Masoumeh Yavari Receives 13-Year Prison Sentence on Political Charges

The Golpayegan Revolutionary Court has issued a thirteen-year sentence to Masoumeh Yavari on political charges.

Presided over by Judge Mohammad Basaeri and Ghasem Sharifian, the court sentenced Yavari to seven years for “destruction of public property,” five years for alleged “membership in Monafeghin” and one year for “propaganda against the regime.”

Notably, the verdict acquitted Yavari of charges related to “enmity against God (Moharebeh)” and “association with adversary countries.”

Yavari’s arrest occurred on September 4, during which security forces conducted a thorough search of her residence and seized some of her belongings.

It is essential to highlight that Yavari has a history of prior arrests and convictions related to her activism.

Protests Continue in Golpayegan and Several other Cities

On Tuesday, May 17, 2022, protests against soaring food prices continued in several cities, including Golpayegan in Isfahan Province. Many cities witnessed heavy police and security forces’ presence and internet disruptions.

Video footages obtained by HRANA News Agency show that in Golpayegan, people were rallying in the streets and chanting slogans against the regime. Reportedly, in Junaqan City, in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, the government has almost completely shut down the internet.

Following a new wave of price hikes recently in Iran, protests erupted in several cities across the country. In most cases, protests turned violent by the police and security forces who used tear gas, warning shots, and pellet guns to scatter the crowds.

 

Several Arrested in Isfahan by IRGC Intelligence

Several citizens have reportedly been arrested by an IRGC Intelligence unit in Isfahan.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting IRNA, a spokesperson for the IRGC’S Intelligence unit in Isfahan City, known as Sahib al-Zaman IRGC, announced that several members of an “anti-revolutionary group” have been arrested.

“The members of this anti-revolutionary group aimed to act against national security both on social media and in public,” the IRGC’s public relations spokesperson claimed. “These acts include spreading anti-regime tracts on streets to call for protest and unrest, agitating and hiring thugs for their own purposes, planning to disturb public order and security, sabotage and causing chaos and unrest all over the province.”

This report does not reveal the identity and whereabouts of the detainees.

Six Inmates Executed in Shiraz, Two More Executed in Isfahan

On Tuesday October 1, six inmates were executed in Adelabad Prison in Shiraz. The previous day, two additional inmates were executed in Isfahan.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the prisoners had previously been sentenced to death on charges ranging from drug-involvement to murder.

HRANA has identified the name of the four above-mentioned inmates as follows: Rasul Akrami, Omid Keshtkar, Meysam Atef-fard, Hadi Razi. In addition, in the last few days, Mostafa Ostowari, convicted for murder, was transferred to a solitary confinement cell in order to be executed, reportedly tomorrow on Saturday.

As an update to the news about the execution of Abbas-Gholi Salehi in Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan, HRANA has confirmed that on September 29, two other inmates were also executed. Muhammad Bar-Ahooie, an Afghan, and Hamid Shahsenai were executed for drug-related crimes.

Iran ranks first in the world in executions per capita, according to international organizations. The Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) reported that between January 1 and December 20 of 2020, at least 236 citizens were executed.

None of the above executions have been announced by any Iranian media or official sources.

Inmate Executed in Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan

Earlier this Wednesday, September 29, an inmate was executed in Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan.

HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, has identified the prisoner as 42-year-old Abbas-Gholi Salehi. According to HRANA, Salehi had previously been sentenced to death on drug-related charges.

According to an informed source, Mr. Salehi was executed while his family and relatives gathered in front of Dastgerd Prison requesting that the sentence be suspended. In a short video posted on social media, the prisoner’s family explains the death sentence should not be carried out in this forbidden (haram) month.

Mr. Salehi was arrested about 20 years ago on drug-related charges when he was just 22 and had been in prison ever since.

Iran ranks first in the world in executions per capita, according to international organizations. The Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) reported that between January 1 and December 20 of 2020, at least 236 citizens were executed.

One of these citizens was executed publicly, and two were juvenile offenders. An additional 95 citizens were sentenced to death. According to the same report, more than 72% of executions in Iran are not reported by the government or the judiciary, which human rights organizations call “secret” executions.

The execution of Mr. Salehi has not been announced by Iranian media or official sources as of this writing.

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HRANA Recap: This Week’s Protests in Iran

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, a number of protests took place this week in Iran, many of which were continuations of ongoing movements.  Read our recap below for details, photos, and videos from the demonstrations.

 

Saturday, September 18

Several workers of Tehran Azadi Stadium, a group of workers of Kut Abdollah Municipality in Khuzestan, a group of Bandar Imam Petrochemical workers, a group of dismissed workers Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company, Job applicants of Karname-Sabz for the 15th consecutive day in Tehran, a group of workers in Assaluyeh, a group of medical staff from Basht city, and workers of Pars Ghodrat Company in Kangan Petroleum Refinery, all called on their demands to be addressed in protest rallies. Also, teachers and educators in at least eight provinces, including Isfahan, East Azerbaijan, Fars, Alborz, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, Khuzestan, Kermanshah, and Ilam held protest rallies.

 

Teachers and educators in at least eight provinces, including Isfahan, East Azerbaijan, Fars,
Alborz, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, Khuzestan, Kermanshah, and Ilam:

Workers of Tehran Azadi Stadium:

Workers of Kut Abdollah Municipality in Khuzestan:

Bandar Imam Petrochemical workers:

Fired workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company:

Job applicants of Karname-Sabz:

Workers in section 14 of Assaluyeh:

Medical staff from Basht city:

Workers of Pars Ghodrat Company in Kangan Petroleum Refinery:

 

Sunday, September 19:

Job applicants of Karname-Sabz for a sixteenth day in a row in Tehran, a group of retirees of the Isfahan Steel Fund, and Khuzestan Steel Fund, shareholders of the Ghaem Commercial Complex in Tehran, and a group of employed and retired teachers in Mashhad called for their demands to be addressed in protest rallies.

 

Retirees of the Isfahan Steel’s Fund, and Khuzestan Steel Fund:

Shareholders of the Ghaem Commercial Complex in Tehran:

Teachers in Mashhad:

Job applicants of Karname-Sabz:

 

Monday, September 20

For the 17th day in a row, a group of job applicants of Karname-Sabz, teachers in Tehran, a number of workers in Dehdasht Municipality in Kohgiluyeh, a number of workers in the Fajr Jam gas refinery, and a group of fired workers in Ahvaz Municipality called for their demands to be addressed in protest rallies.

 

workers in the Fajr Jam gas refinery:

Job applicant of Karname-Sabz teachers:

 

Tuesday, September 21

A group of teachers and educators in the provinces of Kermanshah, Lorestan, Khorasan Razavi, Tehran, Kurdistan, and Khuzestan, a number of workers of Kut Abdollah Municipality, a group of Job applicant of Karname-Sabz teachers for the 18th consecutive day in Tehran, a number of Azovico shareholders in Tehran, villagers of Angelas in Hamadan, and a group of contract workers on the Tehran metro held rallies this Tuesday.

 

Teachers and educators in the provinces of Kermanshah, Lorestan, Khorasan Razavi, Tehran, Kurdistan, and Khuzestan:

Workers of Kut Abdollah Municipality:

Job applicants of Karname-Sabz teachers for the 18th day in Tehran:

Azovico shareholders in Tehran:

Villagers of Angelas in Hamadan:

 

Wednesday, September 22

A group of employees of integrated banks in the cities of Tabriz and Tehran, a group of Job applicant of Karname-Sabz teachers for the 19th consecutive day in Tehran, and a group of workers of West Karun Power Generation Company protested this Wednesday.

 

Employees of joined banks in the cities of Tabriz and Tehran:

Job applicants of Karname-Sabz teachers in Tehran:

Workers of West Karun Power Generation Company:

 

Thursday, September 23

A group of teachers and educators in the cities of Hamedan, Sari, Abadan, Zanjan, Shahroud, Mamasani, Divandere, Ardabil, Yazd, Qazvin, Kuhdasht, Kermanshah, Mashhad, Tabriz, Karaj, Arak and Qom, and a group of Job applicant of Karname-Sabz teachers for the twentieth consecutive day Tehran rallied on Thursday.

 

Teachers and educators in the cities of Hamedan, Sari, Abadan, Zanjan, Shahroud, Mamasani, Divandere, Ardabil, Yazd, Qazvin, Kuhdasht, Kermanshah, Mashhad, Tabriz, Karaj, Arak and Qom:

Job applicant of Karname-Sabz teachers:

Rapper Known for his Protest Songs Arrested in Isfahan

On Monday, September 13, Toomaj Salehi, a rapper known for his protest songs, was arrested by security forces at his home in Isfahan.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, 12 security forces came to the artist’s house in 4 cars, searched his house during his arrest, and confiscated a number of his belongings.

Mr. Salehi had previously warned on his Twitter account that he might be arrested.

As of this writing, no information is available on the charges against him or where he is being held.