Three environmental rangers in Amol sentenced to a total of 9 years imprisonment and dismissal from service following a complaint by an illegal hunter
The appeals court of Mazandaran province sentenced three environmental rangers residing in Amol to a total of 9 years imprisonment and 3 years dismissal from service. They had been sentenced to 18 years imprisonment and 3 years dismissal from service in the primary court. The environmental rangers in question became involved with an illegal hunter about 4 years ago while on duty in a mountainous area called Namarestaq in the Larijian district of Amol city in Mazandaran province, and the case was opened following a complaint by the violating hunter against them.
According to Hrana news agency, the news organization of human rights activists in Iran, three environmental rangers were sentenced to imprisonment and dismissal from service by the appeals court of Mazandaran province following a complaint by an illegal hunter.
Based on this verdict issued by the appeals court of Mazandaran province, each of the environmental rangers has been sentenced to 18 months of punitive imprisonment, 18 months of suspended imprisonment for two years, and 1 year dismissal from service. This verdict was issued due to the involvement of these environmental rangers with an illegal hunter and for charges such as participation in shooting, disruption of public order, display of power with a firearm, use of handcuffs, unlawful detention, and abuse.
Zahra Keshvari, an environmental activist, stated in a note on her personal page that these environmental rangers have been suspended from work since June 1, 2020, and due to salary cuts, they faced numerous difficulties, and now they must also spend 18 months in prison.
These citizens had previously been sentenced to a total of 18 years imprisonment and 3 years dismissal from service in the primary court, and after filing an appeal, the verdict was overturned in the appeals court. However, after the complainant objected to the issued ruling, the case was reviewed again, and ultimately these environmental rangers were sentenced to dismissal from service and imprisonment.
Four years ago, these environmental rangers, following the shooting of an illegal hunter who intended to hunt and during his pursuit and escape in a mountainous area called Namarestaq in the Larijian district of Amol city in Mazandaran province, conducted warning shots in the air, and ultimately stopped the illegal hunter’s vehicle by puncturing its tires. Subsequently, the violator became involved with the environmental rangers, and they were forced to use pepper spray and handcuffs to detain the illegal hunter. In this incident, no physical injury was inflicted on the illegal hunter.
Some time ago, Mohammad Baqer Mohammadi Laini, the Supreme Leader’s representative in Mazandaran and Friday prayer leader of Sari, while objecting to the sentencing of these three environmental rangers, described the issuance of these verdicts by the judicial authority as contrary to justice. He called for support for the aforementioned environmental rangers.
Following the news of the killing of two environmental rangers in Zanjan during the current month, a group of environmental activists called on the judiciary to review the bill to protect environmental rangers. The head of the judiciary also promised favorable legal support for environmental rangers. However, the shortage of environmental ranger personnel and the resulting increased pressure on other forces, the low salaries and wages of environmental rangers, the existence of a legal gap regarding the use of weapons by these forces, the failure to address the cases of killed environmental rangers and the cases remaining open, are among the main problems facing this segment of society that they continue to face.
Source: Hrana
