Category: Freedom of Expression

Teacher Zahra Arefi Mehr Arrested Following Court Hearing

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Sabzevar, Torbat-e Heydarieh, Zahra Arefi Mehr

HRANA – A court hearing on the charges against Zahra Arefi Mehr, a teacher and artist, was held on May 31, 2026, at the Revolutionary Court of Sabzevar. At the conclusion of the hearing, she was arrested and transferred to Torbat-e Heydarieh Prison.

The hearing took place on May 31, 2026, at the Revolutionary Court of Sabzevar. Ms. Arefi Mehr personally defended herself against charges of “propaganda against the regime” and “disturbing public opinion,” without access to legal counsel.

An informed source told HRANA: “During the hearing, the publication of posts and images related to individuals who lost their lives in 2026 protests was cited as evidence supporting the charges brought against this teacher. Following the conclusion of the court session, Zahra was arrested and transferred to Torbat-e Heydarieh Prison.”

Zahra Arefi Mehr is an Iranian teacher, children’s literature writer, and artist. She is also active in the field of visual arts, and her paintings have been exhibited in international group exhibitions.

Ariana Kouchaki, Sharif University Student, Arrested

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Freedom of Expression, News, Students
Ariana Kouchaki, HRANA, Sharif University of Technology

HRANA – Ariana Kouchaki, a student at Sharif University of Technology, was arrested by security forces in Tehran yesterday and taken to an undisclosed location.

The Student Council of Sharif University of Technology announced that the student was arrested by security forces in Tehran on Monday, June 1, 2026.

So far, no information has been made available regarding the reasons for his arrest or his place of detention.

Ariana Kouchaki is an undergraduate Industrial Engineering student who entered Sharif University of Technology in 2021.

Mahmoud Talkh Abi Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison on Appeal

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Freedom of Expression, News
ahvaz, HRANA, Mahmoud Talkh Abi, Sheiban Prison, محمود تلخ آبی

HRANA – The five-year prison sentence of Mahmoud Talkh Abi, one of those arrested during the nationwide protests of 2026 and currently held in Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz, has been upheld in full by Branch 16 of the Khuzestan Province Court of Appeals.

Based on a ruling issued by Branch 16 of the Khuzestan Province Court of Appeals, Mr. Talkh Abi was sentenced to five years in prison on the charge of “disrupting public order,” pursuant to the Note to Article 286 of the Islamic Penal Code.

Previously, at the trial stage, Branch 1 of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court had sentenced him to five years in prison, a two-year ban on leaving the country, and two years of mandatory attendance at the Office for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in connection with this charge. The supplementary punishments were overturned during the appeals process.

Mahmoud Talkh Abi was arrested on December 30, 2025, in connection with the nationwide protests and is currently being held in Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz.

In this case, the charge of “disrupting public order” was brought under the Note to Article 286 of the Islamic Penal Code. Under Iran’s legal framework, Article 286 itself pertains to the offense of “corruption on earth” (efsad-e fel-arz). However, according to its Note, if a defendant’s actions are deemed to have caused disorder or insecurity but are not considered sufficiently extensive to meet the threshold of “corruption on earth,” the death penalty is not applied, and the court may instead impose a Grade Five or Grade Six discretionary prison sentence (up to five years’ imprisonment). The court’s reliance on this Note rather than Article 618 of the Islamic Penal Code—which addresses ordinary public-order offenses and carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison—indicates that the case was handled through a security-oriented approach, with the harsher penalties provided under the Note to Article 286 serving as the basis for the sentence.

January 2026 Protests: Morteza Kiani Sentenced to Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Hossein Ali Hatami, HRANA, Izeh, Morteza Kiani

HRANA – Morteza Kiani, one of those arrested during the 2025 nationwide protests in Izeh, has been sentenced by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Izeh to six months and one day in prison.

Based on information received by HRANA, the verdict was recently issued by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Izeh and communicated to his attorney, Hossein Ali Hatami. Mr. Kiani was sentenced to six months and one day in prison on the charge of “assembly and collusion against national security.”

A source familiar with the case and close to Mr. Kiani’s family told HRANA: “The court applied mitigating provisions, including notes related to Article 286 of the Islamic Penal Code, and, having found no evidence of more serious national security offenses, imposed a reduced sentence below the statutory minimum for the charge of assembly and collusion. As a result, Mr. Kiani was sentenced to six months and one day in prison.”

Previously, an indictment had been issued against the detained protester on charges of insulting the Supreme Leader, propaganda against the regime, and assembly and collusion against national security. He was acquitted of the first two charges during the initial trial proceedings.

Morteza Kiani was released from detention on January 27, 2026, after posting bail set at 500 million tomans. He had been arrested by security forces on January 1, 2026, during nationwide protests in the city of Izeh.

It should be noted that protests and strikes by shopkeepers and bazaar merchants began in Tehran on Sunday, December 28, 2025, and within two days spread beyond markets and commercial centers. With the participation of students, citizens, and various social groups, these protests became one of the largest protest movements of recent years. Following the crackdown by security and law enforcement forces, thousands were killed or injured, and tens of thousands were arrested or summoned by security agencies. For more information, readers may refer to HRANA’s comprehensive report titled “Crimson Winter,” documenting the first fifty days following the outbreak of Iran’s nationwide protests.

January 2026 Protests: Esmail Sheikhinia and Saeed Maghsoudi Sentenced to Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Esmail Sheikhinia, Izeh, January 2026 Protests, Saeed Maghsoudi

HRANA – The prison sentences of Esmail Sheikhinia and Saeed Maghsoudi, both arrested during the 2026 nationwide protests, have been upheld in full by the Khuzestan Province Court of Appeals. In a joint case, the two men had previously been sentenced by Branch 1 of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court to two years in prison each, along with supplementary punishments.

According to a ruling issued by Branch 14 of the Khuzestan Province Court of Appeals and served on their attorney, Hossein Ali Hatami, Mr. Sheikhinia and Mr. Maghsoudi were each convicted of disrupting public order under Note to Article 286 of the Islamic Penal Code. They were sentenced to two years in prison, a two-year travel ban, and one year of mandatory attendance at the Headquarters for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in Izeh County.

The original verdict had been issued by Branch 1 of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court on the same charge.

In this case, the charge of “disrupting public order” was brought under the Note to Article 286 of the Islamic Penal Code. Under Iranian law, Article 286 pertains to the offense of “spreading corruption on earth” (efsad-e fel-arz). However, the accompanying note provides that when a defendant’s actions result in disorder or insecurity but are not deemed extensive enough to constitute efsad-e fel-arz, the death penalty does not apply, and the court may instead impose a Grade Five or Grade Six discretionary prison sentence of up to five years.

The use of this provision, rather than Article 618 of the Islamic Penal Code, which addresses ordinary public-order offenses punishable by a maximum of one year in prison, suggests that the case was handled through a security-oriented approach, with the court relying on the more severe penalties available under the Note to Article 286.

Esmail Sheikhinia and Saeed Maghsoudi were arrested on December 29, 2025, during nationwide protests in Izeh and were subsequently transferred to Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz.

It should be noted that protests and strikes by shopkeepers and bazaar merchants began in Tehran on Sunday, December 28, 2025, and within two days spread beyond markets and commercial centers. With the participation of students, citizens, and various social groups, these protests became one of the largest protest movements of recent years. Following the crackdown by security and law enforcement forces, thousands were killed or injured, and tens of thousands were arrested or summoned by security agencies. For more information, readers may refer to HRANA’s comprehensive report titled “Crimson Winter,” documenting the first fifty days following the outbreak of Iran’s nationwide protests.

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Seyed Sadra Hosseini Arrested in Tehran

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Sadra Hosseini, Tehran

HRANA – Seyed Sadra Hosseini, a graduate of the University of Tehran, was arrested by security forces in Tehran on Monday, June 1, and transferred to an undisclosed location.

Based on information received by HRANA, Mr. Hosseini was arrested by security forces in Tehran on Monday, June 1.

As of the time of this report, no information has been obtained regarding the authority responsible for his arrest, the place of detention, the reasons for his detention, or any charges brought against him.

Seyed Sadra Hosseini is a bookseller, a graduate of the University of Tehran, and a resident of Tehran.

Appeals Court Upholds Prison Sentences of British Detainees Lindsay and Craig Foreman

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Craig Foreman, Evin Prison, HRANA, irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Kerman, Lindsay Foreman

HRANA – The prison sentences of Craig Foreman and Lindsay Foreman, two British citizens currently held in Evin Prison, have been upheld in full by the Court of Appeals. The couple had previously been sentenced to 10 years in prison each by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court on charges of “espionage.”

According to HRANA, citing BBC News, the Court of Appeals has upheld without modification the prison sentences imposed on Lindsay and Craig Foreman, a British couple imprisoned in Iran.

According to the report, the couple was not permitted to attend the appeals hearing. Following the confirmation of their sentences, their case has been referred to the Supreme Court.

In February 2026, Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Abolghasem Salavati, sentenced the couple to 10 years in prison each on charges of “espionage.”

According to the couple, “Despite appearing in court, no evidence was presented, and we were given no opportunity to defend ourselves.”

In May 2026, the couple launched a hunger strike to protest their detention conditions and the suspension of telephone contact with their family. As the strike has continued, Lindsay Foreman has reportedly experienced deteriorating health conditions, including weight loss, low blood sugar, and fluctuations in blood pressure.

Craig and Lindsay Foreman, who had entered Iran as part of a motorcycle journey around the world, were arrested by the IRGC Intelligence Organization in Kerman in December 2024. Judicial authorities had accused them of “espionage,” alleging that they collected information in several provinces under the guise of tourism and research activities.

The British ambassador to Iran at the time also met with the two defendants at the Kerman Prosecutor’s Office in February of that year.

In recent years, Iranian authorities have arrested several foreign nationals on charges such as espionage or cooperation with hostile governments. Some detainees have later been released following political negotiations. Human rights organizations and several Western governments have accused Iran of using such arrests as a means of political leverage, allegations that Iranian authorities have consistently denied.

January 2026 Protests: Maryam Babajani Sentenced to More Than 32 Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Izeh, Maryam Babajani

HRANA – Maryam Babajani, one of those arrested during the 2026 nationwide protests in Izeh, has been sentenced by Branch 1 of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court to 32 years, six months, and two days in prison.

Based on information obtained by HRANA, Ms. Babajani was recently sentenced by Branch 1 of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court to 20 years in prison on one security-related charge and 12 years, six months on another. The verdict includes charges brought against her under Iran’s law on intensifying punishments for espionage offenses.

A source familiar with the Babajani family told HRANA: “Following the issuance of the verdict, Ms. Babajani’s attorney, Hossein-Ali Hatami, filed an appeal against the ruling.”

Maryam Babajani was arrested in late January 2026 in connection with the nationwide protests in Izeh. She was later released from prison after posting bail set at 10 billion tomans.

Attorney Mehran Ansari Sentenced to Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Attorney Mehran Ansari Sentenced to Prison, HRANA, Mehran Ansari

HRANA – Mehran Ansari, an attorney and member of the Fars Province Bar Association, has been sentenced to one year in prison by the Revolutionary Court of Shiraz.

Based on information received by HRANA, the Revolutionary Court of Shiraz sentenced the attorney to one year in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime.”

Mehran Ansari, a licensed attorney and member of the Fars Province Bar Association, was arrested by security forces in Shiraz during the nationwide protests of 2026. He was later released on bail set at 2 billion tomans.

It is noteworthy that Mehdi Ansari, also a member of the Fars Province Bar Association and a cousin of Mehran Ansari, was recently sentenced by the Revolutionary Court of Shiraz to five years in prison and a two-year ban on leaving the country.

Amirhossein Bagheri Alavijeh Arrested in Isfahan

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Freedom of Expression, News
Amirhossein Bagheri Alavijeh, HRANA, Isfahan

HRANA – Amirhossein Bagheri Alavijeh, a student at Arak University and a resident of Alavijeh, Isfahan Province, was arrested by security forces in the city on Monday, June 1, 2026, and taken to an undisclosed location.

Based on information received by HRANA, plainclothes security agents raided Mr. Bagheri’s home in Alavijeh and arrested him using violence. During the operation, agents searched the residence and confiscated electronic devices belonging to him and his family members.

A source close to the family confirmed the news to HRANA and stated: “Amirhossein Bagheri Alavijeh suffers from underlying medical conditions and requires continuous access to medication. His lack of access to necessary medication while in detention has heightened the concerns of his family and relatives.”

At the time of writing, no information is available regarding the reasons for his arrest, his whereabouts, or any charges brought against him.

Last year, Mr. Bagheri Alavijeh was sentenced by the Revolutionary Court of Najafabad to one year of suspended imprisonment. Under part of the sentence, he is required to report to the city’s sentence enforcement branch on the first Saturday of each month.

He was previously arrested by security forces at his home in Alavijeh on April 2, 2025, and was released on bail after 15 days.

Amirhossein Bagheri Alavijeh is a master’s student at Arak University and a resident of Alavijeh, Isfahan Province.