Anvar Hossein Panahi granted furlough after six years in prison

Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Anvar Hossein Panahi, Kurdish political prisoner was released from Sanandaj prison on bail on August 12^th after spending 6 years in prison.

According to Ahmad Hossein Panahi, brother of the political prisoner in an interview with CHRR, the Revolutionary Court first sentenced Anvar Hossein Panahi, Kurdish social and political activist, to death. After tireless efforts and protests on the part of human rights activists, his death sentence was later commuted 6 years in prison. He was recently released on furlough with bail despite being 3 months shy of serving his full prison term.

Anvar Hossein Panahi, the Panahi family’s eldest son has a wife and 3 kids. He was detained by Security agents in the city of Qorveh on November 6, 2007 and was held incommunicado at the Ministry of Intelligence for 6 months while he was severely tortured. In March 2008 Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court presided by Judge Hasan Babai handed the death sentence on the charges of “moharebeh” (enmity with god) and “acting against national security.”

In the past 6 years since the incarceration of Kurdish activist Anvar Hossein Panahi, more than 33 members of his family have been arbitrarily arrested. His brother Ashraf Hossein Pahani who was collecting evidence to substantiate his innocence was killed under suspicious circumstances while travelling to Tehran to deliver the evidence.

On April 14 2009 Branch 4 of the Appellate Court reduced the death sentence to 6 years in prison. During the past years since the incarceration of Kurdish activist Anvar Hossein Panahi, his family has faced summons, interrogations, endured constant harassment and threats, with over 30 members arbitrarily arrested.

CHRR

آزادی انور حسین پناهی پس از گذشت ۶ سال از زندان

 

Saeid Rezaie transferred back to prison from hospital despite needing aftercare

Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Saeid Rezaie, one of seven imprisoned Baha’i leaders was hospitalized 2 weeks ago due to his gastrointestinal disorder, and was transferred back to Rajai Shahr prison on August 7^th.

According to CHRR, after Mr. Rezaie underwent an array of tests in the medical facility, the physicians realized that he is also inflicted with heart issues with blockage in over 70% of his coronary artery. He underwent emergency heart surgery and the physicians ordered one month of after care in a quite and suitable location. Ignoring the doctor’s orders for post-op care, officials transferred Saeid Rezaie back to Rajai Shahr prison on August 7^th.

Saeid Rezaie is an agricultural engineer, scholar and author who is one of the seven Baha’i leaders who were detained in 2008 and handed 20-year prison sentences stemming from the practice of their faith. The seven formed the now disbanded group, Yaran (friends of Iran), which served the country’s Baha’i community. They were arrested in early raids at their homes in 2008 and transferred to Evin prison where they were kept in solitary confinement for months while undergoing harsh interrogations. Saeid Rezaie had spent almost 5 years behind bars without being granted furlough before his recent transfer to the hospital. He is now back in Rajai Shahr prison post surgery despite his need for the recommended after care.

CHRR

انتقال مجدد سعید رضایی از بیمارستان به زندان با وجود نیاز به مراقبتهای ویژه

 

Leva Khanjani granted prison furlough

Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Jailed Baha’i citizen Leva Khanjani was granted temporary release from Evin prison on Wednesday July 11.

According to CHRR, Leva Khanjani, Bahah’i student banned from her education and sentenced to 2 years in prison, was finally granted furlough from Evin prison.

Leva Khanjani’s brother Foad is serving his 4-year prison sentence behind bars in Rajai Shahr prison. Leva Khanjani’s father, Alaeddin Khanjani was arrested by security forces on February 10, 2010 and was released on bail on March 16, 2010.

Leva’s grandfather Jamaleddin Khanjani is one of 7 jailed Baha’i leaders, and is spending his 20-year prison sentence behind bars in Rajai Shahr prison. All seven Baha’i leaders were sentenced to 20 years in prison after their May 2008 arrest during early morning raids on their homes. Jamaleddin Khanjani has spent months behind bars without furlough and was not even allowed to attend the funeral services of his wife.

CHRR

Leva Khanjani granted prison furlough

لوا خانجانی به مرخصی آمد

 

Probability of pardon for a number of Kurdish political prisoners prior to the upcoming elections

Committee of Human Rights Reporters – According to a judicial official from Kurdistan province, in the near future several political prisoners who have less than 6 months of their prison sentences remaining, will be granted early release before the upcoming presidential elections.

According to CHRR, a family member of Kurdish political prisoner Anwar Hossein Panahi said the following; “After we presented a petition with thousands of signatures and our local people insisted on the innocence of Anwar Hossein Panahi and demanded a follow-up on his case, a judiciary official from the Sanandaj Prosecutor’s Office told us that the Ministry of Intelligence had opposed any commutation in his sentencing.” He said regarding the new order for probable early release, “This pardon is within the parameters of a ruling that requires all prisoners with less than 6 months prison time remaining, to be released.”

Last week Kurdish prisoner Arsalan Oliyayi who was arrested in 2007 by security forces and had less than 6 months remaining in his prison term was released from Sanandaj Central Prison. Oliyayi and Panahi were both sentenced to death on charges of “acting against national security,” and “moharebeh” (enmity with god). Their death sentences were later commuted by the court of appeals to 6 years in prison.

CHRR

http://chrr.biz/spip.php?article20974

 

Activists Adel Seymari and Majid Bavi arrested in Khuzestan

Committee of Human Rights Reporters –  Following the wave of arrests of minority Arab civilians in Khuzestan province, on Sunday, April 28^th Adel Seymari and Majid Bavi were detained in the city of Ahvaz.

According to news sources, plainclothes officials equipped with wireless gadgets and weapons, entered the workplace of Adel Seymari and embarked on an aggressive search, prompting Mr. Seymari and a co-worker to object to their behavior. In response the officials beat them up and detained Adel Seymari.

The reports indicate that at the same time, a number of officials raided the home of Adel Seymari, conducted a massive search and confiscated personal items including his computer, camera, and family photo albums. The officials lashed insults at Adel Seymari’s family members during the raid and threatened them with serious consequences if they divulged what had occurred.

The report adds that also on Sunday April 28^th, Majid Bavi, another Khuzestan Arab activist was arrested in the city of Ahvaz and taken to an undisclosed location. There is no reason provided for the arrests while the condition and whereabouts of the two men is unknown.

The two Arab activists were among the protestors against the death sentence and imminent threat of execution of five Ahwazi Arab citizens by the names of Mohammad Ali Amouri, Sayed Jaber Alboshoka, Sayed Mokhtar Alboshoka, Hashem Sha’bani Amouri, and Hadi Rashidi.

In the past months a large number of Ahwazi Arab activists have been summoned and arrested in various cities of Khuzestan province, receiving heavy prison sentences in exile and the death penalty. In June, officials transferred four Ahwazi Arab prisoners from Karoun prison to an unknown location and notified their families that they had been executed.

Ahmed Shaheed, the United Nations special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, in his recent report drew attention to the plight of Ahwazi Arab citizens, stating that the five facing execution were tortured and not given a fair trial.

CHRR

Activists Adel Seymari and Majid Bavi arrested in Khuzestan

بازداشت عادل سیمری و مجید باوی از فعالان مدنی عرب خوزستان

15-year old Ahwazi teenager killed in Ahvaz

Committee of Human Rights Reporters – On Friday April 12th, a 15-year old Ahwazi teenager by the name of Morteza Soweidi was killed by a gunshot to his head, and security forces arrested two citizens during a demonstration against the demolition of residential homes.

According to CHRR, security forces arrived with bulldozers in the Seyed Mousa area where the teenager lived to resume the illegal destruction of Ahwazi homes, prompting the residents to demonstrate against the demolitions. After Morteza Soweidi who lived at his home in the absence of his parents lost his life when he was struck in the head by a bullet, a clash ensued and security officials arrested two of the dead teenager’s relatives.

Other relatives who were contacted by CHRR confirmed that 15-year old Morteza Soweidi lost his life by the gunshot wound and named the perpetrator of the killing as Colonel Chabok Sawar.

As a result of extreme poverty in the Ahvaz region, during the past years many destitute Ahwazi Arab citizens have resorted to building cheap homes without obtaining the proper permits. Reports have been published about the oppression of citizens during the demolition process in these areas.

CHRR  15-year old Ahwazi teenager killed in Ahvaz

Five Ahwazi Arab death row prisoners launch hunger strike

Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Hashem Shabaninejad, Hadi Rashedi, Mohammad Ali Amourinejad, Jaber and Mokhtar Alboshoka – death row prisoners and Rahman Asakareh, sentenced to 20 years in prison, have launched a hunger strike from behind bars.

According to CHRR, on March 2^nd these prisoners launched a hunger strike in protest of their circumstances in Karoun prison in Ahvaz and in retaliation, their phone privileges were taken away rendering them incommunicado.

Hashem Shabaninejad is a poet, blogger, teacher of Arabic literature with a masters degree in political science from Ahwaz University; Hadi Rashed, has an M.A. in applied chemistry and is a chemistry teacher; Mohammad Ali Amourinejad is a blogger, student activist and former member of the Islamic Society of Isfahan University of Technology; Jaber Alboshoka is a computer science major and private in the military; Mokhtar Alboshoka is a worker at a stone mining company. All 5 men are Ahwazi Arab minority members from the southern province of Khuzestan. They were all members of the Al-Hiwar scientific-cultural institute, a group that has experienced harassment and many arrests.

On July 7, 2012 Branch 2 of the Ahwaz Revolutionary Court handed down death sentences to these five civil activists on the charges of “moharebeh” (enmity with God), “propaganda against the regime,” and “endangering national security.” On January 9, 2013 their families were notified that the death sentences were upheld by the Supreme Court. In June 2012, four Ahwazi Arabs, three of whom were brothers, were executed on similar charges.

The Ahwazi Arab prisoners have maintained their innocence, stating that they were forced into false confessions under severe duress. Family members said in an interview with CHRR that the prisoners were held in solitary confinement for months, subjected to verbal epithets, abuse and intense physical torture to extract false confessions that were later retracted.

CHRR   5 Ahwazi Arab death row prisoners launch hunger strike

Sirvan and Shirzad Hossein Panahi transferred to Ghorveh prison

Committee of Human Rights Reporters – After 50 days of Sirvan Hossein Panahi being incommunicado, on January 27, this political prisoner was transferred along with Shirzad Hossein Panahi from the detention center of the Ministry of Intelligence in Sanandaj to Ghorveh prison.

According to CHRR, a close family friend of these 2 Kurdish activists said that Sirvan Hossein Panahi informed his family in a short phone call that he and Shirzad Hossein Panahi were transferred to Ghorveh prison. The family had not been able to get any information about the whereabouts or situation of their loved ones despite their efforts and inquiries with judicial and intelligence authorities.

On January 9th, 2013, plainclothes officials from the Ministry of Intelligence raided the home of the nephew of Anvar Hossein Panahi and detained him. The agents arrived at the home of Sirvan Hossein Panahi’s father in the rural village of Quruchay and detained Sirvan after conducting a rigorous search of his residence. Witnesses reported that it looked like his arm was broken as the agents confiscated his personal belongings. Another family member, Shirzad Hossein Panahi, who is also from the village of Quruchay in Dehgolan, was arrested on January 30, 2013 and transferred to the Ministry of Intelligence detention center.

Anvar Hossein Panahi, the eldest son in the family, is a Kurdish activist and a Dehgolan province dignitary who was arrested in 2007 and severely tortured while in detention. He spent 6 months incommunicado in custody at the Ghorveh Ministry of Intelligence detention center. In 2008 he was sentenced to death on charges of “acting against national security,” “collaborating with a Kurdish political party” and “moharebeh” (enmity with God). After tireless efforts and protests on the part of human rights activists, his death sentence was later commuted to 6 years in prison. After enduring 5 years behind bars, Anvar Hossein Panahi was granted medical furlough after posting bail.

In the past years since the incarceration of Kurdish activist Anvar Hossein Panahi, his family has faced summons, interrogations, endured constant harassment and threats, with over 30 members arbitrarily arrested.

Sirvan and Shirzad Hossein Panahi transferred to Ghorveh prison

Arrest of 2 Baha’i citizens in Semnan

Committee of Human Rights Reporters – On February 12, 2013, Ardeshir Fanaeyan and Shidrokh Firouzian, Baha’i citizens living in the city of Semnan were detained. Intelligence agents raided the residences of the 2 Baha’i citizens, conducted a search, confiscated personal items, and transferred them to the Semnan Intelligence Ministry headquarters.

During the past years, pressures against citizens following the Baha’i faith have intensified. Baha’i citizens are routinely subjected to arbitrary detention and heavy judicial sentences, school children are harassed, the private sector is pressured to dismiss Baha’is, their shops or workplaces and bank accounts are closed down, their assets are seized, and their business licenses are denied or suddenly revoked. They have been subjected to other forms of harassment such as arson, destruction of property, bulldozing their gravesites, destruction of dams and cutting off water supplies to agricultural properties resulting in dried fields and gardens.

CHRR   Arrest of 2 Baha’i citizens in Semnan

Adnan Hassanpour deprived of his legal right to furlough

Committee of Human Rights Reporters – Kurdish journalist Adnan Hassanpour has spent 7 years in prison, making him the longest standing prisoner among journalists. He is serving his sentence behind bars in Sanandaj prison, deprived of his legal right to furlough, without a single hour of release during these years.

Leyli Hassanpour, the sister of the incarcerated journalist said in an interview with Committee of Human Rights Reporters regarding her brother, “Adnan has a good attitude but his physical condition is weakening due to being held behind bars for 7 years without any furlough.”

Despite requests from his family, his lawyer Mr. Saleh Nikbakht, and an endorsement for temporary release by the Prison Organization, judicial authorities have refused to grant furlough to the imprisoned journalist. His sister said, “In all these years Adnan’s only communication with his family has been via phone calls and occasional visitations without even one hour of furlough.” She requested that judicial authorities allow her brother his legal right to prison furlough.

Adnan Hassanpour is a prominent Kurdish journalist and passionate defender of the freedom of expression who was an editor of the weekly Aso, a Kurdish/Farsi publication that explored cultural rights. The government in 2005 shut down the publication and Hassanpour was summoned several times regarding his work.

On January 25, 2007 he was arrested and the summer of that year after a closed-door trial in the city of Marivan in Kurdistan province, Hassanpour was sentenced to death on the charges of “acting against national security” and “moharebeh” (enmity with God). The Kurdistan appellate court later upheld the death sentence. The evidence used against him was based solely on interrogation reports provided by the Intelligence Ministry, obtained during his detention. After two years of legal wrangling, with the request of his lawyer Saleh Nikbakht, the country’s Supreme Court reviewed the case and on January 30, 2009 the death sentence was commuted to 15 years in prison.

Hassanpour has a distinguished record as a journalist in Iran. The Cultural Bureau (Farhang va Ershad Islami) presented him with appreciation awards in 2004 and 2005. In addition to working as editor of Aso he was the managing director of Marivan Literary Association from 2001-2004 and edited the Association’s literary magazine, Rawt.

International groups have also recognized Hassanpour as a prominent journalist. In 2007 Hassanpour received the Press Freedom Award by the Swedish branch of Reporters without Borders. This prize is awarded to members of the press who convey dedication to freedom of expression despite pressures and violations of press freedom in their country. The same year he was also awarded the Press Freedom prize from Italy.

CHRR

Adnan Hassanpour deprived of his legal right to furlough