Arrests, flogging and executions: Black August for human rights in Iran

Arrests, flogging, torture, executions, and solitary confinement were the most prominent forms of human rights violations against Iranian opponents of the regime of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. In its monthly report, the Human Rights Watch reported in August 2019 the rise in arrests and the targeting of minorities in the country.

The report said that the regime has become more fierce in the face of opponents, and increased prison sentences to be threatening messages to those who reject his policies, and the escalation of things threatens a new revolution that poses a real threat to the survival of the regime, according to the report.

The report also pointed out that the regime sentenced 31 activists, workers and journalists with the punishment of flogging. It is the most prominent in court records against dissidents.

Among the most prominent forms of human rights abuses and intimidation of activists is the fact that labor activist Atefa Rangrez was sentenced to 11 years, six months and 74 lashes for participating in the May 2019 protest.

Flogging is used to punish more than 100 offenses under Iranian law, but the regime has expanded its use against dissidents and religious and ethnic minority activists.

Journalist Mardia Amiri was also sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison, in addition to 148 lashes, for covering a demonstration in front of the parliament. Human Rights Nisrine Sotoudeh was sentenced to 38 years in prison and 148 lashes, for conspiring against the regime and two years for insulting the Supreme Leader.

The Ilam Criminal Court in southwestern Iran sentenced 15 workers: Afshar Rashidi, Anwar Rashidi, Sadiq Rostami, Nader Khaki, Milad Dosti, Mohammad Qaitasi, Sadiq Kakakhani, Tawhid Qaitasi, Saeed Qaitasi, Amin Arkouzi, Hajjat ​​Ismaili and Abbas. Muzaffari, Ali Kakakhani, Mohamed Haidari, and Ali Azami to 9 years in prison and 1100 lashes, for participating in a protest rally last April.

Seven workers at the Haft Tabah sugar factory in the city of Shoush, Ahwaz, were sentenced to eight months’ suspended imprisonment and 30 lashes for “collusion against national security” and “propaganda against the state.”  Three women demonstrating against the mandatory veil were sentenced to 55 years in prison.

Flogging and arrests are not the most prominent violations of the Iranian regime against dissidents, the authorities executed at least 41 people last August, and included the executions of activists and rebels of ethnic and religious minorities of Ahwaz, Kurds, Baluch, and Sunnis.

The regime has executed at least 3,800 people since Hassan Rouhani took office in August 2013.

The Human Rights Watch in Iran also monitored the high incidence of torture in prisons, the denial of treatment to hundreds of prisoners, and the hundreds also being held in solitary and lethal prisons.

For his part, Dr. Mohammad Banaia, an expert in Iranian affairs, said that the Iranian regime is trying to send strong and decisive messages to all activists and leaders of the movement within Iran and that imprisonment and death awaits everyone in case of revolution against the regime.

He told the Reference that the authorities of the guide are facing the street revolution by arresting leaders and activists, in an attempt to put down any revolution erupted in light of the high state of anger from all components and classes of the people, of this system.