Tag: Saqqez

Three Inmates Convicted of Murder Executed across Different Prisons

Posted on by . .
Executions, News
Aligudarz, Kerman, Milad Yazdanpanah, Saqqez, Sobhan Eftekhareddin, Vafa Kharamani, Zarand

On August 26 and 27, 2023, three inmates who had previously been found guilty of murder faced execution in separate instances across Zarand, Saqqez, and Aligudarz.

According to HRANA, on August 26, Milad Yazdanpanah, 30 years old, was executed in Zarand Prison, located in Kerman province. Sources close to his family informed HRANA that Yazdanpanah had been sentenced to death six years ago following a conviction for murder.

Kurdpa reported the execution of Vafa Kharamani, an inmate, on August 27, in Saqqez prison. Two years prior, he had received a death sentence for committing murder.

Finally, Iran Human Rights Organization reported the execution of Sobhan Efterkhareddin, aged 35, in Aligudarz, situated in Lorestan Province, on August 27. Efterkhareddin had been found guilty of murder approximately three and a half years ago.

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

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, 2 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.

 

Workers’ Rights Advocate Othman Esmaeili Sentenced to 39-Month Prison Term

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News
Kolbar News, Othman Esmaeili, Saqqez

In a recent development reported by Kolbar News, workers’ rights activist Othman Esmaeili has been handed a 39-month prison sentence by the Saqqez Revolutionary Court.

Esmaeili’s sentencing comprises seven months and 15 days for “propagating against the regime” and an additional 31 months and 15 days for his alleged involvement as a member of an “anti-regime group.” As per the provisions outlined in Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, 31 months and 15 days of his total sentence will be carried out.

Esmaeili was arrested by security forces on February 8, 2023, and subsequently released from Saqez Prison on April 17, 2023. During his period of detention, both legal representation and family visitation were reportedly denied.

It’s worth noting that he has a history of previous arrests and incarceration for his activism.

 

Shermin Habibi Taken into Custody by Security Forces

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
Baneh, Fereydoon Mahmoodi, Mahsa Amini, Saqqez, Shermin Habibi

August 22, 2023 – Shermin Habibi has been apprehended by security forces and transported to an undisclosed destination. She is the spouse of Fereydoon Mahmoodi, one of the individuals killed by regime forces during the nationwide protests of 2022.

The motives behind her arrest and her whereabouts are unknown at this time.
Fereydoon Mahmoodi was shot dead during the protests on September 19, 2022. In a subsequent development in April 2023, the Saqqez & Baneh Military Court officially affirmed the culpability of Special Forces in Mahmoodi’s unfortunate demise. However, the case was ultimately closed, citing the inability to identify the specific shooter as a pretext.

Background on the 2022 Nationwide Protests

The arrest of Mahsa Amini by Tehran Morality Police for allegedly her improper hijab and her suspicious death on September 16 sparked protests sweeping across Iran. Protesters came to the streets with the central slogan “Women, Life, Freedom” in protest against the performance, laws and structure of the regime. During the nationwide protests, thousands of people, including journalists, artists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, were arrested.

 

Journalist Nazila Maroufian Re-Arrested Just One Day After Release

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, HRANA, Iman Afshari, Mahsa Amini, Nazila Maroufian, Qarchak Prison, Saqqez, Tehran Revolutionary Court

On Monday, August 14, journalist Nazila Maroufian was re-arrested by security forces and promptly taken to Qarchak Prison in Varamin. Her recent arrest comes after being granted bail and released from Evin Prison on August 13.

A reliable source close to Maroufian’s family, speaking to HRANA, has confirmed that she is now held at Qarchak Prison.

Maroufian’s ordeal began on October 30, 2022, when she was initially arrested by security forces and incarcerated in Ward 209 of Evin Prison. Subsequently, she was transferred to Qarchak Prison before being granted temporary freedom upon payment of a 600-million-toman bail (approximately $12,000 USD).

In January 2023, the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, handed down a two-year suspended imprisonment sentence to Maroufian. This sentence was related to charges of “spreading propaganda against the regime and disseminating falsehoods to disrupt public opinion through an interview with Mahsa Amini’s father.” Alongside the suspended sentence, she also received a fine and a five-year ban on leaving the country.
On July 4, security forces conducted a raid and search on her residence, subsequently summoning her to Evin Courthouse. Four days later, she was re-arrested and confined once again to Evin Prison, following her appearance at Evin Courthouse. After a period of time, she was charged with “propaganda against the regime.”

Nazila Maroufian, a journalist and student at Allameh Tabatabai University, hails from Saqqez and currently resides in Tehran. With a notable career in media, she has contributed to outlets such as Didban Iran and Rouydad24.

 

 

Ayoub Javanpour Receives 15-Year Prison Sentence

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News, Other
Ayoub Javanpour, Keyvan Jahani, Sanandaj, Saqqez

Ayoub Javanpour, a resident of Saqqez, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison by the Saqqez Revolutionary Court, according to Kurdpa news agency.

The verdict, handed down by Branch 1 of the Saqqez Revolutionary Court presided over by Keyvan Jahani, includes one year for “propaganda against the regime,” ten years for “organizing groups to act against national security,” two years for “insulting the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” and two years for “insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran.”

If the verdict is upheld on appeal, Ayoub Javanpour would serve ten years in prison as per Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code.

The arrest of Javanpour took place on June 10, 2023, following an interrogation process at the Ministry of Intelligence detention facility in Sanandaj. He was later transferred to Saqqez Prison.

Notably, Javanpour has a history of previous judicial encounters due to his activism.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Now is definitely not the time to stop reading!

Over 100 Schoolgirls Hospitalized following Poison Attacks; Several Parents Arrested at Protests

Posted on by . .
Children, News, Other
Poison Attacks, Saqqez

On April 9, 2022, six schools in Saqqez, Kurdistan Province, were targeted by poison attacks, resulting in over 100 schoolgirls being hospitalized. Additionally, security forces arrested several parents who were protesting the attacks.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations, on April 9, 2022, more than 100 schoolgirls fell ill due to the poison attacks. Among them, 24 are in critical condition.

Security forces used tear gas to disperse the parents who had gathered outside these schools. The report did not provide information on the number of arrested parents or their detained location.

This incident is part of a larger trend of serial poison attacks on schools with toxic gas in Iran, primarily targeting girls’ schools. For further details and statistics, please refer to the HRANA report.

Teacher Union Activist Soleiman Abdi Arrested in Saqqez

Posted on by . .
Labor and Guilds, News
Saqqez, Soleiman Abdi, Teacher union activist

On March 19, 2023, security forces arrested teacher union activist Soleiman Abdi at his home in Saqqez and took him to an undisclosed location. The agents also searched the house and seized some of his belongings.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations, on March 19 2023, Soleiman Abdi, a member of the Saqqez teacher union association, was arrested by security forces.

The reasons for his arrest and the place of detention are still unknown.

Soleiman Abdi faced other arrests for his civil activities as a teacher union activist on prior occasions.

 

 

Lawyer Behzad Hakimizadeh Arrested

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
Behzad Hakimizadeh, Saqqez

On Monday, January 9, security forces arrested attorney at law Behzad Hakimizadeh at his home in Saqqez and took him to a detention facility in this city.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on January 9, 2023, lawyer Behzad Hakimizadeh was arrested in Saqqez.

The reason for his arrest and the allegations against him are still unknown.

Since the outbreak of nationwide protests, about 19400 people, including journalists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, have been arrested. For more details and statistics on the nationwide protest across Iran, read HRANA’s comprehensive report here.

Spanish National Ana Baneira Arrested in Iran

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News, Other
Ana Baneira, Santiago Sanchez, Saqqez

During the nationwide protests, security forces arrested at least two Spanish nationals who are still in detention. 41-year-old Santiago Sanchez was arrested in Saqqez after visiting Mahsa Amini’s burial place. HRANA has identified the second individual as Ana Baneira, 24 years old.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Spanish citizen Ana Baneira, age 24, was arrested and jailed in Iran.

Baneira’s whereabouts and the date she was arrested are still unknown. An informed source close to her family told HRANA that she was arrested in recent days.

 

Nationwide Protests Continue into Fourth Week

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
Bukan, IranianProtests, Mahsa Amini, Marivan, nationwide protests, Sanandaj, Saqqez, Shiraz, Tehran

The nationwide protests after the death of Mahsa Amini continued on October 8 and 9, 2022. People in the streets and university students marched and chanted slogans against the regime. In many cities, traders and shopkeepers went on a general strike and closed their shops. People’s access to the global internet is still restricted.  Hacktivists increased their cyberattacks against their regime.

On Saturday, October 8, people took to the streets and demonstrated in several cities, including Tehran, Sanandaj, Aak, Isfahan, Karaj, Mashhad, Hamedan and Javanrud.

Moreover, the students gathered and protested on at least 17 universities campus. The students chanted slogans against the regime, such as “We will fight, We will take Iran back,” “Student! Shout out for your rights,” “Death to the dictator,” and “They took Nika and gave back her body” (referring to Nika Shakarami, a teenage girl who was killed by the security forces during the protest).”

In Tehran, Mashhad and Sanandaj, bloody street clashes erupted between the protestors and the police. In some videos, sounds of gunshots are heard.

In several cities, including Tehran, Shiraz, Marivan, Bukan, Sanandaj and Saqqez, traders and shopkeepers went on strike and closed their shops in protest.

Iran-State TV broadcasted more coerced confessions extracted from people arrested during the protest.

So far, thousands of protestors have been arrested, and the number is increasing daily. On Saturday alone, HRANA identified 26 arrests.

HRANA has identified more than 200 people killed during the protests. HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, is still working on fact-checking and reviewing the reports independently.

Below is the compilation of the videos from the protests on Saturday, October 8.