Category: Freedom of Expression

Nirvana Torbati-Nejad Sentenced to 6 Months in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Gorgan, irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Nirvana Torbati-Nejad, Ramazan Haji-Mashhadi, نیروانا تربتی نژاد

HRANA – Nirvana Torbati-Nejad, a resident of Gorgan, has been sentenced to six months of custodial imprisonment by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court in this city.

This verdict was issued on November 25 by Branch 1 of the Gorgan Revolutionary Court and was delivered yesterday to Ramazan Haji-Mashhadi, Ms. Torbati-Nejad’s defense attorney. According to the ruling, Ms. Torbati-Nejad has been sentenced to six months of custodial imprisonment on the charge of ‘propaganda against the regime.’

Some time earlier, this citizen had also been summoned by the IRGC Intelligence and interrogated for several hours.

In a separate case, this political defendant had previously been prosecuted on charges of ‘membership in groups opposed to the regime with the intent to disrupt national security,’ and ‘assembly and collusion to commit crimes against internal security.’ She had been sentenced by the court to ten months in prison and a two-million-toman fine. She was ultimately acquitted of the charges at the appeals stage.

Nirvana Torbati-Nejad was arrested by security forces at her workplace on September 10, 2023, and was released on October 5, 2023 on bail.

Jafar Panahi Sentenced to Imprisonment and Other Penalties

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Freedom of Expression, News
Jafar Panahi, Mostafa Nili, جعفر پناهی

HRANA – Jafar Panahi, film director and screenwriter, has been sentenced by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court to one year in prison, two years of a travel ban, and additional penalties.

Mostafa Nili, Mr. Panahi’s defense attorney, wrote in a post on this matter: “Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court has, in absentia, sentenced Mr. Panahi to one year in prison, two years of a travel ban, and a ban on membership in political and social groups, on the charge of propaganda against the regime.”
According to the attorney, “We will take the necessary steps to appeal this ruling within the legal deadline.”

Jafar Panahi has previously faced arrest and judicial actions due to his activities.

Jafar Panahi, aged 65, is an Iranian film director and screenwriter.

Siblings Shokouh and Shahrouz Sadidi Arrested in Sabzevar

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Freedom of Expression, News
Sabzevar, Shahrouz Sadidi, Shokouh Sadidi, شکوه سدیدی, شهروز سدیدی

HRANA – Yesterday, November 30, Shahrouz Sadidi and Shokouh Sadidi, residents of Sabzevar, were arrested by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence in this city and transferred to an unknown location.

Shahram Sadidi, the brother of Shahrouz and Shokouh Sadidi, announced their arrest by posting on his social media pages. He stated that the arrests took place this morning, separately, by agents of the Sabzevar branch of the Ministry of Intelligence at their respective homes.

So far, no information has been obtained regarding the reasons for their arrest, their whereabouts, or the charges against them.

It should be noted that Shahram Sadidi has previously faced arrest and judicial actions due to his activities and is currently living outside Iran.

Arbitrary arrests, transferring detainees to undisclosed locations, and leaving families in the dark about the fate of their loved ones are routine practices of the Iranian regime’s security agencies, such as the Ministry of Intelligence and the IRGC Intelligence Unit. This pattern of behavior stands in clear violation of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, known as the Nelson Mandela Rules: “Every prisoner shall have the right, and shall be given the ability and means, to inform immediately his or her family, or any other person designated as a contact person, about his or her imprisonment, about his or her transfer to another institution and about any serious illness or injury. The sharing of prisoners’ personal information shall be subject to domestic legislation.”

Khorramabad: Younes Sagvand Sentenced to Imprisonment

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Freedom of Expression, News
Gholi Kiani, Khorramabad, Younes Sagvand, یونس سگوند

HRANA – Younes Sagvand (Gholi Kiani), a resident of Sepiddasht in Lorestan Province, has been sentenced by Branch 2 of the Khorramabad Revolutionary Court to 10 months in prison and a fine.

Based on the ruling issued by Branch 2 of the Khorramabad Revolutionary Court and delivered to Mr. Sagvand on November 17, 2025, he was sentenced to 10 months in prison and a fine on the charge of ‘propaganda against the regime.’

This citizen had been arrested in March 2025 at his home by security forces and was released several days later from Khorramabad Prison after posting bail.

Younes Sagvand is an electrical engineering graduate, an employee of the Railway Company, and a resident of Sepiddasht.

Masoud Moghiseh Arrested in Sabzevar

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Freedom of Expression, News
Masoud Moghiseh, Mehrdad Moghiseh, Mojtaba Moghiseh, Sabzevar

HRANA – Yesterday, Sunday, November 30, Masoud Moghiseh, a resident of Sabzevar, was arrested by security forces in the city and transferred to an unknown location.

According to information received by HRANA, after detaining him, the agents transferred him to an undisclosed location without providing any explanation for the reason behind this action.

As of the time of this report, no information has been obtained regarding the charges brought against this citizen.

Masoud Moghiseh, a resident of Sabzevar, has previously been subjected to security-related pressures. He is the brother of Mehrdad Moghiseh and Mojtaba Moghiseh, both political prisoners.

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Fourteen Citizens Arrested Over Protest-Related Activities

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA

HRANA – Fourteen young people were arrested by law enforcement forces for writing protest slogans and posting critical messages. Their ages have been reported as between 22 and 30. Police media released a video accusing them of “contact with foreign actors.” In the footage, the detainees make statements against themselves.

According to HRANA, quoting the Police News Agency, 14 citizens were arrested by law enforcement on charges of writing slogans and distributing or installing banners critical of state policies.

The police-affiliated news agency published a video accusing these individuals of “communication with foreign countries.” In the footage, the detainees make statements that exhibit signs of coercion. Past cases show that such confessions typically lack legal credibility.

In parts of the video, the detainees utter phrases expressing “regret” and having been “misled.” The content follows the familiar pattern of forced confessions, and the conditions under which the recording was made are unclear.

Davood Fathalizadeh, the reporter, stated that the individuals are between 22 and 30 years old and claimed that they were “guided from outside the country.” However, no information has been provided regarding their identities or the time and location of their arrests.

It is important to emphasize that, aside from the violation of human dignity inherent in recording and broadcasting forced confessions, under the law, an individual is presumed innocent until receiving a final conviction in court. Any punitive action taken prior to a final conviction constitutes a violation of their civil and human rights.

Two Piranshahr Residents Sentenced to Six Years on Political Charges

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ahmad Mam-Sharifi, HRANA, Piranshahr, Rahman Hosseini, پیرانشهر

HRANA – Seyed Rahman Hosseini and Ahmad Mam-Sharifi, residents of Piranshahr, have been sentenced by the Piranshahr Revolutionary Court to a combined total of six years and six months in prison.

According to Kolbar News, this ruling was recently issued and formally communicated to Seyed Rahman Hosseini and Ahmad Mam-Sharifi. Based on the verdict, Mr. Hosseini was sentenced to three years and six months in prison on the charge of propaganda against the regime. Ahmad Mam-Sharifi was also sentenced by the same judicial branch to three years in prison for the same charge.

On June 19 of this year, Hosseini and Mam-Sharifi were arrested by security forces. Since their arrest, they have been denied family visits and the right to access a lawyer.

The report notes, without providing further details, including the location of their detention, that both citizens remain in custody.

Kourosh Jalil Arrested and Transferred to Prison to Serve His Sentence

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Freedom of Expression, News
Kourosh Jalil, Yasuj, کوروش جلیل

HRANA – Kourosh Jalil, a resident of Yasuj, was arrested and transferred to the city’s prison to begin serving his 15-month prison sentence.

Based on information received by HRANA, on Friday, November 21, security forces entered Mr. Jalil’s home, arrested him, and transferred him to the Yasuj Prosecutor’s Office. He was then taken to the city’s prison to begin serving his sentence.

In August, Mr. Jalil was sentenced by Branch 1 of the Yasuj Revolutionary Court to two years, one month, and one day in prison. This included 10 months for propaganda against the regime and 15 months and one day for insulting the Supreme Leader and the founder of the Islamic Republic. Since he did not appeal the ruling, the verdict became final and enforceable. Under Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the most severe punishment, 15 months and one day, will be applied.

In May of this year, Branch 1 of the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office of Boyer-Ahmad issued an indictment against Mr. Jalil on charges of propaganda against the regime and spreading falsehoods. His hearing, along with two other citizens, had previously been held at the same branch.

In December of 2024, in another case, Kourosh Jalil was sentenced to three years in prison on charges of insulting the founder of the Islamic Republic, unlawful assembly, insulting Islamic sanctities, insulting the Supreme Leader, and propaganda against the regime. This sentence had been suspended for one year.

Kourosh Jalil had been released on bail in July 2024 after being arrested the previous month. On that same day, his sentence of a monetary fine was enforced following several hours of detention.

Three Ahvazi Citizens Arrested by Security Forces

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ahvazi citizens, Ali Hamdi, Hossein Jalal, Sajad Gharbavi

HRANA – On Wednesday, November 19, three Ahvazi citizens, Sajad Gharbavi, Hossein Jalal, and Ali Hamdi, were arrested by security forces. Mr. Jalal and Mr. Hamdi were released after signing a written pledge, but Sajad Gharbavi remains in custody, and his whereabouts are unknown.

These individuals were arrested on Wednesday, November 19, by security forces. While Hossein Jalal and Ali Hamdi were later released after providing a written commitment, Sajad Gharbavi remains detained, and no information is available regarding his condition.

According to published reports, the arrests were linked to the release of a music video titled “Zalmahne.” Following their detention, the video was removed from all their social media pages.

As of the time of this report’s publication, no information has been obtained regarding the charges brought against these individuals.

Moloud Afand Arrested in Miandoab

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Freedom of Expression, News, Other
Miandoab, Moloud Afand, مولود آفند

HRANA – Moloud Afand, a resident of Miandoab, was arrested by security forces at his home. Officers searched his residence and confiscated several of his digital devices.

According to Kolbar News, the individual has been identified as Moloud Afand, a resident of Hasanabad village in Miandoab County, West Azerbaijan province.

According to the report, yesterday, November 18, agents of the Urmia branch of the Ministry of Intelligence entered his home without presenting a judicial warrant. After conducting a thorough search and seizing Mr. Afand’s electronic devices, they placed him under arrest.

The report states that following his arrest, he was transferred to one of the security detention centers in Urmia.

No information is currently available regarding the reasons for his arrest or the charges brought against him.

Arbitrary arrests, transferring detainees to undisclosed locations, and leaving families in the dark about the fate of their loved ones are routine practices of the Iranian regime’s security agencies, such as the Ministry of Intelligence and the IRGC Intelligence Unit. This pattern of behavior stands in clear violation of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, known as the Nelson Mandela Rules.