Tag: Urmia

Alireza Ghanbari and Javad Mohammadi-Fard Begin Prison Sentences on Political Charges

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Alireza Ghanbari, HRANA, Javad Mohammadi-Fard, Urmia, Urmia prison

Alireza Ghanbari and Javad Mohammadi-Fard, both residents of Urmia, have been incarcerated in Urmia Prison to commence their sentences.

Confirming their imprisonment, a source close to their families informed HRANA that they were arrested on April 2 by security forces at their residences and subsequently transferred to Urmia Prison.

Their initial arrests occurred in June-July 2022 by security forces. Initially detained in the Ministry of Intelligence’s facility in Urmia, they were later moved to Urmia Prison after approximately six months.

In June-July 2023, the Urmia Revolutionary Court convicted them of political charges. Mohammadi-Fard was sentenced to four years for “heading a group for causing unrest and acting against national security,” along with 16 months for “insulting the Supreme Leaders of Iran and the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran.” Ghanbari received a four-year sentence for “joining anti-regime groups,” along with 16 months for “insulting the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran” and eight months for “propaganda against the regime,” including detention time. These verdicts were upheld on appeal.

Pursuant to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, which stipulates that in cases of multiple charges, the harshest punishment shall be enforced, both individuals will serve four years in prison.

Mohammadi-Fard, aged 44, is single, while Ghanbar, aged 50, is the father of two.

Death-Row Political Prisoner Nayeb Askari Moved to Solitary Confinement, Heightening Fear of Imminent Execution

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News, Prisoners
Baghi, moharebeh, Nayeb Askari, Political Prisoner, Urmia

Nayeb Askari, a political prisoner on death row in Urmia Prison, was transferred to solitary confinement at Urmia prison on March 27, 2024, sparking fears among his family that his execution may be imminent.

A source with close ties to Askari’s family has confirmed his relocation. While the exact reason for the transfer remains unclear, it is customary for prison authorities to move death-row inmates to solitary confinement before executing them.

Initially sentenced to death for “enmity against God (Moharebeh)” on April 15, 2023, his plea for a retrial was accepted, leading to a charge change to Baghi. In October 2023, the court reaffirmed the death sentence, with the hearings reportedly conducted without his lawyer’s presence. The charge is supported by his alleged membership in a Kurdish political opposition party.

Arrested by IRGC intelligence agents on March 27, 2021, in Urmia, Askari was later moved to a detention facility and, on June 17, 2021, to Urmia Prison.

HRANA’s source reveals another ongoing case accusing Askari of the murder of IRGC member Mostafa Soltani. In 2013-2014, Soltani was injured during a clash with a political opposition party member, passing away six years later from COVID-19. Soltani’s family claims alleged Askari’s involvement in the altercation caused the sustained injury leading to his eventual death.

A new case, opened on July 12, 2021, based on a complaint from the Urmia Prison head, resulted in a three-month imprisonment extension and 50 lashes for “disrupting prison order.”

According to HRA’s annual report, in 2023, Urmia Prison officials executed 29 inmates, positioning this facility as the sixth highest in terms of executions among the ranked prisons.

Tragic End to the Life of Shahin Galehdari, Political Prisoner at Urmia

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News, Prisoners
HRANA, Shahin Galehdari, Urmia

In a devastating turn of events, 46-year-old political prisoner Shahin Galehdari has reportedly taken his own life in Urmia Prison.

A reliable source close to Galehdari confirmed this tragic news to HRANA, stating that he had been incarcerated since February-March 2023, serving a two-year sentence. Prison officials conveyed the distressing information of his suicide to his family yesterday.

According to the latest updates received by HRANA, Galehdari’s body has been transferred to forensic medicine. His family has been directed to claim his body.

Shahin Galehdari’s initial arrest occurred nine years ago at the hands of security forces. Following a period of detention, he was released on bail until the end of legal proceedings. In 2020-2021, the Revolutionary Court at Urmia sentenced him to two years for charges related to “acting against national security.” Subsequently, in February-March 2023, he began serving his sentence in Urmia Prison.

In 2023, the Department of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran recorded seven deaths resulting from illness, twelve suicides, one case of self-immolation, and four instances of prisoners being murdered within prisons nationwide.

Sunni Cleric Mohammad Khezr-Nejad Receives Death Sentence

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Executions, Freedom of Expression, News
Asa'ad Rahimi, Bukan, Kurdpa, Mohammad Khezr-Nejad, Mohammad Khezrnejad, Urmia, West Azerbaijan Province

In a recent development, Sunni cleric Mohammad Khezr-Nejad has been sentenced to death by Branch 3 of the Urmia Revolutionary Court. The charges against him include “spreading corruption on earth” and “acting against national security,” as reported by Kurdpa.

Judge Reza Najafzadeh issued the ruling, finding Khezr-Nejad guilty of various offenses, such as “spreading corruption on earth,” “acting against national security through threatening the integrity or independence of the country,” and “propaganda against the regime.” Consequently, he has been handed a death sentence along with 16 years of imprisonment. Throughout the trial, Khezr-Nejad has consistently dismissed these charges as baseless.

The verdict was reached based on coerced confessions obtained from the defendant during interrogation, where he purportedly admitted to “leading protests in Bukan and association with anti-regime groups.” Khezr-Nejad has contested the authenticity of these confessions.

In response to the sentencing, Khezr-Nejad has reportedly filed an appeal with the Court of Appeal of West Azerbaijan province.

The cleric and his son were arrested on November 19, 2022, by security forces in Bukan and subsequently detained in Urmia Prison. The arrest occurred after Khezr-Nejad delivered a speech during the funeral of Asa’ad Rahimi, who lost his life during protests at the hands of regime forces. The arrest involved physical assault against Khezr-Nejad.

It’s worth noting that Khezr-Nejad has faced previous arrests and convictions due to his activism.

Azerbaijani-Turk Activist Salar Taher Afshar Detained in Urmia

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Ethnic Minorities, News
Azerbaijani Turk activist, Salar Taher Afshar, Tabriz Revolutionary Court, Urmia

On February 6, 2024, security forces arrested Salar Taher Afshar in Urmia and subsequently transferred him to an undisclosed facility. The news of Afshar’s apprehension was disclosed by his sister.

At present, the specific reasons behind his arrest, his current whereabouts, and the charges levied against him remain undisclosed.

This recent arrest comes after Taher Afshar was previously detained on December 19, 2023. A court hearing addressing the charge of “assisting in spreading propaganda against the regime” was conducted by the Tabriz Revolutionary Court on January 27, 2024.

In 2023, the Department of Statistics and Publications of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) documented 324 cases of citizens being arrested by security forces for their advocacy of ethnic rights.

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Azerbaijani-Turk Activist Salar Taher Afshar Arrested in Urmia

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Ethnic Minorities, News
Azerbaijani Turk activist, Iran Cyber Police, Salar Taher Afshar, Tabriz, Urmia

Urmia, December 19, 2023 – Iran Cyber Police detained Azerbaijani-Turk activist Salar Taher Afshar in Urmia, subsequently placing him in custody at a police station in Tabriz.

A reliable source close to Afshar’s family revealed to HRANA that the activist was arrested at his father’s residence by Iran Cyber Police. According to the source, the agents exerted pressure on the family, warning them not to disclose details of their son’s arrest.

The grounds for Afshar’s arrest and the specific charges against him remain undisclosed at this time.

It is pertinent to note that Afshar has a history of previous arrests and judicial confrontations stemming from his activism.

Four Sunni Clerics Sentenced to a Combined 11 Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News, Religious Minorities
Piranshahr, Seyed Jamaleddin Vazhi, Seyed Soleiman Ahmadi, Sharif Mahmoud-Pour, Urmia, Younes Nokhah

According to Kurdpa, the Special Clerical Court in Urmia has handed down prison sentences totaling 11 years to Sunni clerics Younes Nokhah, Seyed Soleiman Ahmadi, Sharif Mahmoud-Pour, and Seyed Jamaleddin Vazhi.

Under this ruling, Nokhah received three years, Ahmadi four years, Mahmoud-Pour two years, and Vazhi two years. The charges levied against them include “acting against national security” and “disturbing public opinion.”

On January 23, 2023, Vazhi and Mahmoud-Pour were arrested by security forces in Piranshahr, and subsequently released on bail after a period of detention. The following day, Nokhah and Ahmadi were apprehended on the Piranshahr to Passveh road without a visible arrest warrant. They were then transferred from the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Urmia to Urmia Prison. Nokhah, who spent 23 days in detention, faced denial of legal representation and family visits during this period.

Additionally, Nokhah has received a separate sentence of defrocking and 58 months and 15 days from the Special Clerical Court of Tabriz.

Political Prisoner Naeb Askari Receives Death Sentence After Retrial

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Ethnic Minorities, Executions, Freedom of Expression, News
Mostafa Soltani, Naeb Askari, Nayeb Askari, Urmia

Political prisoner Naeb (Nayeb) Askari has been sentenced to death by the Urmia Revolutionary Court, following a retrial.

Initially, he had received a death sentence in absentia for the charge of “enmity against God (Moharebeh).” However, after his appeal, the court changed the charge to “armed rebellion (Baghi)” and issued a second death sentence.

In this verdict, Askari’s affiliation with a Kurdish political party was cited as evidence for this charge.

Askari was apprehended by IRGC intelligence agents on March 27, 2021, in Urmia and subsequently taken to a detention facility. On June 17, 2021, he was transferred to Urmia Prison, where he has remained in detention.

According to a source close to his family, Askari faces another legal case in the Urmia Criminal Court for his alleged involvement in the death of an IRGC member, Mostafa Soltani. This source clarified that Soltani was injured during a confrontation with a member of a Kurdish party in 2014 and later succumbed to COVID-19, which was unrelated to the earlier injuries. Despite the unrelated cause of death, Soltani’s family filed a complaint, asserting that he died as a result of sustained injuries rather than COVID-19.

Additionally, on July 12, 2021, a new case was initiated against Askari, following a complaint from the head of Urmia Prison. In this case, he was sentenced to an additional three months of imprisonment and 50 lashes for the charge of “disrupting prison order.”

Minor Detained by Security Forces in Mahabad

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Children, Freedom of Expression, News
Pouya Khezri, Urmia

On October 10, Pouya Khezri, a minor resident of Mahabad, was apprehended within the city and subsequently transferred to a detention facility in Urmia, as per reports by Kurdpa.

The arrest of Khezri took place at his family’s residence, and notably, no arrest warrant was presented by the security forces.

The specific grounds for Khezri’s detention and the allegations against him remain

Fereydoon Nabi Receives Seven-Year, Eight-Month Prison Sentence

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Freedom of Expression, News
Fereydoon Nabi, Mahabad, Naghadeh, Piranshahr, Urmia

Mahabad Revolutionary Court and Piranshahr Criminal Court have imposed a seven-year, eight-month prison sentence and fine on Fereydoon Nabi.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, sourced from Kurdpa, Fereydoon Nabi has been convicted and sentenced to imprisonment along with a financial penalty.

The Mahabad Revolutionary Court handed down a three-year, seven-month sentence for “assembly and collusion against national security,” a two-year, eleven-month sentence for “membership in an anti-regime political party,” and an additional eight-month sentence for “propaganda against the regime.” Pursuant to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the three-year, seven-month prison term will be enforceable.

Furthermore, the Piranshahr Criminal Court has sentenced Nabi to six months in prison and a fine for “carrying an illegal weapon and throwing a Molotov cocktail.”
On October 29, 2022, security forces arrested Nabi at his family residence in Piranshahr without presenting an arrest warrant. After two days of interrogation at a detention facility in Urmia, he was subsequently incarcerated in Naghadeh Prison. Nabi was eventually released on bail on May 9, 2023.