Sunday, March 27, 2016

Authorities Impose Severe Penalties on Left-Wing Activists in Iran

 Friday, March 25, 2016 10:04:19 PM

Amir AmirAmir Amirgholigholi

Amir (Ali) Amirgholi, an expelled student from Qazvin University, was arrested by Iran's security forces and transferred to Ward 209 of the notorious Evin prison in 2014; afterwards, officials took him to Ward 8-after spending two months in isolation. He is kept amongst criminals imprisoned for serious offenses such as murder, rape, drug smuggling, embezzlement, fraud and forgery.

Mr. Amirgholi, 33, was accused of the vague charges of "blasphemy", "insulting the supreme leader of Iran Ali Khamenei", "assembly and collusion against national security", "public disturbing through attending demonstrations" and "propaganda against the regime of Iran", according to news received by BCR Group. The infamous judge Abolghasem Salavati senselessly sentenced him to 21 years in prison at Branch 15 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran. The suspended sentence (five years) was affirmed by the appeal court.

Officials had taken him to his father's house and seized his personal belongings such as his laptop, cell phone and the hard disc of his PC.

He was previously detained by officials for demonstrating in support of Akbar Ganji in front of Milad Hospital in 2005 and released after a few days, rights groups said.

The political prisoner was arrested for allegedly taking part on the anniversary of the massacre of political prisoners in Khavaran on August 29, 2008. He was released, after 16 days isolation, on bail.
Mr. Amirgholi was previously arrested at the peaceful demonstration supporting Kobani during September 2014. He was released after spending a night at the chambers of Intelligence and Public Security Police of NAJA, according to reliable sources.

According to his relatives, he lost part of his pancreas, which would be a serious risk as he is suffering diabetes because of unfavorable conditions in the jail in both nutrition and medical treatment.

He was a student of the 6th semester of Industrial Management at University of Qazvin.

Mohammad Jarrahi

Mohammad Jarrahi, a fired worker of the Asaluyeh Projects of Pars Special Energy Economic Zone, located on the shore of the Persian Gulf some 270 km SE of the provincial capital of Bushehr, was arrested for alleged labor activities in 2007. Iran's officials sentenced him to 14 months in prison on the vague charges of "propaganda against the regime of Iran", without access to a lawyer, Boroujerdi Civil Rights Group has learned.

He, 55, was released on bail for a while according to news and sent back to jail again under the court verdict for a month. The sentence was suspended after his appeal.

This building painter and union member was detained again and taken to Tabriz prison without any prior warrant in 2011. He along with Shahrokh Zamani, who died suspiciously in Rajai Shahr prison on Sep 13, 2015, had spent their prison term in a wretched situation including jailers' pressure and inappropriate nutrition in the Quarantine Ward of the jail. They were frequently beaten by criminals imprisoned for non-political offenses such as murder, rape, drug smuggling, embezzlement, fraud and forgery.

Branch 1 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court sentenced him to five years in prison. Mr. Jarrahi has reportedly suffered from Thyroid disorders after serving two years of his imprisonment and was taken in handcuffs to hospital for medical treatment, according to his handwriting from Tabriz prison.
"He suffers from Malignant Thyroid Cancer, whereupon, Mr. Jarrahi's life would be faced with a serious risk," his lawyer Mr. Naghi Mahmoudi said. "He also suffers from blood pressure and diabetes." Specialists accept that he cannot bear the prison term due to his critical health condition.
In addition, his children were repeatedly threatened and tortured by regime's officials.

He has allegedly spent his imprisonment with no conditional release in an unfavorable situation in Tabriz prison.

According to Iran's laws, authorities must release prisoners for medical treatment due to possible mortality risks.

Jafar Azimzadeh
Jafar Azimzadeh

Jafar Azimzadeh, labor activist and Chairman of the Free Union of Iranian Workers, was arrested along with Shapoor Ehsani Rad, a board member of the Free Union of Iranian Workers, for protesting discrimination against workers.

Afterwards, Mr. Azimzadeh was allegedly detained and went to Branch 1 of Saveh Revolutionary Court following Mr. Ehsani Rad's arrest in a raid by officials at his house. Azimzadeh was arrested for alleged news publications on the union website.
Finally, He was sentenced to six years in prison and a two years ban of membership in parties and cyber activities for vague charges of "assembly and collusion against national security", "disturbing public order" and "propaganda against the regime of Iran" at Branch 15 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran, chaired by Judge Abolghasem Salavati.

Mr. Azimzadeh was summoned to Evin to begin serving his prison term on October of 2015 and taken to Ward 8, human rights activists declared.
Yashar Darolshafa

Yashar Darolshafa, an elite graduate student in Industrial Management at International University of Qazvin, was arrested by Intelligence Service officials on November 4, 2009 and released after 20 days from Ward 240 of Evin prison.


He, 33, was detained again in Evin prison along with his mother Tooran Kabiri, and brother Kaveh Darolshafa on September 6, 2009. Yashar was sentenced to seven years in prison for alleged charges of "assembly and collusion against national security" and "insulting Iran's president" in the initial trial chaired by Judge Salavati. The verdict was reduced to five and six months imprisonment by appeals court, reports acknowledged.

The imprisoned activist is kept in Evin prison to serve his prison term since November 5, 2012. He is held at Ward 350 of the jail, his relatives said.

Moreover, he has received the rights of conditional release after three years in prison.

Behnam Ebrahimzadeh

Behnam EbrahimzadehBehnam Ebrahimzadeh, labor activist and a member of the Society for the Defense of street children, was temporary arrested by Iran's security officials in the wake of the attack on the bus workers' union in 2007, according to the news received by BCR Group.

He was sentenced to 20 years in prison for alleged charges of "attending labor demonstrations" and "supporting of labor by children" at Branch 15 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran on May of 2010, chaired by Judge Salavati. The Supreme Court reduced the verdict to five years imprisonment.

The judge again sentenced him to nine years and four months in prison for vague charges of "assembly and collusion against national security", "partnership with MEK Party", and "propaganda against the regime of Iran through sending reports to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Dr. Ahmad Shaheed" at the court on December 2015. The new sentence was reduced to seven years and ten months and 18 days in the appeals court.
He is kept now in Rajaee Shahr prison after an extremely violent attack against inmates at Ward 350 on April 17, 2014.

Saeid Shirzad

Saeid ShirzadMr. Saeid Shirzad, children-rights-activist, born in a deprived village of Kermanshah, was arrested on 2nd June 2014 at his working place in Tabriz Refinery. He was isolated in solitary confinement for the goal of inquisition for three months. Saeid was finally transferred to Ward 8, his relatives said.

Back in August 2012, he already faced judicial problems; he was forced into prison by state officials for helping numerous people in East-Azerbaijan being affected by a big earthquake in Varzaghan District. He was bailed-out after 19 days and later sentenced to a year on probation, the trial was chaired by Judge Pir Abbas at Branch 26 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran.

He did not appear at his last hearing in court because he refused to put on the unhygienic and disgraceful official prison clothes. As a punishment for that, his family's visitor's rights was withdrawn.

Saeid was sentenced to five years in prison at Branch 15 of Revolutionary Court chaired by Judge Salavati after spending 15 months of an uncertain situation in jail. He didn't have access to a lawyer in the trial.

He is kept in Hall 12 of Rajai Shahr prison to serve his prison term.

The children rights activist had repeatedly travelled to deprived and marginalized regions such as Sistan and Baluchistan villages of Iran and South of Turkey to support the poor people, Syrian refugees and war victims in the camps.

Previously, Amnesty International called Iran's authorities to wind up horrible situation of the imprisoned activist.

In this regard, Barbara Lochbihler, the vice president of the Human Rights Commission of the Parliament of Europe, called Iranian ambassador in Belgium Mahmoud Barimani by sending a letter to release the prisoner immediately. Ban Ki Moon, the UN Secretary-General, took a stand in a statement as "Behind Bars on International Children's Day" on December 20, 2015 and expressed concern over unfair terms in prison the activist by condemning these arbitrary arrests. Moreover, many human rights organizations as Frontline Defenders, CRIN, CFPPI, DCI, DCI-Netherlands, Children First Now, GCHR, Boroujerdi Civil Rights Group ask for unconditional and immediate release of Saeid Shirzad.

Does addressing the miserable and wretched situation of poor children in Iran constitute a crime according to the Islamic Republic?

Mohammad-Saeed Naderi
Mohammad-Saeed NaderiMohammad-Saeed Naderi, left-wing activist, was arrested in a raid at his house by IRGC's officials in Eyvan on March 17, 2016. Officials seized his personal belongings in the attack and have taken him to an unknown location, reliable sources told BCR Group.
He called his family for a couple of minutes on March 22, 2016. There is not more information of his situation and place of detention.


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