Important: Click here to read this clarification about some of our previous statements regarding 'Moharabeh'.
Showan Sharifi, a Sunni preacher from Paveh, Kermanshah province of Iran, has been moved to Sanandaj Central prison after being held in detention for almost two years without trial.
He was arrested on December 25, 2011, by officers from the Ministry of Intelligence.
He was detained in the Ministry of Intelligence detention center, where he was tortured and kept in solitary confinement for 18 months. He has now been transferred to Sanandaj Central prison, Sanandaj, where he is still being held without trial.
"Shawan used to teach religious classes in subjects such as the Tafseer of the Qur'an [and] Riyadh as-Saliheen," one of his relatives told the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).
"He graduated with a degree in computer science from the University of Hamedan, and then returned back to Paveh [his native city] to serve the oppressed Sunni people."
He continued, "however, when he started the religious classes, the Ministry of intelligence arrested him, due to their longstanding history of enmity and hostility towards the Sunnis. In a cruel action they arrested him on baseless accusations."
Showan was detained in solitary confinement for 18 months in the Ministry of Intelligence detention center. The Ministry of Intelligence operates various detention centers throughout Iran, plagued by widespread reports of the ill-treatment of detainees.
Many detainees are forced to admit to false charges after enduring physical and psychological torture from intelligence agents during interrogation.
"Shawan Sharifi spent 18 months in solitary confinement in the custody of the Ministry of Intelligence, [subjected to] various types of torture and harassment," a member of his family said.
"Finally he was transferred to the general ward of Sanandaj Central prison. All this time, not even once has he been summoned to court," he said, "so far he has been kept in a state of uncertainty in prison."
Showan Sharifi, a Sunni preacher from Paveh, Kermanshah province of Iran, has been moved to Sanandaj Central prison after being held in detention for almost two years without trial.
He was arrested on December 25, 2011, by officers from the Ministry of Intelligence.
He was detained in the Ministry of Intelligence detention center, where he was tortured and kept in solitary confinement for 18 months. He has now been transferred to Sanandaj Central prison, Sanandaj, where he is still being held without trial.
"Shawan used to teach religious classes in subjects such as the Tafseer of the Qur'an [and] Riyadh as-Saliheen," one of his relatives told the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).
"He graduated with a degree in computer science from the University of Hamedan, and then returned back to Paveh [his native city] to serve the oppressed Sunni people."
He continued, "however, when he started the religious classes, the Ministry of intelligence arrested him, due to their longstanding history of enmity and hostility towards the Sunnis. In a cruel action they arrested him on baseless accusations."
Showan was detained in solitary confinement for 18 months in the Ministry of Intelligence detention center. The Ministry of Intelligence operates various detention centers throughout Iran, plagued by widespread reports of the ill-treatment of detainees.
Many detainees are forced to admit to false charges after enduring physical and psychological torture from intelligence agents during interrogation.
"Shawan Sharifi spent 18 months in solitary confinement in the custody of the Ministry of Intelligence, [subjected to] various types of torture and harassment," a member of his family said.
"Finally he was transferred to the general ward of Sanandaj Central prison. All this time, not even once has he been summoned to court," he said, "so far he has been kept in a state of uncertainty in prison."