Tag: irgc

Nahid Shirpisheh Denied Family Visitations

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
irgc, Nahid Shirpisheh, Pouya Bakhtiari

Kachooie Prison has denied Nahid Shirpisheh the right to make phone calls or have family visitations. Shirpisheh, Pouya Bakhtiari’s mother, has been detained for the past two months.

An informed source told HRANA thatShirpisheh is held in the quarantine section and is not allowed to have visitors. 

On July 28, 2022, Shirpisheh was transferred to Kachooie Prison where she was held in the same ward of prisoners of violent crimes, where she has been mistreated. 

On July 11, 2022, security forces arrested the mothers of the individuals killed during nationwide protests in 2019 known as the Aban protests, including Shirpisheh. In a news article, IRGC-affiliated Fars News Agency called these justice-seeking families “agitators and troublemakers”.

In November of 2019, an increase in fuel prices sparked a wave of protests in dozens of cities across the country. The spokesperson of the Parliamentary National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, Seyed Hossein Taghavi, announced that 7000 people were arrested during these protests. According to reports from human rights organizations, hundreds were killed by the security apparatus.

 

Milad Eftekhari’s Three-Year Sentence Upheld

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
irgc, Milad Eftekhari

The Court of Appeals of Fars Province upheld Milad Eftekhari’s sentencing verdict. Earlier in July,  Eftekhari was sentenced to three years in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the Court of Appeals of Fars Province sentenced Milad Eftekhari to three years in prison.

According to the verdict, Eftekhari was sentenced to one year on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”, and two years on the charge of “insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran”. He was also banned from leaving Iran and having a social media presence for two years. Based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, two years imprisonment will be enforceable for the first charge.

On May 23, 2022, security forces arrested Eftekhari at his home and transferred him to Larestan Prison. He was released later on a 100 million tomans bail.

On June 22, 2021, IRGC Intelligence summoned and interrogated Eftekhari for his criticisms of the IRGC and Supreme Leader on social media. He was later released.

Eftekhari, age 26, is a resident of Larestan, Fars Province, and a graduate student at Tehran University.

 

Civil Rights Activist Peyman Sokooti Still in Detention  

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Gilaki Civil Rights Activist, irgc, Lakan prison, Peyman Sokooti

Gilaki civil rights activist Peyman Sokooti has been detained for the past three months in Lakan Prison, awaiting due process while he is denied access to a lawyer.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, civil rights activist from Gilan Province Peyman Sokooti has been detained for three months.

Sokooti has been charged with “acting against national security through membership in anti-regime groups, insulting the Supreme Leader and propaganda against the regime”.

On May 23, 2022, security forces arrested Sokooti, held him for ten days in an IRGC detention facility, and then transferred him to Lakan Prison in Rasht.

Milad Eftekhari Sentenced to Three Years in Prison

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
irgc, Larestan, Milad Eftekhari

The Revolutionary Court of Shiraz sentenced Milad Eftekhari to three years in prison and additional limitations. If confirmed on appeal, based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, two years for one charge will be enforceable.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Eftekhari, who is a resident of Larestan, was sentenced to two years in prison on the charge of “insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran” and one year on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”. He was also banned from leaving the county and on social media presence for two years.

On May 23, 2022, security forces arrested Eftekhari at his house and transferred him to Larestan Prison. During the arrest, the agents searched his house and confiscated some of his personal belongings. He was released later on a 100 million tomans bail.

On June 22, 2021, IRGC’s intelligence office summoned and interrogated Eftekhari for his criticisms of IRGC and the Supreme Leader on social media. He was later released after signing a pledge.

Eftekhari, age 26, is a resident of Larestan, Fars Province, and a graduate student in Communication Science from Tehran University.

Former Deputy Interior Minister Mostafa Tajzadeh Arrested

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Iranian Green Movement, irgc, Mohammad Khatami, Mostafa Tajzadeh

On Friday, July 8, 2022, the IRGC Intelligence agents arrested former deputy interior minister Mostafa Tajzadeh in Tehran.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Mehr News Agency, former deputy interior minister and former political prisoner, Mostafa Tajzadeh was arrested.

According to Mehr News Agency, Tajzadeh is accused of “assembly and collusion to act against national security” and “publishing falsehood to disturb public opinion.” It was further reported that Tajzadeh’s arrest warrant was issued by the judicial authorities.

In the aftermath of the Iranian Green Movement in 2009, Tajzadeh was arrested and sentenced to six years imprisonment on the charges of “assembly and collusion against national security” and “propaganda against the regime.”

During his incarceration, Tajzadeh published an open letter criticizing the Supreme Leader. Consequently, IRGC filed a lawsuit and accused him of “propaganda against the regime” for which his sentence was increased to seven years, most of which was spent in solitary confinement and ended in 2016. 

Mostafa Tajzadeh was the deputy interior minister of President Mohammad Khatami.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Now is definitely not the time to stop reading!

Polish Scientist Maciej Walczak Arrested in Iran

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
Fars News, irgc, Maciej Walczak, Polish scientist, U.K.Ambassador

The spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland confirmed the arrest of a Polish scientist named Maciej Walczak in Iran. Earlier,  Iran state TV had reported this individual’s arrest in Kerman Province. 

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the IRGC has arrested a Polish scientist named Maciej Walczak in Kerman. 

Polish officials have promised that they will do their best to free Walczak. 

On Wednesday, Iran state TV claimed that Walczak and three colleagues were taking soil samples at a restricted site of a missile test. 

IRGC-affiliated news agency Fars News published video footage from the arrest of several foreign diplomats including the deputy of the U.K.Ambassador in Iran,  accusing him of spying by taking samples of Iranian soil in restricted areas. The reports claimed that the official would be expelled after making an official apology. 

 

Teacher Union Activist Majid Karimi Arrested in Sanandaj

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Iranian Teacher Union Activist, irgc, Majid Karimi, Masoud Farhikhteh, Sanandaj City

On Tuesday, May 31, 2022, security forces arrested teacher union activist Majid Karimi in Sanandaj City and transferred him to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, on Tuesday, May 31, 2022, teacher union activist Majid Karimi was arrested. Reportedly, he and several others had gathered before the IRGC Intelligence Office to inquire about detained teacher union activist Masoud Farhikhteh, when several IRGC agents came out and took him to an unidentified location.

The reason for his arrest and his whereabouts are unknown so far.

Kiumars Latifi Arrested by IRGC Intelligence Agents in Sanandaj City

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
irgc, Kiumars Latifi, Sanandaj City

On February 15, IRGC intelligence agents arrested Kiumars Latifi, a resident of Sanandaj City.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, they have transferred Latifi, age 41, to a security detention centre in Sanandaj City. He was accused of “collaboration with one of the anti-regime political parties.”

He has had another arrest on his rap sheet. In September of 2019, he was arrested with the same accusation and released on bail on December 26 of that year.

Teacher’s Union Activist Fatemeh Bahmani Arrested in Shazand city

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
Arak City, Arrest without warrant, Fatemeh Bahmani, irgc, Mohammad Kurd, Shazand City

On December 24, security forces arrested teacher and union activist Fatemeh Bahmani at her house in Shazand City. Her cell phone was confiscated during the arrest.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations, IRGC’s security agents arrested Bahmani without showing an arrest warrant.

The reasons for the arrest and her whereabouts are unknown at the time of writing.

Bahmani was arrested earlier in 2018 along with her husband Mohammad Kurd. They were arrested during a protest and sit-down strike in Arak City and transferred to the city’s prison. In two different cases for each, they were sentenced to two years suspended imprisonment for three years and fined 8 million tomans (1904 USD).

Ahmad Tamouei Freed After Fifteen Years in Prison

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Ahmad Tamouei, irgc, Mahabad City, PJAK, Political Prisoner, Prisoner released, Urmia prison

Political prisoner Ahmad Tamouei was freed on December 16 after fifteen years in prison, ten months before serving his full sentence. He is currently on furlough and therefore, by court order, will not return to Urmia Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Tamouei was arrested by IRGC’s intelligence unit  on October 24, 2007. He was arrested by in Mahabad City while on a motorbike.

After spending time in a detention facility at the disposal of the IRGC, he was relocated to Mahabad Prison. On December 31, 2007, Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court sentenced him to 15 years in prison, exiled in Urmia Prison on the charge of “enmity against the God through membership in Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK)”. The verdict was upheld on appeal. On September 8, 2008, he was transferred to Urmia Prison where he has been held until now.