Update on Political Prisoner Mehdi Meskinnavaz’s Condition

Political prisoner Mehdi Meskinnavaz is currently serving his seven-and-a-half-year sentence at Great Tehran Penitentiary. He has recently faced a new legal case while in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, political prisoner Mehdi Meskinnavaz faced new charges while in prison.

An informed source told HRANA, “this new legal case is related to incidents during his incarceration in Rajai-Shahr Prison. On March 14, the court held a session addressing the charges. Meskinnavaz refused to appear at the court in protest against unfair due process.”

On January 30, 2023, Meskinnavaz was relocated from Rajai Shahr Prison to Ward 209 of Evin Prison. Meanwhile, intelligence agents arrested his 17-year-old daughter, Asal Meskinnavaz. After 14 days, Meskinnavaz was transferred to Great Tehran Penitentiary.

On May 5, 2019, security forces arrested Meskinnavaz in Bandar Anzali for “running a Telegram channel advocating the overthrow of the regime.”

In August 2019, the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Meskinnavaz to 13 years for “assembly and collusion to act against national security, insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran, and Propaganda against the regime.” He was also banned from membership in political parties and groups and two-year compulsory residence in exile in Fahraj, Kerman. Applying Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, seven years and six months in prison for one charge was enforceable.

 

Jailed Rapper Saman Seydi on Hunger Strike

Singer Saman Seydi (Yasin), arrested amid nationwide protests, went on a hunger strike in Ward 209 of Evin Prison.

An informed source told HRANA that Seydi has been on hunger strike since February 16 to protest against uncertainty in due process.

On January 28, the prison officials took Seydi to an unknown location from Rajai Shahr Prison, leaving his family unaware of his whereabouts. After a few days, he was allowed to inform his family about his relocation to Evin Prison.

On January 7, HRANA reported the prison official’s refusal to provide Seydi with adequate medical care.

On October 2, 2022, Seydi was arrested at protests in Tehran. Twenty-seven days later, he received a death sentence for allegedly “enmity against God (moharebeh), assembly and collusion to commit a crime and act against national security.” After a while, the Supreme Court revoked this verdict and delivered his case to another court branch for a retrial.

Civil Rights Activist Hamid Haj-Jafar Kashani Arrested

On January 16, 2023, civil rights activist and futsal referee Hamid Haj-Jafar Kashani was arrested when he went to Evin Courthouse to inquire about a relative’s legal case. Currently serving his sentence in Rajai-Shahr prison, Haj-Jafar Kashani was spending his medical furlough before his arrest at Evin.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on January 16, 2023, civil rights activist Haj-Jafar Kashani was arrested.

An informed source told HRANA, “Kashani accompanied Fariba Fereidooni who was summoned to Evin Courthouse. Security forces apprehended him violently and took him inside the courthouse. After a few hours, they handcuffed him and took him to Evin Prison.”
According to this source, Kashani was on medical furlough to undergo surgery for his lumbar disc.

In the fall of 2020, security forces arrested Kashani and jailed him in Evin Prison. Subsequently, the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced him to three years and six months in prison for “assembly and collusion against national security” and six months for “propaganda against the regime.” He was also sentenced to additional punishment.

In August of this year, he faced new charges following the complaint of the head of the Tehran Prisons and Security and Corrective Measures Organization.

Two Inmates Executed in Rajai-Shahr Prison

On December 29, 2022, Rajai-Shahr Prison officials executed two inmates convicted of murder.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Iran Human Rights Organization, on December 29, 2022, two co-defendants of a murder case, Hamidreza Nejati and Mohsen Nejati, were executed in Rajai-Shahr Prison.

None of the official sources and media outlets inside the country has reported these executions at the time of writing.

In 2022, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran registered 457 reports related to the death penalty. This included 92 death sentences, including the conviction of 6 people to public execution and 565 execution sentences were carried out, two of which have been carried out in public. Based on the announced identifications of some of the executed individuals, 501 were male and 11 were female. In addition, 5 juvenile offenders were executed in 2022, meaning they were under the age of 18 at the time they committed the crime.

 

 

Inmate Executed in Khorramabad Prison; Twelve about to Be Executed in Karaj

On September 3, 2022, an inmate previously convicted of drug-related crimes was executed in Khorramabad Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on September 3, 2022, Korramabad Prison officials executed an unidentified inmate.

This execution has not been reported by official sources and media outlets inside Iran so far.

On August 31, nine death-row convicts were also sent to solitary confinement awaiting imminent execution in Rajai Shahr Prison. On September 4, in Karaj Central Penitentiary three death-row inmates were taken to solitary confinement as well. The identities and the charges against these inmates are still unknown.

 

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Imprisoned Civil Rights Activist Behnam Moosivand Goes on Hunger Strike

On August 31, 2022, Behnam Moosivand who is imprisoned in Rajai-Shahr Prison went on hunger strike since he is kept in solitary confinement.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on August 31, 2022, Behnam Moosivand went on a hunger strike to protest against being held in solitary confinement.

An informed source close to Moosivand’s family told HRANA that he suffers from several diseases, but prison officials refuse to send him out of the prison to receive care. 

Moosivand had gone on hunger strike in April 2022 to protest assault by prison guards.

Moosivand is currently serving a five-year sentence. On June 14, 2020, he was taken to Evin Prison, but later was sent to Rajai-Shahr Prison in Karaj.

Five Inmates Executed in Rajai-Shahr Prison

On August 24, 2022, in separate legal cases, five inmates convicted of murder were executed in Rajai Shahr Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on August 24, 2022, quoting Rokna News, the authorities of Rajai-Shahr Prison executed five inmates.

All these individuals were executed because they were unable to convince the victims’ families to spare their lives. So far, two of them have been identified as Mohammad-Reza Sharamfar and Hadi Jozei.

Prison Guards Assault Sunni Prisoner Arkan Palani Jaf 

On August 2, 2022, prison guards assaulted Sunni prisoner Arkan Palani Jaf when he returned from hospital to prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, prison guards of Rajai Shahr Prison beat Sunni prisoner Arkan Palani Jaf.

An informed source told HRANA, “Palani Jaf suffers from Kidney, intestinal and stomach problems caused by a hunger strike. As a backlash to Palani Jaf’s complaint against the guards’ behavior, 10 prison guards beat him brutally.”

On June 10, 2022, Palani Jaf went on hunger strike by sewing his lips in protest against the rejection of his request for early release, medical furlough and inadequate medical care in prison. He was relocated to solitary confinement and beaten by prison guards. On June 30, Palani Jaf ended his hunger strike after the prison officials agreed to grant medical furlough.

Palani Jaf was arrested in 2016 and sentenced by the Revolutionary Court to 7 years on the charge of “collaboration with ISIS”. According to an informed source, the security agents wanted to arrest his brother and when they failed, arrested him instead despite having no evidence of his association with ISIS.

Female Afghan National Executed in Rajai-Shahr Prison

On July 27, 2022, a female convict was executed in Rajai-Shahr Prison in Karaj.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on July 27, 2022, a female inmate was executed in Rajai-Shahr Prison in Karaj.

HRANA has identified this woman as Senobar Jalali, an Afghan national.

An informed source told HRANA that one day before the execution, Jalali had been relocated from Qarchak Prison in Varamin to Rajai Shahr Prison.

This execution has not been reported by the official sources and media outlets inside Iran so far.

The most recent report from the Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) states that between January 1 of 2021 and December 20 of 2021, at least 299 citizens, including four juvenile offenders, were executed. In addition, 85 citizens were sentenced to death in this period. 

As the report points out, Iran’s judicial authorities do not publicly announce over 88% of executions. These unreported executions are known as “secret executions” by human rights organizations.

Sunni prisoner Fereidoun Zakeri Nasab Went on Hunger Strike in Rajai Shahr Prison

Fereidoun Zakeri Nasab is on the third day of his hunger strike in Rajai Shahr Prison in protest against the Tehran Prosecutor-General’s insulting statements against Sunni prisoners.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on July 4, 2022, Sunni prisoner, Fereidoun Zakeri Nasab went on hunger strike.  

An informed source confirmed Zakeri Nasab’s hunger strike to HRANA.

Last Thursday, the Prosecutor-General of Tehran Ali Salehi made a visit to Rajai Shahr Prison. During the conversation with Sunni prisoners, he used insulting statements against the prisoners and Iran’s Sunni community. In protest, three Sunni prisoners, including Fereidoun Zakeri Nasab went on a hunger strike.

Also in May of this year, Zakeri Nasab started a hunger strike to protest against infringement in due process, which he later ended after receiving word from the authorities that the conditions would improve.

In 2017, Zakeri Nasab was arrested and sentenced to death on the charge of “spreading corruption on earth”. This verdict was revoked by the Supreme Court of Iran and he is currently facing the charge of “assisting in the armed assault”. 

Zakeri Nasab is a resident of Sarpol-e Zahab in Kermanshah Province.  

In Iran’s prisons, hunger strikes are common among prisoners despite their physical and mental impairments. Hunger strikes are used as a last resort for protesting unlawful detention without trials, violations of prisoners’ rights and infringement on due process.