Execution of Three Prisoners in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan

On Thursday, January 9, three prisoners were executed in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan. They had previously been convicted of murder in separate cases.

The executed individuals were identified as Samad Najar-Asl, Hooshang Shahi, and Behrooz Ghasemi. Najar-Asl was arrested in 2019 for killing someone during a financial dispute. Shahi, approximately 40 years old and a father of two, was arrested five years ago, also in connection with a fatal financial altercation. Ghasemi, a resident of Yasuj, had been convicted three years ago.

As of the time of this report, the executions have not been officially announced by prison authorities or relevant organizations.

In 2024, HRA reported 53 executions in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan, making it the fourth-highest among prisons in terms of execution numbers.

IRGC Intelligence Arrests 7 Supporters of Erfan-e-Halgheh in Ardabil

The Prosecutor General of Ardabil Province has announced the arrest of seven supporters of Erfan-e-Halgheh (Interuniversal Mysticism), by agents of the IRGC Intelligence Organization in Ardabil.

According to HRANA, citing Mehr News Agency, the detainees are accused of engaging in activities described as “deviant and contrary to Islamic principles,” including “illicit relationships, fraudulent scientific claims, unauthorized medical practices under the guise of treatment, acquiring wealth through unlawful means, and propagandizing against the regime.” Jalal Afaghi, the Prosecutor General, confirmed the arrests but did not provide details about the identities, current locations, or specific charges against those detained.

The Iranian government classifies Erfan-e-Halgheh as a “deviant and anti-religious movement” and has taken strict judicial and security actions against its founder and followers. Participants in the movement have faced severe punishments, including imprisonment, fines, and flogging.

International human rights organizations have condemned these actions as violations of the right to freedom of belief and expression. They have repeatedly urged the Iranian government to cease such repressive measures and respect religious and ideological freedoms.

IRGC Agents Arrest Several in Khuzestan on Espionage Charges

HRANA News Agency – Several individuals in Khuzestan Province have been arrested by the Intelligence Organization of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on charges of “espionage,” according to a report by the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News Agency.

The report claims that the detainees were “in contact with the intelligence service of a Persian Gulf country and involved in collecting information from sensitive sites within the province.”

Details regarding the exact number of those arrested, their identities, and their current location remain undisclosed.

While combating espionage is not inherently a human rights issue, Iran’s consistent history of using such accusations as a pretext to suppress political dissent raises concerns. These allegations, particularly in the absence of detailed evidence and judicial transparency, often invite skepticism and call into question the motives behind such arrests.

Increased Pressure on Baluch and Arab Communities: 49 Citizens Arrested in Khuzestan and Sistan-Baluchestan

HRANA News Agency – In recent days, Iranian security forces have conducted widespread, simultaneous arrests of dozens of Baluch and Arab citizens in the Khuzestan and Sistan & Baluchestan provinces, long regarded as hotspots of human rights tensions and repression. These mass arrests signal escalating pressures on the residents of these regions, once again underscoring the systemic violations of the rights of ethnic and religious minorities in Iran.

To date, the identities of 49 detainees have been verified, but the reasons for their arrests and the whereabouts of many remain unknown. This report aims to shed light on the scale of these incidents and the condition of those detained.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, the arrests took place in areas predominantly inhabited by diverse ethnic and religious groups, who continue to face significant human rights challenges. Local sources report increasing restrictions and intensifying pressures on Baluch and Arab citizens, further complicating daily life for these communities.

Arrests in Sistan-Baluchestan

The identities of 19 detainees in this province have been confirmed:

. Mir Khan Naroui
. Iman Naroui
. Milad Naroui (two individuals with the same name)
. Mehrshad Naroui
. Mohammad Naroui
. Fazl-Ahmad Naroui
. Farshid Naroui
. Safar Naroui
. Abdolhakim Bandour
. Abdolhamid Bandour
. Iman Dahmardeh
. Yasin Naroui
. Mehdi Naroui
. Azin Naroui
. Aminollah Naroui
. Mohsen Naroui
. Musa Naroui
. Majid Naroui

Arrests in Khuzestan

HRANA has identified 30 detainees in this province:

. Saeed Esmail Mazraeh
. Ahlam Abeyyat (Bandar)
. Ayoub Gheibipour
. Reza Heidari
. Javad Heidari
. Ali Savari
. Foad Mousavi
. Javad Afri
. Yasin Silavi
. Ali Koroushat
. Mohammad Naseri
. Younes Ghorbavi
. Reza Zahiri
. Hashem Mousavi
. Khaled Amouri
. Ali Amouri
. Mohammad Amouri
. Milad Bahri
. Sadegh Mansouri
. Mansour Jassemi
. Ahmad Jalali
. Hossein Saeidi
. Saeed Fallahi
. Ahmad Khaledi
. Ayoub Tarafi
. Yousef Saeedi
. Mohammad Ayashi
. Ali Savari
. Mohammad Shakhitipour (Abeyyat)
. Saeed Doraghi

The reasons for these arrests and the current whereabouts of many detainees remain unclear. Local sources suggest that the actual number of arrests may exceed official reports, and efforts to identify additional detainees are ongoing.

The mass arrests of Baluch and Arab citizens in Khuzestan and Sistan-Baluchestan reflect an intensification of repression against these communities. These actions not only violate fundamental human rights but also exacerbate the challenges faced by people in these regions. This situation underscores the urgent need for international human rights organizations and the global community to address these violations. Given the gravity of the situation, legal and diplomatic pressure to prevent the continuation of such actions is more critical than ever.

According to data from the Department of Statistics and Publications of HRA in 2024, Khuzestan Province ranked second in reported human rights violations by Iran’s regime, trailing only Tehran Province. Despite being sixteenth in population, Sistan and Baluchestan Province ranked fifth in this grim tally, underscoring the disproportionate level of violations in the region.

Swiss Citizen Dies by Suicide in Semnan Prison, Judiciary Claims

The head of the Semnan Province Judiciary has alleged that a Swiss citizen detained in Semnan Prison on charges of “espionage” took their own life early this morning.

According to HRANA, quoting ISNA, the detainee’s death occurred in custody. Without revealing the individual’s identity, the Semnan Chief Justice stated, “This morning, a Swiss national committed suicide in their detention area in Semnan Prison. Despite efforts to save their life, they passed away.”

Mohammad Sadegh Akbari, the head of the judiciary, further claimed, “All evidence and documents related to the individual’s detention area have been thoroughly reviewed, and based on the findings, the suicide has been confirmed.”

He added, “The Swiss citizen was arrested by security forces on espionage charges. Supporting documents exist, and the case was under active investigation at the time of the incident.”

In 2024, HRA documented 21 suicides in prisons, 2 cases of self-immolation, 7 prisoner murders, 777 reports of prisoners held in unsuitable conditions, and 28 cases of forced confessions, highlighting the harsh and inhumane conditions in Iran’s prisons.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Now is definitely not the time to stop reading!

Prisoner Executed in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan

At dawn yesterday, January 9, 2025, the execution of a prisoner previously sentenced to death on charges of murder was carried out in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan.

The identity of the prisoner, Samad Najar-Asl, father of two, and a resident of Behbahan, has been verified by HRANA.

Based on information received by HRANA, Mr. Najar-Asl was arrested in 2019 during a financial dispute in Isfahan that escalated to murder. He was later sentenced to death by the criminal court.

As of the time of this report, the execution has not been officially announced by prison authorities or relevant institutions. In 2024, judicial authorities or domestic media in Iran officially announced only 6% of executions, underscoring a deeply troubling lack of transparency in the country’s legal and judicial processes.

In 2024, HRA reported 53 executions in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan, making it the fourth-highest among prisons in terms of execution numbers.

Dozens of Citizens Arrested in Khuzestan Province; Identities of 28 Individuals Verified

Over a span of five days, dozens of citizens were arrested in Khuzestan Province by security forces. HRANA has so far verified the identities of 28 of these individuals.

On the morning of Wednesday, January 8, 2025, security forces arrested several individuals, including Reza Heidari, Javad Heidari, Ali Savari, Foad Mousavi, Javad Afri, Yasin Silavi, Ali Koroushat, and Mohammad Naseri, in different areas of Ahvaz. They were subsequently transferred to an undisclosed location.

Additionally, on the same day, Khaled Amouri, Ali Amouri, and Mohammad Amouri were detained by agents of The Ministry of Intelligence in Ramshir and transferred to the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Ramhormoz.

On the evening of Monday, January 6, five Sunni citizens, including Younes Ghorbavi and Reza Zahiri, were arrested in Ahvaz. Earlier, on Sunday, January 5, Hashem Mousavi (Hermosi), a 56-year-old resident of the Sheiban district in Ahvaz, was also detained by security forces.

In continuation of this wave of arrests, in recent days, other individuals, including Sadegh Mansouri, Mansour Jasemi, Ahmad Jalali, Hossein Saeedi, Saeed Fallahi, Ahmad Khaledi, Ayoub Torfi, Yousef Saedi, Mohammad Ayashi, and Ali Savari, have been detained. These arrests were reportedly accompanied by the confiscation of personal belongings, such as mobile phones and computers. Local reports indicate that families of the detainees are deeply concerned about their condition and whereabouts.

Previously, HRANA reported the arrest of Ayoub Gheibipour on January 5, Milad Bahri and Saeed Esmail Mazraeh on January 6, Ahlam Abeyyat (Bandar) on January 7 in Ahvaz.

As of now, there is no information about the reasons behind the arrests or the current location of many of these detainees.

Local sources have reported that the total number of recent arrests in these areas exceeds the figures provided so far. Further information, including the identities of additional detainees, is under investigation.

Execution of Five Prisoners in Ghezel Hesar Prison

Yesterday, January 8, five prisoners were executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj.

HRANA has identified three of them as Salman Bozorgmehr, Reza Azizian, and Ashkan Pirian. Bozorgmehr and Azizian had previously been arrested on drug-related charges and were subsequently sentenced to death by the judiciary.

According to HRANA’s information, Ashkan Pirian was arrested on charges of murdering a friend during a dispute and was also sentenced to death by the judiciary.

The other two executed prisoners were Afghan nationals, both sentenced to death for murder by Iranian judicial authorities.

As of the time of this report, the executions have not been officially announced by prison officials or relevant authorities.

Reza Azizian

According to data gathered by the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists, Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj witnessed the highest number of executions in 2024. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s report.

Dozens of Citizens Arrested in Nosratabad, Zahedan

In the early hours of Tuesday, January 7, a number of citizens in Nosratabad, a district in Zahedan, were arrested by military and security forces. Haal Vsh estimates that at least 38 individuals were detained, with the identities of eight citizens confirmed.

The arrested individuals are all married and residents of the Zebarabad area in Nosratabad District of Zahedan County, Sistan and Baluchestan province. Their identities are as follows:

  • Yasin Naroui, 29
  • Mehdi Naroui, 30
  • Azin Naroui, 28
  • Aminollah Naroui, 39
  • Aminollah Naroui, 41
  • Mohsen Naroui, 26
  • Musa Naroui, 44
  • Majid Naroui, 47

The arrests reportedly involved violent actions, creating fear and intimidation among the local population. During the raids, some residents’ personal belongings were damaged by the security forces.

Details about the detainees’ whereabouts, the reasons for their arrests, and the charges against them remain unknown at this time.

Sistan and Baluchestan province is one of the four regions with the highest number of human rights violations by regime authorities. In 2024, HRA documented 524 such cases in the province.

Execution of a Prisoner Carried Out in Sabzevar Prison

On Tuesday, January 7, 2025, the execution of a prisoner previously sentenced to death on charges of murder was carried out in Sabzevar Prison.

HRANA has identified the hanged prisoner as Alireza Mehrabadi, 25, a resident of Sabzevar.

HRANA’s information indicates that Mr. Mehrabadi was arrested approximately seven years ago following a fatal altercation and was subsequently sentenced to death by the judiciary.

It is worth noting that another prisoner involved in the same case, identified as Ali Rabati, 24, also from Sabzevar, had also been sentenced to death. However, on the day of the execution, he was spared after the victim’s family granted forgiveness, allowing him to escape the death penalty.

As of the time of this report, the execution has not been publicly announced by prison officials or relevant authorities.

In 2024, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran documented 812 cases related to the right to life, including the sentencing of 214 individuals to death and the execution of 930 individuals. Among these, 4 executions were carried out in public. Of those executed, 818 were male, 26 were female, and 5 were juvenile offenders—individuals under 18 years old at the time of their alleged crimes.