Category: News

Following Sentence Consolidation, Shahab Nazari’s Prison Term Increased to 10 Years

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News, Prisoners
Hossein Ali Hatami, Izeh, Khuzestan, Shahab Nazari, Sheiban Prison

HRANA– After the request for sentence consolidation was approved, the Khuzestan Province Court of Appeals increased the prison sentence of Shahab Nazari, a political prisoner held in Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz, to 10 years. He had previously been sentenced to a total of 4 years and 91 days in two separate cases.

According to a ruling issued by Branch 14 of the Khuzestan Court of Appeals, Mr. Nazari has been sentenced to a total of 10 years in prison on four charges. The court sentenced him to five years in prison for the most severe charge, “blasphemy.” He was also sentenced to two years for “spreading falsehoods,” two years for “insulting the Supreme Leader,” and one year for “propaganda against the regime.”

This verdict was issued on July 29, 2025, and was recently communicated to Mr. Nazari’s lawyer, Hossein Ali Hatami.

On Wednesday, April 24, 2025, Shahab Nazari was transferred to Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz after appearing at the Sentence Enforcement Office of the Ahvaz Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office.

Nazari, 24-year-old resident of Izeh, was arrested on April 22, 2023, by security forces in Ahvaz and was eventually released on bail of 500 million tomans from Sheiban Prison on May 21, 2023.

Previously, Branch 1 of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court had sentenced him to two years in prison for “insulting the Supreme Leader” and one year for “propaganda against the regime,” totaling three years of imprisonment. This verdict was upheld in full by Branch 14 of the Khuzestan Court of Appeals. Based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, two years of this sentence are enforceable.

Additionally, in a separate part of the same case, Mr. Nazari was sentenced by Branch 2 of the Ahvaz Criminal Court to one year and 91 days in prison for “spreading falsehoods.” This sentence was also upheld in full by the Khuzestan Court of Appeals.

Iranian Jewish Citizens Remain Detained in Shiraz and Tehran

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News, Religious Minorities
HRANA, Iranian Jews, Kamran Hekmati, Motahareh Goonehi, Navid Reuven, Shahab Yosef, Yehuda Hekmati

HRANA – Four Jewish citizens remain in detention in Tehran and Shiraz weeks after being arrested by the Ministry of Intelligence during the heightened security atmosphere following the 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel. The detainees are being held without formal charges, and no details about their legal status or the cases against them have been made public.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, the four individuals have been identified as Navid Reuven, Shahab Yosef, Kamran Hekmati, and Michael (surname unknown). All four remain in detention facilities operated by the Ministry of Intelligence.

Navid Reuven (son of Gila) and Shahab Yosef (son of Zwela) were arrested in Shiraz during the recent conflict. They are currently being held at the Ministry’s “Plaque 100” detention facility. While the specific charges against them have not been disclosed, sources report that one alleged issue in their case is the possession of an Israeli flag found in their residence.

A third detainee, previously identified by HRANA as Yehuda Hekmati, has now been confirmed as Kamran Hekmati, a 70-year-old Iranian-American Jewish citizen. His mother’s name is listed as Rivka. He was arrested upon entering Iran to visit family and is reportedly being held due to a trip he made to Israel seven years ago. He is currently detained in a Ministry of Intelligence facility in Tehran.

The fourth detainee, Michael (surname unknown), is also being held in Tehran and is expected to appear for his final interrogation session tomorrow. No information has been released regarding the charges or legal process in his case.

These arrests are part of a broader pattern of state pressure on the Jewish community in Iran. In the wake of the recent Iran-Israel conflict, at least 35 Jewish citizens in Tehran and Shiraz were reportedly summoned and interrogated by Iranian security forces. Interrogations primarily focused on the individuals’ family ties with relatives in Israel and included warnings against any phone or internet contact with foreign relatives.

In a related account, Motahareh Goonehi, a student activist recently released from the Intelligence Ministry’s detention facility, referred in a public statement to a Jewish individual named Lida. It remains unclear whether she is among the recently detained or if her case is separate. No further information is currently available regarding her status.

Iranian law passed in 2011 criminalizes travel to Israel by Iranian citizens, imposing penalties of two to five years in prison and temporary bans on passport eligibility. This law continues to impact Iranian Jews by restricting contact with family members abroad, particularly in Israel.

Despite official state claims of upholding the rights of religious minorities, including Jews, human rights experts warn that these recent arrests and interrogations may constitute religious and ethnic discrimination, violating Iran’s commitments under international human rights law.

Prisoner Executed in Arak Prison

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Executions, News
Arak prison, HRANA, Rasoul Arabi

HRANA– At dawn on Sunday, August 3, the execution of a prisoner previously sentenced to death on murder charges was carried out in Arak Prison.

HRANA has identified the prisoner as Rasoul Arabi, who was hanged at dawn on Sunday, August 3, 2025.
According to information received by HRANA, Mr. Arabi had been arrested on murder charges and later sentenced to death by a criminal court.

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

In 2024, according to 812 reports compiled by HRANA, the Iranian regime executed 930 individuals in its prisons—marking the highest number of executions in the past 12 years. Despite the scale of these executions, prison officials and other relevant authorities publicly acknowledged only 6% of them, highlighting the regime’s lack of transparency and accountability.

Drug-Related Offenses: 7 Prisoners Executed in Karaj Central Prison

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Executions, News
Ali Hosseinpour, HRANA, Karaj Central Prison, Meysam Joodaki, Mohammad Golosi, Reza Bakht Avar, Sajjad Pourdanesh

HRANA – At dawn on Sunday, August 3, the death sentences of seven prisoners previously convicted on drug-related charges were carried out in Karaj Central Prison.

HRANA has identified five of those executed as Sajjad Pourdanesh, Meysam Joodaki, Mohammad Golosi, Reza Bakht Avar and Ali Hosseinpour. These individuals had been arrested on drug-related charges and later sentenced to death by Revolutionary Courts.

On Wednesday, July 30, HRANA had reported the transfer of four of these prisoners to solitary confinement in preparation for their execution.

Further details, including the identity of the seventh executed prisoner, are still under investigation by HRANA.

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

According to HRANA’s report, in 2024, over 52 percent of executed prisoners had been convicted on drug-related charges. Over the past ten years, individuals convicted of drug trafficking have accounted for 40 percent of all executions. Unfortunately, HRANA’s statistics show no progress in reducing executions for drug-related offenses.

Two Prisoners Executed in Dizel Abad Prison, Kermanshah

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Executions, News
Fariborz Haghi, HRANA, Kermanshah, moharebeh, Moslem Jalali

On Sunday, August 3, Dizelabad Prison in Kermanshah carried out the executions of two prisoners convicted of enmity against God (moharebeh) and drug-related offenses.

HRANA has identified one of the prisoners as Moslem Jalali, who had previously been sentenced to death on charges of moharebeh through armed robbery. The second prisoner has been identified as Fariborz Haghi, who had been arrested on drug-related charges and sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court.

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

In 2024, according to 812 reports compiled by HRANA, the Iranian regime executed 930 individuals in its prisons—marking the highest number of executions in the past 12 years. Despite the scale of these executions, prison officials and other relevant authorities publicly acknowledged only 6% of them, highlighting the regime’s lack of transparency and accountability.

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Singer Danial Moghaddam Arrested in Shiraz

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News, Prisoners
Danial Moghaddam, Evin Prison, Greater Tehran Prison, HRANA

HRANA– Danial Moghaddam, a dissident singer, was once again arrested by security forces in Shiraz on Tuesday, July 29, and transferred to the Greater Tehran Prison. He had previously stated in a video that, during the early days of his recent detention in Evin Prison and amid an Israeli airstrike on the facility, he was evacuated due to the post-bombing conditions and never returned.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, Danial Moghaddam, a dissident singer, has been re-arrested.

His arrest took place on Tuesday, July 29, in Shiraz, and he was subsequently transferred to Greater Tehran Prison.
During his earlier detention in Evin Prison, Moghaddam released a video on his personal page describing the crisis inside the prison during the Israeli airstrike. In the video, he stated that following the shockwaves and emergency situation caused by the bombing, he unintentionally left the prison while in a disoriented and semi-conscious state and did not return.

In the same video, Moghaddam cited the reasons for his arrest as supporting the families of those killed during protests, calling for the release of political prisoners, and demonstrating in front of Evin Prison to oppose executions.

On June 25, 2025, Mohammad-Hadi Jafarpoor, Moghaddam’s attorney, announced in a post that his client had been detained by order of Branch 3 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court’s Prosecutor’s Office due to his inability to post bail.

Danial Moghaddam has previously been arrested and sentenced for his activism.

80-Year Old Former Political Prisoner Mohammad Banazadeh Arrested in Tehran

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News, Prisoners
HRANA, Mohammad Banazadeh Amirkhizi, Qom, محمد بنازاده

HRANA– Mohammad Banazadeh Amirkhizi, an 80-year-old former political prisoner, was arrested by security forces in Tehran on Monday, July 28, and transferred to The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Qom. Despite suffering from several illnesses, including prostate cancer and heart problems, he has been denied access to proper medical care.

Based on information obtained by HRANA, he was arrested at his private residence in Tehran, by security forces and then transferred to The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Qom.

A source familiar with his situation confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “Mr. Banazadeh, who suffers from prostate cancer, heart conditions, and a torn knee meniscus, has been deprived of medical treatment during this time. This has caused significant concern among his family and those close to him about his health.”

As of the time of this report, the reasons for his arrest and the charges against him remain unknown.

Mohammad Banazadeh Amirkhizi, 80, a resident of Tehran, has previously been sentenced due to his activism.

Sabzevar Prison: 50 Days of Legal Limbo for Mohsen Taran

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News, Prisoners
Mohsen Taran, Sabzevar

HRANA– Mohsen Taran, a resident of Sabzevar, remains in legal limbo 50 days after his arrest and continues to be held in the city’s prison without clear charges.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, Mohsen Taran is still in detention.

Based on information received by HRANA, Mr. Taran has been held in the quarantine section of Sabzevar Prison for 50 days without being informed of the charges against him. Authorities have so far refused to provide any explanation regarding the reasons for his arrest.

Mohsen Taran was arrested by security forces in Sabzevar on Friday, June 13, and transferred to Sabzevar Prison.

In 2024 alone, HRANA published 938 reports of prolonged detention of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience by the Iranian regime’s security and judicial apparatus. These extended detentions are often marked by solitary confinement, withholding information from families about the detainees’ whereabouts and condition, lengthy interrogation periods, and unclear charges and judicial procedures—forming a pattern of systematic abuse and due process violations.

Prisoner Executed in Nahavand Prison

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Executions, News
Arash Mohammadi, HRANA, Nahavand Prison

HRANA – At dawn on Tuesday, July 29, the execution of a prisoner previously sentenced to death on a murder charge was carried out in Nahavand Prison.

HRANA has identified the individual as Arash Mohammadi, 36 years old, who was hanged at dawn on Tuesday, July 29. According to information received by HRANA, Mr. Mohammadi was arrested three years ago on a murder charge and later sentenced to death by a criminal court.

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

In 2024, Iranian prisons witnessed the execution of 930 inmates. According to HRANA’s data, the number of executions carried out by the Iranian regime’s judiciary has risen steadily over the past five years. The percentage of executions related to drug charges has also increased year after year.

Four Prisoners, Including One Woman, Executed in Adelabad Prison of Shiraz

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Executions, News
Abolfazl Alaei, Adelabad Prison, Nahid Jokar, Shiraz

HRANA – At dawn on Thursday, July 31, four prisoners, including one woman, who had previously been sentenced to death in separate cases on drug-related charges, were executed in Adelabad Prison in Shiraz.

HRANA has confirmed the identities of two of the executed individuals as Abolfazl Alaei, 48, and Nahid Jokar (female), 52, both from Shiraz. The identities of the other two prisoners, who were nationals of Afghanistan, are still being verified.

According to information obtained by HRANA, all four prisoners had been arrested in separate cases on charges related to drug offenses and were later sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court.

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

According to HRANA’s statistics, in 2024, Adelabad Prison in Shiraz witnessed the execution of 92 inmates — an 88% increase compared to the previous year. This sharp rise places Adelabad as the second deadliest prison in Iran after Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.