Category: News

Saeed Esmaeil Mazraeh Arrested in Ahvaz

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Freedom of Expression, News
ahvaz, HRANA, Saeed Esmaeil Mazraeh, اسماعیل مزرعه

Yesterday, Saeed Esmaeil Mazraeh, a writer and researcher residing in Ahvaz, was arrested by Ministry of Intelligence agents at his home and transferred to an undisclosed location. During the raid, agents searched his home and confiscated some of his digital belongings.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, the arrest took place on Monday, January 6, 2025. Agents searched Mr. Mazraeh’s residence, seizing personal items including his mobile phone and computer.

HRANA’s sources indicate that Mr. Mazraeh, who suffers from kidney disease, remains in an unknown condition, raising his family’s concerns about his health and fate. The reasons for his arrest and the charges against him remain unknown.

Saeed Esmaeil Mazraeh, 32, is married and resides in Ahvaz. He holds a master’s degree in literature, works as a researcher, and has authored several books.

Prolonged Detention of Gilan Poet Peyman Farah-Avar Without Trial in Lakan Prison

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News, Prisoners
Amin Farah-Avar, Baghi, Gilan, Lakan prison, Ministry of Intelligence, moharebeh, Peyman Farah-Avar, Rasht, پیمان فرح آور

Peyman (Amin) Farah-Avar, a poet from Gilan Province, remains in detention at Lakan Prison in Rasht more than five months after his arrest, with no resolution to his case.

A source close to his family confirmed to HRANA: “Mr. Farah-Avar faces charges including ‘propaganda against the regime,’ baghi (armed rebellion), and moharebeh (enmity against God). He has been detained for over five months in a state of limbo at Lakan Prison in Rasht, with no court hearings held to address his charges.”

Mr. Farah-Avar was arrested by security forces in August 2024 and initially taken to The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility. After completing the interrogation process, he was transferred to Lakan Prison in Rasht.

Peyman (Amin) Farah-Avar, a poet from Gilan and the father of a 10-year-old son, has previously been arrested due to his activities.

Ayoub Gheibipour Arrested by IRGC Intelligence in Ahvaz

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Freedom of Expression, News
ahvaz, Ayoub Gheibipour, irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Kerman prison, Qassem Soleimani

Ayoub Gheibipour Hajivar, one of the detainees from the 2022 nationwide protests, was arrested by security forces in Ahvaz yesterday and transferred to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, a source close to Gheibipour’s family confirmed the news, stating:
“Yesterday, IRGC intelligence agents first went to Mr. Gheibipour’s family home in Ahvaz. After learning he was not home, they went to the gym where he was training and arrested him there. The agents also confiscated the gym’s CCTV cameras. His current location remains unknown.”

The source added: “Mr. Gheibipour has not received any summons to serve his sentence. It is likely that his arrest is connected to his activities.”
In April of 2024, the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court sentenced Gheibipour on charges of arson, destruction of public property, and propaganda against the regime. He was given a 10-year prison term in exile in Kerman Prison for “moharebeh” (enmity against God) and an additional year for “propaganda against the regime.” One of the charges cited against him was “burning a statue of Qassem Soleimani.”

Initially, this verdict was overturned by Branch 20 of the Supreme Court and sent back for retrial. The Ahvaz Revolutionary Court reinstated the same sentence, which was later upheld by the Supreme Court in late October 2024.

Gheibipour was previously arrested in November 2022 during the nationwide protests and detained at Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz. He was eventually released on February 13, 2024, after posting a bail of 3 billion tomans. During his detention, he was denied adequate medical care.

Two Prisoners Executed in Adelabad Prison in Shiraz on Drug-Related Charges

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Executions, News
Adelabad Prison, Amir-Mohammad Farahani, HRANA, Khalil Alizahi, Neyriz, Shiraz

On Sunday, January 5, 2025, two prisoners were executed in Adelabad Prison in Shiraz on charges related to drug offenses.

According to Haal Vsh, one of the executed individuals was identified as Khalil Alizahi (Sargolzahi), a 45-year-old father of eight from Zahedan. He had been arrested two years ago in Neyriz County on drug-related charges and subsequently sentenced to death by the Shiraz Revolutionary Court.

HRANA identified the second prisoner as Amir-Mohammad Farahani, a resident of Arak. Farahani had also been arrested on drug-related charges and sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court.

As of the time of this report, prison officials and relevant authorities have not publicly announced the executions.

According to data compiled by HRANA, 52.69% of all executions in Iran in 2024 were related to drug-related charges. Notably, only 6% of these executions were officially announced, highlighting a significant lack of transparency. For a detailed analysis of these executions and the associated statistics, see HRANA’s full report.

Jalil Kheirkhah Arrested and Transferred to Lakan Prison in Rasht

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Jalil Kheirkhah, Lakan prison, Rasht, Shaft County, جلیل خیرخواه

On Sunday, January 5, 2025, security forces arrested Jalil Kheirkhah, a resident of Shaft County in Gilan Province, at his home. Following his arrest, he was transferred to Lakan Prison in Rasht.

HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, reported that a source close to Mr. Kheirkhah’s family confirmed the arrest. “Security forces detained him at his residence this morning and later took him to Lakan Prison in Rasht,” the source stated.

According to information obtained by HRANA, Mr. Kheirkhah faces charges of “propaganda against the regime.”

This is not the first time Mr. Kheirkhah has been targeted by authorities. He has previously been arrested for his activities, highlighting a pattern of ongoing pressure on him.

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Prolonged Detention and Hunger Strike: Pouria Javaheri’s Case in Sanandaj Prison

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News, Prisoners
irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Kamyaran, moharebeh, Pouria Javaheri, Sanandaj, Sanandaj Prison

Pouria Javaheri, a resident of Kamyaran and one of those arrested during the 2022 nationwide protests in Iran, remains in Sanandaj Prison more than 25 months after his arrest. Frustrated by the lack of resolution in his case, he has started a hunger strike to protest his prolonged detention.

Mustafa Ahmadian, Mr. Javaheri’s lawyer, announced: “My client, Pouria Javaheri, has gone on a hunger strike to protest his extended pre-trial detention in Sanandaj Prison.”

Mr. Javaheri was arrested on November 29, 2022, after being summoned by the IRGC Intelligence office in Kamyaran. Following his arrest, he was held in Kamyaran Prison until late February 2023, before being transferred to Sanandaj Prison in early September 2023.

In early 2023, the Chief Justice of Kurdistan Province publicly announced that Mr. Javaheri had been charged with “moharebeh” (enmity against God). By August 2023, his case had been referred to Branch 1 of the Sanandaj Revolutionary Court, where he now faces multiple allegations, including “moharebeh through the intentional killing of a military officer,” “membership in opposition groups,” “propaganda against the regime,” and “intentional assault on several security officers.”

Salam Azari Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison by Mahabad Revolutionary Court

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Freedom of Expression, News
Mahabad, Naqadeh, Salam Azari, سلام آذری

Salam Azari, a resident of Naqadeh, has received a one-year and six-month prison sentence from Branch 1 of the Mahabad Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Doosti.

According to HRANA, quoting Kurdpa, the court convicted Mr. Azari of “membership in one of the opposition parties,” resulting in a one-year prison term, and “propaganda against the regime,” adding an additional six months.

Security forces arrested Salam (Shahin) Azari in Naqadeh in November 2023, during a raid on his family home. They transferred him to a security detention facility in Urmia, where he underwent interrogation, before moving him to Naqadeh Prison.

In February 2023, Mr. Azari was released on bail after spending several months in detention.

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Drug-Related Charges: A Prisoner Executed in Hamedan Prison

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Executions, News
Abolfazl Azadi, Hamedan prison, زندان همدان

At dawn today, the execution of a prisoner previously sentenced to death on charges related to drug offenses was carried out in Hamedan Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, Abolfazl Azadi was executed on Sunday, January 5, 2025. Based on information obtained by HRANA, Mr. Azadi was previously arrested on drug-related charges and later sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court.

As of the time of this report, prison and relevant authorities have not officially announced the execution.

According to data compiled by HRANA, 52.69% of all executions in Iran in 2024 were related to drug-related charges. Notably, only 6% of these executions were officially announced, highlighting a significant lack of transparency. For a detailed analysis of these executions and the associated statistics, see HRANA’s full report.

Execution of a Prisoner in Sepidar Prison, Ahvaz

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Executions, News
ahvaz, Ali Moradi, HRANA, Sepidar Prison

On Wednesday, January 1, 2025, the death sentence of a prisoner previously convicted of murder was carried out in Sepidar Prison in Ahvaz.

HRANA has identified the prisoner as Ali Moradi. Based on information obtained by HRANA, Mr. Moradi had been arrested on charges of murder and subsequently sentenced to death by judicial authorities.

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

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.

Political Prisoner Hossein Yazdi Sentenced to Imprisonment and Additional Punishments

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Freedom of Expression, News
Dastgerd Prison, Hossein Yazdi, Isfahan, حسین یزدی

Hossein Yazdi, a political activist, has been sentenced to one year in prison and additional penalties by the Revolutionary Court of Isfahan.

The verdict, issued by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Isfahan, convicted Mr. Yazdi of “propaganda against the regime,” sentencing him to one year in prison. He was also handed a two-year ban on leaving the country, a two-year prohibition from online activity, a two-year deprivation of social rights under Article 26 of the Islamic Penal Code, and the confiscation of his mobile phone.

This political activist was arrested in July 2023 after reporting to the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in Isfahan and was subsequently transferred to Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan. He was released on July 12, 2023, after posting bail.

Hossein Mohammadi Yazdi, a political activist and former director of the Mobin 24 website and the Iran Times news channel, has a history of arrests and legal confrontations.