A Prisoner Executed in Qaen Prison

On Wednesday, June 26, a death-row inmate convicted of charges related to drug offenses was executed in Qaen Prison, South Khorasan province, as reported by Haal Vsh.

The identity of the prisoner has been reported as “Naser Rahimi (Rakhshani), 32 years old, from Zahedan and residing in Mashhad, married and father of one child.”

The report states: “In 2021, Naser was arrested in the city of Qaen on charges related to drug offenses and was sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court of this city. He was transferred to the quarantine section of the prison one day before the execution of the sentence. The execution of this prisoner was carried out without informing his family and relatives.”

No official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have provided coverage of this execution at the time of writing.

The reports from the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists for the year 2023 reveal a concerning prevalence of executions for drug offenses in Iran, constituting 56.4% of the total executions. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s report.

 

Crackdown on Dissent Following Kerman Blasts: Dozens Arrested and Prosecuted

In the aftermath of the tragic explosions in Kerman during Qasem Soleimani’s commemoration ceremony, claiming numerous lives and causing injuries, security forces and affiliated individuals on social media have actively sought to identify and apprehend those expressing opinions about the incident. As a result, dozens of individuals have been summoned, arrested, and had their social media pages removed, with an estimated 76 people detained in connection to these events.

According to 32 reports from social media channels associated with Iran’s security institutions, at least 76 arrests have been made, 108 individuals have been summoned to security/judicial institutions, 537 social media pages were taken down, and two businesses in Mazandaran and South Khorasan Province were closed.

In an attempt to instill fear and suppress dissent, these security-affiliated channels have doxed 28 citizens, leading to their subsequent arrests and prosecutions. Furthermore, one security-affiliated channel has released a video featuring the coerced confession of a citizen, although the location and circumstances of the recording remain unclear. In the video, the detainee expresses regret for his opinions, attributing his actions to the influence of social media.

The regime’s approach has sparked concerns about potential violations of citizens’ privacy rights. Additionally, the Tehran prosecutor has announced legal action against Sadegh Zibakalam, an author and political pundit, and seven others for their statements regarding the recent blasts in Kerman. Furthermore, several students have faced disciplinary measures from universities due to their opinions on the incident.

Four Inmates Executed in Birjand for Drug-Related Offenses

On December 3, 2023, the Birjand Prison in South Khorasan province carried out the execution of four individuals convicted of drug-related crimes, as reported by Haal Vsh.

The executed prisoners were identified as Mohammad Naeimi Far (Brahui), 44 years old, Ahmad Shahoo-Zahi, 40 years old, Maziar Narooie (Narui), 31 years old, and Hamid Sarani, 27 years old.

The first three inmates had received death sentences three, four, and five years ago, respectively, while Sarani was sentenced to death 14 months ago by the Birjand Revolutionary Court.

Tragically, these individuals were denied the opportunity for a final visit with their families before the execution.

As of the current writing, there is no official confirmation or coverage of these executions from domestic media outlets or official sources within the country. The absence of verified information raises concerns regarding the transparency and accountability of 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.

Five Inmates Executed in Birjand Prison

On February 26, Birjand Prison officials executed five death-row prisoners, including two women.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Haal Vsh, five inmates, including two women, were executed in Birjand Prison, South Khorasan Province.

Two of these men have been identified as Abdolhamid Sheh Bakhsh, a resident of Zahedan, and Ali Fanoodie, a resident of Birjand. In 2020, they were arrested and sentenced to death for drug-related crimes.
The identities of the three others are still unknown.

None of the official sources and media outlets inside the country has reported these executions at the time of writing.

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.

 

 

Farshid Rakshani Rad Executed in Birjand Prison in South Khorasan Province

On Wednesday, September 15, Farshid Rakhshani Rad was executed in Birjand Prison in South Khorasan Province.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting The Baloch Activists Campaign, Mr. Rakhshani Rad had previously been sentenced to death on drug-related charges. He was from Mashhad.

Iran ranks first in the world in citizen executions per capita, according to international organizations. The Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) reported that between January 1 and December 20 of 2020, at least 236 citizens were executed. One of these citizens was executed publicly, and two were juvenile offenders.

An additional 95 citizens were sentenced to death. According to the same report, more than 72% of executions in Iran are not reported by the government or the judiciary, which human rights organizations call “secret” executions.

As of this writing, the execution of Mr. Rakhshani Rad has not been announced by Iranian media or official sources.

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Prisoner Dies in Ferdows Prison After Prison Authorities Delay his Transfer to the Hospital

On Sunday,  June 20, Hossein Pahendi Pour died in Ferdows Prison in South Khorasan Province after prison authorities delayed his transfer to the hospital.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting RASANK news, Hossein Pahendi Pour’s car flipped in April of this year during a chase by law enforcement officers. In the crash he seriously injured his back and lungs, but rather than being first given time to heal in the hospital, he was arrested and taken to prison the following day.

The detainee’s condition had been deteriorating day by day, and by the end he was unable to move without the help of other prisoners. Despite the clear urgency of his condition, prison officials denied Mr. Pahendi Pour transfer to a medical center.

Pahendi Pour was eventually taken to a medical center and then to the hospital’s ICU. By this time, however, it was too late and he lost his life.

Nearly 600 Villages in South Khorasan Province are not Connected to a Sustained Water Supply Network

Manouchehr Salari, deputy director of Water and Wastewater and Development in the South Khorasan Province, estimated that 145 villages, each with more than 20 households, need a water supply.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Saliri stated that 592 villages in the province are deprived of a connection to the sustained water supply network.

Hossein Emami, CEO of South Khorasan Water and Wastewater Company in Southern Khorasan Province, commented on the non-allocation of 500 billion Tomans (22 million USD) for the project to complete 37 water supply complexes in the province.

“The funding for sustainable water supply for villages with more than 20 households has not been met,” Emani said. “Due to delays in receiving funds we will face delays in the water supply to villages.”

Student is Injured Attempting to Climb Mountain to Access Internet for Virtual Learning

A student in Pichkan village of Zirkuh city in the South Khorasan Province fell from a mountain and was severely injured in the face and eyes.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Rokna News, the student had gone to the mountains to access the internet and use virtual learning networks.

Talebi, the director of Zirkuh education confirmed the incident happened and said the injured  is a student of Hajiabad vocational school in Zirkuh.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, virtual learning has played a critical role in Iran’s education system, but access to the necessary materials remains limited. Students in many villages of Iran are forced to face the environmental hazards in the highlands to access the internet due to the poor network coverage in their area.

The head of the country’s Exceptional Education Organization stated that 30% of students do not have equipment for e-learning; he said: “5 million students in the country do not have access to smartphones and tablets.”

Javad Hosseini also expressed that 8% of students use their parent’s devices for e-learning which does not provide the students with stable access to learning equipment.

 

 

6 Prisoners Executed in Birjand Prison in the South Khorasan Province 

On May 25, six prisoners were executed in Birjand prison in South Khorasan.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting RASANK news, all six had been previously arrested on drug-related charges. The report has identified the six as Javad Nakhaei, Mohammad Reza Harati, Reza Azarian, Ruhollah Rigi, and Alireza Farsi, all from Zabol, and Reza As’adi from Mashhad.

Iran ranks first in the world in citizen executions per-capita, according to international organizations. The Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRAI) reported that between January 1st and  December 20th of 2020, at least 236 citizens were executed. One of these citizens was executed publicly, and two were juvenile offenders. An additional 95 citizens were sentenced to death.

According to the report, more than 72% of executions in Iran are not reported by the government or the judiciary. Human rights organizations call these “secret executions.”

At the time of this writing, their execution has not been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.

Two Prisoners Executed in Birjand in South Khorasan Province

Yesterday, two prisoners were executed in Birjand Prison in the South Khorasan province.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Baloch Activists Campaign, the two citizens have been identified as Younes Totazehi from Chah-e Rahman rural district close to Zahedan city and Abdullah Totazehi son of Sohrab, from Zahedan in Sistan and Baluchestan Province.

Younes and Abdullah Totazehi were arrested in 2019 and sentenced to death on drug related charges.

According to international organizations, considering its population, Iran ranks first in the world in the execution of its citizens. The Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRAI) reported that between January 1st and  December 20th of 2020, at least 236 citizens were executed. One of these citizens was executed publicly, and two were juvenile offenders. An additional 95 citizens were sentenced to death.

More than 72% of executions in Iran are not reported by the government or the judiciary. Human rights organizations call these “secret executions.”

As of this writing, the execution of  the two prisoners has not been announced by any Iranian media or official sources.