Tag: Tabriz

Three Baha’i Citizens Arrested in Tabriz

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News, Religious Minorities
Azam Azmoudeh, Iraj Noorseteh, Nasim Naeimi, Shiva Isakhani, Sina Aghdasi, Tabriz

On Monday, September 16, Azam Azmoudeh, a Baha’i citizen residing in Tabriz, was arrested by the Ministry of Intelligence forces. With her arrest, the number of detained Baha’i citizens in Tabriz has risen to three. Sina Aghdasi and Iraj Noorseteh were also detained on the same day.

Azam Azmoudeh was arrested at her home by Tabriz Intelligence agents, who also conducted a search of her residence, confiscating several electronic devices. The circumstances surrounding her arrest remain unclear.

In addition to these arrests, the homes of two other Baha’i citizens, Shiva Isakhani and Nasim Naeimi, were also searched by Intelligence agents. However, the agents left when they found that the two were not present at their residences.

As of now, there is no information regarding the reasons for the arrests or the charges against these Baha’i citizens.

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.

Baha’i Citizen Sina Aghdasi Arrested in Tabriz

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News, Religious Minorities
HRANA, Sina Aghdasi, Tabriz

Sina Aghdasi, a Baha’i citizen residing in Tabriz, was arrested today, September 16, by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location.

A source close to Aghdasi’s family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating, “This morning, Mr. Aghdasi was arrested at his home by security forces. During the raid, the security forces searched the house and confiscated his and his family members’ mobile phones.”

No information is currently available regarding the reasons for Sina Aghdasi’s arrest or his place of detention.

This Baha’i citizen has previously been arrested due to his religious beliefs.

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.

A Prisoner Executed in Tabriz Prison for Drug Offenses

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Executions, News
Khaled Jahangiri, Tabriz, Tabriz Prison

On Thursday, August 22, 2024, the execution of a prisoner previously sentenced to death on drug-related charges was carried out in Tabriz Prison, as reported by Kurdpa.

The identity of the prisoner has been reported as Khaled Jahangiri, a resident of the village of “Balu” in the Urmia region, and a father of three children.

According to this report, Mr. Jahangiri was arrested about five years ago on drug-related charges and was sentenced to death by the judicial authorities.

As of the time of this report, the execution has not been officially announced by prison officials or relevant authorities.

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.

Two Prisoners Executed in Tabriz Prison

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Executions, News
Abbas A'laei Aqblagh, Ali Azmoon, Tabriz, Tabriz Prison

On Sunday, August 18, two prisoners, convicted of drug-related charges, were executed in Tabriz Prison, as reported by Iran Human Rights Organization.

The identities of these prisoners have been reported as Abbas A’laei Aqblagh, from the village of Aqblagh in Meshgin Shahr, and Ali Azmoon.

According to a source, A’laei Aqblagh was arrested approximately four years ago, and Ali Azmoon was arrested about two years ago on drug-related charges and were sentenced to death by the judiciary.

As of the time of this report, the execution of these prisoners has not been officially announced by prison authorities or relevant institutions.

According to the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran, in 2023, at least 767 citizens, including 21 women and 2 juvenile offenders, were executed. Of these, the executions of 7 individuals were carried out in public. Additionally, during this period, 172 others were sentenced to death, with 5 of them sentenced to public execution. It is worth noting that during the same period, the initial death sentences of 49 other individuals were also upheld by the Supreme Court.

Four Prisoners Executed in Tabriz Prison

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Executions, News
Ali Mahdian, Mohammad Ansari Qeshlaq, Tabriz, Tabriz Prison

According to Iran Human Rights Organization, the death sentences of four prisoners, including two Afghan nationals who had previously been convicted of murder, were carried out in Tabriz Prison

Two of these prisoners were Afghan nationals. The identities of the other two prisoners have been reported as “Mohammad Ansari Qeshlaq, 44, from Qeshlaq village in Tabriz, and Ali Mahdian, 32, from Hashtrood.”

They had been arrested on charges of murder and subsequently sentenced to death by the judiciary.

The report states that Ali Mahdian had been arrested three years ago on charges of premeditated murder following a financial dispute. Mohammad Ansari Qeshlaq had spent the last four years in this prison and was recently transferred from Ward 4 to solitary confinement in preparation for his execution.

As of the time this report was compiled, the executions have not been officially announced by prison authorities or relevant institutions.

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Three Inmates Executed in Tabriz Prison

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Executions, News
Bahram Moharrami, Reza Ahmadzadeh, Tabriz, Tabriz Prison

On July 2, the execution of three prisoners, previously sentenced to death on separate murder charges, was carried out in Tabriz Prison, as reported by Iran Human Rights Organization.

The identities of two of these prisoners, Reza Ahmadzadeh, 47, and Bahram Moharrami, 36, both from Tabriz, have been reported.
According to this report, Ahmadzadeh was arrested three years ago on murder charges and sentenced to death. Similarly, Moharrami was arrested two years ago on charges of murdering his wife and sentenced to death.

The report also mentioned that Rokna News Agency had reported the execution of a prisoner named Mansour in Tabriz Prison the previous day for the murder of his mother-in-law, which appears to refer to the third executed individual.

In 2023, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran registered the execution of 767 individuals. Out of these, 7 were carried out in public. Among the executed individuals whose genders were identified, 21 were female. Additionally, 2 juvenile offenders, defined as individuals under the age of 18 at the time of their alleged crimes, were also executed.

Mohammad-Reza Amani Nazarlu Sentenced to Imprisonment

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Ethnic Minorities, Freedom of Expression, News
Araz Amani, Azerbaijani Turk activist, Mohammad Reza Amani Nazarlu, Shabestar, Tabriz, آراز امانی نظرلو

Mohammad Reza (Araz) Amani Nazarlu, an Azerbaijani-Turk activist, was sentenced to three months and one day in prison by the Revolutionary Court of Shabestar.

Based on a ruling issued on July 2nd by the Revolutionary Court of Shabestar and delivered to Mr. Amani Nazarlu, he was sentenced to three months and one day in prison on charges of “propaganda in favor of groups or organizations opposed to the Islamic Republic of Iran.” He was acquitted of the charge of “insulting ordinary people.”

The court session to address this citizen’s charges was held on October 14, 2023, in the mentioned branch.

Amani was arrested by security forces in Shabestar on May 21st of last year. He was released on bail from Tabriz prison on June 10, 2023.

Azerbaijani-Turk Activist Morteza Nourmohammadi Sentenced to Prison

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Ethnic Minorities, News
Azerbaijani Turk activist, Morteza Nourmohammadi, Shabestar, Tabriz

Morteza Nourmohammadi Nadarli (also known as Nazarlu), an Azerbaijani-Turk activist, was sentenced to three months and one day in prison by the Revolutionary Court of Shabestar County.

Based on a recent verdict issued by the Revolutionary Court of Shabestar County and communicated to Nourmohammadi, he has been sentenced to three months and one day of imprisonment on charges of propaganda against the regime through publishing material online. This Azerbaijani-Turk activist was acquitted of other charges such as “membership in anti-regime groups” and “insulting the Supreme Leader.”

On May 28, Mr. Nourmohammadi was summoned for questioning via a phone call to the Shabestar Security Police.

Nourmohammadi was initially charged in early November last year by the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office of Shabestar with “assembly and collusion to act against national security.” Shortly thereafter, a new case was opened against him in the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office of Tabriz, charging him with “membership in a group aimed at acting against national security.”

On September 9, 2023, after visiting the Civil Registration Office in the city of Sofian, he was arrested by security forces and transferred to the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Tabriz. He was eventually moved to the city’s prison and then returned to the detention center a few days later. He was once again transferred to Tabriz prison on November 26, 2023.

Nourmohammadi was finally released on bail on November 28 of the same year.

In 2023, the Department of Statistics and Publications of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) recorded 329 reports, citing the arrest of 324 citizens linked to ethnic and national rights. Notably, 156 of these arrests occurred without the issuance of a judicial warrant.

Tabriz: Maryam Bayramian Sentenced to Two Years in Prison

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News, Prisoners
Ebrahim Raisi, Maryam Bayramian, Tabriz, Tabriz Prison, مریم بایرامیان

Maryam Bayramian, a prisoner held in Tabriz Prison, has been sentenced to two years in prison by the Revolutionary Court of Tabriz.

According to a verdict recently issued by the Revolutionary Court of Tabriz and delivered to this imprisoned citizen, Ms. Bayramian has been sentenced to two years in prison on charges of “insulting officials and acting against national security.” Bayramian was arrested by security forces on June 8, 2023, during a speech by the late President Ebrahim Raisi in Tabriz and transferred to the Prison of this city.

Maryam Bayramian, a 45-year-old resident of Tabriz, is a mother of two.

Student Ehsan Faridi Arrested and Jailed in Tabriz Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News, Other
Ehsan Faridi, Tabriz

Ehsan Faridi, a student at Tabriz University, was arrested and transferred to Tabriz prison on Tuesday, June 18th, after being summoned to the General and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in this city.

Based on reports received by HRANA, after appearing at this judicial institution, Faridi was arrested and transferred to the city’s prison. As of now, the charges against him remain unknown.

Ehsan Faridi is a 21-year-old student of Manufacturing Engineering at Tabriz Technical College. He was previously arrested on March 9th, 2023, and transferred to Tabriz prison. He was eventually released on bail on March 19th of the same year.