Category: News

Azerbaijani-Turk Activist Salar Taher Afshar Sentenced to One-Year Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, Salar Taher Afshar, Sharifeh Mohammadi, Varisheh Moradi

HRANA – Salar Taher Afshar, an Azerbaijani-Turk activist currently imprisoned in Evin Prison, has been sentenced to one year in prison by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court in connection with a new case opened against him during his incarceration.

Based on a verdict issued and served on December 20, 2025 by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, Mr. Taher Afshar was sentenced to one year of imprisonment on the charge of “propaganda against the regime.”

This case was opened following his signing of a statement protesting the issuance of death sentences against Sharifeh Mohammadi, Varisheh Moradi, and Pakhshan Azizi, as well as protesting the death of Somayeh Rashidi in Qarchak Prison in Varamin during her incarceration.

On February 18, 2025, this Azerbaijani-Turk activist was arrested by Intelligence Department forces in Urmia and transferred to the IRGC Intelligence detention facility in Tabriz. A few days later, Branch 36 of the Tehran Province Court of Appeal sentenced him to five years in prison on the charge of “assembly and collusion against national security.” He was ultimately released on bail from Tabriz Prison on March 2025.
On April 6, this Azerbaijani-Turk activist was arrested after appearing at the Enforcement of Judgments Branch of the Evin Prosecutor’s Office and was transferred to Evin Prison to serve his sentence.

Salar Taher Afshar, an Azerbaijani-Turk activist, has previously faced arrests and convictions due to his activities.

Mehdi Sadr Hafez Arrested in Mashhad

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Khosrow Alikordi, Mashhad, Seyed Mehdi Sadr Hafez

HRANA – Seyed Mehdi Sadr Hafez, a resident of Mashhad, was arrested by security forces on Tuesday, December 23, and transferred to Soroush Detention Center.

Based on information received by HRANA, Mr. Sadr Hafez was arrested yesterday by agents of the Mashhad Ministry of Intelligence and transferred to Soroush Detention Center. A source close to his family, confirming the arrest, told HRANA: “The arrest of this civil activist followed his participation in the seventh-day memorial ceremony for Khosrow Alikordi. His case is open at Branch 905 of the Mashhad Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office. Mr. Sadr Hafez is facing charges including propaganda against the regime and assembly and collusion with the intent to disrupt national security.”

Seyed Mehdi Sadr Hafez is a resident of Mashhad and the father of two children. Prior to his arrest, he was working in the taxi transportation sector. He has previously been arrested and served prison time due to his activities.

It is worth noting that the seventh-day memorial ceremony for Khosrow Alikordi was held on December 12, at Ghadir Mosque in Mashhad with a large public turnout. Participants chanted protest slogans during the ceremony. Following the intervention of law enforcement forces, the gathering turned violent and multiple confrontations occurred with those present. On the same day, the Mashhad prosecutor stated that a total of 50 people were arrested in connection with the ceremony, adding that 19 of them have so far been released.

Kamal Ja’fari Yazdi Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison on Political Charges

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Freedom of Expression, News
Kamal Jafari Yazdi, Mashhad, Vakilabad

HRANA – Kamal Ja’fari Yazdi, a political defendant, has been sentenced by Branch Two of the Mashhad Revolutionary Court to a total of 18 years in prison.

On December 8, 2025, a verdict was issued by Branch Two of the Mashhad Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Hassan Vaziri, and it was communicated to Mr. Ja’fari Yazdi today, December 24. Based on the ruling, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison on the charge of “forming a group with the intent to disrupt national security,” five years in prison for “membership in opposition groups,” two years in prison for “insulting the Supreme Leader,” and one year in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime.”

With the application of Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the severest punishment, 10 years of imprisonment, will be enforceable for this political defendant. The verdict is subject to appeal within 20 days of notification.

Mr. Ja’fari Yazdi was arrested on December 10, 2024, by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence in Mashhad and transferred to Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad. He was later released from Vakilabad Prison on November 15 of 2025, after posting bail.

Kamal Ja’fari Yazdi has previously faced arrest and judicial action due to his activities.

Yahya Landarani Arrested in Sabzevar

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Khosrow Alikordi, Sabzevar, Yahya Landarani

HRANA – Yesterday, Yahya Landarani, a resident of Sabzevar, was arrested by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence in the city and transferred to an unknown location.

A source close to this citizen’s family, confirming the news, told HRANA: “On Tuesday, December 23, Mr. Landarani was arrested at his workplace in Sabzevar by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence and taken to an unknown location.”

Based on information received by HRANA, the arrest followed his participation in the seventh-day memorial ceremony for Khosrow Alikordi.

As of the time of this report, no information is available regarding his place of detention, the reasons for his arrest, or the charges brought against Mr. Landarani.

Yahya Landarani is a resident of Sabzevar and the father of two children.

It is worth noting that on Friday, December 12, the seventh-day memorial ceremony for Khosrow Alikordi, a lawyer and human rights defender, was held at Ghadir Mosque in Mashhad with a large public turnout. The ceremony was accompanied by protest chants from participants and ultimately turned violent following the intervention of law enforcement forces. During the incident, dozens of participants were arrested by security forces.

Mohsen Parish Sentenced to Prison and Additional Punishments

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
HRANA, Karaj Central Penitentiary, Mohsen Parish, محسن پریش

HRANA – Mohsen Parish, a political prisoner held in Karaj Central Penitentiary, has been sentenced by Branch Two of the Karaj Revolutionary Court to three years in prison along with additional punishments.

Based on the ruling issued by Branch Two of the Karaj Revolutionary Court, Mohsen Parish has been sentenced to a total of three years’ imprisonment. In addition, as supplementary punishments, he has been sentenced to a two-year travel ban, a two-year ban on membership in social groups and associations, and a two-year deprivation and dismissal from all government and public employment and services. This verdict was issued in connection with the charges of propaganda against the regime and insulting the Supreme Leader.

A court session addressing another part of the charges against Mohsen Parish was held on 20 December via video conference at Branch 103 of Criminal Court Two of Fardis County. Mr. Parish defended himself against the charges of insulting officers and disobeying law enforcement agents, and his defense lawyer was present at the hearing.

Mohsen Parish was arrested on October 21, by security forces in front of his home and transferred to Karaj Central Penitentiary. Following his arrest, officers prevented his family from being present at the prosecutor’s office. At the time of his transfer to prison, signs of injury to his elbow and neck were visible, and his mobile phone was confiscated by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence.

Mohsen Parish has previously faced arrest and judicial action due to his activities. He is among those injured during the November 2019 protests and was arrested in 2020. In a two-part case, he had been sentenced to imprisonment and flogging on charges including “insulting the Prophet, insulting religious sanctities, insulting the Supreme Leader, propaganda against the regime, and acting against national security through calling for demonstrations against the regime.” He was ultimately granted amnesty and released from prison in late 2022.

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At Least 12 Prisoners Executed in Iran Over Two Days

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Executions, News
Bam, Birjand, Dorud, Gorgan, Ilam, Kashan, Khaf, Neyshabur, Saveh, Sepidar, Taybad, zanjan

HRANA- Over the past two days, according to reports by HRANA, at least 12 prisoners have been executed in Iran’s prisons.

Tuesday, December 23:
According to HRANA, the death sentences of the following individuals were carried out on this day:

• Saman Barzegar, convicted on drug-related charges, in Birjand Prison;
• Karim Yousefi, convicted on drug-related charges, in Khaf Prison;
• Ghanbar Farhadi, convicted of murder, in Ilam Prison;
• Safarali Sadeghi, convicted of murder, in Sepidar Prison in Ahvaz;
• Nejat Yari, convicted of murder, in Bam Prison.

In addition, a prisoner with the surname Moshiri (first name unknown) was executed on drug-related charges in Kerman Prison.

Monday, December 22:
HRANA reported the execution of the following prisoners on this day:

• Jamshid Nourmohammadi, on drug-related charges, in Kashan Prison;
• Majid Ahmadi, convicted of murder, in Neyshabur Prison;
• Iman Bakhshi, convicted of murder, in Saveh Prison;
• Noorkhoda Moradi, convicted of murder, in Dorud Prison;
• Aydin Nourzad, convicted of murder, in Gorgan Prison;
• Abbas Omidi, on drug-related charges, in Zanjan Prison.

Additionally, Iran Human Rights Organization reported the execution of two Afghan citizens on Sunday, December 21, in Taybad Prison. Their identities have been confirmed as Morad Sheghnaei, 27, and Mohammad Babrian, 32.

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

Qarchak Prosecutor Announces Arrest by IRGC Intelligence Forces

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Freedom of Expression, News, Other
irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Qarchak

HRANA – The Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor of Qarchak County announced the arrest of an individual in the county by forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Intelligence Organization.

According to Mehr News Agency, the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor of Qarchak, Tehran province, claimed that the detainee was among “destabilizing elements affiliated with overseas-based currents and groups” and had engaged in “anti-security actions” within the county.

He added that the identification and arrest of this individual were carried out by IRGC intelligence forces.

The report does not mention the identity of the arrested person or the exact time of the arrest. Additionally, no information is available regarding the detainee’s place of custody or whether they have access to a lawyer or contact with family members.

Senior Military Official: 2,000 Arrested on Espionage Charges

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Freedom of Expression, News, Other
HRANA, Iran-Israel war

HRANA – The Cultural Deputy of Iran’s Armed Forces General Staff announced that from several months before the start of the 12-day war with Israel until the end of the conflict, around 2,000 people in Iran were arrested on charges of espionage.

According to Daneshjoo News Agency, Abolfazl Shekarchi described the detainees as members of a “vast espionage network,” stating that from several months prior to the outbreak of the war between Israel and Iran until its conclusion, approximately 2,000 individuals linked to this network were apprehended.

He further claimed that “this extensive network was composed of spies and enemy agents, whose formation had taken years of effort. Significant resources were spent, and large sums of dollars were used to train and organize these individuals.”

The military official did not provide further details regarding the identities of those arrested, the time and place of the arrests, the detaining authority, or the judicial process related to the cases.

Meanwhile, following the end of the conflict, numerous reports have emerged indicating an increased use of the charge of “espionage” to arrest, convict, and even execute citizens in various parts of the country.

Although combating espionage is not in itself considered a human rights violation, given the Iranian government’s record of instrumentalizing this charge to target political opponents, such claims, especially in the absence of transparent details and due process—are consistently met with skepticism.

It is worth noting that in the early hours of June 13, 2025, a wave of Israeli airstrikes against Iranian territory began. According to previous field reports by HRANA, these attacks targeted not only military sites but also parts of civilian areas, resulting in the killing and injury of a significant number of civilians.

For more information, readers are encouraged to consult the comprehensive report on the 12-day war between Iran and Israel.

Execution Sentence of Seyed Mohammad Javad Vafaie Suspended

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News, Prisoners
Babak Paknia, Mashhad, Seyed Mohammad Javad Vafaie, Vakilabad prison

HRANA – Iran’s Supreme Court has agreed to halt the execution of Seyed Mohammad Javad Vafaie Sani, a political prisoner held at Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.

Babak Paknia, the defense attorney for this political prisoner, stated earlier today that an order to stop the execution of Mohammad Javad Vafaie Sani had been issued by the Supreme Court. The death sentence had recently been reaffirmed by the Supreme Court following the rejection of a request for retrial.

The death sentence of Javad Vafaie Sani had previously been overturned twice by the Supreme Court. However, in recent months it was upheld by Branch Nine of the Supreme Court. Following this decision, his lawyer submitted another request for retrial, which was ultimately rejected. Mr. Vafaie Sani was most recently sentenced to death in September 2024 by Branch Three of the Mashhad Revolutionary Court on the charge of “corruption on earth.”

This 28-year-old political prisoner and boxing coach was arrested in Mashhad in March 2020 and transferred to Vakilabad Prison. In the initial stage of proceedings, he was also sentenced to death by the Mashhad Revolutionary Court on charges of “corruption on earth through deliberate destruction.” That verdict was overturned by the Supreme Court, and the case was referred to a parallel branch for reconsideration. In the second trial, a death sentence was again issued, which was likewise overturned by the Supreme Court in June 2024.

Jalil Abbasi Remains in Detention Five Days After Arrest in Zanjan

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News, Prisoners
HRANA, Jalil Abbasi, zanjan, جلیل عباسی

HRANA – Jalil Abbasi, a resident of Zanjan, has been detained for five days by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence and is being held in the city’s prison.

A source close to Mr. Abbasi’s family confirmed the arrest to HRANA, stating that he was detained on December 17 by Ministry of Intelligence agents in Zanjan and transferred to the city’s prison. He has been held in the quarantine ward of the prison since his arrest. As of the time of this report, no information has been made available regarding the reasons for his arrest or the charges against him.

Jalil Abbasi has previously faced arrest and judicial action due to his activities.

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.