Tag: Vakilabad

Update on Political Prisoner Shirin Beyraghdar’s Legal Status in Vakilabad Prison

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News, Prisoners
Mashhad, revolutionary court, Vakilabad, Vakilabad prison, شیرین بیرق دار

Shirin Beyraghdar is presently serving her term at Vakilabad Prison.

Initially apprehended by security forces at her shop in Mashhad in June-July 2022, Beyraghdar spent approximately six months in detention before being released on bail amounting to one billion tomans (roughly 20,000 dollars).

Following her release, the Revolutionary Court in Mashhad convicted her on charges including “forming groups to act against national security,” “assembly and collusion against national security,” “insulting the Supreme Leader,” and “propaganda against the regime.” Pursuant to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, she received a sentence of four years and six months for the primary charge.

In June-July 2023, Beyraghdar commenced serving her sentence at Vakilabad Prison.

French-Irish National Bernard Phelan Sentenced to 6.5 Years

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Freedom of Expression, News
Bernard Phelan, Mashhad, Vakilabad

Detained French-Irish Bernard Phelan was sentenced to six years and six months.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Reuters, French-Irish Bernard Phelan was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison.

Quoting Phelan’s sister, the report mentioned “providing information to another country” as one charge against Phelan.

On October 3, 2022, Phelan, 64, was arrested by security forces during his last trip to Iran.

Earlier, The Irish Times revealed that he is jailed in Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad.

Five Inmates Executed in Mashhad

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Executions, News
Asef Shakib, Avaz Bilrani, Mashhad, Ramezan Mazarzeh, Saeed Shakib, Vakilabad

On Sunday, October 2, five inmates convicted of drug-related crimes were executed in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Haal Vsh, on October 2, 2022, five inmates, of which four have been identified as Asef Shakib, Saeed Shakib, Ramezan Mazarzeh and Avaz Bilrani, were executed in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.

All of these prisoners had been convicted of drug-related crimes.

These executions have not been reported by official sources and media outlets inside Iran so far.

Two Inmates Executed in Kashan and Vakilabad Prisons

Posted on by A MN
Executions, News
executions, Kashan, Ruhollah Dehghani, Secret executions, v, Vakilabad

On the morning of February 21, two inmates convicted for murder were executed in Kashan and Vakilabad prisons.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting ILNA, an unidentified inmate was executed in Kashan Prison. On the same day, another inmate identified by the first name Reza was executed in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad city.

Regarding the first case, Kashan prosecutor Ruhollah Dehghani stated that “in June 2017, the defendant, age 49, killed a woman with whom he was acquainted on the Internet. Thereafter, he was arrested by the police”.

As for the second case, on September 30, 2014, Reza brought a 29 year old man injured by stabbing to a hospital in Mashhad. When he realized the man had passed away from the injuries, he fled the hospital. In November of 2018, Reza was arrested and sentenced to death.

The most recent report from the Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) states that between January 1 of 2021 and December 20 of 2021, at least 299 citizens, including four juvenile offenders, were executed. In addition, 85 citizens were sentenced to death in this period.

Imprisoned French Tourist Benjamin Briere On Hunger Strike in Vakilabad Prison

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Benjamin Briere, Mashhad City, saeed dehghan, Vakilabad

French Tourist Benjamin Briere, currently imprisoned in Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad City went on hunger strike to protest being deprived of his inalienable right as a prisoner to contact his family on Christmas night.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Briere has been jailed in Vakilabad since May 2020 when he was arrested by security forces.

“What is the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad waiting for in order to proceed Benjamin Briere’s case after 570 days in detention?” his lawyer, Saeed Dehghan, asked on his personal page on social media.

Dehghan was informed about charges of spying and propaganda against the regime against his client. Two other charges of “spreading corruption on earth” and “alcohol drinking” had been already dismissed by the court.

Per Briere’s lawyer, actions such as taking aerial photos with a remote-controlled helicam and posing some questions like “why is the veil (Hijab) forced in Iran but not other Islamic countries” were invoked as examples for charges of “spying” and “propaganda against the regime” respectively during in the last court session held in February 2021.

“A report published by Figaro used the word “drone”, while he had just used a normal helicam. This mistranslation brought about some misunderstanding regarding the charges in the media. Additionally, this report wrongly called him a French-Iranian dual citizen, while he is a French citizen,” Dehghan told HRANA.

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Vahedian Shahroudi Still in Detention After 84 Days Despite Poor Health Condition

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Abbas Vahedian Shahroudi, Mashhad, Mashhad Prison, Ministry of Intelligence, Revolutionary Court of Mashhad, Rezvanshahr, Rezvanshahr County, Shahroudi, Vahedian, Vakilabad, Vakilabad prison, Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad

After 84 days, writer, educator and civil activist Abbas Vahedian Shahroudi is still in a Ministry of Intelligence detention center in Mashhad.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Shahroudi suffers from a severe infection in the gums and teeth but has been deprived of adequate medical treatment throughout his detention.

In early November of this year, he was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment by Branch 4 of the Mashhad Revolutionary Court. This verdict has been finalized following his refusal to request an appeal.

Shahroudi’s daughter Hengameh Vahedian expressed her deep concern about her father’s health condition in a social media post.

“Two weeks ago, In the last visitation, he had severe infection in the gums, loosen teeth, and acute pain,” Hengameh wrote. “He needs urgent treatment before his disease worsen. Until now, however, he has not received any treatment.”

Earlier, HRANA reported about his poor health condition in a solitary confinement cell in a Detention Center at the disposal of the Ministry of Intelligence.

On September 1 of this year, intelligence agents arrested Vahedian in Rezvanshahr County. Two days later, in a phone call to his family, he informed them about the opening of a new case  against him on a charge of “acting against national security.” Meanwhile, Vahedian’s daughter’s home in Mashhad was searched by security forces and some personal belongings were confiscated.

Vahedian has previously been arrested and convicted for his writings and civil activities. In one case, he was arrested in Mashhad in October 2018 and later charged by Branch 903 of the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad with “acting against national security”, and “attempting to overthrow the regime”. He was released on bail of 350 million tomans from Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad in December 2018.

Shortly after his interrogation, in August 2019, Vahedian was again arrested and transferred to Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad. He was one of the 14 signatories of a letter of request for the resignation of Ayatollah Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran. Mr Vahedian was released on bail from Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad in July 2020.

Vahedian is an author of several books including “The Return of Genghis Khan” published by Khatam Publishing in Mashhad.

Abbas Vahedian Shahroudi Sentenced to 10 Years Imprisonment by Revolutionary Court in Mashhad

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Abbas Vahedian Shahroudi, Mashhad, Mashhad Prison, Ministry of Intelligence, Revolutionary Court of Mashhad, Rezvanshahr, Rezvanshahr County, Shahroudi, Vahedian, Vakilabad, Vakilabad prison, Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad

Writer, educator and civil activist Abbas Vahedian Shahroudi was recently sentenced to 10 years by Branch 4 of the Revolutionary Court in Mashhad.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, after spending 70 days in detention, Vahedian received the verdict, which was finalized after he refused to request an appeal.

In regard to a case which opened against Vahedian in 2019, the court issued this final verdict for the charge of “organizing in purpose to disturb national security” and in accordance with Article 498 of the Islamic Penal Code. During his 70 days in detention and throughout the introduction of the new case against him, Vahedian has been denied access to a lawyer.

Earlier, HRANA reported about his poor health condition in a solitary confinement cell in a Detention Center at the disposal of the Ministry of Intelligence.

On September 1 of this year, intelligence agents arrested Vahedian in Rezvanshahr County. Two days later, in a phone call to his family, he informed them about the opening of a new case  against him on a charge of “acting against national security.” Meanwhile, Vahedian’s daughter’s home in Mashhad was searched by security forces and some personal belongings were confiscated.

Vahedian has previously been arrested and convicted for his writings and civil activities. In one case, he was arrested in Mashhad in October 2018 and later charged by Branch 903 of the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad with “acting against national security”, and “attempting to overthrow the regime”. He was released on a bail of 350 million tomans from Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad in December 2018.

Shortly after his interrogation, in August 2019, Vahedian was again arrested and transferred to Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad. He was one of the 14 signatories of a letter of request for the resignation of Ayatollah Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran. Mr Vahedian was released on bail from Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad in July 2020.

Inmate Executed in Vakilabad Prison on Charge of Murder

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Executions, News, Prisoners
Citizen executed, inmate executed, iran death penalty, Iran execution, Karamat, Mashhad, Mashhad Prison, Rokna, Secret executions, Supreme Court, Vakilabad, Vakilabad prison

At dawn on Sunday, September 5, a prisoner named Karamat who had previously been sentenced to death for murder was executed in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.

According to  HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Rokna, the sentence was upheld by Branch 31 of the Supreme Court.

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.

Activists Hashem Amini and Nosrat Beheshti Arrested; Javad Lal Mohammadi and Fatemeh Sepehri Still in Detention

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Prisoners
Fatemeh Sepehri, Hashem Amini, Javad Lal Mohammadi, Khorasan Razavi, Mashhad, Mashhad Prison, Nosrat Beheshti, Vakilabad, Vakilabad prison

Activists Hashem Amini and Nosrat Beheshti were recently arrested by security forces, while activists Javad Lal Mohammadi and Fatemeh Sepehri are still in detention.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Hashem Amini, a civil activist native of Bajestan, was arrested and transferred to Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad on Wednesday, August 4, after being summoned by the Gonabad prosecutor’s office. Meanwhile, Nosrat Beheshti, a retired activist living in Mashhad, was detained by security forces at his home and then taken to an unknown location.

Amini was previously arrested by security forces at his home in Bajestan on June 17 and had been transferred to the Mashhad Intelligence Detention Center. He was released on bail from the Gonabad Intelligence Bureau in Khorasan Razavi Province on Thursday, July 8.

Nosrat Beheshti had previously been detained for signing the resignation request letter of Ali Khamenei the supreme leader in 2019.
Javad Lal Mohammadi and Fatemeh Sepehri are still in custody. These citizens were arrested by security forces on Sunday, August 1, during a protest rally in support of the people of Khuzestan in Mashhad.

Fatemeh Sepehri and Javad Laleh Mohammadi, are also signatories of the request letter for the Supreme Leader’s resignation, and they had previously been arrested and convicted for it.

According to a source close to the families of the two civil activists, Ms. Sepehri informed her family about her detention in the Mashhad Intelligence Office detention center on a short call. However, Javad Lal Mohammadi has not contacted his relatives since his arrest. Mr. Lal Mohammadi’s family follow-up has been inconclusive.

Supreme Court Confirms Sentence for Two Defendants in Mashhad

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Executions, Prisoners, Women
citizen executions per-capita, Death Penalty, Death sentence, first degree murder, Mashhad, Mustafah, Sakineh, second degree murder, Vakilabad, Vakilabad prison

The Supreme Court recently confirmed the sentences of two defendants, a man and a woman, in Mashhad.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Khorasan Newspaper, the pair allegedly conspired to commit a murder together amidst an extramarital affair, and were charged with first and second degree murder respectively.

Sakineh, the second-degree defendant, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for her role in the murder, and 99 lashes for having an extramarital affair.

Mustafa, the first-degree defendant, was sentenced to death by hanging for murder, one year in prison for possession of an illegal weapon, and 99 lashes for having an extramarital affair.

The defendants objected to the verdict issued by the judges of Criminal Court One, and the case was sent to the Supreme Court. Judges of Branch 20 of the Supreme Court upheld the verdict.