Mandatory Hijab Opponent Hamideh Zeraei Arrested

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Freedom of Expression, News
Hamideh Zeraei, HRANA, Kachooei Prison, Karaj, حمیده زراعی

HRANA News Agency – On Monday, February 5, Hamideh Zeraei, a citizen protesting against compulsory hijab who is serving her exile sentence in Rasht, was arrested for refusing to comply with the hijab requirement in court. She was subsequently transferred to Lakan Prison in Rasht.

A source close to her family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “Ms. Zeraei is currently serving her exile sentence in Rasht. Yesterday, when she appeared in court for a mandatory check-in, she was arrested for not wearing a hijab and taken to Lakan Prison. The investigator at the Rasht Revolutionary Court has set her bail at one billion tomans (approximately $12,500).”

On November 16, 2023, Branch 1 of the Karaj Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Mousa Asef-Hosseini, sentenced Zeraei to one year in prison, two years of exile in Rasht, a two-year travel ban, and a two-year prohibition from online activities. After accepting the ruling, her one-year prison sentence was reduced to nine months.

Zeraei was first arrested by security forces at her home on May 29, 2023, and transferred to Kachooei Prison in Karaj. She was eventually released on February 22, 2024, after completing her sentence.

In June 2024, she was summoned to Branch 13 of the Rasht Revolutionary Court to provide further explanations. After appearing in court, she was arrested and transferred to Lakan Prison in Rasht but was later released on bail.

Zeraei had previously been arrested in connection with the 2022 nationwide protests. She was released from Kachooei Prison in Karaj on February 7, 2023, following the issuance of the so-called “pardon and commutation” directive.

Majid Shia Ali Imprisoned on Political Charges

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Khorasan Razavi Court, Majid Shia Ali, Mashhad, RGC Intelligence, مجید شیعه علی

HRANA News Agency – today, February 4, 2025, Majid Shia Ali, a resident of Mashhad, was arrested and transferred to prison to serve his one-year and six-month sentence.

On January 20, 2025, Branch 991 of the Mashhad Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office ordered this political defendant to report within ten days to serve his sentence.

Previously, in May 2023, the Khorasan Razavi Court of Appeals sentenced him to two years and six months in prison, of which the longest enforceable term—one year and six months—is now being carried out.

In February 2023, the Mashhad Revolutionary Court had initially sentenced Shia Ali to six years and six months in prison on three charges: “membership in a group formed to disrupt national security,” “propaganda against the regime,” and “insulting the Supreme Leader.”

According to HRANA, his case was opened after he posted content on social media related to the 2022 nationwide protests.

Majid Shia Ali, a PhD student at Mashhad’s Azad University, was first arrested in late November 2022 and was released on bail in mid-February 2023 from Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad. During his 56-day detention, he spent 40 days in solitary confinement at one of the IRGC Intelligence detention facilities in Mashhad.

Prisoner Executed in Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad

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Executions, News
Hafez Bani Asadi, HRANA, Kahnuj, Mashhad, Vakilabad prison

HRANA News Agency – On February 3, 2025, the death sentence of a prisoner previously convicted of moharebeh (enmity against God) through armed robbery was carried out in Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad.

HRANA has identified the prisoner as Hafez Bani Asadi, a resident of Kahnuj. According to information obtained by HRANA, he had been sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court on charges of moharebeh through armed robbery.

As of the time of this report, prison authorities and relevant institutions have not officially announced the execution.

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.

Two Prisoners Executed in Dastgerd Prison for Drug-Related Crimes

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Executions, News
Dastgerd Prison, HRANA, Isfahan, Rasht

HRANA News Agency – On January 30, 2025, the death sentences of two prisoners, previously convicted in separate cases on drug-related charges, were carried out in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan.

Iran Human Rights have been identified these hanged prisoners as Mahdi Salehzadeh, 35, from Rasht, and Abdollah Khademi, 41, from Urmia, a father of three who resided near Tabriz.

According to the report, both individuals had been arrested in separate cases on drug-related charges and were sentenced to death by the judiciary. Their executions were carried out without a final visit with their families.

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

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.

Student Soroush Nourbakhsh Arrested by IRGC Intelligence

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Freedom of Expression, News, Students
irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Mahabad, Soroush Nourbakhsh

HRANA News Agency – On Saturday, February 1, Soroush Nourbakhsh, a student at the University of Tehran, was arrested by security forces after being summoned to the IRGC Intelligence Office in Mahabad, according to Kolbar News.

According to the report, Mr. Nourbakhsh was detained after being summoned to the IRGC Intelligence Office in the city. His family’s attempts to obtain information about his condition have so far been unsuccessful.

Nourbakhsh, 25 years old, is a native of Mahabad, and a music student at Tehran University of Arts.

As of the time of this report, the reasons for his arrest and the charges against him remain unknown.

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Prisoner Executed in Sari Prison for Drug-Related Crimes

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Executions, News
Ehsan Jamshidi, Sari Prison, احسان جمشیدی

HRANA News Agency – The death sentence of a prisoner previously convicted of drug-related charges was carried out at dawn on Saturday, February 1, in Sari Prison, according to Iran Human Rights.

The identity of the prisoner has been reported as Ehsan Jamshidi, approximately 40 years old and a resident of Sari.

According to the report, this prisoner was arrested three years ago on drug-related charges and was subsequently sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court. Before his arrest, Ehsan Jamshidi worked as a taxi driver.

As of the time of this report, prison authorities and relevant institutions have not officially announced the execution.

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.

 

Two Indian Nationals Arrested in Iran on Charges of Photographing Restricted Areas

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News, Other
HRANA, India, Mohammad Sadeeque, Sumeet Sud, Yogesh Panchal

HRANA News Agency – India’s Ministry of External Affairs announced on Friday, February 1, that three Indian nationals went missing after traveling to Tehran.

Attorney Saeed Naghdi confirmed the arrest of two of them, stating that Yogesh Panchal has been issued a deportation order and must leave Iran, while Mohammad Sadeeque has already flown to Oman. The individuals were reportedly arrested on charges of photographing restricted areas.

Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, said on Friday that the three Indian nationals had traveled to Iran for business purposes in recent months. A few days after arriving in Tehran, their families lost contact with them. Attorney Saeed Naghdi, confirming the detention of Yogesh Panchal and Mohammad Sadeeque, stated that Panchal has been ordered to leave Iran, while Sadeeque has already departed for Oman.

According to Naghdi, the charge of photographing restricted areas was brought against the detainees.

Some Indian media outlets have reported that the identity of the third individual, whose whereabouts remain unknown, is Sumeet Sud.

Several Members of a Religious Group Arrested in Javanrud

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News, Other, Religious Minorities
irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Javanrud, Kermanshah

HRANA News Agency – The Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor of Javanrud has announced the arrest of several members of a religious group in northwestern Kermanshah by security forces in the province.

According to IRNA, the Javanrud prosecutor, without revealing the identities or charges of the detainees, described them as members of a “widespread Salafi-Takfiri network.” The report provides no details on the number of those arrested or their whereabouts.

Notably, in recent weeks, IRGC Intelligence forces carried out two separate operations in Kermanshah, leading to the arrest of members of another religious group.

Environmental Activist Arman Shadivand Sentenced to Two Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Arman Shadivand, Darreh Shahr, environmental activist, Ilam, آرمان شادی وند

HRANA News Agency – Arman Shadivand, an environmental activist, has been sentenced to two years in prison by the Ilam Revolutionary Court.

The verdict, issued in absentia on January 19 and recently communicated to him, includes eight months in prison for “propaganda against the regime” and 16 months for “insulting the Supreme Leader.” The charges are based on content he posted on his Instagram page. The ruling was handed down by Judge Dariush Piri of Branch 2 of the Ilam Revolutionary Court, located in Darreh Shahr, Ilam Province.

A source close to Shadivand’s family told HRANA: “After the Darreh Shahr Prosecutor’s Office issued the indictment, his case was split into two parts—one referred to the Revolutionary Court and the other to the Criminal Court. Ultimately, two separate summonses were issued, and he attended one of the hearings.”

Shadivand was initially summoned in November 2024 by Branch 2 of the Darreh Shahr Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office to defend himself against charges of acting against national security. He appeared before the court on November 24 and was subsequently arrested. He was released on bail a day later from a prison in Darreh Shahr.

In 2024, HRANA documented the arrest of 11 environmental activists, along with three summonses to security institutions, one house search, and one court trial.

Political Prisoner Manouchehr Fallah Sentenced to Death on Moharebeh Charges

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Executions, News, Prisoners
HRANA, Kish Island, Lakan prison, Manouchehr Fallah, moharebeh, Rasht, منوچهر فلاح

HRANA News Agency – Manouchehr Fallah, a political prisoner held in Lakan Prison in Rasht, has been sentenced to death by Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court of Rasht on charges of Moharebeh (enmity against God).

The verdict, issued by Judge Darvish Goftar, was formally communicated yesterday to his defense attorneys, Ms. Khorsandi and Ms. Khojasteh. Fallah was convicted of Moharebeh for allegedly acting against national security.

A source close to Fallah confirmed the ruling to HRANA, stating, “Since the beginning of his legal proceedings, Mr. Fallah has been denied access to a lawyer.” His trial took place on December 11, 2024, via video conference.

Fallah was arrested in June 2023 by security forces at Rasht Airport and transferred to Lakan Prison.

In December 2023, in a separate case, he was sentenced by Branch 3 of the Rasht Revolutionary Court to one year, three months, and one day in prison for insulting the Supreme Leader, as well as seven months and 16 days for propaganda against the regime. After accepting the verdict, one-quarter of his sentence was reduced, and he completed his prison term for this case in May 2024.

Before his arrest, Manouchehr Fallah, a tattoo artist, resided on Kish Island.