Category: Freedom of Expression

Mohammad-Ali Azari Arrested by Security Forces in Urmia

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Freedom of Expression, News
Mohammad-Ali Azari, Naqadeh, Urmia

HRANA News Agency – Yesterday, March 28, Mohammad-Ali Azari, a resident of Urmia, was arrested by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location.

Kurdpa has identified him as Mohammad-Ali Azari, father of two, originally from Naqadeh and currently residing in Urmia.

According to the report, Mr. Azari was arrested yesterday by security forces who used violence during the raid on his home. His arrest is reportedly linked to his participation in a Nowruz (Persian New Year) celebration. Each year, the regime’s security forces attempt to prevent Nowruz celebrations, resorting to summoning, threatening, and arresting dozens of citizens to that end.

As of now, there is no information about his whereabouts or the charges brought against him.

Omid Moloudian Arrested by Security Forces in Bukan

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Freedom of Expression, News
Bukan, Nowruz celebration, Omid Moloudian

HRANA News Agency – Yesterday, Omid Moloudian, a resident of Bukan County, was arrested by security forces in the city and taken to an undisclosed location.

According to Kurdpa, Omid Moloudian, 22 years old, is a resident the village of “Kahrizeh Sardar,” a rural district of Bukan. The report states that Mr. Moloudian was arrested in connection with his participation in Nowruz celebrations.

As of the time of this report, no information has been obtained regarding his whereabouts or the charges against him.
Each year, the regime’s security forces attempt to prevent Nowruz celebrations in Kurdish-populated areas, resorting to summoning, threatening, and arresting dozens of citizens to that end.

Teacher’s Union Activist Kobra Taherkhani Sentenced to Prison

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Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News
irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Kobra Taherkhani, Pari Taherkhani, Qazvin, کبری طاهرخانی

HRANA News Agency – Kobra (Pari) Taherkhani, a teachers’ union activist in Qazvin, has been sentenced by Branch 2 of the Qazvin Revolutionary Court to three years in prison and a three-year travel ban.

According to the Coordinating Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations, the verdict was issued on March 16, 2025, and formally communicated to Ms. Taherkhani. She received two years in prison for insulting the Supreme Leader and one year for propaganda against the regime. Additionally, she was sentenced to a three-year travel ban as a supplementary punishment.

The charges against Ms. Taherkhani were partly based on content published on her Instagram page.

Earlier, on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, she was summoned for interrogation at Branch 1 of the Qazvin Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office. After being formally charged, she was released on bail.

Prior to that, on December 2, 2024, IRGC Intelligence agents raided her home in Qazvin, interrogated her for several hours, and confiscated her mobile phone and laptop.

Kobra (Pari) Taherkhani is a teachers’ union activist with 26 years of experience and currently serves as the principal of a lower secondary school in Qazvin Province.

Mohammad Amouri Sentenced to One Year in Prison on Political Charges

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Freedom of Expression, News
ahvaz, Mohammad Amouri, Sheiban Prison

HRANA News Agency –The Revolutionary Court of Ahvaz has sentenced Mohammad Amouri, a citizen held in Sheiban Prison, to one year in prison.

Based on the verdict issued by the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court and communicated to Mr. Amouri, he has been sentenced to one year in prison on the charge of propaganda against the regime, with time spent in detention counted toward the sentence.

On January 8, 2025, Mohammad Amouri was arrested by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence in Ramhormoz and transferred to The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility. He was eventually moved to Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz.

Mohammad Amouri is a 27-year-old citizen from Ramshir, Khuzestan Province.

Naser Akbari and Taleb Bagheri Sentenced to Imprisonment and Fines on Political Charges

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Freedom of Expression, News
Naser Akbari, Shahin Dej, Shahin Dezh, Taleb Bagheri

HRANA News Agency – The Shahin Dezh Criminal Court has sentenced two citizens, Naser Akbari and Taleb Bagheri, to 21 months of imprisonment each, in addition to monetary fines, on political charges.

According to the verdict issued by Branch 101 of the Shahin Dezh Criminal Court on March 13, 2025, both individuals were sentenced to 7 months and 16 days in prison for “propaganda against the regime” and 13 months and 17 days in prison along with a fine of 28,400,000 tomans for “spreading falsehoods online with the intent to disturb public opinion.”

The court issued the verdict against Mr. Bagheri in absentia due to his failure to appear at the hearing.

Naser Akbari, a resident of Shahin Dezh, was arrested by security forces on October 12, 2023. After four months in detention, he was released on bail. Mr. Akbari has a prior record of arrest and conviction related to his activities.

Taleb Bagheri is a resident of Parsian County in Hormozgan Province.

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A Citizen Arrested by Security Forces in Sarbaz County

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Freedom of Expression, News
Balal Irandoost, Sarbaz

HRANA News Agency – Today, Friday, March 21, Balal Irandoost, a resident of Sarbaz County, was arrested by agents of The Ministry of Intelligence and taken to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, quoting Rasank News, the individual has been identified as Balal Irandoost, approximately 30 years old, and a resident of Sarbaz County, Sistan and Baluchestan province.

According to the report, Mr. Irandoost was arrested by The Ministry of Intelligence agents while driving on the Sarbaz-Rask road and transferred to an unknown location.

The reasons for his arrest and the charges against him remain unknown.

Scholar of Mysticism Hamidreza Moraveji Sabzevari Detained by Security Forces in Sabzevar

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Freedom of Expression, News
Hamidreza Moraveji Sabzevari, Sabzevar

HRANA News Agency – Hamidreza Moraveji Sabzevari, a scholar and researcher in the field of mysticism, has been detained by security forces in Sabzevar for the past nine days. His whereabouts remain unknown, raising serious concerns among his family and those close to him.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, Mr. Moraveji Sabzevari was arrested on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at his private residence by security forces and transferred to an undisclosed location. Since his arrest, there has been no information regarding his condition or place of detention.

Some state-affiliated media outlets have reported the charges against him as “encouraging people to corruption and conducting educational and promotional activities contrary to the sacred principles of Islam.”

Hamidreza Moraveji Sabzevari is a prominent researcher in the field of mysticism. Over the years, he has conducted more than two thousand sessions dedicated to the interpretation and analysis of the Quran, Rumi’s Masnavi, Attar’s Conference of the Birds, Hafez’s Ghazals, and other mystical texts.

A Citizen Arrested by IRGC Intelligence Forces in Meshgin Shahr

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ardabil Province, irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Meshgin Shahr

HRANA News Agency – The prosecutor of Meshgin Shahr, Ardabil province, announced the arrest of a citizen by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) intelligence forces in this city. He claimed the individual had caused public anxiety through online content creation.

According to Tasnim News Agency, the prosecutor alleged that the individual was “one of the separatist elements who had been in contact with separatist groups and circles abroad through cyberspace.” Without naming the detainee, he further claimed that the individual was “causing public anxiety by producing separatist content, insulting Islamic sanctities and values, and promoting groups and organizations opposing the regime.”

Babak Nonahal added that the arrest was carried out by the IRGC Intelligence Organization of Ardabil Province. The individual was transferred to prison following the arrest.

Sima Alipour Arrested After Summons to IRGC Intelligence in Tabriz

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Sima Alipour, Tabriz, سیما علیپور

HRANA News Agency – On Monday, March 17, Sima Alipour, an Azerbaijani-Turk activist, was arrested after appearing at the IRGC Intelligence office in Tabriz and was transferred to the agency’s detention facility.

A source close to Alipour’s family confirmed the arrest in a conversation with HRANA, stating: “After being summoned, Ms. Alipour appeared at the IRGC Intelligence office in Tabriz on the morning of Monday, March 17. Hours later, the family was informed through their contacts that she had been arrested by the agency. They were advised to follow up on the case through the Tabriz Prosecutor’s Office.”

As of this report, no information has been released regarding the reasons for the arrest or the charges against her.

Last week, IRGC Intelligence agents searched Alipour’s home and confiscated several personal belongings, including her mobile phone.

Previously, in April 2023, a court hearing was held for Ms. Alipour and her husband, Davoud Shiri (Derakhshan), regarding their charges.

On May 28, 2022, both were arrested by Tabriz’s Ministry of Intelligence agents and released several days later on bail from the agency’s detention facility.

Sima Alipour has a prior record of arrests and encounters with security forces.

Hamideh Zeraei Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison and 178 Lashes

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Freedom of Expression, News
Asif Al-Hosseini, Hamideh Zeraei, Kachooei Prison, Karaj, Lakan prison, Rasht, حمیده زراعی

HRANA News Agency – Hamideh Zeraei, a former political prisoner, has been sentenced to one year and six months in prison and 178 lashes by Branch 104 of the Rasht Criminal Court, according to the Hyrcani news outlet.

The court, presided over by Judge Majid Shadpour, issued the verdict against Zeraei for refusing to comply with compulsory hijab regulations during a court appearance. She was sentenced to nine months in prison and 74 lashes on charges of “disturbing public order” and an additional nine months in prison for “defying law enforcement officers.” Furthermore, she received 74 lashes for “insulting an officer on duty” and 30 lashes for “causing minor physical harm.”

Zeraei was arrested in connection with this case on February 4, 2025, and released approximately one month later on bail from Lakan Prison in Rasht.

In a previous case, on November 16, 2023, the Revolutionary Court of Karaj—presided over by Judge Mousa Asif Al-Hosseini—had sentenced Zeraei to one year in prison, two years of exile to Rasht, a two-year travel ban, and a two-year ban on social media use. After accepting the verdict, her prison sentence was later reduced to nine months.

Zeraei was first arrested by security forces on May 29, 2023, at her home and transferred to Kachooei Prison in Karaj. She was released on February 22, 2024, after serving her sentence.

Previously, Hamideh (Shimin) Zeraei had also been arrested during the 2022 nationwide protests. She was released on February 7, 2023, from Kachooei Prison in Karaj following a general “pardon” directive.