On Sunday, August 17th, Ghezel Hesar Prison inmates launched a riot to prevent the execution of their cellmates. However the regime agents opened fire on inmates which left 5 inmates killed and at least 15 others injured. The massacre of these inmates took place when the prison guards opened fire on inmates from watch towers in units 2 and 3. According to reports received from inside Iran, on Sunday a large number of authorities and forces were brought from Gohardasht Prison to crackdown this riot and the protest staged by the inmates’ families.
- The Iranian
regime also hanged 3 inmates, including a woman, in Zahedan Central Prison in
southeast Iran on Saturday, August 23rd. The
authorities had transferred these inmates to solitary confinement in the
prison’s quarantine ward on Thursday, August 21st.
The three individuals were Ali Reza Shah-Bakhsh from ward 7, along with one inmate of the women’s ward which is said to be Ali's relatives, and Nourollah Barahoui from ward 7 of the same prison.
The three individuals were Ali Reza Shah-Bakhsh from ward 7, along with one inmate of the women’s ward which is said to be Ali's relatives, and Nourollah Barahoui from ward 7 of the same prison.
Pressure on Iranian Christians and Baha'is in prisons continue
Farshid Fat’hi
an Iranian Christian, in Gohardasht Prison of Karaj, west of Tehran, have been transferred to a ward of
dangerous prisoners. The authorities had ordered him into internal exile from Evin
Prison to Gohardasht Prison.
Farshid Fat’hi is sentenced to 6 years behind bars on charges of ‘measures against security’. Baha’i prisoner Shahram Chinian was also transferred some time ago from the ward of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience to hall 2 of ward 1 in this prison, where dangerous criminal are kept. One of the prisoners of this ward said, “Shahram Chinian was recently beaten by Amirian and a number of prison guards, where his clothes were torn. The prison warden ordered the transfer of Shahram Chinian to solitary confinement, without gaining confirmation from the council.”
Farshid Fat’hi is sentenced to 6 years behind bars on charges of ‘measures against security’. Baha’i prisoner Shahram Chinian was also transferred some time ago from the ward of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience to hall 2 of ward 1 in this prison, where dangerous criminal are kept. One of the prisoners of this ward said, “Shahram Chinian was recently beaten by Amirian and a number of prison guards, where his clothes were torn. The prison warden ordered the transfer of Shahram Chinian to solitary confinement, without gaining confirmation from the council.”
Shahram Chinian was arrested back in February 2009 and on 2 March
2009 he was
released after presenting permission papers as his bail. He was held in Evin
Prison during this period until his release.
protests are increasing in cities across Iran
TehranThe owners of a number of butcheries in Tehran went on strike on August 19th protesting the high prices of meat. A number of supermarkets in this area closed their services in support of this strike. The strikers say the rising prices of meat have led to lower revenues and decreasing number of customers.
Tehran
A number of youths in Tehran’s Shafagh Park clashed with a number of Bassij paramilitary agents on Tuesday, August 19th when these agents intended to harass the youth because of their clothing. The angry youths forced the state agents to flee the area.
Tehran
A youth in Tehran clashed with two police agents on Thursday, August 21st, who intended to stop his motorcycle. According to reports one of the state agent was seriously hurt in this scuffle.
Isfahan
A group of farmers from this city, August 22nd, chanted slogans disrupting the Friday prayer sermons. They also held placards protesting their poor living conditions.
Tehran
Retired workers on Thursday, August 21st, rallied outside the government labor office in this city, protesting not receiving their paychecks and delayed pensions.
Kermanshah
A number of expelled workers of a ceramic company rallied on Thursday, August 20th, protesting being expelled from work and demanding to be returned to work.
******
Simin Behbahani Iranian poet died at age 87 on Wed. Aug. 19 in a hospital in Iran. Simin was
also active against misogynist regime of Iran. Mrs. Maryam Rajavi,
President-elect of the Iranian Resistance, offered her condolences on the
passing of Simin Behbahani, one of Iran’s preeminent poets. Mrs.
Rajavi noted that the beloved artist was one of the nation’s most creative and
innovative lyric writers and one of the outstanding treasures of Iranian
poetry. Simin was awarded many times for her poems but the Iranian regime
barred her from traveling outside the country. A number of her poems have
turned into inspiring songs by late Marzieh and Daruish among other artists.
Simin was berried against her wishes in Behesht-e Zahra cemetary.
