Category: Freedom of Expression

Jamshid Molaei Arrested in Izeh County

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Izeh County, Jamshid Molaei, Kian Pirfalak, Meisam Pirfalak

HRANA – Jamshid Molaei, a relative of Kian Pirfalak, the child killed during the 2022 nationwide protests, was arrested by security forces in Izeh County.

According to HRANA, Jamshid Molaei was arrested in Izeh.

Meisam Pirfalak, Kian Pirfalak’s father, announced the arrest of his relative Jamshid Molaei, known as Rayka, in a post.

According to him, the arrest took place one week after Kian’s gravesite was renovated, and no specific reason for the arrest has been announced so far. He also stated that Mr. Molaei has diabetes.

As of the time of this report, no precise information has been obtained regarding the agency responsible for his arrest, his place of detention, or the reasons for his arrest.

It should be noted that Kian Pirfalak, a 10-year-old child from Izeh, was killed by gunfire on November 16, 2022, during the nationwide protests in the city.

Zahra Rabbani Sentenced to Prison and Fines

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Freedom of Expression, News
Bojnurd, HRANA, Zahra Rabbani

HRANA – Zahra Rabbani, 18, who was arrested during the January 2026 protests, has been sentenced by Branch 107 of the Bojnurd Criminal Court II to a total of 15 months and two days in prison and ordered to pay fines.

According to HRANA, citing Kolbar News, Zahra Rabbani has been sentenced to imprisonment and fines.

According to the report, Branch 107 of the Bojnurd Criminal Court II sentenced Rabbani to seven months and 16 days in prison on the charge of “assembly and collusion to commit a crime against the national security.” She was also sentenced to seven months and 16 days of imprisonment and a fine of one million tomans on the charge of “manufacturing explosive materials.” Additionally, on the charge of “carrying and distributing explosive materials,” she was fined four million tomans, along with an additional fine of one million tomans, equivalent to one to two times the value of the explosive materials.

Pursuant to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, seven months and 16 days of her total prison sentence will be enforceable.

Zahra Rabbani was arrested by security forces on January 5, 2026. She was ultimately released in late February of that year after posting bail.

Abed Alizadeh Arrested by Security Forces in Takab County

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Freedom of Expression, News
Abed Alizadeh, HRANA, Takab, عابد علیزاده

HRANA – Abed Alizadeh, a resident of Takab, was arrested yesterday by security forces in the city and transferred to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, citing Kurdpa, Abed Alizadeh was arrested in Takab.

According to the report, Mr. Alizadeh was arrested by security forces on the evening of Wednesday, August 19, without the presentation of a judicial warrant.

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

Abed Alizadeh is married and resides in the Sharifabad neighborhood of Takab, West Azerbaijan province.

Azar Yaho Sentenced to Three Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Mashhad, Vakilabad prison, آذر یاهو

HRANA – Branch 4 of the Mashhad Revolutionary Court sentenced Azar Yaho, a prisoner held at Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad, to three years in prison, with two years of the sentence suspended.

According to HRANA, Azar Yaho has been sentenced to imprisonment.

Based on a ruling issued by Branch 4 of the Mashhad Revolutionary Court, Yaho was sentenced to three years in prison on the charge of “cooperating with Israel” by posting a comment on Benjamin Netanyahu’s social media page. Two years of the sentence have been suspended.

Azar Yaho, aged approximately 39, was arrested by agents of the IRGC Intelligence Organization in Mashhad on March 5, 2026, and transferred to Vakilabad Prison.

Yaho has also faced restrictions on communication with her family during her detention. According to a previous HRANA report, beginning July 5, she was punitively denied phone calls and family visits and transferred to Ward 6 of Vakilabad Prison. Prison officials said the measure was taken because information about her conditions in prison had been published, a claim denied by a source close to her family.

Rapper Armin Nourani Detained, Forced Confession Video Published

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Freedom of Expression, News
forced confessions, Iranian Rapper, Khojasteh, آرمین نورانی

HRANA – Armin Nourani, a rapper known by the stage name “Khojasteh,” was arrested and later released after signing a written pledge. At the same time, a video containing his confessions was released, though it remains unclear under what circumstances the video was recorded.

According to HRANA, Armin Nourani, known as “Khojasteh,” was temporarily detained.

Following his arrest, a video of his forced confessions was released. In the video, which was recorded under unknown circumstances, Nourani expresses regret over some of his previous statements and positions regarding the protests and his support for protesters. He was later released after signing a written pledge.

HRANA is investigating further details regarding the case, including the charges brought against Nourani.

Armin Nourani is a rapper who performs under the stage name “Khojasteh.”

It should be noted that, in addition to the violation of human dignity resulting from the recording and broadcast of forced confessions, under the law, an individual is presumed innocent until a court issues a final conviction. Any punishment imposed before a final conviction constitutes a violation of that individual’s civil and human rights.

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Soheil Arabi Sentenced to Five Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ghezel Hesar prison, Karaj, Soheil Arabi, سهیل عربی

HRANA – Soheil Arabi has been sentenced by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court to five years in prison and a two-year ban on employment involving social media activities.

According to HRANA, Soheil Arabi has been sentenced to imprisonment.

Based on a ruling issued on August 16 by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, Arabi was sentenced to five years of discretionary imprisonment, with time previously served in detention credited toward his sentence, on the charge of “assembly and collusion with the intent to commit a crime against national security,” with the court taking into account provisions concerning repeat offenses. As a supplementary punishment, the court also barred him for two years from “engaging in a specific occupation, profession, or work related to the committed offense (social media activity).”

In part of the ruling, the court cited Arabi’s communications with individuals outside Iran, the contents of the case file, images documenting his social media activities, and reports by judicial officers among the evidence supporting the verdict.

A hearing on the charges against Arabi was held before the same branch on August 10. During the hearing, reports from a security agency, content he had published on social media, and his assistance to several people detained during the January protests were among the matters raised in the case. In his defense, Arabi stated that his support activities were not limited to prisoners or protesters, noting that of more than 200 families covered by the support network, over 100 had no history of arrest or political activity.

In March, Arabi was arrested by security forces and transferred to Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj. He was released from the prison this spring.

Soheil Arabi has previously faced arrest and judicial proceedings in connection with his activities.

Arabi is a blogger and citizen journalist who received the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Prize in 2017. He has previously faced multiple prosecutions and convictions. In 2014, Branch 76 of the Tehran Province Criminal Court sentenced him to death on the charge of “insulting the Prophet of Islam” on Facebook. The death sentence was later overturned and replaced with other punishments.

More recently, Arabi wrote a letter describing detention conditions in Suite 35 of Unit 3 at Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.

January 2026 Protests: Parsa Moslehi-Fard Sentenced to One Year in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Parsa Moslehi-Fard, پارسا مصلحی فرد

HRANA – Branch 29 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Parsa Moslehi-Fard, one of the individuals arrested in connection with the January 2026 protests, to one year in prison.

According to HRANA, Parsa Moslehi-Fard has been sentenced to imprisonment.

Based on information received by HRANA, Mr. Moslehi-Fard was recently sentenced to one year in prison by Branch 29 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Seyed Ali Mazloum, on the charge of “propaganda against the regime.”

A source close to his family, confirming the matter to HRANA, said: “The SIM card belonging to this citizen, who was arrested in connection with last January’s protests, has been blocked, and all of his electronic devices also remain in the possession of security agencies.”

The court hearing addressing the charges against Mr. Moslehi-Fard was held on July 19 of this year before the aforementioned judicial branch.

Mr. Moslehi-Fard was arrested on January 27, 2026, in connection with the nationwide protests that took place that January.

Parsa Moslehi-Fard, aged approximately 26, is a composer residing in Tehran. He had previously been arrested over his protest-related and artistic activities in connection with the 2022 protests.

Teachers’ Union Activist Mehdi Fathi Sentenced to Imprisonment and Additional Punishments

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Freedom of Expression, News
Adelabad Prison, HRANA, Mehdi Fathi

HRANA – The conviction of Mehdi Fathi, a retired teacher and board member of the Fars Teachers’ Trade Association, was upheld in full by the Fars Province Court of Appeals. He had previously been sentenced by the Shiraz Revolutionary Court to 15 months in prison and additional punishments.

According to HRANA, Mehdi Fathi has been sentenced to imprisonment and additional punishments.

On July 3, the Fars Province Court of Appeals sentenced Mr. Fathi to 15 months in prison, a travel ban, revocation of his passport, and a two-year ban on online activities.

The initial ruling in this case, dated May 11, had been issued by the Shiraz Revolutionary Court on charges including “propaganda against the regime.”

In January 2024, Mehdi Fathi was released from Adelabad Prison in Shiraz under electronic ankle monitoring. He has since been serving the remainder of the sentence from his previous case outside prison, subject to restrictions on his movement.

In March 2022, Mr. Fathi was sentenced to 12 years in prison, exile, a travel ban, and passport revocation on charges including “assembly and collusion with the intent to disrupt national security,” “propaganda against the regime,” and “insulting the Supreme Leader and the founder of the Islamic Republic.”

His sentence was subsequently reduced on appeal to eight years in prison, passport revocation, and a ban on leaving the country. Pursuant to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the most severe sentence, five years in prison, was deemed enforceable.

This teachers’ union activist was arrested by security forces at his home in June 2022 and subsequently transferred to Ward 14 of Adelabad Prison in Shiraz.

Mehdi Fathi is a retired teacher and board member of the Fars Teachers’ Trade Association. He is from the village of Kordshul, in Pasargad County, Fars Province.

Revolutionary Court Sentences 16 Citizens in Mahabad to Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Abdullah Ghoveh, Abdullah Houshmand, Abdulrahman Ghoveh, Ali Maroufi, Aram Mabzooleh, Ayoub Rasouli, Ghader Khoramanfar, Jalal Sadafi, Kamal Masoudi, Mahabad, Nazanin Elyasi, Othman Jahanifar, Rahman Dana, Rebwar Rasouli, Salar Shams Borhan, Yousef Tal, Zanyar Seyed-Ahmadi

HRANA – Sixteen residents of Mahabad County have been sentenced by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Mahabad to a combined 77 years and seven months in prison.

According to HRANA, citing IranWire, 16 citizens in Mahabad have been sentenced to prison.

According to the report, Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Mahabad, presided over by Judge Ahad Siami, issued sentences against the 16 residents on charges including “assembly and collusion against national security,” “membership in opposition parties,” “propaganda against the regime,” and “supporting parties opposed to the government.”

Under the court ruling, Abdullah Houshmand and Abdulrahman Ghoveh were each sentenced to seven years and one month in prison. Abdullah Ghoveh, Ghader Khoramanfar, Jalal Sadafi, Ali Maroufi, Aram Mabzooleh, Yousef Tal, Rebwar Rasouli, Ayoub Rasouli, Othman Jahanifar, Rahman Dana, Salar Shams-Borhan, and Zanyar Seyed-Ahmadi were each sentenced to five years and one month in prison. Nazanin (Golaleh) Elyasi was sentenced to two years in prison, while Kamal Masoudi received a five-month prison sentence.

The report further states that these citizens, who were arrested by security forces in October–December 2024, were subjected to torture while in detention. They were also denied access to legal counsel and deprived of phone calls and visits with their families.

Nazanin Elyasi was released from Urmia Prison on bail on April 10, 2025. She had been arrested on December 16, 2024, after reporting to the Ministry of Intelligence office in Mahabad.

Salar Shams-Borhan and Abdullah Ghoveh were arrested on December 17, 2024. Othman (Shwaneh) Jahanifar, Ayoub Rasouli, Rebwar Rasouli, Rahman Dana, Kamal Masoudi, Jalal Sadafi, Ghader Khoramanfar, Yousef Tal, Aram Mabzoleh, and Zanyar Seyed-Ahmadi were also arrested by security forces in Mahabad on December 15, 2024. Among them, Qader Khoramanfar and Jalal Sadafi were transferred to Mahabad Prison in January–February 2025. The two were released from the prison on bail in November–December 2025.

Ali Maroufi, Abdullah Houshmand, and Abdulrahman (Hawri) Ghoveh were also arrested by security forces on Monday, October 28, 2024.

Dariush Rahimi Arrested in Sanandaj

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Freedom of Expression, News
Dariush Rahimi, HRANA, Sanandaj, داریوش رحیمی

HRANA – On Saturday, August 15, Dariush Rahimi, a resident of Sanandaj, was arrested by security forces at his home. His whereabouts remain unknown.

According to HRANA, Dariush Rahimi was arrested in Sanandaj.

Based on information received by HRANA, on Saturday, August 15, security forces entered Rahimi’s home without presenting a judicial warrant and arrested him using violence and physical force. During the arrest, agents also confiscated mobile phones belonging to Mr. Rahimi and his wife.

As of the time of this report, no information has been obtained regarding the reasons for Dariush Rahimi’s arrest, the charges against him, the agency responsible for his arrest, or his place of detention.

Mr. Rahimi has previously faced judicial action. With no information available about his current condition, his family and relatives have expressed concern for his well-being.