Tag: HRANA

Report Highlights 129 Instances of Security and Judicial Encounters with Attorneys in the Last Ten Months

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Freedom of Expression, News
Attorneys at Law, Hamidreza Mohammadi, Hassan Saffadoust, HRANA, Iran Bar Association, Mohammad Shiwayi, Vokalapress

HRANA News Agency – Since the inception of the 2022 nationwide protests, a significant number of attorneys in Iran have faced numerous encounters with the judicial and security authorities, including arrests and summons. This report includes a list of these detained or summoned lawyers.

According to HRANA, the news agency of human rights activists in Iran, 129 attorneys have been subject to various judicial encounters, such as arrests and summonses, due to reasons ranging from practicing their profession to expressing opinions on social media.

HRANA has verified the names of forty-three lawyers who have been summoned to court. Although the reasons behind many of these summonses remain unclear, reports and documents received by HRANA indicate that they are likely linked to incidents regarding the 2022 nationwide protests or the lawyers’ expressions of opinions on social media. In the past two months, most of the summonses issued by judicial authorities have been communicated to the attorneys, as reported by HRANA.

A judiciary attorney, whose name is confidential at HRANA, revealed, “Some of the lawyers summoned to Evin court have been compelled to sign a letter of commitment entitled ‘the necessity to adhere to the law and the principles of the regime.'” These commitments bear resemblance to a letter of commitment presented to some of those arrested during the nationwide protests as a condition for receiving a pardon.

Furthermore, fifty-five judiciary attorneys across the country have been arrested and faced legal action since the onset of the nationwide protests. It is important to note that the majority of these lawyers have been temporarily released on bail pending the conclusion of legal proceedings. Additionally, a number of these legal cases have been closed under the “pardon and commutation” directive.

In a recent statement, Mohammad Shiwayi, the Secretary of the Support Commission of the Central Bar Association, disclosed that approximately 70 attorneys have been summoned to Tehran’s security court. The identities of 43 out of a total of 70 summoned attorneys have been confirmed by HRANA and are included in the list. HRANA is currently reviewing the identities of the remaining 27 attorneys.

Speaking with Vokalapress, Shiwayi clarified, “Since May 8, 2023, some judiciary attorneys have received summonses from Tehran’s security court, primarily from Branch 7 of Evin (Shahid Moghaddas) Security Courthouse. However, these summonses do not specify any allegations or reasons.”

“During a meeting with Hassan Saffadoust, head of the Central Bar Association, and Hamidreza Mohammadi, the head of the public relations of this association, we decided to take action to protect the legal rights of attorneys across the country, with a particular focus on its members,” Shiwayi added.

Verified names of summoned attorneys from across the country:

1. Mohammad Hossein Aghasi – summoned in two stages in February-March 2023 and May 20, 2023 – Tehran (Evin court) – Reason for summons: Unclear (probably due to expression of opinion)
2. Ramin Safarnia – summoned on December 22, 2022 – Bushehr – Reason for summons: Representing the case of his client Mahmoud Molaki, a trade activist
3. Ali Sharifzadeh Ardakani – summoned on May 23, 2023– Tehran (Evin court) – Reason: Unclear (probably due to expression of opinion)
4. Mohammad Hadi Erfanian Kasab – summoned on February 28, 2023 – Tehran (Evin court) – Reason for summons: Unclear (probably due to expression of opinion)
5. Mohammad Seifzadeh – summoned on April 29, 2023 – Tehran (Evin court) – Reason for summons: Writing a letter to the Secretary-General of the United Nations
6. Ehsan Haqi – Summoned on unknown date – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for Summons: Unknown (Presumably due to expressing opinion)
7. Hassan Younesi – Summoned on May 23, 2023 – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for Summons: Unknown (Presumably due to expressing opinion)
8. Mohammad Ali Kamfirouzi – Summoned on unknown date – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for Summons: Unknown (Presumably due to expressing opinion)
9. Amin Adel Ahmadian – Summoned on May 22, 2023 – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for Summons: Unknown (Presumably due to expressing opinion)
10. Mohammad Hadi Jafarpour – Summoned on May 22, 2023 – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for Summons: Unknown (Presumably due to expressing opinion)
11. Samin Charaghi – Summoned on May 21, 2023 – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for Summons: Unknown (Presumably due to expressing opinion)
12. Sara Hamzehzadeh – Summoned on May 24, 2023 – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for Summons: Unknown (Presumably due to expressing opinion)
13. Mahmoud Sadeghi – Summoned on May 23, 2023 – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for Summons: Unknown (Presumably due to expressing opinion)
14. Farzaneh Zilabi – Summoned for June 6, 2023 – Ahvaz – Reason for Summons: Posting contents online
15. Tootia Partovi Amoli – Summoned on an unknown date – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for Summons: Unknown (Presumably due to expressing opinion)
16. Yashar Kazemi – Summoned on May 20, 2023 – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for Summons: Unknown (Presumably due to expressing opinion)
17. Shayan Zadegan – Summoned on May 22, 2023 – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for Summons: Unknown (Presumably due to expressing opinion)
18. Forough Sheikh al-Islami – Summoned on May 24, 2023 – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for Summons: Unknown (Presumably due to expressing opinion)
19. Amirhossein Ghafarian – Summoned on May 21, 2023 – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for Summons: Unknown (Presumably due to expressing opinion)
20. Mohammad Lavasani – Summoned on May 24, 2023 – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for Summons: Unknown (Presumably due to expressing opinion)
21. Abolfazl Hamzeh – Summoned on May 20, 2023 – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for Summons: Unknown (Presumably due to expressing opinion)
22. Marjan Esfahanian – Summoned on May 23, 2023 – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for Summons: Unknown (Presumably due to expressing opinion)
23. Marzieh Mohebi – Summoned on February 27, 2023 – Khorasan Razavi – Reason for Summons: Handling in the special court under Article 49 of the Constitution
24. Alireza Seyed Aghayi- Summoned on an unknown date – Tehran (Evin Courthouse)-Reason for summoning: Unknown (Possibly due to expressing opinions)
25. Rezvan Abbasi Farajzadeh-Summoned on May 21, 2023 – Tehran (Evin Courthouse)-Reason for summoning: Unknown (Possibly due to expressing opinions)
26. Mohammad-Reza Fard Parsa-Summoned on an unknown date – Tehran (Evin Courthouse)-Reason for summoning: Unknown (Possibly due to expressing opinions)
27. Parisa Ghasemi -Summoned on May 1, 2023 – Tehran (Evin Courthouse)-Reason for summoning: Unknown (Possibly due to expressing opinions)
28. Mitra Izadifar- Summoned on May 22, 2023 – Tehran (Evin Courthouse)-Reason for summoning: Unknown (Possibly due to expressing opinions)
29. Mehdi Karimi Farsi – Summoned on an unknown date – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for summoning: Unknown (Possibly due to expressing opinions)
30. Mohsen Borhani- Summoned on an unknown date – Tehran (Clergy Court) – Reason for summoning: Unknown (Possibly due to expressing opinions)
31. Elham Ayoubi – Summoned on April 30, 2023 – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for summoning: Accused of propaganda against the regime
32. Elnaz Moqimi – Summoned on May 22, 2023 – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for summoning: Unknown (Possibly due to expressing opinions)
33. Mostafa Shabani – Summoned on May 22, 2023 – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for summoning: Unknown (Possibly due to expressing opinions)
34. Mehran Heidari – Summoned on May 22, 2023 – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for summoning: Unknown (Possibly due to expressing opinions)
35. Majid Sabouri – Summoned on May 22, 2023 – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for summoning: Unknown (Possibly due to expressing opinions)
36. Saeed Sheikh – Summoned on an unknown date – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for summoning: Unknown (Possibly due to expressing opinions)
37. Abouzar Nasrallah – Summoned on an unknown date – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for summoning: Unknown (Possibly due to expressing opinions)
38. Ali Mojtehedzadeh – Summoned on an unknown date – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for summoning: Unknown (Possibly due to expressing opinions)
39. Reza Heidari – Summoned on May 30, 2023 – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for summoning: Unknown (Possibly due to expressing opinions)
40. Mahboubeh Joudaki – Summoned on May 30, 2023 – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for summoning: Unknown (Possibly due to expressing opinions)
41. Leila Ghasemi Pashaki – Summoned on June 1, 2023 – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for summoning: Unknown (Possibly due to expressing opinions)
42. Bahareh Fesharki – Summoned on an unknown date – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for summoning: Unknown (Possibly due to expressing opinions)
43. Zahra Mirbik Darvishond – Summoned on May 21, 2023 – Tehran (Evin Courthouse) – Reason for summoning: Unknown (Possibly due to expressing opinions)

Names of lawyers arrested since the inception of the 2022 nationwide protests:

1. Ali Sharifzadeh Ardakani – January 8, 2023 – Tehran – Last status: Free on bail
2. Saideh Mirghorbani – December 3, 2022 – Babolsar – Last status: In detention
3. Fereshteh Tabanian – February 20, 2023 – Ahvaz – Last status: Free on bail
4. Hassan Younesi – February 20, 2023- Tehran – Last status: Free
5. Mostafa Nili – February 20, 2023 – Tehran – Last status: Free
6. Negin Kiani – October 23, 2022- Tabriz – Last status: Free and fined
7. Saeid Ataei Kachuei -October 8, 2022- Alborz – Last status: In detention
8. Oveis Hamed Tavasoli -November 16, 2022- Tehran – Last status: Free
9. Arash Keykhsorui -November 19, 2022- Tehran – Last status: Free
10. Maryam Arvin -November 30, 2022- Sirjan – Last status: Case closed (deceased)
11. Sina Yousefi -October 15, 2022 – Tabriz – Last status: Free on bail and sentenced to prison and a fine
12. Ghasem Badi -October 15, 2022 – Tabriz – Last status: Free
13. Mohammad Ali Kamfirouzi -December 15, 2022- Tehran – Last status: Free on bail
14. Hassan Asadi Zeydabadi – November 16, 2022- Tehran – Last status: Free
15. Saeid Sheikh -October 12, 2022- Tehran – Last status: Free on bail
16. Amin Adel Ahmadian – October 25, 2022- Last status: Free on bail
17. Nazanin Salari -November 1, 2022- Shiraz – Last status: Free on bail
18. Bahar Sahraeiyan – November 1, 2022- Shiraz – Last status: Free on bail
19. Mahmoud Taravat Rooi -November 1, 2022 – Shiraz – Last status: Free on bail
20. Behzad Hakimizadeh – 19th Dey 1401 – Sanandaj – Last status: Free on bail
21. Mohammad Reza Faghihi -October 12, 2022- Tehran – Last status: Free on bail
22. Ghodsiyeh Ghodsbin -November 2, 2022 – Shiraz – Last status: Free on bail
23. Ali Reza Zare -November 2, 2022 – Shiraz – Last status: Free on bail
24. Mehdi Safari – November 2, 2022 – Shiraz – Last status: Free on bail
25. Mohammad Hadi Jafarpour – November 2, 2022 – Shiraz – Last status: Free on bail
26. Sara Hamzehzadeh – December 2022-January 2023- Shahrood – Last status: Free with a guarantor
27. Farzaneh Zilabi -February 14, 2023- Ahvaz – Last status: Free with a guar
28. Babak Paknia –September 25, 2022– Tehran – Last status: Released on bail
29. Mahsa Gholamali – September 24, 2022 (Persian Calendar) – Tehran – Last status: Free
30. Amir Mehdi Pour -October 17, 2022– Tabriz – Last status: Released on bail
31. Hussein Rezai – October 18, 2022– Tehran – Last status: Free
32. Astarah (Maryam) Ansari -November 2, 2022 – Shiraz – Last status: Released on bail
33. Parisa Qasemi –October 9, 2022– Last status: Free
34. Asghar Mohammadi – Unknown date– Tabriz – Last status: Free
35. Reza Hamzeh I –November 20, 2022– Qazvin – Last status: Free
36. Milad Panahi Pour –September 24, 2022– Tehran – Last status: Released on bail
37. Saeed Jalilian –September 24, 2022– Tehran – Last status: Released on bail
38. Golaleh Vatan Doost –October 4, 2022– Sanandaj – Last status: Free
39. Amir Dehqani –October 8, 2022– Tehran – Last status: Released on bail
40. Reza Etemad Ansari –October 8, 2022– Isfahan – Last status: Released on bail
41. Zahra (Firoozeh) Khordadchi –October 8, 2022– Isfahan – Last status: Released on bail
42. Ruhollah Mohammadrezaei –September 30, 2022– Tehran – Last status: Released on bail
43. Mohammad Arman –February-March 2023 – Arak – Last status: Unknown
44. Fariba Tavakoli –January-February 2023 – Tehran – Last status: Released with a guarantor
45. Hadi Razavi –November-December 2022 – Mashhad – Last status: Free
46. Farzaneh Akbarian – November-December 2022 – Fars, Yasuj – Last status: Released on bail
47. Mohammad Taheran Pour – Unknown date– Tehran – Last status: Unknown
48. Zahra Nazari –November 21, 2022– Sari – Last status: Released on bail
49. Maryam Sadrnia –December 8, 2022– Tehran – Last status: Released on bail
50. Hussein Bayat – Unknown date – Tehran – Last status: Free
51. Ibrahim Sabety – December 2022, January 2023– Qazvin – Last status: Free
52. Amirafshar Najafi – January-February 2023 – Qazvin – Last status: Free
53. Qahraman Karimi –October 30, 2022– Kermanshah – Last status: Released on bail
54. Hussein Rezai -October 18, 2022– Tehran – Last status: Unknown
55. Mohammad Rezai – Unknown date– Tehran – Last status: Unknown

 

For further inquiries please contact Skylar Thompson, the Director of Global Advocacy and Accountability at Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) at [email protected]

 

Lack of Information on Condition of Four Political Prisoners after Ten Months

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Freedom of Expression, News
Hajir Faramarzi, Hazhir Faramarzi, HRANA, Komalah, Mohsen Mazloum, Perjman Fatehi, Pezhman Fatehi, Sumay-ye Beradust, Urmia, Vafar Azarbar

The families and the lawyer of Mohsen Mazloum, Pezhman (Pejman) Fatehi, Vafa Azarbar, and Hazhir (Hajir) Faramarzi remain uninformed about the well-being and legal status of these political prisoners, causing growing concern.

On July 23, 2022, Iran Police Intelligence (FARAJA) arrested them in the Sumay-ye Beradust District of Urmia County.

Despite repeated inquiries from families and lawyers, the whereabouts of these individuals and the specific charges against them remain unknown. Families have sought answers from various prisoners and judicial authorities in Kurdistan, Isfahan, and Tehran, but have faced threats, disrespect, and coerced confessions broadcasted on Iran state TV instead.

Security-institution-affiliated news agency, Tasnim, reported the arrest of “a network of Israeli spies,” referring to these individuals. Tasnim also claimed that they possessed operational and communication equipment, as well as explosive materials, and had crossed into the country from the Kurdistan region with the intention of carrying out unprecedented terrorist operations in secure-sensitive locations.

Approximately 80 days after their arrest, Iran’s state TV aired their coerced confessions, accusing them of spying for foreign intelligence and stating that they had been apprehended in sensitive sites in Isfahan.

In response, Komalah (CPI-a Kurdish oppositional political party) issued a statement denying all these allegations and warned about intelligence institutions’ conspiring against detainees who have been accused of being members of the party.

Execution of Eight Inmates Carried Out in Multiple Prisons across Iran

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Executions, News
Bandar-Abbas, Fereydunkenar, Ghezel Hesar, HRANA, Karaj, Minab

Eight inmates were recently executed in Karaj, Fereydunkenar, Minab and Bandar Abbas for murder and drug-related crimes.

According to HRANA (Human Rights Activists News Agency), two Afghan nationals who were found guilty of murder were executed on May 10, 2023, in Ghezel Hesar prison, Karaj. HRANA is working on identifying these individuals.

Furthermore, IRNA reported the execution of an inmate in Fereydunkenar, Mazandaran Province, on May 15, 2023. This inmate had previously been convicted of murder for the tragic suffocation of his wife and child using carbon monoxide.

According to the Tasnim News Agency, on the same day, May 15, five inmates were executed in Minab and Bandar Abbas prisons for their alleged involvement in drug smuggling.

This concerning surge in executions has become a cause for alarm in recent weeks. HRANA has obtained reports indicating that between April 28 and May 9, 2023, a minimum of 57 prisoners, including two women and two prisoners of conscience, have been executed in various prisons throughout Iran.

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.

 

Four Citizens Sentenced to Imprisonment and Flogging for Opposing Compulsory Hijab

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Freedom of Expression, News
Abdolbagher Amani, HRANA, Mahsa Amini, Maryam Bani-Razi Motlagh, Mohammad-Reza Rostami, Reza Rashidi

Maryam Bani-Razi Motlagh, Abdolbagher Amani, Reza Rashidi, and Mohammad-Reza Rostami have been sentenced to over 17 months in prison and 148 lashes combined, along with additional punishment, by the Criminal Court of Qom.

Amani, Rashidi and Rostami each received 91 days and were prohibited from taking a public service profession for two years. This punishment is for hindering religious vigilantes from carrying out their religious duty of “enjoining good and forbidding wrong,” which includes enforcing compulsory hijab.
As HRANA earlier reported, Bani-Razi was sentenced to over eight months, 148 lashes and additional punishments for not complying with the compulsory Hijab.
The four individuals were reportedly arrested during the 2022 nationwide protests and were later released on bond.

About the 2022 Nationwide Protests

The arrest of Mahsa Amini by Tehran Morality Police for her improper hejab and her suspicious death on September 16 sparked protests sweeping across Iran. During the nationwide protests, about 19600 people, including journalists, artists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, were arrested.

Five Inmates Executed in Ghezel Hesar and Arak Prisons

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Executions, News
Arak prison, Babak Aghaye, bdolhossein Emami Moghadam, executions in iran, Ghezel Hesar, Hossein Panjak, HRANA

Five inmates were executed on May 10, 2023, with three of them executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj and two in Arak Prison. All five inmates had previously been convicted of drug-related crimes.

HRANA has identified the three inmates executed in Ghezel Hesar as Hossein Panjak, Abdolhossein Emami Moghadam, and Babak Aghaye. According to an informed source, they had been imprisoned for 17, 9, and 8 years, respectively. Mizan, the judiciary’s news agency, claimed that these individuals were members of a “cocaine cartel known as Panjak.”

Currently, five death-row inmates are still being held in solitary confinement, awaiting imminent execution.

On the same day, two inmates, convicted of drug-related crimes, were executed in Arak Prison. HRANA is working to identify these inmates.

None of the official sources or media outlets inside the country have reported these executions at the time of writing.

This recent surge in executions is alarming, as at least 65 prisoners, including two women and two prisoners of conscience, have been executed in various Iranian prisons over the past twelve days.”

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Iran’s Execution Rate Rises Alarmingly with At Least 57 Executions in Eleven Days

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Executions, News
Bandar-Abbas, Birjand, Execution in Iran, Ghezel Hesar, HRANA, Karaj, Khorin, Salmas, Shiraz, Skylar Thompson, UN Human Rights Chief, Urmia, Volker Türk, Yazd, Zahedan

Over the past eleven days, at least 57 prisoners, including two women and two prisoners of conscience, have been executed in various Iranian prisons. The executions were for drug-related crimes, murder, “spreading corruption on earth,” and blasphemy. HRANA has compiled a statistical analysis of the details of the executions during this period.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, there has been a noticeable increase in the execution of prisoners in Iranian prisons from April 28 to May 9, 2023.

Based on the reports compiled by HRANA, the death sentences were carried out in several prisons, including Rajai Shahr (Karaj), Ghezel Hesar (Karaj), Urmia, Salmas, Ardabil, Dastgerd (Isfahan), Vakilabad (Mashhad), Neishabur, Torbat-e-Jam, Rasht, Yazd, Birjand, Qazvin, Minab, Bandar Abbas, Zahedan, Khorramabad, and Iranshahr.

Out of the 57 executed prisoners, 36 were convicted of drug-related charges, 17 for murder, two for insulting the Prophet of Islam, and one for alleged “spreading corruption on earth.” In one case the charges remain unknown.

At least 38 death-row prisoners were also transferred to solitary confinement in Salmas, Urmia, Khorin, Ghezel Hesar (Karaj), Yazd, Bandar Abbas, Birjand, Adelabad (Shiraz) and Zahedan, which could be a prelude to their execution. HRANA is investigating their fate, and the statistics presented in this report could increase.

As of the time of writing, most of these executions have not been announced by official sources or media inside Iran.

The issuance and execution of death sentences violate the right to live and have been heavily criticized by international organizations, with Iran ranking first globally in execution rate per capita.

On May 9, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk called these recent increases in executions “frightening” and urged Iranian authorities to halt all executions. “On average so far this year, over 10 people are put to death each week in Iran, making it one of the world’s highest executors,” said Türk.

In 2022, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran registered 457 reports on the execution of 565 people and death sentences for 92 people, six of whom were sentenced to be hanged in public. Of these 565 executions, two death sentences were carried out in public, and five were juvenile offenders who were under 18 years old at the time of committing the alleged crime.

The breakdown of charges for these executions is as follows: 122 individuals were executed for drug-related offenses, 59 for murder, 6 for undisclosed charges, 1 for adultery, 1 for ideological charges, 1 for corruption, 1 for Moharebeh (political security), and 1 for non-political Moharebeh.

Skylar Thompson, the head of Global Advocacy and Accountability of Human Rights Activists, stated that “the surging rate of executions in Iran illustrates an utter disregard for human life. Under no circumstance does the ongoing use of the death penalty, for drug-related offenses in particular, amount to what is permittable under international law. Iranian authorities have an absolute obligation to uphold international human rights standards and instead, there is ongoing impunity for grave violations of the right to life–and more. The international community must not delay in sounding the alarm, they should call for a stay of executions for those currently facing execution and a moratorium on the death penalty, at a minimum, for crimes not amounting to “most serious” under international law.”

 

 

Ten Death-Row Prisoners at Risk of Imminent Execution in Rajai Shahr Prison

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Executions, News
child executions, HRANA, Imminent Execution, Karaj, Rajai Shahr Prison

HRANA, Human Rights Activists News Agency- Ten inmates on death row have been relocated to solitary confinement in Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj, indicating their imminent execution.

The charges of which they have been convicted are currently unknown, but many prisoners convicted of murder or armed robbery are held in this prison. HRANA is working to identify these inmates.

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.

It is important to note that Iran’s judicial authorities do not publicly announce most executions, which are known as “secret executions” by human rights organizations.

Enayatollah Naeimi Arrested After Court Hearing

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News, Religious Minorities
Bahai, Enayatollah Naeimi, HRANA, Isfahan Prison, Yaran e Iran

HRANA, Human Rights Activists News Agency- On May 6, 2023, Baha’i citizen Enayatollah Naeimi was arrested and taken to an undisclosed location after a court hearing held by the Isfahan Revolutionary Court. The charges against Naeimi remain unknown.

Naeimi had previously been arrested on September 28, 2023, in Isfahan, during which security forces searched his house, workplace, and garden in the Isfahan suburbs. He was later released temporarily on bail from Isfahan Prison.
Naeimi was a member of the now-disbanded Baha’i group, “Yaran e Iran” or “Friends of Iran,” which catered to the spiritual and social needs of the Baha’i community.

According to HRANA annual report, from the total human rights reports regarding the violation of religious minorities’ rights, 64.63% belonged to the violation of the rights of Baha’is.

According to unofficial sources, it is estimated that more than 300,000 Baha’is live in Iran, but the Iranian Constitution recognizes only Islam as the official religion, in addition to Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism. Baha’i faith is not considered legitimate by the authorities, and the rights of Baha’is in Iran have been systematically violated for years.

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.

 

 

Two Prisoners of Conscience Executed in Arak Prison

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Executions, News
Arak, Arak Revolutionary Court, HRANA, Quran, Seyed Sadrollah Fazeli Zare, Yousef Mehrad

On May 8, 2023, Yousef Mehrad and Seyed Sadrollah Fazeli Zare were executed in Arak Prison after being sentenced to death for insulting the Prophet of Islam. Earlier, HRANA had reported on their relocation to solitary confinement for one day which is deemed as a prelude to carrying out the death penalty.

According to Mizan, the judiciary’s news, Fazeli Zare had been accused of “insulting the Prophet of Islam, blasphemy, apostasy, accusing the Prophet of Islam’s mother of adultery, and burning the Quran”, while Mehrad was charged with “insulting the Prophet of Islam and blasphemy.”

The prisoners were among seven individuals arrested for running a Telegram channel named “Criticism of Superstition and Religion,” and had been held in solitary confinement for two months since their arrest.

In the first two parts of their legal case, the Arak Criminal Court sentenced Mehrad and Fazeli Zare to death for insulting the prophet of Islam. In the third part, the Arak Revolutionary Court sentenced Mehrad, Fazeli Zare, and another co-defendant, Farhad Chehrehsa, to eight years for “running groups to act national security.”
Despite an appeal by their lawyers to the Supreme Court, the verdict was upheld.

Mehrad was a resident of Ardabil and the father of a three-year-old child.

Five Inmates Executed in Rajai Shahr Prison

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Executions, News
HRANA, Rajai Shahr Prison, Saleh Bidmeshki, Vahid Moradi

Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)-On May 3, 2023, five inmates convicted of murder were executed in Rajai Shahr prison, Karaj.

Etemad newspaper reported that an inmate identified as S. Saleh Bidmeshki was executed for assisting in murder in Rajai Shahr Prison, On July 2, 2018, this man assisted in killing fellow-prisoner Vahid Moradi. His death was confirmed by Supreme Court after being two times revoked. Another inmate who had been sentenced to death for this homicide was spared from execution after paying restitution payment and receiving consent from Moradi’s family.

Another executed inmate has been identified as Hossein (last name unknown). On May 24, 2019, he shot a young man dead during a group fight and wounded the victim’s father.

The third executed inmate had been convicted of murder in Tehran 12 years ago. The fourth inmate has killed his family members and his father-in-law. The report did not provide any information about the fifth inmate.

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.