Atefeh Rangriz Sentenced to Two Years in Prison

Atefeh Rangriz, a women’s rights activist, has been sentenced to two years of imprisonment by Branch 102 of the Second Criminal Court of Damghan in connection with another segment of her legal case.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, this latest sentence was issued on charges of “spreading falsehoods.”

Her attorney, Hossein Taj, shared the news in a statement, noting that Branch 102 of the Damghan Criminal Court imposed this two-year sentence. On Tuesday, December 3, Ms. Rangriz was temporarily released on a three-day medical furlough.

This new ruling follows a series of previous convictions. Earlier this month, the Revolutionary Court of Damghan sentenced her to seven years in prison for forming a Telegram group, deemed disruptive by authorities, and an additional seven months for “propaganda against the regime.” The court also imposed a two-year ban on her online activities.

Ms. Rangriz had been granted medical leave on November 6 from Shahroud Prison due to her worsening health condition.

Rangriz has a history of arrests and convictions due to her activism. Her latest arrest occurred on September 10, 2023, when security forces detained her in Damghan. She was subsequently released on bail on October 21, 2023. This new sentence relates to an earlier case in which the Shahroud Revolutionary Court convicted her of “collaboration and membership in groups opposing the regime,” sentencing her to two years, seven months, and 16 days in prison. She also received an additional seven months and 16 days for “propaganda against the regime.” Rangriz began serving this earlier sentence on June 30, 2024, in Shahroud Prison.

Women’s Rights Activist Atefeh Rangriz Sentenced to Over Seven Years in Prison and Additional Penalties

Women’s rights activist Atefeh Rangriz has been sentenced by the Damghan Revolutionary Court to seven years and seven months of imprisonment and a two-year ban from online activities. Rangriz, currently on medical leave from Shahroud Prison, had been serving a separate sentence related to her activism.

Her lawyer, Hossein Taj, revealed: “While her medical leave for a CT angiography was denied an extension, the Revolutionary Court of Damghan issued its verdict. Atefeh Rangriz was sentenced to seven years in prison for creating a Telegram group and seven months for propaganda against the regime. Additionally, she has been prohibited from engaging in online activities for two years.”

Rangriz was temporarily released on medical leave on November 6, 2023, due to deteriorating health conditions.

Her latest arrest occurred on September 10, 2023, when security forces detained her in Damghan. She was subsequently released on bail on October 21, 2023. This new sentence relates to an earlier case in which the Shahroud Revolutionary Court convicted her of “collaboration and membership in groups opposing the regime,” sentencing her to two years, seven months, and 16 days in prison. She also received an additional seven months and 16 days for “propaganda against the regime.” Rangriz began serving this earlier sentence on June 30, 2024, in Shahroud Prison.

Rangriz has faced multiple arrests and convictions over the years due to her advocacy work.

Women’s Rights Advocate Atefeh Rangriz Arrested

Atefeh Rangriz, a women’s rights activist, was arrested on Saturday, June 29th, after a court session addressing her charges and was transferred to Shahrud Prison.

A source close to the family of this women’s rights activist confirmed the news to HRANA, saying: “Ms. Rangriz was arrested after a court session addressing her charges in Branch 1 of the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in Damghan and was transferred to Shahrud Prison.” She had recently been summoned to the mentioned branch to defend herself against charges of “forming a group aiming to disrupt national security,” “propaganda against the regime,” and “disseminating falsehoods on the Internet to disturb public opinion.”

Rangriz’s initial arrest dates back to September 10, 2023, when she was arrested by security forces in Damghan and transferred to The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Semnan. After completing the interrogation process, she was moved to Shahrud Prison. She was finally released on bail from Shahrud Prison on October 21, 2023.

Rangriz has previously been arrested and sentenced due to her activities.

Three Days of Iran Protests Over Fuel Price Raise

Protests have erupted across Iran after the government unexpectedly announced it is rationing petrol and increasing its price. The protests took place across the country following the decision of the Iranian president, Hassan Rouhani, at midnight of November 14, 2019, to cut petrol subsidies to raise funds for social assistance to the poor. Petrol price was increased to a minimum of 15,000 Rials per liter, 50% increase from the day before.

Nationwide protests in the last three days were in at least 48 cities such as: Ahvaz, Shooshtar, Dezful, Gachsaran, Abadan, Khorramshahr, Bandar Mahshahr, Rasht, Shiraz, Bandar Abbas, Gorgan, Khorramabad, Qom, Ilam, Karaj, Sanandaj, Dorud, Qazvin, Arak, Mahdi Shahr, Garmsar, Shahroud, Najafabad, Mariwan, Tehran, Tabriz, Ardabil, Urmia, Saveh, Pasargadae, Qods (Qal’eh Hasan Khan), Varamin, Sari, Yasuj, Qaemshahr, Shahrekord, Malek Shahr, Parand, Damavand, Pol Dokhtar, Neyshabur, Sarepol Zahab, Kahnooj, Yazd, Bandar Bushehr, Bahmai, Shahriar, etc. They are still ongoing in several cities.

Peaceful demonstrations turned violent in Sanandaj, Mahshahr, and Shiraz, with online videos purporting to show police officers firing teargas at protesters and mobs setting fires. Several people were injured or killed in the first three days of protests as a result of the police’s direct shots. On November 17, 2019, students of Tehran University and Tabriz University protested inside the university. Shops at Tehran Grand Bazaar went on strike on November 17, 2019.

The protests started on November 15, 2019, and are still ongoing. The arrest of more than 1000 people across the country was confirmed. More than 150 banks and supermarkets were set on fire and a police officer was killed. Two Hawzas -a seminary where Shi’a Muslim clerics are educated- were set on fire in Shiraz and Kazerun. According to unconfirmed reports, at least 36 people were killed in Sirjan, Shiraz, Behbahan, Marivan, Khoramshahr, Isfahan, and Shahriar.

According to Fars News, protests were held in 100 cities and at least 100 banks and 57 supermarkets were set on fire. Based on this report, the number of protesters were 87400 from which 82200 are men and 5200 women. At least 1000 people were arrested. Yazd prosecutor confirmed the arrest of 40 people in the city of Yazd. Bam Prosecutor also confirmed the arrest of 15 people in the city of Bam. The prosecutor of Robat Karim confirmed the arrest of 34 protesters for vandalism. According to Mohammad Reza Amoui, Kermanshah’s chief of Law Enforcement Force of the Islamic Republic of Iran, on November 16, Major Iraj Javaheri was killed fighting with protesters in Kermanshah. A journalist resided in Mariwan, Adnan Hasanpour, reported that security forces shot people directly and at least seven people were killed in Javanrud, one person was killed in Sanandaj, and several people were injured. According to unconfirmed reports, 15 of the killed people are identified as following:

Meisam Adgipour, Khaled Maniat, Ali Ghazlavy, Milad Hamidavi, Ali Boghlani, Hamzeh Savari, Mohammad Asafi Zargani, Ehsan Abdollahnejad, Mehdi Nikouei, Osman Naderi, Mehran Tak, Shahou Validi, Javad Nazari Fathabadi, Mehrdad Dashtizadeh, Mohammad Hossein Ghanavati.

Iran has almost completely shut off access to the internet across the country. On November 16, 2019, by the approval of the National Security Supreme Council, the government has completely blocked Internet access in Iran to stymie protests. Due to the internet shut down and the lack of access to freelance reporters and citizen journalists, confirming news about demonstrations and deaths is difficult. It also caused difficulty for Iranian citizens to have access to news agencies websites. On Monday, November 18, schools are closed in 17 cities across Iran:

Shiraz, Kazerun, Alborz, Fereydun, Fereydun Shahr, Farsan, Kuhrang, Laran, Taleqan, Astara, and Najafabad. In addition, universities are closed in Shiraz.

Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has backed petrol price increases claiming opponents of the Islamic Republic and foreign enemies were guilty of sabotage and not ordinary people. According to Khabar Online, Mojtaba Zonnour, a parliament member representing Qom, is collecting parliament members signatures to impeach Ali Larijani, the head of parliament. He gathered 50 signatures so far. Mohammad Qasim Osmani, a parliament member representing Bukan, filed his resignation and added that he resigned to announce that he was not involved in this decision [raising petrol price]. Today, with respect to Ayatollah Khamenei’s views, the Ministry of Intelligence announced that the protesters will face harsh punishments. Reportedly, people received threatening text messages in Khuzestan and Karaj from the prosecutor’s offices of their province. People were warned about attending protests and not to disturb public order and facilitate the abuse of opposition groups.

Video reports of the first day protests:

Video reports of the second-day protests

Video reports of the third day of protests:

Two executions in Shahroud

HRANA News Agency – Two prisoners have been hanged on charge of drug trafficking in Shahroud on Tuesday September 10 morning.

 

According to a report by Shahroud Press, 2 prisoners identified as “M-B” and “A-K” have been sentenced to death on charge of Opium trafficking by the revolutionary court of Shahroud. This verdict have been also confirmed by the general prosecutor and the head of the department of justice. Continue reading “Two executions in Shahroud”

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