HRANA – The year 1402 (April 14, 2023 – March 15, 2024) paints a vivid picture of the ongoing human rights violations in Iran. The persistent threats to freedom of thought and expression, the crackdown on peaceful protestors, increased pressures on ethnic and religious minorities, trials and harassment of human rights activists, executions of juveniles, the plight of child laborers, violations of the rights of women and sexual and gender minorities, and the unsatisfactory conditions of detention centers and prisons are just some examples of the daily infringements on human rights in Iran. The comprehensive report from the HRA Center for Statistics and Data (HRACSD) that follows presents a regrettable state of human rights violations in Iran over the past year.
According to data from 10,133 reports registered at the HRACSD during the past year (March 21, 2023, to March 15, 2024), 3,187 citizens were arrested in Iran based on ideological or political grounds or in direct conflict with human rights principles. In addition, 672 arrests were related to individuals’ lifestyles.
Key areas of arrest included 2,491 cases in the realm of the right to freedom of thought and expression, with 112 of those detained being under the age of 18. There were also 61 cases of worker and labor activist arrests, 30 cases involving professional activists, 132 arrests of religious minorities, 45 arrests of women protestors and women’s rights activists, 16 in the cultural sector, 5 arrests of sexual and gender minorities, 56 environmental activists, and 351 individuals arrested on an ethnic basis. It should be noted that the charges against 330 individuals in the latter category are unspecified, but based on patterns and the security institution’s history in the mentioned areas, these arrests are classified under ethnic-national rights.
Aside from the 3,187 arrests with a political or ideological basis, at least another 672 citizens were detained for choosing their lifestyle and attending private parties across various cities in Iran. These detentions highlight the intrusion into citizens’ private lives and inspection of their lifestyle choices, contrary to the law and accepted human rights principles.
Moreover, general and revolutionary courts across the country issued sentences in 843 cases, amounting to a total of 31,809 months of custodial sentences and 1,981 months of suspended sentences for ideological or security-related offences. Of these, 25,197 months of imprisonment were issued by first-instance courts, 8,113 months by appellate courts, and 480 months by the Supreme Court. In addition to imprisonment, monetary fines were also levied against the convicts, totalling approximately seven billion, six hundred twenty-three million, two hundred fifty-nine thousand Tomans.
Due to the silence of families and governmental institutions, precise statistics on the extent of child abuse are not available. However, based on collected reports, at least 17 cases of sexual assault or abuse of children, 47 child murders, 5 honor killings, 62 child suicides, and over 929,000 children dropping out of school have been documented this year.
In 1402 (April 14, 2023 – March 15, 2024), no new statistics on child marriage were published by the Statistical Center of Iran or official media. However, a look at the data from previous years reveals the dire situation. The Statistical Center of Iran had announced that in 1401, at least 27,000 girls who were married were under the age of 15. This center did not mention marriages among individuals aged 15 to 18, which would be considered, under international conventions, as child marriages. The year before, in 1400, the total number of registered marriages for individuals under 18 was 56,343.
Amidst the negligence of the responsible organizations and the existence of a mafia exploiting child labor in the country, no precise data on the number of working and street children are provided by the relevant authorities. However, according to an estimate by the Iranian Scientific Association of Social Work in 1402, at least 35,000 child laborers were active in Iran.
The annual report also addresses the continuation of “inhumane” sentences last year, punishments that starkly deviate from the spirit of human rights and human dignity. Among these were 1 amputation sentence and 2 cases of amputation sentence executions.
From a multitude of reports, it is observed that Iranian citizens received sentences totalling 5,071 lashes in various courts across the country, with a minimum of 442 lashes being administered. Among these, 160 lashes were carried out publicly.
In 1402, Iranian women, like other segments of society, experienced a challenging year. Alongside legal shortcoming and the absence of assurances for sexual and gender equality within social and legal frameworks, the were a reported a minimum of 37 cases of sexual assault and abuse, 98 instances of women being murdered, 40 honor killings including 7 men, 2 self-immolations, 36 cases of suicide, 8 acid attacks, and 3,176 instances of confrontations stemming from improper or absent adherence to hijab norms.
Throughout 1402, a total of 540 citizens were shot at by military forces, resulting in 129 deaths, including 29 kolbars (cross-border labor), 29 fuel carriers, and 71 other citizens. 411 citizens were injured by indiscriminate shooting by military forces, including 353 kolbars, 33 ordinary citizens, and 25 fuel carriers.
Additionally, 11 other kolbars faced accidents due to climatic and geographical conditions such as frostbite and falls from heights, resulting in 6 injuries and 5 deaths.
On another note, this year saw two horrific explosions during the fourth anniversary of Qasem Soleimani’s death in Kerman, killing more than 100 people and injuring 170 others.
In addition to the fatalities directly caused by the actions of military personnel, at least 9 citizens lost their lives due to landmine explosions in various parts of the country; additionally, 25 others were injured. Most of these mines are remnants of war, for which the Iranian government bears specific responsibilities to neutralize or fence off contaminated areas to protect citizens’ lives and ensure their safety.
Consistent with the pattern observed in the decades following the 1979 revolution, the practice of executions in Iran persists as one of the most glaring human rights violations. In 1402 (April 14, 2023 – March 15, 2024), at least 767 citizens, among them 21 women and 2 juvenile offenders, were executed. Of these, 7 individuals were executed in public. Furthermore, during this period, 172 individuals were sentenced to death, with 5 of them sentenced to public execution. It’s noteworthy that the preliminary sentences of another 49 individuals were also upheld by the Supreme Court.
Regarding prisoners’ rights in 1402, there were 31 instances of political prisoner beatings, 276 instances of neglect or denial of medical services to prisoners, 307 instances of illegal solitary confinement transfers, 90 hunger strike attempts by prisoners, 397 instances of forced transfers or exiles of prisoners, 2773 instances of threats and pressures on political and ideological prisoners, 76 instances of preventing prisoner visits, 6 prisoner deaths due to illness, 20 instances of prisoner suicide, 8 instances of prisoner murder, 190 instances of denied access to legal representation, 134 instances of denied communication rights, 145 instances of failure to separate crimes, 2876 instances of prisoners kept in inappropriate conditions, 81 instances of coerced confessions, and 96 instances of denial of medical furlough were documented. Additionally, 459 instances of lack of information and 1258 instances of indefinite detention of detainees were documented.
The preceding year proved to be unfavorable for workers as well. Within this timeframe, at least 7066 workers were laid off or became unemployed, 1527 individuals were killed in work-related accidents, and 4215 instances of physical injuries to workers on the job were reported. Moreover, 3996 cases of worker uncertainty, 2,266,000 instances of lack of insurance, and 47 factory closures were recorded. Additionally, at least 82,206 workers reported wage arrears, cumulatively amounting to at least 1020 months of unpaid wages.
In 1402, at least 2257 protest gatherings took place in Iran, including 408 labor gatherings, 1465 professional gatherings, 200 in the realm of thought and expression, 32 student gatherings, 2 religious minority gatherings, 4 women’s gatherings, 1 cultural gathering, and 20 environmental gatherings. Additionally, 125 protest gatherings were held by citizens, mostly by those who had been defrauded or other individuals whose civic rights had been violated, across all 31 provinces. Alongside the protest gatherings, at least 38 professional strikes, 134 labor strikes, and 2 student strikes took place.
In conclusion, it is imperative to acknowledge that the statistics presented in this report cannot be deemed a comprehensive portrayal of the human rights landscape in Iran. The Iranian government’s restrictions on independent human rights organizations hinder their ability to operate freely and access vital resources. Consequently, these reports should be regarded as a minimal representation of Iran’s human rights situation, solely documented by civil institutions such as HRANA and compiled and registered through the HRACSD.
HRANA News Agency – International Women’s Day, celebrated annually on March 8th, is an opportunity to celebrate women’s achievements in various social, economic, cultural, and political arenas and to emphasize the importance of fighting for women’s rights and their irreplaceable role in society. In Iran, this day takes on added significance as Iranian women, despite facing numerous challenges, play a leading role in civil and social movements in the country and are at the forefront of the struggle for their rights. Women in Iran face gender discrimination, legal and social restrictions, and inequalities in career advancement and education, and yet, against all odds, they continue to fight.
In an effort to increase public awareness about the status of women, namely those women who are imprisoned in Iran owing of to their ideological, political, or religious beliefs, HRANA releases this report on the occasion of International Women’s Day. These women, active in defending human rights and equality, play a crucial role in the fight for justice. This day is a time to focus attention and strengthen global support for the struggles and challenges they face.
They stand not only for their own rights, but for the rights of all women, against oppression and discrimination in all forms.
The situation for women has been fraught with struggle.
From the pre-revolution era to the present, Iranian women have faced obstacles in social, economic, and legal sectors. While progress has been made in accessing education, and the workplace, for some, gender discrimination and legal restrictions related to marriage, divorce, custody, and inheritance to name a mere few hold women in unequal positions within society. These inequalities are enshrined into the law.
Well-known restrictions faced by women related to mandatory hijab can lead to fines, arrest, and severe punishments. Furthermore, these restrictions can limit a women’s access to jobs and social activities. For an in-depth look at individuals and institutions involved in serious human rights violations related to women’s rights in Iran reference the Spreading Justice report: The State of Women’s Rights in Iran: Institutional and Individual Violations
A growing trend of civil activity and protest led by women
In recent years, there has been an increase in civil activities and protests led by Iranian women. These movements, which are largely against mandatory hijab, see women demanding equality in law, and defend women’s rights in the workplace and in society. The movements reflect Iranian women’s efforts to take control, to fight back , and to achieve equal rights and combat gender discrimination for themselves, and for future generations of Iranian women.
These efforts have become particularly visible in light of the nationwide protests that began in September 2022 following the death of Mahsa Zhina Amini. Women played a key and leading role in these protests, becoming symbols of resistance against gender discrimination, human rights violations, and restrictions on freedom of expression. Their role in these movements is seen not only in Iran but also internationally as a turning point in the struggle for rights and freedoms. For an in-depth analysis of the advocacy efforts by Iranian women and the international response reference HRA’s statement: Unveiling Injustice: Advocating for Women’s Rights and Accountability in Iran
On the eve of International Women’s Day, the publication of a list of names and stories of women who are imprisoned in Iran for fighting for their rights and defending human values is not only a tribute to their courage and resilience but also an effort to increase global awareness about the ongoing struggle for women’s rights in Iran. These stories are a testament to the indomitable spirit of women who, despite all hardships and deprivations, continue to raise their voices in protest and demand.
Sharing this list goes beyond mere information dissemination; it is an invitation to join in international solidarity. This solidarity provides the necessary support and backing for these women and their families and demonstrates the power of global unity in combatting human rights violations. This support, formed through awareness campaigns, legal activities, and international pressure, can ultimately contribute to ensuring these women achieve what they are fighting so hard for against all odds.
This list is not just a collection of names but a compilation of stories of struggle, hope, and perseverance. The women on this list come from diverse backgrounds, yet all share common elements in their fight for justice and equality. The diversity of backgrounds illustrates the breadth and depth of women’s struggles across Iran and indicates that the demand for justice and equality transcends social, cultural, and economic boundaries.
Women imprisoned in Iranian jails on ideological, political, or religious charges.
This list shows the details of female political prisoners in Iran, describing their names, charges, sentences, the dates their cases were filed, and the locations of their prisons.
The charges range from “propaganda against the regime” and “assembly and collusion” to more severe allegations such as “corruption on earth” and “espionage.”
The sentences vary significantly, including life imprisonment, several years in prison, and uncertain conditions for those still awaiting verdicts.
Many of these women are held in notorious prisons like Evin, with some cases dating back years, highlighting the long-term nature of these types of punishments.
1. Full Name: Zeinab Jalalian Charges: Waging war against the regime through membership in opposition groups Sentenced: Life imprisonment Case date: 2007 (1386) Place of imprisonment: Yazd Prison
2. Full Name: Maryam Akbari Monfared Charges: Waging war through membership in the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran Sentenced: 15 years imprisonment Case date: December 31, 2009 (10 Dey 1388) Place of imprisonment: Semnan Prison
3. Full Name: Mahvash Adalati Aliabadi Charges: Propaganda activities against the regime – Assembly and collusion Sentenced: 1 year imprisonment Case date: November 26, 2018 (5 Azar 1397) Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
4. Full Name: Shiva Ismaeili Charges: Assembly and collusion Sentenced: 10 years imprisonment Case date: May, 2023 (Khordad 1402) Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
5. Full Name: Fereshteh (Tahereh) Nouri Charges: Assembly and collusion with the intent to disrupt national security – Disturbing public order Sentenced: 6 years imprisonment Case date: September 25, 2022 (3 Mehr 1401) Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
6. Full Name: Parvin Mirassan Charges: Corruption on Earth through widespread action against national security – Assembly and collusion to commit a crime Sentenced: Indeterminate Case date: November 3, 2022 (12 Aban 1401) Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
7. Full Name: Soodabeh Fakharzadeh Charges: Assembly and collusion Sentenced: 5 years imprisonment Case date: May, 2023 (Khordad 1402) Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
8. Full Name: Arghavan Falahi Charges: Propaganda against the regime – Assembly and collusion to commit a crime against security – Membership in opposition groups Sentenced: Indeterminate Case date: November 4, 2022 (13 Aban 1401) Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
9. Full Name: Masoumeh (Akram) Akbari Charges: Assembly and collusion with the intent to act against national security – Propaganda activities against the regime Sentenced: 6 years imprisonment Case date: Not specified Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
10. Full Name: Shadi Shahidzadeh Charges: Membership in illegal groups and organizations with the aim of disrupting national security Sentenced: 5 years imprisonment Case date: May 1, 2023 (11 Ordibehesht 1402) Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
11. Full Name: Narges Mansouri Charges: In two separate cases with identical charges of assembly and collusion against national security – Propaganda against the regime Sentenced: 6 + 3 years imprisonment, a total of 9 years Case date: Autumn 2019 (Fall 1398) Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
12. Full Name: Saeideh (Samira) Sabouri Charges: Not specified Sentenced: Not specified Case date: Not specified Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
13. Full Name: Yasamin Saboohi Charges: Not specified Sentenced: Not specified Case date: Not specified Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
14. Full Name: Bahareh Hedayat Charges: In two separate cases; assembly and collusion – Propaganda against the regime – Promoting corruption and prostitution Sentenced: 4 years and 8 months imprisonment + Indeterminate from another case Case date: February 10, 2020 (21 Bahman 1398) Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
15. Full Name: Vida Rabani Charges: In two separate cases; assembly and collusion with the intent to commit a crime against national security – Propaganda against the regime – Insulting the sacred – Disturbing public order Sentenced: 5 years + 6 years and 15 months imprisonment Case date: November 23, 2020 (2 Azar 1399) Place of imprisonment: Not specified
16. Full Name: Reyhaneh Ansari Nejad Charges: Assembly and collusion against the system and propaganda against the system Sentenced: Indeterminate Case date: May 12, 2023 (22 Ordibehesht 1402) Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
17. Full Name: Maryam Haji Hosseini Charges: Corruption on Earth and spying for Israel Sentenced: 10 years imprisonment and the return of received funds Case date: Late Shahrivar 1398 (September 2019) Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
18. Full Name: Nahid Taghavi Charges: Participation in running an illegal group – Propaganda activities against the regime Sentenced: 10 years and 8 months imprisonment Case date: October 17, 2020 (25 Mehr 1399) Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
19. Full Name: Narges Mohammadi Charges: In four separate cases with charges including propaganda activities against the regime through issuing statements, disrupting prison order through sit-ins, defying prison leadership and authorities, damaging glasses, slander, and assault Sentenced: 30 months imprisonment, 80 lashes, and payment of two fines + 15 months imprisonment and supplementary punishments + 1 year imprisonment + 15 months imprisonment; totaling 12 years and 6 months imprisonment, 80 lashes, payment of two fines, and supplementary punishments Case date: November 16, 2021 (25 Aban 1400) Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
20. Full Name: Anisha Asadollahi Charges: Assembly and collusion – Propaganda against the regime Sentenced: 5 years and 8 months imprisonment Case date: May 9, 2022 (19 Ordibehesht 1401) Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
21. Full Name: Sepideh Kashan-Doust (Kashani) Charges: Cooperation with the United States government Sentenced: 6 years imprisonment Case date: February 2018 (Bahman 1396) Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
22. Full Name: Marzieh Farsi Charges: Membership in opposition groups Sentenced: 15 years imprisonment Case date: August 21, 2023 (30 Mordad 1402) Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
23. Full Name: Zahra Safaei Charges: Not specified Sentenced: 5 years imprisonment Case date: September 12, 2023 (21 Shahrivar 1402) Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
24. Full Name: Farahnaz Nikkhoo Charges: Not specified Sentenced: Not specified Case date: December 3, 2022 (12 Azar 1401) Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
25. Full Name: Marzieh Jani Pour Charges: Not specified Sentenced: Not specified Case date: January 19, 2023 (29 Dey 1401) Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
26. Full Name: Golrokh Iraee Charges: Assembly and collusion – Propaganda against the regime – Disturbing public order Sentenced: 5 years imprisonment Case date: September 26, 2022 (4 Mehr 1401) Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
27. Full Name: Shakila Monfared Charges: In three separate cases with charges including propaganda activities against the regime and insulting Islamic sanctities, membership in opposition groups, and spreading lies Sentenced: 6 years imprisonment + 2 years and 8 months imprisonment and a fine of 10 million tomans + 15 months of corrective imprisonment, 2 years of exile, and supplementary punishments; totaling 9 years and 11 months imprisonment, 2 years of exile, a fine, and supplementary punishments Case date: August 31, 2020 (10 Shahrivar 1399) Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
28. Full Name: Razavaneh Ahmad Khan Beigi Charges: Propaganda against the regime – Assembly and collusion against internal security Sentenced: 5 years imprisonment Case date: September 18, 2023 (27 Shahrivar 1402) Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
29. Full Name: Nasrin Khezri Javadi (Azam) Charges: Assembly and collusion to act against national security Sentenced: 5 years imprisonment Case date: May 1, 2019 (11 Ordibehesht 1398) Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
30. Full Name: Niloufar Bayani Charges: Cooperation with America Sentenced: 10 years imprisonment Case date: February 2018 (Bahman 1396) Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
31. Full Name: Faezeh Hashemi Charges: Assembly and collusion against national security, propaganda activities against the regime, and disturbing public peace and comfort Sentenced: 5 years imprisonment and a ban on leaving the country Case date: September 27, 2022 (5 Mehr 1401) Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
32. Full Name: Fariba Kamalabadi Charges: Espionage, promoting the Bahá’í faith, and promoting indecency in the country Sentenced: 10 years imprisonment Case date: July 31, 2022 (9 Mordad 1401) Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
33. Full Name: Mahvash Shahriari Charges: Espionage, promoting the Bahá’í faith, and promoting indecency in the country Sentenced: 10 years imprisonment Case date: July 31, 2022 (9 Mordad 1401) Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
34. Full Name: Mahboubeh Rezaei Charges: Membership in opposition 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 sanctities – Unveiling and demonstrating corruption in cyberspace Sentenced: 19 years and 9 months imprisonment, payment of 8 million tomans fine, and supplementary punishments Case date: May 22, 2023 (1 Khordad 1402) Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
35. Full Name: Shirin Saeidi Charges: Not specified Sentenced: Not specified Case date: Not specified Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
36. Full Name: Hajar Saeidi Charges: Membership in one of the opposition parties Sentenced: 1 year imprisonment Case date: June 8, 2020 (18 Khordad 1399) Place of imprisonment: Sanandaj Correctional and Rehabilitation Center
37. Full Name: Sarina Jahani Charges: Assembly and collusion Sentenced: 2 years imprisonment Case date: September 16, 2023 (25 Shahrivar 1402) Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
38. Full Name: Mina Khajavi Charges: Forming an illegal group with the aim of disrupting national security – Acting against national security through proselytizing Christianity and establishing a home church Sentenced: 6 years imprisonment Case date: July 2020 (Tir 1399) Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
39. Full Name: Zohreh Sarv Charges: Assembly and collusion – Propaganda against the regime Sentenced: 7 years imprisonment Case date: October 2021 (Mehr 1400) Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
40. Full Name: Samaneh Norooz Moradi Charges: Membership in opposition groups with the goal of disrupting national security – Assembly and collusion with the intent to commit a crime against national security – Propaganda activities against the regime Sentenced: 11 years imprisonment Case date: April 24, 2023 (4 Ordibehesht 1402) Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
41. Full Name: Soha Mortazai Charges: Assembly and collusion with the intent to act against national security Sentenced: 6 years Case date: November 2019 (Aban 1398) Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
42. Full Name: Nasim Sultan Beigi Charges: Assembly and collusion with the intent to commit a crime – Propaganda against the regime Sentenced: 4 years, 1 month, and 16 days imprisonment and supplementary punishments Case date: January 22, 2023 (2 Bahman 1401) Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
43. Full Name: Mahnaz Tarah Charges: Assembly and collusion to commit a crime – Propaganda against the regime Sentenced: 4 years and 4 months imprisonment Case date: November 13, 2023 (22 Aban 1402) Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
44. Full Name: Sarvnaz Ahmadi Charges: Assembly and collusion with the intent to disrupt national security – Propaganda against the regime Sentenced: 3 years and 6 months imprisonment Case date: April 28, 2023 (8 Ordibehesht 1402) Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
45. Full Name: Nasim Gholami Simiari Charges: Rebellion Sentenced: Indeterminate Case date: April 2023 (Ordibehesht 1402) Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
46. Full Name: Kubra Bigi Charges: Not specified Sentenced: Not specified Case date: Not specified Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
47. Full Name: Rahleh Rahmi Pour Charges: Assembly and collusion – Propaganda against the regime Sentenced: 6 years imprisonment Case date: November 12, 2019 (21 Aban 1398) Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
48. Full Name: Sepideh Gholian Charges: In two separate cases with charges of insulting the leadership, unveiling and facilitating corruption and prostitution, and insistence on committing the aforementioned crimes in court sessions Sentenced: 2 years imprisonment and supplementary punishment + 1 year and 3 months corrective imprisonment; totaling 3 years and 3 months imprisonment and supplementary punishments Case date: March 14, 2023 (24 Esfand 1401) Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
49. Full Name: Sahar (Fateme) Mokhtari Charges: Not specified Sentenced: Not specified Case date: Not specified Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
50. Full Name: Azar Korvandi Mousa Zadeh Charges: Assembly and collusion with the intent to act against national security through cooperation with an opposition group Sentenced: 5 years imprisonment Case date: Summer 2019 (Tabestan 1398) Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
51. Full Name: Zeinab Hamrang Seyed Beglo Charges: Assembly and collusion Sentenced: 5 years imprisonment Case date: March 11, 2024 (21 Esfand 1402) Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
52. Full Name: Pakhshan Azizi Charges: Membership in opposition associations Sentenced: Indeterminate Case date: August 4, 2023 (13 Mordad 1402) Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
53. Full Name: Varisheh Moradi Charges: Rebellion Sentenced: Indeterminate Case date: August 1, 2023 (10 Mordad 1402) Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
54. Full Name: Elaheh Fouladi Charges: Not specified Sentenced: Indeterminate Case date: December 12, 2023 (21 Azar 1402) Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
55. Full Name: Nasrin Roshan Charges: Not specified Sentenced: Not specified Case date: Not specified Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
56. Full Name: Maryam Vahidfard Charges: Not specified Sentenced: Not specified Case date: Not specified Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
57. Full Name: Moloud Hossein Doost Charges: Not specified Sentenced: Not specified Case date: Not specified Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
58. Full Name: Samira Nejatian Charges: Not specified Sentenced: Not specified Case date: Not specified Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
59. Full Name: Laleh Sa’ati Charges: Not specified Sentenced: Not specified Case date: Not specified Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
60. Full Name: Neda Fotouhi Charges: Not specified Sentenced: Not specified Case date: Not specified Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
61. Full Name: Lian Darvish Charges: Not specified Sentenced: Not specified Case date: Not specified Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
62. Full Name: Nahid Khodajoo Charges: Assembly and collusion to act against national security and disturbing public order and peace Sentenced: 5 years imprisonment and 74 lashes Case date: May 1, 2019 (11 Ordibehesht 1398) Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
63. Full Name: Forough Taghipour Charges: Membership in an opposition group Sentenced: 15 years imprisonment Case date: August 21, 2022 (30 Mordad 1401) Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
64. Full Name: Sepideh Keshavarz Charges: Propaganda activities against the regime – Assembly and collusion Sentenced: 1 year imprisonment Case date: November 20, 2018 (29 Aban 1397) Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
65. Full Name: Armita Pamir Charges: Insulting the leadership – Propaganda activities against the regime Sentenced: 1 year, 10 months, and 17 days imprisonment Case date: June 28, 2023 (7 Tir 1402) Place of imprisonment: Tabriz Prison
66. Full Name: Noushin Mesbah Charges: Membership in an opposition group with the aim of disrupting order and security of the country Sentenced: 1 year imprisonment Case date: Early September 2023 (Early Shahrivar 1402) Place of imprisonment: Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad
67. Full Name: Nasrin Sadat Shahraeeni Charges: Cyber spreading of lies, inciting people to massacre and conflict, propaganda against the regime, and disturbing public minds Sentenced: 1 year and 3 months imprisonment Case date: September 9, 2023 (18 Shahrivar 1402) Place of imprisonment: Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad
68. Full Name: Roya Malakouti Charges: Forming groups and societies with the aim of disrupting national security – Propaganda activities against the regime Sentenced: 6 years and 8 months imprisonment Case date: July 29, 2023 (7 Mordad 1402) Place of imprisonment: Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad
69. Full Name: Azita Foroughi Motlagh Charges: Membership in an opposition society with the intent of disrupting national security – Propaganda against the regime Sentenced: 3 years and 8 months imprisonment Case date: July 29, 2023 (7 Mordad 1402) Place of imprisonment: Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad
70. Full Name: Negin Hosseinzadeh Charges: Propaganda activities against the regime – Filming forbidden places – Assembly and collusion with the intent to disrupt public order – Insulting the leadership – Membership in opposition groups Sentenced: 3 years, 6 months, and 1 day imprisonment Case date: August 22, 2023 (31 Mordad 1402) Place of imprisonment: Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad
71. Full Name: Raha Pour Ebrahim Charges: Forming an opposition group – Propaganda against the regime- Virtual activities aimed at disrupting public order Sentenced: 3 years imprisonment Case date: September 7, 2023 (16 Shahrivar 1402) Place of imprisonment: Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad
72. Full Name: Sakineh Parvaneh Charges: Assembly and collusion against national security – Propaganda against the Islamic Republic regime – Insulting the leadership Sentenced: 7 years and 6 months imprisonment Case date: March 2023 (Farvardin 1402) Place of imprisonment: Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad
73. Full Name: Fatemeh Sepehri Charges: In two separate cases with charges of collaboration with hostile governments – Assembly and collusion – Insulting the leadership – Propaganda against the regime, spreading lies and disturbing public minds through online activities and interviews with foreign media Sentenced: 18 years + 1 year corrective imprisonment and a fine of 20 million tomans; totaling 19 years imprisonment and a fine Case date: August 1, 2021 (10 Mordad 1400) Place of imprisonment: Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad
74. Full Name: Sanaz Tafazzoli Charges: Forming a group with the intent of disrupting internal security – Assembly and collusion with the intent of committing a crime against national security – Deviant educational or promotional activity contrary to or undermining the sacred Sharia within the framework of a sect, group, society, or the like Sentenced: 10 years and 9 months imprisonment Case date: November 22, 2022 (1 Azar 1401) Place of imprisonment: Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad
75. Full Name: Sara Nasiri Charges: Not specified Sentenced: Not specified Case date: December 6, 2022 (15 Azar 1401) Place of imprisonment: Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad
76. Full Name: Ziba Ghelich Khani Charges: Propaganda against the regime in cyberspace Sentenced: Indeterminate Case date: September 18, 2022 (27 Shahrivar 1401) Place of imprisonment: Sanandaj Correctional and Rehabilitation Center
77. Full Name: Zhila Hojabri Charges: Membership in opposition groups – Propaganda activities against the regime – Defiance of a government official Sentenced: 3 years and 8 months imprisonment Case date: August 2022 (Mordad 1401) Place of imprisonment: Sanandaj Correctional and Rehabilitation Center
78. Full Name: Farideh Moradkhani Charges: Not specified Sentenced: 3 years imprisonment Case date: January 13, 2022 (23 Dey 1400) Place of imprisonment: Tehran Correctional and Rehabilitation Center
79. Full Name: Farzaneh Gharahasanloo Charges: Not specified Sentenced: 5 years imprisonment Case date: November 4, 2023 (13 Aban 1402) Place of imprisonment: Mashhad Prison
80. Full Name: Nasrin Hasani Charges: In two cases with charges of spreading lies – Non-compliance with the Sharia veil in public places and public view, propaganda activities against the regime Sentenced: 1 year imprisonment + 7 months imprisonment and a fine of one million tomans; totaling 1 year and 7 months imprisonment and a fine Case date: September 3, 2023 (12 Shahrivar 1402) Place of imprisonment: Bojnurd Prison
81. Full Name: Nahid Shirpisheh Charges: Assembly and collusion – Propaganda against the regime Sentenced: 5 years imprisonment Case date: July 11, 2023 (20 Tir 1402) Place of imprisonment: Zanjan Prison
82. Full Name: Masoumeh Yavari Charges: Destruction of public property – Membership in an opposition group – Propaganda against the system Sentenced: 13 years imprisonment Case date: September 4, 2023 (13 Shahrivar 1402) Place of imprisonment: Dolatabad Prison, Isfahan
83. Full Name: Mahsa Saeidi Charges: Not specified Sentenced: Indeterminate Case date: September 11, 2023 (20 Shahrivar 1402) Place of imprisonment: Sepah Intelligence Detention Center, Yazd
84. Full Name: Sanaz Jahan Tigh Charges: Propaganda against the regime and inciting people to disrupt national security Sentenced: Indeterminate Case date: September 21, 2022 (30 Shahrivar 1401) Place of imprisonment: Sari Prison
85.Full Name: Shiva Khalili
Charges: Propaganda against the regime
Sentenced:1 year of imprisonment – Seizure of mobile phone
Case date:16 November 2021 (25 Aban 1401)
Place of imprisonment: Babol Prison
86. Full Name: Sharifeh Mohammadi Charges: Not specified Sentenced: Indeterminate Case date: November 25, 2023 (4 Azar 1402) Place of imprisonment: Lakan Prison, Rasht
87. Full Name: Roya Sabet Charges: Not specified Sentenced: Indeterminate Case date: February 14, 2024 (25 Bahman 1402) Place of imprisonment: Detention Center Plate 100, Shiraz
88. Full Name: Niloufar Sadat Hashemian Charges: Not specified Sentenced: Indeterminate Case date: February 14, 2024 (25 Bahman 1402) Place of imprisonment: Sepah Intelligence Detention Center, Semnan
90. Full Name: Niloufar Ghazaleh Charges: In two separate cases, charged with publishing photos without a hijab Sentenced: 5 years imprisonment from the first case and indeterminate from the second case Case date: November 28, 2023 (7 Azar 1402) Place of imprisonment: Intelligence Detention Center, Isfahan
91. Full Name: Zhinous Shadabi Charges: Not specified Sentenced: Indeterminate Case date: November 7, 2023 (16 Aban 1402) Place of imprisonment: Intelligence Detention Center, Hamedan
92. Full Name: Narges Soleimani Charges: Not specified Sentenced: Indeterminate Case date: Early October 2023 (Early Mehr 1402) Place of imprisonment: Intelligence Detention Center, Sanandaj
93. Full Name: Fereshteh Fadaee Far Charges: Not specified Sentenced: Indeterminate Case date: Early October 2023 (Early Mehr 1402) Place of imprisonment: Intelligence Detention Center, Sanandaj
94. Full Name: Sahar Salehian Charges: Not specified Sentenced: Indeterminate Case date: September 23, 2023 (1 Mehr 1402) Place of imprisonment: Intelligence Detention Center, Sanandaj
95. Full Name: Farideh Ghahremani Far Charges: Not specified Sentenced: Indeterminate Case date: September 18, 2023 (27 Shahrivar 1402) Place of imprisonment: Intelligence Detention Center, Kermanshah
96. Full Name: Parisa Mohammadi Charges: Not specified Sentenced: Indeterminate Case date: September 16, 2023 (25 Shahrivar 1402) Place of imprisonment: Intelligence Detention Center, Kermanshah
97. Full Name: Farzaneh Moeini Charges: Not specified Sentenced: Indeterminate Case date: September 16, 2023 (25 Shahrivar 1402) Place of imprisonment: Intelligence Detention Center, Yasuj
98. Full Name: Maryam Jalal Hosseini Charges: Incitement of people to war and slaughter with each other with the aim of disrupting national security – Propaganda against the regime – Insulting the leadership – Forming a group with the aim of disrupting national security Sentenced: 6 years imprisonment and 2 years exile to Ilam Case date: August 27, 2023 (5 Shahrivar 1402) Place of imprisonment: Kachooii Prison, Karaj
99. Full Name: Parastoo Afshari Nejad Charges: Unveiling, propaganda against the system, and inviting people to war and slaughter each other Sentenced: Indeterminate Case date: September 16, 2023 (25 Shahrivar 1402) Place of imprisonment: Dolatabad Prison, Isfahan
100. Full Name: Batool Omidy Charges: Propaganda against the regime Sentenced: Indeterminate Case date: September 11, 2023 (20 Shahrivar 1402) Place of imprisonment: Ilam Prison
101. Full Name: Fakhri Omidy Charges: Propaganda against the regime Sentenced: Indeterminate Case date: September 11, 2023 (20 Shahrivar 1402) Place of imprisonment: Ilam Prison
102. Full Name: Glavizh Tahmasbi Charges: Not specified Sentenced: Indeterminate Case date: September 16, 2023 (25 Shahrivar 1402) Place of imprisonment: Intelligence Detention Center, Sanandaj
103. Full Name: Tina Deljoo Charges: Propaganda against the regime Sentenced: 1 year imprisonment Case date: Not specified Place of imprisonment: Lakan Prison, Rasht
104. Full Name: Yekta Fahandezh Saadi Charges: Not specified Sentenced: Indeterminate Case date: December 18, 2023 (27 Azar 1402) Place of imprisonment: Adelabad Prison, Shiraz
105. Full Name: Safoura Maleki Charges: Not specified Sentenced: Indeterminate Case date: August 13, 2023 (22 Mordad 1402) Place of imprisonment: Intelligence Department Detention Center, Ilam
106. Full Name: Maryam Ebrahimi Charges: Unveiling – Propaganda against the regime – Disobedience to police orders Sentenced: Indeterminate Case date: April 2023 (Ordibehesht 1402) Place of imprisonment: Dolatabad Prison, Isfahan
107. Full Name: Fermisk Babai Charges: Not specified Sentenced: Indeterminate Case date: August 17, 2023 (26 Mordad 1402) Place of imprisonment: Intelligence Detention Center, Kermanshah
108. Full Name: Fatemeh (Mozhgan) Tadrisi Charges: Incitement and provocation of the people to war and slaughter each other with the aim of disrupting national security – Propaganda against the regime- Insulting the leadership – Forming a group with the aim of disrupting national security Sentenced: 6 years imprisonment and 2 years exile to Zanjan Case date: Early September 2023 (Early Shahrivar 1402) Place of imprisonment: Kachooii Prison, Karaj
109. Full Name: Sahar Ahmadi Charges: Not specified Sentenced: Indeterminate Case date: July 31, 2023 (10 Mordad 1402) Place of imprisonment: Intelligence Department Detention Center, Sanandaj
110. Full Name: Jhina Pendar Charges: Not specified Sentenced: Indeterminate Case date: July 23, 2023 (1 Mordad 1402) Place of imprisonment: Intelligence Detention Center, Sanandaj
111. Full Name: Lalikhan Niknia Charges: Association with one of the opposition parties Sentenced: Indeterminate Case date: June 25, 2023 (4 Tir 1402) Place of imprisonment: Intelligence Detention Center, Urmia
112. Full Name: Maryam Sadat Yahyavi Charges: Propaganda against the regime Sentenced: 1 year of imprisonment Case date: November 2014 (Aban 1393) Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
113. Full Name: Mina Karami Charges: Deviant educational and promotional activity contrary to or corrupting the sacred Sharia Sentenced: 5 years of punitive imprisonment, 5 million tomans of fine, deprivation of social rights for 10 years, and prohibition of leaving the country for 2 years Case date: Spring 2022 (Spring 1401) Place of imprisonment: Adel Abad Prison, Shiraz
Call to Action on the Occassion of International Women’s Day
HRA calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all women who are imprisoned solely on the basis of their beliefs, religions, political or social activities.
We urge Iranian authorities to respect their international obligations and to observe the fundamental rights of Iranian women, including, the right to due process and fair trial, the freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, and freedom of religion. Ensuring these fundamental rights is not only a step towards maintaining respect for human dignity but also lays the groundwork for progress within the country and the sustainable development of society.
In this context, the importance of international pressure and support for organizations fighting for women’s rights in Iran is more crucial than ever. The international community united with all human rights organizations must unanimously declare their support for imprisoned women and their struggles to obtain rights. There are a number of ways the international community can support imprisoned Iranian women, be it through diplomatic pressures, awareness campaigns, or direct assistance to Iranian human rights organizations working daily to advocate for women’s rights.
Every small action can be part of a larger wave that creates fundamental changes in society, towards achieving a world where justice and equality are guaranteed for all, regardless of gender.
For more information please contact Skylar Thompson, Director of Global Advocacy and Accountability at Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) skylar[at]hramail.com
HRANA – In February 2024, Hrana’s monthly report unveils a grim tableau of human rights abuses in Iran, spotlighting 33 executions, numerous unfair convictions and summonses, extensive prisoners’ rights violations, suppression of free speech, unpaid worker protests, and more. The report, a comprehensive account provided by the Institute of Statistics, Publishing and Works of Human Rights Activists in Iran, highlights the country’s alarming rate of per capita executions, including “secret” executions and unfair trials, such as those of Kurdish political prisoners and others accused of espionage without due process. The suppression extends to freedom of thought and expression, where the aftermath of 2022’s protests sees ongoing arrests and coerced confessions under unjust trials. Additionally, the plight of Iranian women and workers is emphasized, detailing punishments for hijab non-compliance, political activism, and unsafe work conditions leading to numerous accidents and protests over unpaid wages. International actions include U.S. sanctions targeting Iranian officials and entities for cyber activities and financial support to the IRGC. Hrana publishes this detailed report with the aim of increasing global awareness of these pressing human rights issues. We invite readers to delve into the full text for a deeper understanding of the situation and to join in advocating for change.
February 2024:
During February 2024, a series of reports brought to light numerous human rights abuses, encompassing 33 executions, numerous convictions, summonses, extensive violations of prisoners’ rights, continued suppression of freedom of speech, worker protests—especially concerning unpaid wages—and various other incidents occurring across different provinces. The Data provided by Institute of Statistics, Publishing and Works of Human Rights Activists in Iran.
Executions
During February, a total of 8 executions were carried out, and a total of 20 individuals were sentenced to death. Iran currently leads globally in per capita executions of its citizens. None of these executions were reported by official sources
This month, three Kurdish political prisoners were executed, Mohsen Mazloum, Pejman Fatehi, Wafa Azarbar and Hajir Faramarez stood accused of spying for the Israeli government, similarly to other cases, their forced confessions were broadcast on domestic television channels and their trial process was unfair.
A Sunni prisoner, Farhad Salimi, was executed after spending more than 13 years in jail. A source close to Salimi’s family told Harana: “Our communication with them was cut off a few days ago, there was no contact from the prison with Salimi’s family regarding the execution of the sentence.”
It’s concerning that over 75% of executions in Iran occur without government or judicial notification, deemed “secret” executions by human rights organizations.
Freedom of Thought and Expression
The protests of 2022 led to a wave of arrests, ensnaring even those who were peacefully exercising their rights. Many find themselves entangled in a judicial system rife with injustices: inadequate legal representation, coerced admissions, and more. Among these cases looms the Ekbatan Case, where eight defendants stand accused of the murder of Basij member Arman Alivardi, a charge vehemently denied by all. Their apprehension occurred amidst the Ekbatan protest. Presiding over this contentious affair is Judge Abolqasem Salavati, notorious for his severe judgments and involvement in biased trials, notably those resulting in the execution of protesters. While the first hearing convened on Tuesday, February 20th, no verdicts have yet been rendered. Nevertheless, the proceedings have already become mired in controversy, with allegations of forced confessions and apprehensions about the integrity of due process.
Furthermore, the aftermath of these protests has revealed a troubling trend: the appeals court frequently affirms the initial sentences without addressing the injustices that marred the original trials. A stark illustration of this is the case of Amir Sheibani Zaveh, whose conviction for “propaganda against the regime” was upheld. His punishment entails a one-year imprisonment, a two-year ban on travel, and restrictions on internet and social media use for two years. According to a source close to the family, this charge stemmed from Zaveh’s communication with the families of protesters who suffered injuries or fatalities at the hands of regime forces. Similarly, three political prisoners also recently had their sentences upheld, and protest Rapper Toomaj Salehi’s One-Year Sentence also being upheld.
Furthermore, Iran continues to monitor its citizens’ online behavior, and uses it in their trials. The Intelligence Organization of the Tehran Police Command announced the arrest of 72 citizens for what it called “producing and publishing immoral advertising content on the Instagram platform”.
Women
In Iran, women continue to get punished for non-compliance with hijab laws and also for their political activism. This month several women witnessed a series of legal actions and incidents reflecting societal tensions and legal enforcement surrounding the issue of hijab and gender-based violence.
Leila Naqdi Pari, a member of the Board of Directors of the Iranian Cinema Designers Association, faced legal repercussions from Tehran Criminal Court No. 2 for her alleged ‘non-compliance with Hijab rules’ when she was observed in public without one. The court levied fines, revoked her passport, and imposed an 18-month travel restriction. Moreover, during the proceedings, a photo circulating online depicting her without a hijab at a funeral was presented as evidence against her.
Additionally, Shakila Monfared, a political prisoner, has been charged with “propaganda against the regime.” In Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, Monfared was sentenced to 15 months of imprisonment. Furthermore, she is subject to a two-year travel ban, a prohibition from residing in Tehran and surrounding provinces, a ban from joining political/civil groups, and restrictions on using a smartphone.
Forough Taghipour and Marzieh Farsi, political prisoners, have each been sentenced to 15 years in absentia by the Revolutionary Court of Tehran. The court, led by Judge Iman Afshari, accused them of “suspicious membership in anti-regime groups,” without specifying the supporting acts. Both women opted not to participate in the trial, contesting the court’s legitimacy.
Lastly, the highly controversial “Hijab and Chastity Bill,” was resubmitted to the Guardian Council by the Iranian Parliament. The Parliament’s scrutiny of the bill caused a significant delay, disputes, inconsistencies and errors in the bill all highlight the contentious nature of this bill. The bill advocates for severe penalties for violating mandatory hijab regulations , classifying non-compliance as “nudity.” Despite intensified enforcement efforts a growing number of Iranian women are appearing in public without head coverings.
Workers
In the past month, there have been 112 worker accidents across Iran due to poor environmental safety and working conditions, highlighting the country’s low ranking of 102 in global work safety compliance. February alone saw 82 injuries and 30 fatalities resulting from safety negligence. Incidents include deaths in various cities such as Islamshahr, Neishabur, Mirjaveh, Qom, Tehran, Borujen, Isfahan, Kerman, Babol, Semnan, and Nazarabad. Additionally, a worker named Abdul Rahman Ahmadi committed suicide in Sanandaj due to financial struggles, particularly the inability to afford his needed eye treatment.
Further, there were at least 197 protest rallies held, these protests often occur due to unpaid wages, overtime payment and unsafe working conditions. For example, there are teachers who have not received wages since October 2023. The dire financial situation has caused one worker, Abdul Rahman Ahmadi, to commit suicide. He was not able to pay for his eye treatment which amounted to 70 million Tomans($1,665).
International News:
On February 2, 2024, the USA sanctioned Hamid Reza Lashgarian, head of the IRGC-CEC and a commander in the IRGC-Qods Force, along with senior officials of the IRGC-CEC: Mahdi Lashgarian, Hamid Homayunfal, Milad Mansuri, Mohammad Bagher Shirinkar, and Reza Mohammad Amin Saberian. These designations were made pursuant to Executive Order 13224 for their involvement in IRGC cyber and intelligence operations, particularly malicious cyber activities against critical infrastructure in the United States and other countries
On February 14, 2024, the USA sanctioned the Central Bank of Iran primarily for their role in providing financial support to the IRGC. Additionally, Pouria Mirdamadi and Seyed Abotaleb Najafi were both individually sanctioned for their role in facilitating the illegal export of goods and technology from over two dozen U.S. companies to end-users in Iran, including the Central Bank of Iran (CBI).
Between February 2nd and 5th, the Deputy UN Commissioner for Human Rights undertook a visit to Iran amidst considerable controversy. HRA expressed concerns regarding the timing of the proposed visit, citing its proximity to the upcoming session of the Human Rights Council (HRC). There is a significant risk that Iranian authorities may exploit this visit to undermine support for the renewal of crucial accountability mechanisms. They could potentially use this engagement to discredit the factual and evidence-based reports scheduled to be delivered in the coming month.
HRANA News Agency – Universities in Iran have witnessed significant changes in higher education policies. Since January 2022, a considerable number of university professors in various cities have been removed from teaching. HRANA has so far identified 95 of these professors who, during this period, have faced dismissal, suspension, non-renewal of contracts, and forced retirement. Additionally, reports have emerged about the removal of tens of thousands of part-time university professors from the Islamic Azad University and several other university professors, whose identities are currently under investigation by HRANA.
According to reports collected by HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists (in Iran), January/February 2022 to the present, the country’s universities have witnessed the dismissal, suspension, non-renewal of contracts, and forced retirement of a large number of their faculty members.
This report, examining the situation of university professors in various Iranian cities, confirms that at least 95 university professors have so far been deprived of their teaching activities for reasons including dismissal, suspension, non-renewal of contracts, and forced retirement. These events, some of which may be due to support for the “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests, indicate the increasing pressure being placed on the academic community in Iran.
Furthermore, reports have been received about the elimination of tens of thousands of part-time professors from the Islamic Azad University and several other university professors. These actions, whose exact identities are still under review, in addition to having direct effects on the professional lives of the professors, could have serious consequences on the quality of higher education and the scientific atmosphere of the country.
This wave of changes not only rings alarm bells for academic independence and freedom of expression in university environments but also calls for immediate attention and action by the international community. This report aims to expose these events, paving the way for further investigations and more effective actions in support of the rights of Iranian professors and students.
Below is a list of the names of professors who have been barred from teaching in the past two years, and whose identities have been verified.
1- Professor’s name: Mersedeh Eslami – Educational institution: Ferdowsi University of Mashhad
2- Professor’s name: Mohsen Khalili – Educational institution: Ferdowsi University of Mashhad
3- Professor’s name: Shahram Abbasi – Educational institution: Ferdowsi University of Mashhad
4- Professor’s name: Mehdi Kalahi – Educational institution: Ferdowsi University of Mashhad
5- Professor’s name: Alireza Azad – Educational institution: Ferdowsi University of Mashhad
6- Professor’s name: Mahshid Gohari – Educational institution: Ferdowsi University of Mashhad
7- Professor’s name: Arash Bidollahkhani – Educational institution: Ferdowsi University of Mashhad
8- Professor’s name: Shirzad Azad – Educational institution: Ferdowsi University of Mashhad
9- Professor’s name: Reza Omidi – Educational institution: University of Tehran
10- Professor’s name: Arash Raeisinejad – Educational institution: University of Tehran
11- Professor’s name: Hossein Alaee – Educational institution: University of Tehran
12- Professor’s name: Maham Miqani – Educational institution: University of Tehran
13- Professor’s name: Mohsen Baraheni – Educational institution: University of Tehran
14- Professor’s name: Dariush Rahmanian – Educational institution: University of Tehran
15- Professor’s name: Vahid Eidgah – Educational institution: University of Tehran
16- Professor’s name: Javad Bashari – Educational institution: University of Tehran
17- Professor’s name: Milad Azimi – Educational institution: University of Tehran
18- Professor’s name: Lili Azimi – Educational institution: University of Tehran
19- Professor’s name: Ghasem Azizi – Educational institution: University of Tehran
20- Professor’s name: Hossein Mosbahian – Educational institution: University of Tehran
21- Professor’s name: Azin Movahed – Educational institution: University of Tehran
22- Professor’s name: Seyed Reza Salehi Amiri – Educational institution: Islamic Azad University of Tehran
23- Professor’s name: Susan Safavardi – Educational institution: Islamic Azad University of Tehran
24- Professor’s name: Ali Akbar Amini – Educational institution: Islamic Azad University of Tehran
25- Professor’s name: Alireza Radmehr – Educational institution: Islamic Azad University of Tehran
26- Professor’s name: Hossein Tafazoli – Educational institution: Islamic Azad University of Tehran
27- Professor’s name: Dee Dokht Sadeghi – Educational institution: Islamic Azad University of Tehran
28- Professor’s name: Mohammad Ali Khosravi – Educational institution: Islamic Azad University of Tehran
29- Professor’s name: Bijan Nayeri – Educational institution: Islamic Azad University of Tehran
30- Professor’s name: [First name unknown] Sajedi – Educational institution: Islamic Azad University of Tehran
31- Professor’s name: Farshid Norouzi Roshanavand – Educational institution: Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Mazandaran
32- Professor’s name: Hamid Behrami Zadeh – Educational institution: Allameh Tabataba’i University
33- Professor’s name: Zahra Noei – Educational institution: Allameh Tabataba’i University
34- Professor’s name: Elham Tavakoli – Educational institution: Allameh Tabataba’i University
35- Professor’s name: Ali Ahmadi – Educational institution: Allameh Tabataba’i University
36- Professor’s name: Mehdi Khoie – Educational institution: Allameh Tabataba’i University
37- Professor’s name: Mina Matlab Nejad – Educational institution: Babol University of Medical Sciences
38- Professor’s name: Hasan Taheri – Educational institution: Babol University of Medical Sciences
39- Professor’s name: Mohsen Shahlaei – Educational institution: Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences
40- Professor’s name: Mehdi Shahabi – Educational institution: Tehran University of Medical Sciences
41- Professor’s name: Shahriar Nafisi – Educational institution: Tehran University of Medical Sciences
42- Professor’s name: Hasan Razmi – Educational institution: Tehran University of Medical Sciences
43- Professor’s name: Hossein Heidar – Educational institution: Tehran University of Medical Sciences
44- Professor’s name: Mohammad Saeed Sheikh Rezaei – Educational institution: Tehran University of Medical Sciences
45- Professor’s name: Ahmad Soodagar – Educational institution: Tehran University of Medical Sciences
46- Professor’s name: Mohammad Sadegh Ahmad Akhoundi – Educational institution: Tehran University of Medical Sciences
47- Professor’s name: Amirreza Rokn – Educational institution: Tehran University of Medical Sciences
48- Professor’s name: Mohammad Bayat – Educational institution: Tehran University of Medical Sciences
49- Professor’s name: Karamollah Toolabi – Educational institution: Tehran University of Medical Sciences
50- Professor’s name: Zahra Ahmadi Nejad – Educational institution: Tehran University of Medical Sciences
51- Professor’s name: Mohammadreza Motamed – Educational institution: Iran University of Medical Sciences
52- Professor’s name: Morteza Kolahdooz – Educational institution: Iran University of Medical Sciences
53- Professor’s name: Mohammad Rouhani – Educational institution: Iran University of Medical Sciences
54- Professor’s name: Rahleh Alimoradzadeh – Educational institution: Iran University of Medical Sciences
55- Professor’s name: Mohammadreza Abazari – Educational institution: Islamic Azad University of Qom
56- Professor’s name: Maqsoud Ranjbar – Educational institution: Islamic Azad University of Qom
57- Professor’s name: Hamed Forouzani – Educational institution: Islamic Azad University of Qom
58- Professor’s name: Nayeresadat Mobinipour – Educational institution: Islamic Azad University of Qom
59- Professor’s name: Farzaneh Vahed Dehkordi – Educational institution: Islamic Azad University of Qom
60- Professor’s name: Nader Haghighi – Educational institution: Islamic Azad University of Qom
61- Professor’s name: Mohammad Ali Ranjkesh – Educational institution: Islamic Azad University of Qom
62- Professor’s name: Mohammad Dakhili – Educational institution: Islamic Azad University of Qom
63- Professor’s name: Majid Zargham – Educational institution: Islamic Azad University of Qom
64- Professor’s name: Shahram Kiaei – Educational institution: Islamic Azad University of Qom
65- Professor’s name: Bijan Ghonchepour – Educational institution: Tehran University of Art
66- Professor’s name: Rasoul Akbarlou – Educational institution: Tehran University of Art
67- Professor’s name: Pouya Arianpour – Educational institution: Tehran University of Art
68- Professor’s name: Hamid Shans – Educational institution: Tehran University of Art
69- Professor’s name: Mohammad Hossein – Educational institution: Tehran University of Art
70- Professor’s name: Iman Emad – Educational institution: Tehran University of Art
71- Professor’s name: Masoud Alia – Educational institution: Tehran University of Art
72- Professor’s name: Amir Maziar – Educational institution: Tehran University of Art
73- Professor’s name: Arman Zakeri – Educational institution: Tarbiat Modares University
74- Professor’s name: Somayeh Simet – Educational institution: Tarbiat Modares University
75- Professor’s name: Navid Barzenje – Educational institution: Islamic Azad University of Parand in Tehran
76- Professor’s name: Ahmad Shakarchi – Educational institution: Shahid Beheshti University
77- Professor’s name: Mostafa Azarkhshi – Educational institution: Shahid Beheshti University
78- Professor’s name: Mohammad Ragheb – Educational institution: Shahid Beheshti University
79- Professor’s name: Ameneh Aali – Educational institution: Shahid Beheshti University
80- Professor’s name: Hamideh Khademi – Educational institution: Shahid Beheshti University
81- Professor’s name: Pantea Vaeznia – Educational institution: Alzahra University
82- Professor’s name: Neda Toulai – Educational institution: Alzahra University
83- Professor’s name: Reham Afghani – Educational institution: Sharif University of Technology
84- Professor’s name: Ali Sharifi Zarchi – Educational institution: Sharif University of Technology
85- Professor’s name: Shamsi Abbas Alizadeh – Educational institution: Tabriz University of Medical Sciences
86- Professor’s name: Keyhan Soleimannejad – Educational institution: Islamic Azad University of Salmas
87- Professor’s name: Behrouz Chaman Ara – Educational institution: University of Kurdistan
88- Professor’s name: Armita Seraj Zahedi – Educational institution: Iran University of Science and Technology
89- Professor’s name: Mohammad Saadati – Educational institution: University of Birjand
90- Professor’s name: Mohammadreza Nazarinejad – Educational institution: University of Gilan
91- Professor’s name: Aziz Nazarinejad – Educational institution: University of Shiraz
92- Professor’s name: Baharak Akhtardanesh – Educational institution: Bahonar University of Kerman
93- Professor’s name: Mohammad Mehdi Oloumi – Educational institution: Bahonar University of Kerman
94- Professor’s name: Mehdi Motiee – Educational institution: Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, University of Isfahan
95- Professor’s name: Mohammad Soltani – Educational institution: Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, University of Isfahan
Among the professors listed, Navid Barzenje, who held a Ph.D. in Art Philosophy and was a former professor at the Islamic Azad University of Parand in Tehran, committed suicide and died in Dey of this year (Dec 22 – Jan 20) after being dismissed from the university. To better understand the number of professors who have been barred from teaching at various universities, see the statistical chart below, which represents the statistics of education deprivation by institution.
Recent reports published by official Iranian media indicate that the Islamic Azad University has seen a widespread removal of part-time professors from its faculty. Etemad newspaper reported in the current month of Aban that in just twenty days, more than 32,000 part-time professors had been removed from their positions at this university, which has prompted widespread reactions. These actions have been taken in the wake of last year’s protests and amidst a backdrop of political and social tensions. The Ministry of Interior of Iran has accused the dismissed professors of “politicization,” while the Ministry of Science has attributed the dismissal of some of these individuals to “negative responses from inquiries to security institutions and bodies.” Analyses suggest that criticisms and protests against government policies could be among the main reasons for these dismissals.
Reactions to the widespread dismissal of professors extend beyond public opinion and the media to include officials, institutions, and the academic community. Various organizations and entities, including the Iranian Writers’ Association, student syndicates, and university professors’ syndicates, as well as prominent political figures, have condemned these actions and interpreted them as a sign of the intensification of a repressive atmosphere in universities. HRANA news agency, on the eve of the anniversary of the nationwide protests of 1401, had also drawn attention to the increasing pressures on the academic community in Iran by publishing a statistical report.
These reports and reactions raise deep concerns about the trend of dismissal and suspension of university professors in Iran and re-emphasize the importance of supporting academic freedoms and expression in university environments. These events, which have a significant impact on the country’s academic community, necessitate immediate attention and action by the international community to support educational standards and human rights in Iran.
For more information please contact Skylar Thompson, Director of Global Advocacy and Accountability at Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) skylar[at]hramail.com
HRANA News Agency – In February 1979, Ayatollah Khomeini, traveling in a blue Blazer to Behesht Zahra in Tehran, delivered his famous speech. In his speech, he made numerous promises regarding the economy, justice, and political freedoms. Forty-five years after the 1979 Revolution and that famous speech, and the promises therein, the realization of fundamental political freedoms and social justice in Iran, are still far from reality. The proof lies in the numerous death sentences and numerous international condemnations regarding the situation of human rights within the country.
This report, published on the anniversary of the 1979 Revolution, presents a comprehensive list of political and security prisoners sentenced to death, their latest status a symbol of the empty promises made that day.
The execution crisis in Iran goes far beyond the population of political prisoners. HRANA recently published a report on a decade of executions in Iran (from 2013 to 2023), presenting statistics on the execution of 4,829 citizens over a decade. However, political and security prisoners, as symbols of dissatisfaction and protest, are followed with more sensitivity by public opinion despite constituting a small percentage of this number.
HRANA, has prepared a list of political and security prisoners sentenced to death in Iran on the occasion of the anniversary of the 1979 Revolution, as a symbol of the revolution’s empty promises of establishing a justice-based system and improving human rights conditions.
According to the latest reviews by HRANA, there are currently at least 35 prisoners with political or security charges in various parts of the country sentenced to death.
This report introduces and reviews the latest status of Abbas (Mojahed) KoorKoori, Reza Rassayi, Anvar Khezri, Kamran Sheikhe, Khosro Besharat, Farshid Hassan Zehi, Mansour Dehmardeh, Jamshid Sharmahd, Mohammad Zeynoddini, Adham Naroui, Mohammad Javad Vafaie Thani, Abbas Deris, Ahmadreza Jalali, Yousef Ahmadi, Mansour Rasouli, Naib Askari, Mehran Bahramian, Fazl Bahramian, Ali Majdam, Mohammadreza Moghadam, Moein Khanfari, Habib Deris, Adnan Ghabishawi, Salem Mousavi, Farhad Shakeri, Eisa EidMohammadi, Abdolrahman Gorgij, Abdolhakim Azim Gorgij, Taj Mohammad Khormali, Malek Ali Fadaei Nasab, Amir Rahim Pour, Malek Davarshan and Ali Obeidavi.
These death row inmates, charged with political and security offenses, are imprisoned in Shiban Ahvaz, Diesel Abad Kermanshah, Ghezel Hesar Karaj, Zahedan, Vakil Abad Mashhad, Mahshahr, Evin, Sanandaj, Urmia, and Dastgerd Isfahan prisons.
Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Mohammad Moghiseh, Branch 4 of the Mashhad Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Ahmadian Salami, and the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court, with the issuance of death sentences for a total of 16 defendants in four separate cases, have played the most significant role in issuing death sentences for political and security defendants.
Charges leading to the issuance of death sentences for these individuals include Moharebeh (waging war against God), Ifsad fil-Arz (corruption on Earth), Baghy (rebellion), and espionage.
In the following list, names and key details about the latest status of the 35 prisoners sentenced to death on political and security charges are provided:
1- Abbas (Mojahed) KoorKoori Prison Location: Shiban Prison, Ahvaz Prominent Charges: Moharebeh (waging war against God) through bearing arms, Ifsad fil-Arz (corruption on Earth) through shooting with a military weapon, causing significant bodily harm resulting in the death of seven people, and forming a rebel group Issuing Court: Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court in Ahvaz Latest Case Status: The death sentence confirmed by the Supreme Court and the case referred to the execution branch of the court in Izeh
⬆️ The Judiciary Media Center claims that Abbas (Mojahed) KoorKoori, a prisoner incarcerated in Shiban Prison, Ahvaz, is accused of murdering Kian Pirfalak, a child who died during the nationwide protests in 2021. Despite these claims, Pirfalak’s family, including Zeynab Molaee Rad, the child’s mother, has repeatedly denied this accusation, stating that their child was killed due to gunfire by forces affiliated with the government.
2- Reza Rassayi Prison Location: Diesel Abad Prison, Kermanshah Prominent Charges: Direct involvement in the premeditated murder of Nader Birami, the head of the IRGC intelligence in Sahneh city Issuing Court: Branch 2 of the Criminal Court of Kermanshah Latest Case Status: The death sentence confirmed by the Supreme Court, the request for a retrial rejected by the Supreme Court, and the case referred to the execution branch of the criminal court in Kermanshah
⬆️ Reza Rassayi, a 35-year-old adherent of the Yarsan faith, was arrested by the intelligence officers in Shahr-e Rey, Tehran, on November 24, 2022, and then transferred to Diesel Abad Prison in Kermanshah. His arrest followed the death of Nader Birami, the head of the IRGC intelligence in Sahneh city, during a commemoration ceremony for the 21st death anniversary of Seyed Khalil Alinejad, one of the former leaders of the Yarsan community.
3- Anvar Khezri Prison Location: Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj Prominent Charges: Moharebeh through membership in one of the “Salafi groups” and participation in the assassination of a cleric close to the government named “Abdolrahim Tina” Issuing Court: Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court presided over by Judge Mohammad Moghiseh Latest Case Status: The death sentence confirmed by the Supreme Court
4- Kamran Sheikhe Prison Location: Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj Prominent Charges: Moharebeh through membership in one of the “Salafi groups” and participation in the assassination of a cleric close to the government named “Abdolrahim Tina” Issuing Court: Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court presided over by Judge Mohammad Moghiseh Latest Case Status: The death sentence confirmed by the Supreme Court
5- Khosro Besharat Prison Location: Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj Prominent Charges: Moharebeh through membership in one of the “Salafi groups” and participation in the assassination of a cleric close to the government named “Abdolrahim Tina” Issuing Court: Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court presided over by Judge Mohammad Moghiseh Latest Case Status: The death sentence confirmed by the Supreme Court
⬆️ Anvar Khezri, Kamran Sheikhe, and Khosro Besharat, three Sunni Muslim prisoners incarcerated in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj, were arrested in 2009 along with Qasem Abesteh, Ayoub Karimi, Davoud Abdollahi, and Farhad Salimi in a joint case for the suspected murder of Mamousta “Abdolrahim Tina” in October 2008, who had been killed by unidentified individuals.
Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Mohammad Moghiseh, sentenced these individuals to death in March 2016. After the sentence was overturned by the Supreme Court for further review, it was referred back to Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court. Ultimately, Judge Abolqasem Salavati reissued the death sentences for these individuals.
Eventually, Branch 41 of the Supreme Court confirmed these sentences in February 2020. Among them, the execution sentences of Qasem Abesteh, Ayoub Karimi, Davoud Abdollahi, and Farhad Salimi were carried out in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj, on November 5, November 29, December 3, 2022, and January 24, 2023, respectively. Now, the other three defendants in the case are on death row in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj.
6- Farshid Hassan Zehi Prison Location: Ward 9, Zahedan Prison Prominent Charges: Shooting at a vehicle near the Cheshmeh Ziarat village checkpoint in Zahedan, murdering the soldier Behzad Barahoui, and injuring First Lieutenant Mehdi Hashem Zehi, a law enforcement officer Issuing Court: Branch 1 of the Criminal Court of Zahedan Latest Case Status: Issuance of the death sentence and referral of the case to Branch 32 of the Supreme Court
⬆️ Farshid Hassan Zehi, 26 years old and son of Hanif, was arrested by security forces in the village of Cheshmeh Ziarat, Zahedan, on November 24, 2022, on charges of “shooting at a vehicle near the Cheshmeh Ziarat village checkpoint.” He is currently detained in Ward 9 of Zahedan Prison. The court session that led to his death sentence was held online without the presence of his defense lawyer.
7- Mansour Dehmardeh Prison Location: Ward 9, Zahedan Prison Prominent Charges: Corruption on Earth (Ifsad fil-Arz) Issuing Court: Branch 2 of the Criminal Court of Shahid Nouri in Zahedan Latest Case Status: Issuance of the death sentence
⬆️ Mansour Dehmardeh, born in 2000, son of Amanullah, with physical disabilities and unmarried, was arrested during the nationwide protests in Zahedan on October 3, 2021, and transferred to the city’s prison. In December of the previous year, he was initially sentenced to death by Branch 2 of the Criminal Court of Shahid Nouri in Zahedan on charges of “Corruption on Earth.” Despite his poor physical condition, he has been denied appropriate medical care in Zahedan Prison.
8- Jamshid Sharmahd Prison Location: Unknown Prominent Charges: Corruption on Earth (Ifsad fil-Arz) through leading an opposition group, planning and directing a bombing in Shiraz’s Hosseiniyeh Issuing Court: Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court Latest Case Status: The death sentence confirmed by the Supreme Court
⬆️ The Ministry of Intelligence announced in August 2020 the arrest of Jamshid Sharmahd, an Iranian-German dual citizen born in 1955. The court sessions reviewing Mr. Sharmahd’s charges, held from February 7, 2022, to August 23, 2022, by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court presided by Judge Abolqasem Salavati, ultimately led to his death sentence in early March 2022 for “Corruption on Earth through planning and directing terrorist acts.” Masoud Setayeshi, the judiciary spokesperson, announced the confirmation of his death sentence by the Supreme Court on April 26, 2023. Ghazaleh Sharmahd, his daughter, previously stated that the family’s chosen lawyer was not allowed access to his case file, and her father has been forced to sign documents while being held in solitary confinement.
9- Mohammad Zeynoddini Prison Location: Ward 9, Zahedan Prison Prominent Charges: Moharebeh (waging war against God) through armed action related to the killing of three security forces Issuing Court: Branch 1 of the Criminal Court of Zahedan Latest Case Status: The death sentence confirmed by the Supreme Court
10- Adham Naroui Prison Location: Ward 9, Zahedan Prison Prominent Charges: Moharebeh (waging war against God) through armed action related to the killing of three security forces Issuing Court: Branch 1 of the Criminal Court of Zahedan Latest Case Status: The death sentence confirmed by the Supreme Court
⬆️Mohammad Zeynoddini and Adham Naroui were arrested by security forces in Lashar, a city in Sib and Suran County, in October 2020 and May 2021, respectively. Their case was later referred from Branch 6 of the Zahedan Prosecutor’s Office to Branch 1 of the Criminal Court of the province concerning the killing of three security forces. Eventually, these political prisoners were sentenced to death by Branch 1 of the Criminal Court of Zahedan in late 2022 for “Moharebeh through armed action.” This sentence was confirmed by the Supreme Court on November 20, 2023.
11- Mohammad Javad Vafaie Thani Prison Location: Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad Prominent Charges: Corruption on Earth (Ifsad fil-Arz) through arson and deliberate destruction of specific places Issuing Court: Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad Latest Case Status: The case is currently being reviewed by Branch 9 of the Supreme Court
⬆️Seyed Mohammad Javad Vafaie Thani, a 28-year-old boxing coach, was arrested by security forces in Mashhad in March 2020 and transferred to Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad. This political prisoner was sentenced to death in December 2021 by Branch 4 of the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad for charges of “Corruption on Earth through arson and deliberate destruction of specific places, including the government’s Tazirat organization building.” The sentence was later overturned by one of the branches of the Supreme Court, and the case was referred to a parallel branch. Eventually, in early August 2023, after a retrial, Mr. Vafaie Thani was sentenced to death by Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad. Babak Pak Nia, the defense lawyer for this political prisoner, recently stated: “The case of Mohammad Javad Vafaie Thani is being reviewed by Branch 9 of the Supreme Court, and as of the latest follow-up, no decision has been made regarding the annulment or confirmation of the initial verdict.”
12- Abbas Deris Prison Location: Mahshahr Prison Prominent Charges: Moharebeh (waging war against God) Issuing Court: Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Mahshahr Latest Case Status: The death sentence confirmed by the Supreme Court and the request for retrial rejected by this judicial authority
⬆️Abbas Deris was arrested along with his brother Mohsen on December 8, 2019, by the intelligence agents of Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas headquarters. Mr. Deris was sentenced to death by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Mahshahr in late October 2021 for the charge of Moharebeh. This verdict was confirmed by Branch 39 of the Supreme Court in mid-July 2023. After filing a request for retrial in Branch 9 of the Supreme Court in August, an order was issued to halt the execution. Ultimately, the request for a retrial for Abbas Deris’s case was rejected by the Supreme Court in February 2024. Fereshteh Tabanian, a judiciary lawyer, stated: “We requested the application of Article 477, which is under review.” In another part of his case, Abbas Deris was sentenced by Branch 3 of the Criminal Court of Khuzestan Province for charges of premeditated murder and possession of a weapon to fourteen years in prison. Born in 1973 and a father of three, Deris, while admitting to participating in the protest gatherings on November 17, 2019, in Chamran town, has denied any involvement in burning tires and blocking roads in Chamran town.
13- Ahmadreza Jalali Prison Location: Evin Prison Prominent Charges: Espionage Issuing Court: Unknown Latest Case Status: The death sentence confirmed by the Supreme Court
⬆️Ahmadreza Jalali, a university professor and a political prisoner with dual nationality, was arrested by security forces during a trip to Iran after being invited by Tehran University in May 2016. He was eventually sentenced to death by a court for charges of espionage. This sentence was confirmed by the Supreme Court in December 2017. Zabihollah Khodaeian, the former judiciary spokesperson, announced in a press conference on May 10, 2021, that the death sentence for Ahmadreza Jalali, a dual-nationality prisoner, is final. The Iranian government has a documented history of using the charge of espionage as a tool against political opponents. Under no circumstances does espionage amount to the most serious crime as required under international law and as such it must never amount to the death penalty– any deprivation of life resulting from such charges is a grave violation of human rights.
14- Yousef Ahmadi Prison Location: Sanandaj Prison Prominent Charges: Rebellion (Baghy) Issuing Court: Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Sanandaj Latest Case Status: The death sentence confirmed by the Supreme Court
⬆️Yousef Ahmadi, along with Mohammad Karimi, Basat Karimi, and Mohammad Faizi, was arrested in a joint case in early May 2020 on suspicion of “cooperation with one of the opposition Kurdish parties” by security forces. Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Sanandaj, presided over by Judge Saeedi, sentenced Yousef Ahmadi in September 2023 for the charge of rebellion to death, and Mohammad Karimi, Basat Karimi, and Mohammad Faizi were respectively sentenced to twenty-five years, twenty years, and twenty years in prison for complicity in rebellion. The death sentence for Yousef Ahmadi was confirmed by Branch 39 of the Supreme Court in February 2024.
15- Mansour Rasouli Prison Location: Urmia Prison Prominent Charges: Espionage Issuing Court: Revolutionary Court Latest Case Status: The death sentence confirmed by the Supreme Court
⬆️Mansour Rasouli, along with Aran Omari, Rahman Parhazeh, Vafa Henareh, and Nasim Namazi, and five other defendants were arrested by security forces in November 2021. Ultimately, Mr. Rasouli, Omari, Parhazeh, Henareh, and Namazi were sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court for charges of Moharebeh (waging war against God) and Corruption on Earth (Ifsad fil-Arz) through cooperation with Israeli intelligence to disrupt the country’s security. The other five defendants of this case, namely Kamran Henareh, Fakhroddin Dodkanlu Milan, Ashkan Osman Nejad, Hassan Omarpour, and Amir Moshtagh Gangchin, were each sentenced by the Revolutionary Court to ten years in prison and are currently serving their sentences in the political ward of Urmia Prison. Among the five prisoners sentenced to death, the sentences of Aran Omari, Rahman Parhazeh, Vafa Henareh, and Nasim Namazi were executed in Urmia Prison on December 29, 2022. Mansour Rasouli, one of the defendants in this case, returned to the general ward of the prison following a halt in the execution, which is said to be due to legal developments in his case. The Iranian government has a documented history of using the charge of espionage as a tool against political opponents. Under no circumstances does espionage amount to the most serious crime as required under international law and as such it must never amount to the death penalty– any deprivation of life resulting from such charges is a grave violation of human rights.
16- Naib Askari Prison Location: Urmia Prison Prominent Charges: Rebellion (Baghy) Issuing Court: Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court of Urmia Latest Case Status: Re-issuance of the death sentence
⬆️Naib Askari was arrested by intelligence agents of the IRGC in Urmia on March 27, 2021. Mr. Askari was initially sentenced to death in absentia by Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court of Urmia on April 15, 2023, for the charge of Moharebeh. After accepting his request for an appeal, the same branch, after several court sessions, changed his charge from Moharebeh to Baghy and re-sentenced him to death in late October 2023. Notably, the court sessions for Mr. Askari were held without the presence of his defense lawyer. His affiliation with one of the opposition Kurdish parties has been cited as a basis for his charges in this case.
17- Mehran Bahramian Prison Location: Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan Prominent Charges: Murder of a Special Unit officer Issuing Court: Branch 22 of the Criminal Court of Isfahan Latest Case Status: Issuance of the death sentence
18- Fazl Bahramian Prison Location: Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan Prominent Charges: Murder of a Special Unit officer Issuing Court: Branch 22 of the Criminal Court of Isfahan Latest Case Status: Issuance of the death sentence
⬆️Fazl Bahramian, Mehran Bahramian, Dariush Saedi, and Younes Bahramian were arrested on January 1, 2023, after participating in the fortieth-day memorial service for several victims of the protests, including Ali Abbasi, Morad Bahramian, Muslim Houshangi, and someone with the surname Asafi, under a joint case and were later transferred to Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan. Eventually, Fazl Bahramian and Mehran Bahramian were sentenced to death by Branch 22 of the Criminal Court of Isfahan, presided over by Judge Hemati, for the charge of “murdering Mohsen Rezaei, a Special Unit officer.” Dariush Saedi and Younes Bahramian, other defendants in this case, were each sentenced to sixteen years in prison for complicity in the murder of the said officer. The cases of these defendants are currently under review in the Supreme Court.
19- Ali Majdam Prison Location: Shiban Prison, Ahvaz Prominent Charges: Leadership and membership in a rebel group Issuing Court: Revolutionary Court of Ahvaz Latest Case Status: The death sentence is currently under review by the Supreme Court
20- Mohammadreza Moghadam Prison Location: Shiban Prison, Ahvaz Prominent Charges: Leadership and membership in a rebel group Issuing Court: Revolutionary Court of Ahvaz Latest Case Status: The death sentence is currently under review by the Supreme Court
21- Moein Khanfari Prison Location: Shiban Prison, Ahvaz Prominent Charges: Membership in a rebel group Issuing Court: Revolutionary Court of Ahvaz Latest Case Status: The death sentence is currently under review by the Supreme Court
22- Habib Deris Prison Location: Shiban Prison, Ahvaz Prominent Charges: Membership in a rebel group Issuing Court: Revolutionary Court of Ahvaz Latest Case Status: The death sentence is currently under review by the Supreme Court
23- Adnan Ghabishawi Prison Location: Shiban Prison, Ahvaz Prominent Charges: Membership in a rebel group Issuing Court: Revolutionary Court of Ahvaz Latest Case Status: The death sentence is currently under review by the Supreme Court
24- Salem Mousavi Prison Location: Shiban Prison, Ahvaz Prominent Charges: Membership in a rebel group Issuing Court: Revolutionary Court of Ahvaz Latest Case Status: The death sentence is currently under review by the Supreme Court
⬆️Ali Majdam, Mohammadreza Moghadam, Moein Khanfari, Habib Deris, Adnan Ghabishawi, and Salem Mousavi, six security defendants, were arrested by security forces in Khuzestan in mid-February 2019. Eventually, in March 2023, Ali Majdam and Mohammadreza Moghadam were sentenced to death for leadership and membership in the “military branch of the Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Ahwaz” for armed confrontation against the foundation of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Moein Khanfari, Habib Deris, Adnan Ghabishawi, and Salem Mousavi were sentenced to death for membership in the mentioned group, also for armed confrontation against the foundation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, by the Revolutionary Court of Ahvaz, and the verdicts were confirmed by the Supreme Court.
25- Farhad Shakeri Prison Location: Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad Prominent Charges: Rebellion (Baghy) through membership in a Salafi group Issuing Court: Branch 4 of the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad Latest Case Status: The death sentence is currently under review by the Supreme Court
26- Eisa EidMohammadi Prison Location: Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad Prominent Charges: Rebellion (Baghy) through membership in a Salafi group Issuing Court: Branch 4 of the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad Latest Case Status: The death sentence is currently under review by the Supreme Court
27- Abdolrahman Gorgij Prison Location: Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad Prominent Charges: Rebellion (Baghy) through membership in a Salafi group Issuing Court: Branch 4 of the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad Latest Case Status: The death sentence is currently under review by the Supreme Court
28- Abdolhakim Azim Gorgij Prison Location: Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad Prominent Charges: Rebellion (Baghy) through membership in a Salafi group Issuing Court: Branch 4 of the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad Latest Case Status: The death sentence is currently under review by the Supreme Court
29- Taj Mohammad Khormali Prison Location: Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad Prominent Charges: Rebellion (Baghy) through membership in a Salafi group Issuing Court: Branch 4 of the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad Latest Case Status: The death sentence is currently under review by the Supreme Court
30- Malek Ali Fadaei Nasab Prison Location: Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad Prominent Charges: Rebellion (Baghy) through membership in a Salafi group Issuing Court: Branch 4 of the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad Latest Case Status: The death sentence is currently under review by the Supreme Court
⬆️Malek Ali Fadaei Nasab (a Shia citizen), Eisa EidMohammadi, Farhad Shakeri, Abdolhakim Azim Gorgij, Abdolrahman Gorgij, Abdolbaset Orsan, Mohammadreza Sheikh Ahmad, Morteza Fekoori, Hamid Rastbala, Kabir Saadat Jahani, Mohammad Ali Arayesh, and Taj Mohammad Khormali (Sunni citizens) were arrested in a joint case by the Intelligence Agency in 2015 and transferred to Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad, a year later. Eventually, in 2019, Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad, presided over by Judge Mahmoud Davoudabadi, sentenced Hamid Rastbala, Farhad Shakeri, Kabir Saadat Jahani, Mohammad Ali Arayesh, Eisa EidMohammadi, Hakim Azim Gorgij, Abdolrahman Gorgij, Taj Mohammad Khormali, and Malek Ali Fadaei Nasab to death for charges of “Rebellion (Baghy) through membership in the Salafi group Al-Furqan Party and membership in the National Solidarity Front of Iran’s Sunnis.” Mohammadreza Sheikh Ahmad, Abdolbaset Orsan, and Morteza Fekoori were sentenced to 15 years in prison each for “Rebellion (Baghy) through membership in the Takfiri and Salafi group ISIS.” The execution sentences for Hamid Rastbala, Kabir Saadat Jahani, and Mohammad Ali Arayesh were carried out in Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad, in 2020. Later, the death sentences of the other six prisoners were overturned by Branch 41 of the Supreme Court, presided over by Judge Ali Razini, and the case was referred back for retrial. In early August 2023, Branch 4 of the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad, presided over by Judge Ahmad Salami, after a retrial, sentenced these prisoners to death again. The case of these prisoners detained in Ward 6.1 of Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad, is currently under review by Branch 39 of the Supreme Court.
31- Amir Rahim Pour Prison Location: Evin Prison Prominent Charges: Cooperation with a hostile government (USA) Issuing Court: Unknown Latest Case Status: The death sentence confirmed by the Supreme Court
⬆️Gholamhossein Esmaili, the former judiciary spokesperson, announced on February 4, 2020, the confirmation of the death sentence for Amir Rahim Pour, a master’s graduate in electrical engineering, for “cooperation with a hostile government, the USA” by the Supreme Court. Esmaili claimed that “this individual, while in contact with the spy agency, had received substantial sums of money as remuneration and attempted to provide a part of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s nuclear information to the American service.” It’s important to note that although combating espionage is not considered a violation of human rights, the Iranian government’s history of using this charge as a tool against political opponents and the issuance of death sentences, especially with unclear trial details and proceedings, are always viewed with skepticism.
32 – Malek Davarshan (Seyed Malek Mousavi) Prison Location: Shiban Prison, Ahvaz Prominent Charges: Rebellion (Baghy) through setting fire to a Basij base Issuing Court: Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court of Dezful Latest Case Status: Issuance of the death sentence
⬆️Malek Davarshan (Seyed Malek Mousavi) was arrested in May 2021 along with a friend named Abbas Khazraji by security forces. After interrogations, Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court of Dezful sentenced Mr. Davarshan to death for the charge of “Rebellion” and Mr. Khazraji to ten years in prison for “participation in disturbing public order.” The “attack and setting fire to the Basij Resistance Post of Shavur” was cited as one of the charges against Mr. Davarshan.
33- Ali Obeidavi Prison Location: Mahshahr Prison Prominent Charges: Attack on a Basij base Issuing Court: Revolutionary Court of Mahshahr Latest Case Status: Issuance of the death sentence
⬆️Ali Obeidavi was arrested in 2019 along with his brother, Hossein Obeidavi, by security forces with the charge of “attack on a Basij base.” After four years, the Revolutionary Court of Mahshahr sentenced Ali Obeidavi to death and his brother to thirteen years in prison.
34- Shahab Nadali Jozani Prison Location: Evin Prison Prominent Charges: Rebellion (Baghy) through membership in opposition group Issuing Court: Tehran Revolutionary Court Latest Case Status: Issuance of the death sentence
⬆️Shahab Nadali Jozani was arrested by the agents of the Intelligence Department in Hamedan on June 7, 2023. He was sentenced by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, to death for the charge of “rebellion through membership in opposition groups of the country (Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization)” and to five years of imprisonment for “assembly and collusion with the intent to commit a crime against the security of the country,” taking into account the time already served in detention.
35- Mohammad Khazrnejad Prison Location: Urmia Prison Prominent Charges: Corruption on Earth Issuing Court: Branch 3 of the Urmia Revolutionary Court Latest Case Status: Issuance of the death sentence
⬆️Mohammad Khazrnejad was arrested by security forces in Bukan on November 19, 2022, and subsequently transferred to Urmia Prison. He has recently been sentenced by Branch 3 of the Urmia Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Reza Najafzadeh, to execution and 16 years in prison for charges of corruption on Earth, acting against national security by damaging the country’s integrity or independence, and propaganda against the regime.
It is important to emphasize that the execution crisis in Iran extends far beyond the population of political prisoners. Spreading Justice (HRA’s database of human rights violators) recently published a report based on data from its statistics unit covering a decade of executions in Iran (from 2013 to 2023), documenting the execution of 4,829 citizens over this period. For more details on this report, please refer to the provided link.
*Update: This report was first published on February 9, 2024, listing the identities of 33 political-security prisoners sentenced to death. Following the issuance of the death penalty for Shahab Nadali Jozani and Mohammad Khazrnejad on February 10, their identities were added to the report as the thirty-fourth and thirty-fifth persons.
For more information please contact Skylar Thompson, Director of Global Advocacy and Accountability at Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) skylar[at]hramail.com
The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) – HRA has reported a concerning increase in the number of death sentences in the Islamic Republic, reaching a 12-month peak with 35 individuals sentenced to death in January 2024 alone.
According to documentation recorded by the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) statistics team, the Islamic Republic witnessed a significant uptick in the issuance of death sentences in January 2024, with 35 individuals sentenced to capital punishment—the highest recorded in more than 12 months, and a total of 86 individuals executed.
January 2024 was also marked by the heinous execution of Mohammad Ghobadlou. Ghobadlou was executed in connection with the “Women, Life, Freedom” protests. His case gained international attention due to reports of mental illness and trials lacking any semblance of due process.
In Iran, the death penalty is routinely imposed following trials that fall short of due process guarantees, in a judicial system that lacks transparency and impartiality, and for crimes that do not amount to the most serious crimes under international law. The continued use of the death penalty in this manner amounts to a grave violation of the right to life under article 6 of the ICCPR.
Additionally, and noteworthy in the case of Mohammad Ghobadlou, the imposition of the death penalty on individuals with mental disorders is strictly prohibited under international law, as reiterated by Section 3(e) of the UN Commission on Human Rights Resolution (2000/85).
An examination of the execution of death sentences and the issuance of death sentences spanning from January 2023 to January 2024 demonstrates that the number of executions consistently surpasses the number of new death sentences issued. This disparity is evident and suggests an apparent backlog.
Iran continually ranks among the highest in the world in terms of capital punishment despite international calls for the abolishment of the death penalty, in particular for crimes that do not amount to the most serious crimes under international law. It is evident that the Islamic Republic refuses to head the calls of the international community. Members of Iran’s judiciary, complicit in its utter lack of compliance with international human rights standards, must continue to be held accountable through various international accountability mechanisms such global Magnitsky style sanctions regimes that designate judges, interrogators, and members of law enforcement for their involvement in the continued use of capital punishment as a means to victimize and silence.
HRANA – In a comprehensive report spanning from January 1, 2023, to December 20, 2023, HRA has meticulously gathered, examined, and compiled 9,656 reports on the human rights situation. Set to be released in both summary and detailed formats, complete with charts and graphs, the report will provide in-depth analysis of the human rights landscape, including the imposing of over 33,335 months of imprisonment sentences for critics, the sentencing of citizens to 6,551 lashes despite international condemnation, and the execution of at least 746 individuals. This significant document serves as a detailed overview of the human rights conditions in Iran, backed by extensive statistical data.
Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA), through the dedicated efforts of its Department of Statistics and Publications, publishes its annual Gregorian calendar-based analytical and statistical report on the human rights situation in Iran for the one-year period (January 1, 2023, to December 20, 2023). This report is the culmination of the organization’s daily endeavors in recent years, forming part of a daily statistical project that began in 2009. It provides an analytical-statistical overview of human rights in Iran.
This annual report on human rights violations in Iran represents a synthesis of 9,656 human rights reports, gathered from 111 legal and news sources within the past calendar year. HRANA (Human Rights Activists News Agency) contributed 40% of the reports utilized in this publication, with 22% originating from official or government-affiliated Iranian sources, and the remaining 38% from other news or human rights sources.
In this 77-page report, various aspects such as women’s rights, workers’ rights, children’s rights, prisoners’ rights, etc., are briefly examined and statistically analyzed, accompanied by relevant charts for enhanced reader comprehension. According to this report, the focus of human rights monitoring in Iran, in comparison between the capital and other areas, remains unequal. This long-standing inequality shows that in the last year, reporting from non-central areas has decreased by 27% compared to the capital. This situation continues to indicate the lack of adequate monitoring of other areas of the country relative to the center by civil society.
Although this report predominantly reflects the extensive efforts of courageous human rights defenders in Iran, who bear significant costs in pursuit of their humanitarian ideals, it inevitably has limitations. These include restrictions on the activities of human rights organizations by the Iranian government and governmental impediments to the free flow of information. Consequently, while this report strives for accuracy, it cannot be considered entirely error-free or a complete reflection of the human rights situation in Iran. Nevertheless, it stands as one of the most precise, comprehensive, and well-documented reports on human rights violations in Iran, offering valuable insights for organizations and defenders of human rights to better understand the human rights situation in Iran, its challenges, and potential opportunities.
Full report is available for download in PDF format. Click here
To observe the extent of reporting by human rights organizations and media from different provinces of the country, which directly correlates with the capabilities of civil society, refer to the map below.
The highest number of reports were published in August, while the lowest number of reports published occurred in December.
40% of reports analyzed came from sources gathered and reported by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), while 22% came from official Iranian government sources or sources close to the government. 38% of reports came from other human rights news agencies.
In 2023, there were at least 2,021 instances of protest gatherings organized by citizen groups across all 31 provinces due to unmet demands and claims. Of these, 1,266 were union gatherings, 320 were workers’ rallies, 117 times involved citizens primarily known as market or stock market losers, 246 were related to the realm of thought and expression, 44 were student union gatherings, 8 were in the women’s sector, 11 were religious minority gatherings, and 9 were environmental gatherings. In addition to these gatherings, there were also 111 labor strikes, 32 union strikes, and 2 non-union strikes.
As indicated in the distribution map, there exists a major discrepancy between the capital Tehran, and other parts of the country in terms of the number of published reports. This is while the census of 2021 reported a population of 9,039,000 in Tehran, compared to a population of 75,016,000 in the rest of the country.
Statistics indicate that the focus or ability to report of the human rights reporters has been 20% in Tehran and 80% in the other parts of the country.
Categories of human rights violations based on the number of reports in 2023
To study categories of human rights violations in Iran, it is important to initially compare the categories based on the number of reports made in each category in the past year.
ETHNIC RIGHTS
In the category of ethnic and nation rights in 2023, a total of 329 reports were recorded by the Department of Statistics and Publications of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA). According to these reports, 324 citizens were documented as being arrested, with 156 of these arrests occurring without a judicial warrant. Although the charges against 316 of the arrested individuals remain unclear, signs and past actions of the security institutions in the referred areas suggest that these arrests fall under the classification of ethnic rights violations. Furthermore, 19 individuals were sentenced to a total of 984 months of imprisonment, comprising 468 months of actual imprisonment and 516 months of suspended imprisonment. Additionally, 4 individuals were fined fifty-five million Iranian Rials. Also, 61 people were summoned to security-judicial institutions. Moreover, one individual was sentenced to 32 months of exile.
Apart from these, there were 16 court trials and 14 interrogations in security-judicial institutions, 10 instances of travel bans, 17 cases of assault, 20 house searches, 9 instances of civil registry offices opposing the naming and identity registration of children, and 6 instances of imprisonment sentences being carried out.
In the area of national minorities, the arrest of citizens increased by 44%, sentences of imprisonment based on the number of people tried by the judiciary rose by 58%, and the issuance of prison sentences compared to 2022 increased by 31%.
The monthly comparison of violations of ethnic-national rights, shows that the highest number of violations reports in this category were published in August, with the most significant decline in the number of reports observed in December.
TOLERANCE AND RELIGIOUS RIGHTS
In this category, in the past year, 211 reports were registered by the Department of Statistics of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA). According to these reports, 142 citizens were arrested, of which 15 arrests were made without a judicial warrant. Additionally, there were 57 summons to security and judicial institutions, and 1 case of educational deprivation. Also, there were 94 instances of house raids, 27 cases of economic activity obstruction, 2 instances of prevention of body burial, 17 cases of imprisonment execution, 23 travel bans, 5 instances of assault, 1 case of prevention of religious practices, 11 gatherings, 1 prevention of gathering, 72 trials, and 6 interrogations in security-judicial institutions recorded.
Notably, 115 individuals from religious minorities were sentenced by judicial institutions to a total of 5,113 months of imprisonment. This includes 5,059 months of actual imprisonment and 54 months of suspended imprisonment, with 1,837 months of these sentences being issued by appellate courts. Furthermore, 38 individuals were fined one billion and nine hundred and seven million Iranian Rials, and 17 individuals were deprived of social rights. A total of 50 lashes were executed on 1 individual. In addition, 1 person was sentenced to 24 months of exile.
In the realm of religious minorities, the arrest of citizens increased by 1.4%, and the issuance of prison sentences by the judiciary rose by 45%, with an overall 48% increase in prison sentences compared to the previous year.
The highest number of violations have been reported in November, while the lowest occurred in December.
In the category, 85.24% of human rights reports regarding violations against religious minorities related to violations against Baha’is, 10.87% to Sunnis, 1.94% to Yarsans, 1.17% to “Others”, 0.58% to Dervishes and 0.19% to Christians. Note that reports labeled as “Other” are those that did not belong to a specific group of religious minorities.
FREEDOM OF THOUGHT AND EXPRESSION
In the category of freedom of thought and expression in 2023, a total of 2,380 reports were registered by the Department of Statistics. Based on the analysis of these reports, 3,130 individuals were arrested, with at least 116 of these arrests made without a judicial warrant. There were 881 summons to judiciary and security authorities, 3 instances of publication bans, and 9 publications being declared criminal. Additionally, reports of trials of a total of 42 individuals in judicial institutions were published. Also, there were 116 instances of interrogations in security institutions, 79 travel bans, 87 imprisonment sentence executions, 85 house searches, 18 cases of communication disruption, 95 citizen beatings, 22 forced retirements, 58 dismissals and layoffs, 300 sealings of organizations and offices, 4 instances of speech or event disruptions, 1 execution of a whipping sentence, 246 gatherings, and 29 instances of gathering prevention in the area of thought and expression.
In 2023, for this domain, at least 25,124 months of prison sentences were issued for 556 individuals by judicial bodies. This includes 23,720 months of actual imprisonment and 1,404 months of suspended imprisonment. It is noteworthy that 3,190 months of these sentences were issued by appellate courts and 288 months by the Supreme Court. Moreover, 72 individuals were fined nine billion four hundred and fifty-four million Iranian Rials, 58 individuals received 3,381 lashes, 36 individuals were sentenced to 2,112 months of exile, and 48 individuals were deprived of social rights. Additionally, a total of 80 lashes were executed on 1 individual.
In the realm of thought and expression, reports of citizen arrests increased by 86%, and issuance of prison sentences by the judiciary increased by 68% compared to the previous year. However, there was a 21% decrease in the number of people tried.
TRADE UNIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS
In 2023, a total of 1,700 reports were registered by the Department of Statistics and Publications concerning the rights of trade unions and associations. From these reports, 31 trade union activists were arrested, including 1 arrest made without a judicial warrant. Additionally, there were 56 summons to judiciary-security institutions, 3,056 cases of closures of facilities, 28 trials in judicial institutions, 122 dismissals and layoffs, 124 forced retirements, at least 85 months of deferred wages, 12 travel bans, 1 suicide, 4 house searches, and 12 instances of imprisonment.
Furthermore, 53 individuals were sentenced to 1,230 months of imprisonment, including 1,212 months of actual imprisonment and 18 months of suspended imprisonment. Additionally, 562 months of these sentences were issued by appellate courts. Two individuals were sentenced to 24 months of exile, 74 lashes, and 13 individuals were deprived of social rights. Fines amounted to one billion, one hundred and twenty-seven million, seven hundred thousand Iranian Rials for 13 people, and 72 lashes for 1 person.
In 2023, there were at least 1,266 trade union protests, 4 instances of protest suppression, and 32 union strikes. These protests primarily related to wage demands, poor economic conditions, and ineffective management of government institutions. Reports in this domain showed an 89% decrease in arrests and a 112% increase in sentences issued by the judiciary compared to the previous year, with a 30% increase in prison sentences.
The highest number of rights violations in this area occurred in November, while the lowest was in January.
ACADEMIA/ RIGHT TO EDUCATION
In 2023, the Department of Statistics and Publications of Human Rights Activists in Iran registered 416 reports related to academic rights violations. This total includes 14 instances of prevention of higher education. Additionally, at least 217 individuals were sentenced to 290 terms of suspension from studies. There were 13 summons to security-judicial institutions, 3,067 summons to university disciplinary committees, 11 expulsions from universities, 2 expulsions from dormitories, 10 student exiles, 23 interrogations in security-judicial institutions, and 44 student gatherings.
Regarding student rights, there were 3 cases of physical punishment and over 6,000 cases of poisoning. Last year, at least 929,798 students were unable to continue their education. Of these, 175,114 cases were in primary education, including 78,912 girls and 96,202 boys. In lower secondary education, 197,690 cases of dropout were recorded, encompassing 99,723 girls and 98,271 boys. Additionally, in upper secondary education, 556,994 cases of dropout existed, including 261,893 girls and 295,101 boys.
The monthly comparison of violations of basic rights in academic environments shows indicates that the highest number of rights violations in this area occurred in March, while the lowest number of reports was observed in December.
RIGHT TO LIFE (DEATH PENALTY)
In 2023, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran registered 640 reports concerning the right to life. This encompassed the sentencing of 155 individuals to death, including 4 sentenced to public execution, and the execution of 746 individuals. Out of these, 6 were carried out in public. Among the executed individuals whose genders were identified, 597 were male and 20 were female. Additionally, 2 juvenile offenders, defined as individuals under the age of 18 at the time of their alleged crimes, were also executed.
According to these reports, 56.43% of the executions were related to drug-related charges. Furthermore, 34.72% of the executions were for murder charges, 2.55% for sexual crimes, and 2.55% were executed with unknown charges. Additionally, 1.07% were executed on charges of Moharebeh (non-political), another 1.07% on charges of Moharebeh-Baghi (political-security), 0.94% for Corruption on Earth, 0.40% for ideological-political-religious reasons, 0.13% for security-related offenses (espionage, terrorism, bombing), and 0.13% for adultery and types of consensual sexual relations.
The execution of death sentences across Iran’s provinces in 2023, Alborz province with 19.97% of all the cases that is due to its two populated and important prisons., followed by Kerman ranking with 9.25% of all the death sentences issued,
Ghezel Hesar prison and Zahedan Prison held the highest number of death sentences.
Of those executed in 2023, 3% were female, and 80% were male, while the gender of the other 17% is unknown.
These executions are reported by independent sources and human rights associations, indicating that 66% of executions are carried out in secret or without any public notice.
Executions carried out in 2022 compared to 2021 increased by 88%. The number of death sentences issued increased by 8%.
CULTURAL RIGHTS
In 2023, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran recorded 17 reports related to violations of cultural rights. These reports included the arrest of 15 individuals and 10 cases of employment prohibition. Additionally, there was 1 instance of preventing the execution of a program or speech and 1 case of a judicial sentence being carried out. Moreover, 4 individuals were sentenced to 24 months of suspended imprisonment, with 12 months of these sentences issued by appellate courts.
In the realm of cultural rights, there was a 114% increase in citizen arrests compared to the previous year. The monthly comparison of cultural rights violations shows that the highest number of violation reports in this category occurred in August and September. The lowest number of reports was observed in January, March, November, and December.
WORKERS’ RIGHTS
The Department of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran registered 1056 reports of violations of workers’ rights in 2022. This included 53 arrests. 36 workers activists or workers were sentenced to 117 months
In 2023, a total of 1,085 reports were collected in the field of workers’ rights, according to statistical analyses by the Department of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran. Based on these reports, a total of 64 individuals were arrested, with at least one case of arrest without a judicial warrant recorded. Additionally, 29 labor activists or defenders of workers’ rights were sentenced to 654 months of imprisonment, which includes 568 months of actual imprisonment and 86 months of suspended imprisonment. Notably, 356 months of these sentences were issued by appellate courts. Moreover, 17 individuals were sentenced to a total of 1,258 lashes and fined forty-two million five hundred thousand Iranian Rials. Two individuals were also sentenced to 48 months of exile.
Furthermore, there were 19 summonses to judicial and security authorities, along with 43 court trials and 12 interrogations in security-judicial institutions, 4 worker suicides, 5 instances of assault, 2 travel bans, 1 house search, and 4 imprisonment executions.
In the fiscal year 2023, reports of delayed or unpaid wages to workers amounted to at least 943 months, 2,891 layoffs or dismissals, 3,409 instances of unemployment, 119 months of lack of work-related insurance for 1,764,016 workers, 5 factory closures, and 2,621 workers left in limbo regarding their employment status. Additionally, at least 1,252 individuals were killed in work-related accidents, and 4,018 cases of physical injuries to workers on the job were reported. Iran ranks 102nd globally in terms of workplace safety standards, which is considered a very low ranking.
The monthly comparison of violations of workers’ rights, shows that the highest number of rights violations reports in this domain were published in November, with the most significant decrease in reports occurring in March.
According to the reports gathered by the Department of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran, in 2023, 22.08% of work-related accidents were due to falls from heights, 21.67% were fire incidents, 11.04% were construction accidents, 8.13% were caused by hard object impacts, 7.50% occurred in factories, 7.08% were drilling (well) accidents, 6.25% were due to electrocution, 4.38% were traffic accidents, 4.17% happened in mines, 2.92% were gas poisonings, 2.50% occurred in petrochemical and refinery industries, 0.63% were agricultural accidents, 0.63% were poisonings, 0.63% were drownings, 0.21% were heat strokes, and 0.21% were avalanche falls.
In 2023, there were at least 320 worker protests, 1 instance of suppression of assembly, and 111 worker strikes. Most of these protests were related to wage demands. The reports indicate a 20% increase in the arrest of workers and a 19% decrease in the issuance of judicial sentences based on the number of people tried, compared to the previous year. Additionally, the issuance of prison sentences increased by 458% compared to the previous year.
CHILDREN’S RIGHTS
In 2023, the Department of Statistics gathered 245 reports related to children’s rights violations. Due to the silence of families and governmental institutions, accurate statistics on child abuse cases are not available. However, at least 32 cases of rape and sexual abuse of children, 45 child murders, 6 cases of honor killings, 48 child suicides, and 35,000 instances of child labor were reported. In 2020, there were 56,343 registered marriages of individuals under 18 years old, which decreased significantly to 50,127 in 2021, indicating an 11% decrease in total child and adolescent marriages. The total number of divorces in this age group was 1,646 in 2020, increasing to 1,663 in 2021, reflecting about a 1% increase in child and adolescent divorces in Iran. Additionally, over 929,798 children were deprived of education in this year, an increase from 911,272 in the previous year. Many students in the country have been denied education due to lack of access to virtual learning facilities, early marriages, poverty, cultural issues, population dispersion, etc.
It’s noteworthy that this year, the Welfare Organization or relevant statistical authorities have not published data on child abuse. As mentioned in the execution section of this report, at least 2 juvenile offenders were executed in Iran last year. Precise statistics on the arrest of children are not available, but according to accessible reports, at least 130 individuals under 18 years old were detained by security institutions.
The monthly comparison of violations of children’s rights shows the highest number of violation reports in January and the lowest in December.
WOMEN’S RIGHTS
In 2023, a total of 363 reports were collected in the category of women’s rights, as per the Department of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran. These reports included at least 26 cases of rape and sexual assault, 82 instances of women’s murders, 28 cases of honor killings including 4 men, 1 case of self-immolation, 6 suicides, 7 acid attacks, 24 summonses to judicial and security institutions, 3,176 instances of improper hijab, 3 travel bans, 8 court trials, 1 house search, 8 gatherings related to women’s rights, and 9 instances of discrimination in social settings.
According to the report, 44 women were arrested for activities related to women’s rights. Additionally, at least 20 activists were sentenced to a total of 182 months of imprisonment and fined seventeen million six hundred thousand Iranian Rials. This includes 152 months of actual imprisonment and 30 months of suspended imprisonment, with 64 months of these sentences issued by appellate courts. Furthermore, 2 individuals were sentenced to 222 lashes.
The monthly comparison of violations of women’s rights, shows that the highest number of rights violation reports in this domain were published in April, with the most significant decrease in reports observed in December.
PRISONERS’ RIGHTS
In 2023, a total of 1,386 reports of violations of prisoners’ rights were registered. These included 27 cases of physical assault on prisoners, 1,390 instances of denial or neglect of medical care, 342 illegal transfers to solitary confinement, 114 attempted hunger strikes, 415 cases of forced transfer or exile of prisoners, 4,140 instances of threats and pressure on prisoners, 66 cases of denying prisoner visitation rights, 34 cases of psychological and physical torture, 7 deaths due to illness, 12 suicides, 1 case of self-immolation, 4 murders of prisoners, 208 instances of lack of access to legal counsel, 4,197 reports of prisoners being kept in unsuitable conditions, 80 cases of forced confession, 290 instances of non-segregation of crimes, 78 denials of medical leave, and 101 denials of the right to contact.
Additionally, in the realm of detainee rights, 438 cases of uncertainty and 1,286 cases of indefinite detention were reported. Furthermore, a sentence of 40 lashes was executed on 1 individual in prison.
The monthly comparison of violations of prisoners’ rights shows indicates that the highest number of reports occurred in January, while the lowest number of reports was observed in March.
SECURITY FORCES’ VIOLENCE AND CITIZENS’ SAFETY
Death of civilians
In 2023, there were a total of 402 incidents involving civilians being shot by military forces. Out of these incidents, 120 civilians lost their lives, including 20 Kolbars (border carriers), 37 fuel carriers, and 63 other civilians. Additionally, 282 people were injured due to indiscriminate military fire, which comprised 228 Kolbars, 31 ordinary civilians, and 23 fuel carriers.
Furthermore, 9 Kolbars were affected by environmental factors such as extreme cold and falls from heights, resulting in 3 injuries and 6 deaths. Also, 11 fuel carriers were involved in accidents following pursuits by military forces, leading to 7 deaths and 4 injuries
Victims of landmines and explosions
The landmines left from the war threaten the lives of civilians living in border cities each year. The Iranian government continues to manufacture and plant anti-personnel mines against international agreements, arguing that the use of these type of landmines is the only effective way to keep its vast borders safe.
Based on reports, at least 4 civilians in the past year have lost their lives to landmines in border areas, while 9 other civilians have been injured.
Floggings
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) strictly prohibits inhuman or degrading punishments like flogging. However, in 2023, flogging sentences were executed for at least 6 accused, amounting to a total of 330 lashes. This includes 2 cases where the accused, previously sentenced to 160 lashes, were publicly flogged. Additionally, at least 125 individuals were sentenced to a total of 6,551 lashes by the Iranian judiciary.
Intervention in personal affairs of civilians
In 2023, at least 558 civilians were arrested for organizing or participating in private gatherings and parties.
Financial Loser Protests
In 2023, groups of citizens organized protests on at least 117 occasions. These individuals, primarily victims of financial and investment frauds, held protests in 31 provinces due to unmet demands and claims. The provinces of Tehran, Qazvin, and Hormozgan saw the highest number of these protests.
The monthly comparison of reports related to violence from security forces and citizens’ safety shows indicates that the highest number of reports occurred in November, while the lowest number was in March.
JUDICIAL SENTENCES IN VARIOUS CATEGORIES
In the past year, the Iranian judiciary, encompassing both primary and appellate courts, issued a total of 33,335 months of imprisonment. The breakdown of these sentences across various categories is as follows: 984 months for ethnic minorities, 5,113 months for religious minorities, 25,124 months for freedom of expression, 1,230 months for trade unions, 654 months for workers, 182 months for women’s rights, 24 months for children’s rights, and 24 months for cultural rights. (It is important to note that these statistics only include sentences where specific details or information about the verdicts were made public.)
Additionally, these citizens were collectively fined eleven billion six hundred and three million and eight hundred thousand Iranian Rials and sentenced to a total of 6,551 lashes.
The monthly comparison of these convictions shows indicates that the highest number of reports was published in January, while the lowest number was observed in April.
ARRESTS
In the past year, security forces in Iran arrested 4,472 citizens due to their engagement in civil, ideological, or political activities. The breakdown of these arrests across various categories is as follows: 31 arrests in trade unions, 324 in ethnic minorities, 142 in religious minorities, 3,130 in freedom of expression, 130 in children’s rights, 34 in environmental rights, 15 in cultural rights, and 64 in labor rights.
Additionally, 44 women were subjected to legal prosecution due to their activities and the promotion of their lifestyle choices. Furthermore, 558 citizens were arrested for organizing or participating in private gatherings.
The monthly comparison of these arrests shows indicates that the highest number of reports occurred in January, while the lowest number was in December.
In 2023, there was an overall decrease of 86% in the number of arrests related to civil activities compared to the previous year. However, the pattern varied significantly across different categories:
🔘 Ethnic Minorities: Arrests increased by 44%.
🔘 Cultural Sector: Arrests increased by 114%.
🔘 Religious Minorities: Arrests increased by 1.4%.
🔘 Trade Unions: Arrests decreased by 89%.
🔘 Women’s Rights: Arrests decreased by 86%.
🔘 Lifestyle-related Arrests: A significant increase of 771%.
🔘 Environmental Rights: Arrests increased by 47%.
🔘 Children’s Rights: Arrests decreased by 22%.
🔘 Workers’ Rights: Arrests increased by 20.04%.
🔘 Freedom of Expression: Arrests decreased by 86%.
ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS
In 2023, 340 reports were gathered related to environmental rights, leading to the arrest of 34 activists in this field. Out of these arrests, 3 were made without judicial warrants. Additionally, there was 1 summons to security institutions, 52 instances of failure to protect natural resources, at least 284 reports of various types of environmental pollution including air, surface water, and groundwater pollution, 21 cases of improper exploitation of natural resources, 813 instances of animal abuse, and 9 protests recorded.
It is also noteworthy that in the past year, 53 officers from the Natural Resources Protection Unit were involved in accidents. This includes 1 park ranger’s death, injuries to 21 environmental wardens, 1 park ranger, and 30 forest rangers.
In the environmental sector, there was a 47% increase in the arrest of citizens compared to the previous year.
Based on the number of reports per month, the highest number of reports in the environmental sector occurred in December, and the lowest in May
SEXUAL AND GENDER MINORITIES
Prior to 2021, reports concerning the rights of sexual and gender minorities in Iran were processed under other categories in the annual reports of Human Rights Activists in Iran. The primary reason for this was the limited number of reports available in this area, which did not facilitate detailed analysis.
Creating an independent category, despite the small number of reports, signifies an effort to enhance the monitoring of the status of these community members. The rights of sexual and gender minorities in the country are systematically violated in various ways. Criminalization of same-sex relationships and non-recognition of transgender individuals’ gender identity prior to gender reassignment surgery are two examples. These violations occur irrespective of the blatant spreading of hatred against members of this community.
Cultural taboos, legal barriers, and the weakness of civil institutions in monitoring and reporting violations against them have become serious problems. The government’s policy towards sexual minorities in Iran has blurred the line between being a sexual minority and moral corruption, exacerbating the vulnerability and oppressive atmosphere for these individuals. In some instances, security and law enforcement agencies themselves admit to detaining and harassing members of this community. For example, in July of this year, an incident involving a person advocating for moral policing on the dress code of several transgender citizens in the Afsariyeh neighborhood of Tehran led to a confrontation and the arrest of 5 transgender individuals. Security-affiliated media published a video of the “forced confessions” of these five individuals. Contrary to popular belief, transgender citizens face legal issues in addition to cultural ones when changing their identification documents or obtaining exemption from mandatory military service. This situation arises from the pathologization of transgender identity in the laws of the National Conscription Organization, at a time when the World Health Organization, in its latest 2019 guidelines (ICD-11), classified transgender status under sexual health conditions, moving away from its previous classification as a disorder.
HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATORS
In a detailed and alarming report prepared by the Spreading Justice and the Human Rights Activists Statistics Center in Iran, a widespread pattern of human rights violations in Iran has been documented over a one-year period (from January 1, 2023, to December 20, 2023). The data, carefully categorized, emphasize the severity and extent of these violations across various sectors of the government.
From the perspective of their position in the power structure and the direct chain of command, the reports are divided among three main actors based on the available information: the Judiciary, the Executive, and the Leadership Authority.
Out of a total of 4399 reported cases gathered, there were identifiable officials or entities involved in the human rights violations related to the report. Among these reports, the Judiciary leads with 2654 cases, followed by the Executive with 1317 cases, and the Leadership with 428 cases.
For a better understanding, refer to the adjacent pie chart, which represents the distribution of human rights violations based on the number of reports in the last year.
HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATING ENTITIES
In the collected reports that contained information about human rights violators, 668 legal entities (institutions) from various branches of the government were identified. The following list names the top ten institutions with the most human rights violation reports in the past year:
Furthermore, 241 individuals (natural persons) have demonstrated behavior considered as direct human rights violations.
The top ten individuals, all affiliated with the Judiciary, who had the most human rights violation cases based on individual performance are as follows:
1
Iman Afshari– Position: Judge -Institution: Revolutionary Court – Affiliation: Judiciary – Place of Activity: Tehran – Number of Reported Cases: 142 cases
2
Abolghasem Salavati– Position: Judge -Institution: Revolutionary Court – Affiliation: Judiciary – Place of Activity: Tehran – Number of Reported Cases: 80 cases
3
Mohammadreza Amouzad– Position: Judge -Institution: Revolutionary Court – Affiliation: Judiciary – Place of Activity: Tehran – Number of Reported Cases: 56 cases
4
Mohammad Moghiseh– Position: Judge -Institution: Revolutionary Court – Affiliation: Judiciary – Place of Activity: Tehran – Number of Reported Cases: 49 cases
5
Seyed Ali Mozloom– Position: Judge -Institution: Revolutionary Court – Affiliation: Judiciary – Place of Activity: Tehran – Number of Reported Cases: 43 cases
6
Amin Vaziri– Position: Deputy Prosecutor -Institution: Security Court – Affiliation: Judiciary – Place of Activity: Tehran – Number of Reported Cases: 31 cases
7
Seyed Ahmad Zargar– Position: Judge -Institution: Revolutionary Court – Affiliation: Judiciary – Place of Activity: Tehran – Number of Reported Cases: 27 cases
8
Hossein Saeedi– Position: Judge -Institution: Revolutionary Court – Affiliation: Judiciary – Place of Activity: Sanandaj – Number of Reported Cases: 28 cases
9
Seyed Mahmoud Sadati– Position: Judge -Institution: Revolutionary Court – Affiliation: Judiciary – Place of Activity: Shiraz – Number of Reported Cases: 20 cases
10
Ali Sheikhloo– Position: Judge -Institution: Revolutionary Court – Affiliation: Judiciary – Place of Activity: Urmia – Number of Reported Cases: 18 cases
The legal and human rights implications of the documented cases indicate a systematic pattern of human rights violations at different levels of the Iranian government. The high number of cases attributed to judicial authorities, especially in revolutionary courts, raises serious concerns about justice and impartiality in the judicial process. Extensive intervention by intelligence and security organizations, including the Ministry of Intelligence and IRGC Intelligence Organization, reflects a coordinated approach to suppress opposition and control the population.
Prison management, especially in prominent centers like Evin and Rajai Shahr, shows disregard for the rights and welfare of prisoners. Individual accountability of high-ranking judicial officials like Iman Afshari questions the role of specific actors in perpetuating these violations.
For a better understanding of the published reports on human rights violations, refer to the following chart which categorizes them according to their affiliation in the division of powers.
This is the brief version and the full report is available for download in PDF format.
_________________________
For more information please contact Skylar Thompson, Director of Global Advocacy and Accountability at Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) skylar[at]hramail.com
This leaflet contains the Annual Analytical and Statistical Report on Human Rights in Iran for the year 2022. The report, prepared by the Department of Statistics and Publications of Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA), is the result of daily effort on the part of the organization and its members, and as part of a daily statistic and census project that started in 2009 by this organization.
This annual report on human rights violations in Iran is the result of collection, analyzation, and documentation of 13342 reports concerning human rights, gathered from 267 news sources during 2022 [January 1st to December 20th]. 55% of reports analyzed came from sources gathered and reported by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), while 13% came from official Iranian government sources or sources close to the government. 32% of reports came from other human rights news agencies.
This is the brief version and the full report is available for download in PDF format. Click here
The following 62-pages include statistical overviews and related charts regarding women’s rights, children’s rights, prisoners’ rights, etc. Despite a 128% increase in reports of human rights violations from provinces other than Tehran when compared to last year’s Annual Report, yet data from this year still indicates that smaller cities lack adequate reporting and monitoring of human rights.
This report is the result of the work of courageous human rights activists in Iran who pay a very high cost for striving to enact their humanitarian beliefs. However, for obvious reasons (i.e. existing governmental limitations, bans on the free exchange of information and government interference with the existence of human rights organizations in the country), this report by no means is free of errors and cannot solely reflect the actual status of human rights in Iran. Having said that, it should be emphasized that this report is considered one of the most accurate, comprehensive, and authentic reports on human rights conditions in Iran. It serves as an informative resource for human rights activists and organizations working on Iran who seek to better understand the challenges and opportunities that they may face.
The following map illustrates the number of reports per province made by human rights organizations and news agencies. This is a direct reflection of each province’s civil rights capacities in 2022.
The highest number of reports were published in November, while the lowest number of reports published occurred in April.
55% of reports analyzed came from sources gathered and reported by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), while 13% came from official Iranian government sources or sources close to the government. 32% of reports came from other human rights news agencies.
In 2022, at least 3046 protests were held across 31 provinces. Of these, 1,289 were union rallies, 266 were workers’ rallies, 149 were rallies related to economic hardship, 1297 were rallies against the suppression of freedom of expression, and were 26 union student demands rallies, 1 gathering in the field of children and 18 gatherings in the field of the environment. In addition to the rallies, there were also 94 labor strikes and 225 union strikes, and 344 non-union strikes as well.
As indicated in the distribution map, there exists a major discrepancy between the capital Tehran, and other parts of the country in terms of the number of published reports. This is while the census of 2021 reported a population of 9,039,000 in Tehran, compared to a population of 75,016,000 in the rest of the country.
Statistics indicate that, the focus or ability to report of the human rights reporters has been 20% in the Tehran and 80% in the other parts of the country.
Categories of human rights violations based on the number of reports in 2022
To study categories of human rights violations in Iran, it is important to initially compare the categories based on the number of reports made in each category in the past year.
ETHNIC RIGHTS
In the field of ethnic and national rights, a total of 205 reports was registered by the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) in 2022. According to these reports, at least 225 people were arrested, 73 of whom were arrested without a legal arrest warrant. It should be noted that, even though the charges against 164 of these detainees remain unknown yet based on other indications and precedent cases they have been considered in this category.
A total of 12 people were sentenced to 751 months in prison, which breaks down to 726 months of imprisonment and 25 months of suspended imprisonment. A total of 68 individuals were summoned by the security and judicial institutions. In addition, 3 people were fined two hundred and seventy million Rials.
In addition, the following reports have been registered; Trial of 8 people in security-judicial institutions, 1 case of travel ban outside the country, 16 cases of beatings, 33 cases of house searches, and 2 cases of carrying out imprisonment sentences.
Compared to the previous year there has been a 49% decrease in the arrest of ethnic minorities and an 80% decrease in prison sentences.
The highest number of violations occurred in the month of July while the lowest occurred in the month of November
RELIGIOUS RIGHTS
In this category, 199 reports have been registered by the Department of Statistics in 2022. These reports include 140 arrests, 102 summons by judicial and security institutions, 64 cases of deprivation from education, and 94 cases of police home raids.
More so, there has been 2 cases of demolition of religious sites, 39 cases of imprisonment, 51 issuances of travel bans (which violate of freedom of movement,) and 11 cases of individuals brought to trial for their religious beliefs.
79 members of religious minorities were sentenced by judicial institutions to a total of 3432 months of imprisonment (1921 months of imprisonment and 11 months of suspended inprisonment) and 888 months of exile. In addition, 23 people were fined three billion five hundred and ninety million Rials, 1 person was sentenced to 74 lashes, and 10 people were deprived of social rights.
The number of citizens arrested in the category of religious minorities has Increase by 145% in 2022 compared to 2021, and the prison sentences issued by the judiciary have Decrease by 2%
The highest number of violations have been reported in August, while the lowest occurred in March.
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, while 20.84% of the reports indicated violation of the rights of Christians, 8.84% Yarsanis, 4.63% Sunnis, and 0.63% “Others”, 0.42% Dervishes. Note that reports labeled as “Other” are those that did not belong to a specific group of religious minorities.
FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
6311 reports of violations against freedom of thought and expression have been registered by the Department of Statistics in 2022. These violations included 22655 individuals arrested, 331 summons to judiciary and security authorities, 2 reports of publications banned, and 12 convictions for publications.
In this category, reports of the 201 trials were published including; 31 travel bans issued, 65 carrying out prison sentences, 34 house searches, 94 internet disruption, 140 beatings, 1297 assembly, 344 strikes.
In 2022, 711 arrestees were sentenced to at least a total of 14,896 months of imprisonment. This breaks down to 9720 months in prison and 376 months of suspended prison terms. It should be noted that 1815 months of this amount have been issued by the Court of Appeal.
Also, 62 people were sentenced to five billion and five hundred and ninety million Rials in fines, 35 people were sentenced to 1,824 lashes and 37 were deprived of social rights. Additionally, 2 people received a total of 99 lashes. Compared to 2021, reports regarding violations of freedom of expression have increased by 2000%, sentences issued by the judiciary have increased by 230% based on the number of people tried, and prison sentences increased by 46%.
TRADE UNIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS
2071 reports were registered by the Department of Statistics and Publications related to the rights of trade unions and other associations, that includes arrest of 309 members of trade unions, 123 summons to judicial and security institutions, trials for 37 individuals were held, 10030 individuals were fired or suspended, at least 124 months of wages were deferred, 3 cases of suicide, and 3834 facilities were shutdown.
Also, 25 people were sentenced to 940 months of imprisonment, of which 696 months are imprisonment and 244 months of suspended imprisonment. In addition, 252 months of this amount have been issued by the Court of Appeal. Additionally, A fine of 40 million Rials and 74 lashes has been issued for 1 person.
In 2022, at least 1289 protests and 225 union strikes were held. There were 43 reported instances of prevention of protest gatherings. Most of these protests were related to salary/wage demands from corporations, bad economic conditions, and lack of proper management of corporations.
In reports related to trade unions and associations compared to the previous year, there has been a 1000% Increase in the number of arrests, an 1150% Increase in sentences issued compared, and a 1300% increase in imprisonment sentences.
The highest number of violations occurred in the month of January while the lowest is in September.
ACADEMIA/ RIGHT TO EDUCATION
The Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran registered 126 reports related to violations of academic rights in 2022. Accordingly, 10 students were arrested, and as mentioned in the religious rights section of this report, 64 students were prevented from continuing their education because of their religion. More so, there has been 5 other cases of hindering of education, and one person was sentenced to 12 months of imprisonment and 74 lashes.
In the category of academia and the right to education, there has been a 233% increase in the number of arrests and a 85% decrease in the issuance of prison sentences compared to the previous year.
For the school students there has been, 61 cases of preventing education, 6 cases of physical punishment, 7 cases of rape and sexual abuse, 2 cases of suicide, and 65 cases of poisoning. In addition, in the last year, at least 780,000 students dropped out of school.
The highest number of violations occurred in the month of August while the lowest instance is observed in the month of February.
RIGHT TO LIFE (DEATH PENALTY)
The Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran registered 457 reports related to the death penalty in 2022. 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.
According to these reports, 48.67% of the executions were based on murder charges, while 42.83% were related to drug-related charges, 2.65% were for sexual offenses, and 2.48% of the charges are unknown, 1.77% were executed on charges of Moharebeh (non-political), 1.06% on security charges (espionage, terror, or bombing), 0.53% on charges of Moharebeh or Baghi (political-security) in Iran.
The highest number of violations occurred in July while the lowest number occurred in April.
The following pie chart illustrates the number of death sentences issued and carried out across the country in 2022. The majority of death sentences were based on murder charges (48.67%), followed by drug charges (42.83%).
The execution of death sentences across Iran’s provinces in 2022, Sistan and Baluchestan province with 18.58% has the highest number of executions, followed by Alborz province which has two of the most populated prisons in Iran with 16.11% of the executions.
Rajai Shahr and Zahedan Prisons carried out the most death sentences.
Of those executed in 2022, 2% were female, and 89% were male, while the gender of the other 9% is unknown.
These executions are reported by independent sources and human rights organizations, indicating that 65% of executions are carried out in secret or without any public notice.
Executions carried out in 2022 compared to 2021 increased by 88%. The number of death sentences issued increased by 8%.
CULTURAL RIGHTS
The Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran registered 17 reports related to violations of cultural rights in 2022. This included reports of 7 arrests, 27 individuals summoned to judicial and security organizations, 4 trials held, 1 house search, 4 cases of obstruction and interference with publications, 1 case of stopping an event and speech, 2 cases of confiscation of property and belongings.
In this category, arrests have increased by 16% compared to the previous year.
In a monthly comparison, the highest number of violations were reported in May, while the highest increase of number of reports were in January, February, September, October, November, and December.
The number of violations of cultural rights in 2022 compared to 2021.
WORKERS’ RIGHTS
The Department of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran registered 1056 reports of violations of workers’ rights in 2022. This included 53 arrests. 36 workers activists or workers were sentenced to 117 months in prison, 510 lashes and 51,000,000 tomans in fines, and 31 people were summoned to judicial and security organizations.
Additionally, 14 cases of trials by judicial authorities, 10 cases of suicide, 5 cases of self-immolation, 1 cases of beatings, 12 cases of house searches, and 5 cases of carrying out imprisonment sentences, have been reported.
During 2022, a total of 1048 months of overdue payment of salaries to workers was reported, 8353 workers were laid off or fired, 9038 people reported unemployment, 1720742 lacked work insurance, 9168 workers were waiting for work-related decisions, and 14 factories were shut down.
In addition, 354 people have lost their lives in work-related accidents, and 1497 workers have been injured while at work. On a global scale amongst other counties, Iran ranks 102nd in work safety.
In a monthly comparison of workers’ rights violations in 2022, the highest number of violations happened January and the lowest in November.
Based on collected reports work accidents in the past year have been 17% due to fires, 16% in constructions, 11% in factories, 10% workers falling from heights, 10% accidents, 9% hard object hitting the victim, 8% falling during excavation and in wells, 5% electrocutions, 5% chocking, 4% in mines, 2% in farming, 1% in petrochemical and refineries, 1% heat strokes, 1% frostbites.
In 2022, there were at least 266 worker protests, with 2 reported of preventing the protests, and 96 workers strike took place. The majority of these protests were regarding wages.
Based on these reports, the arrest of workers has decreased by 17% compared to 2021. However, the issuance of prison sentences has increased by 300% compared to the previous year.
CHILDREN’S RIGHTS
A total of 434 reports of violations of children’s rights in 2022 were registered by the Department of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran. However, it should be mentioned because of secrecy regarding these incidents, leading to underreporting, there is no accurate statistic in this field. Reports included at least 21564 cases of child abuse, 23 cases of rape and sexual abuse, 41 murders of children, 5 self-immolation, 54 cases of child suicide, 1 case of honor killing, and 43268 cases of child laborer.
In addition, there were more than 200,000 instances of child marriage and 5 million students are deprived of primary education. Many students in Iran have been deprived of education due to lack of access to e-learning facilities, as well as child marriages, poverty, cultural issues.
As mentioned in the section on the death penalty, at least 5 juvenile offenders have been executed in 2022.
There are no reliable statistics regarding the arrest of minors during the nation-wide protests, however from arrestees whose identities have been confirmed at least 167 were children.
In the monthly comparison in this category, the highest number of violations were reported in November and the lowest number in February.
WOMEN’S RIGHTS
The Department of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran registered 124 reports of violations of women’s rights in 2022, including; 64 cases of domestic violence, 14 cases of rape and sexual harassment, 32 case of murder, 26 cases of honor killing (including murder of 4 men), 4 self-immolations, 5 cases of acid attacks, 5 cases of suicide, and 1708 cases where women’s rights activists were summoned to judicial and security organizations, 1701 Hijab related cases, 4 cases of imprisonment sentences being carried out and 62 cases of discrimination in social environments.
Based on this report, 322 women have been detained for reasons related to women’s rights. At least 3 women’s rights activists were sentenced to 64 months in prison and a fine of eighty million rials
Based on the number of reports per month, the highest number of reports were in July and the lowest in December.
The number of violations of human rights in the category of women’s rights in 2022 compared to 2021.
PRISONERS’ RIGHTS
The Department of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran registered 1127 reports of violations of prisoner’s rights in 2022 including; 133 physical assault of prisoners, 4322 of deprivation of medical care, 204 of illegal transfer to solitary confinement, 102 of attempted hunger strikes, 166 of forced transportation or exile, 4983 of threats against prisoners, 46 of banning prisoners from having visitors, 652 of psychological and physical torture, 20 prisoners died due to illness, 2 arrestees were killed by prison authorities, and 14 prisoners committed suicide.
There were also 206 cases where prisoners lacked lawyers, 5977 reports of prisoners being held in unsuitable circumstances, 391 cases of forced confessions, 3523 cases of non-segregation of prisoners based on crimes, 2805 cases of denial of sick leave, and 362 cases of denial of having contact with outside the prison.
In this category, there have also been 405 cases of prisoners kept in an unsure state regarding their sentence and 954 cases of lack of adequate information on the prisoner.
The highest number of reports of violations of prisoner’s rights occurred in December and the lowest in March.
SECURITY FORCES’ VIOLENCE AND CITIZENS’ SAFETY
Death of civilians
This section is dedicated to the killing or injury of civilians by police or military institutions. In 2022, a total of 845 people were shot by military forces. At least 571 of the victims lost their life. This includes 22 Kolbar, 9 fuel carriers, and 540 civilians. 274 people were injured by military forces open fire, including 134 Kolbar, 128 civilians, and 12 fuel carriers.
Additionally, 39 Kolbars were affected by climate and geographic factors such as freezing and falling from heights, 34 of whom were injured, and 5 were killed.
Victims of landmines and explosions
The landmines left from the war threaten the lives of civilians living in border cities each year. The Iranian government continues to manufacture and plant anti-personnel mines against international agreements, arguing that the use of these type of landmines is the only effective way to keep its vast borders safe.
Based on reports, at least 5 civilians in the past year have lost their lives to landmines in border areas, while 32 other civilians have been injured.
Floggings
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) has explicitly banned the use of inhuman or degrading punishments such as flogging. However, based on the reports gathered in 2022, flogging sentences were carried out for at least 9 accused, who were sentenced to a total of 317 floggings.
It should be noted that the judiciary issued at least a total of 12512 flogging sentences in the past year.
Intervention in personal affairs of civilians
In 2022, at least 64 civilians were arrested for attending or hosting personal gatherings and parties.
Victims of credit-financial and investment institutions
In 2022, at least 149 groups of civilians –mostly consisting of those who have lost money due to poor economic conditions, or those whose rights have been violated– have organized protests. These protests took place in 24 provinces. The provinces with the most protests were Tehran, Eastern Azerbaijan, Khuzestan, and Khorasan Razavi.
The highest number of reports related to violence from security forces and citizens’ safety occurred in September and the lowest was in December.
The number of Military violence in 2022 in comparison with 2021
SENTENCES
The judiciary of the Iranian government, including both in initial trial and appeal, issued 17872 months of imprisonment in 2022. These reports included 751 months of imprisonment for ethnic minorities, 3432 months of imprisonment for religious minorities, 14896 months of imprisonment related to freedom of expression, 940 months of imprisonment related to union activity, 117 months of imprisonment for workers, 64 months of imprisonment in women’ rights category, 12 months of imprisonment for students, and 2460 months in prison for Environmental activists were sentenced. Also, these citizens were sentenced to one billion and eleven million Toman in fines and 12512 lashes.
These statistics only include the court sentences that indicated detailed information or characteristics of the verdicts.
The highest number of reports was in December and the lowest in July.
In 2022, the number of convictions of citizens and activists increase by 37%. However, the convictions in the following categories decreased: Religious Minorities by 2%, Ethnic Minorities by 80%, Women’s Rights by 25% and Students by 85%.
The following categories saw an increase in convictions: Freedom of Expression by 230%, Unions by 1150% and, Workers by 300%.
ARRESTS
In 2022, security forces arrested 23977 individuals due to political or civil rights-related activities.
The statistical analysis exhibited 309 cases of arrest in the trade union category, 225 arrests in the category of ethnic minorities, 140 arrests in the category of religious minorities, 22655 arrests in the category of freedom of expression, 167 arrests related to children’s rights, 10 arrests of university students, 7 arrests in the field of cultural rights, 53 arrests in the category of workers’ rights, and 23 arrests in the field of Environment.
324 women were prosecuted for their activities, including the promotion of their desired lifestyle. Also, 64 citizens have been arrested for organizing or participating in a private party.
Based on the number of reports per month, the highest number of reports in this category fell in October and the lowest in March.
In 2022, the number of arrests increased by 1330% in total. Broken into categories, the number of arrests decreased in the Ethnic Minority category by 49%, in Cultural rights increased by 16%, Religious minorities increased by 145%, Unions increased by 1000%, Students increased by 233%, Workers’ Rights decreased by 17%, and Freedom of Expression increased by 2000%.
SEXUAL AND GENDER MINORITIES
The rights of sexual and gender minorities have been analyzed in this Annual Report of Human Rights Activists in Iran as a subset of other categories. The main reason for this is that the small handful of reports in this regard do not allow analysis.
Creating an independent categorization, even with a small number of reports, is in fact an attempt to increase surveillance of this group.
The rights of sexual and gender minorities in the country are systematically violated in various ways. The criminalization of homosexuality and the non-recognition of transgender identity before gender reassignment procedures are two of many systematic violations that are codified into domestic law.
There are many obstacles in reporting on this topic, including open hatred against members of the community, cultural taboos, legal barriers, and the weakness of Iranian civil rights organizations in monitoring and reporting violations. The government’s policy in dealing with sexual minority issues in Iran exacerbates the vulnerability of these groups.
Among the few reports published in this area, we can mention 2 cases of assaults and 1 case of suicide, that have directly been linked to the sexual orientation of the victim.
In some cases, security and law enforcement agencies acknowledge the detention and harassment of members of this community. For example, in June of this year, Reza Molouki, head of the FATA police in the east of Tehran Province announced the identification and arrest of a citizen on charges of “corruption on earth”, calling his relationship with a homosexual illegitimate.
Trans citizens face legal problems in addition to cultural issues in the process of changing their identity documents or seeking exemption from conscription. In one report, a citizen living in Tehran, after obtaining a military exemption due to their gender identity, lost their employment and was unable to renew their license as an expert of the Food and Drug Administration.
In 2019, the World Health Organization updated its guidelines on disorders related to sexuality and gender identity in the ICD-11. In doing so, transgender identity was no longer recognized as a “disorder” by the WHO.
This is the brief version and the full report is available for downloadin PDF format.
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For further inquiries please contact Skylar Thompson, Senior Advocacy Coordinator Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) at [email protected]
HRANA – Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old young woman, was arrested by the morality police for the crime of improper hijab. Her arrest and death in detention fueled nationwide protests in Iran. Protesters came to the streets with the central slogan “Women, Life, Freedom” in protest against the performance, laws, and structure of the regime. The following 486-page report is dedicated to the statistical review, analysis, and summary of the first eighty-two days of the ongoing protests (September 17 to December 7, 2022). In this report, in addition to the geographic analysis and the presentation of maps and charts, the identity of 481 deceased, including 68 children and teenagers, an estimated of 18,242 arrested along with the identity of 3,670 arrested citizens, 605 students and 61 journalists or activists in the field of information is compiled. In addition, the report includes a complete collection of 1988 verified video reports by date and topic. The report examines protests across 1115 documented gatherings in all 31 provinces of the country, including 160 cities and 143 universities.
Summary
Mahsa (Zhina) Amini, a young 22-year-old woman from Saqqez, Kurdistan was visiting Tehran, when she was taken into custody on Tuesday, September 13, 2022, by the Morality Police officers at the Haqqani metro station in Tehran. The reason for her arrest: not properly observing the strict Islamic dress code. Mahsa/Zhina was taken to the infamous detention center of Moral Security Police known as Vozara.
Shortly after Mahsa’s arrest, she went into a coma with level three concussion, and her partially alive body was transferred to the intensive care unit of Kasra Hospital. Given the track record of the police and Guidance Patrols in mistreating the arrestees and similar previous incidents, with the believe that Mahsa was beaten during the arrest people were outraged.
Download full report in PDF format
Unpersuasive explanations given by the Central Command of the Islamic Republic Police Force (FARAJA) in defense of its actions regarding the death of Mahsa, the past performance of the police force, along with widespread dissatisfaction with the existence of a body called the Moral Security Police, fueled widespread protests in Iran.
The widespread protests sparked at the time Mahsa Amini was announced dead in front of Kasra Hospital on Argentina Street in Tehran, and then quickly spread to the streets despite the intimidating presence of Iran’s security forces. The protests intensified after Mahsa’s burial in a Saqqez cemetery. To the extent that after eighty-two days of nationwide protests between September 17, 2022, to December 7, 2022, they have spread to Iran’s all 31 provinces, 160 cities, and 143 major universities.
The protests did not stay limited to Mahsa’s death, it rather, quickly targeted the Iranian government’s political and ideological foundations. These protests were violently quashed by the anti-riot police and Iran’s militia force (Basij). teargas, pellets, and live ammunition were used in the repression of protestors. This widespread crackdown has led to the death of dozens of people and the wounding of hundreds of protestors.
Despite sever communication restrictions imposed by the Islamic Republic, this report attempts to give a clearer picture of the first 82 days of the protests between September 17, to December 7, 2022. It’s worth mentioning at the time of this report the protests are still ongoing in various forms.
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