Tag: Urmia prison

Javad Mohammadi-Fard Attempts Suicide in Urmia Prison

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News, Prisoners
HRANA, Javad Mohammadi-Fard, Urmia, Urmia prison

Javad Mohammadi-Fard, a political prisoner held in Urmia Prison, attempted suicide by hanging. He was transferred to a psychiatric facility and returned to prison hours later.

A source close to the political prisoner’s family told HRANA: “On Monday, September 23, Mr. Mohammadi-Fard attempted suicide by hanging due to severe stomach illness and the authorities’ refusal to grant him medical leave. Instead of being transferred to a hospital for proper medical treatment, he was sent to the Razi Psychiatric Hospital in Urmia and returned to prison just hours later.”

The source added, “Prison officials did not allow all family members to visit Mohammadi-Fard, and only his brother was granted access. His health condition remains poor.”

Despite suffering from stomach pain and bleeding, suspected by a doctor to be cancer, Mohammadi-Fard has been denied specialized treatment and medical leave.

Javad Mohammadi-Fard was arrested in July 2022 in Urmia and released on bail. In July 2023, he was sentenced by the Urmia Revolutionary Court on national security charges. His sentence was upheld in February 2024, and he was sentenced to four years in prison. He was transferred to Urmia Prison in April 2024 to serve his sentence.

Prisoner Executed in Urmia Prison for Drug-Related Crimes

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Executions, News
HRANA, Mohammad Daghestani, Urmia prison, محمد داغستانی

At dawn today, August 21, the execution of a prisoner who had previously been sentenced to death on drug-related charges was carried out in Urmia Prison.

HRANA has identified the prisoner, who was hanged at dawn today, as “Mohammad Daghestani.” He had been arrested on drug-related charges and was subsequently sentenced to death by the judiciary.

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

Execution of Another Prisoner Along with Kamran Sheikheh in Urmia Prison

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Executions, News
Hassan Yousefi Azar, HRANA, Kamran Sheikheh, Naqadeh, Urmia prison

Today, Thursday, July 25th, in addition to the execution of Kamran Sheikheh, a Sunni prisoner in Urmia Prison, the execution of another prisoner was carried out in this prison.

This prisoner has been identified by HRANA as Hassan Yousefi Azar. Mr. Yousofi Azar, a resident of Naqadeh, had previously been arrested on charges of murder and subsequently sentenced to death by the judiciary.

As of the time of this report, the execution of these prisoners has not been announced by prison officials and relevant authorities.
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 data compiled by HRANA, Urmia Prison carried out 29 executions in 2023. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s report.

 

Kamran Sheikheh, the Last of Seven Sunni Prisoners, Executed in Urmia Prison

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News
Anvar Khezri, Ayoub Karimi, Davoud Abdollahi, Farhad Salimi, Ghasem Abasteh, Kamran Sheikheh, Khosro Besharat, Urmia prison

At dawn on Thursday, July 25, Kamran Sheikheh, a Sunni prisoner who had endured over fourteen years of imprisonment, was executed in Urmia Prison. He was sentenced to death along with six other Sunni prisoners in a joint case and was the last defendant to be hanged.

This Sunni prisoner had been transferred from Mahabad Prison to Urmia Prison yesterday for the execution of his sentence.
Six other Sunni prisoners in this case, Ghasem Abasteh, Ayoub Karimi, Davoud Abdollahi, Farhad Salimi, Anvar Khezri, and Khosro Besharat, were hanged in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj on November 5, 2023, November 29, 2023, January 2, 2024, January 23, 2024, May 1, 2024, and May 15, 2024, respectively.

The case stems from the assassination of Abdolrahim Tina, the Imam of a mosque in Mahabad, in September 2008. In January and February 2010, Sheikheh and six other Sunni suspects were arrested in connection with the killing.

Initially sentenced to death by Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Mohammad Moghiseh, their sentences were overturned by the Supreme Court. The case was then reassigned to Branch 15 of the same court, presided over by Judge Salavati, who reinstated the death sentences for Sheikheh and six other defendants. The Supreme Court ultimately upheld their death sentences on February 3, 2020.

Baha’i Citizen Mojgan Salmanzadeh Detained in Urmia Prison

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News, Religious Minorities
HRANA, Mojgan Salmanzadeh, Urmia prison, مژگان سلمان زاده

Mojgan Salmanzadeh, a Baha’i citizen, remains in a state of uncertainty in Urmia Prison for over twelve days.

A source close to the family confirmed this news to HRANA, stating: “Ms. Salmanzadeh was arrested by security forces on July 4th in the city of Maku and recently informed her family in a phone call that she has been transferred to the public ward of Urmia Prison. Also, temporary release has not yet been possible for this Baha’i citizen.”

As of the time of this report, no information has been obtained about the reasons for her arrest and the charges against her.

Mojgan Salmanzadeh is a Baha’i citizen and a researcher in the field of physiological psychology.

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.

 

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Turkish National Hatem Ozdemir Receives Death Sentence in Retrial

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Executions, News, Prisoners
Baghi, Hatem Ozdemir, Khoy, Najafzadeh, Urmia, Urmia prison, حاتم اوزدمیر

The Revolutionary Court in Urmia has once again sentenced Turkish national Hatem Ozdemir to death for “enmity against God (Moharebeh)” after his initial death sentence was overturned by the Supreme Court.

The verdict was delivered by Branch 3 of the Urmia Revolutionary Court and communicated to Ozdemir on May 19, 2024, who is currently detained in Urmia Prison.

Ozdemir was arrested by security forces in early summer 2019 in Maku City. After two months of interrogation in a detention center, he was transferred to Urmia Prison. He was briefly moved to another detention center on September 19, 2019, before being returned to Urmia Prison.

Originally in March 2022, the Revolutionary Court in Khoy, under Judge Najafzadeh, convicted Ozdemir of “armed rebellion (Baghi).” However, this sentence was overturned by the Supreme Court, leading to a retrial in a different branch.

Abdolghani Darvishi’s Sentence Reduced on Appeal

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Freedom of Expression, News
Abdolghani Darvishi, Evin Prison, Urmia, Urmia prison

The Appellate Court of West Azerbaijan Province has reduced Abdolghani Darvishi’s prison sentence from five years to two years and six months. Originally convicted on political charges for “collaboration with anti-regime groups,” his sentence is now suspended for two years.

Darvishi was first detained by security forces on May 22, 2020, in Urmia and subsequently held in Tehran’s Evin prison, controlled by the Ministry of Intelligence. After a month, he was moved back to a detention center in Urmia and later placed in solitary confinement on October 22, 2020, at Urmia Prison.

He was released on bail from Urmia Prison on March 2, 2021. Darvishi, a resident of Urmia and a father of two, continues to reside there with his family.

Five Inmates Executed for Drug-Related Crimes in Urmia Prison

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Executions, News
Mansour Naseri, Parvin Mousavi, Parviz Ghasemi, Ramin Lavandpour, Urmia prison, Yousef Saeedi

On May 18, 2024, five prisoners, including a woman, were executed at Urmia Prison in West Azerbaijan province for drug offenses.

HRANA reports the individuals executed are Parvin Mousavi, the female inmate, alongside Ramin Lavandpour, Parviz Ghasemi, Yousef Saeedi, and Mansour Naseri. Each had previously been sentenced to death on charges related to drug crimes.

No official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have provided coverage of these executions 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.

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.

Four Death-Row Inmates Facing Imminent Execution for Drug Offenses in Urmia Prison

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Executions, News
Ghezel Hesar prison, HRANA, Urmia prison

Today, May 7, 2024, officials at Urmia Prison moved four inmates, all convicted on drug-related charges, into solitary confinement, signaling that their executions may be imminent. Efforts are underway by HRANA to confirm their identities.

Additionally, two death-row inmates at Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj, sentenced for murder and drug-related offenses, have been similarly placed in solitary confinement.

According to HRANA, in 2023, approximately 66% of execution reports were neither officially announced by judicial authorities nor covered by domestic media in Iran, underscoring a significant transparency issue in the judicial process.

Execution Carried Out in Urmia Prison for Drug Conviction

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Executions, News
Afshin Bagh-Shirin, Kermanshah, Urmia, Urmia prison

On April 16, 2024, authorities at Urmia Prison executed an inmate convicted of drug-related offenses.

The individual put to death has been identified by HRANA as Afshin Bagh-Shirin, hailing from Kermanshah. He had been sentenced to death six years prior.

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.

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.