More secret executions in Vakil Abad Prison; Iran HR chief confirms secret executions in Mashhad
Despite the high rise of the execution of drug related convicts in Iran in the past few months, a foreign diplomat has told the International Campaign for Human Rights that Javad Larijani, the head of the Iran Human Rights Staff in the Iranian Judiciary has told foreign diplomats that the policy of executing narcotics convicts has been an unsuccessful policy and using the maximum punishment has not had a result in reducing the social damages of narcotics.
There were also reports of more group executions in the Vakil Abad Prison in Mashhad on December 20.
According to this report, the diplomats say that Larijani has confirmed the executions in Vakil Abad Prison but has claimed that the numbers of executions “are less than what is reported”.
Informed sources have told us that 10 other prisoners were hanged in the most recent executions that occurred on December 20, 2010. These executions were not announced by the Judiciary. (International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran – Jan. 5, 2011)
State-run media says Iran hanged 16 people in Khuzestan
The Parsieh Website in Tehran said that according to the new laws for combating narcotics which will be carried out from January 4, 2011, those who smuggle industrial narcotics, especially ‘Shishe’ will be hanged…
“In the past few days 16 drug smugglers in Khuzestan were hanged and smugglers will be dealt with more seriously after this”, the Ahwaz assistance prosecutor, Farhadi Rad, said in remarks that were carried by the state-run Tehran Emrouz daily. (Iran Press News Website – Jan. 5, 2011)
Iran hangs man in Khorasan Province
The Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor said that A.A, a drug smuggler, was hanged in the town of Esfarayen in the Khorasan Province.
“The death sentence for this smuggler was carried out in the Shirvan Prison in the morning on January 5 after it was upheld”, Ahmad Erfanian added. (ISNA state-run News Agency – Jan. 5, 2011)
According to reports, political prisoner Zahra Bahrami who was arrested in post-election protests on Ashura (December 27, 2009) was sentenced to death by Judge Salavati.
On Sunday, January 2, Salavati announced the death sentence to her lawyer Jinous Sharif Razi. He threatened her lawyer that she should not talk to the media or have any communications with the Dutch Embassy in Iran and if she does she will have to face the consequences.
Salavati told Sharif Razi that she should not inform Mrs. Bahrami or her family of the death sentence and should only tell them that a sentence was issued. Salavati also issued an order to seize all of Mrs. Bahrami’s property including her house, car and cash.
The death sentence was issued for the false charge of carrying and selling narcotics for which she was tried for on December 7. Mrs. Bahrami denied this charge in court and told the judge that she was forced to make these confessions under physical and mental torture which she was subjected to by intelligence agents. Her death sentence is non-appealable and can be implemented after it is upheld by Attorney General Mohseni Ejeyi.
In her second court session which will be held in about two months, her other charges will be seen to. One of her political charges is ‘moharebe’ (waging war with God) and according to Salavati, she will once again be sentenced to death for this charge.(Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Jan. 5, 2011)
Paralyzed political prisoner returned to prison from hospital while in critical condition
According to reports, on Monday January 3, 2011, political prisoner Hadi (Homayoun) Abedi Bakhoda who was hospitalized because of his critical condition with the expenses of his family was returned to Rasht Central Prison.
This is while he is unable to do his personal tasks on his own.
A legal doctor has formally announced in a written order that because of his critical condition and paralysis and the need for constant medical care, he is unable to tolerate detention. The Prison doctor also announced this issue to the Revolutionary Court but despite all of this, interrogators of the Intelligence Agency insist on keeping him in prison.
This 50 year old political prisoner who is suffering from spastic paralysis and a neurogenic bladder has been jailed in the infirmary of Rasht Prison since November 8, 2009. He was in a critical condition because of his paralysis and several other problems and was kept in inhumane conditions in the infirmary along with newly arrested drug addicts. In addition, the appalling sanitary, and food conditions and lack of medical treatment made his condition more critical.
Abedi was sentenced to two years of prison in the second branch of the Revolutionary Court. He was also under severe torture in the 80’s in Evin and Qezelhesar prisons on charges of supporting the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI). He was shot in the back upon his arrest in the 80’s and became paralyzed.
His brother Hormoz Abed Bakhoda was executed in the 80’s for supporting the PMOI. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Jan. 5, 2011)
Agents of the Intelligence Agency summoned Leonard Keshishian, the pastor of the Church of the Robani Order in Isfahan to the Intelligence Agency in this town on Friday January 1 and arrested him.
This Christian pastor was summoned to the Intelligence Agency a few hours before the New Years celebration and was arrested after going to the Intelligence Agency. There is no news on his current whereabouts.
His church has had no activities other than its usual weekly services and prayers.
In the past year, the Churches of the Robani Order in Shahin Shahr and Orumieh were forced to close down and the Central Church of the Robani Order has faced limitations in holding its services in Farsi. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Jan. 5, 2011)
Security forces shoot 12 year old boy in Sanandaj
According to reports, on the afternoon of January 5, security forces in the Gaz Square in Sanadaj beat a man and used pepper spray to arrest him. A number of people on the scene interfered and freed the man and put him in a car to help him leave the scene.
Security forces then opened fire on the car and the people who had gathered on the scene shooting a 12 year old boy. There are no reports on the condition of the small boy who was taken to the hospital. (Human Rights Activists in Iran – Jan. 5, 2010)
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