Category: News

Prisoner Executed in Urmia Prison

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Executions, News
Naser Mohammadi Hangravani, Urmia

Yesterday, October 15, a prisoner who had been sentenced to death for murder was executed in Urmia Prison.

HRANA has identified the prisoner as Naser Mohammadi Hangravani, from the village of Nichlan in the Sumay-ye Beradust District of Urmia. He had been arrested on murder charges and sentenced to death by a judicial authority.

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

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.

Six Prisoners Transferred to Solitary Confinement in Ghezel Hesar Prison for Execution

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Executions, News
Ghezel Hesar prison, HRANA, Karaj

On October 15, six prisoners who had previously been sentenced to death on drug-related charges were transferred to solitary confinement in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj in preparation for their execution.

These prisoners had been sentenced to death on drug-related charges, and the transfer was made to carry out their execution. HRANA is currently investigating further details, including the identities of the prisoners.

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.

Update on the Latest Status of Journalist Reza Valizadeh in Evin Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News, Students
Abolqasem Salavati, Evin Prison, Reza Valizadeh

Reza Valizadeh, an Iranian journalist, has been arrested and transferred to Evin Prison after returning to Iran. Despite his extensive background with various media outlets, Valizadeh has been denied access to a lawyer since his detention.

Having lived abroad for several years, Valizadeh returned to Iran in February-March last year. Upon his arrival, he was interrogated by agents from the IRGC’s Intelligence and the Ministry of Intelligence. Although released after making a formal pledge to appear for future proceedings, it has been reported that several months later, he was rearrested by a security agency roughly one month ago and sent to Evin Prison. Authorities have still not granted him legal representation.

A source close to Valizadeh’s family revealed that his case is currently being handled by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, overseen by Judge Abolqasem Salavati. To date, the specific charges against him remain undisclosed.

Prior to leaving Iran, Valizadeh was arrested in 2007 and later released on bail. He is suspected to hold dual citizenship and has worked with media organizations such as Radio France, Voice of America, Radio Farda, and the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB).

Zahra Sajedinia Sentenced to Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Bukan, Urmia prison, Zahra Sajedinia

Zahra Sajedinia, a resident of Bukan, has been sentenced to 10 months in prison by the Criminal Court of this city, according to Kolbar News.

Based on a ruling issued by Branch 101 of the Criminal Court Two of Bukan and delivered to Ms. Sajedinia on September 29, she was sentenced to 10 months in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime.”

Sajedinia was arrested by security forces on July 31 of this year. She was later released from Urmia prison on bail after completing her interrogation.

Zahra Sajedinia, 38 years old, is married, a mother of three, and a resident of Bukan.

Mahsa Jalal Badiei Transferred to Lakan Prison in Rasht to Serve Her Sentence

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Lakan prison, Mahsa Jalal Badiei, Rasht

Mahsa Jalal Badiei, a resident of Rasht, was arrested and transferred to Lakan Prison in Rasht on Sunday, October 13, to serve her prison sentence.

A source close to the family confirmed to HRANA that “Ms. Badiei was arrested on Sunday, October 13, after reporting to branch 5 of the Enforcement Office of the Revolutionary Court in Rasht and was transferred to prison.” She had previously been summoned to this branch via a court notification.

On May 13 of this year, Ms. Badiei was arrested by security forces and released six days later after posting bail.

She was later sentenced by the Branch 3 of the Revolutionary Court of Rasht, presided over by Judge Mehdi Rasekhi, to seven months and 16 days in prison for “propaganda against the regime” and to three years and six months in prison for “conducting educational and promotional activities against Islamic Shaira.” Additionally, she was deprived of her social rights for 10 years.

Under Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the most severe punishment—three years and six months in prison—will be enforced.

According to information obtained by HRANA, her conviction stemmed from online activities including converting banned books into audio files and distributing them, supporting political figures, and participating in nationwide protests in 2022.

Badiei, born in 1985, is a mother of one child.

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Execution of 12 Prisoners in Several Prisons Across the Country

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Executions, News
Ezzat Heidari, Hadi Fallah, Hossein Heidari, Kazem Saadipour, Reza Namdari, Shiraz, Younes Akhtar Samar

The execution of 10 prisoners, previously sentenced to death on charges related to drug offenses and murder, was carried out in Adelabad Prison in Shiraz. Additionally, two prisoners sentenced to death on similar charges were executed in the prisons of Tabriz and Jiroft.

The Baloch Activists Campaign reported that on October 14, a prisoner named “Younes Akhtar Samar, from Jiroft” was executed in Jiroft Prison. He had been arrested on murder charges and sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court.

According to the Iranian Human Rights Organization, in the past two weeks, 10 prisoners convicted of drug offenses and murder were executed in Adelabad Prison in Shiraz.

On Sunday, October 13, six of the prisoners executed were identified as “Farhad Salimi, Ali Shirvani, and Ezzat Heidari” for murder charges, and “Kazem Saadipour, Reza Namdari, and Hossein Heidari” for drug-related offenses.

Farhad Salimi, around 27 years old, from Kouhmehr-e Sorkhi in Shiraz, had been arrested in 2019 on murder charges and sentenced to death.

Ali Shirvani, about 28 years old, from Marvdasht, was arrested in 2020 for murder and also sentenced to death.

Ezzat Heidari, aged 35, was arrested in 2021 on murder charges and sentenced to death.

Kazem Saadipour and Reza Namdari had been arrested three years ago in a joint case, while Hossein Heidari had been in custody for four years for drug offenses. All three were transferred from Pirbanu Prison to Adelabad Prison, Shiraz, for execution.

The report also noted that two of the four prisoners executed on Monday, September 30, were identified as “Sajjad Jafari and Nemat Sheshbolouki.” These four prisoners were sentenced to death for drug offenses and were transferred from Pirbanu Prison to Adelabad Prison for execution.

The Iranian Human Rights Organization also reported that on Wednesday morning, October 9, Hadi Fallah, 31 years old, from Tabriz, was executed in Tabriz Prison. He had been arrested three years ago on drug-related charges and sentenced to death.

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

Two Prisoners Executed in Birjand Prison

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Executions, News
Abdolghafour Shahoozahi, Birjand Prison

On October 13, the execution of two prisoners who had previously been sentenced to death on drug-related charges was carried out in Birjand Prison, according to Haal Vsh.

One of the prisoners has been identified as Abdolghafour Shahoozahi (also known as Mohammad Gorgi), 40 years old and father of four, from Zabol County.

According to an informed source, in 2019, Shahoozahi and two others were arrested in Birjand County on drug-related charges. Two of them, including Shahoozahi, were sentenced to death, while the third individual received a 15-year prison sentence.

The report notes that the executions were carried out without the prisoners’ final visits with their families. The identity of the second individual has not been disclosed.

As of the time of this report, prison and judicial officials have not announced the executions.

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.

Manijeh Khoshnoud Sentenced to 10 Months in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Bukan, Manijeh Khoshnoud

Manijeh Khoshnoud, a resident of Bukan, has been sentenced to 10 months in prison by the Criminal Court of Bukan, according to Kurdpa.

The sentence, issued by Branch 101 of the Criminal Court Two of Bukan and delivered to Khoshnoud yesterday, convicts her of “propaganda against the regime,” resulting in a 10-month prison sentence.

Manijeh Khoshnoud, 56, was arrested by security forces on July 31, 2024.

She was eventually released on bail from Bukan Prison on September 5, 2024.

Attorney Mehdi Karimi Farsi Sentenced to One Year in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ali Mazloumi, Tehran, Tehran Revolutionary Court

Seyed Mehdi Karimi Farsi, an attorney, has been sentenced to one year in prison by Branch 29 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

Based on a ruling issued by Branch 29 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Seyed Ali Mazloumi, and communicated to the attorney today, he has been sentenced to one year in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime.”

On February 5, 2024, a court hearing was held for Mr. Karimi Farsi and two other attorneys in the same court.

Previously, he had been summoned to the court after receiving a notice to defend himself against the charge.

Karimi Farsi, an attorney and member of the Central Bar Association, gained widespread attention in August 2023 when he staged a protest march through a lengthy route in Tehran to advocate for the independence of the Bar Association. His demonstration resonated strongly with attorneys across Iran, sparking significant discussion and support within the legal community.

Farzad Moazami Goudarzi Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison

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News, Prisoners
Borujerd, Farzad Moazzami Goodarzi, Reza Moazzami Goodarzi

Farzad Moazzami Goodarzi, a relative of Reza Moazzami Goodarzi, one of the victims of the November 2019 nationwide protests, has been sentenced to five years in prison by the Tehran Revolutionary Court after months of uncertainty in Evin Prison.

In a ruling issued by Branch 29 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Seyed Ali Mazloumi, Moazzami Goodarzi was sentenced to five years in prison on charges of “assembly and collusion against national security.”

Farzad Moazzami Goodarzi, a close relative of Reza Moazzami Goodarzi (who was killed during the November 2019 protests), was arrested on April 4, 2023, by security forces in front of his residence in Borujerd. He was later transferred to the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, known as Ward 209 of Evin Prison, where he remained in limbo for over five months.

He had previously been arrested by security forces in Borujerd on September 5, 2023, but was released after a short period on bail from the city’s Prison.

It is worth noting that Reza Moazzami Goodarzi, aged around 24, was killed by gunfire in Shahriar on November 17, 2019, during the nationwide protests. His body was laid to rest in Borujerd.