Bahá’í Faith

News from Iran – Week 33 – 2013

Standard

Prisoners’ News

Transfers

  • Seyyed Sami Hosseini on hunger strike transferred to solitary.
  • Ramin Idalkhani-Azad transferred from Meshkin Shahr prison to an unknown location.
  • Death row Ahvazi prisoner Hadi Rashedi transferred to an unknown location.

 

Arrests-Detentions

  • Journalist Hamed Ataei from Urmia begins serving his sentence.
  • Javad Heidarian and Sadra Mohaghegh, journalists, among 15 people arrested during an MP’s speech, and freed within 24 hours.
  • Parham Farazmand, Mona Fazli, Sedigheh Kiani, and Sara Sardsirian, Christian converts, arrested in Tehran.
  • Diane Teimouri, Fataneh Nabilzadeh (Saraf) and Peyman Saraf, all Baha’i from Mashhad, arrested at home.
  • Hakimeh Shokri is back in Evin at the end of furlough.
  • More than 500 homeless in Tehran arrested.
  • 100 arrested for the purchase and sale of satellite receiver equipment.

 

Liberations

  • Political prisoner Hadi Abedi Bakhoda released from Rasht prison.
  • Siamak Eighani freed at the end of his sentence.
  • Mehrdad Ahan-Khah, Amin Chalaki, Isa Khan-Hatamim, Anwar and Sirvan Hossein-Panahi, Mohsen Mohagheghin, Mohammad-Hossein Naeemipour, blogger Kaveh Taheri released on furlough.
  • Political prisoner Reza Sharifi Bukani released on furlough from Rajaei Shahr prison.

 

Other News

  • Maryam Akbari-Monfared, Fariba Kamal-Abadi,and Sedigheh Moradi denied visits with their children.
  • Hossein Ronaghi Maleki, jailed activist launched hunger strike.
  • Iran Trade unionist Reza Shahabi striking against medical treatment in jail.

 

News of injustice in Iran

  • The Supreme Court has overturned the 10 year jail sentence of political prisoner Emad Bahavar.
  • 6 people hanged in Karoon prison.

 

University – Culture

  • “Colonel” by Iranian writer Mahmoud Dowlatabadi nominated for Swiss literary prize.

 

Protests

  • Zanjan protesters link cancers to factory emissions.
  • Preschool teachers gathered in front of Parliament.

 

Iran abroad

  • Secret uranium deal signed between Iran and Zimbabwe.
  • Some 50 Iranian embassies don’t have ambassadors.
  • Iran to attend Frankfurt International Book Fair.
  • 20 Nigerians in Iran prisons.

 

Iran Economics

  • Iran to increase number of airlines, international flights.

 

Iran Politics

  • First female appointee by Rouhani: Elham Aminzadeh has been appointed as Vice President of Legal affairs.
  • Mohammad Bagher Nobakht appointed as vice president for planning, strategic supervision.
  • Rouhani defends cabinet choices in Parliament: all ministers approved except for 3.

 

Miscellaneous

  • 10 dead and one missing in recent floods.
  • Basket-ball Asian Championship: Iran qualifies for 2014 Mundial.
  • Fire damages ancient palace of Susa.

 

As usual, list of political prisoners in Iran: http://hyperactivist.info/ipr.html

Please help us to keep it updated

 

News from Iran – Week 22 – 2013

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Prisoners’ News

Transfers

  • Maurice Bagheri, Hamid Hadisi and Ebrahim Khosh-Sirat were transferred to Rasht prison.

  • Amanollah Mostaghim transferred to Rejaie Shahr.

 

Arrests-Detentions

  • Zahra (Mahboubeh) Mansouri returned to Evin in the middle of her chemotherapy.

  • Mehdi Nouri, arrested again last week, calls his family to advise he is in Tabriz prison.

  • Green Movement activist Ashkan Zahebian has been re-arrested in Babol.

 

Other News

  • Dr. Mehdi Khazali begins a new hunger strike in Evin 209.

  • 2,100 prisoners end hunger strike in Ghezel Hesar prison.

 

News of injustice in Iran

  • 5 years imprisonment for Mahmoud Beheshti the former spokesperson of Iran Teachers Union.

  • Hamid Eslami, Baha’i from Shiraz, sentenced to 3 years in prison.

  • Nava Khalousi, Baha’i from Mashhad, sentenced to 4.5 years in prison.

  • Nika Khalousi, Baha’i from Mashhad, sentenced to 6 years in prison.

  • Mahsa Mahdavi, Baha’i from Mashhad, sentenced to 8 months in prison.

  • Adib Shoaei, Baha’i from Mashhad, sentenced to 18 months in prison.

  • Kaveh Taheri sentenced to 3 years in prison + 50 million toman fine.

  • Rahman Vafaei, Baha’i from Shiraz, sentenced to 3 years in prison.

  • 1 Afghan and one Iranian hanged in Rajaei Shahr on Thursday.

 

University – Culture

  • Chicago film student Anahita Ghazvinizadeh wins Cannes prize.

  • Internet at Qazvin University cut off.

 

Protests

  • Shortages of flour and bread in Ardebil and Khuzestan trigger public protests in both provinces.

  • Tehran metal market businesses announce another strike in protest over VAT and fluctuations in dollar values.

 

Iran abroad

  • Iran grants Syria $7 billion loan

  • Canada bans all imports, exports, with latest Iran sanctions.

  • U.S. blacklisted eight companies in Iran’s petrochemical industry.

  • Jahanbakhsh Mozzafari named new ambassador to Italy.

 

Iran Economics

  • Armenia cites high price as reason for stopping import of Iranian gas.

  • Japan’s crude imports from Iran slumped 96 %.

  • Iran Central Bank reported 30.8% inflation in the past year

  • One of Iran’s petrochemical companies files lawsuit in international court against Turkish company Next Chemicals for non-payment of debts.

 

Iran Politics

  • Ali Larijani appointed Majlis Chairman for the sixth consecutive year.

  • After first presidential debate on Iranian TV, in an Isna Poll Aref 43%, Rouhani 17%, Qalibaf 13%, Rezaei 11, Jalili 6, Velayati 3, and Haddad Adel: 0,4 %.

 

Miscellaneous

  • Guardian launches an interactive feature based on our database of Iran’s prisoners of conscience.

  • Karim Lahiji becomes president of FIDH.

 

List of political prisoners in Iran: http://hyperactivist.info/ipr.html

Please help us to keep it updated

News from Iran – Week 04 – 2013

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Prisoners’ News

A- Transfers

 

  • Student activist Amir Chamani has been transferred from Tabriz Intel detention to Tabriz prison.
  • Human rights attorney Abdolfatah Soltani was transferred back to Evin 350 from Sina hospital.
  • Mehdi Tahaghoghi transferred to Rejaei Shahr  .

 

B- Arrests/Incarcerations

 

  • Reza and Ali Akbari Monfared (father and son) were arrested 2 weeks ago.
  • Mohammad Tavakoli, member of Teachers’ Union of Kurdistan, arrested.
  • Bita Hedayati, Hana Koushkbaghi, Nahid Mahmoudi, Vesagh Sanaei, 4 Baha’i from Gonbad-e-Kavous, arrested.
  • Baha’i Shayda Taeeid was arrested in a raid of her home in Nour.
  • Head of the Kurdistan human rights organization, Mohammad Sedigh Kaboudvand is back in prison, furlough not extended
  • Furlough extension was denied, lawyer and member of banned Human Rights organisation,  Nasrin Sotoudeh returned to prison.

 

C-Liberations

 

  • Sina Aghdasi, Baha’i, released on bail from Tabriz prison.
  • Journalist Bahman Ahmadi Amouee arrested June 09 released on his first furlough since arrest; wife Zhila Baniyagoub is in prison.
  • 2 journalists, Mahsa Amrabadi and husband Masoud Bastani, released on furlough.
  • Behrooz Ghobadi, brother of filmmaker Bahman, released from prison.
  • Iraj Najafabadi, workers’ rights activist, released on bail in Isfahan.
  • Women’s rights activist and blogger Fereshteh Shirazi has been released from prison.
  • Ahmad Zeidabadi, released on furlough on bail.

 

D-Other News

 

  • Hardline cleric A. Khazali met with his estranged son Mehdi Khazali in Evin Prison.


News of injustice in Iran

  • Vahid Asghari’s death sentence was confirmed. Case sent back to the Supreme Court again.
  • Siavosh Ghanbari has been sentenced to 10 months on charges of collaboration with banned Kurdish group
  • Sentence of 1 year in prison upheld by Appeals for Afsaneh Toghi.
  • One public execution in Urmiah on Sunday.
  • 2 public executions in front of House of Artists in Tehran on Sunday.
  • 3 executions in Zahedan on Sunday.
  • Sentence of fingers amputation of a man convicted of burglary was carried out in public in Shiraz using a special machine created for the purpose.
  • 3 executions on Tuesday.
  • One public execution on Wednesday.
  • One execution in Shahroud on Thursday.
  • One execution in Khorramdareh.
  • 3 executions in Chubin prison.


University – Culture

  • Graphic novelist Marjane Satrapi will debut her paintings in Paris this month.


Protests

  • Retired workers protest at Abadan Petrochemical Company.
  • Protest rally against layoffs at construction company Nasr Jihad.
  • Wave of large-scale protests at most major oil refineries.


Iran Economics

  • $1 over 3500 tomans again.
  • 87,000 retired steel workers have not been paid for the last 3 months.
  • 17 million Iranians to receive food coupons.


Politics in Iran

  • Ex-president Khatami strongly criticizes absence of free elections and political activities in Iran.
  • Political parties compelled to declare funding sources.
  • Parliament receives notice to impeach the Labor Minister.


Iran  abroad

  • Turkey lifts ban on Iranian cargo plane carrying 1.5 tons of gold from Ghana to Iran.
  • First visit to Iran by Russian interior minister since 1979 Revolution.
  • Majlis Speaker arrives in Sudan. He meets with Sudanese President.
  • China freezes $25 billions Iranian assets; they can be released against Chinese goods paid in Yuan.


Miscellaneous

  • A 5.5 magnitude earthquake shook Syrch near Kerman, cell communications have been cut, land line disruptions in the area.
 

News from Iran – Week 03 – 2013

Nasrin Sotoudeh
Standard

Prisoners’ News

A- Transfers

 

  • Senior Reformist Abolfazl Ghadiani was transferred to Ghezel Hesar.
  • Asadollah Hadi, political prisoner transferred to hospital for heart surgery.
  • Samkoo Khelghati Kurdish political prisoner, transferred from Evin to Rejaei Shahr.
  • 7 Gonabadi Dervish transferred to solitary in ward 209 from ward 350 of Evin prison.

 

B- Arrests/Incarcerations

 

  • Lawyer Manizheh Bohlouli arrested in Miyaneh without an arrest warrant.
  • Student activist Amir Chamani arrested to serve his 7 months sentence – 40 lashes sentence enforced in Tabriz prison.
  • Medical furlough extension was denied for cleric blogger Mohammad Hossein Honarvar, he returned to prison
  • Activist Mohammad Khatibi arrested in a raid of his home and taken to Intel detention in Tabriz.
  • Dr. Foad Moghadam, a Baha’i on-line university official reported to Evin to start serving his 5 years sentence.
  • BIHE (Bahai Virtual University) professor Shahin Negari arrested.
  • Azad Rasoolnezhad, teacher and student in international law, arrested in Oshnavieh.
  • Member of Teachers Union, civil activist Mohammad Tavakoli summoned and arrested by Intel in Kermanshah.
  • Baha’i Shakiba Vahdat has been arrested in Tabriz. She was in Intel detention in Babolsar for 2 days earlier this week.

 

C-Liberations

Nasrin Sotoudeh

Nasrin Sotoudeh reunited with her children after more than 2 years in prison without leave

 

  • Former Deputy Foreign Minister Mohsen Aminzadeh released on furlough after 10 months hospitalization.
  • Nazanin Dehimi was released from Evin after serving out her 4 months sentence.
  • After 3 years imprisonment political prisoner Hossein Faraji released on a 3 day furlough.
  • Student activist and Advar member Bahareh Hedayat has been released on 700 million toman bail on furlough.
  • Journalist Mohammad Kimiaei released on bail.
  • Student activist Arash Mohammadi has been released on probation from Tabriz prison.
  • Members of Gonabadi Dervishes Kasra Nouri and Saleh Moradi have launched a hunger strike in Adelabad prison in Shiraz.
  • Human rights attorney Nasrin Sotoudeh has been released on a 3 day furlough on 300 million toman bail.

 

D-Other News

 

  • Political prisoner Esmail Barzegari has started a hunger strike.
  • Imprisoned senior Reformist Abolfazl Ghadiani has been banned from visits.
  • Detained Green leader Mehdi Karoubi’s 10 year old granddaughter has been banned from traveling abroad, passport confiscated.
  • Political prisoner Shir-Ahmad Shirani [who is already very ill with kidney disease] has started a hunger strike.


News of injustice in Iran

 

  • Volunteers of Sarand Camp helping earthquake victims, were sentenced
    • Behrooz Alavi, 2 years and 3 months imprisonment
    • Mohammad Arjomandirad, 6 months imprisonment
    • Morteza Esmailpour, 6 months imprisonment
    • Danial Hasani, 6 months imprisonment
    • Vahed Kholosi, 2 years imprisonment
    • Ali Mohammadi, 6 months imprisonment
    • Hamid Reza Mosibian, 2 years and 6 months imprisonment
    • Milad Panahipour, 6 months imprisonment
    • Farid Rohani, 6 months imprisonment
    • Seyed Hassan Ronaghi Maleki, 6 months imprisonment
    • Seyed Hossein Ronaghi Maleki, 2 years imprisonment
    • Amir Ronasi, 6 months imprisonment
    • Sepehrdad Saheban, 6 months imprisonment
    • Mohammad Amin Salehi, 6 months imprisonment
    • Mohsen Samei, 6 months imprisonment
    • Bahram Shojaei, 2 years imprisonment
    • Mohammad Esmail Soleimanpour, 6 months imprisonment
    • Hooman Taheri, 6 months imprisonment
    • Masoud Vafabakhsh, 6 months imprisonment
    • Shayan Vahdati, 6 months imprisonment.
  • Sentence to execution for young Kurdish activist Reza Mollazadeh confirmed by Supreme Court.
  • One man hanged in Shahrekord on Sunday.
  • One man hanged in Mashhad on Wednesday.
  • One man hanged in public in Sabzevar on Wednesday.
  • Two persons were publicly flogged in Eivanaki on Wednesday.
  • 2 executions in Semnan on Wednesday.
  • 3 public executions in Pakdasht on Thursday.


University – Culture

  • Shokoofeh Derakhshanian, Baha’i, expelled from Tabari University in Babol.
  • Maryam Mirzakhani awarded 2013 Satter Prize in mathematics by American Mathematical Society.
  • Czech Republic rejects Masters students from Iran because of UN nuclear sanctions.


Protests

  • Workers from the Khamana textile plant demonstrated in front of the Majlis .


Iran Economics

  • Iran imports 897,000 tons of rice in 9 months.
  • Maserati and Lamborghini pull out of Iran.


Politics in Iran

  • Members of Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee will visit Evin and Rejaei Shahr prisons.
  • Grand Ayatollah Sobhani proposes election of president through parliamentary system.
  • Women enter Iran Riot Police.
  • Special units guards and police have surrounded the venue where Gonabadi Dervishes were holding services in Shahrekord.


Iran  abroad

  • KLM to cease flights to Iran in April.
  • Arrests in Spain linked to Iran’s nuclear program.
  • Iranian escalating role in Yemen concerns USA.
  • Canada will resettle up to 5,000 displaced Iraqi and Iranian refugees currently in Turkey by 2018.
  • Syria PM meets Ahmadinejad and other Iranian officials in Tehran.
 

 

News from Iran – Week 02 – 2013

Standard

Prisoners’ News

A-Transfers

 

  • Faezeh Hashemi-Rafsanjani, transferred back to general ward and allowed to meet her siblings.
  • Imprisoned senior Reformist Mostafa Tajzadeh had been transferred to Farabi hospital then returned to prison after few hours.

 

B- Arrests/Incarcerations

 

  • Prominent Azari activist Ayat Mehrali Biglou arrested in City of Soufian and transferred to Intel detention in Tabriz.
  • Anisa Fanaian to begin serving her sentence of 22 months next week.
  • Journalist Mohammad Kimyaei arrested in a raid of his home.
  • National-Religious activist Masoud Ladeni arrested in Ahvaz and taken to Karoon prison to start serving 2 year sentence.
  • Shahrooz Mamadi arrested by Intel in Salmas.
  • Labor activist Mohammad Molaei was summoned and arrested in Mahabad.
  • Sirvan Hossein Panahi, nephew of Kurdish political prisoner Anvar Hossein Panahi arrested.
  • Mehdi Tahaghoghi was arrested at home and sent to prison to start serving his 6 year sentence.
  • Shakiba Vahdat, Baha’i from Babolsar, arrested in Tabriz.
  • 5 members of underground music group arrested by police.

 

C-Liberations

 

  • Hadi Arabghobadi has been released on bail on furlough.
  • Release on furlough of Human Rights lawyer Mohammad-Ali Dadkhah.
  • Activist Masoud Hosseinzadeh released from Tabriz prison after completing his 6 month sentence.
  • Ahmadinejad’s press adviser Javanfekr released on furlough again.
  • Iranian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani released from prison again.
  • Labor activist Reza Shahabi has been released on furlough after 23 days on hunger strike.

 

D-Other News

 

  • Younes Aghayan on hunger strike in solitary confinement.
  • Political prisoner Saeed Matinpour has launched a hunger strike protesting the denial of Medical furlough to Reza Shahabi.


News of injustice in Iran

  • Sentence to death of Ahvazi prisoners Seyed Jaber and Mokhtar Alboosookeh upheld by Supreme Court.
  • Sentence to death of Ahvazi prisoner Mohammad Ali Amoori upheld by Supreme Court.
  • Detained opposition leader’s eldest son, Mohammad Hossein Karroubi has been sentenced to 6 months.
  • Sentence to death of Ahvazi prisoner Hadi Rashedi upheld by Supreme Court.
  • Sentence to death of Ahvazi prisoner Hashem Shaabani upheld by Supreme Court.
  • Saeed Shirzad earthquake aid worker arrested in E. Azarhbaijan sentenced to 1 yr suspended sentence.
  • One man hanged in Yasouj on Friday.
  • 2 men hanged in Shahrekord on Saturday, 2 others in Khorramabad.


University – Culture

  • Opposition leader Mousavi -under house arrest- suspended from work as University professor due to absenteeism.
  • Iran developing ‘Smart Control’ software for social-networking sites.
  • New archeological discoveries in Afraz (Bam fault).
  • Persons involved in making of the film ‘A Respectable Family’ summoned to court
  • Iranian writer and translator Shiva Arastooee’s 5-year ban from publishing.
  • Milad Samimi Darzi, Baha’i, expelled from Babol University.


Iran Economics

  • Imports decrease by near 5 billion Dollars in 9 months.
  • Average rise in cost of living = 60%; Possible rise in minimum wage =18-20%.
  • Domestic flights in Iran cancelled because of debts to National Oil Company.
  • Turkey continues to trade gold for Iran’s natural gas.
  • Inflation reaches 27% in Iran.


Politics in Iran

  • Rafsandjani is not a candidate to presidential election but accepts to be a counselor to potential candidat Ali Mottaheri.
  • Iran’s intelligence ministry threatens reformists with mass arrest.
  • Businesses selling products that “violate Islamic cultural values” shut down.


Iran  abroad

  • US deports Amirhossein Sairafi, an Iranian accused of nuclear smuggling.
  • Syrian rebels swap 48 Iranians for government prisoners.
  • Australia expands sanctions against Iran.
  • FM meets Egyptian President, UN-Arab League Special Envoy to Syria.
  • Iraqi Kurdistan PM makes secret visit to Iran.


Miscellaneous

  • Iran seizes two Saudi fishing boats.