Workers’ Rights Activist Kamran Sakhtemangar Arrested

HRANA News Agency – On February 5, 2025, security forces in Sanandaj arrested Kamran Sakhtemangar, a labor activist, and transferred him to an undisclosed location.

According to information obtained by HRANA, authorities have not disclosed the reasons for his arrest, his whereabouts, or the charges against him.

In early January, Branch 109 of the Second Criminal Court of Sanandaj tried Mr. Sakhtemangar on defamation and slander charges. The court later released him on bail.

A source close to Sakhtemangar’s family previously told HRANA that the Sanandaj Prosecutor and Jahangir Elyasi, Director General of Kurdistan’s Road and Urban Development Department, filed complaints against him. The complaints stemmed from his efforts to expose misconduct by various officials and provide related evidence.

Sakhtemangar has faced previous arrests and convictions due to his activism.

According to HRANA’s documented reports, in 2024, Iranian authorities arrested 11 workers’ rights activists, while nine others faced a combined total of 301 months in prison.

Appeals Court Upholds Prison Sentence for Teacher Union Activist Hossein Vahedi

HRANA News Agency – The one-year prison sentence of Hossein Vahedi (Dariush Ashkani), a board member of the North Khorasan Teachers’ Trade Association, has been upheld in full by Branch 2 of the province’s Appeals Court.

Based on the ruling recently issued and communicated to him by Branch 2 of the North Khorasan Appeals Court, he has been sentenced to one year in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime.”

In December 2024, Branch 1 of the Bojnourd Revolutionary Court had initially sentenced Hossein Vahedi to one year in prison on the same charge.

Hossein Vahedi, an inspector of the North Khorasan Teachers’ Trade Association, has previously faced legal action and convictions.

Mazdak Maleki Sentenced to Prison and Additional Punishments

HRANA News Agency – Mazdak Maleki, a political prisoner held in Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan, has been sentenced by Branch 1 of the Isfahan Revolutionary Court to five years in prison, along with a two-year travel ban and a two-year prohibition from online activities. Three and a half years of his prison sentence have been suspended.

A source familiar with Maleki’s case told HRANA: “According to the verdict issued by Branch 1 of the Isfahan Revolutionary Court on January 10, 2025, and officially communicated to him, he was sentenced to five years in prison for ‘propaganda against the regime’ and ‘membership in a group with the intent to disrupt national security.’ As additional punishments, he was also given a two-year travel ban and a two-year prohibition from online activities. His alleged crimes were based on his activity on the social media platform ‘Clubhouse’.”

The source added: “Three and a half years of his prison sentence have been suspended, and five months have been deducted from his sentence due to his acceptance of the court ruling. Furthermore, Maleki has been denied the right to a lawyer, and his confiscated belongings have yet to be returned to his family.”

He was initially arrested on August 27, 2024, in Isfahan by IRGC intelligence forces. On October 23, after completing his interrogation, he was transferred to Dastgerd Prison. His preliminary hearing was held in November at Branch 11 of the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in Isfahan.

Mazdak Maleki, 38, is an electrical engineer from Isfahan who has been involved in solar energy and environmental issues.

Mandatory Hijab Opponent Hamideh Zeraei Arrested

HRANA News Agency – On Monday, February 5, Hamideh Zeraei, a citizen protesting against compulsory hijab who is serving her exile sentence in Rasht, was arrested for refusing to comply with the hijab requirement in court. She was subsequently transferred to Lakan Prison in Rasht.

A source close to her family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “Ms. Zeraei is currently serving her exile sentence in Rasht. Yesterday, when she appeared in court for a mandatory check-in, she was arrested for not wearing a hijab and taken to Lakan Prison. The investigator at the Rasht Revolutionary Court has set her bail at one billion tomans (approximately $12,500).”

On November 16, 2023, Branch 1 of the Karaj Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Mousa Asef-Hosseini, sentenced Zeraei to one year in prison, two years of exile in Rasht, a two-year travel ban, and a two-year prohibition from online activities. After accepting the ruling, her one-year prison sentence was reduced to nine months.

Zeraei was first arrested by security forces at her home on May 29, 2023, and transferred to Kachooei Prison in Karaj. She was eventually released on February 22, 2024, after completing her sentence.

In June 2024, she was summoned to Branch 13 of the Rasht Revolutionary Court to provide further explanations. After appearing in court, she was arrested and transferred to Lakan Prison in Rasht but was later released on bail.

Zeraei had previously been arrested in connection with the 2022 nationwide protests. She was released from Kachooei Prison in Karaj on February 7, 2023, following the issuance of the so-called “pardon and commutation” directive.

Majid Shia Ali Imprisoned on Political Charges

HRANA News Agency – today, February 4, 2025, Majid Shia Ali, a resident of Mashhad, was arrested and transferred to prison to serve his one-year and six-month sentence.

On January 20, 2025, Branch 991 of the Mashhad Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office ordered this political defendant to report within ten days to serve his sentence.

Previously, in May 2023, the Khorasan Razavi Court of Appeals sentenced him to two years and six months in prison, of which the longest enforceable term—one year and six months—is now being carried out.

In February 2023, the Mashhad Revolutionary Court had initially sentenced Shia Ali to six years and six months in prison on three charges: “membership in a group formed to disrupt national security,” “propaganda against the regime,” and “insulting the Supreme Leader.”

According to HRANA, his case was opened after he posted content on social media related to the 2022 nationwide protests.

Majid Shia Ali, a PhD student at Mashhad’s Azad University, was first arrested in late November 2022 and was released on bail in mid-February 2023 from Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad. During his 56-day detention, he spent 40 days in solitary confinement at one of the IRGC Intelligence detention facilities in Mashhad.

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Prisoner Executed in Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad

HRANA News Agency – On February 3, 2025, the death sentence of a prisoner previously convicted of moharebeh (enmity against God) through armed robbery was carried out in Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad.

HRANA has identified the prisoner as Hafez Bani Asadi, a resident of Kahnuj. According to information obtained by HRANA, he had been sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court on charges of moharebeh through armed robbery.

As of the time of this report, prison authorities and relevant institutions have not officially announced the execution.

In 2024, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran documented 812 cases related to the right to life, including the sentencing of 214 individuals to death and the execution of 930 individuals. Among these, 4 executions were carried out in public. Of those executed, 818 were male, 26 were female, and 5 were juvenile offenders—individuals under 18 years old at the time of their alleged crimes.

Two Prisoners Executed in Dastgerd Prison for Drug-Related Crimes

HRANA News Agency – On January 30, 2025, the death sentences of two prisoners, previously convicted in separate cases on drug-related charges, were carried out in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan.

Iran Human Rights have been identified these hanged prisoners as Mahdi Salehzadeh, 35, from Rasht, and Abdollah Khademi, 41, from Urmia, a father of three who resided near Tabriz.

According to the report, both individuals had been arrested in separate cases on drug-related charges and were sentenced to death by the judiciary. Their executions were carried out without a final visit with their families.

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

According to data compiled by HRANA, 52.69% of all executions in Iran in 2024 were related to drug-related charges. Notably, only 6% of the executions were officially announced, highlighting a significant lack of transparency. For a detailed analysis of these executions and the associated statistics, see HRANA’s full report.

Student Soroush Nourbakhsh Arrested by IRGC Intelligence

HRANA News Agency – On Saturday, February 1, Soroush Nourbakhsh, a student at the University of Tehran, was arrested by security forces after being summoned to the IRGC Intelligence Office in Mahabad, according to Kolbar News.

According to the report, Mr. Nourbakhsh was detained after being summoned to the IRGC Intelligence Office in the city. His family’s attempts to obtain information about his condition have so far been unsuccessful.

Nourbakhsh, 25 years old, is a native of Mahabad, and a music student at Tehran University of Arts.

As of the time of this report, the reasons for his arrest and the charges against him remain unknown.

Prisoner Executed in Sari Prison for Drug-Related Crimes

HRANA News Agency – The death sentence of a prisoner previously convicted of drug-related charges was carried out at dawn on Saturday, February 1, in Sari Prison, according to Iran Human Rights.

The identity of the prisoner has been reported as Ehsan Jamshidi, approximately 40 years old and a resident of Sari.

According to the report, this prisoner was arrested three years ago on drug-related charges and was subsequently sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court. Before his arrest, Ehsan Jamshidi worked as a taxi driver.

As of the time of this report, prison authorities and relevant institutions have not officially announced the execution.

According to data compiled by HRANA, 52.69% of all executions in Iran in 2024 were related to drug-related charges. Notably, only 6% of the executions were officially announced, highlighting a significant lack of transparency. For a detailed analysis of these executions and the associated statistics, see HRANA’s full report.

 

Two Indian Nationals Arrested in Iran on Charges of Photographing Restricted Areas

HRANA News Agency – India’s Ministry of External Affairs announced on Friday, February 1, that three Indian nationals went missing after traveling to Tehran.

Attorney Saeed Naghdi confirmed the arrest of two of them, stating that Yogesh Panchal has been issued a deportation order and must leave Iran, while Mohammad Sadeeque has already flown to Oman. The individuals were reportedly arrested on charges of photographing restricted areas.

Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, said on Friday that the three Indian nationals had traveled to Iran for business purposes in recent months. A few days after arriving in Tehran, their families lost contact with them. Attorney Saeed Naghdi, confirming the detention of Yogesh Panchal and Mohammad Sadeeque, stated that Panchal has been ordered to leave Iran, while Sadeeque has already departed for Oman.

According to Naghdi, the charge of photographing restricted areas was brought against the detainees.

Some Indian media outlets have reported that the identity of the third individual, whose whereabouts remain unknown, is Sumeet Sud.