Citizen Detained by Security Forces in Baneh

On September 15, Anvar Rasouli was arrested by security forces in Baneh City in Kurdistan Province.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Rasouli was transferred to an unknown location following the arrest.

Anvar Rasouli is 45 years old and from Abolhassan village. The report says that Mr. Rasouli was arrested without a court order.

As of this writing, no information is available on the reasons for Rasouli’s detention or the charges against him.

Amin Hassanpour Violently Arrested by Security Forces in Urmia

On Thursday, September 16, 22-year-old Amin Hassanpour from Urmia was violently arrested by security forces without a court order.

According to the HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Center of Democracy and Human Rights in Kurdistan, Hassanpour was transferred to an unknown location following his arrest, during which he was reportedly beaten.

As of this writing, no information is available on the reasons for Hassanpour’s arrest or the charges against him.

Charo Ahmadi Arrested in Divandarreh in Kurdistan Province

On Monday, August 16, Sanandaj resident Charo (Jaleh) Ahmadi was arrested and transferred to an unknown location by security forces in Divandarreh .

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Center of Democracy and Human Rights in Kurdistan, A day later, Ms. Ahmadi was released on bail from a security detention center on Tuesday, August 17.

The security forces searched Ms. Ahmadi’s house and confiscated some of her personal belongings at the time of the arrest.

Charo Ahmadi is a Kurdish language teacher. She holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Ms. Ahmadi is a member of the board of directors of the Zagros Socio-Cultural Institute in Divandere.

As of this writing, no information is available on the reasons for the arrest or the charges against her.

Saqqez Citizen Khaled Karimnia Sentenced to 7 Months in Prison

Saqqez citizen Khaled Karimnia was recently sentenced by the Saqqez Revolutionary Court to 7 months in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, Mr. Karimonia was summoned to the IRGC on June 8, 2010 and was released on bail after being interrogated.

Khalid Karimnia, a citizen of Saqqez, was sentenced to imprisonment by the First Branch of the Revolutionary Court of this city, headed by Judge Javad Mostafaei.

According to the report, the First Branch of the Revolutionary Court of Saqqez, headed by Judge Javad Mostafaei, sentenced this citizen to 7 months in prison on charges of “propaganda against the regime”.

This citizen has a history of interrogation by security agencies. Mr. Karimonia was summoned to the IRGC on June 8, 1400, and after completing his interrogation, he was released on bail until the end of the trial.

He has appealed against the verdict and his case has been referred to the court of appeals for review.

Kurdistan Province Court of Appeals Sentences Saman Karimi to Imprisonment

On Saturday, July 17, Branch 4 of the Court of Appeals of Kurdistan Province sentenced Saman Karimi to 9 years in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Karimi was sentenced on charges of”conspiracy acts against the security of the country”, “membership in opposition groups”, and “propaganda against the regime”.

By applying Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the most severe sentence enforceable to him is 4 years in prison.

According to article 134 of Iran’s penal code, “If the number of offenses that are committed is more than three, the penalty shall not be more than the maximum prescribed punishment provided that it shall not exceed 1.5 times the longest sentence. In these cases, only the harshest prison sentence shall be served.”

Mr. Karimi was sentenced to death in November 2019, but the sentence was overturned by the Supreme Court in September of last year.

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Mohammad Taher Soleimani Executed in Mahabad Prison

Yesterday, June 30, Mohammad Taher Soleimani was executed in Mahabad Prison in Kurdistan Province.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, Soleimani had previously been sentenced to death on drug-related charges.

Mohammad Taher Soleimani was 65 years old and from Dizaj village in Margavar Rural District of Urmia County in West Azerbaijan Province.

Mr. Soleimani was transferred to solitary confinement on June 29, and his family was summoned to Mahabad Prison for their final visit.

Iran ranks first in the world in citizen executions per-capita, according to international organizations. The Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) reported that between January 1st and  December 20th 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 report, more than 72% of executions in Iran are not reported by the government or the judiciary. Human rights organizations call these “secret executions.”

Soleimani’s execution has not been announced by Iranian media or official sources as of this writing.

 

Juvenile Defendant Sews his Mouth Closed in Sanandaj Youth Detention Center

On June 19, a teenager in Sanandaj Youth Detention Center sewed his mouth closed to protest the prolonged process of his case by the Second Investigation Branch of Marivan.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, 17-year-old Arman Farahmand is the son of Mokhtar and a resident of Sardush village in Marivan city in Kurdistan Province.

Arman Farahmand is said to have been arrested along with eight others in Marivan in September 2020 following a mass brawl over the murder of a citizen named Pouya Chareh Talab. The rest of the defendants have been acquitted in recent months.

Barzan Mohammadi Arrested by Security Forces in Kurdistan Province

On June 8, former political prisoner Barzan Mohammadi was arrested by security forces at his brother’s house in Goshkhani village of the Sarvabad district in Kurdistan province and then transferred to an unknown location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Mohammadi has been bedridden for the last several days.

Mohammadi had previously been arrested during the nationwide protests in July 2018 for his activities in cyberspace and was sentenced to 3 years and 6 months in prison. He was freed on early release from Evin Prison in mid-July 2020.

At the time of writing, no information is available on Mohammadi’s whereabouts, the reason behind the arrest, or the charges against him.

 

Two Kurds die of self-immolation

HRANA News Agency – Two followers of Ahl-e Haqq in Kurdistan set themselves on fire in protest to the persecution of another member of this group.  Ahl-e Haqq is a religious minority whose members are mostly ethnic Kurds.
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