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Six Citizens Arrested by Security Forces in Mahabad

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News, Other
Akam Sheikheh, Hazhar Mohammadzadeh Aghdam, Iman Mohammadzadeh, Kazem Azadeh, Mahabad, Naser Azarm, Saman Ghorbani, مهاباد

HRANA – Saman Ghorbani, Kazem Azadeh, Naser Azarm, Akam Sheikheh, Hazhar Mohammadzadeh Aghdam, and Iman Mohammadzadeh, residents of Mahabad, were arrested by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location.

Kurdpa has identified the arrestees as :

• Saman Ghorbani from the village of Yal-Temer
• Kazem Azadeh and Naser Azarm, two citizens from the Khalifan district
• Akam Sheikheh, from the village of Qara Gheshlagh
• Hazhar Mohammadzadeh Aghdam and Iman Mohammadzadeh, from the village of Khorkhoreh.

According to the report, Ghorbani, Sheikheh, Mohammadzadeh, and Mohammadzadeh Aghdam were arrested early this morning at their family homes without a judicial warrant and with the use of force. The arrests of Kazem Azadeh and Naser Azarm were carried out on yesterday, December 9, by security forces.

As of the time of this report’s publication, no information has been obtained regarding the reasons for their arrest, their place of detention, or the charges brought against them.

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.

Shabnam Hosseinzadeh Sentenced to Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, Shabnam Hosseinzadeh, شبنم حسین زاده

HRANA – Shabnam Hosseinzadeh, the wife of Amirhossein Mousavi, has been sentenced to five years in prison by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

Reza Shafakhah, her attorney, announced that on December 8, the court’s ruling was delivered to him verbally. Without specifying the charges brought against her, he added that Ms. Hosseinzadeh has been sentenced to five years in prison.

Further details, including the specific charges against this political defendant, are still under HRANA’s review.

Shabnam Hosseinzadeh is the wife of Amirhossein Mousavi, who remains detained in Evin Prison without due process nearly one year after his arrest.

Six Political Prisoners Re-Sentenced to Death after Retrial

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Executions, Freedom of Expression, News
Akbar Daneshvar Kar, Babak Alipour, Iman Afshari, Pouya Ghobadi, Seyed Abolhassan Montazer, Seyed Mohammad Taghavi, Vahid Bani-Amerian

HRANA – Political prisoners Akbar Daneshvar Kar, Seyed Mohammad Taghavi Sang-Dehi, Babak Alipour, Pouya Ghobadi Bistouni, Vahid Bani-Amerian, and Seyed Abolhassan Montazer have once again been sentenced to death by Judge Iman Afshari.

The initial death sentences for Daneshvar Kar, Taghavi Sang-Dehi, Alipour, Ghobadi Bistouni, Bani-Amrian, and Montazer had been issued on the charge of baghi (armed rebellion) through alleged membership in anti-government groups. These sentences were overturned by the Supreme Court in August this year, and the case was sent back for reconsideration.

In November, the six prisoners were retried in Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari. Ultimately, on Sunday, December 7, their death sentences were issued once more and formally communicated to their lawyers.

In addition to the charge of baghi, the prisoners were also sentenced to prison terms and internal exile on charges including assembly and collusion to disrupt national security, property destruction, forming unlawful groups, and illegal border crossing.

Babak Alipour was arrested by security forces in Tehran in the fall of 2023, and Vahid Bani-Amerian was arrested in December 2023. On February 23, 2024, Pouya Ghobadi and Seyed Mohammad Taghavi were arrested in Chaldoran County and transferred to Maku Prison, before being moved to Evin Prison on March 1, 2024. Akbar Daneshvar had also been previously arrested by security forces and transferred to Evin Prison. These individuals were formally charged in May 2024 in Branch 5 of the Tehran Prosecutor’s Office and were subsequently transferred to Ghezel Hesar Prison in the summer of that year.

Seyed Mohammad Taghavi, a political prisoner from the 1980s, as well as Vahid Bani-Amerian, Pouya Ghobadi, and Babak Alipour, all have prior records of arrest and imprisonment related to their activities.

At Least 27 Prisoners Executed Across Iran from December 7 to 9

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Executions, News
ahvaz, Bam, Birjand, Borazjan, Ilam, Jiroft, Kerman, Khaf, Neyshabur, Sheiban Prison, Yazd

HRANA – Between Sunday and Tuesday, December 7 to 9, at least 27 prisoners were executed in prisons across Iran.

Sunday, December 7

Iran Human Rights reported that in addition to the execution of a prisoner named Farshid Jafarzadeh, two other prisoners were hanged in Lakan Prison of Rasht. Their identities were reported as Sirus Zabihi, 32, and Ali Soudi, 27. Mr. Zabihi had been sentenced to death about three years ago following a group altercation that resulted in a murder charge. Ali Soudi had been arrested about two years earlier on charges related to drug offenses.

The organization also reported the execution of Hassan Bahmani, 28, on a murder charge in Neyshabur Prison.

Monday, December 8

According to HRANA, on this day, Sultan Morad Bahmani was executed in Kerman Prison and Nima Karami in Neyshabur Prison, both on drug-related charges. Two other prisoners were also hanged in Dastgerd Prison of Isfahan on similar charges. HRANA has confirmed the identity of one of them as Mohammad-Baqer Souri.

Additionally, Borzu Beigi in Saveh Prison, Bahram Mousavi in Dorud Prison, Reza Raoufi in Kashan Prison, Kermshah Zaki-Pour in Zanjan Prison, and Ali Rostgari in Gorgan Prison were executed on murder charges.

Tuesday, December 9

As previously reported by HRANA, six prisoners were hanged on drug-related charges in Birjand Prison on this day. HRANA has confirmed the identities of three of them as Mirzakhan Basati, Behzad Mazarzahi, and Ali Barahouei. The identity of a fourth prisoner has been confirmed by Haal Vsh as Ramazan Deldadeh.

HRANA also reported the following executions:

• Emad Rashidi, on drug-related charges, in Jiroft Prison
• Ghanbar Eslami, on drug-related charges, in Khaf Prison
• Kermali Farhadi, on a murder charge, in Bam Prison
• Shahmorad Abdi, on a murder charge, in Ilam Prison
• Abdollah Ghasemi, on a murder charge, in Borazjan Prison
• Jalil Shahsavari, on a murder charge, in Yazd Prison
• Houshang Jadidi, on a murder charge, in Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz

As of the time of compiling this report, prison officials and relevant authorities have not announced these executions.

Human Rights Day: Introducing Imprisoned Civil Activists in Iran and Honoring Their Stand Against Human Rights Violations

Human Rights Day is also an opportunity to reexamine the values that form the foundation of human dignity, values such as justice, freedom, and equality, rooted in international documents and human experience
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News, Other
Abbas Lesani, Abbas Vahedian Shahroudi, Abdolaziz Azimi Ghadim, Abolfazl Khoran, Ahmadreza Haeri, Ali Kheirjou, Amirsalar Davoudi, Anisha Asadollahi, Arak prison, Arman Shadivand, Arsham Rezaei, Darreh Shahr Prison, Davoud Rezavi, Ehsan Rostami, Evin Prison, Farhad Fahandezh, Fariba Kamalabadi, Fatemeh Sepahri, Fatemeh Tedrisi, golrokh iraee, Hashem Khastar, Hassan Tozandejani, Human Rights day, Jahangir Rostami, Javad Lal Mohammadi, Karaj Central Penitentiary, Lakan Rasht Prison, Mahbubeh Rezaei, Maryam Akbari-Monfared, Maryam Jalal Hosseini, Masoud Farhikhta, Matin Yazdani, Mehran Raoof, Mohammad Abolhasani, Mohammad Davari, Mohammad Najafi, Mohammad Nourizad, Morteza Parvin, Morteza Seyyedi, Narges Mansouri, Narges Mohammadi, Nasrollah Amirlu, Negin Rezaei, Nima Mahdizadegan, Payam Vali, Peyman Farhangian, Qarchak Varamin Prison, Ramin Rostami, Reza Aghdasi, Reza Mohammadhosseini, Saeed Madani, Salar Taher Afshar, Sara Jahani, Shakila Monfared, Sharifeh Mohammadi, Shiva Shah Siah, Tahir Naqavi, Vadoud Asadi, Vakilabad Prison (Mashhad), Yasaman Hashdari, Yousef Kari, Zahra Dadras, Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb, Zohreh Dadras

HRANA News Agency –Human Rights Day is an opportunity to reflect on the condition of imprisoned civil activists in Iran, individuals who are behind bars solely for defending fundamental human rights. HRANA, by publishing a list of these brave activists, calls on the international community to amplify their voices and demand the immediate release of advocates for freedom and justice.

This day serves as a moment to reconsider the role of human rights defenders and civil activists in societies where fundamental rights are still subject to structural violations. Marked annually on the global calendar, it commemorates the principles laid out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted on December 10, 1948, principles that recognize freedom of expression, the prohibition of torture, the right to a fair trial, and human dignity as inalienable rights of all individuals. Nevertheless, the current reality in Iran highlights a stark gap between these international standards and the domestic situation.

In Iran, many human rights defenders, civil society activists, trade unionists, environmentalists, and advocates for fundamental freedoms face the threat of arrest, harsh sentences, and long-term deprivation, even for entirely peaceful activities conducted within the framework of domestic laws. These individuals, who constitute a significant part of the country’s civil society fabric, consistently encounter security pressures, broad restrictions, and systematic rights violations in their pursuit of transparency, justice, and equality. Most have been sentenced following closed-door trials, with limited access to legal counsel and based on vague or unsubstantiated charges, a process that not only contradicts Iran’s international obligations but also deeply impacts the civic space in the country.

In this report, HRANA publishes a list of over 61 imprisoned human rights defenders and civil activists in Iran, including 8 of whom currently being held in pretrial detention. This list is the result of ongoing collection, verification, and documentation efforts, aiming to provide a clear representation of the various dimensions of human rights violations against these defenders. The publication of this list is not merely the release of names; it tells a part of the story of Iranian civil society, in which the struggle to defend human rights can come at the cost of one’s freedom, health, and personal security.

Beyond commemorating foundational principles, Human Rights Day is also an occasion to consider the role of society and international institutions in supporting these defenders. Raising public awareness, demanding accountability from authorities, and supporting activists’ efforts are essential tools for advancing human rights in Iran. Through this report.

This report, in addition to documenting and reporting on these individuals’ conditions, is a step toward transparent and continuous documentation, aimed at preserving the truth, preventing collective amnesia, and laying the groundwork for accountability. Despite pressures and restrictions, human rights defenders in Iran remain a vital part of the collective effort to achieve a freer and more just society. Human Rights Day is a moment to once again bring their names and efforts to the forefront.

List of names:

Mohammad Najafi1. Mohammad Najafi, Civil Rights Activist

Charges: Sending a voice message from Arak Prison and expressing support for the 2022 nationwide protests; spreading falsehoods; propaganda against the regime; insulting the Supreme Leader.
Conviction: At least six separate cases totaling more than 24 years in prison.
Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.
sharifeh mohammadi2. Sharifeh Mohammadi, labor activist

Charges: Propaganda against the regime; acting against national security; baghi (armed rebellion) through membership in one of the opposition groups.
Conviction: Following an order by the head of the judiciary, her sentence was reduced by one degree and changed to 30 years in prison.
Place of imprisonment: Lakan Prison in Rasht.

3. Fatemeh Sepehri, civil activist

Charges: Cooperation with hostile governments; assembly and collusion; insulting the Supreme Leader; propaganda against the regime; spreading falsehoods and disturbing public opinion.
Conviction: In five separate cases, a total of 41 years and 9 months in prison plus a monetary fine.
Place of imprisonment: Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.

4. Golrokh Iraee, civil activist

Charges: Assembly and collusion against national security; propaganda against the regime; disrupting public order.
Conviction: Five years in prison and social deprivations.
Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.

5. Maryam Akbari Monfared, civil activist

Charges: Propaganda against the regime and assembly and collusion against national security.
Conviction: Two years in prison.
Place of imprisonment: Qarchak Prison in Varamin.

6. Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb, civil activist

Charges: Propaganda against the regime; assembly and collusion to commit crimes against internal and external security.
Conviction: In two separate cases, a total of six years and eight months in prison, social deprivations, and exile.
Place of imprisonment: Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.

7- Payam Vali, Baha’i civil activist

Charges: Cooperation with hostile governments; inciting or persuading people to war and killing each other; propaganda against the regime.
Conviction: In three separate cases, 11 years and 5 months in prison, social deprivations, and exile.
Place of imprisonment: Karaj Central Penitentiary.

8. Mohammad Davari, labor activist

Charges: Insulting the Supreme Leader and propaganda against the regime in favor of anti-regime groups on the Internet.
Conviction: Four years and six months in prison, social deprivations, and exile.
Place of imprisonment: Adelabad Prison in Shiraz.

9. Hashem Khastar, civil activist

Charges: Insulting the founder of the Islamic Republic; insulting sacred values; insulting the Supreme Leader; disturbing public opinion; cooperation with foreign media; participating in unlawful gatherings; and propaganda against the regime.
Conviction: In two separate cases, a total of 18 years and six months in prison, social deprivations, and exile.
Place of imprisonment: Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.

10. Anisha Asadollahi, labor activist

Charges: Assembly and collusion against national security and propaganda against the regime.
Conviction: Five years and eight months in prison.
Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.

11- Mehran Raoof, labor activist

Charges: Participation in running an unlawful group and propaganda against the regime.
Conviction: Seven years and six months in prison.
Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.

12- Mohammad Nourizad, civil activist

Charges: Sending an audio file out of Evin Prison; disrupting public order; spreading falsehoods; insulting the founder of the Islamic Republic; insulting sacred values; insulting the Supreme Leader; disturbing public opinion; cooperation with foreign media; participating in unlawful gatherings; propaganda against the regime; and damaging the door and window of the ward chief’s office.
Conviction: In six separate cases, a total of 28 years and 9 months in prison, 148 lashes, and exile.
Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.

13- Saeed Madani, civil activist

Charges: Forming and administering anti-regime groups.
Conviction: Four years in prison.
Place of imprisonment: Damavand Prison.

14. Ahmadreza Haeri, civil activist

Charges: Assembly and collusion with the intent to commit a crime against national security; propaganda activities against the regime; and spreading falsehoods.
Conviction: In two separate cases, a total of six years and three months in prison.
Place of imprisonment: Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.

15. Reza (Gholamreza) Aghdasi, labor activist

Charges: Propaganda against the regime and assembly and collusion with the intent to commit a crime against national security.
Conviction: Four years and three months in prison.
Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison

16. Arman Shadivand, environmental activist

Charges: Propaganda against the regime and insulting the Supreme Leader.
Conviction: Two years in prison.
Place of imprisonment: Darreh Shahr Prison.

17. Narges Mansouri, civil activist

Charges: Assembly and collusion against national security, and propaganda against the regime.
Conviction: Nine years in prison.
Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.

18. Abbas Vahedian Shahroudi, civil activist

Charges: Forming a group with the intent to act against national security, and cooperating with groups opposing the regime.
Conviction: A total of 24 years in prison and two years of exile in three separate cases.
Place of imprisonment: Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.

19. Mohammad Abolhasani, civil activist

Charges: Disrupting public order; assembly and collusion against national security; and propaganda activities against the regime.
Conviction: In three separate cases, a total of five years and three months in prison, social deprivations, and 12 lashes. The flogging sentence has been carried out.
Place of imprisonment: Choubindar Prison in Qazvin.

20- Taher Naghavi, attorney and civil activist

Charges: Propaganda against the regime and assembly and collusion with the intent to disrupt national security.
Conviction: Six years in prison and social deprivations.
Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.

21- Maryam Jalal Hosseini, civil activist

Charges: Inciting and persuading people to war and violence against one another with the intent to disrupt national security; propaganda against the regime; insulting the Supreme Leader; and forming a group aimed at undermining national security.
Conviction: Six years in prison and exile.
Place of imprisonment: Kachouei Prison in Karaj.

22- Shakila Monfared, civil activist

Charges: Membership in anti-regime groups; destruction of public property; disrupting public order and public peace; propaganda activities against the regime; and insulting Islamic sacred values.
Conviction: In four separate cases, a total of 15 years and five months in prison, ten lashes, social deprivations, and exile.
Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.

23- Morteza Seydi, labor activist

Charges: Forming a group under the name of a labor union with the intent to disrupt national security.
Conviction: Two years in prison.
Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.

24. Nasrollah Amirloo, labor activist

Charges: Forming a group under the name of a labor union with the intent to disrupt national security.
Conviction: Two years in prison.
Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.

25. Morteza Parvin, Azerbaijani-Turk activist

Charges: Propaganda against the regime and assembly and collusion with the intent to disrupt national security.
Conviction: Six years in prison.
Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.

 26. Foad Fathi, labor activist

Charges: Membership in anti-regime groups; acting against national security; and propaganda against the regime.
Conviction: Four years in prison.
Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.

27. Abdolrasoul Mortazavi, civil activist

Charges: Insulting the founder of the Islamic Republic; insulting sacred values; insulting the Supreme Leader; disturbing public opinion; cooperating with foreign media; participating in unlawful gatherings; propaganda against the regime; and disrupting public order.
Conviction: In three separate cases, 30 years in prison, with the maximum cumulative sentence stated as 15 years in prison.
Place of imprisonment: Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan.

28. Fariba Kamalabadi, Baha’i civil activist

Charges: Administering an organization described by authorities as a “deviant and misguided sect” with the aim of disrupting national security.
Conviction: Ten years in prison.
Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.

29. Javad La’al-Mohammadi, civil activist

Charges: Giving interviews to foreign media and membership in anti-regime groups.
Conviction: In three separate cases, a total of 23 years in prison.
Place of imprisonment: Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.

30- Golareh Abbasi, civil activist

Charges: Assembly and collusion against national security, and propaganda against the regime.
Conviction: 33 months in prison.
Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.

31. Arsham Rezaei, civil activist

Charges: Assembly and collusion with the intent to commit a crime against national security; propaganda activities against the regime; inciting people to clashes and bloodshed; acquiring illicit gains; and spreading falsehoods.
Conviction: In two separate cases, a total of 15 years in prison, a monetary fine, 50 lashes, and social deprivations.
Place of imprisonment: Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.

32- Vadood Asadi, Azerbaijani-Turk activist

Charges: Propaganda against the regime; membership in opposition groups; insulting the Supreme Leader; and assembly and collusion against national security.
Conviction: In two separate cases, a total of six years and three months in prison.
Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.

33- Salar Taher Afshar, Azerbaijani-Turk activist

Charges: Assembly and collusion against national security.
Conviction: Five years in prison.
Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.

34. Abdolaziz Azimi-Ghadim, Azerbaijani-Turk activist

Charges: Propaganda against the regime and assembly, and collusion against national security.
Conviction: Six years in prison.
Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.

35. Elham Salehi, civil activist

Charges: Propaganda activities against the regime; spreading falsehoods; and appearing in public without a hijab.
Conviction: One year in prison and complementary punishments.
Place of imprisonment: Qarchak Prison in Varamin.

36. Abolfazl Khoran, teachers’ union activist

Charges: Insulting sacred values and disrupting public order and public peace.
Conviction: A total of six years in prison, 74 lashes, and a 40 million toman fine in two separate cases.
Place of imprisonment: Arak Prison.

37- Masoud Farhikhteh, teachers’ union activist

Charges: Assembly and collusion with the intent to commit crimes against the country’s internal security, and propaganda activities against the regime.
Conviction: Four years, one month, and 17 days in prison.
Place of imprisonment: Karaj Central Penitentiary.

38- Reza Mohammad-Hosseini, civil activist

Charges: Membership in anti-regime groups with the aim of disrupting national security; assembly and collusion to commit a crime against national security; and propaganda activities against the regime.
Conviction: Initially 41 years and six months, later reduced to five years in prison at the appeals stage.
Place of imprisonment: Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.

39- Mahboobeh Rezaei, civil activist

Charges: Membership in anti-regime groups with the aim of disrupting national security; assembly and collusion with the intent to commit a crime against national security; propaganda activities against the regime; insulting Islamic sacred values; unveiling (appearing without hijab); and displaying immoral behavior in cyberspace.
Conviction: Initially 19 years and 9 months, later reduced to five years in prison at the appeals stage.
Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.

40. Abbas Lessani, Azerbaijani-Turk activist

Charges: Forming an unlawful group; assembly and collusion against national security; and disrupting public order.
Conviction: He is being held in pretrial detention and has not yet been tried.
Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.

41. Farhad Fahandej, Baha’i civil activist

Charges: No information has yet been made available regarding the charges brought against Mr. Fahandej.
Conviction: He is being held in pretrial detention and has not been tried.
Place of imprisonment: A Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facilities in Gorgan.

42. Jahangir Rostami, teachers’ union activist

Charges: No information has yet been made available regarding the charges brought against Mr. Rostami.
Conviction: He is being held in pretrial detention and has not been tried.
Place of imprisonment: The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, known as Ward 209 of Evin Prison.

43. Ehsan Rostami, cultural activist

Charges: No information has yet been made available regarding the charges brought against Mr. Rostami.
Conviction: He is being held in pretrial detention and has not been tried.
Place of imprisonment: The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, known as Ward 209 of Evin Prison.

44. Hassan Tozandehjani, cultural activist

Charges: No information has yet been made available regarding the charges brought against Mr. Tozandehjani.
Conviction: He is being held in pretrial detention and has not been tried.
Place of imprisonment: The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, known as Ward 209 of Evin Prison.

45. Ramin Rostami, cultural activist

Charges: No information has yet been made available regarding the charges brought against Mr. Rostami.
Conviction: He is being held in pretrial detention and has not been tried.
Place of imprisonment: The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, known as Ward 209 of Evin Prison.

46. Nima Mahdizadegan, cultural activist

Charges: No information has yet been made available regarding the charges brought against Mr. Mahdizadegan.
Conviction: He is being held in pretrial detention and has not been tried.
Place of imprisonment: The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, known as Ward 209 of Evin Prison.

47. Mehdi Farrahi Shandiz, teachers’ union activist

Charges: No information has yet been made available regarding the charges brought against Mr. Farrahi Shandiz.
Conviction: He is being held in pretrial detention and has not been tried.
Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.

The following list includes activists who are currently outside prison due to a suspension of their sentences, furlough, or other similar circumstances:

 

1. Narges Mohammadi, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and human rights activist

Charges: Propaganda activities against the Islamic Republic of Iran through publishing a statement (the statement against executions); staging a sit-in inside the prison office; disobeying the prison warden and officials (for refusing to end the protest sit-in); breaking windows; defamation and causing bodily harm; confrontation with an officer and disobedience; and additional propaganda activities against the regime.
Conviction: In seven separate cases, a total of 15 years and six months in prison, 74 lashes, exile, and social deprivations.
Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison (currently on medical furlough with the execution of her sentence temporarily suspended).

2- Amirsalar Davoudi, attorney and human rights activist

Charges: Insulting the Supreme Leader; disturbing public opinion; and forming an anti-security group.
Conviction: 14 years in prison.
Case status: Following the Supreme Court’s Branch 39 decision to accept his request for retrial and refer the case to a parallel branch, the enforcement of his sentence has been halted.

3- Fatemeh (Mojgan) Tadrisi, civil activist

Charges: Inciting and persuading people to war and violence against one another with the intent to disrupt national security; propaganda against the regime; insulting the Supreme Leader; and forming a group aimed at undermining national security.
Conviction: Six years in prison and exile.
Place of imprisonment: Kachouei Prison in Karaj (currently on medical furlough).

4. Peyman Farhangian, labor activist

Charges: Propaganda against the regime and forming a group with the intent to disrupt public order.
Conviction: In two separate cases, a total of 11 years in prison and social deprivations.
Place of imprisonment: Azbaram Prison in Lahijan (currently on furlough).

5. Jelveh Javaheri, women’s rights activist

Charges: Propaganda against the regime.
Conviction: One year in prison.
Case status: Following the request for retrial at the Supreme Court, the execution of her sentence has been temporarily halted, and she has been released on bail pending review.

6. Yasamin Heshdari, women’s rights activist

Charges: Membership in a group and assembly and collusion with the intent to disrupt national security.
Conviction: Six years, one month, and 17 days in prison.
Case status: Following the request for retrial at the Supreme Court, the execution of her sentence has been temporarily halted, and she has been released on bail.

7- Sara Jahani, women’s rights activist

Charges: Membership in a group and assembly and collusion with the intent to disrupt national security.
Conviction: Six years, one month, and 17 days in prison.
Case status: Following the request for retrial at the Supreme Court, the execution of her sentence has been temporarily halted, and she has been released on bail.

8- Matin Yazdani, women’s rights activist

Charges: Membership in a group and assembly and collusion with the intent to disrupt national security.
Conviction: Six years, one month, and 17 days in prison.
Case status: Following the request for retrial at the Supreme Court, the execution of her sentence has been temporarily halted, and she has been released on bail.

9- Negin Rezaei, women’s rights activist

Charges: Membership in a group and assembly and collusion with the intent to disrupt national security.
Conviction: Six years, one month, and 17 days in prison.
Case status: Following the request for retrial at the Supreme Court, the execution of her sentence has been temporarily halted, and she has been released on bail.

10- Forough Sami-Nia, women’s rights activist

Charges: Membership in a group and assembly and collusion with the intent to disrupt national security.
Conviction: Six years, one month, and 17 days in prison.
Case status: Following the request for retrial at the Supreme Court, the execution of her sentence has been temporarily halted, and she has been released on bail.

11- Shiva Shah-Siah, women’s rights activist

Charges: Membership in a group and assembly and collusion with the intent to disrupt national security.
Conviction: Six years, one month, and 17 days in prison.
Case status: Following the request for retrial at the Supreme Court, the execution of her sentence has been temporarily halted, and she has been released on bail.

12- Azadeh Chavoshian, women’s rights activist

Charges: Membership in a group and assembly and collusion with the intent to disrupt national security.
Conviction: Six years, one month, and 17 days in prison.
Case status: Following the request for retrial at the Supreme Court, the execution of her sentence has been temporarily halted, and she has been released on bail.

13- Zohreh (Fatemeh) Dadras, women’s rights activist

Charges: Forming a group with the aim of disrupting national security, and assembly and collusion with the intent to disrupt national security.
Conviction: Nine years, six months, and two days in prison.
Case status: Following the request for retrial at the Supreme Court, the execution of her sentence has been temporarily halted, and she has been released on bail.

14. Zahra Dadras, women’s rights activist

Charges: Membership in a group and assembly, and collusion with the intent to disrupt national security.
Conviction: Six years, one month, and 17 days in prison.
Case status: Following the request for retrial at the Supreme Court, the execution of her sentence has been temporarily halted, and she has been released on bail.

Human Rights Day is also an opportunity to re-examine the values that form the foundation of human dignity, values such as justice, freedom, and equality, rooted in international documents and human experience. The names recorded in this report reflect only a portion of a broader reality, one in which human rights defenders and civil activists in Iran, solely for their commitment to human principles and peaceful activities, face deprivation of liberty, security pressures, and fundamental rights violations.

These individuals, despite the limitations and high costs, embody values recognized by the international community. Silence or indifference toward their condition is not only a disregard for human suffering but also a dismissal of the principles on which the international system is built. In this context, on Human Rights Day, the following are demanded from Iranian authorities and the international community:

• Immediately and unconditionally release all individuals detained for the peaceful exercise of their rights, and review all related convictions to vacate unjust charges and ensure reparations for victims.

• End unlawful restrictions on the freedom of expression, association, assembly, and civic engagement, and halt the use of vague national security charges that criminalize peaceful dissent.

• Guarantee due process and fair trial rights, including access to independent legal counsel from the moment of arrest, transparent legal proceedings, and full access to families, medical care, and communication.

• Prohibit torture and all forms of ill-treatment, end the use of coerced forced confessions, and allow independent monitoring and inspections of all detention facilities.

• Allow independent monitoring and international engagement, including granting access to the UN Fact-Finding Mission, Special Rapporteurs (Thematic and Geographic Mandates), and credible civil society organizations to assess conditions and investigate violations.

• Establish effective accountability and oversight mechanisms to prevent recurrence of abuses, ensure judicial independence, reform vague criminal provisions enabling arbitrary detention, and hold perpetrators who enable the cycle of abuse against activists, responsible.

Finally, civil society as well as citizens across the globe are called upon to continue their support, advocacy, and awareness-raising efforts, ensuring that the situation of these prisoners is not sidelined. Amplifying their voices and demanding adherence to human rights obligations are essential steps toward achieving lasting change and alleviating the suffering of those who have sacrificed their freedom in defense of human rights.

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Political Prisoner Karim Khojasteh Sentenced to Death

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Executions, News
HRANA, Karim Khojasteh, Lakan prison, Rasht, کریم خجسته

HRANA – Karim Khojasteh, a political prisoner held in Lakan Prison in Rasht, has been sentenced to death by Branch 1 of the Rasht Revolutionary Court on the charge of baghi (armed rebellion).

Based on the ruling issued and formally communicated to him by Branch 1 of the Rasht Revolutionary Court, Khojasteh was sentenced to death on the charge of baghi through alleged membership in an anti-government group. The trial session for this case was held on September 17, 2025.

Karim Khojasteh was arrested on March 13, 2025, by security forces at his workplace and transferred to Lakan Prison in Rasht.

He had previously been arrested on July 20, 2024, due to his critical activities and was released on November 29, 2024, after posting a bail of 500 million tomans.

Karim Khojasteh is a resident of Khomam, one of the northern counties of Gilan Province.

Iranian–American Dual National Afarin Mohajer Released from Evin Prison

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News, Prisoners
Afarin Mohajer, Evin Prison, آفرین مهاجر

HRANA – Afarin Mohajer, an Iranian-American dual national, has been released from Evin Prison after posting a judicial bail order.

Based on information received by HRANA, Ms. Mohajer was released from Evin Prison on Saturday, December 6, 2025, after securing a judicial bail order.

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

Afarin Mohajer is the mother of a political activist living outside Iran.

The arrest of dual nationals in Iran over the past four decades has been repeatedly criticized by human rights organizations and Western governments. Critics argue that the Islamic Republic uses such detentions as tools of political pressure or bargaining leverage in negotiations.

Five Christian Converts Sentenced to Prison

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News, Prisoners, Religious Minorities
Aida Najaflou, Evin Prison, Joseph Shahbazian, Lida Alek-Sani, Lida Aleksani, Nasser Navard Gol-Tapeh

HRANA – Five Christian converts, four of whom have been identified as Aida Najaflou, Nasser Navard Gol-Tapeh, Joseph Shahbazian, and Lida Alek-Sani, have been sentenced by the Tehran Revolutionary Court to a total of 55 years in prison.

According to Article 18, Nasser Navard Gol-Tapeh and Joseph Shahbazian were each sentenced to 10 years in prison, while Lida Alek-Sani received eight years. Aida Najaflou was sentenced to a total of 17 years by the same court.

Article 18 did not provide further details regarding the identity of the fifth Christian convert but stated that this individual has also been sentenced to 10 years in prison in this case.

The first hearing for the charges against Aida Najaflou, Nasser Navard Gol-Tapeh, and Joseph Shahbazian was held on September 6 at Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Abolghasem Salavati. These Christian converts defended themselves against the charges of “propaganda against the regime” and “acting against national security.” The second hearing took place on October 21 at the same branch.

The indictment for this case was issued on June 10, 2025 by the Evin Prosecutor’s Office. In the prosecutor’s final decision, activities such as establishing, operating, and leading a house church, holding evangelical Christian gatherings, and performing religious rites such as water baptism and communion were cited as examples of the alleged offenses.

On May 13 of this year, Lida Alek-Sani was released from Evin Prison on bail. She had been arrested in April at her home by Ministry of Intelligence agents.

On April 13 of this year, Aida Najaflou was transferred from The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, known as Ward 209 of Evin Prison, to the women’s ward of the same prison, where she remains in custody. Her arrest took place on February 6, 2025, by security forces.

Nasser Navard Gol-Tapeh and Joseph Shahbazian, who were arrested on the same date and transferred to Evin Prison, also remain detained there.

Both Nasser Navard Gol-Tapeh and Joseph Shahbazian, Christian converts residing in Tehran, have previously been arrested and imprisoned for their religious activities.

Based on about 180 reports compiled by HRANA over the past decade, 11% of all victims of religious minority rights violations by Iran’s security-judicial apparatus were Christians, particularly Christian converts. In 2024 alone, Christians made up over 9% of those targeted.

Two Kish Marathon Organizers Arrested Following Women’s Participation with Optional Hijab

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Cultural, Freedom of Expression, News, Women
Kish, Kish Marathon

HRANA – The Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor of Kish announced the arrest of two main organizers of the Kish Marathon.

According to Mehr News Agency, the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor of Kish stated that two of the main organizers of the event were detained under legal orders in connection with the staging of the two Kish marathons. He added that one of the detainees is an official from the Kish Free Zone Authority, while the second is from the private company responsible for organizing the race. For both individuals, after the charges were formally communicated, bail orders were issued.

The Kish prosecutor continued: in addition to the bail orders, temporary judicial oversight orders were issued for the defendants under Article 247 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Under these orders, the government official is prohibited from employment in government offices, while the private-sector organizer is barred from involvement in sports management and organizing sports events.

On Friday, the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor of Kish had announced the opening of a judicial case against the officials and organizers of the Kish Marathon, alleging “violations of regulations and law.”

On Friday morning, the Kish Island marathon was held with broad participation from women wearing optional hijab. Following the publication of videos and images from the race, media outlets aligned with security agencies reacted negatively.

Fars News Agency, which is close to security institutions, described the participation of women in the event as “non-compliance with Islamic norms” and “improper dress,” framing the marathon as an example of “immorality.” In its coverage, the agency used threatening language toward participating women and emphasized the need for judicial and administrative action.

Additionally, according to published reports, the Athletics Federation had attempted to prevent the event, citing “failure to observe religious standards,” but ultimately was unsuccessful in canceling it.

The identities of the arrested individuals have not been disclosed in this report.

Execution of Six Prisoners in Birjand

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Executions, News
and Ali Barahouei, Behzad Mezarzahi, Birjand, HRANA, Mirzakhan Basati, Ramazan Deldadeh

HRANA – Today, Tuesday, six prisoners were executed in Birjand Prison on charges related to drug offenses.

HRANA has confirmed the identities of three of them as Mirzakhan Basati, Behzad Mazarzahi, and Ali Barahouei. The identity of a fourth prisoner has been confirmed by Haal Vsh as Ramazan Deldadeh.

According to information received by HRANA, these prisoners had previously been arrested on drug-related charges and later sentenced to death by Revolutionary Courts.

Further details, including the identities of the two other executed prisoners, are still under investigation by HRANA.

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

From the beginning of this year until the end of November, 2025, the Iranian regime has executed 1,594 people, marking an unprecedented increase compared to previous years.