Faramarz Bavandpour Faramarz Bavandpour, as a mid-level commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has played a role in the widespread and severe violations of human rights in Iran. During his tenure as the commander of the IRGC in Eslamabad-e Gharb County in Kermanshah Province from 2018 to 2020 (1397 to 1399), he was directly involved in the serious infringement of the rights of local citizens, particularly the right to freedom of expression, the right to liberty, and social rights.Â
Right to freedom of expression, right to liberty, ethnic rights, and social rights In his position as the IRGC commander in Eslamabad-e Gharb County, Kermanshah Province, Faramarz Bavandpour is responsible for violations of the rights of residents of this county—especially regarding freedom of expression, the right to liberty, and social rights—by forces under his command.Â
For instance, in December 2020 (Azar 1399), agents of the IRGC Intelligence Organization in Eslamabad-e Gharb arrested two Kurdish cultural activists, Dariush Moradi and Anisa Jafari.Â
Earlier, in July 2020 (Tir 1399), another citizen—described as the “head of an anti-Islamic network”—was arrested by IRGC intelligence agents in Eslamabad-e Gharb. According to human rights sources, after the IRGC Intelligence fabricated a case against him, the detainee was handed over to the judiciary on charges of “insulting sanctities and propaganda against the regime.”Â
Also in July 2020 (Tir 1399), IRGC intelligence agents in Eslamabad-e Gharb arrested Reza Ramezani, a resident of the county, solely due to his online activities and on charges of what was referred to as “insulting sanctities.”Â
Around the same time, another local resident, Mojtaba Basati, was arrested by IRGC intelligence agents. The reason for his arrest was merely posting a story on his Instagram page protesting Iran’s deteriorating economic situation and supporting the execution verdict of three protesters from the November 2019 (Aban 1398) protests.