Category: News

Attorney Javad Alikordi Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison, Exile, and Permanent Disbarment

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Freedom of Expression, News
Javad Alikordi, Khosrow Alikordi, Mashhad, Vakilabad prison

HRANA – Javad Alikordi, the brother of deceased attorney Khosrow Alikordi, has been sentenced by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad to 18 years in prison, permanent disbarment, exile, and additional punishments.

According to HRANA, Javad Alikordi, an attorney currently imprisoned in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad, has been sentenced to imprisonment and supplementary penalties.

According to the verdict issued by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad, Mr. Alikordi was sentenced to five years in prison on charges of “assembly and collusion to act against national security,” and to 13 years in prison on charges of “propaganda activity contrary to national security” under Article 4 of the Law on Intensifying Punishments for Espionage. He was also sentenced to permanent disbarment from the legal profession, a two-year travel ban, and two years of internal exile in the city of Saravan, Sistan and Baluchestan Province.

On June 10, 2026, a hearing on the charges against Mr. Alikordi was held in the same branch of the court.

Javad Alikordi was arrested by security forces at his workplace in Mashhad on December 12, 2025. He was initially transferred to a security detention facility and was later moved to Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.

Mr. Alikordi had previously been convicted in a separate case on political and security-related charges, although the implementation of part of that sentence had been suspended. He is the brother of Khosrow Alikordi, an attorney and human rights defender who passed away in December 2025.

Seyed Mohammadreza Razavi-Fard, Attorney Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Mohammadreza Razavi Fard, Qom, محمدرضا رضوی فرد

HRANA – Seyed Mohammadreza Razavi-Fard, an attorney, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Qom.

Based on information received by HRANA, Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Qom recently sentenced this attorney to 10 years in prison on charges of “propaganda activity against the national security” under Article 4 of the Law on Intensifying Punishment for Crimes Against National Security.

Mr. Razavi-Fard has filed an appeal against the ruling, and his case will be reviewed by the Court of Appeals.

The hearing on the charges against him was held on May 26, 2026, in the aforementioned branch of the court.

The case was initiated under Article 4 of the Law on Intensifying Punishment for Crimes Against National Security, a provision that criminalizes certain political, cultural, media, and propaganda activities, including the production or dissemination of content that a court deems to be against national security. The article also considers the sending of videos, images, or information to foreign or opposition media outlets and social media pages punishable if it is determined to be contrary to national security.

Seyed Mohammadreza Razavi-Fard is a licensed attorney based in Qom Province. He is currently free on bail pending further proceedings.

Report on Political Prisoner Abdolrasoul Mortazavi’s Situation in Dastgerd Prison

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News, Prisoners
Abdolrasoul Mortazavi, Dastgerd Prison, HRANA, Isfahan

HRANA – Political prisoner Abdolrasoul Mortazavi is serving his sentence in Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan. He has been sentenced to more than 30 years in prison in several separate cases and is currently serving his longest executable sentence of 11 years’ imprisonment.

According to HRANA, Abdolrasoul Mortazavi is currently serving his sentence in Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan.

A source close to the family of the political prisoner told HRANA that Mr. Mortazavi is a veteran of the Iran-Iraq War and, due to his injuries, is required to use a prosthetic leg. The source added: “In addition to the difficult prison conditions Mr. Mortazavi faces, on March 1, 2026, he was taken out of prison and transferred to one of the intelligence detention cells within the prison for a period of 40 days. Prison authorities claimed that the transfer was a preventive measure.”

The source further stated that after returning from the detention facility, Mr. Mortazavi released an audio file in which he reported acts of violence against detainees in the detention facility.

In August 2019, a letter signed by 14 civil activists calling for the resignation of Ayatollah Khamenei was published. Following the publication of the letter, several of its signatories, including Abdolrasoul Mortazavi, were arrested. In connection with this case, Mr. Mortazavi was sentenced by the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad to 26 years in prison. In another part of the same case, he was sentenced by a criminal court to two years’ imprisonment on charges of disturbing public opinion. Of these sentences, 11 years as the severest punishment is enforceable, and he is currently serving this sentence in Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan.

In June 2021, in a case opened against him while he was in prison, Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced him in absentia to two years’ imprisonment. The sentence, issued on charges of “propaganda against the regime” and “disrupting public order,” was later reduced to eight months in prison on appeal.

Additionally, in 2022, in another case opened against him during his imprisonment, the Revolutionary Court of Karaj sentenced him to two years in prison on charges of insulting the Supreme Leader.

Abdolrasoul Mortazavi, a veteran of the Iran-Iraq War who had also been sentenced to imprisonment in another case in 2017, was arrested in Mashhad in 2019 and has remained in prison ever since.

Following his arrest, Mr. Mortazavi was initially transferred to Evin Prison to serve his sentence. He was subsequently transferred to Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj in April 2021 and finally to Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan in July 2022.

Three Citizens Arrested by Security Forces in Zahedan

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News, Other
Eqbal Shahouzahi, Farzad Zarifdel, irgc, Mehdi Dahmardeh, Zahedan

HRANA – On the evening of Wednesday, June 17, 2026, three citizens identified as Farzad Zarifdel, Eghbal Shahouzahi, and Mehdi Dahmardeh were arrested in Zahedan by security forces and transferred to an undisclosed location.

According to a report received by HRANA from Rasank, three citizens have been arrested in Zahedan.

Based on the report, on the evening of Wednesday, June 17, 2026, Farzad Zarifdel, Eqbal Shahouzahi, and Mehdi Dahmardeh were arrested by forces of the IRGC  in Zahedan and taken to an unknown location. The arrests were carried out without the presentation of a judicial warrant.

The report states that efforts by the families of these individuals to obtain information regarding their condition and whereabouts have so far been unsuccessful.

Farzad Zarifdel, 25, is married and has one child. Eqbal Shahouzahi, 22, and Mehdi Dahmardeh, 24, are all residents of Zahedan.

Kamal Omidi Remains Detained in Khomein Prison for Over 40 Days

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News, Prisoners
HRANA, irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Kamal Omidi, Khomein, کمال امیدی

HRANA – Kamal Omidi, a language instructor and director of a language institute in Khomein, has been detained for more than 40 days and is currently being held in Khomein Prison without observance of the principle of separation of prisoners based on the nature of their alleged offenses.

According to information received by HRANA, Mr. Omidi is currently being held alongside prisoners convicted of violent crimes in Khomein Prison, without the observance of the principle of classification and separation of inmates. Since his arrest, he has been denied access to legal counsel and family visits.

A source close to the family, who confirmed the information to HRANA, stated: “The reasons for Mr. Omidi’s arrest remain unknown. During this period, he has had several monitored phone calls with his family, but he has not provided any information regarding the status of his case.”

Kamal Omidi was arrested in Khomein by agents of the IRGC Intelligence Organization in May 2026.

As of the time of writing, no information has been obtained regarding the charges brought against him.

Mr. Omidi, born in 1977, holds a Ph.D. in language studies and is the director of a language institute in Khomein.

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At Least Three Prisoners Executed in Zahedan Prison

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Executions, News
Abdullah Jalali, HRANA, Zahedan Prison, Zaher Shahouzahi

HRANA – On Wednesday, June 17, authorities at Zahedan Prison carried out the executions of three prisoners on drug-related charges.

According to a report by HRANA, citing Haal Vsh, at least three prisoners were executed in Zahedan Prison on Wednesday, June 17.

Haalvsh identified two of those executed as Abdullah Jalali, a 25-year-old Afghan national and father of two, and Zaher Shahouzahi (Gorgij), a 40-year-old married man, father of three, and a resident of Zahedan. Jalali had been arrested approximately four years ago, and Shahouzahi around three years ago, on drug-related charges in Zahedan. They were subsequently sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court of the city.

The report also states that another prisoner was executed in the same prison on non-political charges. As of the time of writing, the identity of this prisoner has not been confirmed.

At the time of publication, prison authorities and relevant institutions had not officially announced these executions.

According to HRA’s Annual Report, in 2025 at least 2,063 citizens, including 61 women and 2 juvenile offenders, were executed. Of these, the sentences of 11 individuals were carried out in public. During the same period, 172 other individuals were sentenced to death.

Report on the Execution of Five Prisoners in Hamedan Prison

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News
Alireza Maleki, Farzad Bahrami, Hamedan, Hossein Shahamat, HRANA, Ramin Bagheri, Samad Naderpour

HRANA – The death sentences of five prisoners who had previously been sentenced to execution in separate cases on charges related to drug offenses and murder were carried out in Hamedan Prison.

According to the Iran Human Rights Organization, five prisoners were hanged in Hamedan Prison. The prisoners have been identified as Ramin Bagheri, 27, from Hamedan; Alireza Maleki, 29, from Songhor; Farzad Bahrami, 36, a father of one child, from Hamedan; and Samad Naderpour, 30, and Hossein Shahamat, 35, both from Zanjan.

According to the report, Ramin Bagheri, Alireza Maleki, and Farzad Bahrami were executed yesterday, June 17, 2026. Mr. Bagheri had been arrested six years ago, while Mr. Maleki and Mr. Bahrami had been arrested four years ago in separate murder cases and were subsequently sentenced to death by the judiciary.

Additionally, the executions of Samad Naderpour and Hossein Shahamat were carried out on June 6, 2026, in Hamedan Prison. The two prisoners had been arrested two years earlier in separate cases involving drug-related offenses and were sentenced to death.

The executions of Mr. Naderpour and Mr. Shahamat were carried out without allowing them a final visit with their families.

At the time of writing, prison authorities and the relevant official bodies had not publicly announced the executions of these five prisoners.

According to HRA’s Annual Report, in 2025 at least 2,063 citizens, including 61 women and 2 juvenile offenders, were executed. Of these, the sentences of 11 individuals were carried out in public. During the same period, 172 other individuals were sentenced to death.

Hamidreza Rajabpour Arrested in Yasuj

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News, Other
Hamidreza Rajabpour, Yasuj, حمیدرضا رجب پور

HRANA – Hamidreza Rajabpour, a resident of Yasuj, was arrested in the city on Tuesday, June 16, and transferred to an undisclosed location.

Based on information received by HRANA, security forces arrested Mr. Rajabpour on the evening of Tuesday, June 16, at his workplace on Bahonar Boulevard in Yasuj.

As of the time of this report, no information is available regarding the reasons for his arrest or his whereabouts.

Hamidreza Rajabpour, a resident of Yasuj, works at the “Homa” Café in the city.

Eight Prisoners Executed in Yazd Prison

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Executions, News
Ghafour Shahbakhsh, HRANA, Omar Shahbakhsh, Yazd, Yazd Prison, Zahedan

HRANA – Yesterday, June 17, 2026, the death sentences of eight prisoners convicted on non-political charges were carried out in Yazd Prison.

According to Rasank, two of those executed have been identified as Omar Shahbakhsh, approximately 24 years old and a native of Zahedan, and Ghafour Shahbakhsh, approximately 25 years old, married and the father of one child, also from Zahedan.

The two prisoners had been arrested several years ago in Yazd in a joint case involving drug-related offenses and were subsequently sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court of the city.

Additionally, Haalvsh reported the execution of six other prisoners in the same prison on non-political charges. The report did not provide their identities or details regarding their cases.

As of the time of writing, the executions have not been officially announced by prison authorities or the relevant government institutions.

According to HRA’s Annual Report, in 2025 at least 2,063 citizens, including 61 women and 2 juvenile offenders, were executed. Of these, the sentences of 11 individuals were carried out in public. During the same period, 172 other individuals were sentenced to death.

Singer Parastoo Ahmadi and Members of the “Caravanserai Concert” Team Sentenced to Flogging and Ban on Artistic Work

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Cultural, Freedom of Expression, News
Ehsan Beiraqdar, HRANA, Nowshahr, Parastoo Ahmadi

HRANA – Parastoo Ahmadi, a singer, along with eight members of the production team and musicians involved in the “Caravanserai Concert,” has been sentenced by the Criminal Court of Qom Province to 74 lashes, a two-year travel ban, and a two-year prohibition on artistic activities.

According to HRANA, citing BBC Persian, Parastoo Ahmadi and eight members of the production team and musicians of the “Caravanserai Concert” have been sentenced to flogging and other penalties.

According to the report, Parastoo Ahmadi, together with eight members of the concert’s production team and musicians, was sentenced by the Criminal Court of Qom Province to 74 discretionary lashes, a two-year ban on leaving the country, and a two-year ban on engaging in artistic activities.

The charges against the defendants reportedly included “offending public decency through the production and publication of vulgar and immoral content on cyberspace platforms.”

In December 2024, Parastoo Ahmadi and several of her musicians held a symbolic concert without an audience at the Deir Gachin Caravanserai in Qom. The performance was livestreamed on Ahmadi’s YouTube channel. The publication of the video subsequently led to the opening of a judicial case against them.

Shortly afterward, Ms. Ahmadi, pianist Ehsan Beiraqdar, and electric guitarist Soheil Faqih-Nasiri were arrested. In a report published by Tasnim News Agency, quoting the head of the Information Center of the Mazandaran Province Police Command, authorities stated that “following the production and publication of a video by Ms. Parastoo Ahmadi that was deemed contrary to social norms and values, she was summoned to the Public Security Police and instructed to appear before the judicial authorities.”

On the evening of December 15, 2024, the two male musicians were released under judicial supervision orders. Parastoo Ahmadi was also released from detention at approximately 3:00 a.m. the following day under similar conditions.

On December 23, 2024, the defendants were formally charged at Branch 38 of the Tehran Prosecutor’s Office for Moral Security Affairs. At the conclusion of the session, which was attended by their defense attorneys, all were released on bail.

Parastoo Ahmadi, born in 1997 in Nowshahr, is a singer and a graduate of film directing from Soore University. She previously gained prominence during the 2022 nationwide protests through her rendition of the patriotic song “Az Khoon-e Javanan-e Vatan” (“From the Blood of the Youth of the Homeland”) by Aref Qazvini. Her body of work also includes reinterpretations of Mazandarani folk songs and poems by Baba Taher and Mehdi Akhavan Sales.