Category: Freedom of Expression

Shahin Zoghi-Tabar Arrested in Tehran

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Shahin Zoghi Tabar, Tehran, شاهین ذوقی تبار

HRANA– This morning, Shahin Zoghi-Tabar, a Tehran resident, was arrested by security forces at his private residence and taken to an undisclosed location.

A source close to his family confirmed the arrest and told HRANA:
“Mr. Zoghi-Tabar was arrested this morning, Thursday, July 24, 2025, at his home in Tehran. At the same time, his home was searched by agents, who confiscated several personal items, including mobile phones belonging to him and his family members.”

As of the time of this report, no information has been released regarding the reasons for his arrest, his whereabouts, or the charges he may be facing.

Shahin Zoghi-Tabar, a former political prisoner, had previously been sentenced to five years in prison on charges of “assembly and collusion” through alleged cooperation with the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK). He was released from Rajaei Shahr Prison in Karaj in 2017 after serving his sentence.

Documentary Filmmaker Mina Mashhadi Mahdi Arrested

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Freedom of Expression, News
Hasan Naqqashi, HRANA, Mina Mashhadi Mahdi

HRANA– On Tuesday, July 22, 2025, documentary filmmaker Mina Mashhadi Mahdi was arrested by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location.

Her husband, Hasan Naqqashi, announced that security forces arrested his wife on July 22 and, despite assurances that she would be released the same day, she remains in detention.

As of the time of this report, there is no information available regarding the reasons for her arrest, the charges against her, or her place of detention.

Mina Mashhadi Mahdi is a documentary filmmaker, editor, and actress. Her works have been screened at various art festivals.

Ahmad Moazami Goudarzi and Leila Saremi Arrested in Borujerd

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ahmad Moazami Goudarzi, Borujerd, Farzad Moazami Goudarzi, Leila Saremi, Reza Moazami Goudarzi

HRANA – On Tuesday,  July 22, Ahmad Moazami Goudarzi and Leila Saremi, the parents of political prisoner Farzad Moazami Goudarzi, were arrested by security forces in the city of Borujerd and taken to an undisclosed location.

Mr. Moazami Goudarzi and Ms. Saremi were detained at their private residence in Borujerd by security agents without the presentation of a judicial warrant.

As of the time of this report, there is no information available regarding the reasons for their arrest, the charges against them, or their whereabouts.

Ahmad Moazami Goudarzi and Leila Saremi are Borujerd residents and the parents of Farzad Moazami Goudarzi, a political prisoner. They are also relatives of Reza Moazami Goudarzi, who was fatally shot during the nationwide protests on November 17, 2019, in Shahriar.

At Least 2,000 People Arrested During Iran–Israel War

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Freedom of Expression, News, Other
Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, HRANA

HRANA – Iran’s judiciary chief has announced that approximately 2,000 individuals were arrested during the 12-day war between Iran and Israel. HRANA had previously cited similar figures in earlier reports.

Quoting Hamshahri, HRANA reports that Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, head of the judiciary, stated: “During the 12-day war, at least 2,000 people were arrested. Many of them had no involvement in acts of sabotage and have since been released.”

For further details, see HRANA’s comprehensive report on the Iran–Israel conflict.

The war began in the early hours of Friday, June 13, 2025, with a wave of Israeli airstrikes targeting Iranian territory. According to HRANA’s field sources, alongside military sites, residential neighborhoods and civilian infrastructure were also hit, leading to the deaths of hundreds of civilians.

Appeals Court Upholds Prison Sentence for Farhad Avizheh

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Freedom of Expression, News
Dehdasht, Farhad Avizheh, Yasuj, فرهاد آویژه

HRANA – The Appeals Court Branch 1 of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province has upheld the two years and one month prison sentence issued against Farhad Avizheh, a resident of Dehdasht. A portion of this sentence has been suspended for two years.

Avizheh has been sentenced to 10 months in prison for “propaganda against the regime” and to 15 months and one day for “insulting the Supreme Leader.” According to the verdict, half of the harsher sentence has been suspended for two years. As a result, Mr. Avizheh’s enforceable sentence is seven months and 15 days.

A source familiar with the case told HRANA: “Mr. Avizheh’s case has been referred to the sentence enforcement office, and he will likely be summoned soon to begin serving his sentence.”

Earlier this year in June, Mr. Avizheh had been sentenced to this prison term by Branch 1 of the Yasuj Revolutionary Court.

Farhad Avizheh was arrested in May this year and released about a month later on bail. The Dehdasht resident has previously faced judicial action over his activism.

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New Case Filed in Prison: Mehdi Mahmoudian Summoned to Tehran Prosecutor’s Office

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Freedom of Expression, News
Greater Tehran Prison, HRANA, Iman Afshari, Mehdi Mahmoudian

HRANA – Mehdi Mahmoudian, a civil activist imprisoned in the Greater Tehran Prison, is facing a new legal case. He has been summoned to the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in Tehran after receiving a notice to defend himself against new charges.

A recent summons, issued by Branch 5 of the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office of District 31 (Media and Cyber Crimes) in Tehran, was delivered to Mr. Mahmoudian’s family. He has been asked to appear and respond to the charge of “spreading false information.”

Earlier this month, following Israel’s attack on Evin Prison, Mr. Mahmoudian was transferred to Greater Tehran Prison along with several other prisoners.

On February 3, 2025, he was arrested at the Enforcement Branch and sent to prison to serve his sentence.

Previously, Mahmoudian had been tried in Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari. He was sentenced to 8 months in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime,” along with two-year bans on party membership, smartphone use, and foreign travel.

Commenting on his sentence, Mahmoudian had written that “all of these punishments were imposed solely because I responded to a false report by a news outlet about the ‘eradication of bedbugs in prison,’ and wrote that they are ‘addicted to lying.’”

He had also previously faced prosecution for giving an interview about the difficulties Baha’is face in burying their deceased. In May of last year, he was arrested after appearing at the Prosecutor’s Office for Culture and Media and released a day later on bail.

Yilmaz Mehrali Beiglou Arrested in Jolfa County

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Jolfa, Yilmaz Mehrali Beiglou, جلفا, مهرعلی بیگلو

HRANA News Agency – On July 21, attorney Yilmaz Mehrali Beiglou was arrested by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence in Jolfa County and taken to an undisclosed location. The agents also searched his father’s home.

A source close to the family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “Mr. Mehrali Beiglou was arrested today by Ministry of Intelligence agents in Jolfa County. After the arrest, he was transferred to an undisclosed location. Following the arrest, the agents searched his father’s house and confiscated some of his personal belongings.”

On May 26 of 2024, a preliminary hearing for Mehrali Beiglou was held in Branch 1 of the Prosecutor’s Office of the Public and Revolutionary Court in Jolfa. He had previously been summoned to the same branch via an official notice.

In 2024, a total of 2,783 Iranian citizens were arrested by security and judicial authorities due to their beliefs, opinions, or political and civil activities. Over the past decade, the number of such arrests has exceeded 56,000. The highest number of arrests occurred in 2022, during the nationwide protests, when HRANA documented 23,977 detentions.

North Khorasan: 2 Citizens Arrested, Legal Cases Filed Against 15 Others

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Freedom of Expression, News, Other
Bojnurd, North Khorasan

HRANA – The Prosecutor of Bojnurd announced the arrest of two citizens in North Khorasan Province on charges of alleged cooperation with Israel. According to him, since the beginning of Israel’s attacks on Iran, legal cases have also been opened against 15 individuals for offenses such as spreading false information and propaganda against the regime.

According to Mehr News Agency, the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor of Bojnurd claimed that these individuals were collaborating with Israeli intelligence. He stated, “They were arrested in the early days of the war.”

Javad Elahi also announced that legal cases have been filed against 15 others in the province on charges including “spreading false information, disturbing public opinion, and propaganda against the regime.”

The report does not disclose the identities of those arrested or subjected to legal proceedings.

While combating espionage is not considered a human rights violation per se, given the Iranian government’s track record of using such accusations as a tool to suppress political dissent, such claims—especially when details and legal proceedings remain unclear—are often met with skepticism.

Mahsa Shafiee-Moghaddam Arrested in Yasuj

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Freedom of Expression, News
irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Mahsa Shafiee Moghaddam, Yasuj

HRANA – On Thursday, July 17, Mahsa Shafiee Moghaddam, a resident of Yasuj, was arrested by IRGC Intelligence forces at her home and taken to an undisclosed location.

Based on information received by HRANA, Ms. Shafiee-Moghaddam was arrested at her home on Thursday, July 17, by IRGC Intelligence agents. The officers confiscated her mobile phone and electronic devices. Her Instagram account has also been deactivated. After her arrest, she made a brief phone call to her mother, during which she stated that she is on a hunger strike and does not know where she is being held.

A source close to the family told HRANA: “At the time of her arrest, the agents showed Ms. Shafiee-Moghaddam a warrant. She was reportedly arrested on charges of insulting military officials killed in the 12-day Israel conflict and collaborating with Persian-language media outlets outside Iran.”

Mahsa Shafiee-Moghaddam, 22 years old, has previously been arrested and faced legal action due to her activism.

Over 80 Arrested in Lorestan for Alleged Ties to Israel

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Freedom of Expression, News, Other
HRANA, Israel, Lorestan

HRANA – The police commander of Lorestan Province has announced the arrest of 87 individuals accused of having ties to Israel.

According to HRANA, citing Fars News Agency, more than 80 citizens have been detained in Lorestan Province. Yahya Elahi, Lorestan’s police commander, stated that during the 12-day war between Iran and Israel, 87 people were arrested in the province. He cited reasons for the arrests as “spreading public fear, sabotage operations, ties to foreign agents, and possession of explosives.”

He did not disclose the identities or whereabouts of those detained.

In the early hours of Friday, June 13, 2025, the Israeli military launched a wave of airstrikes on Iranian territory. According to HRANA’s field reports, in addition to military targets, the strikes hit residential and civilian areas, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of non-combatants. Around the same time, several citizens were arrested by security forces on charges of espionage or for expressing opinions online.

For more information, see HRANA’s full report on the 12-day war between Iran and Israel.