Category: News

Prisoner Executed in Qazvin Prison

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Executions, News
HRANA, Mohammad Ali Taheri, Qazvin prison

At dawn today, November 28, a prisoner previously sentenced to death on drug-related charges was executed in Qazvin Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, the prisoner has been identified as Mohammad-Ali Taheri, 46, from Kangavar.

Taheri had been arrested on drug-related charges and subsequently sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court.

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

The reports from the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists for the year 2023 reveal a concerning prevalence of executions for drug offenses in Iran, constituting 56.4% of the total executions. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s report.

 

Appeals Court Upholds Sentences of Mothers of November 2019 Protest Victims

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Freedom of Expression, News
Mahboubeh Ramazani, Navid Behboodi, Pejman Gholipour, Rahimeh Yousefzadeh, Shahriar, Tehran

The prison sentences of Mahboubeh Ramazani, mother of Pejman Gholipour, and Rahimeh Yousefzadeh, mother of Navid Behboodi—victims of the November 2019 protests—have been upheld by Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals. Both were previously sentenced to 18 months and one day in prison by the Shahriar Revolutionary Court.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, the appeals court confirmed the verdict issued by Branch 2 of the Shahriar Revolutionary Court, rejecting the defendants’ appeals.

Reza Shafakhah, the women’s lawyer, stated that the upheld convictions include charges of “propaganda against the regime,” “membership in the Mothers of the November 2019 Victims group,” and “insulting the Supreme Leader.” The original sentence was handed down in September.

Both women have faced prior arrests and convictions for their activism. As mothers of victims killed during the November 2019 protests, they have become vocal advocates for justice.

The November 2019 protests, sparked by a sharp rise in fuel prices, erupted on November 15, 2019, and quickly spread across dozens of cities in Iran. The protests, which lasted several days, saw participation in 719 locations, according to Mohammad Javad Kolivand, an MP from Karaj. Seyed Hossein Naqavi Hosseini, spokesperson for the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission at the time, reported around 7,000 arrests. Human rights organizations estimate that hundreds were killed in the violent crackdown that followed.

This ruling underscores the ongoing suppression of dissent in Iran, particularly targeting those seeking accountability for the deaths of protesters during the November 2019 unrest.

Three Prisoners Executed in Qom, Rasht, and Shahrekord

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Executions, News
Citizens executed, Qom, Rasht, Shahrekord

Three prisoners previously sentenced to death for drug-related charges and murder were executed in the prisons of Qom, Lakan Rasht, and Shahrekord.

According to HRANA, on Wednesday, November 20, Ali Torkashvand, 54, from Sahneh, Kermanshah, was hanged in Lakan Prison, Rasht. He had been arrested on drug-related charges and later sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court.

According to Iran Human Rights Organization, another prisoner, Seyed Davood Rajabi, 30, was executed in Qom Prison at dawn on Wednesday, November 27. Rajabi had been in detention for four years on murder charges and was subsequently sentenced to death.

Additionally, at dawn on Thursday, November 21, the execution of a prisoner identified as Majid Jafari, 38, was carried out in Shahrekord Prison. Jafari had been arrested three and a half years ago for drug trafficking near Shahrekord and later sentenced to death.

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

According to the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran, in 2023, at least 767 citizens, including 21 women and 2 juvenile offenders, were executed. Of these, the executions of 7 individuals were carried out in public. Additionally, during this period, 172 others were sentenced to death, with 5 of them sentenced to public execution. It is worth noting that during the same period, the initial death sentences of 49 other individuals were also upheld by the Supreme Court.

Arrest of Javad Amini, a Christian Convert, in Nowshahr

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News, Religious Minorities
Christian Citizen, Christian convert, IRGC Intelligence, Javad Amini, Nowshahr, جواد امینی

On November 17, IRGC Intelligence agents arrested Javad Amini, a Christian convert, in Nowshahr, Mazandaran province, and transferred him to a detention facility in Sari. The arrest, reported by Article Eighteen News Outlet, is believed to be linked to his religious beliefs.

Following the arrest, agents raided Amini’s home, interrogating his wife and 10-year-old daughter in a tense and distressing environment.

According to the report, Mr. Amini is one of 12 Christian converts implicated in a joint legal case currently under review by the Nowshahr Revolutionary Court.

This is not the first time Mr. Amini has faced harassment. During the Christmas season last year, security forces searched his home and confiscated some of his personal belongings.

Christian converts in Iran are subject to severe restrictions, widespread security pressures, and systemic discrimination. They frequently face arbitrary arrests, exclusion from educational and employment opportunities, and workplace bias. These actions constitute blatant violations of human rights and the fundamental freedom of religion.

Four Prisoners Executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Including a Juvenile Offender

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Executions, News
Ghezel Hesar prison, Hamed Pakdel, HRANA, Pakdasht, Reza Shirzahi, Zabol

Early this morning, November 27, four prisoners previously convicted of murder were executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj. One of them, Reza Shirzahi, was only 17 years old at the time of the crime in 2020.

The identities of two of the executed prisoners have been confirmed as Reza Shirzahi, a resident of Pakdasht originally from Zabol, and Hamed Pakdel.

Reza Shirzahi, aged around 21, was accused of killing a friend during an altercation in 2020. He was arrested that same year, tried in a criminal court, and sentenced to death—a verdict later upheld by the Supreme Court. At the time of his arrest, He was only 17 years old. After spending time in Khorin Prison, he was transferred first to Rajai Shahr Prison and then to Ghezel Hesar Prison, where the execution was carried out. The published photo in this report is of Reza.

The identities of the other two executed prisoners remain unknown, and HRANA is continuing its investigation to confirm their details.

It is worth noting that as of the time of this report, prison authorities and responsible institutions have not officially announced the executions.

According to latest HRANA’s annual report over between October 10, 2023, and October 8, 2024, at least 811 individuals were executed by hanging in Iran, rising to 23.06% compared to the same period last year. Of these executions, four were carried out in public. Many of the defendants were denied a fair trial.

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Lawyer Behnam Nezadi Sentenced to One Year in Prison and Two-Year Ban on Practicing Law

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Freedom of Expression, News
Behnam Nezadi, HRANA, Tehran, بهنام نزادی

Behnam Nezadi, a member of the Central Bar Association, has been sentenced to one year in prison and a two-year ban on practicing law by Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court in Arak.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, Mr. Nezadi was convicted on charges of “propaganda against the regime.” As an additional penalty, he has been prohibited from practicing law for two years.

Another part of Mr. Nezadi’s case, involving charges of “spreading falsehoods” and “disclosing confidential information,” is still pending review at the Criminal Court No. 2 in Arak, awaiting assignment to a branch.

Mr. Nezadi’s preliminary interrogation took place in late July at the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in District 23 of Tehran (special jurisdiction for interprovincial cases). During the session, he was charged with “propaganda against the regime,” “spreading falsehoods via cyberspace,” and “disclosing confidential investigative materials.” The authorities also cited actions such as “undermining the judiciary, eroding judges’ confidence, and attempting to overthrow the Islamic Republic” as examples of these allegations.

At the end of the interrogation, Mr. Nezadi was released on bail pending further proceedings. During the preliminary stages of the case, the investigating judge issued an order barring him from practicing law in Tehran.

Behnam Nezadi is the administrator of an Instagram page titled “Judicial Misconduct by Judges.” On this platform, he recently shared documents addressing the Disciplinary Prosecutor’s Office for Judges, arguing: “Filing complaints against judges is legally sanctioned, and encouraging people to seek legal recourse cannot be deemed a crime. Moreover, equating the judiciary as an institution with the entire regime is incorrect.”

Mr. Nezadi, a native of Arak and resident of Tehran, is a prominent lawyer and member of the Central Bar Association. His case is one of many highlighting the increasing restrictions imposed on lawyers and legal activists in Iran.

In 2023, the Department of Statistics and Publications of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) documented 2,380 cases in which citizens, including journalists and civil rights activists, faced legal and security consequences for exercising their freedom of expression and thought. These incidents resulted in the arrest of 3,130 individuals.

66-Year-Old Political Prisoner Sudabeh Fakharzadeh Continues Serving Five-Year Sentence in Evin Prison

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News, Prisoners
Iman Afshari, Sudabeh Fakharzadeh, Tehran, Zeynab Homrang Seyedbeglou, سودابه فخارزاده

Sudabeh Fakharzadeh, a 66-year-old political prisoner, is currently serving a five-year prison sentence in Evin Prison.

Fakharzadeh was convicted last year by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, on charges of “assembly and collusion to disrupt national security.”

Ms. Fakharzadeh was arrested by security forces in Tehran’s Chitgar Park in March 2023. Following her interrogation, she was transferred to the women’s ward of Evin Prison on May 9, 2023.

Her co-defendant in the case, Ms. Zeynab Homrang Seyedbeglou, was released from Evin Prison yesterday.

Sudabeh Fakharzadeh is a former political prisoner, having also been incarcerated during the 1980s.

Revolutionary Court Sentences Four Political Defendants to Over 14 Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
and Mehdi Touhidi, Azam Ahooghalander, Hossein Jafari, Karaj, Kiana Dalvand, Mahsa Amini, Mostafa Narimani, Nematollah Afshar

Azam Ahooghalander, Hossein Jafari, Nematollah Afshar, and Mehdi Touhidi, political defendants, have been collectively sentenced to 14 years and 10 months in prison and additional penalties by Branch 3 of the Revolutionary Court in Karaj. Another defendant in the case, Mohammad Azizi, was acquitted of the charges against him.

On November 26, Branch 3 of the Revolutionary Court in Karaj, presided over by Judge Mostafa Narimani, issued its verdict. Azam Ahooghalander was sentenced to six years and two months in prison for “forming and leading a criminal group aimed at disrupting national security.” The other three defendants were convicted of “membership in a group with the same objective: Nematollah Afshar received three years and six months, Mehdi Touhidi-Asl was sentenced to three years and two months, and Hossein Jafari to two years in prison.

In addition, all four were sentenced to two years of travel bans and a two-year prohibition on online activities as supplementary punishments.

Mohammad Azizi, another defendant in the case, was acquitted of all charges.

The trial for these political defendants was held on November 9, 2023, in Branch 3 of the Revolutionary Court in Karaj.

These individuals were arrested on September 16, 2023, coinciding with the first anniversary of Mahsa (Jina) Amini’s death, during a gathering at Azam Ahooghalander’s home. They were later released temporarily on bail.

Kiana Dalvand, the 16-year-old daughter of Azam Ahooghalander, was also arrested alongside the other defendants. She was detained in Kachouei Prison in Karaj and released after 20 days upon providing a written pledge.

Sarveh Pourmohammadi’s Prison Sentence Reduced to Five Years on Appeal

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Freedom of Expression, News
Nozhin, Sanandaj, Sarveh Pourmohammadi, سروه پورمحمدی

The Kurdistan Province Appeals Court has reduced the prison sentence of Sarveh Pourmohammadi to five years, according to Kurdpa. She had previously been sentenced to ten years by the Revolutionary Court in Sanandaj during the preliminary trial.

According to the ruling issued by the Appeals Court, Ms. Pourmohammadi was convicted of forming groups with the intent to disrupt national security and sentenced to five years in prison.

The First Branch of the Revolutionary Court in Sanandaj had earlier handed down a ten-year prison sentence on the same charges.

Sarveh Pourmohammadi, a member of the cultural and social association “Nozhin,” was arrested by security forces on January 29, 2023. After 16 days of detention at the Sanandaj Correctional Center, she was released on bail.

Prisoner Executed for Drug-Related Charges in Gorgan Prison

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Executions, News
Gorgan Prison, HRANA, Sabzevar

On Tuesday, November 26, 2024, a prisoner who had previously been sentenced to death on drug-related charges was executed in Gorgan Prison.

The identity of the executed prisoner has been confirmed by HRANA as Farhad Khosrawi Sadkharv, a resident of Sabzevar.

Based on HRANA’s findings, Mr. Khosrawi had been arrested on drug-related charges and subsequently sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court.

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

According to latest HRANA’s annual report over between October 10, 2023, and October 8, 2024, at least 811 individuals were executed by hanging in Iran, rising to 23.06% compared to the same period last year. Of these executions, four were carried out in public. Many of the defendants were denied a fair trial.