Category: News

Death Sentence of Political Prisoner Hamid Hosseinnezhad Upheld by Supreme Court

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News, Prisoners
Chaldoran, Hamid Hosseinnezhad, HRANA, Najafzadeh, Urmia, Urmia prison

HRANA News Agency – The death sentence of Hamid Hosseinnezhad Heydaranlou, a political prisoner held in Urmia Prison, has been upheld by the Supreme Court of Iran. He had previously been sentenced to death by the Urmia Revolutionary Court on the charge of baghi (armed rebellion).

According to HRANA, quoting Kurdpa, the Supreme Court’s Branch 9 confirmed the death sentence, which was officially communicated to him on March 26, 2025, in Urmia Prison.

Mr. Hosseinnezhad was sentenced to death in July 2024 by Branch 1 of the Urmia Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Najafzadeh. He was convicted of baghi for alleged membership in an opposition party. After he appealed the ruling, the case was referred to the Supreme Court.

He was arrested on April 13, 2023, by border guards near Chaldoran. After several hours of interrogation, he was transferred to The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Urmia. There, he was subjected to psychological and physical torture for 11 months and 10 days to force a confession. He was made to sign pre-written statements.

During his detention at The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, he was only allowed two brief phone calls with his family and was denied access to legal counsel and in-person visits. Due to opposition from the Ministry of Intelligence, he was also denied a chosen lawyer during trial. The court dismissed his defense and sentenced him to death for baghi.

In court, Mr. Hosseinnezhad denied all charges. Kurdpa reported that the Ministry of Intelligence accused him of collaborating with an opposition party without presenting any evidence. The agency claimed he held a grudge against border forces because his brother-in-law, Mostafa Nouri, had been killed by them in 2015. Based on this, he was accused of involvement in an armed clash. Judge Najafzadeh issued the death sentence in a brief hearing, solely based on “the judge’s intuition.”

Hamid Hosseinnezhad Heydaranlou, aged around 40, is a father of three. He is currently being held in Ward 2 of Urmia Prison.

Prisoner Executed in Arak Prison

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Executions, News
Arak prison, HRANA, Yaser Roshan

HRANA News Agency – At dawn on Saturday, March 29, the death sentence of a prisoner previously convicted of murder was carried out in Arak Prison.

The individual has been identified by HRANA as Yaser Roshan. According to information received by HRANA, Roshan had been arrested about four years ago on charges of murder and was later sentenced to death by the criminal court.

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

In 2024, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran documented 812 cases related to the right to life, including the sentencing of 214 individuals to death and the execution of 930 individuals. Among these, 4 executions were carried out in public. Of those executed, 818 were male, 26 were female, and 5 were juvenile offenders—individuals under 18 years old at the time of their alleged crimes.

Mohammad-Ali Azari Arrested by Security Forces in Urmia

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Freedom of Expression, News
Mohammad-Ali Azari, Naqadeh, Urmia

HRANA News Agency – Yesterday, March 28, Mohammad-Ali Azari, a resident of Urmia, was arrested by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location.

Kurdpa has identified him as Mohammad-Ali Azari, father of two, originally from Naqadeh and currently residing in Urmia.

According to the report, Mr. Azari was arrested yesterday by security forces who used violence during the raid on his home. His arrest is reportedly linked to his participation in a Nowruz (Persian New Year) celebration. Each year, the regime’s security forces attempt to prevent Nowruz celebrations, resorting to summoning, threatening, and arresting dozens of citizens to that end.

As of now, there is no information about his whereabouts or the charges brought against him.

Varisheh Moradi, a political prisoner on death row, denied medical treatment

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News, Prisoners
armed rebellion, bolghasem Salavati, Evin Prison, Sanandaj, Varisheh Moradi

HRANA News Agency – Varisheh Moradi, a political prisoner sentenced to death and held in Evin Prison, is being denied hospital transfer and adequate medical care despite her deteriorating physical condition.

A social media page affiliated with Varisheh Moradi reported that she suffers from several health issues, including severe spinal disc problems in her back and neck, and has required urgent surgery and proper medical attention for over three months, as confirmed by a specialist. Despite prison doctors at Evin confirming the severity of her condition and emphasizing the urgent need for treatment outside the prison, she continues to be denied transfer to medical facilities on orders from the relevant authorities.

Ms. Moradi had previously also been denied transfer to medical centers despite requiring specialized treatment.

Varisheh Moradi was arrested by security forces in August 2023 in the outskirts of Sanandaj. She was eventually transferred on December 26 of that year from the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, known as Ward 209 of Evin Prison, to the women’s ward.

In late November 2024, Ms. Moradi was sentenced to death by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Abolghasem Salavati, on the charge of baghi (armed rebellion).

In another case, in late October 2023, she was sentenced to six months in prison by Branch Two of the Qods Judicial Complex Criminal Court in Tehran, in a joint case involving four other inmates. The charge against her in this case was “assaulting an officer and disobedience.”

This case stemmed from events on August 7, following protests by female prisoners in Evin’s women’s ward after learning about the execution of Reza Rasaei, which led to a clash with prison guards.

Evin Prison: Medical Care and Medical Leave Denied to Layan Darvish

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News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, Gilan, HRANA, Layan Darvish

HRANA News Agency – Layan Darvish, a political prisoner held in Evin Prison, is being denied essential medical care and transfer to a hospital despite suffering from a severe kidney and bladder infection.

According to information obtained by HRANA, Darvish is in urgent need of medical treatment, yet prison authorities have blocked her transfer to external medical facilities.

A source close to her family told HRANA, “Ms. Darvish’s request for conditional release has been approved and is legally due for implementation, but prison officials continue to withhold her release. Her application for short-term medical leave was initially approved but has yet to be carried out. These repeated broken promises are taking a serious toll on her mental health.”

Darvish was transferred to the women’s ward of Evin Prison on February 21, 2024, to begin serving her sentence.

A mother in her early 40s from Gilan Province, Layan Darvish was sentenced to a total of five years in prison on charges of “assembly and collusion against national security,” “insulting the Supreme Leader,” and “propaganda against the regime.”

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Omid Moloudian Arrested by Security Forces in Bukan

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Freedom of Expression, News
Bukan, Nowruz celebration, Omid Moloudian

HRANA News Agency – Yesterday, Omid Moloudian, a resident of Bukan County, was arrested by security forces in the city and taken to an undisclosed location.

According to Kurdpa, Omid Moloudian, 22 years old, is a resident the village of “Kahrizeh Sardar,” a rural district of Bukan. The report states that Mr. Moloudian was arrested in connection with his participation in Nowruz celebrations.

As of the time of this report, no information has been obtained regarding his whereabouts or the charges against him.
Each year, the regime’s security forces attempt to prevent Nowruz celebrations in Kurdish-populated areas, resorting to summoning, threatening, and arresting dozens of citizens to that end.

Detention Without Due Process: Farzaneh Mohammadi Parsa Still Held in Evin Prison Without Charges

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News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, Farzaneh Mohammadi Parsa, HRANA, Tehran

HRANA News Agency- Farzaneh Mohammadi Parsa, a political detainee, remains in a state of legal uncertainty more than 90 days after her arrest. She is currently being held in the women’s ward of Evin Prison.

According to information received by HRANA, Mohammadi Parsa has been in detention for over three months without formal charges or legal proceedings. After spending more than 40 days in the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, known as Ward 209 of Evin Prison, she was transferred to the prison’s women’s ward on February 11, 2025. Authorities have so far denied her release on bail.

A source close to the family confirmed to HRANA that her arrest was linked to her public protest against compulsory hijab laws in Tehran.

She was arrested on December 25, 2024, by security forces at her home in Tehran. The arrest reportedly involved physical assault.

According to earlier reports, Mohammadi Parsa had previously been detained over issues related to mandatory hijab and for sharing content discouraging participation in Iran’s presidential elections. She was released on that occasion after signing a written pledge.

To date, no formal charges have been announced against her.

Farzaneh Mohammadi Parsa is approximately 55 years old, a dentist by profession, and resides in Tehran.

Mehdi Eydi Vandi Arrested and Transferred to Prison in Masjed Soleyman

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News, Prisoners
HRANA, Masjed-Soleyman, Mehdi Eydi Vandi, مهدی عیدی وندی

HRANA News Agency – Mehdi Eydi Vandi, a resident of Masjed Soleyman, was arrested by security forces on March 18, 2025, and is currently held in limbo at the city’s prison.

Based on information received by HRANA, he was arrested by security forces on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, in front of his workplace. Following his arrest, he was transferred to Masjed Soleyman Prison in Khuzestan province, where he remains in a state of uncertainty.

The reasons for his arrest and the charges against him remain unknown at the time of this report.

16-Year-Old Teenager Arrested by Security Forces in Bandar Lengeh

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Children, News
Bandar Lengeh, Hormozgan Province, Rask County, Yousef Rasaneh

HRANA – On Tuesday, March 25, Yousef Rasaneh, a 16-year-old teenager, was arrested by security forces in Bandar Lengeh County, Hormozgan province, and taken to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, citing the Baloch Activists Campaign, Rasaneh is a resident of Firoozabad village in Rask County. The report states that Rasaneh had traveled to a district of Bandar Lengeh, for work. Security forces from the Ministry of Intelligence raided his resting place and arrested him without presenting any judicial warrant.

As of this report, there is no information about the reason for his arrest or his current whereabouts.

In 2024, HRANA documented the detention of 34 individuals under the age of 18 by security forces in Iran. For detailed statistics and further insights into children’s rights violations, read HRANA’s 2024 Annual Report.

Labor Activist Morteza Seydi Goes on Hunger Strike in Evin Prison

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News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, HRANA, Hunger Strike, Morteza Seydi, مرتضی صیدی

HRANA News Agency –Morteza Seydi, a labor activist imprisoned in Evin Prison, began a hunger strike yesterday, March 25, 2025.

According to information obtained by HRANA, in the final days of the previous Iranian year, Evin Prison officials attempted to transfer Seydi from Ward 8 to Ward 7. Seydi resisted the transfer, after which prison authorities punished him by moving him to the quarantine ward. In protest, he launched a hunger strike.

Morteza Seydi was arrested on November 5, 2024, after appearing at Branch 3 of the Enforcement Unit of the Shahr-e Qods Prosecutor’s Office to begin serving his sentence. He was subsequently transferred to Evin Prison.

In June 2024, Branch 2 of the Shahriar Revolutionary Court sentenced Seydi to two years in prison on charges of “forming a group under the name of a labor union with the intent to disrupt national security.”

Previously, on April 15, 2022, Seydi was arrested along with several other labor activists by security forces. He was released on bail on May 9, 2022.

Morteza Seydi has faced repeated judicial prosecution over his labor activism.