Tag: Islamic penal code

Narges Mohammadi Arrested by Security Forces in Karaj During Ceremony Honoring Ebrahim Ketabdar

Posted on by A MN
News, Other, Women
Article 134, Ebrahim Ketabdar, Evin, Evin Prison, Islamic penal code, Karaj, Ketabdar, Mohammadi, Narges Mohammadi, November 2019, November Protests, zanjan, Zanjan Prison

Prominent civil activist and spokesperson of the Defenders of Human Rights Center Narges Mohammadi was arrested earlier this Tuesday during a ceremony honoring Ebrahim Ketabdar, who was killed by security forces in Karaj during the November 2019 protests.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, a gathering of the victim’s family and some civil activists at Ebrahim Ketabdar’s burial place in Karaj city turned violent after the interference of security agents, and Mohammadi was subsequently arrested.

This year, Branch 1177 of the Criminal Court in the Ghods Judicial Complex in Tehran sentenced Narges Mohammadi to 30 months in prison and 80 lashes, as well as fines. She had been charged with “propaganda against the regime through the issuance of a statement against the death penalty”, “sit-down strike at prison office”, “property destruction by breaking glass” and “libel and assault”.

According to a report published by HRANA, in an open statement, Narges Mohammadi stated of these charges that she will not, “under any circumstances”, attend any court hearing, and will refuse to accept any verdict from the judiciary courts.

From May 5, 2015, until October of last year, Narges Mohammadi was imprisoned.

In December 2019, Mohammadi and seven other political prisoners in the women’s ward of Evin Prison announced in a letter that they would go on a sit-down strike in support of bereaved families who lost loved ones in November 2019 national protests. Evin Prison officials threatened to deport her and others who participated in the strike to prisons known for their harsher conditions. Subsequently, she was punitively transferred from Evin Prison to Zanjan Prison in December 2019.

Based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code and the charges against her, a severest punishment of 10 years was enforceable, but after five years and six months in prison, Narges Mohammadi was finally released from Zanjan Prison. Mohammadi has since been denied a passport and barred from leaving the country to visit her husband and children even though her previous conviction did not mention a supplementary ban on international travel.

 

 

 

Journalist Sina Ghalandari Sentenced to 27 Months Imprisonment for Publicizing Killing of 14-Year-Old Mobina Souri

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Branch 102, FATA, Ghalandari, Gholam-Hossein (Sina) Ghalandari, Gholam-Hossein Ghalandari, honor killing, Islamic penal code, Lorestan, Mobina Souri, Sina Ghalandari

Recently, journalist Gholam-Hossein (Sina) Ghalandari was sentenced to 27 months in prison and a two year ban from journalistic work after publicizing the “honor killing” of 14-year-old Mobina Souri.

Grounded on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, from this sentence, a severest punishment of 13 months and 16 days is enforceable.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Branch 102 of the Criminal Court of Kuhdasht City sentenced Sina Ghalandari, in absentia, to 13 months and 16 days on a charge of “spreading lies”. Moreover, he was sentenced to 13 months and 16 days and a two year ban from working as a journalist on a charge of “invasion of privacy by publishing private images”.

Sina Ghalandari reported on the murder of Mobina Souri, a 14-year-old girl who was murdered by her husband after being suspected of having an affair. Mobina was a victim of a child marriage and was married to the young cleric in her village who ultimately killed her. The other suspects were released after the husband confessed.

In September, Ghalandari was arrested by the order of the District Prosecutor following complaints from Mobina’s family. He was released on September 18, 2021, after spending 11 days in detention.

“I published the news and three hours later, Rokna published incorrect news about that,” commented Ghalandari about his arrest. “Thereafter, FATA Police raided my relatives’ house while I was staying there as a guest. They treated me and my relatives badly. The prosecutor rebuked me and told me that I should not have published the news. He asked his assistant to punish me severely so that I never publish such news anymore.”

Sina Ghalandar is a resident of Kuhdasht and runs a Telegram channel named “Lorestan Telegram Radio”.

Writer and Philosophy Researcher Nima Ghasemi Sentenced to Four years and Eight Months

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Article 134, Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, Ghasemi, Islamic penal code, Nima Ghasemi, Revolutionary Court of Tehran, Shahid Beheshti University

Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran recently sentenced writer and philosophy researcher Nima Ghasemi to four years and eight months imprisonment.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Ghasemi, a resident of Tehran, was sentenced to 4 years in prison on a charge of “assembly and collusion against the regime” and eight months in prison on a charge of “propaganda against the regime “.

In the trial, Ghasemi’s notes and posts published on social media were invoked in support of these charges against him.

From this verdict, if upheld by the court of appeal, a severest punishment of four years is enforceable, grounded on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code.

On February 8 of this year, Nima Ghasemi was arrested by security forces at his home and transferred to the public section of Evin Prison. At the time of arrest, the security agents searched his house and confiscated several of his belongings including his written notes and laptop. On March 13, he was released on bail until the end of legal proceedings.

Nima Ghasemi is has a PhD in Philosophy from Shahid Beheshti University.

 

 

Arash Gangi Detained and Sent to Evin Prison to Endure 11 Year Sentence

Posted on by A MN
Prisoners
Arash Gangi, Article 134, cash bail, COVID, Evin, Evin Prison, Gangi, Islamic penal code, PEN America, Revolutionary Court of Tehran, Security forces, Tehran

On Monday, November 1, translator and board member of the Iranian Writers’ Association (IWA) Arash Gangi was sent to Evin Prison to endure his 11-year sentence.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, recently, PEN America in a statement condemned Arash Gangi’s summons and asked for the quashing of this “wildly disproportionate” sentence.

Gangi had been previously sentenced to eleven years in prison by Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran. Grounded on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, a severest punishment of five years is enforceable.

Following the summons he received on October 16 of this year, Arash Gangi appeared at the Executive Unit of Evin prison and from there he was sent to Evin Prison.

On December 22, 2019, the security forces raided his house, and then arrested and transferred him to Ward 209 of Evin Prison, which is at the disposal of the intelligence ministry.  Security agents searched his house and confiscated some of his personal belongings during the arrest.

After a while, he was transferred from the Ward 209 to the public section of Evin Prison. On January 19, 2020, he was released on a bail of 450 million tomans until the end of legal proceedings.

In the first court session, on June 14, 2020, the judge increased the bail to 3 billion tomans, and hence he was arrested and transferred to Evin Prison until providing the new bail. He was released on bail on June 21, 2020.

In the second court session, which took place on November 29, 2020, only his attorney attended the court and Mr Ganji could not appear at the court due to having COVID-19 symptoms.

Ultimately, in December 2020, the court, headed by judge Mohammad-Reza Amoozad, sentenced Gangi to five years in prison on a charge of “assembly and collusion in purpose to act against national security”, one year on a charge of “propaganda against the regime” and five years on a charge of “membership in and collaboration with one of the ant-regime groups.”, for a total of 11 years imprisonment. In February 2021, this verdict was upheld by the court of appeals of Tehran.

According to Naser Zarafshan, Mr. Gangi’s lawyer, all these charges were invoked from his translation of a book under the title of “A Small Key Can Open A Big Door: The Rojava Revolution”, which is about Kurdistan upheavals in Syria.

The non-governmental organization IWA was founded by a group of intellectual writers in 1968, originally with the objective of promoting freedom of speech and fighting against censorship.

Although IWA was banned in 1981 by the Iranian authorities, a group of writers created a “consulting assembly” to revive the banned IWA in 1993. On September 8, 1996, 12 writers who had gathered to draft a new charter for the IWA were arrested, interrogated and warned not to hold further meetings for the advancement of the IWA. Since then, the members and board members of IWA have been subject to systematic persecution, long prison sentences and even targeted killing from 1988–98, when certain Iranian dissident intellectuals who had been critical of the Islamic Republic disappeared and their bodies found afterwards.

Political Prisoner Injured After Protest by Self-Immolation in Evin Prison

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Article 134, Darini, Evin, Evin Prison, Hunger Strike, Islamic penal code, Mehdi Darini, protest, Revolutionary Court of Tehran, self-immolation, Tehran

On Wednesday, October 27, political prisoner Mehdi Darini was injured by self-immolation and hospitalized in the healthcare center of Evin Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Darini’s demonstration was in protest of prison authorities’ refusal to release him on probation. He is currently enduring the second year of a five year term in Evin Prison in Tehran.

An informed source told HRANA that Darini had previously warned prison officials about his intentions if the interrogator refused to consider his demand to be released.

During the last interrogation, in response to his stating his intention to go on a hunger strike, the interrogator reportedly said, “All the better; the regime has already too many hungry mouths to feed.”

35-year-old Mehdi Darini, a production engineer, was sentenced to five years in prison by the Revolutionary Court of Tehran on a charge of ” blasphemy” and one year on a charge of “propaganda against the regime”. According to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, a severest punishment of five years is enforceable.

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Sentence Alternatives to Prison, Such as Purchasing Supplies for Under-Equipped Schools, Introduced in Urmia

Posted on by A MN
News, Other, Uncategorized
alternative sentencing, Branch 119, Islamic Law, Islamic penal code, Kagar Online, restorative sentencing, Sharia law, Urmia, Urmia prison

The head of Branch 119 of the Criminal Court of Urmia recently announced that the county’s criminal justice system is introducing a number of sentence alternatives to prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kargar Online, the judicial official has sentenced several men to purchase educational supplies internet packages and cell phones for school children in poor areas instead of serving time.

It is worth mentioning that Chapter 9 of the new enactment of the Islamic penal code has also highlighted similar alternative sentences.

Accordingly, under certain conditions and with the defendant’s consent, judges may enact these kinds of alternative sentences.

Baha’i Citizens Soroush Abadi and Kiana Shoaei Sentenced to Imprisonment

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News, Prisoners, Religious Minorities
Article 134, Baha'i, Baha'i arrests, baha'i citizens arrested, Baha'i imprisonment, Islamic penal code, Kiana Shoaei, Ministry of Intelligence, Shiraz, Soroush Abadi

Baha’i citizens Soroush Abadi and Kiana Shoaei, both residents of Shiraz, were sentenced to imprisonment and banned from leaving the country.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Shiraz, presided by Judges Mahmoud Sadati sentenced Mr. Abadi, and Ms. Shoaei each one to 31 months and 16 days in prison and a 2-year ban from leaving the country on the charge of membership in anti-regime groups with the intention of disrupting country’s security, and to Seven months and 16 days in prison on the charge of propaganda activities against the regime in cyberspace.

If the sentences are upheld by the appeal court, after the application of Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the most severe punishment of 31 months and 16 days of imprisonment will apply to Mr. Abadi and Ms. Shoaei.

Ms. Shoaei’s 5 years imprisonment sentence will be reduced to 30 months, but she will have to check in and report her presence to the Shiraz Intelligence Office every month. Kiana Shoaei and Soroush Abadi, along with Farzan Masoumi, were arrested by Ministry of Intelligence agents in October 2019.

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

This 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.

Man Acquitted for a Murder that was Ordered by his Father with Consent of Victim’s Father

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Cultural, News, Prisoners
father, Islamic Law, Islamic penal code, Islamic regime, murder, rightful parent, Tehran

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Rokna, a man in Tehran who had killed a young man at the request of father was acquitted of severe punishments with the consent of the victim’s father.

Under the laws of the Islamic Republic, the father, as the “rightful parent”, is spared serious punishment in the event of murder or complicity in the murder of their child. This issue has long been criticized by critics of the current laws in the country. In some cases, fathers have committed murders after finding out that a father is safe from severe punishment for the murder of their own child in Iran.

On this subject, the former head of the Tehran Criminal Court stated, “According to the Islamic Penal Code, the mother will be punished more severely than the murderer father under the heading of ‘complicity in murder of child’. Based on Article 127 of the Islamic Penal Code, fathers will be sentenced to between 3 and 10 years imprisonment while it is 15 years for the mothers.

16-Year-Old Girl Killed by Father in Kermanshah

Posted on by admin-hr
Children, Executions, Women
16-year-old Shakiba Bakhtiar, Bakhtiar, Iranian law, Islamic penal code, Kermanshah, Kermanshah province, murder, Shakiba Bakhtiar

On Sunday, July 4, 16-year-old Shakiba Bakhtiar was stabbed to death by her father after coming home late in Kermanshah.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Iran Human Rights (IHR), Iranian law provides for exemptions for those who commit “honor killings”.

It is notable that according to the Islamic Penal Code, a father who kills his child is sentenced to fines and imprisonment, not execution, if convicted in court.

In some cases, fathers have killed their children after learning that under the Islamic Penal Code, a father cannot be executed for the murder of his own child.

Some experts say that the discrimination and weakness of the law has an impact on the frequency of these murders.