Twelve Arrested in South Khorasan for Alleged Misinformation and Insults

Fars news agency reports that the Iranian Cyber Police in South Khorasan Province have identified 27 social media channels, leading to the arrest of 12 citizens for disseminating what authorities label as “misinformation and insulting content.” Additionally, a business unit has been closed in connection with these activities.

According to a police official, these 27 websites allegedly published “fake news and insulting content against the martyrs who lost their lives during the terrorist attack in Kerman.” The 12 individuals arrested in relation to this matter will face legal action. The identities of the detainees and the location of their detention remain undisclosed.

Following the tragic explosions in Kerman during the commemoration ceremony for Qasem Soleimani, which claimed numerous lives and caused injuries, security forces and affiliated individuals on social media have been actively pursuing those expressing opinions about the incident. Consequently, dozens of individuals have been summoned, arrested, and had their social media pages removed.

Three Detained for Voicing Opinions on Recent Kerman Blasts

In the ongoing trend of security and judicial actions against citizens expressing their opinions on social media regarding the deadly explosions in Kerman during Qasem Soleimani’s commemoration ceremony, three individuals have been arrested.

The detainees are identified as Amir Rah Peykar, a student at the University of Isfahan, Shahin Ghafoori, a university professor at Islamic Azad University, Qorveh Branch, and Niloofar Sadat Hashemian, an attorney and member of Iran’s central bar association.

As of now, the charges against these individuals remain undisclosed.

On January 3, 2024, two devastating explosions occurred during the fourth-anniversary commemoration of Qasem Soleimani in Kerman, resulting in dozens of casualties and over 170 injuries. Subsequently, the regime’s security apparatus arrested numerous citizens for expressing their opinions on social media regarding this incident.

Crackdown on Dissent Following Kerman Blasts: Dozens Arrested and Prosecuted

In the aftermath of the tragic explosions in Kerman during Qasem Soleimani’s commemoration ceremony, claiming numerous lives and causing injuries, security forces and affiliated individuals on social media have actively sought to identify and apprehend those expressing opinions about the incident. As a result, dozens of individuals have been summoned, arrested, and had their social media pages removed, with an estimated 76 people detained in connection to these events.

According to 32 reports from social media channels associated with Iran’s security institutions, at least 76 arrests have been made, 108 individuals have been summoned to security/judicial institutions, 537 social media pages were taken down, and two businesses in Mazandaran and South Khorasan Province were closed.

In an attempt to instill fear and suppress dissent, these security-affiliated channels have doxed 28 citizens, leading to their subsequent arrests and prosecutions. Furthermore, one security-affiliated channel has released a video featuring the coerced confession of a citizen, although the location and circumstances of the recording remain unclear. In the video, the detainee expresses regret for his opinions, attributing his actions to the influence of social media.

The regime’s approach has sparked concerns about potential violations of citizens’ privacy rights. Additionally, the Tehran prosecutor has announced legal action against Sadegh Zibakalam, an author and political pundit, and seven others for their statements regarding the recent blasts in Kerman. Furthermore, several students have faced disciplinary measures from universities due to their opinions on the incident.

Mohammad Davari Receives Four Years and Six Months Prison Sentence

The Shiraz Revolutionary Court has issued a verdict sentencing workers’ rights activist Mohammad Davari to four years and six months in prison. The sentence includes a two-year mandatory residence in Bardsir County, Kerman Province, a two-year travel ban, and additional social deprivations.

Presiding over the court, Judge Mahmood Sadati delivered a three-year prison term, a two-year prohibition from leaving the country, a ban on social media activities, and a two-year mandatory residence in Bardsir County for charges related to “insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran.” Additionally, Davari was handed a one-year and six-month sentence for “propaganda against the regime in favor of anti-regime groups.”

Despite the severity of the charges, a source informed HRANA that the court did not provide any specific examples for the accusation of “insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran.”

Furthermore, Davari is concurrently facing allegations of “disseminating false information” in another pending legal case, currently under consideration by the Shiraz Criminal Court.

Notably, Mohammad Davari has a history of prior arrests and convictions stemming from his activism. He is a civil engineering graduate from Yasuj University and a political science alumnus from Shiraz Payam Noor University.

Execution of Woman for Drug Offenses in Kerman Prison

On November 15, 2023, a female inmate convicted of drug-related crimes was executed at Kerman Prison.

The executed inmate is identified as Zarkhatoon Mazar-Zahi, approximately 46 years old, from Saravan, married, and a mother of one child. Mazar-Zahi was apprehended six years ago at a police checkpoint in Kerman Province on suspicion of drug smuggling while en route to Shiraz.
On March 15, 2022, the Kerman Revolutionary Court handed down a death sentence, a verdict subsequently affirmed by the Supreme Court. As of the current writing, no official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have reported on this execution.

According to data compiled by the Center of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA), between October 10, 2022, and October 8, 2023, a total of 659 individuals were executed by hanging in Iran, representing a 24% increase compared to the corresponding period in the previous year. Seven of these executions were conducted publicly. Concerningly, many of the defendants were denied access to a fair trial and due process. For details and statistics, read HRANA’s report.

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Execution of Inmate in Bam Prison

On Tuesday, October 10, Bam Prison in Kerman province bore witness to the execution of an inmate convicted of murder.

The inmate has been identified as Hossein Alizadeh, aged 30, originally from Iranshahr, according to Haal Vsh.

Alizadeh had been sentenced to death a decade ago. Two days prior to his execution, he was transferred to the quarantine section of the prison.

According to data compiled by the Center of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA), between October 10, 2022, and October 8, 2023, a total of 659 individuals were executed by hanging in Iran, representing a 24% increase compared to the corresponding period in the previous year. Seven of these executions were conducted publicly. Concerningly, many of the defendants were denied access to a fair trial and due process. For details and statistics, read HRANA’s report.

Three Inmates Executed in Kerman Prison

Kerman Prison conducted the execution of three inmates on October 9, as reported by Haal Vsh.

One of the inmates has been identified as Narui (Narooie)(first name unknown), who was convicted of drug-related offenses. The identities and convictions of the other two inmates remain undisclosed, though there are indications that they may be Afghan nationals.

As of the time of writing, there have been no official statements or reports from domestic media sources within the country regarding these executions.

According to data compiled by the Center of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA), between October 10, 2022, and October 8, 2023, a total of 659 individuals were executed by hanging in Iran, representing a 24% increase compared to the corresponding period in the previous year. Seven of these executions were conducted publicly. Concerningly, many of the defendants were denied access to a fair trial and due process. For details and statistics, read HRANA’s report.

Three Inmates Convicted of Murder Executed across Different Prisons

On August 26 and 27, 2023, three inmates who had previously been found guilty of murder faced execution in separate instances across Zarand, Saqqez, and Aligudarz.

According to HRANA, on August 26, Milad Yazdanpanah, 30 years old, was executed in Zarand Prison, located in Kerman province. Sources close to his family informed HRANA that Yazdanpanah had been sentenced to death six years ago following a conviction for murder.

Kurdpa reported the execution of Vafa Kharamani, an inmate, on August 27, in Saqqez prison. Two years prior, he had received a death sentence for committing murder.

Finally, Iran Human Rights Organization reported the execution of Sobhan Efterkhareddin, aged 35, in Aligudarz, situated in Lorestan Province, on August 27. Efterkhareddin had been found guilty of murder approximately three and a half years ago.

At the time of writing, no official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have reported on these executions.

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.

 

Five Inmates Executed in Qazvin, Kerman, and Kahnuj

On August 21, 2023, the lives of five individuals came to a solemn end yesterday as they were executed in separate incidents across Kerman, Kahnuj, and Qazvin.

According to Haal Vsh, Kerman Prison officials executed three death-row prisoners, identified as Saeed Rigi, approximately 40 years of age, Abdolghafoor Toomaj Turkman, and Amir Rahimi. Three years ago, in two separate cases, they were sentenced to death by the Kerman Revolutionary Court for drug offenses.

Haal Vsh also reported the execution of Rasoul Narui (Narooie), aged 29, in Kahnuj Prison, located in Kerman Province. He had been found guilty of murder four years ago.
Adding to this list of tragic events, Iran Human Rights Organization verified the executions of two more inmates in Qazvin Prison. Jamil Abdollahzadeh, aged 41, and Mehran Amiri, approximately 45 years old, were put to death due to their involvement in drug-related crimes.

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.

 

Sahand Nour-Mohammadzadeh Commences Exile Sentence in Kahnuj Prison

Sahand Nour-Mohammadzadeh, arrested during the nationwide protests of 2022, was dispatched to Kahnuj in Kerman province on August 9th to initiate his prison term.

Initially condemned by the Tehran Revolutionary Court, he was sentenced to six years in prison, accompanied by a ten-year exile in Kahnuj. This ruling gained affirmation from the Supreme Court.

The father of the detainee, Ja’far Nour-Mohammadzadeh, revealed that his son was relocated to Kahnuj Prison on Wednesday, commencing the enforcement of his decade-long exile.

Hamed Ahmadi, Nour-Mohammadzadeh’s lawyer, recently confirmed that he has formally petitioned for a retrial, submitting the request to the Supreme Court. Ahmadi further highlighted that Nour-Mohammadzadeh has been burdened with charges exceeding five million tomans to cover travel expenses.

Nour-Mohammadzadeh was initially sentenced to death, but the Supreme Court overturned this decision and sent the case to Branch 26 for review. Subsequently, he was re-sentenced to a decade of exile for charges of “enmity against God (Moharebeh),” five years of imprisonment for “assembly and collusion against national security,” and an additional year behind bars for “disturbing public order.”

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.