistics, please refer to the HRANA report.”

Two Inmates Executed in Arak Prison for Drug Offenses

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Executions, News
Arak prison, Arsalan Kazemi, HRANA

On August 6, 2023, Arak Prison carried out the execution of two prisoners who had been convicted of drug-related crimes, according to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists.

HRANA has identified one of the individuals executed has been identified as Arsalan Kazemi, aged 32.

As of the time of reporting, no official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have provided any coverage of these executions.

These executions highlight the issue of capital punishment for drug-related offenses. In 2022, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran recorded 457 reports concerning the death penalty. Shockingly, approximately 43% of these executions were linked to drug-related charges.

 

Isfahan Resident Pouya Dana Arrested by Security Forces

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Isfahan, Pouya Dana, Roozbeh Dana

On August 2, 2023, security forces arrested Pouya Dana, aged about 31, at his father’s residence in Isfahan and took him to an undisclosed location.

A reliable source, who spoke to HRANA, disclosed that during the arrest, the security forces seized Pouya Dana’s cell phone and that of his father.

The exact reasons behind Pouya Dana’s arrest, his current location, and the charges filed against him remain shrouded in uncertainty. His brother, Roozbeh Dana, is also among the twelve Isfahan residents who were arrested on July 11, 2023.

 

Former Political Prisoner Ali-Asghar Hassani-Rad Arrested by IRGC Intelligence

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ali-Asghar Hassani Rad, Ali-Asghar Hassanirad, HRANA, irgc, Nowshahr

In a recent development, former political prisoner Ali-Asghar Hassani-Rad has been arrested by IRGC intelligence and taken to an undisclosed location.

A reliable source close to his family confirmed the involvement of the IRGC intelligence unit in the arrest. The incident occurred approximately two months ago when security forces visited his mother’s residence but failed to apprehend him due to his absence. Since then, Hassani-Rad had been in hiding in Nowshahr.

The reasons behind his arrest, his current location, and the specific charges against him remain unknown at this time.

Notably, this is not the first time Ali-Asghar Hassani-Rad has faced arrest. In May 2020, the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced him to 16 years and seven months in prison, with seven years enforceable. Additionally, he was banned from leaving the country, joining political groups, and engaging in social media/media activities.

However, following the “pardon and commutation” directive, Hassani-Rad was granted amnesty, leading to his release from Evin Prison on February 15, 2023.

Three Inmates Executed in Khorramabad for Drug-Related Offenses

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Executions, News
HRANA, Khorramabad, Kianoosh Teymoori, Mohammad-Javad Akbari, Parsilon Prison, Sharif Akbari

On August 2, 2023, three inmates were executed at Parsilon Prison in Khorramabad after being convicted of drug-related crimes.

The executed prisoners have been identified by HRANA as Mohammad-Javad Akbari, Sharif Akbari, and Kianoosh Teymoori.
The execution process commenced after the inmates were transferred to solitary confinement last Monday, as a precursor to the implementation of the sentence.

At present, no official sources or domestic media outlets in the country have reported on these executions.

In 2022, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran registered 457 reports related to the death penalty. This included 92 death sentences, including the conviction of 6 people to public execution and 565 execution sentences were carried out, 2 of which have been carried out in public. Based on the announced identifications of some of the executed individuals, 501 were male and 11 were female. In addition, 5 juvenile offenders were executed in 2022, meaning they were under the age of 18 at the time they committed the crime.