Category: News

Death-Row Political Prisoner Babak Shahbazi Transferred to Solitary Confinement

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Executions, News
Babak Shahbazi, Ghasem Mazinani, Ghezel Hesar prison, Keyhan Shahbazi, بابک شهبازی

HRANA – The family of Babak Shahbazi, a political prisoner sentenced to death, has reported that he was transferred today to solitary confinement in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.

In a video message released yesterday, Keyhan Shahbazi, Babak’s brother, confirmed that the death-row prisoner had been moved to one of the solitary cells of Ghezel Hesar Prison. This transfer has intensified the family’s fears, as it is widely regarded as a prelude to carrying out executions. He added that the family, along with several relatives, has staged a sit-in outside the prison in protest.

Shahbazi’s request for a retrial was recently rejected by the Supreme Court for the third time. Earlier, his brother had reported that the Ninth Branch of the Supreme Court, presided over by Judge Ghasem Mazinani, had also denied the second retrial request.

On August 19, after 12 days during which his family had no information about his whereabouts, Shahbazi was transferred to the public ward of Ghezel Hesar Prison. His relatives had previously expressed deep concern over being left in the dark about his condition.

BBC Persian had earlier reported that Shahbazi’s death sentence had been confirmed by the Supreme Court for the first time.

Shahbazi was arrested on charges of espionage and sentenced to death. One of the accusations against him included sending a message to the President of Ukraine.

He was detained in January 2024 and initially held in Evin Prison. Following an Israeli airstrike on Evin, he, along with other political prisoners, was transferred to the Greater Tehran Prison before being moved again to Ghezel Hesar.

Two Prisoners Executed in Birjand Prison

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Executions, News
Abdol-Samad Salarzahi, Abdolmajid Balochi Barahouei, Birjand Prison

HRANA – At dawn today, Tuesday, September 16, the death sentences of two prisoners previously convicted on drug-related charges were carried out in Birjand Prison.

Haal Vsh has identified the executed prisoners as Abdol-Samad Salarzahi, 42, father of six children, and Abdolmajid Balochi Barahouei, 41, from Zahedan.

Reports indicate that Salarzahi was arrested about four and a half years ago, and Barahouei six years ago, both on charges related to narcotics offenses. They were later sentenced to death by judicial authorities.

The execution of Barahouei was carried out without allowing a final family visit.

As of the time of this report, the executions have not been officially announced by prison authorities or other responsible institutions.

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.

Two Prisoners Executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison on Drug-Related Charges

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Executions, News
Akbar Emami, Ghezel Hesar, Karaj, Masoud Okhtizadeh

HRANA – At dawn today, Tuesday, September 16, the death sentences of two prisoners previously convicted on drug-related charges were carried out in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj.

HRANA has identified the executed prisoners as Masoud Okhtizadeh, from Kuhdasht, and Akbar Emami, from Nourabad.

Information obtained by HRANA indicates that both men had been arrested on charges related to narcotics offenses and later sentenced to death by Revolutionary Courts.

As of the time of this report, the executions have not been officially announced by prison authorities or other responsible institutions.

According to HRANA’s statistics, Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj carried out the highest number of executions among all Iranian prisons, with 150 inmates hanged. This figure has nearly doubled compared to the previous year – a deeply alarming increase that underscores the escalating use of capital punishment in Iran.

Religious Scholar Shahabeddin Haeri Shirazi Imprisoned to Serve Three-Year Sentence

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Shahabeddin Haeri Shirazi, Shiraz prison

HRANA – On September 14, writer and religious researcher Shahabeddin Haeri Shirazi was sent to Shiraz Prison to begin serving a three-year prison sentence.

On Monday, September 14, Shirazi reported to Shiraz Prison to serve his sentence. He was originally sentenced in November 2023 by the Special Clerical Court in Shiraz to three years in prison.

During the judicial process, the charges brought against the religious scholar included “disturbing public opinion” and “acting against national security.”

Over the past five years (2020–2024), Iran’s Judiciary has issued prison sentences totaling about 8,290 years to over 2,500 individuals—punished solely for exercising their rights to freedom of speech and thought.

Execution of Two Prisoners in Jiroft Prison

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Executions, News
Amir-Hossein Hemmati, Amirhossein Hemmati, HRANA, Jiroft

HRANA – At dawn today, Monday, September 15, the death sentences of two prisoners who had previously been convicted of murder were carried out in Jiroft Prison.

The identity of one of the prisoners executed at dawn today, Monday, September 14, has been confirmed by HRANA as Amir-Hossein Hemmati.

According to information obtained by HRANA, the two prisoners had previously been arrested on charges of murder and subsequently sentenced to death by criminal courts.

Further details, including the identity of the second executed prisoner, are still under investigation by HRANA.

As of the time of this report, the execution of these two prisoners has not been announced by prison authorities or other responsible institutions.

In 2024, according to 812 reports compiled by HRANA, the Iranian regime executed 930 individuals in its prisons—marking the highest number of executions in the past 12 years. Despite the scale of these executions, prison officials and other relevant authorities publicly acknowledged only 6% of them, highlighting the regime’s lack of transparency and accountability.

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80-Year-Old Former Political Prisoner Held 50 Days in Solitary in Qom

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News, Prisoners
Mohammad Banazadeh, Qom, Tehran, بنازاده

HRANA – Mohammad Banazadeh Amirkhizi, a former political prisoner, remains held in solitary confinement at the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Qom, fifty days after his arrest, without any clear legal status. The 80-year-old, who suffers from multiple health conditions, is also being denied adequate medical care.

A source familiar with his situation told HRANA: “Despite fifty days having passed since his arrest, Mr. Banazadeh is still being held in solitary confinement at the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Qom without clarification of his legal status. He suffers from diabetes, prostate cancer, heart disease, and a torn knee meniscus, yet has been denied medical treatment. In recent days, a sharp increase in his blood sugar levels has caused him serious health problems.”

Mr. Banazadeh was arrested on Monday, July 28, at his home in Tehran by security forces and transferred to the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Qom.

Mohammad Banazadeh Amirkhizi, 80, a resident of Tehran, has previously served prison sentences due to his political activities.

Prisoner Executed in Khorramabad Prison

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Executions, News
HRANA, Khorramabad Prison, میرزا ولی ستوده

HRANA – At dawn today, September 15, 2025, the death sentence of a prisoner previously convicted of murder was carried out in Khorramabad Prison.

HRANA has identified the executed prisoner as Mirza Vali Sotoudeh, who was hanged at dawn on Monday, September 15. Based on information obtained by HRANA, he had been arrested on murder charges and later sentenced to death by a criminal court.

As of the time of this report, prison authorities and judicial officials have not publicly announced the execution.

In 2024, according to 812 reports compiled by HRANA, the Iranian regime executed 930 individuals in its prisons—marking the highest number of executions in the past 12 years. Despite the scale of these executions, prison officials and other relevant authorities publicly acknowledged only 6% of them, highlighting the regime’s lack of transparency and accountability.

Two Prisoners Executed in Adelabad Prison, Shiraz

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Executions, News
Adelabad Prison, Amir-Hossein Pour-Amini, Ghavam Najafi, HRANA, Shiraz

HRANA – At dawn on Sunday, September 14, 2025, the death sentences of two prisoners previously convicted on drug-related charges in separate cases were carried out in Adelabad Prison, Shiraz.

HRANA has identified the executed prisoners as Ghavam Najafi and Amir-Hossein Pour-Amini, who were hanged at dawn on Sunday, September 14. Based on information received by HRANA, both men had been arrested in separate cases on drug-related charges and later sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court.

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

According to HRANA’s statistics, in 2024, Adelabad Prison in Shiraz witnessed the execution of 92 inmates — an 88% increase compared to the previous year. This sharp rise places Adelabad as the second deadliest prison in Iran after Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.

Continued Detention of Six Teenagers in Sanandaj

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Children, News, Prisoners
Behrouz Rashidi, Ehsan Sabouri, IRGC Intelligence, Kamyaran, Kawan Sabouri, Payam Hosseini, Sanandaj, Soran Mozaffari, Uraz Zamani

HRANA – Six 17-year-old teenagers from Kamyaran remain in detention in Sanandaj, held without clear legal status.

According to Kolbar News, on Sunday, September 14, 2025, Kawan Sabouri, Uraz Zamani, Behrouz Rashidi, Soran Mozaffari, and Payam Hosseini were transferred from the Kamyaran Ministry of Intelligence detention facility to the IRGC Intelligence Detention Facility in Sanandaj (Shahramfar) for interrogation. Ehsan Sabouri was transferred to the Juvenile Correction and Rehabilitation Center in Sanandaj.

The families of the teenagers report that security forces have refused to provide any information regarding the reasons for the arrests or the charges brought against them.

Ehsan Sabouri and Kawan Sabouri were arrested on September 11, while Payam Hosseini was detained a day earlier, on September 10, by security forces in Kamyaran. Uraz Zamani, Behrouz Rashidi, and Soran Mozaffari had been arrested earlier on September 7 in the same city.

It is noteworthy that Soran Mozaffari suffers from diabetes and requires continuous medical supervision and regular insulin injections to manage his condition.

Afghan Couple Executed in Qazvin Prison

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Executions, News
Afghan Executed, Hadigheh-Abadi, Herat, Qazvin prison, Younes Mazaarshams

HRANA – At dawn on Thursday, September 11, the death sentences of an Afghan couple, previously convicted on drug-related charges, were carried out in Qazvin Prison.

The couple, identified as Younes Mazaarshams, 46, and his wife Hadigheh-Abadi, both Afghan nationals, were hanged at dawn on Thursday, September 11.

They had been arrested on drug-related charges and later sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court. According to the report, the couple was originally from Herat and had lived in Iran for 20 years. They worked as caretakers in the Taleqan area of Karaj. A few months after their arrest, their three children were handed over to Afghanistan.

As of the time of this report, the executions have not been officially announced by prison authorities or state institutions.

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.