Tag: Rasht

Manouchehr Fallah Receives 22-Month Prison Sentence for Political Charges

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Freedom of Expression, News
Kish Island, Lakan prison, Manouchehr Fallah, Mehdi Rasekhi, Rasht

Manouchehr Fallah has been sentenced to a term of 22 months and 17 days by the Rasht Revolutionary Court, following charges related to his political activities.

Presiding over the court, Judge Mehdi Rasekhi has imposed a one-year, three-month, one-day sentence for the charge of “insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran” and a seven-month, sixteen-day sentence for “spreading propaganda against the regime.”

Sources close to Fallah’s family have disclosed that additional charges are currently under review by the Rasht Criminal Court as part of another aspect of his legal case.

The arrest of Fallah traces back to July of this year when authorities apprehended him at Rasht airport, subsequently incarcerating him in Lakan Prison. In September, he commenced a hunger strike in protest against the uncertainty surrounding his legal status.

Before his arrest, Fallah, a professional tattoo artist, had been residing in Kish Island.

Twelve Inmates Executed Across Various Prisons

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News
Ayoub Karimi, Geda-Ali Saber Motlagh, Hamed Bakhshayesh, HRANA, Karaj, Kashan, Khorramabad Prison, Lakan prison, Mohsen Sedaghat, Qezel Hesar Prison, Rasht

In a recent escalation of capital punishment, a total of twelve inmates faced execution in different Iranian prisons. The executions took place at Qezel Hesar Prison in Karaj, Lakan Prison in Rasht, Kashan Prison, and Khorramabad Prison.

On Wednesday, Qezel Hesar Prison recorded the highest number of executions, totaling seven inmates. Among them, three individuals, including one identified by HRANA as Hamed Bakhshayesh, were convicted of murder, while two others received the death penalty for drug offenses. Another inmate, Ayoub Karimi, a Sunni prisoner, faced charges of “enmity against God (Moharebeh) through sympathizing with Salafism.” HRANA is actively working to identify the seventh executed inmate.

On Wednesday, Qezel Hesar prison witnessed the highest number of executions, totaling seven inmates. Among them, three individuals, including one identified by HRANA as Hamed Bakhshayesh, were convicted of murder, while two others received the death penalty for drug offenses. Another inmate, Ayoub Karimi, a Sunni prisoner, faced charges of “enmity against God (Moharebeh) and spreading corruption on earth through sympathizing with Salafism.” HRANA is actively working to identify the seventh executed inmate.

On November 25, 2023, Mohsen Sedaghat, and Geda-Ali Saber Motlagh (62) were also executed in Lakan Prison in Rasht. Motlagh was a political prisoner in the 1980s. In 2020-2021, he was rearrested and sentenced to death. He was accused of killing a government official which he was consistently refuted. Sedaghat was convicted of murder.

Lastly, Iran Human Rights Organization reported the execution of Masoud Basak, aged 33, in Kashan Prison and Morad Biranvand, aged 40, and Morad Geravand in Khorramabad Prison.

 

Journalist Mohammad Mir-Ghasemzadeh Taken Into Custody

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Freedom of Expression, News
Mohammad Mir-Ghasemzadeh, Rasht, Someh Sara

Journalist Mohammad Mir-Ghasemzadeh, a resident of Someh Sara, has been arrested by security forces and subsequently transferred to the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Rasht.

According to a source close to his family, information obtained from unofficial sources indicates that Mir-Ghasemzadeh’s health condition is critical, prompting serious concerns among his family members.

As of now, the reasons behind Mir-Ghasemzadeh’s arrest and the allegations against him remain unknown.

Four Inmates Executed in Isfahan Prison

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Executions, News
Ebrahim Narooie, Ebrahim Narui, Haal Vsh, Isfahan, Rasht, Tehran

On Thursday, November 2, 2023, Isfahan Prison officials carried out the execution of four inmates, as reported by Haal Vsh.

Among the hanged inmates, Ebrahim Narui (Narooie), aged 42 and hailing from Sistan and Baluchestan Province, was identified. Narui had been sentenced to death for drug offenses by the Naeen Revolutionary Court. The other three inmates were residents of Tehran, Rasht, and Isfahan.

As of the time of this report, no official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have provided information regarding these executions.
According to data compiled by the Center of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA), between October 10, 2022, and October 8, 2023, a total of 659 individuals were executed by hanging in Iran, representing a 24% increase compared to the corresponding period in the previous year. Seven of these executions were conducted publicly. Concerningly, many of the defendants were denied access to a fair trial and due process. For details and statistics, read HRANA’s report.

 

Execution Carried Out in Rasht’s Lakan Prison for Drug Offenses

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Executions, News
Ketabi, Lakan prison, Rasht

On October 17, 2023, Rasht’s Lakan Prison witnessed the execution of an inmate found guilty of drug-related offenses.

HRANA has identified the executed prisoner as Ketabi; however, his first name remains unknown.

At the time of writing, no official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have reported on this execution.

According to data compiled by the Center of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA), between October 10, 2022, and October 8, 2023, a total of 659 individuals were executed by hanging in Iran, representing a 24% increase compared to the corresponding period in the previous year. Seven of these executions were conducted publicly. Concerningly, many of the defendants were denied access to a fair trial and due process. For details and statistics, read HRANA’s report.

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Inmate Executed for Drug-Related Offenses in Rasht

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Executions, News
Bukan County, Hossein Mohammadi, Lakan prison, Rasht

On Thursday, October 12, an inmate convicted of drug-related crimes was executed in Lakan Prison, Rasht.

The individual who met this unfortunate end has been identified as Hossein Mohammadi, a 52-year-old resident of Bukan County.

Hossein Mohammadi had been incarcerated for 15 years prior to his execution.

At the time of writing, no official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have reported on these executions.

According to data compiled by the Center of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA), between October 10, 2022, and October 8, 2023, a total of 659 individuals were executed by hanging in Iran, representing a 24% increase compared to the corresponding period in the previous year. Seven of these executions were conducted publicly. Concerningly, many of the defendants were denied access to a fair trial and due process. For details and statistics, read HRANA’s report.

 

Children’s Rights Advocate Fereshteh Sedigh-Sefat Detained in Rasht

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Freedom of Expression, News
Fereshteh Sedigh-Sefat, HRANA, Rasht

Rasht, September 18 – Fereshteh Sedigh-Sefat (Seddigh-Sefat), a dedicated children’s rights activist, was taken into custody on Monday at her residence in Rasht by security forces.

A source close to her family alerted HRANA to her arrest at her home. According to the source, in a short phone call, she informed her family about her transfer to a detention facility a few hours after her arrest.

Details regarding the grounds for Sedigh-Sefat’s arrest, the specific facility where she is being held, and the allegations against her remain undisclosed at this time.

Fereshteh Sedigh-Sefat, a resident of Rasht, has been actively engaged in advocating for children’s rights and facilitating community initiatives.

Baha’i Citizen Susan Badavam Sentenced to Over Four Years in Prison

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News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i citizen, irgc, Rasht, Susan Badavam, Susan Farhangi

The Rasht Revolutionary Court has handed down a verdict against Susan Badavam (Farhangi), a Baha’i citizen, sentencing her to a total of four years and 47 days of imprisonment, coupled with additional social restrictions.

The court’s ruling, delivered to Badavam on Monday, August 21st, includes a sentence of three years, six months, and one day for her alleged “educational activities associated with religious sects and groups contrary to Islamic Sharia,” alongside an additional seven months and 16 days for purportedly “disseminating propaganda against the regime.” Additionally, she has been deprived of some civil rights for a duration of ten years.

If the verdict is upheld on appeal, three years and six months for the first count will be enforceable to her.

Badavam’s arrest dates back to December 19, 2022, when she was apprehended by intelligence agents from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Gilan Province.

 

Seven Women’s Rights Activists Arrested in Gilan Province

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Freedom of Expression, News, Women
Bandar-Anzali, Frough Saminia, Fuman, Jelveh Javaheri, Matin Yazdani, Negin Rezaie, Rasht, Yasamin Hashdari, Zahra Dadras, Zohreh Dadras

On August 16, 2023, a total of seven women’s rights activists were apprehended individually in Rasht, Fuman, and Bandar Anzali, subsequently being transported to undisclosed locations. The detained individuals include Zahra Dadras, Zohreh Dadras, Negin Rezaie, Matin Yazdani, Frough Saminia, Jelveh Javaheri, and Yasamin Hashdari.

Zahra and Zohreh Dadras were taken into custody by security forces at their residence in Rasht. However, inquiries made by their family members regarding their condition have gone unanswered thus far. Moreover, Frough Saminia, Yasamin Hashdari, and Matin Yazdani, a photographer, have also been apprehended individually within the same city.

The exact motives behind their arrests, their current locations, as well as the nature of the charges against them, all remain undisclosed at present.

Baha’i Couple’s Sentence Upheld by Court of Appeals

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News, Religious Minorities
Anisa Samieian, Baha'i citizen, Gilan province, HRANA, Rasht, Vesal Momtazi

The Gilan Province Court of Appeals has maintained the prison sentence for the Baha’i couple, Vesal Momtazi and Anisa Samieian.

Originally sentenced by the Rasht Revolutionary Court, Momtazi and Samieian received a combined term of nine years and six months. Mrs. Samieian’s sentence encompasses three years and six months for “engaging in educational activities and propaganda against Sharia law,” in addition to seven months and 16 days for “propaganda against the regime.” Meanwhile, Mr. Momtazi has received seven months and 16 days for “propaganda against the regime,” along with one year and three months for “insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran” and three years and six months for “insulting Sharia law.” He is also facing a fine of 38 million tomans. Both individuals are further subjected to social restrictions lasting a decade.

Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code dictates that each of them will serve three years and six months in prison.

According to an HRANA source close to the family, more than 50 individuals, including friends, colleagues, art students, and their parents, compiled an affidavit attesting to the couple’s adherence to the law. Regrettably, this affirmation was not permitted for presentation during the appellate court proceedings.

On November 4, 2022, security forces searched their residence, resulting in their apprehension. Following his arrest on December 6, 2022, Momtazi was granted bail. Samieian, who was pregnant at the time of her arrest, secured her release on bail after undergoing two interrogation sessions. It’s noteworthy that this Baha’i couple is responsible for the care of two young sons, aged five and about four months.

The Baha’i faith is not recognized as a legitimate religion by Iranian authorities, leading to systematic and longstanding violations of the rights of Baha’is in the country. This includes the denial of their fundamental right to practice their religion, which constitutes a clear breach of both Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The United Nations covenant holds that every person has the right to freedom of religion, freedom of converting religion, as well as freedom of expression, individually or collectively; openly or secretly.