Tag: Political Prisoner

Report on Mohammad Rezvani Kashani’s Condition in Evin Prison

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News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, HRANA, Mohammad Rezvani Kashani, Political Prisoner

Mohammad Rezvani Kashani, a political prisoner, is serving his sentence in Evin Prison. Despite his poor physical condition, he has been deprived of proper medical care.

A source close to the family of this prisoner confirmed this news to HRANA and said: “Mr. Kashani suffers from multiple physical ailments such as a herniated disc, kidney infections, and urinary tract bleeding, and he needs treatment. However, he has been denied proper medical care and transfer to medical centers outside the prison.”

Mohammad Rezvani Kashani was arrested by The Ministry of Intelligence at his residence in July-August 2023 and was transferred to Wards 240 and 209 of Evin Prison. He was later moved to Ward 4 of this prison.

He was then sentenced to fifteen months of suspended imprisonment for the charge of blasphemy. In another part of his case, he was sentenced by Branch 29 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Seyed Ali Mazloumi, to one year in prison for the charge of propaganda against the regime. A quarter of this prison sentence was reduced by the Tehran Court of Appeals.

Mohammad Rezvani Kashani, aged around 49, is a researcher and philosophy lecturer.

A Report on the Latest Situation of Ali Pasban in Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad

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News, Prisoners
Ali Pasban, Isfahan, Kashan, Mashhad, Political Prisoner, Vakilabad prison, علی پاسبان

Ali Pasban, a political prisoner, is serving his seven-year sentence in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad. He is being held in the same ward as prisoners convicted of violent crimes, in violation of prison regulations.

A source close to Mr. Pasban’s family told HRANA, “He is being held in the violent criminals’ ward, Salon 102, Ward 5 of Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad, without adherence to the principle of separation of crimes. Recently, after he protested against the inappropriate behavior of a prison official, he was threatened. The guards told him they would hire individuals in that ward to harm him. He reported to his family about ongoing harassment, threats, and the danger to his life, and requested legal assistance.”

This citizen was arrested on August 26, 2021, in Mashhad and transferred to Vakilabad Prison in this city. In January 2022, he was sentenced to seven years in prison by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad on charges of “membership in opposition groups intending to disrupt national security.”
Additionally, in March-April 2022, he was sentenced to one year in prison on charges of “insulting the Supreme Leader.”
Mr. Pasban had previously been convicted and served prison sentences in Isfahan and Kashan in 2018 and 2019 on charges of “propaganda against the regime” and “insulting the Supreme Leader.”

Political Prisoner Shakila Monfared Receives Additional 12-Month Prison Term and Further Penalties on Appeal

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News, Prisoners
Abbasali Hozan, Evin Prison, Narge Mohammadi, Political Prisoner, Shakila Monfared, Tehran, شکیلا منفرد

The Appellate Court of Tehran has imposed an additional twelve-month prison sentence and other penalties on Shakila Monfared, a political prisoner currently held in Evin Prison. This decision stems from a legal case initiated while she was incarcerated.

Presided over by Judge Abbasali Hozan, Branch 36 of the Tehran Appellate Court found Monfared guilty of allegedly “spreading propaganda against the regime,” leading to a 12-month imprisonment. Additionally, she faces restrictions, including a ban on residing in Tehran and its surrounding provinces, prohibition from joining political or civil groups, and limitations on smartphone usage.

Initially sentenced to 15 months in prison by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, Monfared’s appeal, along with her co-defendant Narge Mohammadi, was adjudicated in absentia in December. She was informed of the conviction on February 20, subsequent to the dismissal of her appeal request by the court.

This marks the third legal case resulting in a conviction that Monfared has encountered during her incarceration.

Monfared’s ordeal began on August 31, 2020, when security forces arrested her as she was leaving her home. She was transferred to one of the detention centers under the control of the IRGC in Tehran. After 14 days of detention, she was subsequently released on bail from Evin Prison.

Following that, Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, sentenced Monfared to six years in prison and four months of probation work in the Agricultural Jihad on charges of “propaganda against the regime” and “blasphemy.” This verdict was later reduced to four years and two months on appeal.

In January 2022, in a new legal case while imprisoned, Monfared received two years and eight months, this time for the charge of “membership in anti-regime groups” and paying a fine for “disseminating false information.”

It is worth noting that on June 6, 2023, once again, Monfared faced the charge of “assembly and collusion against national security,” and this time the case was closed after a while.

 

Death-Row Political Prisoner Nayeb Askari Moved to Solitary Confinement, Heightening Fear of Imminent Execution

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News, Prisoners
Baghi, moharebeh, Nayeb Askari, Political Prisoner, Urmia

Nayeb Askari, a political prisoner on death row in Urmia Prison, was transferred to solitary confinement at Urmia prison on March 27, 2024, sparking fears among his family that his execution may be imminent.

A source with close ties to Askari’s family has confirmed his relocation. While the exact reason for the transfer remains unclear, it is customary for prison authorities to move death-row inmates to solitary confinement before executing them.

Initially sentenced to death for “enmity against God (Moharebeh)” on April 15, 2023, his plea for a retrial was accepted, leading to a charge change to Baghi. In October 2023, the court reaffirmed the death sentence, with the hearings reportedly conducted without his lawyer’s presence. The charge is supported by his alleged membership in a Kurdish political opposition party.

Arrested by IRGC intelligence agents on March 27, 2021, in Urmia, Askari was later moved to a detention facility and, on June 17, 2021, to Urmia Prison.

HRANA’s source reveals another ongoing case accusing Askari of the murder of IRGC member Mostafa Soltani. In 2013-2014, Soltani was injured during a clash with a political opposition party member, passing away six years later from COVID-19. Soltani’s family claims alleged Askari’s involvement in the altercation caused the sustained injury leading to his eventual death.

A new case, opened on July 12, 2021, based on a complaint from the Urmia Prison head, resulted in a three-month imprisonment extension and 50 lashes for “disrupting prison order.”

According to HRA’s annual report, in 2023, Urmia Prison officials executed 29 inmates, positioning this facility as the sixth highest in terms of executions among the ranked prisons.

Concerns Rise Over Health of Political Prisoner Hamzeh Savari

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News
Ghezel Hesar, Hamzeh Savari, Hamzeh Savari Laftah, Karaj, moharebeh, Political Prisoner, حمزه سواری

Political prisoner Hamzeh Savari Laftah, currently serving a life sentence in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj, is facing alarming health issues amidst inadequate medical care. Despite his urgent need for treatment outside the prison walls, authorities have repeatedly denied him access to essential medical attention.

According to a source close to Savari’s family, he has been enduring a painful baker’s cyst in his knee for five years, which has worsened over time, extending to his tendon due to the absence of proper medical intervention. Shockingly, prison officials, under orders from the prosecutor, have refused to transfer him to a hospital for necessary treatment.

Reports obtained by HRANA indicate that Savari has also been battling Varicose disease for eleven years, with a recurrence three years ago following a surgery nine years ago. Despite his persistent requests for medical assistance, he has been consistently denied access to treatment.

Arrested at the tender age of 16 on September 2, 2005, Savari was initially sentenced to death by the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court on charges of “spreading corruption on earth, enmity against God (moharebeh), and acting against national security.” However, his sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment.

The troubling case of Savari adds to a larger pattern of neglect within Iranian prisons. In 2023, the Department of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran documented 1,390 instances of denial or neglect of medical care for prisoners, highlighting a systemic issue that demands urgent attention.

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Ali Ensandoost Arrested in Rasht

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ali Ensandoost, Political Prisoner, Rasht

On August 13, 2022, security forces arrested Ali Ensandoost at his house and transferred him to an unidentified location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on August 13, 2022, former political prisoner Ali Ensandoost was arrested.

The reason for Ensandoost’s arrest, his whereabouts and the charges against him are unknown so far.

Ensandoost had faced arrest and conviction before. On April 28, 2020, security forces arrested him in Rasht for his activities on social media and an interview with opposition media outside the country. He was interrogated in a detention facility until September 2020 when he was transferred to Langerud Prison and held in a ward with prisoners of violent crimes.

The Revolutionary Court of Qom sentenced Ensandoost to eight years in prison on the charges of “collaboration with hostile countries, insulting the Supreme Leader, and propaganda against the regime”.After plea bargaining, the sentence was reduced to four years and six months. On December 26, 2021, Ensandoost was released to serve the rest of his sentence in home detention with an electronic monitoring device.

Political Prisoner Chia Agha-Beygpour Flogged in Bukan Prison

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News, Other
Bukan Prison, Chia Agha-Beygpour, Political Prisoner

As a part of his punishment, political prisoner Chia Agha-Beygpour was flogged 70 times in Bukan Prison after his return from a short-term furlough.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Center of Democracy and Human Rights in Kurdistan, as a part of his punishment, political prisoner Chia Agha-Beygpour was flogged 70 times in Bukan Prison.

The flagellation was carried out soon after his return from furlough.

On July 29, 2021, security forces arrested and held him in a detention centre at the disposal of the Ministry of Intelligence in Bukan city. During the arrest, he had been deprived of contacting his family and having a lawyer. On September 6, he was released on bail until the end of legal proceedings.

In November of last year, the Revolutionary Court of Bukan sentenced him to one year and two months imprisonment, flogging and a fine for “propaganda against the regime in favour of one of the opposition political parties”.

On January 25, Chia Agha-Beygpour was jailed to begin to serve his sentence.

Soheila Hejab Beaten and Threatened Following Protest Against Poor Quality Prison Food

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners, Women
Correctional Center of Kermanshah, Hunger Strike, Political Prisoner, Soheila Hejab

Since January 31, inmates of the women’s ward in the Correctional Center of Kermanshah have refused to get their meals in protest against the poor quality of the prison food. During the protest, the head of the prison guards beat political prisoner Soheila Hejab and threatened to open a new legal case against her and send her to an exile prison. Other protesting prisoners have been threatened with denial of visits and phone calls.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, an informed source stated that “on the first day, Soheila Hejab brought a piece of burned food to the head of the prison and asked her if he [could] eat it. He responded that they are running low on budget and therefore the food is what it is. When Soheila Hejab was returning to her ward, she saw the decorations for celebrating Fajr decade (an annual ten-day celebration for the triumph of the 1979 revolution). She protested why they do not use the costs of this celebration for improving food quality. Following a verbal quarrel, in response, the Head of Prison Guards Leila Hosseini-Nia beat her hard in the chest and hit her with a mirror.”

According to this source, prison officials have tried to accuse her of provoking a riot in prison. They have threatened to deny other prisoners visitations and phone calls unless they corroborated this and signed reports as witnesses.

Once before, in October 2021, Hejab was beaten in Qarchak Prison while on hunger strike.

Hejab was arrested by security forces on June 1, 2019, and then released from Evin Prison in Tehran on a bail of 3 billion tomans on March 14, 2020.

Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court sentenced her to 18 years in prison on charges of “propaganda against the regime”, “illegal assembly”, “incitement of public opinions to riot” and “organizing unlawful political groups”.

On May 23, 2020, the intelligence unit of the Revolutionary Guards arrested and transferred her to Gharchak Prison in Varamin City to serve her sentence. She was then transferred to Sanandaj Prison and then, on January 7, to the Correctional Center of Kermanshah City.

Political Prisoner Khaled Pirzadeh Sewed His Eyelids in Protest

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News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, hunger strikes, Kaled Pirzadeh, Political Prisoner, prisoner protest, Sheyban Prison

Political prisoner Khaled Pirzadeh, who is exiled to Sheyban Prison, sewed his eyelids shut to protest refusal to release him on probation and furlough.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, judicial authorities did not keep their promise to grant him release on probation and furlough, prompting Pirzadeh to sew his eyelids in protest.

On August 23, 2021, Pirzadeh went on hunger strike to protest authorities’ refusal to release him on probation, the housing of political prisoners in the same ward as prisoners of violent crimes, and police officers’ brutal behavior towards family members during the delivery of an eviction order. Ultimately, he ended his hunger strike on November 14, 2021.

During the hunger strike, he developed extremely low blood pressure and blood sugar, backache and other physical problems.

On May 26, 2019, Pirzadeh was arrested violently by security forces and was sent to Evin Prison after interrogation. He was sentenced to 7 years in prison on the charges of “offensive statements against the supreme leader of Iran” and “assembly and collusion against the regime”. This sentence was confirmed in the Court of Appeals. According to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, 5 years of this sentence for the charge of “collusion against the regime” is enforceable.

He was relocated to Greater Tehran Prison on July 22, 2020. Reportedly, at the time of transferring, he was beaten by prison guards. In August 2020, he had surgery on his foot. He needs additional treatment and surgery for his injured spine. On July 14, 2021, he was transferred from Greater Tehran Prison to exile in Sheyban Prison, Ahvaz and held him unlawfully in a ward that also houses prisoners of violent crimes.

Ahmad Tamouei Freed After Fifteen Years in Prison

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News, Prisoners
Ahmad Tamouei, irgc, Mahabad City, PJAK, Political Prisoner, Prisoner released, Urmia prison

Political prisoner Ahmad Tamouei was freed on December 16 after fifteen years in prison, ten months before serving his full sentence. He is currently on furlough and therefore, by court order, will not return to Urmia Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Tamouei was arrested by IRGC’s intelligence unit  on October 24, 2007. He was arrested by in Mahabad City while on a motorbike.

After spending time in a detention facility at the disposal of the IRGC, he was relocated to Mahabad Prison. On December 31, 2007, Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court sentenced him to 15 years in prison, exiled in Urmia Prison on the charge of “enmity against the God through membership in Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK)”. The verdict was upheld on appeal. On September 8, 2008, he was transferred to Urmia Prison where he has been held until now.