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Appeal Court Upholds 25-Year Prison Sentence for Baha’i Citizen Rouya Sabet

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News, Religious Minorities
Adelabad Prison, Baha'i citizen, irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Rouya Sabet, Shiraz, رویا ثابت

HRANA – The 25-year prison sentence of Rouya Sabet, a Baha’i citizen residing in Shiraz, has been upheld in full by Branch 37 of the Fars Province Court of Appeals.

The ruling, issued on September 23 by the appellate court, has since been officially communicated to Ms. Sabet. According to the verdict, she received 10 years in prison for each of the charges of “collaboration and communication with Israeli nationals and institutions” and “forming and running a group with the intent to act against national security.” She was also sentenced to five years in prison for “religious propaganda activity contrary to the Sharia of Islam.”

As complementary punishments, Ms. Sabet was handed a two-year travel ban (including passport cancellation), five years’ deprivation of social rights, and a ban on online activity.

The verdict is final. Under Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the heaviest sentence, 10 years of imprisonment, will be enforceable.

On May 28, 2024, Branch 1 of the Shiraz Revolutionary Court had initially sentenced Ms. Sabet to 25 years in prison along with additional penalties on the same charges.

Rouya Sabet, a Baha’i citizen residing in the United Arab Emirates, was summoned and arrested by the IRGC Intelligence Organization in Shiraz on February 15, 2024, while visiting the city. She was released approximately five months later from Adelabad Prison in Shiraz after posting bail.

Four Prisoners Executed in Dastgerd Prison of Isfahan

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Executions, News
Abolfazl Lerni, Ahmad Arzani, Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan

HRANA- On Monday, October 6, four prisoners were executed in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan.

HRANA has confirmed the identities of two of the executed prisoners as Abolfazl Lerni and Ahmad Arzani. All four prisoners had been arrested and sentenced to death on drug-related charges.

Further details, including the identities of the other two executed prisoners, are currently being investigated by HRANA.

As of this report’s publication, the executions have not been announced by prison officials or relevant authorities.

According to HRANA’s statistics, in 2024, 61 inmates were hanged in Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan – a 74% increase compared to the previous year. This sharp rise reflects a disturbing escalation in executions at this facility.

Ehsan Rostami Continues Hunger Strike in Evin Prison

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News, Prisoners
Ehsan Rostami, Harsin, احسان رستمی

HRANA – Ehsan Rostami, a cultural activist from Harsin, Kermanshah Province, remains held in Ward 209 of Evin Prison in a state of legal uncertainty. After a prolonged lack of information about his situation, his family recently learned of his ongoing hunger strike and have requested an in-person visit to ensure his well-being.

According to information received by HRANA, Rostami is currently on the seventh day of his hunger strike in Ward 209 of Evin Prison.

A source close to his family confirmed to HRANA:

“Mr. Rostami’s family had been unaware of his location and condition for a long time. They have now learned that he is being held in Ward 209 of Evin Prison in poor physical health and began a hunger strike on Wednesday, October 2, to protest the uncertainty surrounding his case and the pressure exerted by interrogators.”

Rostami’s family has reportedly visited the Evin Prosecutor’s Office to request a meeting with him to verify his health condition. However, judicial and security authorities have yet to provide a clear response.

Ehsan Rostami was arrested by security forces in Tehran on August 19. Since his detention, he has been denied family visits by order of Naser Jalayer Sartaghi, the investigator of Branch 5 of the Evin Prosecutor’s Office.

HRANA’s data from the past decade shows that during this ten-year period, over 2,050 political prisoners and prisoners of conscience in Iran prisons have been forced to go on hunger strike in protest of various abuses—including prolonged detention, being held in legal limbo, unfair trials, poor prison conditions, and being held in solitary confinement or alongside inmates convicted of violent crimes.

Four Prisoners Executed in Malayer, Sabzevar, Saveh, and Qom Prisons

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Executions
HRANA, Malayer, Qom, Sabzevar, Saveh

HRANA- In recent days, four prisoners were executed in the prisons of Malayer, Sabzevar, Saveh, and Qom on charges related to drug offenses and murder.

According to HRANA, on Sunday, October 5, a prisoner identified as Sobhan Najafi was hanged in Malayer Prison, Hamadan Province. Based on information obtained by HRANA, Mr. Najafi had previously been arrested on a murder charge and later sentenced to death by a criminal court.

The following day, a prisoner named Reza Saqaei was executed in Sabzevar Prison, Razavi Khorasan Province, for drug-related offenses. On the same day, another prisoner, whose last name was verified by HRANA as Hosseini, was executed in Saveh Prison on murder charges.

Finally, on Tuesday, October 7, authorities at Qom Prison executed a prisoner identified as Farzad (last name unknown) for drug-related offenses.

As of this report’s publication, none of these executions have been announced by prison officials or judicial authorities.

From the beginning of this year until the end of September, the Iranian regime has executed 1,028 people, marking an unprecedented increase compared to previous years.

Two Prisoners Executed in Kermanshah Prison on Drug-Related Charges

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Executions, News
Arsalan Khani, Kermanshah prison

HRANA – At dawn on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, two prisoners previously sentenced to death on drug-related charges were executed in Kermanshah Prison.

HRANA has confirmed the identities of the executed prisoners as Arsalan Khani and Ghasem (last name unknown).

Based on information obtained by HRANA, both men had been arrested on drug-related charges and later sentenced to death by Revolutionary Courts.

As of the time of this report, the executions have not been officially announced by prison authorities or other responsible institutions. According to HRANA reports, in 2024, only 6% of executions were announced by official bodies or domestic media outlets. Over the past five years, 77% of executions have gone unreported – commonly referred to as secret executions. In some of these cases, the lack of transparency is so severe that the death-row prisoners are denied even the chance for a final visit with their families.

From the beginning of this year until the end of September, the Iranian regime has executed 1,028 people, marking an unprecedented increase compared to previous years.

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Forced Confession and Security Accusations Against Amirhossein Mousavi Broadcast on State TV

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News, Prisoners
Abolghasem Salavati, Amirhossein Mousavi, Evin Prison, Reza Shafakhah

HRANA – The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) has released a video featuring the forced confession of Amirhossein Mousavi, a political detainee held in Evin Prison.

According to HRANA, IRIB aired a video of Amirhossein Mousavi, in which efforts are made to portray him as involved in espionage and intelligence cooperation with Israel. Mousavi, appearing under apparent duress, describes his social media activities and voices remorse. The video claims he exchanged information with individuals linked to Israel during the 12-day war – despite the fact that his arrest took place roughly six months before that conflict began.

In September 2025, Mousavi’s case was referred to Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Abolghasem Salavati, following an indictment on charges of “assembly and collusion to act against national security” and “propaganda against the regime.” He also faces a separate charge of “insulting sacred beliefs,” which falls under the jurisdiction of the Tehran Province Criminal Court One. His lawyer previously announced that the first court hearing is scheduled for November 2, 2025.

A source close to Mousavi’s family told HRANA: “After ten months of investigation by Branch 5 of the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office of District 33 in Tehran, his case was referred to the mentioned court branch with bail increased to 10 billion tomans.”

Earlier, Mousavi’s defense attorney, Reza Shafakhah, had shared updates regarding his client’s continued legal uncertainty and prolonged detention.

Mousavi, a Tehran resident approximately 41 years old, was arrested on December 18, 2024, at Mehrabad Airport while preparing to travel to Kish Island. His lawyer has stated that Mousavi’s account on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) had been under surveillance for nearly six months and that his arrest stemmed from his activity there.

Before his arrest, Amirhossein Mousavi was active on X under the handle “James B Dean.”

Families of Six Executed Prisoners in Ahvaz Threatened Against Holding Mourning Ceremonies

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News, Other
Adnan Ghobeishavi, ahvaz, Ali Mojaddam, Habib Deris, HRANA, Khuzestan, Moein Khanfari, Mohammadreza Moghaddam, Salem Mousavi, Sepidar Prison

HRANA – Security forces in Khuzestan Province have severely threatened the families of six executed Arab prisoners, warning them not to hold mourning ceremonies or communicate with media outlets and human rights organizations.

The six men – Ali Mojaddam, Mohammadreza Moghaddam, Moein Khanfari, Habib Deris, Adnan Ghobeishavi, and Salem Mousavi – were executed at dawn on Saturday, October 4, 2025, in Sepidar Prison, Ahvaz, without prior notice to their families or lawyers.

According to HRANA, agents of the Ministry of Intelligence contacted the families by phone on the day of the execution to inform them of the death of their loved ones. Prior to these calls, the families had received no information regarding the scheduled execution or the prisoners’ transfer to solitary confinement.

Sources close to the families told HRANA that, following the executions, security authorities summoned several relatives and tribal elders to intelligence offices, including the local headquarters of the Ministry of Intelligence, and explicitly forbade them from holding mourning ceremonies in mosques or public halls. The authorities also prohibited the recitation of the Quran, poetry, or other religious rituals over loudspeakers – traditional mourning practices among the Arab community in Khuzestan.

According to information obtained by HRANA, family members and tribal elders were compelled to sign written pledges promising not to organize any public gatherings. They were further warned that any communication with media or international human rights organizations would result in punitive measures.

The six Arab prisoners were arrested by security forces in February 2019 and later sentenced to death by a branch of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court in March 2023. The judiciary of the Islamic Republic accused them of “membership in the armed wing of Harakat al-Nidal al-Arabi li-Tahrir al-Ahwaz and armed action against the foundations of the Islamic Republic.”

As of two days after the executions, the families remain unaware of the burial locations or the circumstances under which the sentences were carried out.

Forced Confessions of Three Rappers Published by Tehran Security Police

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News, Other
Arash Sayyadi, Ashkan Shekarian Moghaddam, HRANA, Rasam Sohrabi

HRANA – Three rap artists, Arash Sayyadi, Ashkan Shekarian Moghaddam, and Rasam Sohrabi, were arrested by the Tehran Security and Intelligence Police. Videos of their forced confessions have been circulated on social media while their cases are still pending judicial review.

In the published videos, the three men appear half-naked, apparently to display their tattoos, suggesting the security forces intended to showcase them.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, these rappers, often labeled “underground” musicians for lacking official production licenses, were detained by Tehran’s Security Police. Following their arrests, videos were posted on social media accounts attributed to Arash Sayyadi, Rasam Sohrabi, and Ashkan Shekarian Moghaddam, in which they appear half-naked and confess to “taunting” and “disrupting public order” online.

At the end of the videos, the three express “gratitude and apologies” to “law enforcement, judicial authorities, the Second Base of the Intelligence Organization, and the Prosecutor’s Office of District 5 of Tehran.”

It is worth noting that, beyond violating human dignity, the recording and broadcasting of forced confessions constitute a breach of legal principles: under the law, individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court, and any punitive action before a final conviction is a violation of their civil and human rights.

These three citizens are active in rap music. Arash Sayyadi, known by his stage name “Isin,” and composer Rasam Sohrabi had previously faced security-related confrontations and arrests. Ashkan Shekaryan Moghaddam performs under the stage name “Ashkan Leo.

Four Prisoners Executed in Adelabad Prison, Shiraz

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Executions, News
Adelabad Prison, Farzad Rasoulzadeh, Mohammad Soltanpour, Nour Mohammad Naseri, Rahman Derakhshani, Shiraz

At dawn on Sunday, October 5, four prisoners were executed in Adelabad Prison in Shiraz on drug-related charges.

HRANA has identified the executed prisoners as Rahman Derakhshani (Jahanbakhsh Rakhshani), Mohammad Soltanpour, Nour Mohammad Naseri, and Farzad Rasoulzadeh.

These four prisoners had previously been arrested on drug-related charges and later sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court.

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

In 2024, Iranian prisons witnessed the execution of 930 inmates. According to HRANA’s data, the number of executions carried out by the Iranian regime’s judiciary has risen steadily over the past five years. The percentage of executions related to drug charges has also increased year after year.

Elham Salehi Sentenced to Prison and Additional Punishments

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Freedom of Expression, News
Elham Salehi, HRANA, Qarchak Prison, Tehran Revolutionary Court, Varamin

HRANA – Elham Salehi, a civil activist currently held in Qarchak Prison in Varamin, has been sentenced by Branch 23 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court to one year in prison and a two-year ban on social media activity.

The ruling, handed down by Branch 23 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, was delivered to Ms. Salehi today. Under the verdict, she has been sentenced to one year of discretionary imprisonment, and as a complementary punishment, she is prohibited from engaging in social media activity for two years.

A source close to her family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “The verdict was served to Ms. Salehi this morning after she appeared before the mentioned judicial branch.”

Her trial session was held on Sunday, September 28, 2025. The charges brought against her included “propaganda against the regime,” “spreading false information,” and “appearing in public without hijab.”

The civil activist was transferred to Qarchak Prison on August 26, 2025, after being arrested in early August at her home in Tehran by security forces.

Elham Salehi, a 37-year-old civil activist based in Tehran, has previously faced judicial proceedings over her activism.