Mohammad Imami Sentenced to Imprisonment and Flogging

Branch 113 of the criminal court in Tabriz sentenced Azerbaijani Turk activist, Mohammad Imami, a resident of Tabriz, to 16 months imprisonment and 40 lashes.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the sentence has been suspended for five years.

Azerbaijani Turk activist, Mohammad Imami was sentenced to 8 months in prison on a charge of “contumacy the government agent’s order”, 8 months in prison on a charge of “disturbing the public order”, and 40 lashes on a charge of “deliberately injuring the police officer”.

On July 24, security forces arrested Imami and transferred him to a detention center at the disposal of the Ministry of Intelligence in Tabriz City. After spending one week in detention, he was released on a bail of 80 million tomans.

It is worth mentioning that on the same day of his arrest, several other citizens in Tabriz were also arrested in regards to the protests and demonstrations of Tabriz citizens in support of the nationwide Khuzestan protests against water mismanagement.

Chia Agha-Beygpour Sentenced to Imprisonment, Fines and Flogging

Recently, the Revolutionary Court of Bukan sentenced Bukan resident Chia Agha-Beygpour to one year and two months in prison, 70 lashes and paying a fine.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, Chia Agha-Beygpour was charged with “propaganda against the regime in favour of one of the opposition political parties”. He was denied access to an attorney and phone calls during his detention.

On July 29, 2021, security forces arrested and held him in a detention center at the disposal of the Ministry of Intelligence in Bukan. On September 6, he was released on bail until the end of legal proceedings.

 

Kamyar Fakoor Sentenced to Eight Months Imprisonment and Flogging

Workers’ rights activist Kamyar Fakoor was sentenced to 50 lashes, eight months imprisonment and paying a fine of 15 million tomans.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the verdict has been suspended for 5 years.

Branch 26 of the Tehran revolutionary court, headed by judge Mahmood Haj Moradi, sentenced Kamyar Fakoor to eight months in prison, 50 lashes and paying a fine of 15 million tomans on charges of “propaganda against the regime, spreading lies in the purpose to disturb public opinions and public order”.

As conditions for the sentence suspension, he will be obligated to ask permission from the judiciary before leaving the country, participate in emotional control courses, inform authorities about any changes in employment or place of residence, and avoid any political activities on social media.

On August 28, along with two other workers’ rights activists, Kamyar Fakoor was arrested during a protest of retirees and working educators in front of the building of the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare. Ten days later, he was released from Evin Prison on bail until the end of legal proceedings.

Citizen Sentenced to Forty Lashes for Stealing Three Packs of Cashews

A board member of Tehran University revealed a lawsuit wherein in recent weeks a criminal court condemned a citizen to 40 lashes, along with other punishments, just for stealing three packs of cashews.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, a board member of Tehran University publicized the court order in which a citizen has been convicted to 40 whips.

This verdict stands in blatant violation of the international covenant on Civil and Political Rights, of which Article 7 prohibits “torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment”.

Despite being a party to the international covenant, Iran’s regime regularly uses inhuman and humiliating punishments like flogging.

Death Sentence and Lashes Issued to Defendants in Tehran

A defendant in Tehran was recently sentenced, in absentia, to death after being charged with murder.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Rokna, the case’s other defendants were sentenced to other punishments, including prison time and lashes.

According to this report, a man named Reza, who is not currently in Iran, was sentenced to death in absentia for committing murder and to 10 years in prison and 74 lashes for other crimes he committed.

The second person who was involved in the conflict was sentenced to pay a ransom, a fine to the government, and 55 months in prison and lashes for injuring the victim’s father.

A third person was sentenced to 20 months in prison and lashes for disturbing public order and committing other crimes, and the other individuals involved in the bloody conflict were sentenced to one year in prison and 74 lashes for disturbing public order.

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 1 and December 20 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 same report, more than 72% of executions in Iran are not reported by the government or the judiciary, which human rights organizations call “secret” executions.

Iran is one of the few countries that has continued to use humiliating punishments despite the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights explicit prohibition of the use of inhumane and degrading punishments, including the death penalty and flogging.

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Esmail Gerami Sentenced to Imprisonment, Flogging, and Fines

Labor activist Esmail Gerami was sentenced to imprisonment, flogging, and a fine by Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company (SWTSBC), Gerami has been sentenced to 5 years in prison, 74 lashes, and a fine almost equal to $100 on charges of “gathering and colluding with intent to commit a crime against national security”.

On May 10, the interrogation session of Esmail Gerami’s case was held in the second branch of the Evin interrogation office on charges such as “disturbing public order” and “participating in an illegal gathering”.

Iran is one of the few countries that still uses humiliating punishments, despite the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights’ explicit prohibition of the use of inhumane and degrading punishments such as flogging.

The labor activist was arrested on April 10 by security forces and then transferred to the Greater Tehran Prison, where he currently resides.

A Daily Overview of Human Rights Violations in Iran for December 9, 2018

The following is an overview of human rights violations in Iran on December 9th,2018 based on the information compiled and verified by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).

(1) Executions in Urmia, Qazvin and Karaj

(2) Two Sunni Prisoners Were Released on Bail

(3) More Arrests Related to Chabahar Attack

(4) Highest Poverty Rate of the Rural Areas is in Three Provinces

 (5) Jail Time and Lashes for Worker Protesters

(6) Shirin Ebadi Wrote an Open Letter to the “Defender of Human Rights Center”

(7) A Baluch Prisoner Was Transferred to Rajaie Shahr Prison in Karaj

(8) 64 Workplace-related Deaths Were Reported in the Last Eight Months

(9) Delayed Paychecks and Layoffs in Three Businesses

(10) Setting the Court Session Date for Aryasb Bavand and Mahizadeh Poshtpanah

    

(1) Executions in Urmia, Qazvin and Karaj

In the morning of December 9, 2018, a prisoner in Urmia prison was transferred to a solitary confinement until his execution. He was accused with drug crimes. Moreover, Qazvin prosecutor confirmed the execution of two prisoners in Karaj and Qazvin. He added that the person who was executed on December 9 was accused of rape and the other person who was accused of murder was executed on December 4th.

(2) Two Sunni Prisoners Were Released on Bail

Two Sunni prisoners were released on bail from Urmia prison on Sunday December 9, 2018. Rasoul Shaier and Abdolvahed Salamat, were released on bail after two-years imprisonment. They were sentenced to five years in prison by the branch 10 appeal court in West Azerbaijan. In addition, two citizens were released on bail in Kermanshah and Salas-e Babajani cities. The other four are still in prison. 30 years old Salar Ahmadi was released on a 300-million-Tomans[$25000] bail. He was arrested in late November. Ali Sohrabilak, a 29 years old physic student, was released on a 280-million-Tomans [$24000] bail. He was arrested by the intelligence department in October 14th and was accused of, “cooperation with a Kurdish opposition group”. Moreover, Fahimeh Zandi and Sahar Kazemi who were arrested earlier this month are still in prison.

(3) More Arrests Related to Chabahar Attack

The chief of police announced that 10 more people were arrested in Zahedan, in relation to the Chabahar attack. Baluch’s activists campaign reported that security officers attacked Adham Narani’s house in Kaffe Baluchi village in Sarbaz city and had beaten and arrested him and his guests. In addition, the intelligence officers arrested two citizens separately in their workplace in Sanandaj and transferred them to an unknown place. According to Kurdistan democracy and human right center on December 8th, Vahid Azimi and Habib Ahmadi were beaten and arrested for “cooperation with a Kurdish opposition group”.

(4) Highest Poverty Rate of the Rural Areas is in Three Provinces

The highest poverty rate in rural areas is in Kohkiluie and Boyerahmad, Ilam, and Sistan and Baluchestan provinces. The parliament research center reported that the caloric intake for 65 percent of the people who live in these provinces is less than 2100. In Kohkiluie and Boyerahmad, nutrition-based poverty is significant. The poverty rate for Kohkiluie and Boyerahmad’s urban area is 2.8 and for rural area is 2.1. The poverty rate in this province is 2.49. Moreover, the lowest poverty rates are in Tehran and Alborz provinces.

 (5) Jail Time and Lashes for Worker Protesters

15 workers of Ilam Petrochemical company were sentenced to imprisonment and lashes. Judiciary Office has sentenced 15 workers of Ilam Petrochemical company to imprisonment and lashes. They were charged with disturbing public order because of their participation in a protest which was organized in April.In addition, a financial criminal, Hamid Bagheri Darmani, was sentenced to death.10 more financially-related criminals were also sentenced to imprisonment and fines. The convicted names are reported as the following: Mohsen Ranjbar for bribery and corruption to seven year and half of imprisonment and 74 lashes, Manuchehr Pourfar and Esmaeil Nasrollahi to 10 years imprisonment, Mehdi Rezaie to three years imprisonment, Naser Habibinasab to one year imprisonment, AsgarBarati to five years imprisonment, Hossein Mansouri Ghiri and Mahmoud Pourmand to eight years imprisonment, Amir Kamali Sarvestani  and Mir Mohammad Akhoundzadeh, an Afghan citizen, to 20 years imprisonment and deportation. All the above were faced to criminal fines. The chairman of Samenolhojaj Financial institute was sentencedto 15 years in prison.

(6) Shirin Ebadi Wrote an Open Letter to the “Defender of Human Rights Center”

Shirin Ebadi who received the Nobel Prize for Peace, wrote an open letter to the “defender of human rights center” on Wednesday, December 5th. She requested Javid Rehman, United Nations special Rapporteur for human rights in Iran, to acquire all possible means to help releasing the workers in Iran.

(7) A Baluch Prisoner Was Transferred to Rajaie Shahr Prison in Karaj

MohammadSaleh Shahdadzehi, a Baluch prisoner, was transferred to Rajaie Shahr prison in Karaj. He was arrested by the intelligence officers in in Iranshahr city earlier in June 2017.  A person close to Shahdadzehi told that he was detained in the Intelligence Office’s detention center for 7 months and had been tortured to confess that he had killed a Basij member.

(8) 64 Workplace-related Deaths Were Reported in the Last Eight Months

In the last eight months, 64 workers have died in their workplaces in Mazandaran province. Ali Abbasi, the director of forensic medicine department of Mazandaran province confirmed that Sari with 10 deaths, Amol with 9 and Tonekabon with 8 deaths had the highest number of workplace-related deaths while Savadkuh county, Neka, and Jooybar and Galoogah counties had the lowest with one death. Moreover, a middle-aged worker in Mahabad city was killed because of falling from an elevator while two other workers were injured in a mine in Khorasan Razavi province.

(9) Delayed Paychecks and Layoffs in Three Businesses

55 workers of the social emergency unit of Golestan province Welfare Organization have not received their salaries from June.Also, the workers of Sanandaj municipality announced that their salaries payments are delayed and expressed their concerns. In addition, 30 workers of Sadid factory in Tehran were laid off.

(10) Setting the Court Session Date for Aryasb Bavand and Mahizadeh Poshtpanah

The second hearing session of the accusations of Aryasb Bavand, a political prisoner in ward 4 of Evin prison, and Mahizadeh Poshtpanah was held in the Branch 15 of Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Salavati. Bavand’s accusations are “Forming a group to act against the national security, propaganda against the regime and dissemination of falsehood”. He and Poshtpanah were arrestedwhen returning to Iran