Category: News

Baha’i Citizen Armaghan Yazdani Arrested in Shiraz

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News, Religious Minorities
Armaghan Yazdani, HRANA, irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Shiraz

HRANA – On Wednesday, July 23, 2025, Armaghan Yazdani, a Baha’i citizen residing in Shiraz, was arrested by agents of the IRGC Intelligence Organization. Her family home was also raided, during which agents confiscated digital devices, religious materials, and identification documents belonging to family members.

A source close to the family told HRANA:
“Ms. Yazdani was arrested while she was out with her mother and sister making preparations for her upcoming wedding. Agents intercepted them, forced the family to return home, and carried out the arrest at the residence.”

The source added that the agents searched the home during the arrest, seizing several personal belongings including mobile phones, a laptop, a tablet, IDs, photographs, and religious books and pamphlets.

As of the time of this report, no information has been made available regarding the reasons for Yazdani’s arrest, her current whereabouts, or the charges she may be facing.

Armaghan Yazdani is the fiancée of Vahid Masoumi, who was previously arrested and later released on bail.

Family of Ahmadreza Djalali Remains Uninformed About His Fate

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News, Prisoners
Ahmadreza Djalali, Ahmadreza Jalali, Vida Mehrannia, Zabihollah Khodaeian

HRANA– Vida Mehrannia, the wife of Ahmadreza Djalali, a dual-national political prisoner sentenced to death, has announced that the family has had no information regarding his whereabouts or condition for the past month.

In a public statement, Ms. Mehrannia wrote:
“We haven’t heard anything from Ahmadreza for a month. No contact, no messages, no updates—only silence. This lack of information is deeply worrying for our family. We’re facing growing fear and uncertainty about his situation and whereabouts.”

She called on Iranian authorities to provide information about her husband’s condition.

Ahmadreza Djalali (Jalali), a university professor, was arrested by security forces in May 2016 during a visit to Iran at the invitation of the University of Tehran. He was accused of “enmity against God (moharebeh) through espionage for Israel” and sentenced to death. The Iranian judiciary accused him of transferring classified information on highly sensitive military, defense, and nuclear research projects in exchange for money and Swedish citizenship for himself and his family.

On May 10, 2022, former Judiciary spokesperson Zabihollah Khodaeian stated in a press conference that Ahmadreza Djalali’s death sentence is final.

Documentary Filmmaker Mina Mashhadi Mahdi Arrested

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Freedom of Expression, News
Hasan Naqqashi, HRANA, Mina Mashhadi Mahdi

HRANA– On Tuesday, July 22, 2025, documentary filmmaker Mina Mashhadi Mahdi was arrested by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location.

Her husband, Hasan Naqqashi, announced that security forces arrested his wife on July 22 and, despite assurances that she would be released the same day, she remains in detention.

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

Mina Mashhadi Mahdi is a documentary filmmaker, editor, and actress. Her works have been screened at various art festivals.

Ahmad Moazami Goudarzi and Leila Saremi Arrested in Borujerd

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ahmad Moazami Goudarzi, Borujerd, Farzad Moazami Goudarzi, Leila Saremi, Reza Moazami Goudarzi

HRANA – On Tuesday,  July 22, Ahmad Moazami Goudarzi and Leila Saremi, the parents of political prisoner Farzad Moazami Goudarzi, were arrested by security forces in the city of Borujerd and taken to an undisclosed location.

Mr. Moazami Goudarzi and Ms. Saremi were detained at their private residence in Borujerd by security agents without the presentation of a judicial warrant.

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

Ahmad Moazami Goudarzi and Leila Saremi are Borujerd residents and the parents of Farzad Moazami Goudarzi, a political prisoner. They are also relatives of Reza Moazami Goudarzi, who was fatally shot during the nationwide protests on November 17, 2019, in Shahriar.

At Least 2,000 People Arrested During Iran–Israel War

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Freedom of Expression, News, Other
Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, HRANA

HRANA – Iran’s judiciary chief has announced that approximately 2,000 individuals were arrested during the 12-day war between Iran and Israel. HRANA had previously cited similar figures in earlier reports.

Quoting Hamshahri, HRANA reports that Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, head of the judiciary, stated: “During the 12-day war, at least 2,000 people were arrested. Many of them had no involvement in acts of sabotage and have since been released.”

For further details, see HRANA’s comprehensive report on the Iran–Israel conflict.

The war began in the early hours of Friday, June 13, 2025, with a wave of Israeli airstrikes targeting Iranian territory. According to HRANA’s field sources, alongside military sites, residential neighborhoods and civilian infrastructure were also hit, leading to the deaths of hundreds of civilians.

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Appeals Court Upholds Prison Sentence for Farhad Avizheh

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Freedom of Expression, News
Dehdasht, Farhad Avizheh, Yasuj, فرهاد آویژه

HRANA – The Appeals Court Branch 1 of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province has upheld the two years and one month prison sentence issued against Farhad Avizheh, a resident of Dehdasht. A portion of this sentence has been suspended for two years.

Avizheh has been sentenced to 10 months in prison for “propaganda against the regime” and to 15 months and one day for “insulting the Supreme Leader.” According to the verdict, half of the harsher sentence has been suspended for two years. As a result, Mr. Avizheh’s enforceable sentence is seven months and 15 days.

A source familiar with the case told HRANA: “Mr. Avizheh’s case has been referred to the sentence enforcement office, and he will likely be summoned soon to begin serving his sentence.”

Earlier this year in June, Mr. Avizheh had been sentenced to this prison term by Branch 1 of the Yasuj Revolutionary Court.

Farhad Avizheh was arrested in May this year and released about a month later on bail. The Dehdasht resident has previously faced judicial action over his activism.

Younes Sharifi Arrested by Security Forces in Oshnavieh

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News, Other
Oshnavieh, Younes Sharifi

HRANA – On Monday, July 21, Younes Sharifi, a resident of Oshnavieh, was arrested by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location.

His identity has been reported by Kurdpa as Younes Sharifi, a resident of Oshnavieh, West Azerbaijan province. According to the report, Mr. Sharifi was arrested on Monday, July 21, by security forces without a judicial warrant.

As of the time of this report, no information is available regarding the reasons for his arrest, his whereabouts, or the charges against him.

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.

New Case Filed in Prison: Mehdi Mahmoudian Summoned to Tehran Prosecutor’s Office

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Freedom of Expression, News
Greater Tehran Prison, HRANA, Iman Afshari, Mehdi Mahmoudian

HRANA – Mehdi Mahmoudian, a civil activist imprisoned in the Greater Tehran Prison, is facing a new legal case. He has been summoned to the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in Tehran after receiving a notice to defend himself against new charges.

A recent summons, issued by Branch 5 of the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office of District 31 (Media and Cyber Crimes) in Tehran, was delivered to Mr. Mahmoudian’s family. He has been asked to appear and respond to the charge of “spreading false information.”

Earlier this month, following Israel’s attack on Evin Prison, Mr. Mahmoudian was transferred to Greater Tehran Prison along with several other prisoners.

On February 3, 2025, he was arrested at the Enforcement Branch and sent to prison to serve his sentence.

Previously, Mahmoudian had been tried in Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari. He was sentenced to 8 months in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime,” along with two-year bans on party membership, smartphone use, and foreign travel.

Commenting on his sentence, Mahmoudian had written that “all of these punishments were imposed solely because I responded to a false report by a news outlet about the ‘eradication of bedbugs in prison,’ and wrote that they are ‘addicted to lying.’”

He had also previously faced prosecution for giving an interview about the difficulties Baha’is face in burying their deceased. In May of last year, he was arrested after appearing at the Prosecutor’s Office for Culture and Media and released a day later on bail.

Prisoner Executed in Arak Prison in Drug-Related Offenses

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Executions, News
Arak prison, HRANA, Mohammad-Javad Zare

HRANA – On Monday, July 21, the death sentence of a prisoner previously convicted on drug-related charges was carried out in Arak Prison.

HRANA has identified the individual executed yesterday as Mohammad-Javad Zare.

According to information obtained by HRANA, Mr. Zare had been previously arrested on drug-related charges and was later sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court.

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

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.

Yilmaz Mehrali Beiglou Arrested in Jolfa County

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Jolfa, Yilmaz Mehrali Beiglou, جلفا, مهرعلی بیگلو

HRANA News Agency – On July 21, attorney Yilmaz Mehrali Beiglou was arrested by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence in Jolfa County and taken to an undisclosed location. The agents also searched his father’s home.

A source close to the family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “Mr. Mehrali Beiglou was arrested today by Ministry of Intelligence agents in Jolfa County. After the arrest, he was transferred to an undisclosed location. Following the arrest, the agents searched his father’s house and confiscated some of his personal belongings.”

On May 26 of 2024, a preliminary hearing for Mehrali Beiglou was held in Branch 1 of the Prosecutor’s Office of the Public and Revolutionary Court in Jolfa. He had previously been summoned to the same branch via an official notice.

In 2024, a total of 2,783 Iranian citizens were arrested by security and judicial authorities due to their beliefs, opinions, or political and civil activities. Over the past decade, the number of such arrests has exceeded 56,000. The highest number of arrests occurred in 2022, during the nationwide protests, when HRANA documented 23,977 detentions.