Category: Freedom of Expression

Judicial Case Filed Against Attorney Babak Eslami Farsani

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Freedom of Expression, News
Arak, Babak Eslami Farsani, Mehrshad Shahidi

HRANA – A judicial case has been opened against Babak Eslami Farsani, an attorney at law, in the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office of Arak County.

Mr. Eslami Farsani announced earlier on Saturday, November 1, that he had been summoned to Branch 2 of the Arak Prosecutor’s Office on July 17, 2025, to defend himself against the charge of “propaganda against the regime.” He stated that the summons was issued in connection with his role as the legal representative of the family of Mehrshad Shahidi, one of those killed during the nationwide protests of 2022.

Mr. Eslami Farsani has not provided further details regarding the case.

Babak Eslami Farsani serves as the attorney for the family of Mehrshad Shahidi, who was killed during the 2022 protests in Arak.

Attorney Saeed Sheikh Sentenced to Imprisonment, Disbarment, and Fine

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Freedom of Expression, News
Saeed Sheikh, سعید شیخ

HRANA – Attorney Saeed Sheikh has been sentenced by a judicial authority to one year and six months in prison, a fine, and one year of suspension from practicing law. One year of his prison sentence has been suspended.

Saeed Sheikh wrote about this on social media, stating: “Due to my activities and opinions expressed online, the Khavaran Court has sentenced me to one and a half years in prison, a fine, and one year of suspension from practicing law.”

Without mentioning further details such as the date of the ruling, the attorney added that two-thirds of his prison term, equal to 12 months, has been suspended.

Saeed Sheikh has previously been arrested and faced judicial proceedings for his professional and social activities.

HRANA’s report shows that in 2024, Iranian regime courts—both primary and appeals courts, issued a total of 33,574 months of prison sentences (equivalent to 2,797 years) against Iranian citizens for their political and civil activities. This total represents more than a 1.5-fold increase compared to the previous five-year period.

Faramarz Se-Dehi Sentenced to One Year in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Behbahan, Faramarz Se-Dehi, Khuzestan

HRANA – Faramarz Se-Dehi, a poet and member of the Iranian Writers’ Association, has been sentenced to one year in prison by Branch 104 of the Behbahan Criminal Court.

Farshteh Tabanian, Mr. Se-Dehi’s lawyer, wrote in a post regarding this case that he was sentenced to one year in prison on the charge of “insulting sacred values.”

Earlier, a court hearing addressing Faramarz Se-Dehi’s charge had been held in Branch 104 of the Behbahan Criminal Court (Second).

In April 2024, in a separate case, Faramarz Se-Dehi had also been sentenced to over 22 months in prison by Branch 1 of the Mahshahr Revolutionary Court.

Mr. Se-dehi was formally charged on February 17, 2025, by the Second Branch of the Behbahan Prosecutor’s Office and released on bail.

Faramarz Se-Dehi, a poet from Khuzestan and a member of the Iranian Writers’ Association, has previously faced convictions related to his activities.

Supreme Court’s Retrial Leaves Behfar Lalezari’s Five-Year Prison Sentence Unchanged

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Freedom of Expression, News
Behfar Lalezari, Evin Prison, HRANA, بهفر لاله زاری

HRANA – The prison sentence of Behfar Lalezari, a political prisoner held in Evin Prison, remained unchanged after the Supreme Court accepted his request for a retrial and referred the case to an equivalent branch. Branch 21 of the Tehran Court of Appeals has again sentenced him to five years in prison in its new ruling.

Based on information received by HRANA, after the Supreme Court accepted the retrial request, Branch 21 of the Tehran Court of Appeals, acting as an equivalent branch, reissued Mr. Lalezari’s previous five-year prison sentence.

A source close to the family of this political prisoner confirmed the news to HRANA and said: “This new ruling has been issued even though the judge of Branch 39 of the Supreme Court had declared in his opinion that no actual criminal act had taken place in this case. The individuals involved merely exchanged views and conversations opposing the political system. He emphasized that the appropriate charge in this case would only be ‘propaganda against the regime,’ punishable by three months to one year in prison. The charge of ‘assembly and collusion against national security’ was deemed unlawful.”

It should be noted that during the past year, two previous requests for retrial by this political prisoner had been rejected.

Mr. Lalezari had previously been sentenced by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, to four years in prison for “assembly and collusion against internal security” and one year for “propaganda against the regime,” totaling five years of imprisonment. The verdict was fully upheld by Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals.

Behfar Lalezari was arrested by security forces at his private residence on September 18, 2023. After seven days in solitary confinement in the Security Police’s detention cells, he was transferred to Evin Prison.

This political prisoner, who suffers from multiple health problems, has so far submitted nine requests for medical furlough, all of which have been denied by prison authorities.

Heavy Prison Sentences Issued for Six Residents of West Azerbaijan Province

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Freedom of Expression, News
Bukan, Hassan Mamil Azar, Heyman Mam Ghaderi, Mahabad, Mansour Karbalaie, Miandoab, Salar Bayazidi Azar, Yousef Mam Ghaderi

HRANA – Six citizens from the cities of Mahabad, Bukan, and Miandoab, Yousef Mam Ghaderi, Heyman Mam Ghaderi, Salar Bayazidi Azar, Mansour Karbalaie, Hassan Mamil Azar, and Salar Seyed Rahimi, were each sentenced to ten years in prison by Branch 1 of the Mahabad Revolutionary Court.

According to Kurdpa, on Saturday, October 25, the preliminary verdicts for these six residents of West Azerbaijan Province were issued. Presided over by Judge Ahad Siyami, Branch 1 of the Mahabad Revolutionary Court sentenced each of them to ten years and one day in prison on charges including acting against national security and membership in one of the opposition parties to the Iranian government.

According to the same report, in connection with this case, a death sentence in absentia was issued for another defendant, Kavis Abdollahzadeh Aghdam, on the charge of “baghi” (armed rebellion). He reportedly left Iran after being temporarily released, and no further details are available about his legal proceedings.

Yousef Mam Ghaderi and Heyman Mam Ghaderi, both residents of Bukan, Salar Bayazidi Azar from Mahabad, and Mansour Karbalaie, Hassan Mamil Azar, and Salar Seyed Rahimi, all from Miandoab, were arrested by security forces between June 25 and June 30, 2022.

After their arrests, they were transferred to The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Urmia for interrogation, and later moved to Bukan Prison. They were eventually released on bail after the investigation phase was completed.

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Prison Sentences for Three Azerbaijani-Turk Activists Upheld by the Supreme Court

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Freedom of Expression, News
Araz Aman Zeinabad, Ayaz Seifkhah, Azerbaijani Turk activists, Bagher Hajizadeh

HRANA – The prison sentences of Azerbaijani-Turk activists Ayaz Seifkhah, Araz Aman Zeinabad, and Baqer Hajizadeh Mazraeh have been upheld by the Supreme Court. The three had previously been sentenced by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court to a combined total of 40 years in prison.

According to HRANA, the sentences were confirmed by Branch 39 of the Supreme Court, presided over by Judge Kuhkamari. Based on the ruling of the country’s highest judicial authority, Ayaz Seifkhah was sentenced to 14 years in prison, while Araz Aman and Baqer Hajizadeh were each sentenced to 13 years in prison.

The prison terms issued against these three political defendants were previously upheld in January 2024 by Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals.

The three were tried in October 2024 by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Abolghasem Salavati. According to the verdict, Ayaz Seifkhah was sentenced to nine years in prison for espionage and five years for “assembly and collusion against national security.” Araz Aman and Bagher Hajizadeh were each sentenced to eight years for espionage and five years for “assembly and collusion against national security.”

In addition, all three were sentenced to two years of deprivation from membership in political parties, media activity, and social media presence, as well as a two-year travel ban as complementary punishments.

Hearings on their cases, along with several other political defendants, were previously held at the same court, during which they defended themselves against the charges.

All these Azerbaijani-Turk activists were arrested in February 2024 by security forces and later transferred to Evin Prison.

Supreme Court Overturns Death Sentences of Five Protest Detainees from the 2022 Nationwide Protests

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Executions, Freedom of Expression, News
Kaveh Salehi, Pejman Soltani, Rezgar Beigzadeh Babamiri, Salimi Babamiri, Teyfour Salimi Babamiri

HRANA – The Supreme Court has overturned the death sentences of Rezgar Beigzadeh Babamiri, Pejman Soltani, Ali (Soran) Ghasemi, Kaveh Salehi, and Teyfour Salimi Babamiri, five individuals arrested during the 2022 nationwide protests, whose execution verdicts had previously been issued by the Urmia Revolutionary Court.

Following the ruling, the cases of these individuals have been referred to the Mahabad Revolutionary Court for retrial. It is worth noting that Salimi Babamiri, after being temporarily released, has since left Iran.

These five individuals were tried in a joint case by Branch 1 of the Urmia Revolutionary Court and sentenced to death and imprisonment. The charges against them included “armed rebellion (baghi),” “enmity against God (moharebeh),” and “leadership and formation of an armed insurgent group.” According to the original verdicts, four of them had been sentenced to death more than once. The verdicts were delivered to their defense attorneys on Monday, July 7, 2025.

Specifically, Ghasemi, Soltani, and Salehi were each sentenced to death three times on the charges of baghi, moharebeh, and forming and leading an insurgent group; Rezgar Bigzadeh Babamiri was sentenced to death twice; and Tifour Salimi Babamiri received one death sentence for forming and leading an insurgent group. In addition, eight other defendants in the same case were sentenced to prison terms and fines.

Currently, Soltani, Rezgar Babamiri, Salehi, and Ghasemi are being held in Urmia Prison. These individuals had previously been sentenced respectively to death, 15 years in prison, and 10 years in prison on the charge of “killing a security agent.”

They were arrested in April 2023, while Tifour Salimi Babamiri was detained in March 2023. Salimi Babamiri was released approximately 18 months after his arrest.

Hadi Jamalipour Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison for “Insulting the Supreme Leader” and “Supporting Israel”

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Freedom of Expression, News
Birjand, Hadi Jamalipour, HRANA, هادی جمالی پور

HRANA – Hadi Jamalipour, a resident of Birjand, has been sentenced by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of this city to eight years in prison and one year of dismissal from public and governmental service.

This verdict was issued and communicated to Mr. Jamalipour on October 21 by Branch 1 of the Birjand Revolutionary Court. Based on the ruling, he was sentenced to two years in prison for “insulting the Supreme Leader,” one year for “propaganda against the regime,” and five years for “promoting and supporting Israel,” amounting to a total of eight years in prison. Additionally, he was sentenced to one year of dismissal from public and governmental service as a supplementary punishment.

Under Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the most severe sentence, five years in prison, will be enforceable for Mr. Jamalipour.

Jamalipour was arrested on June 19 of this year by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence at his private residence. During the arrest, officers searched his home and confiscated several electronic devices. He was then transferred to The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Birjand and, two days later, moved to Birjand Prison.

Jamalipour was ultimately released from Birjand Prison after eight days in custody, upon posting a bail of 750 million tomans.

Hadi Jamalipour, 42 years old, is an employee of Payam Noor University and a resident of Birjand.

Updated Report: Number of Executions in Qom Prison Rises to Two

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Javad Naeimi, Qom prison, Sadegh Nik-Ravesh

HRANA – At dawn on Saturday, October 18, alongside the execution of Javad Naeimi, a prisoner previously sentenced to death on espionage charges, another prisoner was also executed in Qom Prison. The latter had been sentenced to death for murder.

Earlier, the head of the Qom Judiciary and the province’s Judicial Council had announced the execution of a man convicted of “spying for Israel.” HRANA has since identified this individual as Javad Naeimi. In addition to Naeimi’s execution, another prisoner, identified as Sadegh Nik-Ravesh, was also executed that same day in Qom Prison.

According to information obtained by HRANA, Mr. Nik-Ravesh had previously been arrested on murder charges and later sentenced to death by the Criminal Court.

As of the time of this report, the execution of Sadegh Nik-Ravesh has not been officially announced by prison authorities or other responsible institutions.

From the beginning of this year until the end of September, the Islamic Republic of Iran has carried out 1,028 executions, reflecting an unprecedented surge compared to previous years.

Mohsen Parish Arrested in Meshkindasht

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Meshkindasht, Mohsen Parish

HRANA – Mohsen Parish, a resident of Meshkindasht, Karaj, was arrested yesterday, October 21, by security forces in front of his home and transferred to Karaj Central Penitentiary.

A source close to his family confirmed the news to HRANA, saying: “Mr. Parish was arrested this Tuesday in front of his residence in Meshkindasht, Karaj. The agents used violence during the arrest. After being detained, he was taken to Branch 6 of the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in Meshkindasht. A few hours later, following the formal announcement of charges, he was transferred to Karaj Central Penitentiary.”

According to information obtained by HRANA, after Parish’s arrest, agents prevented his family from entering the courthouse. When he was transferred to prison, visible injuries were observed on his elbow and neck. His mobile phone was also confiscated by agents from the Ministry of Intelligence. The prosecutor in charge of his case has reportedly set bail at 750 million tomans.

As of the time of this report, the exact charges against this citizen remain unknown.

Mohsen Parish has previously been arrested and faced judicial proceedings due to his activism. He was among those injured during the November 2019 protests and was arrested again in 2020. In a two-part case, he was convicted on charges including “insulting the Prophet,” “insulting sacred values,” “insulting the Supreme Leader,” “propaganda against the regime,” and “acting against national security through calling for anti-regime demonstrations.” He was sentenced to imprisonment and flogging. Parish was eventually released under a general amnesty in early 2023.