Death Sentences for Behrooz Ehsani and Mehdi Hasani Upheld by Supreme Court

The Supreme Court of Iran has upheld the death sentences for Behrooz Ehsani Eslamlou and Mehdi Hasani, political prisoners held in Evin Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, the lawyers of the two political prisoners were formally notified of the court’s decision.

The two were sentenced to death in late September 2024 by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, on charges of “armed rebellion (baghi),” “enmity against God (moharebeh),” “spreading corruption on earth,” collecting classified information, and collusion against national security. Their alleged membership in the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK) was cited as evidence against them.

On Monday, November 28, 2022, Mr. Ehsani was arrested at his home in Tehran and transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison. Mr. Hasani was also arrested on September 9, 2022, while attempting to leave the country in Zanjan and was transferred to Evin Prison. Both individuals spent months in a state of uncertainty and incommunicado detention.

Behrooz Ehsani is 64 years old. Mehdi Hasani, aged around 48, is married and the father of two children. Before his arrest, he was active in the real estate sector.

Two Prisoners Executed in Adelabad Prison in Shiraz on Drug-Related Charges

On Sunday, January 5, 2025, two prisoners were executed in Adelabad Prison in Shiraz on charges related to drug offenses.

According to Haal Vsh, one of the executed individuals was identified as Khalil Alizahi (Sargolzahi), a 45-year-old father of eight from Zahedan. He had been arrested two years ago in Neyriz County on drug-related charges and subsequently sentenced to death by the Shiraz Revolutionary Court.

HRANA identified the second prisoner as Amir-Mohammad Farahani, a resident of Arak. Farahani had also been arrested on drug-related charges and sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court.

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

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

Drug-Related Charges: A Prisoner Executed in Hamedan Prison

At dawn today, the execution of a prisoner previously sentenced to death on charges related to drug offenses was carried out in Hamedan Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, Abolfazl Azadi was executed on Sunday, January 5, 2025. Based on information obtained by HRANA, Mr. Azadi was previously arrested on drug-related charges and later sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court.

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

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

Execution of a Prisoner in Sepidar Prison, Ahvaz

On Wednesday, January 1, 2025, the death sentence of a prisoner previously convicted of murder was carried out in Sepidar Prison in Ahvaz.

HRANA has identified the prisoner as Ali Moradi. Based on information obtained by HRANA, Mr. Moradi had been arrested on charges of murder and subsequently sentenced to death by judicial authorities.

As of the time of this report, the execution has not been officially announced by prison authorities or relevant institutions.

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

Execution of Three Prisoners in Qazvin Prison

On Tuesday, December 31, 2024, the death sentences of three prisoners convicted of drug-related offenses and murder were carried out at Choobindar Prison in Qazvin.

HRANA has identified one of the executed individuals as Amir Mohammadi, who was hanged at dawn on December 31, 2024. The identities of the two other prisoners remain under investigation.

According to information obtained by HRANA, Mr. Mohammadi had been convicted of murder, while the other two prisoners were convicted of both drug-related offenses and murder.

As of the time of this report, prison officials and relevant institutions have not officially announced the executions. In 2024, judicial authorities or domestic media in Iran officially announced only 6% of executions, underscoring a deeply troubling lack of transparency in the country’s legal and judicial processes.

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

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At Least 15 Prisoners Executed in Iran on New Year’s Day

On the first day of the new year, at least 15 prisoners were executed in various prisons across Iran. The executions, carried out in Malayer, Bandar Abbas, Yasuj, and Ghezel Hesar (Karaj) prisons, involved individuals convicted of drug-related charges and murder.

Details of the Executions

  • Malayer Prison:
    Mohammad Shafi Mousavi, convicted of murder, was hanged at dawn.
  • Bandar Abbas Prison:
    Three prisoners were executed. One was identified as Hedayat Ghasemi from Rudan, convicted on drug-related charges. The other two, Afghan nationals, remain unidentified.
  • Yasuj Prison:
    Pezhman Masoudi Koushk, around 25 years old, was executed at dawn. He had been convicted of murder.
  • Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj:
    Ten prisoners were executed. Two of them, including Mohammad Hossein Mohammadi-Far and an Afghan national named Pasha, were convicted on drug-related charges.

    Eight others had been convicted of murder. Details of three cases, reported by Rokna, are as follows:

    • Arshia, born in the 2000s, killed his stepfather with a handgun during an argument in December 2022.
    • Amir, an Afghan national, was arrested in July 2022 for killing a man during a fight and was sentenced to death.
    • Another prisoner, who killed his brother-in-law in October 2022 over an inheritance dispute, was among those executed.

The executions come amid growing concerns about the rising number of death sentences in Iran.

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

Execution of Five Prisoners in Bandar Abbas Prison

On Wednesday, January 1, 2025, five prisoners, including three Afghan nationals, were executed in Bandar Abbas Prison on charges related to drug offenses.

According to Haal Vsh, one of the prisoners was identified as Hedayat Ghasemi, who had been arrested and sentenced five years ago. The Iran Human Rights Organization identified another prisoner as Shahrokh Sabahpour, a Bandar Abbas resident who had been imprisoned for approximately seven years on drug-related charges.

One of the Afghan nationals was identified as Ramzi Beig-Sawar, 25 years old. The identities of the other two Afghan prisoners remain unknown.

As of the time of this report, the executions have not been officially confirmed by prison authorities or related entities.

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

Prisoner Executed in Yasuj Prison

Today, January 1, 2025, the death sentence of a prisoner previously convicted of murder was carried out in Yasuj Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of the Human Rights Activists in Iran, the hanged individual has been identified as Pezhman Masoudi Koushk, approximately 25 years old.
 

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

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

Report of an Execution in Aligudarz Prison

At dawn on Wednesday, December 25, 2024, the execution of a prisoner previously sentenced to death on charges of murder was carried out in Aligudarz Prison, Lorestan province.

According to HRANA, the news agency of the Human Rights Activists in Iran, the executed individual has been identified as Mohammad Javad Gudarzi.

As of the time of this report, the execution has not been officially announced by prison authorities or related institutions.

In 2024, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran documented 777 cases related to the right to life, including the sentencing of 207 individuals to death and the execution of 883 individuals. Among these, 4 executions were carried out in public. Of those executed, 772 were male, 26 were female, and 5 were juvenile offenders—individuals under 18 years old at the time of their alleged crimes.

Four Prisoners Executed in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan

Yesterday, December 30, four prisoners were executed in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan.

According to Iran Human Rights Organization and Haal Vsh, the prisoners have been identified as Ahmad Barahooie (Brahui) Chenal, Kourosh Narooie, Ayat Pourmansouri, 32, from Dezful, and Babak Shoghi, 35.

All four were executed on charges related to drug offenses.

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

Reports from the Department of Statistics and Publications of Human Rights Activists for 2024 highlight a troubling trend: executions for drug-related offenses accounted for approximately 52% of all executions in Iran. For a detailed analysis of these executions and the associated statistics, see HRANA’s full report.