Tag: Karaj

Prisoner Exchange; Hamid Nouri Released from Prison and Returned to Iran

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News, Prisoners
Hamid Nouri, Johan Floderus, Karaj, Saeed Azizi

The Swedish Prime Minister, Ulf Kristersson, announced on Saturday that Hamid Nouri had been exchanged for Johan Floderus, a Swedish diplomat imprisoned in Iran. In this prisoner swap, Saeed Azizi, a dual Iranian-Swedish citizen, was also released.

Hamid Nouri was arrested in Sweden for crimes against humanity in the summer of 1988 and the massacre of political prisoners. During this period, his detention was extended several times by a Swedish court. On July 14, 2022, a Swedish court charged Hamid Nouri with “gross and criminal violation of international law (equivalent to war crimes) and premeditated murder,” and he was found guilty on both counts. Ultimately, he was sentenced to life imprisonment and ordered to pay compensation to the survivors and families of the victims of the 1988 executions.

Nouri was a prosecutor at Evin and Gohardasht prisons in Karaj in 1988. That summer, thousands of political prisoners in Iran were executed by the regime and secretly buried in mass graves.

Regarding Johan Floderus, an employee of the European Union’s foreign policy department, the Swedish government and the European Union had previously demanded the “immediate” release of this Swedish citizen from prison, calling his detention “arbitrary.” He faced several court sessions with charges such as “corruption on earth by a wide scale organizing act against the country’s security and territorial integrity, and collaborating with the Zionist occupying regime,” as well as “gathering and conspiring to commit crimes against national security.”

Saeed Azizi, a 63-year-old Iranian-Swedish citizen who was released along with Floderus, was arrested by security forces at his home in Tehran on November 12, 2022, during a trip to Iran. He was later sentenced to five years in prison by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari.

Hamideh Zeraei, Opponent of Mandatory Hijab, Begins Hunger Strike in Lakan Prison

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News, Prisoners
Hamideh Zeraei, HRANA, Kachooie Prison, Karaj, Rasht, حمیده زراعی

Hamideh Zeraei, an opponent of compulsory hijab, has initiated a hunger strike to protest her continued detention in Lakan Prison, Rasht. She was detained on June 5 following a court appearance at Branch 13 of the Revolutionary Court in Rasht.

A source close to Ms. Zeraei’s family confirmed her hunger strike to HRANA, stating: “Hamideh had declared that if she was not released by Saturday, June 8, she would start a hunger strike. Today, when her sister attempted to visit her in Lakan Prison, officials barred the visit.”

Zeraei was initially arrested at her home on May 29, 2023, and taken to Kachooie Prison in Karaj.

On November 16, 2023, the First Branch of the Revolutionary Court in Karaj, led by Judge Musa Asaf Al-Hosseini, sentenced her to one year in prison, two years of exile to Rasht, a two-year travel ban, and a two-year ban from using social media. Following a plea of no contest, her prison term was reduced to nine months. Upon completing her sentence on February 22, 2024, she was released from Kachooie Prison and began her exile in Rasht.

Recently, Ms. Zeraei was summoned to Branch 13 of the Revolutionary Court in Rasht for further inquiries. Last Wednesday, after her court appearance, she was arrested and transferred to Lakan Prison.

The summons was related to her ongoing two-year exile term in Rasht, during which she was required to check in every three days at a local police station. Following several visits, the station’s officers demanded she wear a chador for her appearances—a condition Ms. Zeraei, who opposes mandatory hijab, refused. Subsequently, the police chief instructed her to cease her visits. This led to her being summoned to court once again after she failed to verify her continued residence in Rasht.

Previously, in 2022, Ms. Zeraei was arrested in connection with nationwide protests and was later released from Kachooie Prison on February 7, 2023, following an official pardon.

Mashallah Karami Sentenced to Six Years in Prison

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News, Prisoners
Karaj, Mohammad-Mehdi Karami, Nazarabad

Mashallah Karami was sentenced to six years in prison by the Revolutionary Court of Karaj. This follows the execution of his son, Mohammad-Mehdi Karami, by the regime for his participation in the 2022 nationwide protests.

On May 20, 2024, Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court in Karaj handed down a verdict sentencing Karami to five years for “assembly and collusion against national security” and an additional year for “propaganda against the regime.”

In March, Karami’s lawyer, Sharifzadeh Ardekani, revealed that his client also faces charges of “acquisition of illegal property” and “money laundering,” which are pending in the Criminal Court of Nazarabad.

Karami was arrested at his home on August 22, 2023. During the arrest, authorities conducted a search, seizing various items from him and his family.

He was initially detained at the Ministry of Intelligence facility before being transferred to the Central Prison of Karaj on October 28, 2023. After spending three months in the prison’s quarantine section, Karami was moved to Ward 15.

It is notable that Mohammad Mehdi Karami and Mohammad Hosseini, both implicated in the death of Basij militia member Ruhollah Ajamian, were executed on January 7, 2023.

Background on the 2022 Nationwide Protests

The arrest of Mahsa Amini by Tehran Morality Police for her improper hijab and her suspicious death on September 16 sparked protests sweeping across Iran. Protesters came to the streets with the central slogan “Women, Life, Freedom” in protest against the performance, laws, and structure of the regime. During the nationwide protests, thousands of people, including journalists, artists, lawyers, teachers, students, and civil rights activists, were arrested.

 

Sanaz Ariantalab Summoned to Serve Prison Term for Political Charges

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Freedom of Expression, News
Gohardasht, Kachooie Prison, Karaj, Mahsa Amini, Sanaz Ariantalab, ساناز آریان طلب

Sanaz Ariantalab (Arian-Talab), a resident of Karaj, has been summoned to begin serving her prison term, imposed on political charges.

According to the summons, Ariantalab, aged around 38, must appear within five days at the executive branch of the judiciary.

Ariantalab was arrested on September 16, 2023, the first anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death, in Gohardasht, Karaj. She was detained in Kachooie Prison and released on bail of 500 million tomans (approximately $10,000) after ten days.

On March 10, 2024, the Revolutionary Court of Karaj sentenced Ariantalab to one year in prison for “presence in public without hijab, propaganda against the regime, and assembly and collusion to undermine national security.” Additionally, she was banned from leaving the country for two years and barred from membership in civil groups.

Execution of Four Death-Row Inmates Along with Khosrow Besharat

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Executions, News
HRANA, Karaj, Khosrow Besharat, Mohammad-Karim Fazeli, Mohammad-Reza Rahimpour, Sirus Hayatbini

On May 15, 2024, along with Sunni prisoner Khosrow Besharat, four other inmates convicted of murder and drug offenses, were executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj.

The inmates have been identified by HRANA as Mohammad-Reza Rahimpour, Sirus Hayatbini, Mohammad-Karim Fazeli, and an unidentified Afghan national. The first three were convicted of drug-related crimes, while the Afghan national was sentenced to death for murder.

No official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have provided coverage of these executions at the time of writing.

In 2023, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran registered the execution of 767 individuals. Out of these, 7 were carried out in public. Among the executed individuals whose genders were identified, 21 were female. Additionally, 2 juvenile offenders, defined as individuals under the age of 18 at the time of their alleged crimes, were also executed. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s annual report.

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Azerbaijani-Turk Activist Sayyad Mohammadian Arrested in Karaj

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Ethnic Minorities, News
Azerbaijani Turk activist, Karaj, Sayyad Mohammadian

On May 15, 2024, security forces arrested Sayyad Mohammadian, an Azerbaijani-Turk activist, at his residence in Karaj and transferred him to an undisclosed location.

During the arrest, the agents conducted a thorough search and confiscated some of his belongings.

The motives behind this arrest and his current whereabouts ARE unknown at this time.

Mohammadian has previously undergone arrest and interrogation due to his involvement in activist endeavors.

Sunni Death-Row Prisoner Khosrow Besharat Executed in Ghezel Hesar

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Executions, News
Abdolrahim Tina, Anvar Khezri, Ayoub Karimi, Davoud Abdollahi, Farhad Salimi, Ghasem Abasteh, Ghezel Hesar, Karaj, Mohammad Moghiseh

On May 15, 2024, Sunni prisoner Khosrow Besharat was executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj after enduring over 14 years of imprisonment.

As reported by HRANA earlier, he was moved to solitary confinement 14 days ago to await his execution. On May 13, he had his final family visit.

In the same legal case, Ghasem Abasteh, Ayoub Karimi, Davoud Abdollahi, Farhad Salimi, and Anvar Khezri were also executed in the same prison. Khezri was executed today, May 15, 2024.

The case stems from the assassination of Abdolrahim Tina, the Imam of a mosque in Mahabad, in September 2008. In January and February 2010, Besharat and six other Sunni suspects were arrested in connection with the killing.

Initially sentenced to death by Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Mohammad Moghiseh, Besharat’s sentence was initially overturned by the Supreme Court. The case was then reassigned to Branch 15 of the same court, presided over by Judge Salavati, who reinstated the death sentences for Besharat and six other defendants. The Supreme Court ultimately upheld their death sentences on February 3, 2020.

Political Prisoner Siamak Nasiri Sentenced to Imprisonment and Exile

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News, Prisoners
Alborz province, HRANA, Karaj, Musa Asef-Al-Hosseini, Siamak Nasiri

The Appellate Court of Alborz province has reduced political prisoner Siamak Nasiri’s sentence from six years to three years and one month.

Branch 12 of the Appellate Court of Alborz province issued the verdict, sentencing Nasiri to three years and one month in prison, plus two years of exile in Ahvaz County, following his appeal.

Initially, the Karaj Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Musa Asef Al-Hosseini, had sentenced Nasiri to five years in prison for “inciting people to violence and waging war against national security,” along with an additional year for “propaganda against the regime.” He was also required to reside in Ahvaz for two years.

Nasiri was arrested by IRGC Intelligence in Karaj on August 28, 2023, and is currently being held in the Central Prison of Karaj.

Previously, a source informed HRANA that Nasiri was detained in December 2022 in Karaj, where he was held in the Ministry of Intelligence’s facility. He was later transferred to the Central Prison of Karaj and subsequently released under a general pardon and commutation directive.

Two Inmates Executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison for Drug Offenses

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Executions, News
Farzad Geravand, Ghezel Hesar prison, Karaj, Majid Barati

On May 1, 2024, Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj executed two inmates convicted of drug-related crimes.

The individuals were identified as Farzad Geravand and Majid Barati. HRANA reported on April 28 that the inmates had been moved to solitary confinement in preparation for their execution.

No official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have provided coverage of these executions at the time of writing.

According to data gathered by the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists, Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj witnessed the highest number of executions in 2023, with Zahedan Prison following closely behind. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s report.

 

Execution of Three Inmates in Karaj

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Executions, News
Citizen executed, Ghezel Hesar prison, Karaj

On April 25, 2024, three inmates, including a woman, were executed in Karaj for murder, according to Rokna.

The first inmate, a middle-aged man, allegedly killed his wife four years ago during a family dispute. The second inmate was executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison for fatally stabbing a young man during a street fight three years ago. Their identities were not disclosed in the report.

The third inmate, a woman identified only as Sahar, was convicted of killing her 70-year-old husband and stealing his gold in Tehran.

The Supreme Court confirmed the verdicts initially issued by the Tehran Criminal Court, leading to the executions.

In 2023, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran registered the execution of 767 individuals. Out of these, 7 were carried out in public. Among the executed individuals whose genders were identified, 21 were female. Additionally, 2 juvenile offenders, defined as individuals under the age of 18 at the time of their alleged crimes, were also executed. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s annual report.