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Execution of Five Inmates in Shiraz, Isfahan, and Kashan

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Executions, News
Adelabad Prison, Aghil Arab, Ali Mohammad Zeraat, Dastgerd Prison, Esmaiel Nasiri, Isfahan, Kashan, Rasoul Sheikh Arpanahi, Shiraz

Five Inmates convicted of drug-related crimes were executed in Shiraz, Isfahan, and Kashan Prisons.

According to Haal Vsh, on June 1, 2023, Aghil Arab, age 27, was executed in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan. On the same day, Nemat Arzani, 33, and Rasoul Sheikh Arpanahi, 27, were also executed in Kashan Prison.

Furthermore, the Iran Human Rights Organization reported the execution of two inmates in Adelabad Prison on May 24, 2023. The individuals have been identified as Ali Mohammad Zera’at, a father of a young child, and Esmaiel Nasiri.

All these executed prisoners have been convicted of drug-related crimes several years ago.

At the time of writing, no official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have reported on these executions.

In 2022, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran registered 457 reports related to the death penalty. This included 92 death sentences, including the conviction of 6 people to public execution and 565 execution sentences were carried out, 2 of which have been carried out in public. Based on the announced identifications of some of the executed individuals, 501 were male and 11 were female. In addition, 5 juvenile offenders were executed in 2022, meaning they were under the age of 18 at the time they committed the crime.

 

 

Mohammad Tavili Toroghi Arrested in Mashhad

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News, Other
HRANA, IRGC Intelligence, Mashhad, Mohammad Tavili Toroghi

HRANA, Human Rights Activists News Agency-On May 31, 2023, Mohammad Tavili Toroghi, age 35, was subjected to an arbitrary arrest in Mashhad by security forces. He was subsequently transferred to a detention facility.

According to a reliable source who spoke to HRANA, IRGC Intelligence apprehended him on a street in Mashhad. The source stated that Tavili is a family member of an Iran-Iraq war martyr.

Presently, the motive behind this arrest and the specific allegations against him remain undisclosed.

 

Sepideh Rashnu Faces Arraignment at Evin Courthouse

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Freedom of Expression, News, Students
compulsory hijab, Evin Courthouse, Evin Prison, Sepideh Rashnu

Sepideh Rashnu, a student who has been vocal about her opposition to compulsory hijab, was arraigned at Evin Courthouse and subsequently released on bail.

Rashnu faces charges of “provoking promiscuity and engaging in propaganda against the regime.” Following her arraignment, she was briefly held in Ward 209 of Evin Prison before being released upon posting a one-billion bail. However, she is now prohibited from leaving Tehran.

Speaking about the accusations, Rashnu clarified, “Merely sharing a few photos of myself without a headscarf on my personal page does not justify their claims of promoting promiscuity and immodesty. Nor does it imply an association with everyone I follow on social media.”

This is not the first instance where Rashnu has encountered legal troubles due to her refusal to comply with hijab rules. She had previously received a two-semester suspension from the university. Furthermore, on July 16, she was arrested by security forces following an altercation on a city bus, during which she was harassed and physically assaulted by a woman who deemed her hijab improper.

Faryad Hama-Shour Receives 12-Year Prison Sentence

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Freedom of Expression, News, Other
Ali Hassanzadeh, Faryad Hama-Shour, Oshnavieh, Urmia, West Azerbaijan

On May 31, 2023, Faryad Hama-Shour, a resident of Oshnavieh, had his 12-year prison sentence confirmed by the West Azerbaijan Court of Appeals, according to a report by Kurdpa.

Pursuant to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, he will serve a mandatory five-year term.

Initially, on November 10, 2022, the Oshnavieh Criminal Court sentenced Hama-Shour to five years in prison for his alleged involvement in an anti-regime political party. Additionally, he was given a four-year sentence for purportedly assisting in setting fire to a bank in Oshnavieh, and three years for defying authority by using weapons. Presiding over the case, Judge Ali Hassanzadeh upheld this verdict at the West Azerbaijan Court of Appeals.

Hama-Shour was arrested on September 27, 2022, without showing an arrest warrant, by security forces who subsequently detained him in Urmia Prison.

 

Four Inmates Executed in Karaj and Kahnuj 

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Executions, News
Arya Parvizi, Ashkan Sohrabi, Hassan Nourollahi, Hossein Roosta, Kahnuj, Karaj, Kerman, Rajai-Shahr

HRANA, Human Rights Activists News Agency –On May 31, 2023, Rajai Shahr Prison officials carried out the execution of two inmates who were convicted of murder.

HRANA has identified them as Hassan Nourollahi and Hossein Roosta.

Additionally, two inmates, Ashkan Sohrabi and Arya Parvizi, were executed in Kahnuj, Kerman Province, on June 1, 2023, for their involvement in drug-related crimes three years ago, as reported by the Baloch Activists Campaign.

At the time of writing, no official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have reported on these executions.

In 2022, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran registered 457 reports related to the death penalty. This included 92 death sentences, including the conviction of 6 people to public execution and 565 execution sentences were carried out, 2 of which have been carried out in public. Based on the announced identifications of some of the executed individuals, 501 were male and 11 were female. In addition, 5 juvenile offenders were executed in 2022, meaning they were under the age of 18 at the time they committed the crime.

 

 

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Update on Legal Status of Death-Row Protesters Ten Months after the 2022 Nationwide Protests

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Executions, News
ahand Nourmohammadzadeh, Arshia Takdastan, Ebrahim Naroui, Hamid Ghare Hassanlou, Hossein Mohammadi, Javad Rouhi, Mahan Sadrat Marani, Majid Kazemi Sheykh Shabani, Majidreza Rahnavard, Mansour Hout, Mehdi Mohammadifard, Mohammad Boroughni, Mohammad Ghobadlou, Mohammad-Mehdi Karami, Mohsen Shekari, Mojahed Kourkouri, Nezam’aldeen Hout, Reza Arya, Saeed Yaghoubi Kordsefli, Saleh Mirhashemi, Saman Seydi, Seyed Mohammad Hosseini, Shoaib Mirbalouchzohi Rabegi, the 2022 Nationwide Protests

Since the inception of the 2022 nationwide protests, judicial authorities have handed down death sentences to 25 protestors thus far, with 7 executions having already taken place. While the Supreme Court of Iran has upheld the death sentence for Mohammad Ghobadlou, it has overturned ten other death sentences. The remaining seven death sentences were issued by lower courts and are currently awaiting finalization.

According to Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reports, at least 25 protesters have been sentenced to death since the beginning of the 2022 protests.

Among them, Mohammad Ghobadlou’s death sentence was recently affirmed by the first branch of the Supreme Court of Iran. The death sentences of other protestors, Mansour Hout, Nezam’aldeen Hout, Ebrahim Naroui, Abbas (Mojahed) Kourkouri, Shoaib Mirbalouchzohi Rigi, Mansour Dehmorde, and Kambiz Khorout, were initially handed down by lower courts and are currently under review by the Supreme Court.

Additionally, the death sentences of Reza Arya, Hamid Ghare Hassanlou, Sahand Nourmohammadzadeh, Hossein Mohammadi, Mehdi Mohammadifard, Arshia Takdastan, Javad Rouhi, Saman Seydi (Yasin), Mahan Sadrat Marani (Madani), and Mohammad Boroughni have been overturned at various times. Their cases have been referred for review to another court branch. Some of these individuals have been sentenced to imprisonment or exile following the reversal of their death sentences, while the cases of others are still under review.

To date, 7 protesters have been executed.

Mohsen Shekari was the first to be executed on December 8, 2022. Four days later, Majid Reza Rahnavard was executed in public in Mashhad.

Mohammad Mehdi Karami and Mohammad Hosseini, two of the accused in the case known as “the murder of the Basiji Ruhollah Ajamian,” were executed on January 7, 2023.

In addition, Majid Kazemi, Saeed Yaghoubi, and Saleh Mirhashemi, three of the accused from the case known as “the Isfahan house,” were executed on May 19, 2023, in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan.

According to reports obtained by HRANA, these 25 protesters have primarily been sentenced to death on charges of alleged “spreading corruption on earth” and “enmity against God (Moharebeh).” Many of them have been denied proper access to legal representation of their choice during the judicial process.

Some close relatives of these individuals have disclosed to HRANA that “forced confessions extracted under psychological and physical duress/torture by interrogators” have been presented as evidence during the trial.

Most of these death sentences were issued by judges such as Seyed Ali Mazloum, Seyed Mousa Assef Alhosseini, Abolghassem Salavati, Mohammadreza Amuzad, Iman Afshari, Seyed Hadi Mansouri, and Morteza Barati.

The Revolutionary Court of Tehran has issued the highest number of death sentences following the protests, with a total of 6 such sentences thus far.
The Revolutionary Court of Karaj and the Judicial Complex of Shahid Nouri (the public court of Zahedan) follow closely with 5 death sentences each.
The Revolutionary courts of Sari and Isfahan have each issued 3 death sentences, and finally, the Revolutionary courts of Mashad, Ahvaz, and Zahedan, have each issued one death sentence for the accused protesters.

Following is a list of the 25 protesters who received death sentences, along with information on their current legal status:

ghobadlou

1. Mohammad Ghobadlou – born in Tehran in the year 2000, arrested on September 22, 2022, sentenced by Judge Abolghassem Salavati, branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran
Lawyers: Mehdokht Damghanpour and Amir Raisian,
Charge(s): “Spreading corruption on earth,”
Latest case status: confirmation of the sentence by the first branch of the Supreme Court of Iran.

2. Mansour Hout – born in Chabahar in the year 1995, arrested on September 30, 2022, sentenced by judge second branch of the Judicial Complex of Shahid Nouri (the public court of Zahedan),
Lawyers: –
Charge(s): “Spreading corruption on earth” and “enmity against God,”
Latest case status: sentenced to death by the court of first instance (sentencing is not final).


3. Nezam’aldeen Hout – born in Chabahar in the year 2002, arrested on September 30, 2022, sentenced by an unidentified judge of branch 2 of the Judicial Complex of Shahid Nouri (the public court of Zahedan),
Lawyers: -,
Charge(s): “Spreading corruption on Earth” and “Enmity against God,”
Latest case status: sentenced to death by the court of first instance (sentencing is not final).

4. Ebrahim Naroui – born in Zahedan in 1997, arrested on October 3, 2022, sentenced by an unidentified judge, branch 6 of the Zahedan Revolutionary Court,
Lawyers: -,
Charge(s): “Enmity against God,”
Latest case status: sentenced to death by the court of first instance (sentencing is not final)

5. Abbas (Mojahed) Kourkouri – born in Izeh (birthdate is unknown), arrested on December 20, 2022, sentenced by an unidentified judge of (unclear branch) Revolutionary Court of Ahvaz,
Lawyer: Davoud Shahvali,
Charge(s): “Spreading corruption on earth” and “enmity against God,”
Latest case status: sentenced to death by the court of first instance (sentencing is not final)

6. Shoaib Mirbalouchzohi Rigi – born in Zahedan in 2004, arrested on October 5, 2022, sentenced by an unidentified judge of branch 2 of the Judicial Complex of Shahid Nouri (the public court of Zahedan),
Lawyer: -,
Charge(s): “Spreading corruption on earth,”
Latest case status:  sentenced to death by the court of first instance (sentencing is not final)

7. Mansour Dehmorde – born in Zahedan in 2000, arrested on October 3, 2022, sentenced by an unidentified judge of branch 2 of the Judicial Complex of Shahid Nouri (the public court of Zahedan),
Lawyer: -,
Charge(s): “Spreading corruption on earth,”
Latest case status: sentenced to death by the court of first instance (sentencing is not final).

8. Kambiz Khorout – born in Zahedan in 2001, arrested on October 1, 2022, sentenced by an unidentified Judge of criminal branch 2 of the Judicial Complex of Shahid Nouri (the public court of Zahedan),
Lawyer: -,
Charge(s): “Spreading corruption on earth” and “enmity against God,”
Latest case status: sentenced to death by the court of first instance (sentencing is not final)

 

The protesters whose death sentences have already been carried out:

1. Saeed Yaghoubi Kordsefli – born in Isfahan in 1985, arrested in mid-November 2022, sentenced by Judge Morteza Barati, branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Isfahan,
Lawyer: Mohammadreza Ensafdaran,
Charge(s): “enmity against God,”
Date of Execution: May 19, 2023

2. Majid Kazemi Sheykh Shabani – born in Isfahan in 1992, arrested on November 21, 2022, sentenced by Judge Morteza Barati, branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Isfahan,
Lawyers: Mehrdad Atapour, Amir Shirian, Masoud Rajabi Siahboomi,
Charge(s): “enmity against God,”
Date of Execution: May 19, 2023

3. Saleh Mirhashemi – born in Isfahan in 1986, arrested on November 16, 2022, sentenced by Judge Morteza Barati, branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Isfahan,
Lawyers: Abdullah Delavari, Mohammad Malmir, Seyed Saber Mohammadian,
Charge(s): “enmity against God,”
Date of Execution: May 19, 2023

4. Mohsen Shekari – born in Tehran in 1999, arrested on September 25, 2022, sentenced by Judge Abolghassem Salavati, branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran,
Lawyer:-,
Charge(s): “enmity against God,”
Date of Execution: December 8, 2022

5. Mohammad Mehdi Karami – born in Bijar in the year 2000, arrested on November 5, 2022, sentenced by Judge Mousa Assf Alhosseini, branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Karaj,
Lawyer: Mohammad-Hossein Aghassi,
Charge(s): “spreading corruption on earth,”
Date of Execution: January 7, 2023

6. Seyed Mohammad Hosseini – born in Karaj in 1982, arrested on November 3, 2022, sentenced by Judge Mousa Assf Alhosseini, branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Karaj,
Lawyer: Ali Sharifzadeh Ardekani,
Charge(s): “spreading corruption on earth,”
Date of Execution: January 7, 2023

7. Majidreza Rahnavard – born in Mashad in 1999, arrested on November 20, 2022, sentenced by Judge Seyed Hadi Mansouri, branch 4 of the Revolutionary Court of Mashad,
Lawyer: Mohammad Sarreshtedar (public defender),
Charge(s): “enmity against God,”
Date of Execution: December 12, 2022

 

The protesters whose death sentences have been reversed or are under review:

1. Mohammad Boroughni – born in Pakdasht Karaj in 2003, arrested in October 2023, sentenced by Judge Abolghassem Salavati, branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran,
Lawyer:-,
Charge(s): “enmity against God,”
Latest case status: acceptance of the request for retrial at the Supreme Court of Iran and transfer of the case

2. Mahan Sadrat Marani (Madani) – born in Tehran in 1999, arrested on October 12, 2022, sentenced by Judge Iman Afshari, 26th branch of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran,
Lawyer: Abbas Mousavi,
Charge(s): “enmity against God,”
Latest case status: acceptance of the request for a retrial at the Supreme Court of Iran and transfer of the case

3. Reza Arya – born in Tehran in 1980, arrested in mid-November 2022, sentenced by Judge Mousa Assf Alhosseini, branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Karaj,
Lawyer: -,
Charge(s): “spreading corruption on earth,”
Latest case status: 10 years imprisonment following the reversal of the death sentence at the Supreme Court of Iran and transfer of the case

4. Hamid Ghare Hassanlou – born in Tehran in 1969, arrested on November 4, 2022, sentenced by Judge Mousa Assf Alhosseini, branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Karaj,
Lawyer: Ahmad Mollai (public defender),
Charge(s): “spreading corruption on earth,”
Latest case status: 15 years imprisonment following the reversal of the death sentence at the Supreme Court of Iran and transfer of the case

5. Sahand Nourmohammadzadeh – born in Tehran in 1996, arrested on September 23, 2022, sentenced by Judge Seyed Ali Mazloum, branch 29 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran,
Lawyer: Hamed Ahmadi (public defender),
Charge(s): “enmity against God,”
Latest case status: 6 years imprisonment and 10 years exile following an appeal to the Supreme Court of Iran

6. Hossein Mohammadi – born in Tehran in 1996, arrested on November 5, 2022, sentenced by Judge Mousa Assf Alhosseini, branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Karaj,
Lawyer: -,
Charge(s): “spreading corruption on earth,”
Latest case status: 10 years imprisonment following the reversal of the death sentence at the Supreme Court of Iran and transfer of the case

7. Mehdi Mohammadifard – born in Nowshahr in 2003, arrested on September 30, 2022, sentenced by an unidentified judge of branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Sari,
Lawyer: -,
Charge(s): “spreading corruption on earth,” and “enmity against God,”
Latest case status: reversal of the death sentence at the Supreme Court of Iran and transfer of the case

8. Arshia Takdastan – born in Nowshahr in 2004, arrested on September 21, 2022, sentenced by an unidentified judge of branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Sari,
Lawyer: -,
Charge(s): “spreading corruption on earth,” and “enmity against God,”
Latest case status: released on bail following the reversal of two death sentences by the Supreme Court of Iran

9. Javad Rouhi – born in Amol in 1986, arrested on September 21, 2022, sentenced by an unidentified judge of branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Sari,
Lawyer: Soleiman Vatandoust (public defender) and Majid Kaveh (by choice),
Charge(s): “spreading corruption on earth,” and “enmity against God,”
Latest case status: reversal of three death sentences by the Supreme Court of Iran and transfer of the case

10. Saman Seydi (Yasin) – born in Kermanshah in 1995, arrested on October 1, 2022, sentenced by Judge Abolghassem Salavati, branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran,
Lawyer: Mohammad Esmail Beygi,
charge: “enmity against God,”
Latest case status: reversal of the death sentence at the Supreme Court of Iran and transfer of the case

 

Background on the 2022 Nationwide Protests

The arrest of 22-year-old Mahsa (Jina) Amini by morality police due to alleged “improper veiling” and her subsequent death during detention led to widespread protests in Iran. The protesters commenced the longest sustained widespread protests in the history of the Islamic Republic on September 17, 2022, with the slogan “Woman, life, freedom” and protested the laws, structure, and competency of the regime. Thousands were arrested and hundreds were killed in the crackdown on protesters by security/military forces.

For further inquiries please contact Skylar Thompson, the Director of Global Advocacy and Accountability at Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) at [email protected]

 

Execution of Three Inmates at Central Prison of Karaj

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Executions, News
Central Prison of Karaj, Ezatali Sabzi, Harsin, Kermanshah province

HRANA, Human Rights Activists News Agency – On May 30, 2023, the Central Prison of Karaj officials carried out the execution of three inmates who had been convicted of drug-related offenses.

One of the executed prisoners has been identified as Ezatali Sabzi, a 44-year-old resident of Harsin County, Kermanshah Province. HRANA is currently in the process of identifying the two remaining individuals.

At the time of writing, no official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have reported on these executions.

In 2022, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran registered 457 reports related to the death penalty. This included 92 death sentences, including the conviction of 6 people to public execution and 565 execution sentences were carried out, 2 of which have been carried out in public. Based on the announced identifications of some of the executed individuals, 501 were male and 11 were female. In addition, 5 juvenile offenders were executed in 2022, meaning they were under the age of 18 at the time they committed the crime.

 

Two Women Detained by IRGC Intelligence in Mashhad

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News, Other
Ghazaleh Baghernia, IRGC Intelligence, Mashhad, Taktam Nowruzi

HHRANA, Human Rights Activists News Agency – In Mashhad, Ghazaleh Baghernia and Taktam Nowruzi were apprehended by security forces and subsequently transferred to a detention facility in this city.

According to a reliable source who spoke to HRANA, Baghernia was taken into custody on May 24, while Nowruzi was arrested on May 29. The arrests took place on a street in Mashhad by agents of the IRGC Intelligence. Baghernia was allowed to make a phone call to her family, revealing that she is currently being held in solitary confinement at the detention facility.

The reasons behind their detention and the specific charges against them remain undisclosed at this time.

Baha’i Citizen Shahdokht Khanjani Arrested in Semnan

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News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i citizen, Semnan, Shahdokht Khanjani

HHRANA, Human Rights Activists News Agency -On May 29, 2023, security forces apprehended Shahdokht Khanjani, a Baha’i woman, at her residence in Semnan and transported her to an undisclosed location.

According to a reliable source who spoke to HRANA, “Four agents raided her home and took her into custody. During the arrest, the agents conducted a search of her residence and confiscated some personal belongings belonging to her and her family.”

The reasons behind her arrest, her current whereabouts, and the specific charges against her remain undisclosed at this time. Khanjani, a mother of two children, is a resident of Semnan.

According to HRANA annual report, from the total human rights reports regarding the violation of religious minorities’ rights, 64.63% belonged to the violation of the rights of Baha’is.

The deprivation of the freedom to practice their religion is a breach of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The United Nations covenant holds that every person has the right to freedom of religion, freedom of converting religion, as well as freedom of expression, individually or collectively; openly or secretly.

 

Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb Sentenced to over Five Years and Additional Punishments

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, Rajai Shahr Prison, Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb

HRANA, Human Rights Activists News Agency- In a recent development, Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb, a civil rights activist currently detained in Evin Prison, has been sentenced to five years and eight months of imprisonment along with additional penalties by the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

The verdict issued by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court states that Ahmadi Ragheb has been sentenced to five years for charges of “assembly and collusion against national security” and eight months for “propaganda against the regime.” Furthermore, he has been subjected to restrictions, including a ban on engaging in civil and political activities, using a cell phone, and traveling abroad for a period of two years.
If the verdict is upheld during the appeal process, in accordance with Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the initial count of five years in prison will be enforced.

An informed source, speaking with HRANA, revealed that “Previously, Ahmadi Ragheb had refused to attend the court due to being subjected to handcuffs and ankle cuffs during the transfer. Yesterday, he was brought to the court with handcuffs and informed that the verdict had been issued in absentia as he had been absent from the court proceedings on three occasions.”

The source further added, “Following the reception of this verdict, Ahmadi Ragheb has requested a retrial. It is important to note that he has been facing these legal actions based on a complaint filed by an IRGC official.”

On February 3, 2023, Ahmadi Ragheb was released from Rajai Shahr prison after completing his previous sentence. However, in March 2023, he was re-arrested during a protest against poison attacks on schools and subsequently transferred to Evin Prison.