Tag: Mashhad

Azim Karimzai Executed in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad

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Executions, Prisoners
Azim Karimzai, Citizen executed, Citizen executions, Death Penalty, Death row, Death sentence, Mashhad, Razavi Khorasan, Razavi Khorasan Province, Vakilabad, Vakilabad prison

At dawn on June 25, a prisoner was executed in Vakilabad Prison in the city of Mashhad in Razavi Khorasan Province.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting The Baloch Activists Campaign, Azim Karimzai, son of Mullah Sharif, had been previously sentenced to death on drug-related charges.

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”.

Karimzai’s execution has not been announced by Iranian media or official sources at the time of this writing.

 

Ferdowsi University of Mashhad Students Protest Admin’s Negligence Leading up to Student Suicide

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Freedom of Expression, Students
Admin negligence, Ferdowsi University, Gholi Beiglou, Mashhad, Saeed Gholi Beiglou, Student death, University administration

On Monday, June 28, in the aftermath of Saeed Gholi Beiglou’s suicide, several Ferdowsi University of Mashhad students gathered to protest Admin’s negligence leading up to the tragedy.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Gholi Beiglou was a postdoctoral researcher studying physics. Students have stated that Gholi Beiglou had attempted to kill himself the previous day, and university officials had sent him back to his dormitory without providing any support. He hung himself from the ceiling fan of his dormitory the following day.

Students are demanding that the university take responsibility for Gholi Beiglou’s death.

 

Political Prisoners Mohammad Hossein Sepehri and Kamal Jafari Yazdi Beaten in Valkilabad Prison

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Prisoners
Ali Timaji, Kamal Jafari Yazdi, Mashhad, Mohammad Hossein Sepehri, Sepehri, Vakilabad, Vakilabad prison, Ward 1.6, Yazdi

On June 20 and June 21, political prisoners Mohammad Hossein Sepehri and Kamal Jafari Yazdi were beaten in Vakilabad prison in Mashhad.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Sepehri and Yazdi were beaten and insulted by the new head of Ward 1.6 in Valkilabad prison.

Teachers’ union activist Javad Lal Mohammadi told HRANA that Ali Timaji, the new head of the ward, broke Sepehri’s teeth in the beating.

53-year-old Mr. Jafari Yazdi is a university professor with a notable military record. He fought and was taken prisoner in the Iran-Iraq war, and holds a doctorate in strategic management.

In April 2019, Branch 4 of the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad sentenced him to a total of 13 imprisonments including 10 years in prison on a charge of “forming a group with the intention of overthrowing the regime”, 1 year in prison on a charge of “Propaganda against the regime”,  and 2 years in prison on a charge of “Insulting the leadership”.  The sentence was upheld by the Court of Appeals.

Branch 4 of the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad sentenced Mr. Sepehri to 6 years in prison. The sentence was confirmed by the Court of Appeals of Khorasan Razavi Province in April of last year.

In 2019, Mohammad Hossein Sepehri and 13 other civil activists published a letter calling for the resignation of Ayatollah Khamenei. Following the publication of the letter, some of its signatories were arrested and others were pressured by authorities. Nine charges have been filed against the activists, including “Insulting the founder of the Islamic Republic”, “Insulting the sacred”, “Insulting the leadership”, “Disturbing the public mind”, “Cooperating with foreign media”, and “Participating in illegal gatherings”.

 

 

Benjamin Berier Indicted on Charges of Espionage and Spreading Propaganda Against the System

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Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, Prisoners, Women
Benjamin Berier, Berier, Drone, Figaro, Mashhad, UAV, Vakilabad prison

Benjamin Berier, arrested last May and held in Vakilabad Prison in the city of Mashhad since, has been indicted more than two months after giving his last defense to the Mashhad Prosecutor’s Office.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Berier’s lawyer Saeed Dehghan wrote in a note on his social media that Benjamin Berier has been found guilty on charges of spying and spreading propaganda against the system. His other two charges of drinking and spreading depravity were dropped.

According to Dehghan, photographing forbidden areas, and asking the question “Why is the hijab mandatory in the Islamic Republic but optional in other Islamic countries?” are the reasons for the accusation of spying and propaganda against the regime.

Berier’s lawyer previously told HRANA, “Despite the ambiguities and contradictions in his charges against Mr. Berier, his case has not been allowed access to a lawyer thus far, which is a catastrophe.”

Mr. Dehghan also told HRANA that translational errors from a particular French publication have exacerbated the suspicion among officials.

“In a news story published by the French newspaper Figaro, Berier’s use of the common word “drone” has been misinterpreted as a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle)–Mr. Berier is a tourist who used a ‘helicam’ for photography,” Dehghan said. “The use of this word by the newspaper Figaro has caused this misconception by some media. Figaro also reported Mr. Berier is a French Iranian citizen while he actually is a French citizen.”

Authorities Quash Show of Support for Sequestered Teacher Hashem Khastar

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Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds
freedom of assembly, Hashem Khastar, imprisoned teachers, Mashhad, teacher strikes, teacher union, Teachers' Demonstrations

Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)- The wife, children, and colleagues of teachers’ union activist Hashem Khastar, 65, who was forcibly hospitalized on October 23, 2018, in Mashhad, were detained by agents of the Intelligence Ministry on Monday, November 5th.

More than 10 of Khastar’s supporters were arrested while convening in front of Ebn-Sina hospital, where Khastar remains detained in the psychiatric ward despite having no history of mental illness. They have been transferred to the Intelligence Bureau of Mashhad.

HRANA has thus far been able to confirm the identities of five arrestees: Sadigheh Maleki Fard (Khastar’s wife), Jahed Khastar and Ahmad Khastar (Khastar’s sons), and colleagues “Mr. Lotfinia” and “Mr. Yazdi.”

According to a close source, authorities were quick to head off their show of solidarity. “Security agents were already present at the hospital prior to the protesters’ arrival and had blocked the roads leading up to it. Khastar’s family were arrested as soon as they arrived. Several other individuals — teachers and colleagues of Mr. Khastar — were arrested throughout the day until 5:30 PM.”

Arrestees were reportedly booked at the police station before being handed over to Ministry of Intelligence custody.

Mashhad is the capital of Razavi Khorasan province, located in Iran’s northeast.

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56 Prisoners Executed During 17 Days

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Executions
Gorgan, Mashhad, Minab, Nayriz, Shahrood, Shiraz, Tabriz, Taybad, Uremia

HRANA News Agency – In a concerning statistical jump, in less than three weeks, more than 56 prisoners with different charges were hanged in 10 different cities of Iran.

According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), in 17 days, 56 executions were registered in Shahrood, Gorgan, Uremia, Minab, Tabriz, Mashhad, Taybad, Nayriz, and Shiraz. Continue reading “56 Prisoners Executed During 17 Days”

16 Prisoners Were Hanged in Mashhad and Birjand

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Executions
Birjand, Mashhad

HRANA News Agency – 16 prisoners with drug related charges were hanged in Mashhad and Birjand during April 16 and 17.

According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), 12 prisoners were hanged in Mashhad on April 16 and 4 others in Birjand on April 17. All of these prisoners were sentenced to death for drug related charges. Continue reading “16 Prisoners Were Hanged in Mashhad and Birjand”

A number of civilians arrested in Mashhad

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Freedom of Expression
Mashhad, Morteza Pashai

HRANA News Agency – Following the death of “Morteza Pashai”, Iranian popular singer, musician and songwriter, spontaneous gatherings were held around the nation in Iran by the fans of the deceased, and in some cases it was associated with conflict and detention of civilians by the security forces.

According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), following the death of Morteza Pashai, young Iranian singer, musician and composer, spontaneous gatherings by supporters of the deceased were held in cities across the country. In these street demonstrations people sang the death artist’s songs holding lit kindles in their hands. Continue reading “A number of civilians arrested in Mashhad”

14 executions including 4 public hangings during 4 days

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Executions
Kermanshah, Mashhad, Semnan, Zabol

HRANA News Agency – 14 prisoners have been hanged during 4 days in Semnan, Zabol, Kermanshah and Mashhad.

According to the report of the Judiciary of Semnan province, a prisoner was hanged on charge of rapping publicly in Semnan on April 26th. Continue reading “14 executions including 4 public hangings during 4 days”

9 executions including 3 in public during 48 hours

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Executions
Karaj, Mashhad, Public executions, Rajai Shahr Prison, Salmas

HRANA News Agency – 9 prisoners have been executed in different cities including 3 public ones in Alborz province.

 

According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), 3 prisoners have been hanged in Mehrshahr, Nazar Abad and Hashtgerd in Alborz province on February 26th. Continue reading “9 executions including 3 in public during 48 hours”