Category: News

Two Prisoners Executed in Tabriz Prison on Murder Charges

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Executions, News
Arastoo Safarghomi, Rasoul Pourmajed, Tabriz Prison

On September 15, 2024, two prisoners convicted of murder in separate cases were executed in Tabriz Prison, according to the Iran Human Rights Organization.

The executed individuals were identified as Arastoo Safarghomi, 35, and Rasoul Pourmajed, around 45.

According to a source familiar with the cases, Rasoul Pourmajed was arrested at his coffee shop and later sentenced to death for murder. Arastoo Safarghomi had been in detention for over two and a half years, also convicted of murder in a separate case, and received the death penalty.

As of the time of this report, prison and judicial authorities have not officially confirmed the executions.

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.

Political Prisoner Hamidreza Gharibi’s Prison Sentence Increased on Appeal

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Freedom of Expression, News
Hamidreza Gharibi, Markazi Province, Mohsen Edalat, Saveh Prison, حمیدرضا غریبی

The prison sentence of Hamidreza Gharibi, a political prisoner held in Saveh Prison, has been extended to 49 months and 18 days by the Appeals Court of Markazi Province after consolidating his previous sentences. Initially, Gharibi had been sentenced to a total of 31 months and 17 days in two separate cases.

Following the consolidation, Branch 8 of the Appeals Court of Markazi Province, under Judge Mohsen Edalat, sentenced Gharibi to 15 months and 1 day for insulting the Supreme Leader, 7 months and 16 days for propaganda against the regime, and 27 months and 1 day for blasphemy.

In his first case earlier this year, Gharibi had been sentenced by Branch 1 of the Saveh Revolutionary Court to 6 months and 1 day in prison for insulting the Supreme Leader on social media, with the sentence suspended for one year. He was acquitted of propaganda against the regime in the same case, but following an appeal by the Saveh prosecutor’s office, the Appeals Court sentenced him to 7 months and 16 days for this charge.

In August 2023, in a separate case, Gharibi was sentenced to two years in prison by Branch 1 of the Saveh Revolutionary Court for blasphemy. After submitting to the ruling, his sentence was reduced by one-fourth.

Hamidreza Gharibi, a resident of Saveh, was first arrested in early September 2022 and released on bail after about a month. He was rearrested on June 21, 2023, and transferred to Saveh Prison.

Taher Katani Arrested by Security Forces in Mahabad

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News, Other
Mahabad, Taher Katani

On September 20, Taher Katani, a resident of Mahabad, was arrested by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location, according to Kolbar News.

This report states that Katani’s arrest occurred on Friday, September 20, by security forces without the presentation of a judicial warrant.

So far, no information has been released regarding the reasons for his arrest, his whereabouts, or the charges against him.

Taher Katani, a native of Laj village, a suburb of Mahabad in West Azerbaijan province, has previously been arrested.

 

Two Prisoners Executed in Central Prison of Karaj

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Executions, News
Akbar Azizi, Central Prison of Karaj, Hamed Jahedi, Karaj

On September 19, two prisoners sentenced to death on charges of drug-related offenses and murder were executed in the Central Prison of Karaj.

HRANA has confirmed the identities of the prisoners as Akbar Azizi and Hamed Jahedi, who had been convicted in a joint case involving both drug crimes and murder.

Prior to the execution, HRANA reported that the two prisoners had been transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for the carrying out of their death sentences.

At the time of this report, prison officials and relevant authorities have yet to officially announce the executions.

After a Retrial: Mohammad-Javad Vafaie Thani Sentenced to Death for the Third Time

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Executions, News, Prisoners
Babak Paknia, Mashhad, Mohammad Javad Vafaie Thani, Vakilabad prison

Seyed Mohammad-Javad Vafaie Thani, a political prisoner detained in Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad, has been sentenced to death for the third time by the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad. Vafaie Thani had previously been handed two death sentences by different branches of the Revolutionary Court, both of which were overturned by the Supreme Court, leading to a retrial in a parallel branch.

Babak Paknia, Vafaie Thani’s defense attorney, revealed in a social media post that a majority of the judges, rejecting the Supreme Court’s arguments, sentenced him to death once again on charges of “spreading corruption on earth.” The ruling remains subject to appeal.

Mohammad-Javad Vafaie, a 28-year-old boxing coach, was arrested in Mashhad in March 2020 and has been imprisoned since. His initial death sentence was based on charges of “corruption on earth through deliberate acts of destruction.” However, this ruling was overturned by the Supreme Court. Following a retrial, he was again sentenced to death, but this second sentence was also overturned in June 2023, and the case was referred to another court. Although the court set a substantial bail for his temporary release, he has remained in detention due to his inability to post bail.

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Judicial Case Filed Against Journalist Hadi Kasaie-Zadeh

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin, Hadi Kasaie-Zadeh, Hadi Kasaiezadeh, tea smuggling scandal, Tehran Friday Prayer Imam, هادی کسایی زاده

A judicial case has been initiated against journalist Hadi Kasaie-Zadeh for publishing content critical of the Tehran Friday Prayer Imam.

A close associate of the journalist told HRANA: “The case was filed against Mr. Kasaie-Zadeh for his publication of material criticizing the Tehran Friday Prayer Imam and his involvement in a financial corruption and tea smuggling scandal. Kasaie-Zadeh has been accused of spreading false information.”

In May of this year, Kasaie-Zadeh was summoned to the Evin Prosecutor’s Office, where formal charges were brought against him. This case stems from a complaint by the Tehran Prosecutor’s Office for his coverage of the circumstances surrounding Nika Shakarami’s death.

On June 20, 2023, Kasaie-Zadeh was arrested, but he was released the following day after signing a commitment at one of Tehran’s security detention centers.

Seyed Hadi Kasaie-Zadeh Mahabadi has a history of facing judicial actions due to his journalistic activities.

Prolonged Detention Without Verdict: 640 Days in Limbo for Political Detainee Hooman Seydali

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News, Prisoners
ahvaz, Hooman Seidali, Hooman Seydali, Sheiban Prison, هومن صیدالی

Hooman Seydali, a political detainee, has been held for 640 days at Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz, with no resolution to his case. Despite attending a court hearing, no verdict has been issued.

Mr. Seydali has spent 21 months in detention, awaiting a legal decision. Earlier this year, a session at Branch 2 of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court was held to address charges of alleged membership in anti-regime groups, yet no ruling has been made.

A source previously informed HRANA that the court had set a bail of 50 billion tomans for his temporary release, but his family’s inability to meet this high amount has resulted in his prolonged detention.

Hooman Seydali, 47, a resident of Izeh, was arrested by security forces on December 20, 2022, during the nationwide protests and later transferred to Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz.

Prisoner Executed in Yazd Prison for Drug Offenses

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Executions, News
Manan Brahui, Yazd Prison, Zabol

At dawn September 19, the death sentence of a prisoner previously convicted on drug-related charges was carried out in Yazd Prison, according to a report by Haal Vsh.

The individual has been identified as “Manan Brahui (Barahouei)(Nasim Narui), approximately 50 years old, married, a resident of Zabol.”

According to this report, Mr. Brahui was arrested in 2019 on drug-related charges and was subsequently sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court of Yazd. On Tuesday, he was transferred to the quarantine section of Yazd Prison to await the execution of his sentence.

As of the time of this report, the execution of this prisoner 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.

Hatem Ozdemir’s Death Sentence Upheld by the Supreme Court

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Executions, News, Prisoners
Baghi, HRANAHatem Ozdemir, Khoy, moharebeh, Najafzadeh

The Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence of Hatem Ozdemir, a Turkish citizen currently imprisoned in Urmia. In late May of this year, Branch 3 of the Revolutionary Court of Urmia sentenced Mr. Ozdemir to death on charges of “enmity against God” (Moharebeh).

According to HRANA, the Supreme Court recently confirmed Mr. Ozdemir’s death sentence, and this decision has been communicated to his defense attorney.

In late winter 2021, Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Khoy initially sentenced Ozdemir to death on charges of “armed rebellion” (Baghi). This verdict was delivered to him on March 15 of that year. However, the Supreme Court later overturned the ruling, sending the case back for a retrial in a parallel court.

Following a re-examination of the case and a new hearing, the Revolutionary Court of Urmia, presided over by Judge Najafzadeh, reaffirmed the death sentence in late May, again on charges of “enmity against God.”

Ozdemir was first arrested by security forces in Maku in the early summer of 2019. After two months, he was transferred to the political ward of Urmia Prison. On September 18 of the same year, he was moved to the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Urmia and, shortly afterward, returned to Urmia Central Prison.

Political Prisoners Behrooz Ehsani and Mehdi Hasani Sentenced to Death

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Executions, News
Behrooz Ehsani, Behrouz Ehsani. Mehdi Hasani, Evin Prison, Iman Afshari, Mehdi Hassani

Political prisoners Behrooz Ehsani and Mehdi Hasani have been sentenced to death. These verdicts were issued by Judge Iman Afshari, the head of Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

Based on the ruling issued by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari and communicated to their lawyer, they have been sentenced to death. The charges against them include “armed rebellion (Baghi), enmity against God (Moharebeh), spreading corruption on earth (Efsad-e Fel-Arz), membership in the Mojahedin, gathering classified information, and assembly and collusion against national security.”

On Monday, November 28, 2022, Mr. Ehsani was arrested at his home in Tehran and transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison. Mr. Hasani was also arrested on September 9, 2022, while attempting to leave the country in Zanjan and was transferred to Evin Prison. Both individuals spent months in a state of uncertainty and incommunicado detention.

Behrooz Ehsani is 64 years old. Mehdi Hasani, aged around 48, is married and the father of two children. Before his arrest, he was active in the real estate sector.