The Centre for the Defenders of Human Rights has reviewed the situation of human rights in Iran during the month of Shahrivar 1397 [Aug-Sept 2018]
Free Imprisoned Teachers
In continuation of its monthly reports, the Centre for the Defenders of Human Rights has reviewed the situation of human rights in Iran during the month of Shahrivar 1397 [Iranian month corresponding to 23 August to 22 September 2018.
The Centre for the Defenders of Human Rights, which is presided over by Shirin Ebadi, has referred to the living conditions of teachers and demanded the freedom of imprisoned teachers who are in jail in the wake of their guild and union activities.
This people-instituted organization has written in its report: ”The new academic year begins while the teachers’ objections to their living conditions – which began almost three years ago – have not yet been addressed by the responsible authorities.”
Furthermore, in its report, which is published in both Farsi and English languages, this people-instituted organisation has reviewed the situation of human rights in Iran under the three main headings of “Civil and political rights”, “social and economic rights”, and “cultural heritage and the environment”.
According to the website of the Centre for the Defenders of Human Rights, the text of the report by the said centre for the month of Shahrivar 1397, which has been published on 1st of Mehr 1397 [23 September 2018], is as follows:
A Brief Report on Human Rights Situation in Iran in August-September 2018
Introduction:
The new academic year begins while teachers’ objections to their living conditions – which began almost three years ago – have not yet been addressed by the responsible authorities.
Moreover, the shortage of schools is one of the problems of the educational system in Iran. According to some government statistics, more than one million students are deprived of education every year due to the lack of facilities, and this is a great injustice to the future of the country and the generation which will build that future.
The report also provides a summary of the human rights situation in Iran during the month of Shahrivar 1397, as follows. This report is based on information published by various media channels and websites, whose accuracy has been verified. The report is appearing under three separate sections, and in Farsi and English languages.
Human Rights Situation in Iran in August-September 2018
Section 1: Civil, Cultural and Political Rights
- A) Situation of Nonconformist Political and Social Activists
- During this month, more than 32 people were detained and the names of them have been specified, who were:
Maryam Kazemi and Saeid Asadi – two artists; Reza Khandan – a civil activist; Hoda Amid – a lawyer and women’s rights activist; Farrokh Foruzan and Payam Dorfeshan – two lawyers; Kiyumars Marzban – a writer and satirist; Najmeh Vahedi and Rezvaneh Mohammadi – two women’s rights activists; Sudabeh Haqiqat, Nura Purmoradian, Navid Bazmandegan, Bahareh Qaderi, Elaheh Samizadeh, Ehsan Mahbub Rahvafa, Maryam Ghafarmanesh, Jamileh Mohammadhossein, Kiyanush Salmanzadeh, Peyman Manavi – 10 Baha’i citizens; Olduz Qasemi – a citizen from Orumieh – and Aras Amiri – an Iranian student in Kingston University of the UK.
A Judiciary official has reported the detention of a member of the City Council of Neyshabur because of what has been described as insult against sanctities.
On the other hand, some news sources have reported the detention of Khaled Hosseini and Mozafar Salehnia – two labour activists; Hadi Karimi – a member of the Gonabadi Darwishes Sect; Mohammad Abarian, Parsa Esmaeili and Mojtaba Azad – three members of the Erfaneh Halqeh Group [The Mystic Ring religious sect]; Aliakbar Jokar, Sadeq Dustkam and Abbas Fathieh – three individuals who are related to Yamani Group; and Abbas Tarafi – a citizen.
There are other cases of arrest of protesting citizens in Shahrivar 1397: The detention of citizens in some cities such as Javanrud, Oshnavieh, Sanandaj, Naqadeh, Bukan, Sardasht, Saqez, Kamyaran, Mahabad, Ravansar, Marivan, Piranshahr and Kermanshah because of various reasons such as communicating and cooperating with Kurdish opposition parties or encouraging Bazaar traders to join the strike in Kurdish cities. In addition, some citizens have been detained in some cities of Khuzestan Province such as Ahvaz, Hamidieh, Hoveizeh and Susangerd due to various pretexts such as street protests.
It should be noted that some of the detainees were released temporarily on bail after a few days until the date of their trial.
Moreover, Hashem Hosseinpanahi – a Sunni religious activist – has been summoned to the Special Clerical Court and was briefed about the allegations against him, and then he was released on bail.
- Roya Saghiri, a university student, has been sent to prison to spend 23 months there; Seyyed Jamal Musavinejad, a citizen from Sarab, was sent to jail to serve a one year imprisonment term and Ebrahim Nuri, a citizen from Ahar, has been sent to prison for six months.
- Parisa Rafiei – a university student – was sentenced to seven years in jail; Soha Mortezaei – a university student – was sentenced to six years imprisonment and two years ban from activities in political parties and groups; Farhad Sarafraz, Shahram Mansur, Vahid Dana, Saeid Abedi and Adib Haqpajuh – five Baha’i citizens – each were sentenced to one year in jail and one year exile; Amir Chamani – a civil activist – was sentenced to six month imprisonment; Najaf Mehdipur – a media activist – was sentenced to one year in prison; Reza Sigarchi and Mojtaba Beyranvand – two members of the Gonabadi Darwishes Sect – each were sentenced to seven years in jail and two years exile to Sistan Va Baluchestan; Vahid Bashiri – a civil activist – was sentenced to one year of suspended imprisonment; Ahmad Amini – a labourer – was sentenced to six months in jail; Hamid Baqaei – Executive Vice President of the former President [Mahmud Ahmadinejad] – was sentenced to six months in prison and a fine of 5,000,000 Toman; Esfandiyar Rahim Mashaei – one of the close associates of the former President [Ahmadinejad] – was sentenced to five years imprisonment; Aliakbar Javanfekr – a close associate of the former President [Ahmadinejad] – was sentenced to four years in prison; Saleh Mola Abbasi, Ebrahim Nuri and Akbar Abolzadeh – three citizens from Azarbaijan – each were sentenced to 10 months terms in jail; Hamed Allahverdipur, Morteza Shokri, Esrafil Fathollahzadeh and Soleiman Kazemi – four citizens from Azarbaijan – each were sentenced to seven months imprisonment and Shoja Hosseinzadeh – a manager of a Telegram channel – was sentenced to 74 lashes.
Moreover, the Ministry of Science has reported the sentence of a university student in Semnan to attend the Friday Prayers for two years and the sentence of another university student in Bandar Abbas to imprisonment. Also, a Judiciary official has reported the issuance of a seven years imprisonment sentence for an individual due to what has been described as spying. All these sentences have been confirmed in the appeal court.
On the other hand, appeal courts have reduced the sentences of eight months imprisonment against Meysam Azadi, Morteza Zarin, Vahid Nasibi, Gholamali Hosseinqolizadeh and Vahid Faezpur – five citizens from West Azarbaijan Province – to 2,400,000 Tomans fine. Also the sentences of 5,000,000 Toman fine and three months of compulsory labour in the state welfare organisation (instead of one year imprisonment) for Baktash Abtin – a poet and movie maker – have been reduced to a fine of 5,000,000 Tomans. In addition, Motahareh Shafiei – a journalist – was sentenced to six months of suspended imprisonment and Ali Aqa Alikhani – a university student – was sentenced to three months in jail in the appeal courts.
- B) Situation Regarding Cultural Rights
- Press Jury has given a guilty verdict against the former editor in chief of Iran Newspaper, as well as its reporter and the source for its news report.
- Relevant officials prevented Anahita Hor, Shaqayeq Zabihi Amriei, Nikan Sheidan Sheidi and Misaq Aghsani – four Baha’i citizens – from studying at universities. In addition, news sources have reported that many of Baha’i citizens have been banned from studying at universities.
- The Play “Royaye Shabe Tabestan” [Dream of a summer night] was banned by Judiciary officials. Also, relevant officials did not permit the launching of Mamnoeh TV series.
- Relevant officials prevented the distribution of “Virgul” student magazine.
- Mohammad Motamedi, a singer, was banned from working because his band players actually played their instruments at his street concert, instead of using recorded playback.
- C) Other Instances of Human Rights Abuse
- At least 15 individuals were executed in this month. The complete names of some of them are still not clear but judicial authorities or government-controlled media have confirmed their executions. Some of the names are as follows:
Zanyar Moradi, Loqman Moradi and Ramin Hosseinpanahi were executed. News media have reported that their crime was Moharebeh [declaring war against the God].
News media in Iran have reported the execution of two individuals in Rajaei Shahr Prison because of the crime of murder, nine individuals in Shiraz due to the crime of rape and one individual in Marvdasht in public because of first-degree murder.
On the other hand, some unofficial news websites have reported executions in the prisons of Zahedan, Saravan, Ardebil, Maragheh, Miandoab and Rajaei Shahr in Karaj; these reports have not been confirmed or denied by the Judiciary officials or state-controlled media.
- News media in Iran have reported the issuance of death sentences against two individuals in Tehran Province because of murder and one individual in Mashhad because of sexual assault.
Moreover, the death sentences against three individuals in Tehran Province due to raping a man, and two individuals in Tehran Province because of first-degree murder have been confirmed in the Supreme Court.
- News media in Iran have reported the issuance of lashes sentence for one individual in Tehran because of spreading lies and publishing inappropriate images.
Moreover, the lashes sentences against four individuals in Sanandaj because of kidnapping, assault and torture, and against one individual in Tehran because of sexual harassment of some school pupils were confirmed in the Supreme Court.
- The health situation of some political prisoners is still reported to be unfavourable to the extent that some of them – such as Mostafa Daneshju – are sick but no serious action has been taken for their treatment. In addition, Narges Mohammadi has been returned to the prison although the course of her medical treatment had not been completed.
- Nasrin Sotudeh, Farhad Meysami, Nameq Deldel, Farhad Aryaei (Sahrapeyma), Seyyed Qasem Abesteh, Farshid Naseri, Vurya Saed Mucheshmi, Mahintaj Ahmadpur, Babak Taqian, Ehsan Malek Mohammadi, Sekhavat Salimi, Reza Bavi, Ali Bolboli, Salaheddin Moradi, Mohammadreza Darwishi, Abbad Dehqan, Ali Mohammadshahi, Mojtaba Beyranvand, Ali Karimi, Jafar Ahmadi, Ebrahim Allahbakhshi and Akbar Dadashi have gone on hunger strike in protest at what they claim to be undesirable conditions for prisoners and violations of their legal rights.
- Arash Sadeqi and Golrokh Ebrahimi Iraei – a prisoner couple – are still deprived from meeting each other.
- Relevant officials refused to deliver the bodies of Zanyar Moradi, Loqman Moradi and Ramin Hosseinpanahi – three executed individuals – to their families. Moreover, relevant officials prevented the burying of Hossein Shojaei – a Baha’i citizen – in Kerman and forced his family to bury him in Rafsanjan.
Section 2: Social and Economic Rights
Reports concerning the social and economic situation in Iran also point to the continued presence of unfavourable conditions in these areas. For example, news reports reveal unsatisfactory employment and legal rights of workers in a number of units such as:
Workers of phases No. 20 and 21 in Asaluyeh, Tulipers Cooperation, Ahvaz Steel National Group, Gilana Factory, Chamshir Dam in Gachsaran, Mazandaran Textile Factory, Technical building lines in the railways of Jolfa, Hadi Shahr, Marand and Ajabshir, Esfahan Tile Factory, Haft Tapeh Sugar Cane Complex, Alvand Municipality and the hostess of Raja Railway, personnel of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Karaj and nurses working in Golsetan Province.
- The salaries of workers of “Iran Powder Metallurgy Plant” have not been paid for five months, the salaries of workers in municipality of Abadan have not been paid for three months and the salaries of workers of Pars Milang have not been paid for four months until the preparation date of this report.
- Some 40 workers of Pars Milang Factory, four personnel of Iran Cardboard Box Cooperation and 27 drivers of The Persian Gulf Shipping Company were sacked.
In addition, 200 workers of Jolfakaran Aras Textile Factory, 200 workers of Rubber Factory in Khuzestan were sacked by the closure of these trading units.
Section 3: Cultural Heritage and Environment
Reports concerning the environmental and cultural spheres also point to the continued presence of unfavourable conditions in these areas to the extent that, one individual was injured because of a land mine explosion in Marivan.
Conclusion:
At the end of the report for the month of Shahrivar of 1397, which coincided with the start of the new academic year, the Centre for the Defenders of Human Rights has reaffirmed the need for the state to make efforts to improve the living conditions of teachers. It also demanded the freedom of imprisoned teachers who are in jail because of their union activities.
END
