Category: News

Seyed Sadra Hosseini Arrested in Tehran

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Sadra Hosseini, Tehran

HRANA – Seyed Sadra Hosseini, a graduate of the University of Tehran, was arrested by security forces in Tehran on Monday, June 1, and transferred to an undisclosed location.

Based on information received by HRANA, Mr. Hosseini was arrested by security forces in Tehran on Monday, June 1.

As of the time of this report, no information has been obtained regarding the authority responsible for his arrest, the place of detention, the reasons for his detention, or any charges brought against him.

Seyed Sadra Hosseini is a bookseller, a graduate of the University of Tehran, and a resident of Tehran.

Appeals Court Upholds Prison Sentences of British Detainees Lindsay and Craig Foreman

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Craig Foreman, Evin Prison, HRANA, irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Kerman, Lindsay Foreman

HRANA – The prison sentences of Craig Foreman and Lindsay Foreman, two British citizens currently held in Evin Prison, have been upheld in full by the Court of Appeals. The couple had previously been sentenced to 10 years in prison each by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court on charges of “espionage.”

According to HRANA, citing BBC News, the Court of Appeals has upheld without modification the prison sentences imposed on Lindsay and Craig Foreman, a British couple imprisoned in Iran.

According to the report, the couple was not permitted to attend the appeals hearing. Following the confirmation of their sentences, their case has been referred to the Supreme Court.

In February 2026, Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Abolghasem Salavati, sentenced the couple to 10 years in prison each on charges of “espionage.”

According to the couple, “Despite appearing in court, no evidence was presented, and we were given no opportunity to defend ourselves.”

In May 2026, the couple launched a hunger strike to protest their detention conditions and the suspension of telephone contact with their family. As the strike has continued, Lindsay Foreman has reportedly experienced deteriorating health conditions, including weight loss, low blood sugar, and fluctuations in blood pressure.

Craig and Lindsay Foreman, who had entered Iran as part of a motorcycle journey around the world, were arrested by the IRGC Intelligence Organization in Kerman in December 2024. Judicial authorities had accused them of “espionage,” alleging that they collected information in several provinces under the guise of tourism and research activities.

The British ambassador to Iran at the time also met with the two defendants at the Kerman Prosecutor’s Office in February of that year.

In recent years, Iranian authorities have arrested several foreign nationals on charges such as espionage or cooperation with hostile governments. Some detainees have later been released following political negotiations. Human rights organizations and several Western governments have accused Iran of using such arrests as a means of political leverage, allegations that Iranian authorities have consistently denied.

January 2026 Protests: Maryam Babajani Sentenced to More Than 32 Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Izeh, Maryam Babajani

HRANA – Maryam Babajani, one of those arrested during the 2026 nationwide protests in Izeh, has been sentenced by Branch 1 of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court to 32 years, six months, and two days in prison.

Based on information obtained by HRANA, Ms. Babajani was recently sentenced by Branch 1 of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court to 20 years in prison on one security-related charge and 12 years, six months on another. The verdict includes charges brought against her under Iran’s law on intensifying punishments for espionage offenses.

A source familiar with the Babajani family told HRANA: “Following the issuance of the verdict, Ms. Babajani’s attorney, Hossein-Ali Hatami, filed an appeal against the ruling.”

Maryam Babajani was arrested in late January 2026 in connection with the nationwide protests in Izeh. She was later released from prison after posting bail set at 10 billion tomans.

Attorney Mehran Ansari Sentenced to Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Attorney Mehran Ansari Sentenced to Prison, HRANA, Mehran Ansari

HRANA – Mehran Ansari, an attorney and member of the Fars Province Bar Association, has been sentenced to one year in prison by the Revolutionary Court of Shiraz.

Based on information received by HRANA, the Revolutionary Court of Shiraz sentenced the attorney to one year in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime.”

Mehran Ansari, a licensed attorney and member of the Fars Province Bar Association, was arrested by security forces in Shiraz during the nationwide protests of 2026. He was later released on bail set at 2 billion tomans.

It is noteworthy that Mehdi Ansari, also a member of the Fars Province Bar Association and a cousin of Mehran Ansari, was recently sentenced by the Revolutionary Court of Shiraz to five years in prison and a two-year ban on leaving the country.

Amirhossein Bagheri Alavijeh Arrested in Isfahan

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Freedom of Expression, News
Amirhossein Bagheri Alavijeh, HRANA, Isfahan

HRANA – Amirhossein Bagheri Alavijeh, a student at Arak University and a resident of Alavijeh, Isfahan Province, was arrested by security forces in the city on Monday, June 1, 2026, and taken to an undisclosed location.

Based on information received by HRANA, plainclothes security agents raided Mr. Bagheri’s home in Alavijeh and arrested him using violence. During the operation, agents searched the residence and confiscated electronic devices belonging to him and his family members.

A source close to the family confirmed the news to HRANA and stated: “Amirhossein Bagheri Alavijeh suffers from underlying medical conditions and requires continuous access to medication. His lack of access to necessary medication while in detention has heightened the concerns of his family and relatives.”

At the time of writing, no information is available regarding the reasons for his arrest, his whereabouts, or any charges brought against him.

Last year, Mr. Bagheri Alavijeh was sentenced by the Revolutionary Court of Najafabad to one year of suspended imprisonment. Under part of the sentence, he is required to report to the city’s sentence enforcement branch on the first Saturday of each month.

He was previously arrested by security forces at his home in Alavijeh on April 2, 2025, and was released on bail after 15 days.

Amirhossein Bagheri Alavijeh is a master’s student at Arak University and a resident of Alavijeh, Isfahan Province.

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Amirhossein Saadat Arrested in Tabriz

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Freedom of Expression, News
Amirhossein Saadat, HRANA, Tabriz, امیرحسین سعادت

HRANA – On Monday, June 1, 2026, Amirhossein Saadat, former secretary of the Student Council of Allameh Tabataba’i University, was arrested by the Ministry of Intelligence in Tabriz and transferred to an undisclosed location. Simultaneously, his home was searched, and several of his personal belongings were confiscated by the agents.

Based on information received by HRANA, Mr. Saadat was arrested this morning at his workplace by the Ministry of Intelligence agents without the presentation of a judicial warrant and was taken to an unknown location. His arrest was reportedly accompanied by violence and physical assault.

A source close to his family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “During a brief phone call, he informed his family of his arrest but did not disclose his place of detention. At the same time, Amirhossein’s home was searched by agents. During the search, several of his personal belongings, including his mobile phone, laptop, and passport, were confiscated.”

As of the time of this report, no information has been obtained regarding the reasons for his arrest, his place of detention, or the charges brought against him.

Amirhossein Saadat, aged approximately 32, is originally from Abadeh, resides in Tabriz, and previously served as the secretary of the Student Council of Allameh Tabataba’i University.

Filmmaker Samira Norouz Naseri Arrested in Tehran

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Samira Norouz Naseri, سمیرا نوروز

HRANA – Yesterday, Samira Norouz Naseri, a filmmaker residing in Tehran, was arrested and transferred to an undisclosed location after security forces searched her home.

Based on information received by HRANA, Ms. Norouz Naseri was arrested on the morning of Monday, June 1, 2026, by security forces without the presentation of a judicial warrant. The agents also searched the filmmaker’s residence.

At the time of writing, no information is available regarding her place of detention, the reasons for her arrest, or any charges brought against her.

Samira Norouz Naseri is a filmmaker based in Tehran.

Former Political Prisoner Yashar Darolshafa Arrested

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Freedom of Expression, News
Tehran, Yashar Darolshafa

HRANA – Yashar Darolshafa, a former political prisoner residing in Tehran, was arrested yesterday by security forces at his home and transferred to an undisclosed location.

Based on information received by HRANA, on the morning of Monday, June 1, 2026, security forces raided the family home of this citizen and arrested him without presenting a judicial warrant. The agents also searched his residence.

As of now, no information is available regarding the agency responsible for the arrest, the reasons for Mr. Darolshafa’s detention, or his whereabouts.

Yashar Darolshafa has previously been arrested and imprisoned due to his activities.

2026 Protests: Supreme Court Upholds 10-Year Prison Sentence for Masoud Payahu

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Freedom of Expression, News
2026 protests, Masoud Payahu, Masoud Peyahu

HRANA – The prison sentence of Masoud Payahu, one of those arrested during the nationwide protests of January 2026, has been fully upheld by Branch 9 of the Supreme Court. He had previously been sentenced to 10 years in prison by Branch 23 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

According to HRANA, citing Emtedad, Masoud Payahu, a detainee from the January protests, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.

According to the report, Branch 9 of the Supreme Court upheld Mr. Peyahu’s conviction in its entirety. He had previously been sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment by Branch 23 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court under the Law on Intensifying Punishments for Espionage and Cooperation with Israel.

Hassan Aghakhani, Masoud Payahu’s attorney, stated that his client was arrested during protests in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar, prior to the events of January 8 and 9.

He added: “My client was working in a marketplace overlooking Jomhouri Street. At one point, an individual sat down in front of law enforcement officers, and Masoud unconsciously recorded a short video of the scene. He had absolutely no intention of publicly sharing the footage and, in fact, only posted it to a private Instagram story. Another person subsequently obtained and published the video. The Ministry of Intelligence then summoned my client. He voluntarily presented himself to the judicial authorities, but was unfortunately arrested.”

According to the attorney, Branch 23 of the Revolutionary Court disregarded Mr. Payahu’s defense that he had no intention of widely disseminating the video and nevertheless imposed a lengthy prison sentence.

The report further states that a request for judicial review has been filed on behalf of Masoud Payahu. Hassan Aghakhani noted that the case has been forwarded to the sentence enforcement branch and that his client is required to report to prison.

Masoud Payahu was among those arrested during the nationwide protests in Tehran in January 2026.

Mehdi Ansari, Attorney-at-Law, Sentenced to Five Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Mehdi Ansari, Shiraz

HRANA – Mehdi Ansari, a member of the Fars Bar Association and one of those arrested during the January 2026 protests, has been sentenced by the Revolutionary Court of Shiraz to five years in prison and a two-year travel ban.

Based on information received by HRANA, a branch of the Revolutionary Court of Shiraz sentenced Mr. Ansari to five years in prison and a two-year ban on leaving the country on the charge of “assembly and collusion with the intent to disrupt national security.”

Mehdi Ansari, an attorney and member of the Fars Bar Association, had previously been arrested in Shiraz in connection with the January protests. He was eventually released from prison after posting bail set at 5 billion tomans.

It should be noted that protests and strikes by shopkeepers and bazaar merchants began in Tehran on Sunday, December 28, 2025, and within two days spread beyond markets and commercial centers. With the participation of students, citizens, and various social groups, these protests became one of the largest protest movements of recent years. Following the crackdown by security and law enforcement forces, thousands were killed or injured, and tens of thousands were arrested or summoned by security agencies. For more information, readers may refer to HRANA’s comprehensive report titled “Crimson Winter,” documenting the first fifty days following the outbreak of Iran’s nationwide protests.