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Singer Zara Esmaeili Detained in Legal Uncertainty for Over Nine Days

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Freedom of Expression, News, Women
Ekbatan town, HRANA, Zahra Esmaeili, Zara Esmaeili

Zara Esmaeili, a singer and resident of Karaj, has been detained for over nine days, with her legal status remaining uncertain. The lack of information about her condition has heightened the concerns of her family and friends.

A source close to her family confirmed this news to HRANA, stating: “Ms. Esmaeili was arrested by security forces at her private residence in Karaj on Friday, July 26th. We have no information about her fate and are extremely worried about Zara’s well-being.”

Zara (Zahra) Esmaeili, a 29-year-old resident of Karaj, has performed numerous street performances in various parts of Tehran, such as Ekbatan town and Ferdows Garden.

According to information obtained by HRANA, Ms. Esmaeili was subjected to violence and mistreatment by officers the day before her arrest while trying to prevent the arrest of a friend by Tehran’s security police.

So far, there is no information available regarding the reasons for her arrest, her whereabouts, or the charges against her.

Hooman Seydali Detained for over 19 Months in Legal Limbo

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News, Prisoners
ahvaz, Hooman Seydali, Izeh, Sheiban Prison, هومن صیدالی

Hooman Seydali, arrested during the nationwide protests of 2022, has remained in an uncertain state in Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz, for over nineteen months.

Based on information received by HRANA, Mr. Seydali has been held in Ward 8 of Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz, for 592 days. Branch 2 of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court has issued a hefty bail of fifty billion tomans for his temporary release, but his family’s inability to provide this amount has led to the continuation of his detention.

A source close to Seydali’s family confirmed this news to HRANA, stating, “Seydali has been charged with suspicion of membership in opposition groups.”

Hooman Seydali, 47 years old and a resident of Izeh, was arrested by security forces on December 20, 2022, during the nationwide protests and subsequently transferred to Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz.

Nasimeh Eslam-Zahi Detained for Over 11 Months in Evin Prison

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News, Prisoners
HRANA, Malard, Nasimeh Eslam-Zahi, Sistan and Baluchestan Province

Nasimeh Eslam-Zahi, a Sunni defendant facing security charges, remains in a state of uncertainty in the women’s ward of Evin Prison despite being detained for over eleven months.

Based on HRANA’s information, Ms. Eslam-Zahi and her husband have been held without trial for more than eleven months in Evin Prison. They were charged in August-September of 2023 in the prosecutor’s office with suspicion of “membership in the militant group ISIS,” but no court hearing has been held for them. Additionally, the couple has not had any in-person visits since their arrest.

A source close to the family of the couple confirmed this news to HRANA, saying, “About three months ago, Nasimeh gave birth to her second child in prison. Her first child, Aisha, who is about two years old and was with them at the time of their arrest, has been handed over to welfare services and is being cared for there. Despite requests, Aisha has not been returned to Nasimeh or her family.”

In August-September last year, Ms. Eslam-Zahi, along with her husband and child, was arrested in Malard and transferred to Zahedan for interrogation. Security forces reported that they were in possession of weapons at the time of their arrest.

Ms. Eslam-Zahi and her husband were charged in the Sistan and Baluchestan Province Prosecutor’s Office in September 2023 and then transferred to Evin Prison.

Eslam-Zahi, approximately 40 years old, spent three months in solitary confinement in the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility known as Ward 209 of Evin Prison and another three months in shared cells in the same detention facility. Finally, on March 4, 2024, she was transferred to the women’s ward of this prison.

Previously, an informed source without knowledge of the identity of Ms. Eslam-Zahi’s husband told HRANA, “Nasimeh’s husband is originally from the Kurdish provinces and is being held in one of the shared rooms in Ward 209 of Evin Prison.”

Two Prisoners Executed in Mashhad Prison

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Executions, News
Mashhad, Musa Najjar, Ramazan Gholamian

The death sentences of two prisoners, previously convicted of murder in separate cases, were carried out in Mashhad Prison, as reported by Iran Human Rights Organization.

Their identities have been reported as Ramazan Gholamian, 32, and Musa Najjar, 38, both residents of Mashhad.

The report states that Najjar was convicted and sentenced to death for killing a motorcyclist with a knife during a fight in Mashhad, in July 2021. Additionally, Gholamian’s death sentence was issued approximately two years ago for premeditated murder.

No official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have provided coverage of these executions at the time of writing.
In 2023, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran registered the execution of 767 individuals. Out of these, 7 were carried out in public. Among the executed individuals whose genders were identified, 21 were female. Additionally, 2 juvenile offenders, defined as individuals under the age of 18 at the time of their alleged crimes, were also executed.

Mohammad Nourizad Receives Five Years for New Case While Imprisoned

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, Kamal Jafari Yazdi, Mashhad, Mohammad Nourizad, محمد نوریزاد

Mohammad Nourizad, a civil activist imprisoned in Evin Prison, has been sentenced to five years in prison due to a new case recently opened against him during his incarceration.

A page attributed to this civil activist reported that on Sunday, July 21, 2024, a hearing on Mr. Nourizad’s charges was held via video conference in his absence. Consequently, without having the opportunity to defend himself against the charges, he was sentenced to an additional five years in prison. The release of an audio file from prison has been cited as one of the charges against him.

In February of 2024, Nourizad was sentenced to an additional 61 months in prison due to another case opened against him during his imprisonment.

In July 2023, in yet another case, Nourizad was sentenced to two years in prison by Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

On August 11, 2019, Mohammad Nourizad was arrested by security forces in connection with a letter signed by 14 civil activists calling for the resignation of Ayatollah Khamenei and for his presence in front of the building where Kamal Jafari Yazdi’s appeal hearing was held. He was eventually transferred from Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad to Evin Prison in 2020.

Nourizad’s legal ordeal began on August 11, 2019, when he was arrested by security forces for participating in the drafting of an open letter with 13 other civil rights activists, calling for the Supreme Leader of Iran to step down. In the initial case, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison, three years of exile in Izeh, and a two-year travel ban. Although the prison sentence was upheld on appeal, the duration of exile and travel ban were reduced to two years.

In late April 2020, Nourizad received an additional one-year imprisonment for expressing support for Baha’i citizens in Eyvanki, Semnan Province.

Concerning the second part of his legal case, the Mashhad Criminal Court sentenced Nourizad to 8 months in prison and 74 lashes, along with exile to Tabas, for “disturbance of public order.” He also received an additional 74 lashes for “spreading falsehood.” This verdict was upheld on appeal as well.

Nourizad was released from Evin Prison on November 17, 2021, based on an early release order. However, on January 23, 2022, he was summoned and re-incarcerated in Evin Prison to serve the remainder of his sentence.

Nourizad has a history of arrests and convictions linked to his peaceful activism. He is a prominent filmmaker, writer, director, and journalist from Iran. While previously known as an outspoken religious journalist, he has become an active critic of the Islamic Republic in recent years.

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Yousef Ziayi Arrested by Security Forces in Urmia

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Freedom of Expression, News, Other
HRANA, Urmia, Yousef Ziayi, یوسف ضیایی

On Wednesday, July 31, Yousef Ziayi, a resident of Urmia, was arrested by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence in the city.

HRANA has identified him as Yousef Ziayi, 44 years old, a father of two, and a resident of Urmia.

A source close to Mr. Ziayi’s family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “Mr. Ziayi was arrested by agents of Urmia’s Ministry of Intelligence yesterday afternoon.”

The reasons for the arrest and the charges against this citizen are not yet known.

Two Prisoners Executed in Parsilon Prison, Khorramabad for Drug Offenses

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Executions, News
Hamed Parseh, Khorramabad, Parsilon Prison

On Thursday, August 1, the execution of two prisoners, previously sentenced to death on drug-related charges, was carried out in Parsilon Prison, Khorramabad.

HRANA has identified one of these prisoners as Hamed Parseh. These prisoners had previously been arrested on drug-related charges and subsequently sentenced to death by the judiciary.

No official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have provided coverage of these executions at the time of writing. In 2023, 66% of HRANA’s reports on executions lacked official announcements by judicial authorities and went unreported by media inside Iran, highlighting a troubling lack of transparency in due process.

The reports from the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists for the year 2023 reveal a concerning prevalence of executions for drug offenses in Iran, constituting 56.4% of the total executions. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s report.

Shakila Monfared Indicted for New Legal Case While Imprisoned

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, Iman Afshari, IRGC Intelligence, Shakila Monfared, Tehran

An indictment has been issued for Shakila Monfared, a political prisoner, regarding a new case opened against her during her imprisonment.

Based on information received by HRANA, Monfared faces a new case in prison filed by Ms. Shaghaghi, the Deputy Prosecutor. On Wednesday, July 24, the indictment for this political prisoner was issued by Tehran’s District 8 Prosecutor’s Office with charges of “destruction of public property and disrupting order.”

On June 26 of this year, while on medical leave, Shakila Monfared was arrested and transferred to Evin Prison after appearing at Tehran’s District 8 Prosecutor’s Office to extend her leave, despite her treatment being incomplete and her being subjected to physical assault.

Ms. Monfared was initially arrested by security forces in Tehran on August 31, 2020, while leaving her home. After completing her interrogation at one of the IRGC’s detention centers, she was transferred to Evin Prison. Finally, on September 14, she was released on bail.

The court session for the joint case against Shakila Monfared and two others was held on January 20, 2021, in Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court. After the session, Monfared was re-arrested by IRGC intelligence agents and taken back to prison.

Ultimately, Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, sentenced her to six years of imprisonment and four months of compulsory labor in Ministry of Agriculture Jihad for charges of “propaganda against the regime” and blasphemy.” Branch 36 of the Tehran Appeals Court later reduced her sentence to four years and two months of definitive imprisonment.

In January 2022, Ms. Monfared was tried in Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court for another case opened during her imprisonment. In June 2023, Branch 36 of the Tehran Appeals Court sentenced her to two years and eight months of imprisonment for “membership in anti-regime groups” and a fine for “spreading falsehoods.”

It should be noted that on June 6, 2023, Monfared faced new charges for “assembly and collusion to commit crimes against national security,” but this case was ultimately dismissed.

Additionally, in April of this year, Shakila Monfared was sentenced to twelve months of imprisonment, two years of exile, and additional punishments by Branch 36 of the Tehran Appeals Court for another case opened during her imprisonment.

Shakila Monfared, aged around 31, is a resident of Tehran.

Mowloud Safaei Incarcerated in Evin Prison to Serve Sentence

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News, Prisoners
Abolghasem Salavati, Mowloud Safaei, Qarchak Prison, Zahra Safaie

On July, Mowloud Safaie was arrested and transferred to Evin Prison to serve her three-year sentence on political charges.

A source close to the political prisoner’s family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “Ms. Safaie was arrested at her residence in Tehran by security forces today, Tuesday, July 31st, and transferred to the women’s ward of Evin Prison to serve her three-year sentence.”

Mowloud Safaie was previously arrested by security forces in Tehran on June 16, 2021, and was released from Qarchak Prison on bail after a period of detention.
She was subsequently sentenced by the Revolutionary Court to four years in prison on charges including “propaganda activities against the regime.” With the application of Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the most severe punishment, which is three years in prison, is enforceable for her.

In 2012, Ms. Safaie was sentenced by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Abolghasem Salavati, to five years in prison and five years of compulsory residence in Semnan.

Safaie, 64, is the sister of Zahra Safaie, a political prisoner currently held in Evin Prison. Mowloud Safaie has a history of previous arrests and convictions due to her peaceful activities.

Ms. Safaie’s father, known as “Haji Safaei,” was a prominent merchant in Tehran who was executed in 1981 on charges of supporting the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran. Her husband, Ebrahim Saeidi, who was a telecommunications employee, was also executed in 1984.

Prisoner Executed in Minab Prison for Drug Offenses

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Executions, News
HRANA, Minab Prison, Nabi Bakhsh Mola-Zahi

On Tuesday, July 30th, an inmate convicted of drug-related charges was executed in Minab Prison, Hormozgan province, according to Haal Vsh.

The identity of this prisoner has been reported as Nabi Bakhsh Mola-Zahi, approximately 61 years old, father of one child, and a resident of a village in Bampur city, Sistan and Baluchestan province.

According to the report, Mola-Zahi was arrested in 2019 on drug-related charges in Minab and was subsequently sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court of this city.

No official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have provided coverage of these executions at the time of writing. In 2023, 66% of HRANA’s reports on executions lacked official announcements by judicial authorities and went unreported by media inside Iran, highlighting a troubling lack of transparency in due process.

The reports from the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists for the year 2023 reveal a concerning prevalence of executions for drug offenses in Iran, constituting 56.4% of the total executions. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s report.