Tag: Shiraz

Latest Developments on Baha’i Citizen Mina Karami’s Legal Situation

Posted on by . .
News, Prisoners, Religious Minorities
Adelabad Prison, Bahais, Mina Karami, Seyed Mahmood Sadati, Shiraz, مینا کرمی

Baha’i citizen Mina Karami continues to serve her five-year prison term in Adelabad prison after the Appellate Court of Fars Province, influenced by the Ministry of Intelligence, recently rejected her request to complete her sentence outside prison with a monitoring ankle device.

A source close to Karami’s family has confirmed to HRANA the repeated denials of Karami’s release requests. Additionally, the Supreme Court rejected her plea for a retrial.

On April 13, 2021, security forces raided Karami’s residence, conducted a search, and subsequently summoned and interrogated her at the Ministry of Intelligence detention facility known as House No. 100. She was later released on bail.

In August-September 2022, the Revolutionary Court of Shiraz, presided over by Seyed-Mahmood Sadati, found Karami guilty of “engaging in education and propaganda activities against Islamic Sharia,” resulting in a five-year imprisonment, a fine, social restrictions for ten years, and a two-year ban from leaving the country. This verdict was upheld on appeal.

On February 13, 2024, security forces arrested her in Shiraz and transferred her to Adelabad Prison to commence serving her sentence.

Execution of Inmate Alireza Marzban in Adelabad Prison, Shiraz

Posted on by . .
Executions, News
Adelabad Prison, Alireza Marzban, Shiraz

Adelabad Prison officials in Shiraz executed Alireza Marzban, a 27-year-old resident of Shiraz, on April 7, 2024, as reported by the Iran Human Rights Organization.

Marzban had been convicted of murder stemming from a group altercation three years prior. The execution took place without a final family visit.

No official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have provided coverage of this execution at the time of writing. In 2023, 66% of HRANA’s reports on executions lacked official announcements by judicial authorities and went unreported by media inside Iran, highlighting a troubling lack of transparency in due process.

According to HRANA’s data, Adelabad Prison ranks fifth among Iranian prisons in the number of executions, having carried out 49. For a detailed analysis of execution statistics in Iran, refer to HRANA’s report.

Execution of Two Inmates in Adelabad Prison, Shiraz

Posted on by . .
News
Adelabad Prison, Mostafa Jamil Samadi, Shiraz

On March 4, 2024, Adelabad Prison officials in Shiraz carried out the execution of two inmates, according to the Iran Human Rights Organization.

The individuals executed were Mostafa Jamil Samadi, 40 years old, and an Afghan national known by the first name Iman. Mostafa Jamil Samadi faced execution for drug-related crimes, while Iman was convicted of murder.

No official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have provided coverage of these executions at the time of writing. The lack of official information raises concerns about transparency and accountability in the execution process.

In 2023, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran registered the execution of  746 individuals. Out of these, 6 were carried out in public. Among the executed individuals whose genders were identified, 597 were male and 20 were female. Additionally, 2 juvenile offenders, defined as individuals under the age of 18 at the time of their alleged crimes, were also executed. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s annual report.

 

Hossein Hosseinpour Sentenced to Eleven Months in Prison

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
2002 nationwide protests, Hossein Hosseinpour, Mahabad, Shiraz

Hossein Hosseinpour, a resident of Mahabad, received an 11-month prison sentence after originally being sentenced to one year, following a plea of no contest. The verdict, based on charges of “spreading propaganda against the regime,” cites Instagram posts as evidence.

Arrested by the Ministry of Intelligence in Shiraz in August 2023, Hosseinpour underwent the interrogation process in a detention facility before being transferred to Adelabad Prison. In January 2024, he was relocated to Prison No. 2 in Shiraz.

During the 2022 nationwide protests, Hosseinpour suffered injuries to his right eye from an airgun bullet fired by regime forces, undergoing four surgeries since then. Despite contracting an infection in his eye during detention, he has been denied access to necessary medical treatment.

In December 2023, he was indicted on charges of “spreading propaganda against the regime,” leading to the initial one-year sentence, later reduced to 11 months. The case highlights ongoing concerns about the treatment of individuals involved in the protests and their access to adequate medical care.

Baha’i Citizen Rouya Sabet Arrested in Shiraz

Posted on by . .
News, Religious Minorities
irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Rouya Sabet, Shiraz

On February 15, Baha’i citizen Rouya Sabet was arbitrarily arrested in Shiraz by IRGC Intelligence agents and transferred to an undisclosed facility.

A source close to her family confirmed Sabet’s arrest, revealing to HRANA that IRGC Intelligence is responsible for the apprehension. The source disclosed that Sabet, who had traveled to Shiraz from the UAE on January 4 to care for her elderly parent, was scheduled to return on January 25. However, two days before her planned departure, IRGC Intelligence agents executed a search warrant at her parent’s residence.

During the raid, the agents conducted a thorough search, interrogated Mrs. Sabet, and questioned two other family members. Subsequently, the agents also searched the residences of these two family members without presenting a warrant. The confiscated items reportedly include the family’s cell phones, as well as Mrs. Sabet’s passport, driver’s license, and ID card. Furthermore, Sabet was informed that she is prohibited from leaving the country.

The motive behind Sabet’s arrest and the nature of the allegations against her remain unknown at this time.

Baha’is are subjected to violations of their religious rights, comprising 82% of reports on infringements against religious minorities, according to HRA’s 2023 annual report.

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.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Now is definitely not the time to stop reading!

Executions of Three Inmates for Drug Offenses and Murder in Shiraz Prisons

Posted on by . .
Executions, News
Adelabad Prison, Fazel Shafiei, Morteza Nadimi, Pir-bano Prison, Shiraz

On January 24, 2024, three inmates were executed for drug offenses and murder in Adelabad and Pir-bano Prisons in Shiraz, according to Iran Human Rights Organization.

The executed individuals include Fazel Shafiei, 40, and Morteza Nadimi, 35, both identified as having been executed in Adelabad Prison. They were convicted of drug offenses four and two years ago, respectively. The third inmate, convicted of murder five years ago, was executed in Pir-Bano Prisons.

As of the time of writing, no official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have provided coverage of these executions. The absence of official information raises concerns about transparency and accountability in the execution process.

In 2023, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran registered the execution of  746 individuals. Out of these, 6 were carried out in public. Among the executed individuals whose genders were identified, 597 were male and 20 were female. Additionally, 2 juvenile offenders, defined as individuals under the age of 18 at the time of their alleged crimes, were also executed. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s annual report.

 

Sajjad Zare Receives Ten Years and Six Months Sentence

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Adelabad Prison, Mahmoud Sadati, Sajad Zare, Sajjad Zare, Sajjad Zareh, Shiraz, سجاد زارع

Shiraz’s Revolutionary Court has issued a ten-year, six-month sentence to Sajjad Zare, a former political prisoner.

Judge Mahmoud Sadati presided over the recent ruling, sentencing Zare to seven years and six months for “assembly and collusion against national security” and three years of imprisonment with an additional two years of exile in Yazd province for “insulting the Supreme Court of Iran.”

A source close to Zare’s family informed HRANA that the verdict is notably harsh for the charges, given Zare’s previous conviction. Due to his prior record, the court applied half of the severest prison term for each count.

Sajjad Zare was apprehended by the Ministry of Intelligence on September 16, 2023, at his residence, and initially held at House No 100 detention facility before being transferred to Adelabad Prison in Shiraz.

Zare has a history of arrests and convictions. He was released from Adelabad Prison on October 4, 2021, after completing a sentence. However, on November 14 of the following year, he was arrested again, only to be released later under the “general pardon and commutation” directive.

Baha’i Resident Yekta Fahandej Arrested in Shiraz

Posted on by . .
News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i citizen, Shiraz, Yekta Fahandej

Shiraz, December 18, 2023 – Yekta Fahandej, a Baha’i resident of Shiraz, was apprehended by security forces and subsequently transported to an undisclosed location.

A reliable source close to her family disclosed Fahandej’s arrest, which took place at her residence on December 18.

“The agents, employing intimidating tactics, conducted an extensive search of her house, seizing some of her belongings as well as possessions belonging to her family,” the source reported.

In a disconcerting turn of events, intelligence agents reportedly went as far as tearing down real estate documents and family photographs during the search.

The motives behind Fahandej’s arrest and her current whereabouts remain shrouded in uncertainty.

It is worth noting that Fahandej has previously faced arrests and convictions.

Execution of Four Inmates Takes Place in Mashhad and Shiraz

Posted on by . .
Executions, News
Adelabad Prison, Mashhad, Mojtaba Malek Pour, Mosafer Zargar, Saeed Akbari, Shiraz, Vakilabad prison

Four individuals were executed for murder at Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad and Adelabad Prison in Shiraz.

According to the Iran Human Rights Organization, Adelabad Prison officials recently executed four inmates, Saeed Akbari, 27, Mojtaba Malek Pour, 34, and Jamil, an Afghan national whose last name is unknown. They had been convicted of murder. The executions occurred on different dates, with Malek Pour executed on December 7, Akbari on December 11, and Jamil on December 14.

In addition, Haal Vsh reported the execution of Mosafer Zargar, 29, for a murder conviction at Vakilabad Prison on December 14. Zargar had reportedly been convicted of murder six years prior.

No official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have provided coverage of these executions at the time of writing. The lack of official information raises concerns about transparency and accountability in the execution process.

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.

Kamran Rezaie Executed in Shiraz

Posted on by . .
Executions, News
Aban protests, Adelabad Prison, HRANA, Kamran Rezaie, moharebeh, Shiraz

On November 30, 2023, Kamran Rezaie, 33, was executed in Adelabad Prison, located in Shiraz.

As per the Iran Human Rights Organization, Rezaie, apprehended during the 2019-2020 nationwide protests (Aban Protests), faced accusations of killing a Basij militia force member. The nature of the charges remains unclear, leaving uncertainty as to whether intentional murder was the sole accusation or if additional charges, such as “enmity against God” (Moharebeh), were involved.

Remarkably, over the past six years, neither media outlets nor human rights organizations have reported on Rezaie’s case. As of the latest update, HRANA has been unable to independently verify the details surrounding his case.

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.