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Court of Appeals Upholds Prison and Flogging Sentences for Masoud Vazifeh and Sohrab Hassan-Khani

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ekbatan Town case, Masoud Vazifeh, Sohrab Hassan-Khani, سهراب حسن خانی, مسعود وظیفه

HRANA – The Tehran Province Court of Appeals has upheld the sentences of Masoud Vazifeh and Sohrab Hassan-Khani in full. The two citizens had previously been sentenced by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court to a combined total of six years and eight months in prison, 114 lashes, and a fine of 100 million tomans.

Masoud Vazifeh received one year in prison for “propaganda against the regime,” one year in prison and 74 lashes for “disturbing public order and peace,” and two years in prison plus a 50 million toman fine for “spreading false information.”

Sohrab Hassan Khani received eight months in prison and 40 lashes for “disturbing public order and peace,” and two years in prison plus a 50 million toman fine for “spreading false information.”

The initial verdicts were issued on April 20, 2025, by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari. Mr. Vazifeh’s subsequent appeal for retrial was later rejected.

Both men had been released from Evin Prison on bail, Vazifeh on February 5, 2025, and Hassan Khani on December 30, 2024.

They were originally arrested by security forces in December 2024 for staging a sit-in protest against death sentences issued for defendants in the so-called “Ekbatan Town case.” Following their arrest, they were transferred to The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility (Ward 209 of Evin Prison).

Masoud Vazifeh has previously faced arrest and judicial prosecution due to his civil activities.

Maryam Abbasi Nikoo Arrested

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Freedom of Expression, News
Bita Shafiei, irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Maryam Abbasi Nikoo, Shahin-Shahr, مریم عباسی نیکو

HRANA – On Monday, November 10, Maryam Abbasi Nikoo, a resident of Shahin Shahr, was arrested by agents of the IRGC Intelligence Organization and taken to an undisclosed location.

Her daughter, Bita Shafiei, reported that around 2 p.m., IRGC Intelligence agents entered their home, arrested her mother, and transferred her to an unknown location. Shafiei stated that the agents caused damage to household items during the raid.

As of this report, no information has been released regarding the reasons for Abbasi Nikoo’s arrest, the charges against her, or her current whereabouts.

Maryam Abbasi Nikoo, a resident of Shahin Shahr, is the mother of Bita Shafiei, a student previously arrested by security forces during protests over the mass poisoning of students in Shahin Shahr and later released. Abbasi Nikoo has also faced prior arrests and judicial proceedings related to her activism.

Farhad Fahandej, a Baha’i Citizen, Arrested in Gorgan

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News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i citizen, Farhad Fahandej, Gorgan, HRANA, حمید فرهادی

HRANA – On Wednesday, November 12, Farhad Fahandej, a Baha’i citizen residing in Gorgan, was arrested by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location. At the same time, his home was searched by the agents.

According to HRANA, eight security officers carried out the arrest at Mr. Fahandej’s residence. During the search, several personal items, including his books and photographs, were confiscated.

A source close to the family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “The agents only showed Mr. Fahandej, who was home alone at the time, a warrant to search the house. Later, when his wife and children returned, they were threatened and interrogated by the agents.”

As of now, no information is available regarding the reasons for his arrest, the charges against him, or his place of detention.

Farhad Fahandej, aged approximately 66, living in Gorgan, has previously faced arrest and judicial persecution due to his faith.

Over the past decade, the Iranian Bahá’í community has been disproportionately targeted by Iran’s security forces and judiciary, more than any other minority group. In the past three years, an average of 72 percent of the reports on religious rights violations collected by HRANA have documented the Iranian regime’s repression of the Bahá’í community.

Four Prisoners Executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj

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Executions, News
Ghezel Hesar prison, HRANA, Karaj

HRANA – Today, November 12, four prisoners previously sentenced to death on murder charges were executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.

According to HRANA, the executions took place early this morning. The prisoners had been arrested on murder charges and later sentenced to death by the Criminal Court. Further details, including the identities of those executed, are still under investigation by HRANA.

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

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.

Baha’i Citizen Venus Maghsoudi Arrested in Urmia

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News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i citizen, Urmia, Venus Maghsoudi, ونوس مقصودی

HRANA – Yesterday, November 11, Venus Maghsoudi, a Baha’i citizen residing in Urmia, was arrested by security forces at her home and taken to an undisclosed location. During the arrest, the agents searched the residence and confiscated some of her personal belongings as well as the mobile phones of her guests.

According to a source close to Maghsoudi’s family confirmed the arrest, stating: “This morning, several officers from the Urmia Intelligence Department entered Ms. Maghsoudi’s home and arrested her using violence.”

HRANA has learned that, in addition to searching her residence, the officers also searched the home of Ms. Maghsoudi’s mother, who lives downstairs and is currently ill and under medical treatment.

There is still no information about the charges against Ms. Maghsoudi or her current whereabouts.

Venus Maghsoudi, a Baha’i citizen living in Urmia, is the mother of two children, aged three and eleven.

Over the past decade, the Iranian Bahá’í community has been disproportionately targeted by Iran’s security forces and judiciary, more than any other minority group. In the past three years, an average of 72 percent of the reports on religious rights violations collected by HRANA have documented the Iranian regime’s repression of the Bahá’í community.

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Afshin Heyratian, Baha’i Citizen, Arrested in Tehran

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News
Afshin Heyratian, Baha'i citizen, افشین حیرتیان

HRANA – On Tuesday, Afshin Heyratian, November 11, a Baha’i citizen residing in Tehran, was arrested by security forces at his mother’s home and taken to an unknown location. During the arrest, agents searched the residence and confiscated several personal belongings belonging to him and his family.

According to HRANA, several security officers entered his mother’s home this morning and arrested Mr. Heyratian with the use of force. They also searched the property and seized personal items belonging to Mr. Heyratian and his mother.

A source close to the family told HRANA: “During the raid, Mr. Heyratian’s elderly mother was pushed and fell to the ground as officers forced the door open. Despite the family’s efforts to learn about his situation, there has been no information on his whereabouts. The family’s concern for his safety is growing.”

As of the time of this report, the charges against Mr. Heyratian and his place of detention remain unknown.

Afshin Heyratian, approximately 45 years old and single, is a Baha’i citizen from Tehran and a member of the Society for the Protection of Working and Street Children. He has previously been arrested and prosecuted due to his religious beliefs and social activities.

Several Individuals Arrested by IRGC Intelligence on Espionage Charges

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News, Other
irgc, IRGC Intelligence

HRANA – The IRGC Intelligence has announced the arrest of several individuals in various provinces of Iran on charges of spying for the United States and Israel.

According to Sepah News, the IRGC Intelligence accused the detainees of espionage activities on behalf of Israel and the United States. The IRGC claimed that these operations were carried out “in coordination with Israeli policies following its recent military failures” and took place simultaneously across several provinces.

The statement further alleged that the detainees had acted with the “intent to disrupt national security in the second half of autumn 2025.”

The organization has not disclosed the number of those arrested, their identities, or the exact locations of the arrests.

While combating espionage is not considered a human rights violation, given the Iranian government’s record of using espionage allegations as a pretext to suppress political dissent, such claims, particularly in the absence of clear details or transparent judicial procedures, are viewed with skepticism.

Mahnoush Abdollahi Sentenced to Prison by Appeals Court

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News, Religious Minorities
Adelabad Prison, Mahnoush Abdollahi, مهنوش عبداللهی

HRANA – Mahnoush Abdollahi, a resident of Shiraz, has been sentenced to nine years in prison by the Fars Province Court of Appeals, with six years of the sentence suspended.

According to HRANA, Ms. Abdollahi received a total prison sentence of nine years from the appeals court. Based on the verdict, she was sentenced to two years of imprisonment and four years suspended imprisonment on the charge of cultural, media, and promotional activities in support of the Israeli regime; one year in prison for propaganda against the regime; and two years of suspended imprisonment for insulting the sacred.

In the initial trial, Branch 1 of the Shiraz Revolutionary Court had sentenced her to five years in prison for cultural, media, and promotional activities in support of the Israeli regime, and one year in prison for propaganda against the regime.

In a separate part of her case, the Criminal Court sentenced her to two years of suspended imprisonment for insulting the sacred.

Ms. Abdollahi was arrested on July 2, 2025, and later released on July 14, 2025, from Adelabad Prison in Shiraz after posting bail of 2.5 billion tomans.

Mahnoush Abdollahi is 42 years old and resides in Shiraz.

Over the past decade, the Iranian Bahá’í community has been disproportionately targeted by Iran’s security forces and judiciary, more than any other minority group. In the past three years, an average of 72 percent of the reports on religious rights violations collected by HRANA have documented the Iranian regime’s repression of the Bahá’í community.

Three Prisoners Executed in Yazd Prison

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Executions, News
HRANA, Shah Hossein Farhadi, Yazd Prison

HRANA – At dawn today, November 11, three prisoners were executed in Yazd Prison. They had previously been sentenced to death on murder and drug-related charges.

According to HRANA, the execution sentences of these individuals were carried out early Tuesday morning. HRANA has identified one of them, Shah Hossein Farhadi, who had been convicted of murder.

Based on information obtained by HRANA, the other two executed prisoners had been sentenced to death by Revolutionary Courts on drug-related charges.

Further details, including the identities of the second and third executed prisoners, are still under investigation by HRANA.

As of the time of this report, the executions have not been officially announced by prison or judicial 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.

Four Azerbaijani-Turk Activists Arrested by Security Forces

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Ethnic Minorities, Freedom of Expression, News
Abbas Lesani, Ali Kheirjoo, Behzad Dashti, Evin Prison, HRANA, Taher Naghavi, Vadood Asadi, Yousef Kari

HRANA – On Tuesday, November 11, Azerbaijani-Turk activists Abbas Lesani (Lisani), Ali Kheirjoo, Yousef Kari, and Behzad Dashti were arrested in front of Evin Prison and taken to an unknown location. They had traveled to Tehran to support the sit-in held by families of several political prisoners detained in this prison.

According to HRANA, the arrests were carried out today by security forces outside Evin Prison. These Azerbaijani-Turk activists had gone to Tehran in solidarity with the families of Taher Naghavi and Vadood Asadi, political prisoners currently held in Evin Prison.

So far, there is no information on the detainees’ whereabouts or the charges brought against them. Recently, Vadood Asadi and Taher Naqavi were transferred to solitary confinement in Evin Prison as a punitive measure following their hunger strike.

Abbas Lesani, Ali Kheirjoo, Yousef Kari, and Behzad Dashti have previously faced arrests and judicial proceedings due to their activism.