Category: Freedom of Expression

Rostam Bagheri Held Over Three Months in Khorramabad Prison Without Bail

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
HRANA, IRGC Intelligence, Khorramabad, Kuhdasht, Rostam Bagheri

HRANA News Agency – Rostam Bagheri, a citizen from Kuhdasht, has been held in detention for over three months and remains in a state of legal uncertainty in Khorramabad Prison. Despite his family securing the bail set for his temporary release, the judicial authority has refused to register and accept it.

Based on information received by HRANA, Mr. Bagheri has been held for 94 days. In a letter to the head of the Kuhdasht judiciary, he protested both his continued detention and the refusal to accept his bail.

In a second case, Bagheri faces the charge of “supporting Israel.” The court session related to this case was held on September 2.

Previously, in his first case, he was sentenced by the Revolutionary Court to three years in prison on charges of “insulting the Supreme Leader” and “propaganda against the regime.”

Rostam Bagheri, a 36-year-old citizen from Kuhdasht and father of one child, was arrested on June 21 by IRGC intelligence agents in the city without a judicial warrant and was later transferred to Khorramabad Prison.

Mahabad: Soroush Yousefzadeh Sentenced to Six Months in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Mahabad, Soroush Yousefzadeh

HRANA – Soroush Yousefzadeh, a resident of Mahabad, has been sentenced to six months in prison by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of this city.

According to Kurdpa, the verdict was issued by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Mahabad, presided over by Judge Siami, and officially communicated to Mr. Yousefzadeh on September 16. Based on the ruling, he was sentenced to six months in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime.”

On June 19 of this year, Yousefzadeh was arrested by security forces at his home. During the arrest, agents confiscated some of his personal belongings as well as the mobile phones of his father and brother.

He was ultimately released on July 13 after posting bail set at one billion tomans.

Mehrdad Moghiseh Arrested in Sabzevar

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Mehrdad Moghiseh, Sabzevar, مهرداد مقیسه

HRANA – On Thursday, September 18, security forces in Sabzevar violently arrested Mehrdad Moghiseh, a former detainee of the 2022 nationwide protests, and transferred him to an undisclosed location. His family has since been left without information about his condition, raising serious concerns for his safety.

A source close to the family told HRANA: “Mr. Moghiseh was at the scene of the Sabzevar Cement Factory fire. In response to the poor conditions and lack of firefighting equipment, he voiced criticism and raised demands. Following this, security agents beat him and took him into custody.”

At the time of this report, neither his whereabouts nor the charges against him have been disclosed.

In May 2025, the Court of Appeals of Razavi Khorasan Province upheld in full a prison and exile sentence previously issued against him. In March 2024, Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Sabzevar sentenced Moghiseh to seven months and 15 days in prison and one year of exile in Darmian County on the charge of propaganda against the regime.

Moghiseh, who was arrested during the 2022 nationwide protests in Sabzevar, has previously faced arrest and convictions in connection with his activism.

Religious Scholar Shahabeddin Haeri Shirazi Imprisoned to Serve Three-Year Sentence

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Shahabeddin Haeri Shirazi, Shiraz prison

HRANA – On September 14, writer and religious researcher Shahabeddin Haeri Shirazi was sent to Shiraz Prison to begin serving a three-year prison sentence.

On Monday, September 14, Shirazi reported to Shiraz Prison to serve his sentence. He was originally sentenced in November 2023 by the Special Clerical Court in Shiraz to three years in prison.

During the judicial process, the charges brought against the religious scholar included “disturbing public opinion” and “acting against national security.”

Over the past five years (2020–2024), Iran’s Judiciary has issued prison sentences totaling about 8,290 years to over 2,500 individuals—punished solely for exercising their rights to freedom of speech and thought.

Supreme Court Annuls Death Sentence of Shahin Vasaf; Retrial Results in 10-Year Term

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Salmas, Shahin Vasaf, Urmia, Urmia prison, شاهین وصاف

HRANA – Following the annulment of political prisoner Shahin Vasaf’s death sentence by the Supreme Court and the referral of his case to a parallel branch, he has now been sentenced to 10 years in prison by Branch 1 of the Urmia Revolutionary Court.

According to information obtained by HRANA, the Supreme Court had previously overturned Mr. Vasaf’s death sentence. In August of this year, his retrial was held before Branch 1 of the Urmia Revolutionary Court as the designated parallel branch. Two days ago, the court issued its verdict, sentencing him to 10 years in prison.

Mr. Vasaf was first arrested by security forces in September 2022. Following his interrogation at The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Urmia, he was transferred to Urmia Prison.

In late 2023, Branch 3 of the Urmia Revolutionary Court had sentenced him to death on the charge of “espionage for Israel.”

Shahin Vasaf, 29, is a native of Salmas and a resident of Urmia.

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Report on the Arrest and Release of Three Attorneys in Rasht

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Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News
Lakan prison, Masoumeh Pour-Shahrani, Mohammadreza Tak, Rasht, Tahereh Pour-Esmaeili

HRANA – Tahereh Pour-Esmaeili, Mohammadreza Tak, and Masoumeh Pour-Shahrani, three attorneys residing in Rasht who had been arrested by security forces over the past week, have been released from Lakan Prison in Rasht after posting bail.

A source close to the families of these citizens told HRANA: “Tahereh Pour-Esmaeili, Mohammadreza Tak, and Masoumeh Pourshahrani were arrested by security forces last week  and transferred to Lakan Prison in Rasht.”

The source added: “Ms. Pour-Esmaeili and Ms. Pour-Shahraniare facing charges of blasphemy and insulting the Supreme Leader, and have also been threatened with the revocation of their law licenses, fabrication of cases, and sexual harassment. Mr. Tak’s arrest was linked to his role as defense attorney in security-related cases. Although bail had been set for them, the prosecutor handling their cases initially refused to accept it. Ultimately, in recent days, the three attorneys were released on bail. The bail amount for Ms. Pour-Esmaeili was set at 2 billion tomans, and for Ms. Pour-Shahrani at 500 million tomans.”

At least 13 attorneys in Gilan Province have recently faced judicial and security pressures, including summonses and arrests.

Tahereh Pour-Esmaeili, Mohammadreza Tak, and Masoumeh Pour-Shahrani are licensed attorneys residing in Rasht. Mr. Tak has previously faced security-related harassment.

Arian Rostami Sentenced to Five Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Arian Rostami, IRGC Intelligence, Nariman Shafiei, Qasr-e Shirin

HRANA – Arian Rostami, a resident of Sarpol-e Zahab, has been sentenced by Branch One of the Revolutionary Court of Qasr-e Shirin to five years in prison.

According to Kurdpa, the verdict was issued by Branch One of the Revolutionary Court of Qasr-e Shirin, presided over by Judge Nariman Shafiei, and was officially communicated to Mr. Rostami on September 6. Under the ruling, he has been sentenced to five years in prison on the charge of “membership in a group with the intention of disrupting national security.”

According to a source cited in the report, “The court relied on a report from the IRGC Intelligence of Qasr-e Shirin in issuing the sentence against this citizen.”

Arian Rostami is a resident of Sarpol-e Zahab in Kermanshah Province.

Ayat Gholami, Sunni Cleric, Sentenced to Imprisonment

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ayat Gholami, HRANA, Kermanshah

HRANA – The sentence of Ayat Gholami, a Sunni cleric, has been revised by the Special Clerical Appeals Court in Tehran to five years and six months in prison, with five years suspended.

According to Kurdpa, the Appeals Court handed down this new sentence, which includes charges of “propaganda against the regime,” “spreading falsehoods,” “disturbing public opinion,” and “insulting Fatemeh, the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad.”

Gholami was arrested on April 23 after being summoned to the Special Clerical Court in Kermanshah and was released on April 26 on bail set at 700 million tomans.

He had previously been summoned by security agencies for defending Sunni beliefs and imprisoned clerics, protesting the killings of kulbars (cross-border porters) and fuel carriers, criticizing authorities, and organizing Sunni religious ceremonies.

Ayat Gholami is the former prayer leader of the Mohammad al-Mostafa Mosque in Kermanshah and a teacher at a religious seminary.

Crackdown on Gilan Lawyers: 3 Arrested, 10 Summoned

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Freedom of Expression, News
Gilan province, Hesam Pourahmadi, HRANA, Lakan prison, Rasht, Shadi Falahati, Shahrzad Sharbiyani

HRANA – In recent days, at least 13 defense lawyers in Gilan Province have been subjected to judicial and security measures, including summonses and arrests. Among them, Shahrzad Sharbiyani, Shadi Falahati, and Hesam Pourahmadi have been arrested and remain in an uncertain situation.

According to information obtained by HRANA, Hesam Pourahmadi and Shahrzad Sharbiyani are currently held in Lakan Prison in Rasht, while the whereabouts of Shadi Falahati remain unknown. HRANA had previously reported on the arrests of these individuals.

The newspaper Etemad has also reported that more than ten other lawyers in Gilan Province have been summoned to judicial and security bodies. According to this report, charges such as “propaganda against the regime” and “assembly and collusion against the country” have been brought against them. However, Etemad did not provide the names of the summoned lawyers or specify the authorities that issued the summonses.

Several lawyers, including Parto Borhanpour and Saleh Noghrehkar, have publicly condemned these measures against their colleagues and called for an immediate end to such actions.

Attorney Shahrzad Sharabiyani Arrested in Rasht

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Freedom of Expression, News
Lakan prison, Rasht, Shahrzad Sharabiyani

HRANA News Agency – Shahrzad Sharabiyani, an attorney residing in Rasht, has been arrested by security agents and transferred to Lakan Prison in the city.

Based on information received by HRANA, her arrest took place on Sunday, August 31, by security agents in Rasht. Following her arrest, she was transferred to Lakan Prison.

The charge brought against her has been cited as “propaganda against the regime.”

Shahrzad Sharabiyani is a licensed attorney and a resident of Rasht.