Three Executions Carried Out in Bandar Abbas Prison

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Executions, News
Bandar Abbas prison, HRANA, Kermanshah

HRANA News Agency – On the morning of Tuesday, April 16, three prisoners were executed in Bandar Abbas Prison, according to a report by Iran Human Rights.

Among those executed was Ayoub Berniaei (Sarhadi), who had previously been sentenced to death on drug-related charges. The two other individuals executed were identified as Peyman Naderi, 28, from Kermanshah, and Karim Esmaeili from Eslamabad-e Gharb.

According to the report, Peyman Naderi had been arrested two years ago and sentenced to death for drug-related offenses. Karim Esmaeili had faced similar charges and was sentenced to death following his arrest three years ago.

At the time of this publication, neither the prison authorities nor relevant government institutions have officially confirmed these executions.

In 2024, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran documented 812 cases related to the right to life, including the sentencing of 214 individuals to death and the execution of 930 individuals. Among these, 4 executions were carried out in public. Of those executed, 818 were male, 26 were female, and 5 were juvenile offenders—individuals under 18 years old at the time of their alleged crimes.

Supreme Court Overturns Death Sentence of Prisoner Accused of Espionage for Israel

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Executions, News
IRGC Intelligence, Naser Bakarzadeh, Urmia

HRANA News Agency – The Supreme Court has overturned the death sentence of Naser Bakarzadeh, a prisoner held in Urmia Prison. Bakarzadeh had previously been sentenced to death by the Urmia Revolutionary Court on charges of “espionage for Israel.”

This judicial decision was communicated to his defense attorney today. Bakarzadeh is currently being held in the political ward of Urmia Prison and remains in legal limbo until a new court branch is assigned and his case is re-examined.

In November 2024, Branch 3 of the Urmia Revolutionary Court sentenced him to death on charges of “espionage for Israel and collaboration with the Mossad intelligence agency.” The Judiciary’s media center was the first to announce this verdict.

Approximately 26 years old, Bakarzadeh was arrested in December 2023–January 2024. He was held for a period in the IRGC Intelligence’s detention facility in Urmia, where he underwent interrogation. According to a source close to his family, the process involved violations of his basic rights, including denial of phone calls and family visits.

Minoo Roozehdar Sentenced to Imprisonment and Fine

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, HRANA, Iman Afshari, IRGC Intelligence, Minoo Roozehdar

HRANA News Agency – Minoo Roozehdar , a Tehran resident, has been sentenced to 14 months in prison and paying a fine by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

Presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Ms. Roozehdar to 14 months in prison and a 30 million toman fine on charges including propaganda against the regime and spreading false information. Her prison sentence has been suspended for four years.

Minoo Roozehdar had been arrested by security forces on January 20, 2025, in Tehran and transferred to the IRGC Intelligence Detention Facility, known as Ward 1-A. After one week, she was moved to the women’s ward of Evin Prison. She was released on March 4, 2025, after posting bail.

Roozehdar is a Tehran resident and mother of three.

In 2024, the Department of Statistics and Publication of HRA reported a total of 84 cases where Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, issued verdicts that violated the human rights of defendants.

Azerbaijani-Turk Activist Hamid Abbasi Sentenced to Over 4 Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Hamid Abbasi, HRANA, Salmas, حمید عباسی

HRANA News Agency – Hamid Abbasi, an Azerbaijani-Turk activist, has been sentenced to four years, six months, and one day in prison by the Revolutionary Court of Salmas.

The sentence was issued by Abdolaziz Allah Gholipoor Azar, a judge at the Salmas Revolutionary Court. According to the ruling, Abbasi was sentenced to:

7 months and 16 days for propaganda against the regime,
31 months and 16 days for insulting the Supreme Leader, and
15 months and 1 day for alleged membership in opposition groups.

Following the first hearing on his charges, Mr. Abbasi was released on bail of 700 million tomans. He had previously been arrested by security forces on October 30, 2024, and transferred to The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Salmas.

According to information received by HRANA, Abbasi was subjected to pressure to extract forced confessions while in detention at the Ministry of Intelligence in Salmas.

A source close to his family confirmed the news to HRANA and added:
“Hamid Abbasi is also facing charges in a separate case at Branch 102 of the Second Criminal Court of Salmas. In that case, he has been sentenced to:

a fine of 50 million tomans for possession of an unlicensed hunting weapon,
21 months and 1 day for spreading false information, and
42 months for unauthorized excavation in search of antiquities.”

In 2024, HRA documented the arrests of 262 individuals from ethnic minority groups or those advocating for ethnic minority rights, including Azerbaijani-Turk activists.

Two Prisoners Executed in Bandar Abbas and Kerman Prisons

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Executions, News
Abubakr Shahbakhsh, Ayoub Berniaei, Bandar-Abbas, Kerman prison

HRANA News Agency – At dawn today, Tuesday, April 15, the death sentences of two prisoners previously convicted on drug-related charges were carried out in the prisons of Bandar Abbas and Kerman.

According to the report by Haal Vsh, at dawn today, Tuesday, April 15, 2025, a prisoner identified as Abubakr Shahbakhsh, aged about 35,a resident of a village in Zahedan, was executed in Kerman Prison. Mr. Shahbakhsh was arrested in 2021 on drug-related charges in Kerman and later sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court.

Also this morning, the execution of another prisoner identified as Ayoub Berniaei (Sarhadi), 37 years old, father of two children, and a resident of Rameshk in Kerman Province, was carried out in Bandar Abbas Prison. Mr. Berniaei was arrested in 2021 on drug-related charges in Bandar Khamir and later sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court. He had also been transferred to solitary confinement on Saturday, April 12, in preparation for the execution. Prior to the execution, he had a final visit with his family.

As of the time of this report, the executions have not been officially announced by prison authorities or relevant institutions.

According to data compiled by HRANA, 52.69% of all executions in Iran in 2024 were related to drug-related charges. Notably, only 6% of the executions were officially announced, highlighting a significant lack of transparency. For a detailed analysis of these executions and the associated statistics, see HRANA’s full report.

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Seven on Death Row Moved to Solitary in Ghezel Hesar Prison

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Executions, News
Ghezel Hesar prison, Karaj

HRANA News Agency – Yesterday, April 14, seven prisoners in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj who had previously been sentenced to death on charges related to drug offenses and other non-political crimes were transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for the implementation of their sentences.

The transfer, which took place today, Monday, April 14, 2025, was for the purpose of carrying out their death sentences. Four of these individuals had previously been arrested on drug-related charges and were subsequently sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court. The remaining prisoners were sentenced to death for other non-political crimes.

HRANA is investigating further details, including the identities of the prisoners.

According to data gathered by the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists, Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj witnessed the highest number of executions in 2024. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s report.

Safa Aeli, Uncle of Mahsa Amini, Arrested and Transferred to Saqqez Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Safa Aeli, Saqqez, صفا عائلی

HRANA News Agency – Safa Aeli, the uncle of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini, was arrested by security forces on the night of Friday, April 11, 2025, and transferred to Saqqez Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, Aeli was taken into custody by security forces on the evening of April 11. Following his arrest, he was transferred to Saqqez Prison. HRANA has learned that Mr. Aeli is facing a new legal case, which was being processed in the final months of last year.

In 2023, Safa Aeli had already been sentenced by Branch 1 of the Saqqez Revolutionary Court to five years and six months in prison, along with a two-year travel ban.

He was previously arrested by security forces on September 5, 2023, and later released on bail on October 17 of the same year.

Seven Prisoners Executed Over Two Days in Zahedan Prison

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Executions, News
Baloch, Chabahar, Zahedan Prison

HRANA News Agency – Over the course of Saturday and Sunday, seven prisoners were executed in Zahedan Prison on charges related to drug offenses and murder.

According to HRANA, quoting Haal Vsh, four of the executed prisoners were identified as Majid Lajaei (approx. 36 years old), Ramin Alizahi (approx. 38, father of four), Davood Bajizahi (Shahouzahi, father of six), and a man with the surname Rigi (first name unknown). All four were residents of Zahedan.

Ramin Alizahi was arrested around a year and a half ago, Majid Lajaei in 2023, and Davood Bajizahi in 2022—all on drug-related charges. They were later sentenced to death by the Zahedan Revolutionary Court.

Haal Vsh also reported that on Sunday, three more prisoners—Allahnazr Gorgij (about 40 years old, father of six), Abdolsalam Baloch Mashkandi (Ahurani, approx. 28), and Fereydoun Mohammadi—were executed in the same prison.

According to the report, Abdolsalam Baloch Mashkandi had been convicted of killing a Sepah Bank security guard in Chabahar on August 25, 2022. Allahnazr Gorgij was arrested seven years ago on a murder charge in Zahek County and later sentenced to death. Fereydoun Mohammadi had also been sentenced to death for murder.

As of the time of this report, the executions have not been officially confirmed by prison authorities or relevant state institutions.

Mehdi Meskinnavaz Sentenced to Over 5 Years in Prison on Appeal

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News, Prisoners
Ali Sharifzadeh Ardakani, Bandar-Anzali, Iman Afshari, Mehdi Meskinnavaz, Meskin-Navaz

HRANA News Agency – The 10-year prison sentence of Mehdi Meskinnavaz (Meskin-Navaz), a political prisoner held in Bandar Anzali Prison, has been reduced to five years and six months following the acceptance of his retrial request and a new review by Branch 21 of the Tehran Province Court of Appeals.

On Sunday, April 13, 2025, his lawyer, Ali Sharifzadeh Ardakani, announced that with the Supreme Court accepting Meskinnavaz’s request for retrial and the case being referred to Branch 21 of the Appeals Court, his client’s sentence was reduced from 10 years to five years and six months.

In January 2025, the Supreme Court approved his retrial request, and the case was sent to an equivalent branch for reconsideration.

Meskinnavaz was arrested on September 7, 2024, to begin serving his sentence and was transferred to Bandar Anzali Prison.

In July 2023, in connection with a new case opened against him while in prison, he was sentenced by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, to 10 years in prison for “forming a group to disrupt national security,” and to 1 year for “propaganda against the regime.” He was also sentenced to two years of complementary punishment, including a ban on residing in Tehran Province and neighboring provinces, as well as a travel ban.

Mehdi Meskinnavaz, 46, is a resident of Bandar Anzali. He has a history of arrest and judicial sentencing due to his activism.

12 Lawyers Sentenced to Prison and Fines

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Freedom of Expression, News
Amin Shahla, Amirdokht Bahareh Barzegar, Enayatollah Karamati, Fa’ezeh Seyyedi, Farzaneh Safari, HRANA, Kazem Chezgi, Mehdi Mohammad Hosseinian, Mitra Izadifar, Mohammadreza Yazdani, Rouhollah Hosseini, Sahar Dashti, Sajad Javadi

HRANA News Agency – Branch 5 of the Mashhad Revolutionary Court has sentenced 12 defense lawyers to a total of 3 years in prison and a combined fine of 240 million tomans. Of the prison sentences issued, 21 months have been suspended for five years.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, the court convicted these 12 lawyers on charges of propaganda against the regime.

Details of the rulings are as follows:

  • Farzaneh Safari, Amin Shahla, and Mohammadreza Yazdani were each sentenced to 1 year in prison. Half of Safari and Shahla’s sentences, and three-quarters of Yazdani’s sentence, were suspended for 5 years.

  • Enayatollah Karamati, Kazem Chezgi, and Sahar Dashti were each fined 20 million tomans as a substitute for 3 months and 1 day of prison.

  • Mehdi Mohammad Hosseinian, Sajad Javadi, and Amirdokht Bahareh Barzegar were each fined 40 million tomans as a substitute for 6 months and 1 day of prison.

  • Rouhollah Hosseini, Fa’ezeh Seyyedi, and Mitra Izadifar were each fined 20 million tomans.

The same court issued a non-prosecution order for another defendant in the case, Sayyedeh Vajih Ghoreishi. Two other lawyers, Ali Asghar Dashti and Seyyed Jafar Saghravanian, were sent back to the prosecutor’s office for further investigation on separate charges including propaganda in favor of the Zionist regime, insulting the Supreme Leader, and spreading falsehoods.
The verdicts are appealable within 20 days of notification at the Khorasan Razavi Court of Appeals.

These lawyers were previously prosecuted in 2022 on charges such as propaganda against the regime, but their case had initially been subject to an pardon directive.