Tag: reza sayyadi

Supreme Court Confirms Death Sentence for Abbas Deris

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Freedom of Expression, News
Abbas Deris, irgc, November 2019 Protests, reza sayyadi

The Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence against Abbas Deris, who was arrested during the November 2019 protests. Deris has been convicted of the charge of “enmity against God (Moharebeh).”

Announcing this development, Fereshteh Tabanian, the lawyer representing Deris stated that Branch 39 of the Supreme Court has confirmed this verdict desptie the flaws in this case. Furhter, she announced that she will ask for a retrial.

Currently incarcerated at Sepidar Prison in Ahvaz, Deris was initially sentenced to death by the Mahshahr Revolutionary Court on charges of “enmity against God (Moharebeh).” It is important to note that Deris’s brother, who was also a co-defendant in this case, has been acquitted of all charges. Both individuals were apprehended on December 8, 2019.

During the course of his interrogation by the IRGC, Deris was coerced into confessing to firing shots at security forces, resulting in the death of Police Captain Reza Sayyadi. This coerced confession was later broadcasted by Iran-state TV. However, during the trial, Deris admitted to participating in the protests but denied any involvement in shooting at security forces.

Abbas Deris, aged approximately 49, is a father of three children.

In November 2019, an increase in fuel prices sparked a wave of protests in dozens of cities across the country. The spokesperson of the Parliamentary National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, Seyed Hossein Taghavi, announced that 7000 people were arrested during these protests. According to reports from human rights organizations, hundreds were killed by the security apparatus.

Life Imprisonment and Death Sentence Against Two Brothers Without Any Proper Due Process

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Abbas Daris, death penality in iran, Death Penalty, IRIB, Karim Dahimi, lack of due process, life in prison, Mohsen Daris, NOPO, reza sayyadi

In a blatant violation of due process, prison officials verbally informed Abbas Daris’s family that he has been sentenced to death without providing a letter of conviction or any other written documents.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Daris’s family was informed of his sentencing about four months ago. 

Arrested during the November 2019 Protests, Daris is currently held in Mahshahr Prison. He was indicted alongside his brother Mohsen Daris on charges of “enmity against God (Moharebeh)”, “disturbing the public order” and “murdering a Counter-Terrorism Special Forces agent (NOPO)”. Mohsen Daris was sentenced to life in prison on charges of “collaborating to murder the NOPO agent”.

Karim Dahimi, a political and human rights activist, told HRANA that according to a report by the second crime scene analyst, “NOPO agent Reza Sayyadi was shot dead from behind on November 18, 2019, and therefore not from the front, where the protesters were standing. Moreover, Daris’s family has been told that they can compensate the victim’s family by paying blood money (Diya). This stands at odds with the charge of “enmity against God”, which indicates that the case does not have any plaintiff. This unorthodox request implies that they know that he is innocent”.

“Everything proceeded informally and verbally. They didn’t provide a single written statement regarding his conviction,” an informed source told HRANA. “The problem is that in this province, even verbal statements from the court and prison officials can be true and reliable. That the judiciary officials are not complying with legal routines and cooperating with his family and lawyer increases our concerns”.

Abbas Drais is 48 years old and the father of two children, ages 12 and 14. Reportedly, his wife died from a stroke after receiving the shocking news of his death sentence. His children are currently living with their grandmother.

In January 2020, the regime’s TV channel, known as the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), reported the murder of the NOPO agent. Considering the previous cooperation of IRIB with security forces in extracting confessions under torture, it is likely that both brothers have been subjected to torture-tainted confessions.

In November of 2019, an unprecedented increase in fuel prices sparked a wave of protests in dozens of cities across the country. The spokesperson of the Parliamentary National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, Seyed Hossein Taghavi, announced that 7000 people were arrested during these protests. According to reports of human rights organizations, hundreds were killed by regime forces.