Category: News

Vakilabad Prison: Death-Row Protester’s Case Under Supreme Court Review

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Executions, News, Prisoners
HRANA, Mohammad Mehdi Soleimani, Vakilabad

HRANA – Mohammad-Mehdi Soleimani, one of those arrested during the 2022 nationwide protests and later sentenced to death, is currently held in Ward 1 of Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.

In November of last year, the Mashhad Criminal Court sentenced him to death on the charge of killing a Basij member. His case is now under review by the Supreme Court.

HRANA first identified him as a death-row prisoner in January 2025. Mr. Soleimani was arrested by security forces in Mashhad in October 2022 and transferred to Ward 1 of Vakilabad Prison in March 2023. After more than two years in legal uncertainty, he was tried in November 2024 at Branch 5 of Criminal Court One in Razavi Khorasan Province. Presiding judge Mohammad Shoja’pour-Fadaki sentenced him to death for the alleged killing of Rasoul Doost-Mohammadi, a Basij member, during the Mashhad protests. His case remains under Supreme Court review.

A source familiar with the case told HRANA: “Mohammad-Mehdi has been denied access to a chosen lawyer at every stage of the legal process.”

In the same case file, he has also been sentenced to pay blood money and serve two and a half years in prison for inflicting bodily harm, and to two years and six months in prison plus 74 lashes for possessing explosive and incendiary materials.

State media previously claimed that on September 22, 2022, Mr. Soleimani stabbed and fatally wounded Rasoul Doost-Mohammadi, a Basij member, on a street in Mashhad.

Mohammad-Mehdi Soleimani is originally from Quchan, lived in Mashhad, and was approximately 20 years old at the time of his arrest.

Two Piranshahr Residents Sentenced to Six Years on Political Charges

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ahmad Mam-Sharifi, HRANA, Piranshahr, Rahman Hosseini, پیرانشهر

HRANA – Seyed Rahman Hosseini and Ahmad Mam-Sharifi, residents of Piranshahr, have been sentenced by the Piranshahr Revolutionary Court to a combined total of six years and six months in prison.

According to Kolbar News, this ruling was recently issued and formally communicated to Seyed Rahman Hosseini and Ahmad Mam-Sharifi. Based on the verdict, Mr. Hosseini was sentenced to three years and six months in prison on the charge of propaganda against the regime. Ahmad Mam-Sharifi was also sentenced by the same judicial branch to three years in prison for the same charge.

On June 19 of this year, Hosseini and Mam-Sharifi were arrested by security forces. Since their arrest, they have been denied family visits and the right to access a lawyer.

The report notes, without providing further details, including the location of their detention, that both citizens remain in custody.

Kourosh Jalil Arrested and Transferred to Prison to Serve His Sentence

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Freedom of Expression, News
Kourosh Jalil, Yasuj, کوروش جلیل

HRANA – Kourosh Jalil, a resident of Yasuj, was arrested and transferred to the city’s prison to begin serving his 15-month prison sentence.

Based on information received by HRANA, on Friday, November 21, security forces entered Mr. Jalil’s home, arrested him, and transferred him to the Yasuj Prosecutor’s Office. He was then taken to the city’s prison to begin serving his sentence.

In August, Mr. Jalil was sentenced by Branch 1 of the Yasuj Revolutionary Court to two years, one month, and one day in prison. This included 10 months for propaganda against the regime and 15 months and one day for insulting the Supreme Leader and the founder of the Islamic Republic. Since he did not appeal the ruling, the verdict became final and enforceable. Under Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the most severe punishment, 15 months and one day, will be applied.

In May of this year, Branch 1 of the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office of Boyer-Ahmad issued an indictment against Mr. Jalil on charges of propaganda against the regime and spreading falsehoods. His hearing, along with two other citizens, had previously been held at the same branch.

In December of 2024, in another case, Kourosh Jalil was sentenced to three years in prison on charges of insulting the founder of the Islamic Republic, unlawful assembly, insulting Islamic sanctities, insulting the Supreme Leader, and propaganda against the regime. This sentence had been suspended for one year.

Kourosh Jalil had been released on bail in July 2024 after being arrested the previous month. On that same day, his sentence of a monetary fine was enforced following several hours of detention.

Three Ahvazi Citizens Arrested by Security Forces

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ahvazi citizens, Ali Hamdi, Hossein Jalal, Sajad Gharbavi

HRANA – On Wednesday, November 19, three Ahvazi citizens, Sajad Gharbavi, Hossein Jalal, and Ali Hamdi, were arrested by security forces. Mr. Jalal and Mr. Hamdi were released after signing a written pledge, but Sajad Gharbavi remains in custody, and his whereabouts are unknown.

These individuals were arrested on Wednesday, November 19, by security forces. While Hossein Jalal and Ali Hamdi were later released after providing a written commitment, Sajad Gharbavi remains detained, and no information is available regarding his condition.

According to published reports, the arrests were linked to the release of a music video titled “Zalmahne.” Following their detention, the video was removed from all their social media pages.

As of the time of this report’s publication, no information has been obtained regarding the charges brought against these individuals.

Arman Oskouei Sentenced to Imprisonment

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News, Prisoners
Mashhad, Seyed Arman Oskouei, Vakilabad

HRANA – Seyed Arman Oskouei, a political prisoner held in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad, has been sentenced to 23 months in prison by the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad.

According to the ruling issued by the Mashhad Revolutionary Court and delivered to Mr. Oskouei last week, he received 15 months and 1 day in prison on the charge of insulting the Supreme Leader and 7 months and 23 days on the charge of propaganda against the regime. He had been formally notified of these charges in October at the Mashhad Prosecutor’s Office.

Oskouei was arrested on September 14, 2025, at his home in Mashhad and was transferred to Vakilabad Prison on September 27, 2025.

According to information obtained by HRANA, he had previously been arrested on July 6, 2025, by Basij forces for walking his dog in a park. During that incident, he was beaten, taken to a police station in Mashhad, and later released.

Seyed Arman Oskouei, 29, had also been arrested by security forces during the 2022 nationwide protests and was released afterward.

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Seven Prisoners Executed Across Iran Over Three Days

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Executions, News
Behbahan, Borazjan, Dizelabad, Kashmar, Shahr-e Kord

HRANA- Over the past three days, the escalating trend of executions in various prisons across Iran has continued. This report lists the executions of seven prisoners in different prisons, as documented by HRANA. None of these executions have been announced by prison authorities or other responsible institutions.

On Tuesday, November 18, HRANA reported the execution of a prisoner named Samad Haghverdi in Borazjan Prison. According to information received by HRANA, Mr. Haghverdi had previously been arrested on a murder charge and subsequently sentenced to death by the Criminal Court.

On Wednesday, November 19, a prisoner named Fardin Khani was executed in Behbahan Prison. According to information obtained by HRANA, this prisoner had earlier been arrested on a murder charge and later sentenced to death by the Criminal Court.

On the same day, the death sentence of Mohammadreza Hosseini, a prisoner convicted of murder, was carried out in Ilam Prison. Additionally, Peyman Azizi in Dizelabad Prison in Kermanshah, Yousef Abadipour in Bushehr Prison, and Akbar Zamani in Shahr-e Kord Prison were all hanged on murder charges.

Today, Thursday, November 19, Kashmar Prison also witnessed the execution of a prisoner named Erfan Azadi, who had been convicted of murder.

Execution of Two Prisoners in Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan

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Executions, News
Akbar Faraji, Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan, اکبر فرجی

HRANA – At dawn on Tuesday, November 18, the death sentences of two prisoners who had previously been sentenced to execution on drug-related charges were carried out in Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan.

The identity of one of the prisoners has been identified as Akbar Faraji by HRANA.
According to information received by HRANA, the prisoners had earlier been arrested on drug-related charges and subsequently sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court.

Further details, including the identity of the second executed prisoner, are still being investigated by HRANA.

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

From the beginning of this year until the end of October, the Iranian regime has executed 1,286 people, marking an unprecedented increase compared to previous years.

Execution of Three Prisoners in Ghezel Hesar Prison

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Executions, News
Ghezel Hesar prison, Hooshang Norouzi, Houshang Norouzi, HRANA, Javad Sadeghi, قزل حصار

HRANA – On Wednesday, November 19, the death sentences of three prisoners who had previously been sentenced to execution on charges of murder were carried out in Ghezel Hesar Prison.

The identities of two of the prisoners, Hooshang Norouzi and Javad Sadeghi, have been verified by HRANA.

According to information received by HRANA, the three prisoners had earlier been arrested on murder charges and subsequently sentenced to death by Criminal Courts.

Further details, including the identity of the third prisoner, are still being investigated by HRANA.

As of the time of this reporting, the executions have not been 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.

Two Prisoners Executed in Mashhad

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Executions, News
HRANA, Mashhad, Vakilabad prison

HRANA – Yesterday, November 19, the death sentences of two prisoners who had previously been sentenced to execution on charges of murder were carried out in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.

The identities of these prisoners, Mohsen Fakhraie and Ne’mat Shamloo, have been verified by HRANA.
According to information obtained by HRANA, they had earlier been arrested on charges of murder and subsequently sentenced to death by the Criminal Court.

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

From the beginning of this year until the end of October, the Iranian regime has executed 1,286 people, marking an unprecedented increase compared to previous years.

Seven Baha’i Citizens Now Imprisoned in Karaj Following Enforcement of Sentences

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News, Religious Minorities
HRANA, Kachoui prison, Karaj, Parsa Soroushian, Rouzbeh Naseri

HRANA – Parsa Soroushian and Rouzbeh Naseri, two Baha’i citizens residing in Karaj, were transferred on Sunday, November 16, to the Central Penitentiary of Karaj to begin serving their prison sentences.

According to information received by HRANA, on November 16, these two Baha’i citizens were detained after appearing at the Enforcement Unit of the Karaj Revolutionary Court and were transferred to the Central Penitentiary of Karaj to begin serving their sentences.

In a separate report, HRANA had already announced the enforcement of the prison sentences for five other defendants in the same case: Naghmeh Mirza-Agha, Mahin Sa’adatmand, Mahshid Sefidi, Samar Masoudi, and Naser Rajab. Among them, Mr. Rajab was transferred to the Central Penitentiary of Karaj, while the four women were taken to Kachoui Prison. These citizens had been summoned to the Enforcement Unit of the Karaj Revolutionary Court in mid-Mehr for the execution of their sentences.

Following an appeals hearing on September 8, 2025, Branch 12 of the Alborz Province Court of Appeals reduced their sentences to five months in prison, two years of travel bans, and two years of bans on social activity. Previously, each had been sentenced by Branch 2 of the Karaj Revolutionary Court to ten months in prison along with additional penalties.

Naser Rajab has previously faced security-related persecution and arrest.

Over the past decade, the Iranian Bahá’í community has been disproportionately targeted by Iran’s security forces and judiciary, more than any other minority group. In the past three years, an average of 72 percent of the reports on religious rights violations collected by HRANA have documented the Iranian regime’s repression of the Bahá’í community.