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Six Citizens Arrested by Security Forces in Mahabad

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Akam Sheikheh, Hazhar Mohammadzadeh Aghdam, Iman Mohammadzadeh, Kazem Azadeh, Mahabad, Naser Azarm, Saman Ghorbani, مهاباد

HRANA – Saman Ghorbani, Kazem Azadeh, Naser Azarm, Akam Sheikheh, Hazhar Mohammadzadeh Aghdam, and Iman Mohammadzadeh, residents of Mahabad, were arrested by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location.

Kurdpa has identified the arrestees as :

• Saman Ghorbani from the village of Yal-Temer
• Kazem Azadeh and Naser Azarm, two citizens from the Khalifan district
• Akam Sheikheh, from the village of Qara Gheshlagh
• Hazhar Mohammadzadeh Aghdam and Iman Mohammadzadeh, from the village of Khorkhoreh.

According to the report, Ghorbani, Sheikheh, Mohammadzadeh, and Mohammadzadeh Aghdam were arrested early this morning at their family homes without a judicial warrant and with the use of force. The arrests of Kazem Azadeh and Naser Azarm were carried out on yesterday, December 9, by security forces.

As of the time of this report’s publication, no information has been obtained regarding the reasons for their arrest, their place of detention, or the charges brought against them.

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.

Human Rights Day: Introducing Imprisoned Civil Activists in Iran and Honoring Their Stand Against Human Rights Violations

Human Rights Day is also an opportunity to reexamine the values that form the foundation of human dignity, values such as justice, freedom, and equality, rooted in international documents and human experience
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Abbas Lesani, Abbas Vahedian Shahroudi, Abdolaziz Azimi Ghadim, Abolfazl Khoran, Ahmadreza Haeri, Ali Kheirjou, Amirsalar Davoudi, Anisha Asadollahi, Arak prison, Arman Shadivand, Arsham Rezaei, Darreh Shahr Prison, Davoud Rezavi, Ehsan Rostami, Evin Prison, Farhad Fahandezh, Fariba Kamalabadi, Fatemeh Sepahri, Fatemeh Tedrisi, golrokh iraee, Hashem Khastar, Hassan Tozandejani, Human Rights day, Jahangir Rostami, Javad Lal Mohammadi, Karaj Central Penitentiary, Lakan Rasht Prison, Mahbubeh Rezaei, Maryam Akbari-Monfared, Maryam Jalal Hosseini, Masoud Farhikhta, Matin Yazdani, Mehran Raoof, Mohammad Abolhasani, Mohammad Davari, Mohammad Najafi, Mohammad Nourizad, Morteza Parvin, Morteza Seyyedi, Narges Mansouri, Narges Mohammadi, Nasrollah Amirlu, Negin Rezaei, Nima Mahdizadegan, Payam Vali, Peyman Farhangian, Qarchak Varamin Prison, Ramin Rostami, Reza Aghdasi, Reza Mohammadhosseini, Saeed Madani, Salar Taher Afshar, Sara Jahani, Shakila Monfared, Sharifeh Mohammadi, Shiva Shah Siah, Tahir Naqavi, Vadoud Asadi, Vakilabad Prison (Mashhad), Yasaman Hashdari, Yousef Kari, Zahra Dadras, Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb, Zohreh Dadras

HRANA News Agency –Human Rights Day is an opportunity to reflect on the condition of imprisoned civil activists in Iran, individuals who are behind bars solely for defending fundamental human rights. HRANA, by publishing a list of these brave activists, calls on the international community to amplify their voices and demand the immediate release of advocates for freedom and justice.

This day serves as a moment to reconsider the role of human rights defenders and civil activists in societies where fundamental rights are still subject to structural violations. Marked annually on the global calendar, it commemorates the principles laid out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted on December 10, 1948, principles that recognize freedom of expression, the prohibition of torture, the right to a fair trial, and human dignity as inalienable rights of all individuals. Nevertheless, the current reality in Iran highlights a stark gap between these international standards and the domestic situation.

In Iran, many human rights defenders, civil society activists, trade unionists, environmentalists, and advocates for fundamental freedoms face the threat of arrest, harsh sentences, and long-term deprivation, even for entirely peaceful activities conducted within the framework of domestic laws. These individuals, who constitute a significant part of the country’s civil society fabric, consistently encounter security pressures, broad restrictions, and systematic rights violations in their pursuit of transparency, justice, and equality. Most have been sentenced following closed-door trials, with limited access to legal counsel and based on vague or unsubstantiated charges, a process that not only contradicts Iran’s international obligations but also deeply impacts the civic space in the country.

In this report, HRANA publishes a list of over 61 imprisoned human rights defenders and civil activists in Iran, including 8 of whom currently being held in pretrial detention. This list is the result of ongoing collection, verification, and documentation efforts, aiming to provide a clear representation of the various dimensions of human rights violations against these defenders. The publication of this list is not merely the release of names; it tells a part of the story of Iranian civil society, in which the struggle to defend human rights can come at the cost of one’s freedom, health, and personal security.

Beyond commemorating foundational principles, Human Rights Day is also an occasion to consider the role of society and international institutions in supporting these defenders. Raising public awareness, demanding accountability from authorities, and supporting activists’ efforts are essential tools for advancing human rights in Iran. Through this report.

This report, in addition to documenting and reporting on these individuals’ conditions, is a step toward transparent and continuous documentation, aimed at preserving the truth, preventing collective amnesia, and laying the groundwork for accountability. Despite pressures and restrictions, human rights defenders in Iran remain a vital part of the collective effort to achieve a freer and more just society. Human Rights Day is a moment to once again bring their names and efforts to the forefront.

List of names:

Mohammad Najafi1. Mohammad Najafi, Civil Rights Activist

Charges: Sending a voice message from Arak Prison and expressing support for the 2022 nationwide protests; spreading falsehoods; propaganda against the regime; insulting the Supreme Leader.
Conviction: At least six separate cases totaling more than 24 years in prison.
Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.
sharifeh mohammadi2. Sharifeh Mohammadi, labor activist

Charges: Propaganda against the regime; acting against national security; baghi (armed rebellion) through membership in one of the opposition groups.
Conviction: Following an order by the head of the judiciary, her sentence was reduced by one degree and changed to 30 years in prison.
Place of imprisonment: Lakan Prison in Rasht.

3. Fatemeh Sepehri, civil activist

Charges: Cooperation with hostile governments; assembly and collusion; insulting the Supreme Leader; propaganda against the regime; spreading falsehoods and disturbing public opinion.
Conviction: In five separate cases, a total of 41 years and 9 months in prison plus a monetary fine.
Place of imprisonment: Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.

4. Golrokh Iraee, civil activist

Charges: Assembly and collusion against national security; propaganda against the regime; disrupting public order.
Conviction: Five years in prison and social deprivations.
Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.

5. Maryam Akbari Monfared, civil activist

Charges: Propaganda against the regime and assembly and collusion against national security.
Conviction: Two years in prison.
Place of imprisonment: Qarchak Prison in Varamin.

6. Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb, civil activist

Charges: Propaganda against the regime; assembly and collusion to commit crimes against internal and external security.
Conviction: In two separate cases, a total of six years and eight months in prison, social deprivations, and exile.
Place of imprisonment: Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.

7- Payam Vali, Baha’i civil activist

Charges: Cooperation with hostile governments; inciting or persuading people to war and killing each other; propaganda against the regime.
Conviction: In three separate cases, 11 years and 5 months in prison, social deprivations, and exile.
Place of imprisonment: Karaj Central Penitentiary.

8. Mohammad Davari, labor activist

Charges: Insulting the Supreme Leader and propaganda against the regime in favor of anti-regime groups on the Internet.
Conviction: Four years and six months in prison, social deprivations, and exile.
Place of imprisonment: Adelabad Prison in Shiraz.

9. Hashem Khastar, civil activist

Charges: Insulting the founder of the Islamic Republic; insulting sacred values; insulting the Supreme Leader; disturbing public opinion; cooperation with foreign media; participating in unlawful gatherings; and propaganda against the regime.
Conviction: In two separate cases, a total of 18 years and six months in prison, social deprivations, and exile.
Place of imprisonment: Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.

10. Anisha Asadollahi, labor activist

Charges: Assembly and collusion against national security and propaganda against the regime.
Conviction: Five years and eight months in prison.
Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.

11- Mehran Raoof, labor activist

Charges: Participation in running an unlawful group and propaganda against the regime.
Conviction: Seven years and six months in prison.
Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.

12- Mohammad Nourizad, civil activist

Charges: Sending an audio file out of Evin Prison; disrupting public order; spreading falsehoods; insulting the founder of the Islamic Republic; insulting sacred values; insulting the Supreme Leader; disturbing public opinion; cooperation with foreign media; participating in unlawful gatherings; propaganda against the regime; and damaging the door and window of the ward chief’s office.
Conviction: In six separate cases, a total of 28 years and 9 months in prison, 148 lashes, and exile.
Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.

13- Saeed Madani, civil activist

Charges: Forming and administering anti-regime groups.
Conviction: Four years in prison.
Place of imprisonment: Damavand Prison.

14. Ahmadreza Haeri, civil activist

Charges: Assembly and collusion with the intent to commit a crime against national security; propaganda activities against the regime; and spreading falsehoods.
Conviction: In two separate cases, a total of six years and three months in prison.
Place of imprisonment: Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.

15. Reza (Gholamreza) Aghdasi, labor activist

Charges: Propaganda against the regime and assembly and collusion with the intent to commit a crime against national security.
Conviction: Four years and three months in prison.
Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison

16. Arman Shadivand, environmental activist

Charges: Propaganda against the regime and insulting the Supreme Leader.
Conviction: Two years in prison.
Place of imprisonment: Darreh Shahr Prison.

17. Narges Mansouri, civil activist

Charges: Assembly and collusion against national security, and propaganda against the regime.
Conviction: Nine years in prison.
Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.

18. Abbas Vahedian Shahroudi, civil activist

Charges: Forming a group with the intent to act against national security, and cooperating with groups opposing the regime.
Conviction: A total of 24 years in prison and two years of exile in three separate cases.
Place of imprisonment: Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.

19. Mohammad Abolhasani, civil activist

Charges: Disrupting public order; assembly and collusion against national security; and propaganda activities against the regime.
Conviction: In three separate cases, a total of five years and three months in prison, social deprivations, and 12 lashes. The flogging sentence has been carried out.
Place of imprisonment: Choubindar Prison in Qazvin.

20- Taher Naghavi, attorney and civil activist

Charges: Propaganda against the regime and assembly and collusion with the intent to disrupt national security.
Conviction: Six years in prison and social deprivations.
Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.

21- Maryam Jalal Hosseini, civil activist

Charges: Inciting and persuading people to war and violence against one another with the intent to disrupt national security; propaganda against the regime; insulting the Supreme Leader; and forming a group aimed at undermining national security.
Conviction: Six years in prison and exile.
Place of imprisonment: Kachouei Prison in Karaj.

22- Shakila Monfared, civil activist

Charges: Membership in anti-regime groups; destruction of public property; disrupting public order and public peace; propaganda activities against the regime; and insulting Islamic sacred values.
Conviction: In four separate cases, a total of 15 years and five months in prison, ten lashes, social deprivations, and exile.
Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.

23- Morteza Seydi, labor activist

Charges: Forming a group under the name of a labor union with the intent to disrupt national security.
Conviction: Two years in prison.
Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.

24. Nasrollah Amirloo, labor activist

Charges: Forming a group under the name of a labor union with the intent to disrupt national security.
Conviction: Two years in prison.
Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.

25. Morteza Parvin, Azerbaijani-Turk activist

Charges: Propaganda against the regime and assembly and collusion with the intent to disrupt national security.
Conviction: Six years in prison.
Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.

 26. Foad Fathi, labor activist

Charges: Membership in anti-regime groups; acting against national security; and propaganda against the regime.
Conviction: Four years in prison.
Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.

27. Abdolrasoul Mortazavi, civil activist

Charges: Insulting the founder of the Islamic Republic; insulting sacred values; insulting the Supreme Leader; disturbing public opinion; cooperating with foreign media; participating in unlawful gatherings; propaganda against the regime; and disrupting public order.
Conviction: In three separate cases, 30 years in prison, with the maximum cumulative sentence stated as 15 years in prison.
Place of imprisonment: Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan.

28. Fariba Kamalabadi, Baha’i civil activist

Charges: Administering an organization described by authorities as a “deviant and misguided sect” with the aim of disrupting national security.
Conviction: Ten years in prison.
Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.

29. Javad La’al-Mohammadi, civil activist

Charges: Giving interviews to foreign media and membership in anti-regime groups.
Conviction: In three separate cases, a total of 23 years in prison.
Place of imprisonment: Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.

30- Golareh Abbasi, civil activist

Charges: Assembly and collusion against national security, and propaganda against the regime.
Conviction: 33 months in prison.
Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.

31. Arsham Rezaei, civil activist

Charges: Assembly and collusion with the intent to commit a crime against national security; propaganda activities against the regime; inciting people to clashes and bloodshed; acquiring illicit gains; and spreading falsehoods.
Conviction: In two separate cases, a total of 15 years in prison, a monetary fine, 50 lashes, and social deprivations.
Place of imprisonment: Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.

32- Vadood Asadi, Azerbaijani-Turk activist

Charges: Propaganda against the regime; membership in opposition groups; insulting the Supreme Leader; and assembly and collusion against national security.
Conviction: In two separate cases, a total of six years and three months in prison.
Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.

33- Salar Taher Afshar, Azerbaijani-Turk activist

Charges: Assembly and collusion against national security.
Conviction: Five years in prison.
Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.

34. Abdolaziz Azimi-Ghadim, Azerbaijani-Turk activist

Charges: Propaganda against the regime and assembly, and collusion against national security.
Conviction: Six years in prison.
Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.

35. Elham Salehi, civil activist

Charges: Propaganda activities against the regime; spreading falsehoods; and appearing in public without a hijab.
Conviction: One year in prison and complementary punishments.
Place of imprisonment: Qarchak Prison in Varamin.

36. Abolfazl Khoran, teachers’ union activist

Charges: Insulting sacred values and disrupting public order and public peace.
Conviction: A total of six years in prison, 74 lashes, and a 40 million toman fine in two separate cases.
Place of imprisonment: Arak Prison.

37- Masoud Farhikhteh, teachers’ union activist

Charges: Assembly and collusion with the intent to commit crimes against the country’s internal security, and propaganda activities against the regime.
Conviction: Four years, one month, and 17 days in prison.
Place of imprisonment: Karaj Central Penitentiary.

38- Reza Mohammad-Hosseini, civil activist

Charges: Membership in anti-regime groups with the aim of disrupting national security; assembly and collusion to commit a crime against national security; and propaganda activities against the regime.
Conviction: Initially 41 years and six months, later reduced to five years in prison at the appeals stage.
Place of imprisonment: Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.

39- Mahboobeh Rezaei, civil activist

Charges: Membership in anti-regime groups with the aim of disrupting national security; assembly and collusion with the intent to commit a crime against national security; propaganda activities against the regime; insulting Islamic sacred values; unveiling (appearing without hijab); and displaying immoral behavior in cyberspace.
Conviction: Initially 19 years and 9 months, later reduced to five years in prison at the appeals stage.
Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.

40. Abbas Lessani, Azerbaijani-Turk activist

Charges: Forming an unlawful group; assembly and collusion against national security; and disrupting public order.
Conviction: He is being held in pretrial detention and has not yet been tried.
Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.

41. Farhad Fahandej, Baha’i civil activist

Charges: No information has yet been made available regarding the charges brought against Mr. Fahandej.
Conviction: He is being held in pretrial detention and has not been tried.
Place of imprisonment: A Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facilities in Gorgan.

42. Jahangir Rostami, teachers’ union activist

Charges: No information has yet been made available regarding the charges brought against Mr. Rostami.
Conviction: He is being held in pretrial detention and has not been tried.
Place of imprisonment: The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, known as Ward 209 of Evin Prison.

43. Ehsan Rostami, cultural activist

Charges: No information has yet been made available regarding the charges brought against Mr. Rostami.
Conviction: He is being held in pretrial detention and has not been tried.
Place of imprisonment: The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, known as Ward 209 of Evin Prison.

44. Hassan Tozandehjani, cultural activist

Charges: No information has yet been made available regarding the charges brought against Mr. Tozandehjani.
Conviction: He is being held in pretrial detention and has not been tried.
Place of imprisonment: The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, known as Ward 209 of Evin Prison.

45. Ramin Rostami, cultural activist

Charges: No information has yet been made available regarding the charges brought against Mr. Rostami.
Conviction: He is being held in pretrial detention and has not been tried.
Place of imprisonment: The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, known as Ward 209 of Evin Prison.

46. Nima Mahdizadegan, cultural activist

Charges: No information has yet been made available regarding the charges brought against Mr. Mahdizadegan.
Conviction: He is being held in pretrial detention and has not been tried.
Place of imprisonment: The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, known as Ward 209 of Evin Prison.

47. Mehdi Farrahi Shandiz, teachers’ union activist

Charges: No information has yet been made available regarding the charges brought against Mr. Farrahi Shandiz.
Conviction: He is being held in pretrial detention and has not been tried.
Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.

The following list includes activists who are currently outside prison due to a suspension of their sentences, furlough, or other similar circumstances:

 

1. Narges Mohammadi, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and human rights activist

Charges: Propaganda activities against the Islamic Republic of Iran through publishing a statement (the statement against executions); staging a sit-in inside the prison office; disobeying the prison warden and officials (for refusing to end the protest sit-in); breaking windows; defamation and causing bodily harm; confrontation with an officer and disobedience; and additional propaganda activities against the regime.
Conviction: In seven separate cases, a total of 15 years and six months in prison, 74 lashes, exile, and social deprivations.
Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison (currently on medical furlough with the execution of her sentence temporarily suspended).

2- Amirsalar Davoudi, attorney and human rights activist

Charges: Insulting the Supreme Leader; disturbing public opinion; and forming an anti-security group.
Conviction: 14 years in prison.
Case status: Following the Supreme Court’s Branch 39 decision to accept his request for retrial and refer the case to a parallel branch, the enforcement of his sentence has been halted.

3- Fatemeh (Mojgan) Tadrisi, civil activist

Charges: Inciting and persuading people to war and violence against one another with the intent to disrupt national security; propaganda against the regime; insulting the Supreme Leader; and forming a group aimed at undermining national security.
Conviction: Six years in prison and exile.
Place of imprisonment: Kachouei Prison in Karaj (currently on medical furlough).

4. Peyman Farhangian, labor activist

Charges: Propaganda against the regime and forming a group with the intent to disrupt public order.
Conviction: In two separate cases, a total of 11 years in prison and social deprivations.
Place of imprisonment: Azbaram Prison in Lahijan (currently on furlough).

5. Jelveh Javaheri, women’s rights activist

Charges: Propaganda against the regime.
Conviction: One year in prison.
Case status: Following the request for retrial at the Supreme Court, the execution of her sentence has been temporarily halted, and she has been released on bail pending review.

6. Yasamin Heshdari, women’s rights activist

Charges: Membership in a group and assembly and collusion with the intent to disrupt national security.
Conviction: Six years, one month, and 17 days in prison.
Case status: Following the request for retrial at the Supreme Court, the execution of her sentence has been temporarily halted, and she has been released on bail.

7- Sara Jahani, women’s rights activist

Charges: Membership in a group and assembly and collusion with the intent to disrupt national security.
Conviction: Six years, one month, and 17 days in prison.
Case status: Following the request for retrial at the Supreme Court, the execution of her sentence has been temporarily halted, and she has been released on bail.

8- Matin Yazdani, women’s rights activist

Charges: Membership in a group and assembly and collusion with the intent to disrupt national security.
Conviction: Six years, one month, and 17 days in prison.
Case status: Following the request for retrial at the Supreme Court, the execution of her sentence has been temporarily halted, and she has been released on bail.

9- Negin Rezaei, women’s rights activist

Charges: Membership in a group and assembly and collusion with the intent to disrupt national security.
Conviction: Six years, one month, and 17 days in prison.
Case status: Following the request for retrial at the Supreme Court, the execution of her sentence has been temporarily halted, and she has been released on bail.

10- Forough Sami-Nia, women’s rights activist

Charges: Membership in a group and assembly and collusion with the intent to disrupt national security.
Conviction: Six years, one month, and 17 days in prison.
Case status: Following the request for retrial at the Supreme Court, the execution of her sentence has been temporarily halted, and she has been released on bail.

11- Shiva Shah-Siah, women’s rights activist

Charges: Membership in a group and assembly and collusion with the intent to disrupt national security.
Conviction: Six years, one month, and 17 days in prison.
Case status: Following the request for retrial at the Supreme Court, the execution of her sentence has been temporarily halted, and she has been released on bail.

12- Azadeh Chavoshian, women’s rights activist

Charges: Membership in a group and assembly and collusion with the intent to disrupt national security.
Conviction: Six years, one month, and 17 days in prison.
Case status: Following the request for retrial at the Supreme Court, the execution of her sentence has been temporarily halted, and she has been released on bail.

13- Zohreh (Fatemeh) Dadras, women’s rights activist

Charges: Forming a group with the aim of disrupting national security, and assembly and collusion with the intent to disrupt national security.
Conviction: Nine years, six months, and two days in prison.
Case status: Following the request for retrial at the Supreme Court, the execution of her sentence has been temporarily halted, and she has been released on bail.

14. Zahra Dadras, women’s rights activist

Charges: Membership in a group and assembly, and collusion with the intent to disrupt national security.
Conviction: Six years, one month, and 17 days in prison.
Case status: Following the request for retrial at the Supreme Court, the execution of her sentence has been temporarily halted, and she has been released on bail.

Human Rights Day is also an opportunity to re-examine the values that form the foundation of human dignity, values such as justice, freedom, and equality, rooted in international documents and human experience. The names recorded in this report reflect only a portion of a broader reality, one in which human rights defenders and civil activists in Iran, solely for their commitment to human principles and peaceful activities, face deprivation of liberty, security pressures, and fundamental rights violations.

These individuals, despite the limitations and high costs, embody values recognized by the international community. Silence or indifference toward their condition is not only a disregard for human suffering but also a dismissal of the principles on which the international system is built. In this context, on Human Rights Day, the following are demanded from Iranian authorities and the international community:

• Immediately and unconditionally release all individuals detained for the peaceful exercise of their rights, and review all related convictions to vacate unjust charges and ensure reparations for victims.

• End unlawful restrictions on the freedom of expression, association, assembly, and civic engagement, and halt the use of vague national security charges that criminalize peaceful dissent.

• Guarantee due process and fair trial rights, including access to independent legal counsel from the moment of arrest, transparent legal proceedings, and full access to families, medical care, and communication.

• Prohibit torture and all forms of ill-treatment, end the use of coerced forced confessions, and allow independent monitoring and inspections of all detention facilities.

• Allow independent monitoring and international engagement, including granting access to the UN Fact-Finding Mission, Special Rapporteurs (Thematic and Geographic Mandates), and credible civil society organizations to assess conditions and investigate violations.

• Establish effective accountability and oversight mechanisms to prevent recurrence of abuses, ensure judicial independence, reform vague criminal provisions enabling arbitrary detention, and hold perpetrators who enable the cycle of abuse against activists, responsible.

Finally, civil society as well as citizens across the globe are called upon to continue their support, advocacy, and awareness-raising efforts, ensuring that the situation of these prisoners is not sidelined. Amplifying their voices and demanding adherence to human rights obligations are essential steps toward achieving lasting change and alleviating the suffering of those who have sacrificed their freedom in defense of human rights.

Ahvaz: Two Citizens Arrested by Security Forces

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ahvaz, HRANA, Mohammad Nisi, Reza Betarani

HRANA – Reza Betarani and Mohammad Nisi, two residents of Ahvaz, were arrested yesterday by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location.

Based on information received by HRANA, on Monday, December 8, plainclothes agents entered the homes of these citizens without presenting a judicial warrant and arrested them. Their homes were also searched by security forces.

As of the time of this report, no information is available regarding the reasons for the arrests, their whereabouts, or the charges brought against Mr. Betarani and Mr. Nisi.

Reza Betarani has previously faced judicial actions and served prison time due to his activities.

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.

Arrest of Three Citizens in Bukan by Ministry of Intelligence Agents

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Bukan, Ghader Koleh, Kaveh Koleh, Semko Yousefi, بوکان

On Monday, December 8, Kaveh Koleh, Ghader Koleh, and Semko Yousefi, three residents of Bukan, were arrested by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location.

According to Kolbar News, the arrests of Kaveh Koleh and Ghader Koleh were carried out without a judicial warrant by agents of The Ministry of Intelligence at their homes. After being detained, they were transferred to an unknown location.

Additionally, according to Kurdpa, Mr. Yousefi was arrested with the use of force by Ministry of Intelligence agents on one of Bukan’s streets.

As of the time of this report, no information is available regarding the reasons for their arrests, their whereabouts, or the charges brought against these three citizens.

Dual National Accused of Espionage

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Alborz, Espionage, HRANA

HRANA – The Chief Justice of Alborz Province announced that an indictment has been issued in the case of an Iranian citizen who also holds citizenship of a European country, stating that the case is now open at the Karaj Revolutionary Court.

According to Mizan, the Chief Justice of Alborz Province stated that this Iranian citizen, who also holds the nationality of a European country, is accused of espionage for Israel. The case is currently under review by Branch 2 of the Karaj Revolutionary Court.

Hossein Fazeli-Harikandi, without mentioning the accused person’s identity, claimed: “After two years of communication and training by Mossad officers in the capitals of several European countries and the occupied territories, the defendant entered the country via air about one month before the 12-day war to carry out a mission.”

According to the Chief Justice, the arrest was carried out by Alborz IRGC Intelligence agents on the fourth day of the 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran. Fazeli-Harikandi also claimed that “certain complex espionage equipment and items” were discovered at the time of arrest.

Although combating espionage is not considered a human rights violation in itself, the Iranian government’s history of using such accusations as a tool against political dissidents, and the lack of clarity regarding the details and judicial process, has led such claims to be viewed with consistent skepticism.

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Three Additional Citizens Detained in Oshnavieh, Bringing Total to Five

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Esmail Seyed-Mahmoudian, Hassan Shadikhah, Hirash Parnia, Oshnavieh, Showane Ebrahimi, Shuresh Sarruti, اشنویه

HRANA – With the addition of three more citizens identified as Esmail Seyed-Mahmoudian, Shuresh Sarruti, and Hirash Parnia, the number of people detained in recent days in Oshnavieh has risen to five. On December 4, Hassan Shadikhah and Showane Ebrahimi were also arrested in the city.

KolbarNews has reported the identities of the three newly detained individuals as follows:
Esmail Seyed-Mahmoudian, 45, an employee of the Agricultural Jihad organization and father of three; and Hirash Parnia and Shuresh Sarruti, both 28 and residents of Neliwan village, located in the Oshnavieh district.

According to the report, Hirash Parnia and Shuresh Sarruti were detained by security forces on Thursday, December 4, while Esmail Seyed-Mahmoudian was arrested a day earlier, on Wednesday, December 3, before being transferred to an undisclosed location. On December 4, authorities also arrested Hassan Shadikhah and Showane Ebrahimi in Oshnavieh.

As of this writing, no information has been made available regarding the reasons for these arrests or the detainees’ current whereabouts.

Arrest of Three Citizens Followed by Broadcast of Coerced Confessions on IRIB

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HRANA, IRIB, orced confession

HRANA – IRIB News, in a newly released video report, announced the arrest of at least three citizens by forces of the Ministry of Intelligence, claiming they were members of an Iranian opposition group. The report also included footage of the individuals’ confessions, though the conditions under which these recordings were obtained remain unclear.

IRIB asserted that the three citizens had been in contact with an Iranian opposition group and were allegedly planning acts of sabotage inside the country.

The broadcast later aired a video showing the individuals confessing. In the footage, they state that they had been in communication with a member of an opposition group abroad who was allegedly preparing to send them weapons and ammunition. However, it is unknown under what circumstances these confessions were recorded or to what extent they were made freely and voluntarily.

The report provided no information regarding the identities, location of arrest, or current status of the three citizens.

In 2024, HRANA documented 28 cases of forced confessions extracted from prisoners. The practice of obtaining and broadcasting coerced confessions from political dissidents and protesters by the Iranian regime’s security apparatus is as old as the regime itself. In 2022, amid nationwide protests, the number of such forced confessions surged to 391 cases.

Two Individuals Arrested in Oshnavieh by Security Forces

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Hassan Shadi-Khah, Oshnavieh, Showaneh Ebrahimi

HRANA- Yesterday, December 4, security forces in Oshnavieh, West Azerbaijan province, detained two citizens, Hassan Shadi-Khah and Showaneh Ebrahimi, and transferred them to an undisclosed location.

According to Kurdpa, Mr. Ebrahimi was arrested at his family home without a judicial warrant.

As of the time of writing, no information has been obtained regarding the reasons for the arrests, the place of detention, or the charges brought against these individuals.

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.

Two Citizens Arrested by Security Forces in Piranshahr

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Kamel Oslub, Mohammad Oslub, Piranshahr

HRANA – Early this morning, two brothers from Piranshahr, Mohammad Oslub and Kamel Oslub, were arrested by security forces in the city and transferred to an unknown location.

Kurdpa haS identified them as Mohammad Oslub and Kamel Oslub, residents of Piranshahr.

According to this report, the arrest of the two brothers took place early this morning, Wednesday, 3 December 2025, without the presentation of a judicial warrant and with the use of violence by security forces.

As of the time of this report, no information is available regarding the reasons for their arrest, their place of detention, or the charges brought against them.

Monthly Report – November 2025: Human Rights Situation in Iran

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Alireza Mardasi, Atash Shakarami, Farshad Etemadifar, Masoud Jamaei, Sheiban Prison

HRANA- This report provides a summary of numerous human rights violations in Iran during November 2025. An unprecedented surge in executions, a rise in the arrests of citizens for expressing opinion and belief, and the extraction of forced confessions from detainees and prisoners were among the most significant human rights violations of the past month.

Executions

In November, 308 individuals were hanged in Iranian prisons, mostly on drug-related and murder charges. This brought the number of executions this year to an unprecedented 1,594.
Among those executed were seven women. The gender of another 52 individuals remains unknown, reflecting the Iranian regime’s lack of transparency in releasing information.
Two executions were carried out in public, and seven of those executed were Afghan nationals.
The charges against 161 of those executed were murder, and 137 were related to drugs. Five individuals were executed on charges of rape, and the charges for another five remain unknown.

HRANA has also reported the issuance of nine death sentences on charges of murder. Two of those sentenced to death are women. Also, the death sentences of Masoud Jamaei, Alireza Mardasi, and Farshad Etemadifar, political prisoners held in Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz, were upheld by the Supreme Court.

Freedom of Thought and Expression

In the past month, the Iranian regime’s security agencies arrested 73 individuals for expressing their opinions and beliefs. In eleven of these arrests, security forces did not present an arrest warrant. The most prominent example was the detention of fourteen individuals for protest-related activities such as writing protest slogans. These citizens were subjected to forced confessions and accused of having connections abroad. Four people were summoned by security agencies, and eleven others were summoned by judicial authorities. The homes of seven citizens were searched by security forces.

This month, 16 individuals were also tried for expressing their opinions and beliefs. A total of 25 people were sentenced to 905 months of imprisonment. In addition, the Iranian judiciary issued a sentence of 159 lashes. The sentence of 38 lashes against Atash (Zahra) Shakarami, on the charge of “spreading falsehoods,” was also carried out. She is the aunt of Nika Shakarami, one of those killed during the 2022 nationwide protests.

Prisoners’ Rights

The rights of prisoners, especially political and ideological prisoners, are being violated in various ways. In this month alone, 21 cases of denial of adequate medical care for political and ideological prisoners, including Zeinab Jalalian, the only female political prisoner in Iran sentenced to life imprisonment, 25 cases of transferring prisoners to solitary confinement, and 5 cases of prolonged solitary confinement were recorded.
HRANA reported 67 cases of detainees being held in a state of uncertainty, 40 cases in which families of detainees were not informed of their status after their arrest, and 15 cases of forced confessions.
Due to harsh prison conditions, five cases of prisoner suicide, three deaths caused by illness, and ten hunger strikes were documented.
Additionally, six cases of denial of visitation rights and 20 cases of denial of access to legal counsel were recorded.

prisoners rights

Kolbars and Fuel Carriers

Each week, a number of citizens fall victim to the unregulated shootings carried out by military and law-enforcement forces. This month, these shootings claimed the lives of eight citizens and injured five others. Four fuel carriers (sookhtbar) were among those killed, and two fuel carriers and one kolbar were among the injured.
Additionally, due to the explosion of a landmine left over from the Iran–Iraq war, a 40-year-old kolbar named Ebrahim Abdollahi was maimed in the border areas of Nowsud.

Workers’ Rights

In November, 116 labor protests and nine labor strikes were reported, and two labor activists were arrested.
Workplace incidents also claimed the lives of 44 workers and injured 96 others. In addition, a firefighter in Sanandaj attempted self-immolation.
HRANA’s reports this month documented wage arrears affecting 7,886 workers.

Unions and professional guilds also held 100 protest gatherings. Another tragic case was the self-immolation and death of Ahmad Baladi, a 20-year-old student from Ahvaz, in protest against the municipality’s demolition of his family’s kiosk.
HRANA also reported the sealing of 18 commercial establishments, including cafés and traditional eateries.
Additionally, the Iranian judiciary issued eight rulings against union and guild activists, amounting in total to 43 months of imprisonment, sixty months of exile, and four cases of deprivation of social rights.

Women’s Rights

In the past month, HRANA recorded the murders of nine women, including a report about a man in Urmia County who shot and killed his mother, his sister, and his wife’s mother. After the killings, the suspect took his own life in the presence of his young child.

For further statistical details on violence against women over the past twelve months, refer to the HRANA report published in November.

Children’s Rights

Cases of violations against children this month included the murder of two children, one case of a victim of physical violence and abuse, the suicide of a fourteen-year-old teenager in Gachsaran, and one case of sexual assault and abuse. The death of a thirteen-year-old child laborer in Isfahan was also reported.
Additionally, the death of one child and injuries to 104 others due to official negligence were recorded, along with two abandoned newborns.

Religious Minorities

In this month, Iranian courts sentenced four members of religious minorities to a total of 160 months of imprisonment, including the conviction of Shahram Fallah, a Baha’i citizen, to nine and a half years in prison and one year of exile by the Court of Appeal. Three sentences involving social deprivations and two travel bans were also issued against members of religious minorities.
The prison sentences of twelve members of religious minorities, including seven individuals from the Baha’i community and two Christian converts, were carried out. The homes of six members of religious minorities were also searched this month and six people were arrested.

Ethnic Rights

In November, the Iranian regime’s security forces arrested thirteen ethnic rights activists and carried out one home search. In ten of these cases, the forces did not present an arrest warrant.

Inhuman Punishment

In this month, Iranian courts issued a total of 527 lashes against eighteen individuals.
Additionally, in a violation of citizens’ privacy, at least 20 people, including seven actors, were arrested for consuming alcoholic beverages at a mixed-gender gathering.