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Another Iranian–American Imprisoned in Evin Prison

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News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, HRANA, Jamshid Sharmahd, Reza Valizadeh, جمشید شارمهد, رضا ولی زاده

HRANA – Afarin Mohajer, an Iranian-American dual national residing in Los Angeles, has been in detention for 51 days and continues to be held in legal limbo in the women’s ward of Evin Prison.

According to HRANA, Ms. Mohajer, who had traveled to Iran for a visit, was arrested on Monday, September 29, 2025, at Imam Khomeini International Airport. No reliable information has yet been made available regarding the charges brought against her.

HRANA published an initial report on her arrest eight days ago, but it has now been confirmed that she also holds United States citizenship.

The arrest of dual nationals in Iran has been widely criticized by human rights organizations and Western governments over the past four decades. Critics argue that the Islamic Republic uses such detentions as tools of political pressure or bargaining leverage. This pattern began in 1979 with the takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, and continued in the following decades with the arrests of dual-national tourists, researchers, journalists, and activists.

In recent years, several similar cases have occurred. For example, Reza Valizadeh, an Iranian-American and former Radio Farda journalist, was arrested during a trip to Iran and sentenced to 10 years in prison, two years of exile, and social restrictions on charges of cooperation with the U.S. government. Additionally, Jamshid Sharmahd, an Iranian-German political activist residing in the United States, reportedly died in custody before his execution in October 2024.

Amid the rise in such cases, the European Union and several Western governments, including France and Germany, have issued warnings about the risk of their citizens being arrested in Iran and have advised them either to avoid traveling to Iran or to leave the country as soon as possible.

Appeals Court Ruling: Donya Hosseini Sentenced to Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Donya Hosseini, Iman Afshari, Khojasteh, Qarchak Varamin

HRANA – The prison sentence of Donya Hosseini has been upheld in full by Branch 36 of the Tehran Province Court of Appeals. Ms. Hosseini had previously been sentenced by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court to three years and six months of imprisonment.

Based on information received by HRANA, Ms. Hosseini was sentenced by Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals, presided over by Judge Khojasteh, to three years and six months in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime in support of strengthening the Israeli government.” This sentence had originally been issued at the preliminary stage by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari.

Donya Hosseini, also known by the alias “Donya Azad,” aged 36, was arrested in Tehran by security forces on June 16 of this year and released from Qarchak Varamin Prison on Sunday, August 3, after posting bail of 3 billion tomans.

In 2023, Ms. Hosseini was also sentenced in a separate case to five years of suspended imprisonment and a monetary fine.

Drug-Related Charges: Three Prisoners Executed in Esfarayen Prison

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Executions, News
Armin Shokri, Esfarayen, HRANA, اسفراین

HRANA – At dawn today, three prisoners were executed in Esfarayen Prison, North Khorasan province. These individuals had previously been sentenced to death on drug-related charges.

HRANA has confirmed the identity of one of the prisoners hanged at dawn today as Armin Shokri. The other two prisoners were Afghan nationals. Based on information received by HRANA, they had previously been arrested on drug-related charges and later sentenced to death by Revolutionary Courts.

Further details, including HRANA’s verification of all prisoners’ identities, are still under review.

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

From the beginning of this year until the end of October, the Iranian regime has executed 1,286 people, marking an unprecedented increase compared to previous years.

HRANA’s Report on the Execution of 31 Prisoners in Recent Days

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Executions, News
ahvaz, Aligudarz, Arak, Bam, Bandar-Abbas, Behbahan, Bukan, Damghan, Dezful, Gorgan, Ilam, Kermanshah, Khorramabad, Mashhad, Nahavand, Qom, Sabzevar, Salmas, Sanandaj, Semnan, Taybad, Yasuj, zanjan

HRANA – In recent days, authorities in several prisons across Iran have carried out the execution of dozens of inmates on drug-related and murder charges. The pace of executions this year has been unprecedented compared to previous years.

HRANA has documented the following executions in recent days:

Tuesday, November 11

• Reza Geraei, on drug-related charges, in Behbahan Prison

• Yaqub Dachi, 28, on murder charges, in Ilam Prison

Wednesday, November 12

• Abbas Beigi, on murder charges, in Yasuj Prison

• Saber Fallah, 33, on murder charges stemming from a street altercation, in Qom Prison

Thursday, November 13

• Qomri Abbaszadeh, 29, and Iraj Aghaei, 30, on murder and drug-related charges respectively, in Sari Prison

Saturday, November 15

• Nour Mohammad Rahmati, on drug-related charges, in Aligudarz Prison

• Yar Morad Hassanvand, on murder charges, in Khorramabad Prison

• Two prisoners executed in Dizelabad Prison in Kermanshah on murder charges; HRANA has confirmed the identity of one of them as Kamyar Fathi

•Jaber Saki and Jahan Rasouli, on murder and drug-related charges respectively, in Dezful Prison

Sunday, November 16

• Seyed Ali Hashemi of Karaj, on drug-related charges, in Salmas Prison

• (First name unknown) Yeganeh, on drug-related charges, in Bam Prison

• Habib Ezzati, on murder charges, in Sanandaj Prison

• Mohammad Amin Safari, on murder charges, in Bukan Prison

• Yasin Esfandiari, on drug-related charges, in Semnan Prison

• An unidentified prisoner, on murder charges, in Nahavand Prison

• Shokat Veisi (female), on drug-related charges, in Damghan Prison

• Amin Shokarkhodaei, on murder charges, in Arak Prison

• Mosib Khalavand, on drug-related charges, in Bandar Abbas Prison

Monday, November 17

• Reza Kamayi, on murder charges, in Sepidar Prison of Ahvaz

• Alireza Keshavarz, on murder charges, in Sabzevar Prison

• Amir Farkhnezhad, on drug-related charges, in Zanjan Prison

• Behzad Hasani, on murder charges, in Gorgan Prison

• Two prisoners previously convicted on drug-related charges in Taybad Prison; HRANA has verified the identity of one of them as Javad Sattari

• Four prisoners were executed in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad on drug-related charges. HRANA has confirmed the identities of two of them as Shamseddin (surname unknown), an Afghan national, and Alimardan Barani.

As of the time of this report, prison authorities and responsible institutions have not publicly announced these executions.

From the beginning of this year until the end of October, the Iranian regime has executed 1,286 people, marking an unprecedented increase compared to previous years.

Aminollah Koushkbaghi, a Baha’i Citizen, Arrested in Gonbad-e Kavus

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News, Religious Minorities
Aminollah Koushkbaghi, Arvin Avezpour, Baha'i citizen, Gonbad-e Kavus, HRANA

HRANA – Aminollah Koushkbaghi, a Baha’i citizen residing in Gonbad-e Kavus, was arrested by security forces on Wednesday, November 12, and transferred to an undisclosed location.

Based on information received by HRANA, Mr. Koushkbaghi, 69, was arrested on Wednesday, November 12, by security forces. Five days after his arrest, efforts by his family and relatives to obtain information about his fate have so far been unsuccessful.

As of the time of this report, no information has been obtained regarding his whereabouts, the reasons for his arrest, or the charges brought against him.

Around the time of this arrest, another Baha’i citizen in Gonbad-e Kavus, Arvin Avezpour, was also arrested by security forces and transferred to an undisclosed location.

Over the past decade, the Iranian Bahá’í community has been disproportionately targeted by Iran’s security forces and judiciary—more than any other minority group. In the past three years, an average of 72 percent of the reports on religious rights violations collected by HRANA have documented the Iranian regime’s repression of the Bahá’í community.

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Family Concern Grows as Bita Shafiei Remains Detained Without Updates

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Freedom of Expression, News
IRGC Intelligence, khorramshahr, Shahin-Shahr, بیتا شفیعی

HRANA – Bita Shafiei, a resident of Shahin Shahr and the daughter of Maryam Abbasi Nikoo, has been detained for five days by IRGC Intelligence agents in Khorramshahr, with no information available about her whereabouts or condition. The absence of updates has heightened her family’s concern.

Based on information received by HRANA, Ms. Shafiei was arrested on Thursday, November 13, by IRGC Intelligence agents at the home of her relatives in Khorramshahr. She had traveled to Khorramshahr after the arrest of her mother, Maryam Abbasi Nikoo, from their residence in Shahin Shahr.

A source close to the Shafiei family confirmed to HRANA: “Despite the family’s efforts, none of the security or judicial bodies have provided any clear answers regarding her status. This situation has significantly increased the worries of her family and relatives.”

As of the time of this report, no information has been obtained regarding the reasons for her arrest or the charges brought against her.

Bita Shafiei is the daughter of Maryam Abbasi Nikoo, a student who was arrested by security forces during protests related to the student poisoning incidents in Shahin Shahr and later released.

Abbas Peymani Arrested in Shahriar

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News, Other
Abbas Peymani, irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Shahriar, عباس پیمانی

HRANA – Yesterday, Abbas Peymani, a resident of Shahriar, was arrested by IRGC Intelligence agents and taken to an undisclosed location.

Based on information received by HRANA, Mr. Peymani was arrested on Sunday, November 16, by IRGC Intelligence agents.
So far, no information has been obtained regarding the reasons for his arrest or his place of detention.

Abbas Peymani is a traditional-music singer and instrumentalist from Shahriar, where he also resides.

Arbitrary arrests, transferring detainees to undisclosed locations, and leaving families in the dark about the fate of their loved ones are routine practices of the Iranian regime’s security agencies, such as the Ministry of Intelligence and the IRGC Intelligence Unit. This pattern of behavior stands in clear violation of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, known as the Nelson Mandela Rules

Morteza Dolatpour Sentenced to Prison on Political Charge

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ali Akbar Ansarizadeh, Qom, مرتضی دولت پور

HRANA – Morteza Dolatpour, a resident of Qom, has been sentenced to nine months in prison by Branch 1 of the Qom Revolutionary Court.

The ruling was recently issued by Branch 1 of the Qom Revolutionary Court, presided over by Advisor Ali Akbar Ansarizadeh, against Mr. Dolatpour. He was initially sentenced to one year in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime,” but after submitting himself to the verdict, the sentence was reduced to nine months.

On Sunday, November 9, the hearing on his charge was held at the mentioned judicial authority.

Mr. Dolatpour, aged approximately 40, was arrested on September 18, 2025, in Qom by security forces and released five days later on bail.

He had previously been arrested in July-August 2020 by security forces. In that case, Branch 3 of the Qom Revolutionary Court convicted him on three charges. After the verdict was upheld on appeal, a 17-month prison term, issued as the most severe of the sentences, was enforceable. Ultimately, in April-May 2022, Branch 11 of the Qom Court of Appeals granted him conditional release from Qom Prison.

Akbar Danesh Sararoudi Arrested in Isfahan

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Freedom of Expression, News
Akbar Danesh Sararoudi, HRANA, Isfahan, اکبر دانش سرارودی

HRANA – On November 14, Akbar Danesh Sararoudi, a political activist residing in Isfahan, was arrested by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location.

Based on information received by HRANA, Mr. Danesh Sararoudi was arrested on Friday, November 14, 2025, at his home by security forces without the presentation of a judicial warrant. Efforts by his family to learn about his situation have so far been unsuccessful.
As of the time of this report, no information has been obtained regarding the reasons for his arrest or the charges against him.

In May 2025, Mr. Danesh Sararoudi was sentenced by Branch 1 of the Isfahan Revolutionary Court to three years in prison and additional penalties.

Prior to that, the hearing on his charges had been held in the same branch. A few days later, the political activist personally submitted his defense bill to the Isfahan Revolutionary Court.

In February 2025, he had been arrested in connection with a call for a gathering planned for February 13 of that year, intended as a protest against the continued house arrest of three political figures. On February 19, Mr. Danesh Sararoudi was released from Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan after posting bail.

Akbar Danesh Sararoudi, a political and media activist and an Iran-Iraq war veteran residing in Isfahan, has previously faced arrest and judicial actions because of his activities.

Amol: Amirreza Alipour Arrested and Transferred to Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Amirreza Alipour, Amirreza Alipour Hashteli Amoli, Amol, HRANA, امیررضا علی پور

HRANA – Amirreza Alipour Hashteli Amoli, a resident of Amol, was arrested on Wednesday, November 4, by security forces and, after being informed of the charges at the Amol Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office, was transferred to the city’s prison.

Based on information received by HRANA, Mr. Alipour was arrested on Wednesday, November 5, at his private residence by security forces. At Branch 7 of the Investigation Office of the Amol Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office, he was charged with “propaganda against the regime” and then transferred to Amol Prison. He is currently being held in the prison’s special ward.

A source close to the Alipour family confirmed the arrest and told HRANA: “The investigator has so far not agreed to a bail order.”

In 2022, Mr. Alipour was sentenced to six months of home confinement with an electronic ankle monitor on the charge of “insulting the founder of the Islamic Republic.” On December 16, 2018, Branch 1059 of Tehran Criminal Court II sentenced him to six months in prison on the charge of “insulting the president.” In 2015, he had also been sentenced by the Revolutionary Court to six months of suspended imprisonment on the charge of “propaganda against the regime.”

Mr. Alipour, 31, a resident of Amol, has previously faced arrest and prosecution for his activities.