Tag: Vafa Henareh

Four Alleged Spies Executed in Urmia Prison Amidst Iran-Israel Tensions

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Executions, News, Prisoners
Aran Omari, Nasim Namazi, Rahman Parhazoo, Urmia prison, Vafa Henareh

On December 29, 2023, against the backdrop of heightened tensions between Iran and Israel, Aran Omari, Rahman Parhazoo, Vafa Henareh, and Nasim Namazi were executed in Urmia Prison on charges of espionage for Israel.

The individuals, including Mansour Rasouli, received death sentences as part of a contentious legal case known as “interrogating Mansour Rasouli.” Yesterday, HRANA reported their relocation to solitary confinement the day before, heightening concerns about their impending execution. In an unexpected turn of events, Rasouli was returned to prison, reportedly due to a significant development in his legal case.

In October 2021, these five individuals, along with three others, were apprehended and interrogated on charges of espionage. Subsequently, in February-March 2022, they were incarcerated in Urmia Prison, receiving death sentences for their alleged “intelligence collaboration with Israel.”

In May 2022, media outlets released a video featuring a man claiming to be an IRGC member, interrogated by Israeli forces within Iran, confessing to planning an attack on Israel. Later, the same individual, Mansour Rasouli, retracted his confession, stating he was a farmer abducted and coerced into making false statements. Three weeks later, the IRGC announced the arrest of several individuals allegedly collaborating with Israel and engaging in kidnappings to extract fabricated confessions.

An informed source disclosed to HRANA that Rasouli had been a former IRGC member, paid to record voice and video files for use against other defendants. Rasouli was arrested after obtaining confessions from other defendants in this case.

Concerns Mount as Five Individuals Convicted of Espionage Are on the Verge of Imminent Execution in Urmia

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Executions, News, Prisoners
Aran Omari, Mansour Rasouli, Nasim Namazi, Rahman Parhazoo, Urmia prison, Vafa Henareh

Urmia, December 28 – Mansour Rasouli, Aran Omari, Rahman Parhazoo, Vafa Henareh, and Nasim Namazi, all on death row for espionage, have been transferred to solitary confinement, causing deep distress among their families who fear their impending executions.

In October 2021, these five individuals, along with three others, were apprehended and subjected to interrogation on charges of espionage. Subsequently, in February-March 2022, they were incarcerated in Urmia Prison and later received death sentences for their alleged “intelligence collaboration with Israel.”

In May 2022, media outlets released a video featuring a man, purportedly an IRGC member interrogated by Israeli forces within Iran, confessing to planning an attack on Israel. Subsequently, the same individual, Mansour Rasouli, retracted his confession, asserting that he was a farmer abducted and coerced into making false statements. Three weeks later, the IRGC announced the arrest of several people allegedly collaborating with Israel and engaging in kidnappings to extract fabricated confessions.

Given the recent escalation of tension in the region and the Iranian regime’s historical use of the judicial system for political purposes, coupled with uncertainties surrounding the process of their detention and trial, the relocation of these individuals to solitary confinement raises concerns about the imminent execution of the sentences.

Eight Citizens Accused of Espionage in Detention in Urmia Prison 

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News, Prisoners
Amir Moshtagh, Aran Omari, Ashkan Othmannejad, Espionage, Fakhredin Doodkanloo, Hasan Omarpour, Kamran Henareh, Rahman Parhazoo, Urmia prison, Vafa Henareh

Eight citizens, who were arrested and accused of espionage, have been detained since November 2021. On March 11, 2022, all these detainees but one were relocated to Urmia Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, eight citizens identified as Kamran Henareh, Vafa Henareh, Ashkan Othmannejad, Fakhredin Doodkanloo, Aran Omari, Rahman Parhazoo, Hasan Omarpour, Amir Moshtagh have been detained on the charge of espionage. Vafa Henareh is still held at a detention center and the rest are jailed in Urmia Prison. All these individuals have been indicted for espionage.

Although the prosecution of individuals for espionage is not considered a violation of human rights, there are concerns about the validity of these allegations due to the frequent use of such accusations by Iran’s regime in order to suppress its political dissidents and due to the ambiguities in legal proceedings and the lack of transparency about such legal cases.