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Drug-Related Charges; Three Prisoners Executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj

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Executions, News
Ahmad-Reza Geravand, Farshad Geravand, HRANA, Kuhdasht

HRANA – At dawn on Wednesday, September 24, the death sentences of three prisoners previously convicted on drug-related charges were carried out in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj.

The identities of those executed this morning were confirmed by HRANA as Ahmad-Reza Geravand and Farshad Geravand, both from Kuhdasht, and an individual named Amir (last name unknown).

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

On September 21, HRANA reported that 14 prisoners in Ghezel Hesar Prison, all convicted on drug-related charges, had been transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for execution.

As of the time of this report, the executions of these prisoners have not been announced by prison officials or relevant authorities.

According to HRANA’s statistics, Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj carried out the highest number of executions among all Iranian prisons, with 150 inmates hanged. This figure has nearly doubled compared to the previous year – a deeply alarming increase that underscores the escalating use of capital punishment in Iran.

Execution of Three Prisoners in Dizelabad Prison, Kermanshah

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Executions, News
Dizelabad Prison, Kazem Jameh Shourani, Kermanshah, Kurdistan, Saeed Ghobadi, Sarpol-e Zahab

HRANA – On Sunday, September 21, three prisoners were executed in Dizelabad Prison in Kermanshah.

According to HRANA, one of those executed was Hadi Norouzi, who had previously been arrested on charges of murder and later sentenced to death by the Criminal Court.

The Iran Human Rights confirmed the identities of the other two prisoners as Saeed Ghobadi and Kazem Jameh Shourani.

Saeed Ghobadi, a resident of Sarpol-e Zahab, had been arrested seven years ago on charges of murdering his wife and later sentenced to death by judicial authorities.

Mr. Jameh Shourani, 27 years old and a native of Kurdistan, had been arrested about 17 months ago on charges of murdering his cousin and subsequently sentenced to death by the Criminal Court.

As of the time of this report, the executions of these prisoners have not been announced by prison officials or relevant authorities.

In 2024, according to 812 reports compiled by HRANA, the Iranian regime executed 930 individuals in its prisons—marking the highest number of executions in the past 12 years. Despite the scale of these executions, prison officials and other relevant authorities publicly acknowledged only 6% of them, highlighting the regime’s lack of transparency and accountability.

More than Two Decades Behind Bars, Prisoner Profiles – No. 5: Saeed Masouri

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News, Prisoners
ahvaz, Evin, Ghezel Hesar, HRANA, Rajai-Shahr, Saeed Masouri, TwoDecadesBehindBars, سعید ماسوری

HRANA – Many political and religious prisoners in Iran have endured over twenty years behind bars. To prevent their cases from fading from public memory in the flow of daily news, HRANA has launched a series of reports highlighting their situations. Each installment outlines the prisoner’s legal case, detention conditions, access to rights, and immediate needs.

In this installment, HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, reviews the current situation of Saeed Masouri after more than two decades in prison.

Profile

• Name: Saeed Masouri

• Year of Arrest: 2000 (1379 in the Iranian calendar)

• Declared Charge: Moharebeh (enmity against God) through membership in the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI)

• Initial Sentence: Death

• Current Sentence: Life imprisonment (commuted by one degree)

• Detention Locations:

◦ 14 months in solitary confinement at the Ahvaz Ministry of Intelligence detention facility

◦ Ward 209 of Evin Prison

◦ Several years in Rajai Shahr Prison (Karaj), including transfers between wards

◦ June 2015: moved to the IRGC-controlled ward of Rajai Shahr

◦ August 2017: forcibly transferred from Ward 12 to Ward 10 of Rajai Shahr

◦ August 2023: after Rajai Shahr’s closure, moved to Ward 8, Hall 10 of Evin Prison, then a month later to Ghezel Hesar Prison

◦ September 2023: transferred from the secure unit (Ward 3) of Ghezel Hesar to Dar al-Quran Hall (Ward 4), designated for drug-related prisoners

◦ August 2025: exiled from Ghezel Hesar to Zahedan Prison; after rejection there, secretly transferred and ultimately returned on August 5, 2025, to solitary confinement in Ghezel Hesar

• Furlough/Access: No furlough reported in recent years; limited access to family and lawyer

• Current Status: Serving life imprisonment despite legal changes that could allow review or sentence reduction

Case History

Dr. Saeed Masouri, born in 1965, lived in Norway for his studies. Upon returning to Iran, he was arrested in Dezful on January 8, 2001, on charges of membership in the PMOI. His family was informed in May 2001.

In 2002, the Revolutionary Court in Tehran sentenced him to death on charges of moharebeh. His sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment. While this prevented execution, it effectively placed him among those serving indefinite sentences, limiting opportunities for judicial review or relief.

Key points in the case:

• Severe security charges: Moharebeh is among the most serious charges in Iran’s political-security cases, carrying broad judicial and punitive consequences.

• Sentence commutation: The initial death sentence and its later reduction to life imprisonment demonstrate both the severity of the charge and the judiciary’s capacity for intervention, but do not necessarily address concerns over fairness of proceedings.

• Continued imprisonment despite legal reforms: Although recent legal changes allow retrial, sentence reductions, or conditional release, Masouri remains imprisoned.

Detention and Transfers

Throughout his imprisonment, Masouri has been repeatedly moved: from solitary confinement in Ahvaz, to Ward 209 of Evin, to Rajai Shahr, and later to Ghezel Hesar and Zahedan. These transfers have often involved violence, including beatings during moves in 2017, 2023, and 2025.

He has staged hunger strikes in protest, including after being beaten and transferred without warning in 2017. Following Zahedan Prison’s refusal to accept him in August 2025, he was held in an unknown location for several days before being returned to Ghezel Hesar.

Observations on Conditions

• Repeated transfers: Frequent relocations disrupt access to family, lawyer, and healthcare.

• Solitary confinement as punishment: He spent 14 months in solitary in Ahvaz, and has repeatedly been returned to solitary in later years, including in 2013, 2017, 2023, and 2025.

• Exposure to violence: Reports document physical and verbal abuse in Ahvaz, Rajai Shahr, Evin, Ghezel Hesar, and during forced transfers.

• Medical neglect: Despite suffering from chronic back pain, eye and dental problems, a broken ankle, urinary bleeding, and needing ultrasound examinations, prison authorities have systematically obstructed his access to specialized care. Denial of medical treatment is considered inhuman treatment and a violation of the right to health and even life.

Access to Family, Lawyer, and Furlough

In recent years, Masouri has been denied furlough. His access to family and his lawyer remains limited, negatively affecting both his mental well-being and his ability to pursue legal remedies.

Potential Legal Avenues (General Recommendations)

1. Retrial (Eda‘e Dadrasi): Based on new evidence or substantive/procedural flaws.

2. Sentence reduction or commutation: If legal grounds exist.

3. Conditional release/suspension: If requirements such as served time, conduct, or health conditions are met.

4. Remedying rights violations in detention: Including access to medical care, freedom from ill-treatment, and regular visitation rights.

5. International documentation and advocacy: In case domestic legal remedies are blocked.

Timeline Summary

• 2000 (1379): Arrest on charges of moharebeh through PMOI membership

• 2002 (1381): Sentenced to death; commuted to life imprisonment

• 2000–2001: 14 months in solitary, Ahvaz Intelligence facility

• 2000s–2010s: Long-term detention in Rajai Shahr Prison

• 2013: Solitary confinement reported; beatings in Rajai Shahr

• 2015: Moved to IRGC ward in Rajai Shahr

• 2017: Beaten and transferred to Ward 10, Rajai Shahr

• 2023: Transferred from Rajai Shahr to Evin, then Ghezel Hesar; solitary confinement and beatings reported

• 2025: Violently exiled to Zahedan Prison; after refusal there, returned to Ghezel Hesar solitary

• Recent years: No furlough, inadequate medical care, restricted access to family/lawyer

• Present: Still serving life sentence

Conclusion

Despite legal reforms enabling retrial, sentence reduction, or release for those convicted of moharebeh, Saeed Masouri remains imprisoned. His case exemplifies the plight of long-term political-security prisoners in Iran. Reviewing such cases is a vital step toward securing their rights and release.

Urgent Needs

• Regular, unrestricted access to lawyer and family

• Independent medical evaluation, especially after reported abuse

• Judicial review of case in light of legal reforms

• Compliance with prison regulations on visits, furloughs, and communication

• Adequate medical treatment

About this Series

This report is part of the “Two Decades Behind Bars” series, which aims to document the cases of long-term prisoners and to highlight the collective responsibility to ensure their visibility and pursue their rights.

Execution of Two Prisoners in Taybad Prison

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Executions, News
HRANA, Mojtaba Mahdavi, Taybad Prison

HRANA – At dawn on Sunday, September 21, two prisoners previously sentenced to death on drug-related charges were executed in Taybad Prison.

The identities of the executed prisoners have been confirmed as Mojtaba Mahdavi and (first name unknown) Ahmadi, an Afghan national.

According to information received by HRANA, the two had 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 officially announced by prison authorities or relevant state institutions.

According to HRANA’s report, in 2024, over 52 percent of executed prisoners had been convicted on drug-related charges. Over the past ten years, individuals convicted of drug trafficking have accounted for 40 percent of all executions. Unfortunately, HRANA’s statistics show no progress in reducing executions for drug-related offenses.

Detained Citizen Bijan Kazemi on Hunger Strike in Qom Intelligence Facility

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News, Prisoners
Bijan Kazemi, Evin Prison, Kuhdasht, Qom, Shahnaz Khosravi

HRANA – Bijan Kazemi, a detained citizen, has been on hunger strike since Thursday, September 18, to protest the poor conditions of his detention. He is currently held in The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Qom, in a state of prolonged legal uncertainty.

According to his mother, Shahnaz Khosravi, Kazemi began the strike in response to mistreatment by intelligence agents, his detention far from his hometown, and the indefinite nature of his case.

In mid-August, an interrogation session was held at Branch 5 of the District 33 Prosecutor’s Office in Tehran without the presence of a lawyer. Although bail was set at 4 billion tomans, the case officer opposed his release. Shortly afterward, he was transferred to Qom.

Earlier, following Israel’s military attack on Evin Prison, Kazemi was among dozens of detainees moved to the Greater Tehran Prison.

Kazemi was first arrested on January 19, 2025, by intelligence agents in Kuhdasht County. Two days later, on January 22, he was transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison, under the control of the Ministry of Intelligence.

Kazemi has previously faced judicial proceedings due to his activism.

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Rostam Bagheri Held Over Three Months in Khorramabad Prison Without Bail

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
HRANA, IRGC Intelligence, Khorramabad, Kuhdasht, Rostam Bagheri

HRANA News Agency – Rostam Bagheri, a citizen from Kuhdasht, has been held in detention for over three months and remains in a state of legal uncertainty in Khorramabad Prison. Despite his family securing the bail set for his temporary release, the judicial authority has refused to register and accept it.

Based on information received by HRANA, Mr. Bagheri has been held for 94 days. In a letter to the head of the Kuhdasht judiciary, he protested both his continued detention and the refusal to accept his bail.

In a second case, Bagheri faces the charge of “supporting Israel.” The court session related to this case was held on September 2.

Previously, in his first case, he was sentenced by the Revolutionary Court to three years in prison on charges of “insulting the Supreme Leader” and “propaganda against the regime.”

Rostam Bagheri, a 36-year-old citizen from Kuhdasht and father of one child, was arrested on June 21 by IRGC intelligence agents in the city without a judicial warrant and was later transferred to Khorramabad Prison.

Two Prisoners Executed in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan

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Executions, News
Dastgerd Prison, HRANA, Isfahan, Mousa Alizadeh, Musa Alizadeh, Vahid Ebrahimi

HRANA – At dawn on Sunday, September 21, two prisoners previously sentenced to death on separate murder charges were executed in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan.

According to HRANA, quoting Iran Human Rights Organization, the executions took place at dawn on Sunday, September 21, 2025, in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan.

Iran Human Rigths has identified the prisoners as Vahid Ebrahimi, 33, from Isfahan, and Mousa Alizadeh, 28, from Tabriz.

According to the report, seven years ago, Vahid Ebrahimi was arrested on a murder charge and later sentenced to death by the judicial authorities. Mr. Alizadeh was also arrested about five years ago during a street fight on a murder charge and subsequently sentenced to death.

As of the time of this report, the executions of these prisoners have not been announced by prison officials or the 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.

Two Prisoners, Including a Woman, Executed in Sabzevar Prison

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Executions, News
Peyman Khani, Sabzevar Prison, سبزوار

HRANA – At dawn on Wednesday, September 17, the death sentences of two prisoners, including a woman, previously convicted of murder in a joint case, were carried out in Sabzevar Prison.

HRANA has identified the executed man as Peyman Khani.

According to information obtained by HRANA, the two prisoners were arrested in 2020 in connection with the murder of a middle-aged man and later sentenced to death by the Criminal Court.

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

In 2024, according to 812 reports compiled by HRANA, the Iranian regime executed 930 individuals in its prisons—marking the highest number of executions in the past 12 years. Despite the scale of these executions, prison officials and other relevant authorities publicly acknowledged only 6% of them, highlighting the regime’s lack of transparency and accountability.

Mahabad: Soroush Yousefzadeh Sentenced to Six Months in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Mahabad, Soroush Yousefzadeh

HRANA – Soroush Yousefzadeh, a resident of Mahabad, has been sentenced to six months in prison by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of this city.

According to Kurdpa, the verdict was issued by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Mahabad, presided over by Judge Siami, and officially communicated to Mr. Yousefzadeh on September 16. Based on the ruling, he was sentenced to six months in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime.”

On June 19 of this year, Yousefzadeh was arrested by security forces at his home. During the arrest, agents confiscated some of his personal belongings as well as the mobile phones of his father and brother.

He was ultimately released on July 13 after posting bail set at one billion tomans.

More than Two Decades Behind Bars, Prisoner Profiles – No. 4: Abdul-Zahra Halichi

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News, Prisoners
Abdul-Zahra Halichi, ahvaz, Iran, Karun Prison, moharebeh, Sheiban Prison, TwoDecadesBehindBars, عبدالزهرا هلیچی

HRANA – Many political and religious prisoners in Iran have endured over twenty years behind bars. To prevent their cases from fading from public memory in the flow of daily news, HRANA has launched a series of reports highlighting their situations. Each installment outlines the prisoner’s legal case, detention conditions, access to rights, and immediate needs.

In this installment, HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, examines the latest status of Abdul-Zahra Halichi (Haliji) after more than two decades of imprisonment.

Case Information

• Name: Abdul-Zahra Halichi (Haliji)

• Year of arrest: 2005

• Charges: “Acting against national security, moharebeh (enmity against God), and efsad-e fel-arz (corruption on earth)”

• Initial sentence: Life imprisonment

• Current sentence: Life imprisonment

• Places of detention: Served his sentence in Karun Prison, Ahvaz; currently held in Ward 5 of Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz.

• Leave / access: No prison leave reported in recent years; limited access to family and lawyer.

• Current status: Still serving a life sentence despite legal changes that could allow for review or commutation.

Case Background and Judicial Process

In 2005, Abdul-Zahra Halichi was arrested by security forces. Shortly thereafter, Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Ahvaz convicted him of “acting against national security, moharebeh, and corruption on earth,” sentencing him to life imprisonment. This verdict placed him among those serving indefinite terms, effectively extending incarceration for decades and severely limiting access to judicial review.

Key points in the process:

• Heavy security charges: The charge of moharebeh is among the most severe in Iran’s political-security cases and typically carries wide-ranging judicial and executive consequences.

• Continued imprisonment despite legal reforms: Although legislative changes allow for retrial, sentence reduction, or parole in some cases, Halichi remains incarcerated.

Conditions of Detention and Transfers

Throughout his imprisonment, Halichi has been held in Karun and Sheiban prisons in Ahvaz. He spent several years in Karun Prison following his sentencing.

• Feb 2019: Reports of beatings in Sheiban Prison.

• Apr 2020: Subjected to torture after being transferred to The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Ahvaz.

• Apr 2024: Reported beatings by prison guards and intelligence protection officers in Ward 5 of Sheiban Prison.

• Dec 2024: Threatened with solitary confinement or exile to remote areas after protesting authorities’ failure to enforce the principle of separation of crimes.
Since then, he has remained imprisoned in Sheiban.

Observations on Detention Standards

• Frequent transfers: Repeated relocations between wards and prisons disrupt access to family, lawyers, and medical care.

• Violence in custody: Multiple reports of beatings (2019, 2020, 2024) highlight the need for independent documentation and legal follow-up.

• Denial of medical care: Despite suffering from right leg infections, knee pain, and requiring urgent surgery to remove a metal rod from his leg, Halichi has been systematically denied hospital transfer and specialized treatment. Denying prisoners access to healthcare constitutes inhuman treatment and a violation of the right to health and even the right to life, often used as a tool of further pressure and repression.

Access to Family, Lawyer, and Leave

In recent years, Halichi has not been granted leave, and his access to family and legal counsel has been restricted. Such limitations not only have psychological and social consequences but also undermine his ability to mount an effective legal defense or pursue retrial procedures.

Potential Legal Avenues (General Recommendations)

1. Retrial: Assessing new evidence or procedural flaws.

2. Sentence reduction or commutation: If legal grounds are met.

3. Conditional release or suspension: Based on time served, good conduct, or health conditions.

4. Addressing rights violations in custody: Including access to treatment, protection from violence, regular visitation rights, and legal access.

International documentation and advocacy: Utilizing UN reporting mechanisms when domestic avenues are blocked.

Timeline (Summary)

• 2005: Arrested; charged with “acting against national security, moharebeh, and corruption on earth.”

• Initial verdict: Life imprisonment.

• Following years: Held in Karun Prison, Ahvaz.

• Feb 2019: Reported beating in Sheiban Prison.

• Apr 2020: Tortured in The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, Ahvaz.

• Apr 2024: Beaten by prison guards and intelligence officers in Sheiban Prison.

• Dec 2024: Threatened with solitary confinement or exile after protesting non-segregation of prisoners.

• Recent years: No leave granted; deprived of adequate medical care; limited access to family and lawyer.

• Current status: Continues to serve life imprisonment despite potential eligibility for legal review.

Conclusion and Need for Review

Despite legal reforms enabling retrial, sentence reduction, or release in moharebeh cases, Halichi remains behind bars. His case exemplifies long-term political-security imprisonment in Iran, underscoring the urgent need for review mechanisms.

Halichi’s situation highlights both the systematic denial of fundamental rights in detention (such as visitation, legal access, and healthcare) and the importance of using all available domestic and international legal avenues to reduce sentences and secure freedom.

Urgent Needs

• Regular, unrestricted access to lawyer and family.

• Independent medical evaluation following allegations of torture and long-term health issues.

• Review of eligibility for retrial or other mechanisms to reduce/terminate his sentence under current law.

• Enforcement of prison regulations regarding visitation, calls, and leave.

• Access to appropriate medical care and treatment.

About this Series

This report is part of the “Two Decades Behind Bars” series, which aims to document the cases of long-term prisoners and to highlight the collective responsibility to ensure their visibility and pursue their rights.