Ghasem Abesteh

He is one of the individuals that was accused in a case brought against individuals for “membership in jihadi groups” in the second half of 2009. The entirety of the developments of the cases were uniform for all of the citizens, there may be differences in dates and details, that have not been taken into account by Atlas in its archival filing

<coverage-outsourcing id='14300'> Atlas reported that Anvar Khezri, Davoud Abdollahi, Kamran Shiekheh, Farhad Salimi, Khosrow Besharat, Ghassem Absateh and Ayoub Karim, had been arrested on this date. They spent most of the first days of their arrest in solitary confinement at the Urmia Intelligence Ministry detention center prison. They had no access to lawyers and were severely tortured. They also had no contact with their families. Most of those arrested in this case reside in towns of Western Azerbaijan. Based on a letter published by the Detention Center, the interesting feature of this case i that Anvar Khezri, Kamran Sheikh, Ghassem Abesteh and Khosrow Besharat turned themselves into the prosecutor after they were summoned </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='4028'> Upon his transfer to Evin Prison, he spent more than five months in solitary confinement in Wards 209 and 240 </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='14306'> He was transferred to Ward 350 of Evin Prison </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='4029'> He was transferred from Ward 350 of Evin Prison to Rajaee Shahr Prison in Karaj </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='4030'> He was called into Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court presided by Judge Mohammad Moghiseh after four years of his incarceration. In this trial , he and his co-defendants were given the option of a court appointed or chosen attorney </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='4031'> The trial session for him and six other Sunni prisoners was not held due to their attorney and the representative of the Intelligence Ministry not being present </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='15560'> Those arrested in this case, wrote a letter proclaiming their innocence. According to this letter they were arrested for the killing of a soldier, but they claim that two others have already been arrested and condemned by the court for this killing. Moreover the two who were originally tried for this crime have already made a statement regarding their innocence and deposed on behalf of them </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='4032'> It was reported that he is not allowed the right to medical care, despite having severe kidney problems </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='16510'> It has been reported that he is still in a state of limbo in prison not knowing the final verdict </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='6158'> According to HRANA the warrant to execute the seven accused in this case was issued by judge Moghiseh and carried out in Rajaee Shahr prison </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='14295'> HRANA reported that the Supreme Court has reversed the verdict of execution of Anvar Khosravi, Davoud Abdollahi, Kamran Sheikheh, Farhad Salimi, Khosrow Besharat, Ghassem Abesteh and Ayoub Karimi </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='14982'> Mohammad Alizadeh Tabatabae, without naming the accused in this case, told Insaf News that the verdict of execution had been previously set by the Judge at the Supreme Court of Iran. The file was sent to branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court. According to his statements they were accused of the crime of heresy … and sentenced to be execution. But they don’t fit the accusations in this case and deny charges of terror </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='15527'> HRANA reported that he has gone on a hunger strike since one week ago. According to this report, a tumor has been found in Mr. Abasteh’s throat which has made it difficult for him to breathe, but the prison authorities have prevented his transfer to a specailized medical facility </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='15707'> According to HRANA, he is still on hunger strike. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='15795'> According to HRANA he stopped her hunger strike after 18 days </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='20228'> HRANA reported that seven of the defendants are still in abeyance. According to this report, their execution sentence has been violated in the Supreme Court by Judge Razini </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='21733'> HRANA reported that Ghasem Abesteh and Abdolrahman Sangani are not being provided with effective treatment. According to this report, a late-time test, last week, diagnosed Mr. Abesteh with cancer </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='23451'> He embarked on a hunger strike </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='38708'> The hearing of this case was held in Branch 15 of Tehran Revolutionary Court. Later, Judge Salavati sentenced all the accused in this case to death for the charge of Moharebeh. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='29001'> <reference source='https://www.hra-news.org/2020/hranews/a-23741/'> The death sentences of the seven defendants in this case were confirmed by the supreme court. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='52166'> <reference source='https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/mde13/5281/2022/en/'> Amnesty International announced in a statement that Ghasem Abesteh, Davoud Abdollahi, Ayoub Karimi, Anvar Khezri, Khosrow Besharat, Kamran Sheikheh, and Farhad Salimi are at risk of execution in the Rajaee Shahr prison of Karaj. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='53814'> <reference source='https://www.hra-news.org/2023/hranews/a-42662/'> Ghasem Abesteh, Davoud Abdollahi, Ayoub Karimi, Anvar Khezri, Khosrow Besharat, Kamran Sheikheh, and Farhad Salimi were transferred to Ghezel Hesar prison in Karaj. While announcing this news, HRANA reported that these people are all kept in a suite without facilities, which has increased their families' concerns. According to this source, Ghasem Abesteh, who suffers from kidney disease and thyroid problems, has been deprived of proper medical care. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='54862'> <reference source='https://www.hra-news.org/2023/hranews/a-43386/'> HRANA wrote that 15 of the Sunni prisoners named Ghasem Abesteh, Davoud Abdollahi, Ayoub Karimi, Anvar Khezri, Khosrow Besharat, Kamran Sheikheh, Farhad Salimi, Fereydoun Zakerinasab, Salahuddin Ziyaei, Abdol Rahim Ghambarzahi Gargij, Eidou Shahbakhsh, Abdol Ghani Shahbakhsh, Soleiman Shahbakhsh, Mohammad Saleh Ziadollah, and Abdollah Varia are kept in a small suite without necessary facilities after being transferred to Ghezel Hesar prison. This informed source went on to say that the yard area for the 15 prisoners is not enough to answer the density of their number, and added: > Bathroom, toilet, washroom, and kitchen are also located in a small place together, and this situation causes problems for these prisoners. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='53822'> <reference source='https://tinyurl.com/2tzemsn4'> He was transferred to one of the solitary cells of Ghezel Hesar prison. Sunni News, quoting an informed source, wrote that his death sentence was to be executed on Sunday, November 6, 2023. According to this source, during the last few months, Ghasem Abesteh was transferred to solitary confinement twice to execute the death sentence, and after a few days of mental torture, he was returned to the general population ward. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='53824'> <reference source='https://tinyurl.com/3yesfzb8'> In a letter, a group of political prisoners from Ghezal-Hesar prison warned about the possibility of the execution of Ghasem Abesteh and called on the public to prevent his execution. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='53825'> <reference source='https://www.tribunezamaneh.com/archives/257869'> Ahmadreza Haeri, a political prisoner, in a letter from Ghezel-Hesar prison, recalled the story of one of Ghasem Abesteh's co-accused from his court hearing. In a part of this letter, which was published in Zamaneh, it is written: > The whole trial did not last even two minutes, Judge Moghiseh said, first of all, you are Kurdish, this is one execution! Secondly, you are Sunni, that's two executions, and thirdly, you are Salafist, that's three executions. Referring to the violation of the rights of Ghasem Abesteh in the proceedings of his case, Mr. Haeri wrote to the lawyers: > Ghasem Abesteh, his family, his relatives, and especially his two young children deserve your sympathy and support and your protest to prevent the execution of these inhumane and illegal sentences. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='53823'> <reference source='https://kurdistanhumanrights.org/fa/news-fa/executions-fa/2023/11/05/p30418/'> He was executed in Ghezal Hesar prison in Karaj. While announcing this news, Kurdistan Human Rights Network wrote that the family of Ghasem Abesteh was informed of his execution during a phone call from the prison officials. Radio Zamaneh also quoted an informed source and wrote that Abesteh's execution was carried out secretly and without the knowledge of his fellow prisoners. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='53854'> <reference source='https://kurdpa.net/fa/news/2023/12/7'> According to Kurdpa, the families of Ghasem Abesteh and Ayoub Karimi are under intense pressure to remain silent about the execution of their children. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='54639'> <reference source='https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/mde13/7580/2024/en/'> In a statement, Amnesty International warned about the imminent execution of Farhad Salimi, Anvar Khezri, Khosrow Besharat, and Kamran Sheikheh in Ghezal Hesar prison. According to Amnesty International, these four people, who are incarcerated in Ghezel Hesar prison in Karaj, are in danger following the execution of Ghasem Abesteh, Ayoub Karimi, and Davoud Abdollahi in recent months in connection with the same case. Amnesty International wrote: > These seven people were convicted of corruption in the land and sentenced to death in a very unfair trial that was accompanied by allegations of torture and mistreatment of the hospital. Also, Amnesty International, citing informed sources, wrote that Ghasem Abesteh was tortured just before the execution, and his nose was broken. According to this statement, the authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran have made the delivery of the bodies of Davoud Abdollahi and Ayoub Karimi to their families contingent on the families' silence regarding the execution of their loved ones. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>