Sasan Chaman-Ara Arrested by Security Forces in Ilam

HRANA – Yesterday, July 16, Sasan Chaman-Ara, a resident of Ilam, was arrested by security forces in the city and taken to an undisclosed location.

Maryam Kian Ersi, Mr. Chaman-Ara’s lawyer, announced in a statement that her client was arrested yesterday in Ilam and transferred to an unknown location.

On Monday, July 14, Mr. Chaman-Ara had received a summons to appear before Branch 4 of the Ilam Prosecutor’s Office for a defense regarding the charge of “unauthorized access to data, computer systems, or telecommunications systems.” His arrest took place despite the fact that the five-day deadline for him to appear before the judicial authority had not yet expired.

Sasan Chaman-Ara, a 36-year-old resident of Ilam, has previously been arrested and convicted.

Mohammad Ahmadi, Creator of the “Dialogue Iran” Program, Arrested

HRANA – On Monday, July 14, Mohammad Ahmadi, the creator of the program Dialogue Iran, was arrested following a court session and transferred to an undisclosed location.

The official page of Dialogue Iran announced that on Monday, July 14, Mr. Ahmadi appeared in court to defend himself against charges brought against him last year in connection with the program. Following the hearing, he was arrested by security forces.

Videos from the most recent episode, titled Dialogue as Post-War, which aired a few days ago, have been widely circulated on social media. The program is a discussion-based series focusing on Iranian social and political issues. Its main platform is YouTube, though portions have also aired on Radio Namayesh.

As of the time of this report, no information has been made available regarding Mr. Ahmadi’s whereabouts, the reasons for his arrest, or the charges against him.

Mohammad Ahmadi Feyzabadi, a social researcher and creator of Dialogue Iran, has previously faced arrest and pressure from security forces.

Arbitrary arrests, transferring detainees to undisclosed locations, and leaving families in the dark about the fate of their loved ones are routine practices of the Iranian regime’s security agencies, such as the Ministry of Intelligence and the IRGC Intelligence Unit. This pattern of behavior stands in clear violation of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, known as the Nelson Mandela Rules:
“Every prisoner shall have the right, and shall be given the ability and means, to inform immediately his or her family, or any other person designated as a contact person, about his or her imprisonment, about his or her transfer to another institution and about any serious illness or injury. The sharing of prisoners’ personal information shall be subject to domestic legislation.”

Kamran Sakhtemanqar Sentenced to Imprisonment and Fine

HRANA Kamran Sakhtemanqar, a labor activist from Sanandaj, has been sentenced by Branch 2 of the Sanandaj Revolutionary Court to three months of discretionary imprisonment and a fine of 30 million tomans. The verdict, issued on Tuesday, July 15, pertains to the charge of “propaganda against the regime.”

A preliminary hearing in the case was held on May 18, 2025, in Branch 2 of the Sanandaj Prosecutor’s Office, following a summons issued on May 10.

Mr. Sakhtemanqar was arrested by security forces on February 5, 2025, and released from Sanandaj Prison on March 11 after posting bail.

In mid-January 2025, he also appeared before Branch 109 of the Sanandaj Criminal Court to respond to separate charges of defamation and slander.

Kamran Sakhtemanqar has previously faced multiple arrests and convictions due to his labor activism.

Drug-Related Offenses: A Prisoner Executed in Malayer Prison

HRANA – On Saturday, July 12, the death sentence of a prisoner previously convicted on drug-related charges was carried out in Malayer Prison.

HRANA has identified the prisoner hanged at dawn on Saturday, July 12, as Jalal Nazarbeigi, a resident of Razan County in Hamadan Province.

According to information obtained by HRANA, Mr. Nazarbeigi had previously been arrested on drug-related charges and later sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court.

As of the time of this report, the execution has not been officially announced by prison authorities or relevant 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.

Prisoner Executed in Arak Prison

HRANA– At dawn on Monday, July 14, the death sentence of a prisoner who had previously been convicted of murder was carried out in Arak Prison.

HRANA has identified the prisoner who was hanged at dawn yesterday as Mohammad Javad Kazemi.

According to information obtained by HRANA, Mr. Kazemi had previously been arrested on charges of murder and later sentenced to death by the Criminal Court.

As of the time of this report, prison authorities and relevant institutions have not officially 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.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Now is definitely not the time to stop reading!

Four Citizens Arrested by Security Forces in Sanandaj

HRANA – On Monday, July 14, Diyar Ahmadi, Ayoub Ahmadi, Abed Ahmadi, and Ali Ahmadi were arrested by security forces in Sanandaj and taken to an undisclosed location.

According to Kolbar News, security agents arrested them without presenting a judicial warrant.

As of the time of this report, there is no information about the reasons for their arrest, their whereabouts, or the charges brought against them.

In 2024, a total of 2,783 Iranian citizens were arrested by security and judicial authorities due to their beliefs, opinions, or political and civil activities. Over the past decade, the number of such arrests has exceeded 56,000. The highest number of arrests occurred in 2022, during the nationwide protests, when HRANA documented 23,977 detentions.

Execution of Two Prisoners in Hamedan Prison

HRANA News Agency – At dawn on Sunday, July 13, two prisoners were executed in Hamedan Prison on drug-related charges.

According to HRANA, Hamid Yavari, who had previously been sentenced to death for drug-related offenses, was executed by hanging. Iran Human Rights also confirmed the identity of the second prisoner as Jalal Nazarbeigi. He had been arrested three years ago on similar charges and later sentenced to death by the judiciary.

As of the time of this report, prison authorities and relevant institutions have not officially announced the executions.

In 2024, Iranian prisons witnessed the execution of 930 inmates. According to HRANA’s data, the number of executions carried out by the Iranian regime’s judiciary has risen steadily over the past five years. The percentage of executions related to drug charges has also increased year after year.

Ongoing Detention and Lack of Information on 16-Year-Old Mohammad Ascharavi

HRANA – Sixteen-year-old poet Mohammad Ascharavi (Asakareh), a resident of Abadan, was arrested by security forces on Sunday, June 22, and remains in custody with no information about his whereabouts.

According to information received by HRANA, security agents detained Mohammad at his family home without presenting a judicial warrant. Following his arrest, he was transferred to an undisclosed location. Despite 23 days having passed, authorities have yet to reveal where he is being held.

A source close to the family told HRANA: “Mohammad was arrested for reciting poems critical of the government during a gathering in the city of Ramshir. He had also been summoned twice recently by the Ministry of Intelligence in Abadan but had refused to comply.”

As of now, no official charges have been announced against him. Ascharavi is a 16-year-old poet from the Salich neighborhood of Abadan.

Report on the Latest Status of Afrooz Kian Ersi in Dolatabad Prison, Isfahan

HRANA – Afrooz Kian Ersi, a political prisoner and artist based in Isfahan, is currently serving a prison sentence in Dolatabad Prison.

According to information received by HRANA, Ms. Kian Ersi began serving her sentence in early May 2025. In late 2023, the Revolutionary Court sentenced her to six months of discretionary imprisonment and an additional six months of suspended imprisonment on charges of “propaganda against the regime.” The Court of Appeals later upheld the verdict in full.

A source close to her family confirmed the details to HRANA, stating: “The charges against Afrooz were based on her creation of a mosaic artwork titled Woman, Life, Freedom. She is currently experiencing deteriorating mental health. She has submitted a request to serve her sentence under electronic monitoring and is awaiting a decision.”

Ms. Kian Ersi was previously arrested in 2023 in connection with her artistic and social activities.

Three Sentenced to Death, Two to Long Prison Terms in Khuzestan Political Case

HRANA – The Ahvaz Revolutionary Court has sentenced political prisoners Masoud Jamei, Alireza Merdasi, and Farshad Etemadifar each to two death sentences and one year in prison. In the same case, the court handed down a combined 27 years of imprisonment to Saman Hormatnejad and Davoud Hormatnejad.

Branch 1 of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Adibimehr, issued the verdicts and formally delivered them to the defendants on July 11. Judge Adibimehr convicted Jamei, Merdasi, and Etemadifar of corruption on earth (efsad fel-arz), membership in rebel groups, and propaganda against the regime, sentencing each to two executions and one year behind bars. He also sentenced Hormatnejad and Hormatnejad to 12 and 15 years in prison, respectively, on similar charges.

According to the court rulings, membership in the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MEK) was cited as the basis for the charges. This case constitutes one of the harshest security-related verdicts issued in Khuzestan province in recent months.

A source familiar with the case, who spoke to HRANA on condition of anonymity due to security concerns, stated: “These individuals have spent nearly two years in pre-trial detention in a state of uncertainty. During this time, they were denied access to legal representation and adequate medical care. The verdicts were issued despite clear violations of fair trial standards. The confessions attributed to the defendants were obtained under coercion and in inhumane conditions.”

Farshad Etemadifar, Saman Hormatnejad, and Davoud Hormatnejad were arrested by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence on June 16, 2023. Masoud Jamei and Alireza Mordasi were also arrested by security forces in Ahvaz on August 1, 2023, and transferred to Sheyban Prison.

Following these arrests, Tasnim News Agency, affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), published a report claiming the detainees were connected to the “Monafeqin network” (a term used by the Islamic Republic to refer to the MEK) and were planning “sabotage operations” in Khuzestan, Fars, and Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad provinces.

Farshad Etemadifar is from Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, while Masoud Jamei and Alireza Merdasi (also known as Hamidavi) are residents of Ahvaz. Masoud Jamei, 47, suffers from liver disease and stomach cancer. His health condition in prison is critical, and he urgently needs treatment in specialized medical facilities outside the prison. Before his arrest, he worked for the National Iranian Oil Company. In March 2025, he, along with his wife Zeinab Hezbapour and children Nahid, Dalal, and Roghayeh Jamei, was tried in the Bavi Revolutionary Court on charges related to alleged connections with an opposition group.