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Iran: New Wave of Arrests

Iranian authorities increase oppression on the first anniversary of the November protests, countering possible revolts.

On the anniversary of Iran’s November 2019 uprising, several former political prisoners were arrested or summoned by Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS).

Last week, a number of released political prisoners were re-arrested and a number were summoned. One of the detainees has leukemia and his arrest poses a high risk to his life.

Iran: Regime Increases Oppression Ahead of November Uprising Anniversary

Houses Raided Without Prior Notice and Warning

According to witness reports, the Ministry of Intelligence has started a new wave of arrests in fear of the anniversary of the November 2019 protests and the explosive conditions of the society in various cities of the country.

On November 11, notorious intelligence agents in the city of Songor in Kermanshah province raided the residence of several former political prisoners, Saeed Asghari, Saeed Samimi, and Kasra Bani Amerian, and arrested them. After several hours of interrogation, they were transferred to Ward 4 of notorious Evin Prison.

The three were previously arrested in March 2018. At that time, after about two months of interrogation in ward 209 of Evin Prison, they were temporarily released on bail. Security forces raided their homes. However, they were not summoned to prison.

Transfer of Detainees to Evin Prison

Saeed Asghari, 51, born in Songor. Saeed Samimi, 24, graduated in pharmacy. Kasra Bani Amerian, 24, has a Bachelor’s in the economy. Before this event, each of them was sentenced to 5 years to prison in Branch 28 by the so-called Revolutionary Court in 2019 without a lawyer on charges of collaborating with the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) and 5 years on charges of conspiracy and collusion against national security. Then these heavy sentences were upheld by Judge Ahmad Zargar in Branch 36 of the Revolutionary Court, without any changes.

One of the Detainees Has Leukemia

Kasra Bani Amerian, 24, has leukemia. He had previously undergone chemotherapy and had improved somewhat. But he still has symptoms of the disease and should be monitored by a physician. The arrest of this 24-year-old man with cancer, in the context of the widespread outbreak of coronavirus, has put his life in danger.

On the other hand, it is reported that in the third week of November 2020, political prisoner Hamid Sharif was also arrested and transferred to Ward 4 of Evin Prison. Hamid Sharif was sentenced to one year in prison by the Revolutionary Court.

In other news, another political prisoner, Sina Zahiri, was summoned to Evin Prison to serve a five-year sentence. According to the summons, he had to report to Evin Prison on November 14.

Sina Zahiri had previously been sentenced to 2 years in prison for supporting the MEK. He was released after serving his sentence in 2012.

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