Tag: Khuzestan

IRGC Agents Arrest Several in Khuzestan on Espionage Charges

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News, Other
irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Khuzestan

HRANA News Agency – Several individuals in Khuzestan Province have been arrested by the Intelligence Organization of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on charges of “espionage,” according to a report by the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News Agency.

The report claims that the detainees were “in contact with the intelligence service of a Persian Gulf country and involved in collecting information from sensitive sites within the province.”

Details regarding the exact number of those arrested, their identities, and their current location remain undisclosed.

While combating espionage is not inherently a human rights issue, Iran’s consistent history of using such accusations as a pretext to suppress political dissent raises concerns. These allegations, particularly in the absence of detailed evidence and judicial transparency, often invite skepticism and call into question the motives behind such arrests.

Increased Pressure on Baluch and Arab Communities: 49 Citizens Arrested in Khuzestan and Sistan-Baluchestan

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Ethnic Minorities, News, Religious Minorities
Arab citizen, Baluch, ethnic rights, Khuzestan, Sistan & Baluchestan

HRANA News Agency – In recent days, Iranian security forces have conducted widespread, simultaneous arrests of dozens of Baluch and Arab citizens in the Khuzestan and Sistan & Baluchestan provinces, long regarded as hotspots of human rights tensions and repression. These mass arrests signal escalating pressures on the residents of these regions, once again underscoring the systemic violations of the rights of ethnic and religious minorities in Iran.

To date, the identities of 49 detainees have been verified, but the reasons for their arrests and the whereabouts of many remain unknown. This report aims to shed light on the scale of these incidents and the condition of those detained.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, the arrests took place in areas predominantly inhabited by diverse ethnic and religious groups, who continue to face significant human rights challenges. Local sources report increasing restrictions and intensifying pressures on Baluch and Arab citizens, further complicating daily life for these communities.

Arrests in Sistan-Baluchestan

The identities of 19 detainees in this province have been confirmed:

. Mir Khan Naroui
. Iman Naroui
. Milad Naroui (two individuals with the same name)
. Mehrshad Naroui
. Mohammad Naroui
. Fazl-Ahmad Naroui
. Farshid Naroui
. Safar Naroui
. Abdolhakim Bandour
. Abdolhamid Bandour
. Iman Dahmardeh
. Yasin Naroui
. Mehdi Naroui
. Azin Naroui
. Aminollah Naroui
. Mohsen Naroui
. Musa Naroui
. Majid Naroui

Arrests in Khuzestan

HRANA has identified 30 detainees in this province:

. Saeed Esmail Mazraeh
. Ahlam Abeyyat (Bandar)
. Ayoub Gheibipour
. Reza Heidari
. Javad Heidari
. Ali Savari
. Foad Mousavi
. Javad Afri
. Yasin Silavi
. Ali Koroushat
. Mohammad Naseri
. Younes Ghorbavi
. Reza Zahiri
. Hashem Mousavi
. Khaled Amouri
. Ali Amouri
. Mohammad Amouri
. Milad Bahri
. Sadegh Mansouri
. Mansour Jassemi
. Ahmad Jalali
. Hossein Saeidi
. Saeed Fallahi
. Ahmad Khaledi
. Ayoub Tarafi
. Yousef Saeedi
. Mohammad Ayashi
. Ali Savari
. Mohammad Shakhitipour (Abeyyat)
. Saeed Doraghi

The reasons for these arrests and the current whereabouts of many detainees remain unclear. Local sources suggest that the actual number of arrests may exceed official reports, and efforts to identify additional detainees are ongoing.

The mass arrests of Baluch and Arab citizens in Khuzestan and Sistan-Baluchestan reflect an intensification of repression against these communities. These actions not only violate fundamental human rights but also exacerbate the challenges faced by people in these regions. This situation underscores the urgent need for international human rights organizations and the global community to address these violations. Given the gravity of the situation, legal and diplomatic pressure to prevent the continuation of such actions is more critical than ever.

According to data from the Department of Statistics and Publications of HRA in 2024, Khuzestan Province ranked second in reported human rights violations by Iran’s regime, trailing only Tehran Province. Despite being sixteenth in population, Sistan and Baluchestan Province ranked fifth in this grim tally, underscoring the disproportionate level of violations in the region.

Bookstore Owner Ahlam Bandar Arrested by Security Forces in Ahvaz

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ahlam Bandar, ahvaz, Khuzestan

Yesterday, January 7, Ahlam Bandar, a resident of Ahvaz, was arrested by security forces in the city and transferred to an undisclosed location.

The identity of the detainee, Ahlam Bandar, who runs a bookstore named Laris in Ahvaz, has been confirmed by HRANA. Additionally, the bookstore’s Instagram page announced the suspension of its activities.

The reasons for her arrest and her current whereabouts remain unknown at this time.

According to data collected in 2024 by the Department of Statistics and Publications of HRA, Khuzestan Province ranked second in the number of human rights violations committed by Iran’s regime, following Tehran Province.

Hamidreza Shirzadi Sentenced to Imprisonment for Blasphemy

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Freedom of Expression, News
Blasphemy, Dezpart, Hamidreza Shirzadi, HRANA, Izeh, Khuzestan, حمیدرضا شیرزادی

Hamidreza Shirzadi, a resident of Dezpart County in Khuzestan province, has been sentenced to one year in prison by the criminal court of Izeh.

Based on the verdict issued in absentia on July 21st by Branch 103 of the Second Criminal Court of Izeh, Shirzadi has been sentenced to one year in prison on charges of “blasphemy.” Posting content on Instagram was cited as an example of the charges against this citizen.

A source close to Mr. Shirzadi’s family confirmed the news to HRANA and stated that another part of Shirzadi’s case, involving charges of “propaganda against the regime,” “disturbing public order,” and “insulting the Supreme Leader,” has been referred to Branch 4 of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court.

Twenty-two-year-old Hamidreza Shirzadi was arrested by security forces on September 23rd last year and released on bail in February of 2024.

Shirzadi was previously arrested in September 2021 during nationwide protests and was released after a while. His case was closed under a “general pardon and commutation” directive.

Extended Detention: Ongoing Uncertainty for Aman Jalali Nejad in Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz

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News, Prisoners
ahvaz, Aman Jalali Nejad, HRANA, Khuzestan, Sheiban Prison, امان جلالی نژاد

Aman Jalali Nejad, a teacher residing in Ahvaz, remains in detention and uncertainty for over ninety days in Sheiban Prison.

Based on information received by HRANA, recently, Jalali Nejad’s detention was extended for another month until August 10.

Jalali Nejad was arrested by security forces at the entrance of Ahvaz on April 8, 2024. In early June of this year, he was transferred from the quarantine ward of Sheiban Prison to the prison’s security ward.

This teacher was charged with “propaganda against the regime” on June 10, 2024, in Branch 13 of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court.

Aman Jalali Nejad is a teacher and painter employed by the Khuzestan Province Department of Education and resides in Ahvaz.

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Zeinab Khenyab Pour Faces Imprisonment and Fine for Photos Without Hijab

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Freedom of Expression, News, Women
Behbahan, Khuzestan, Mahshahr, Zeinab Khenyab Pour

The Appellate Court in Khuzestan Province sentenced Zeinab Khenyab Pour, a resident of Behbahan, to four months in prison and paying a fine, for the publication of photos without hijab.

Initially, Khenyab Pour was handed two years in prison by the Behbahan Criminal Court.

In a separate legal development overseen by the Mahshahr Revolutionary Court, Khenyab Pour had previously received a three-month sentence. This verdict was upheld on appeal.

The legal proceedings stem from Khenyab Pour’s participation in a general strike supporting nationwide protests on December 5, 2022. In response to the closure of her garment shop, she sought clarification from judicial authorities and was subsequently detained for six days in Sepidar Prison, located in Ahvaz. The case has ignited discussions about freedom of expression and the legal consequences individuals may face for their involvement in civic actions.

 

Abbas and Mohsen Deris Sentenced to a Combined 16 Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Aban protests, Abbas Deris, Khuzestan, Mahshahr, moharebeh, Mohsen Deris

Abbas and Mohsen Deris, arrested during the 2019-2020 protests (Aban Protests), have been collectively sentenced to 16 years in prison by the Criminal Court of Khuzestan Province.

Their lawyer, Fereshteh Tabanian, announced the verdict, stating, “Abbas Deris received a 14-year sentence for ‘murder, holding, and carrying weapons,’ with ten years enforceable if the verdict is upheld on appeal. Mohsen Deris was given a two-year sentence for ‘carrying weapons’ and acquitted of aiding in murder.”

“No evidence supports Abbas Deris’s involvement in the charges presented in this legal case,” Tabanian emphasized.

According to Tabanian, Abbas Deris was recently transferred from Sepidar Prison to Mahshahr Prison.

In a separate legal case, Abbas Deris received a death sentence for “enmity against God” (Moharebeh) from the Mahshahr Revolutionary Court. Although Tabanian had informed that the Supreme Court upheld the death sentence in July, she has now clarified that Deris’s request for a retrial is still pending a response.

Notably, his two brothers, including Mohsen Deris, were acquitted of Moharebeh in this specific case.

Arrested by IRGC Intelligence agents on December 8, 2019, Abbas and Mohsen Deris faced charges related to their participation in the protests. Abbas admitted to involvement but denied specific actions like setting fires and blocking roads. While he initially confessed to shooting at security forces during interrogation, he later disclaimed any responsibility for the death of Capt. Reza Sayadi during the closing arguments.

In November 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.

Appellate Court Upholds Mohsen Kheirkhah’s Three-Year Sentence

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News
Khuzestan, Mahshahr, Mohsen Kheirkhah, محسن خیرخواه

The Appellate Court of Khuzestan Province has upheld a three-year sentence against Mohsen Kheirkhah, a resident of Mahshahr.

On July 22, 2023, the Mahshahr Revolutionary Court handed down a one-year sentence for “propaganda against the regime” and an additional two years for “insulting the Supreme Court of Iran.”

In accordance with Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, which stipulates that the most severe punishment must be enforced in cases involving multiple charges, Kheirkhah is set to spend two years in prison.

Kheirkhah’s arrest took place during the September-October 2022 nationwide protests, and he was initially released from Behbahan Prison after a period of detainment by security forces. Following his release, he faced an additional eight-month prison sentence for “propaganda against the regime.” However, he was granted amnesty under the “pardon and commutation” directive.

Execution of Inmate in Ramhormoz for Drug Offenses

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Executions, News
Abdolkhalegh Parvizi, ahvaz, Khuzestan, Ramhormoz

On Sunday, November 12, prison authorities in Ramhormoz carried out the execution of an inmate convicted of drug-related crimes, as reported by the Iran Human Rights Organization.

The executed individual has been identified as Abdolkhalegh Parvizi, a resident of Ahvaz in the Khuzestan province. He had been convicted of drug offenses three years prior to the execution.

As of the current moment, there is a lack of official confirmation from authorities or coverage by domestic media outlets 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.

 

 

Inmate Executed in Ramhormoz Prison

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Executions, News
Izeh, Khuzestan, Ramhormoz, Samad Moradi

On Sunday, October 1, Ramhormoz Prison in Khuzestan province carried out the execution of an inmate convicted of murder.

The Iran Human Rights Organization has confirmed the identity of the executed inmate as Samad Moradi, a 30-year-old individual from Izeh County.

Two days prior to his execution, Moradi was transferred to solitary confinement, a move that sparked protests and resistance from fellow inmates. An altercation with prison guards during this transfer resulted in injuries to some prisoners.

Moradi had been convicted of murder five years ago, and his execution was carried out as a result of this conviction.