Crew Members of My Favorite Cake Tried in Revolutionary Court

HRANA – On Saturday, March 1, 2025, a court session was held to review charges against six crew members of the film My Favorite Cake, including directors Behtash Sanaeeha and Maryam Moghaddam, producer Gholamreza Mousavi, actors Lili Farhadpour and Esmail Mehrabi, and a cinematographer. The trial took place in Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, these individuals stood trial on various charges.

Charges Against the Filmmakers
In February 2025, an indictment was issued against the film’s creators, accusing them of:

. Propaganda against the regime
. Producing, distributing, and reproducing a film with “immoral” content
. Offending public decency and morality
. Screening the film without official approval

During the trial, the defendants, accompanied by their lawyers, defended themselves against these allegations.

Film’s International Recognition and Government Backlash

Despite winning international awards, including the Silver Hugo at the Chicago International Film Festival, directors Behtash Sanaeeha and Maryam Moghaddam were banned from leaving the country and could not attend the ceremonies.
My Favorite Cake was produced without government censorship and without enforcing mandatory hijab on female actors. The Iranian Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance strongly opposed its production.
The film, a 2024 drama, gained widespread attention after being released online, where it was well received by the public.

Lawyer Javad Alikordi Arrested by Mashhad’s Ministry of Intelligence Forces

HRANA – Today, Saturday, March 1, 2025, Javad Alikordi, a defense attorney, was arrested by Mashhad’s Ministry of Intelligence forces and transferred to Vakilabad Prison in the city. Previously, the appeals court revoked the suspension of his prison sentence, ordering its enforcement.

Khosrow Alikordi, also a defense attorney, announced that his brother was detained in Mashhad on March 1, following a decision by Branch 37 of the Khorasan Razavi Appeals Court on February 26 to lift the suspension of his prison sentence.

Alikordi had previously been sentenced in March 2022 to two years in prison for “forming and leading a group with the intent to overthrow the government and disrupt national security,” eight months for “propaganda against the regime,” and one year and five months for “insulting the Supreme Leader.” Additionally, he was banned from teaching, joining political and social groups, and leaving the country for two years as supplementary punishment. After serving part of his sentence and receiving conditional release, his sentence had been suspended for three years.

However, on December 11, 2024, he was sentenced again to a fine for “propaganda against the regime” and was banned from traveling abroad and engaging in online activities as additional punishment. This new conviction led to the revocation of his prior sentence suspension, converting his suspended punishment into an enforceable prison term.

Javad Alikordi, a lawyer and university professor, was initially sentenced in early 2021 by the Mashhad Revolutionary Court to eight years and seven months in prison, along with a two-year ban on employment and teaching in educational institutions, a travel ban, and a prohibition from joining political and social groups. His sentence was later reduced to four years and one month on appeal, with two years of imprisonment being enforceable under Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code. He was ultimately transferred to Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad on July 15, 2021, to serve his sentence.

Seven Prisoners Executed in Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad

At dawn on Saturday, March 1, 2025, seven prisoners were executed in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.

The identities of four of them have been confirmed as Masoud Yagizi (Brahooie), Aref Sedighpour from Kerman, Asieh Ghavi-Cheshm (female), and Jalal Afagh. These prisoners had previously been arrested on drug-related charges and sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court. Ghavi-Cheshm and Afagh had been sentenced to death in a joint case.

The identities and charges of the other three individuals are still under investigation by HRANA.

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

In 2024, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran documented 812 cases related to the right to life, including the sentencing of 214 individuals to death and the execution of 930 individuals. Among these, 4 executions were carried out in public. Of those executed, 818 were male, 26 were female, and 5 were juvenile offenders—individuals under 18 years old at the time of their alleged crimes.

Prisoner Executed in Sari Prison on Drug-Related Charges

HRANA News Agency – On Thursday, February 27, a prisoner who had previously been sentenced to death on drug-related charges was executed in Sari Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, the executed prisoner has been identified as Ali Khalili, a resident of Mashhad.

HRANA has learned that Khalili was arrested in 2020 on drug-related charges and later sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court.

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

According to data compiled by HRANA, 52.69% of all executions in Iran in 2024 were related to drug-related charges. Notably, only 6% of the executions were officially announced, highlighting a significant lack of transparency. For a detailed analysis of these executions and the associated statistics, see HRANA’s full report.

Traditional Singer Hiwa Seyfizadeh Arrested

HRANA News Agency – On the evening of Thursday, February 27, Hiwa Seyfizadeh, an Iranian traditional music singer, was arrested by security forces while performing at a concert in Tehran and taken to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, Seyfizadeh, a singer and traditional music instructor, was detained during her performance at “Roo Be Roo” Hall in Tehran.

As of the time of this report, the reasons for her arrest and any charges against her remain unknown.

Hiwa Seyfizadeh, aged approximately 27 years old, is a traditional singer, music instructor, and tombak (an Iranian goblet drum) player, residing in Tehran.

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Five Prisoners Executed in Kermanshah Prison

HRANA News Agency – At dawn on Wednesday, February 26, at least five prisoners were executed in Kermanshah Prison. HRANA had previously reported the execution of one of these individuals.

HRANA has confirmed the identities of three of the executed prisoners, who had been sentenced to death on murder charges: Behrooz Safari, Milad Moradi, and Mohammad Fereydouni.

Further details, including the identities of the two other prisoners, who were sentenced to death in separate cases on murder and drug-related charges, are still under investigation by HRANA.

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

In 2024, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran documented 812 cases related to the right to life, including the sentencing of 214 individuals to death and the execution of 930 individuals. Among these, 4 executions were carried out in public. Of those executed, 818 were male, 26 were female, and 5 were juvenile offenders—individuals under 18 years old at the time of their alleged crimes.

Six Months of Detention Without Trial: Ongoing Uncertainty for Peyman Farah-Avar in Lakan Prison

HRANA News Agency – Peyman (Amin) Farah-Avar, a political detainee and poet from Gilan, has been detained for over six months and remains in Lakan Prison in Rasht without a trial or formal charges.

HRANA has learned that more than 180 days have passed since Farah-Avar’s arrest, and he is facing charges including “propaganda against the regime,” “armed rebellion (baghi),” and “enmity against God (moharebeh).” However, his case remains in legal limbo, and no court hearing has been scheduled yet. His detention order has been extended until May 2025.

Farah-Avar was arrested in September 2024 by security forces and, after completing interrogation at the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, was transferred to Lakan Prison in Rasht.

Peyman (Amin) Farah-Avar is a father to a 10-year-old son and a resident of Rasht. He has been arrested in the past due to his activism.

Mother of Killed Protester Sentenced to Eight Months in Prison

HRANA News Agency – Mina Soltani Zare, the mother of Shahriar Mohammadi, who was killed during the nationwide protests of 2022, has been sentenced by a Bukan court to eight months in prison and paying a fine.

Her son, Milad Mohammadi, announced in a statement that the verdict was verbally communicated to Soltani, sentencing her to eight months in prison and a paying a fine.

According to Kurdpa, the Bukan Criminal Court Branch 101 issued the sentence on charges of “propaganda against the regime” and “appearing in public without mandatory hijab.”

Mina Soltani was arrested on August 27, 2024, by security forces in Bukan and was released on bail the following month.

Mina Soltani Zare is the mother of Shahriar Mohammadi, who was killed on November 18, 2022, during nationwide protests in Bukan after being shot.

Number of Executions in Ghezel Hesar Prison Rises to Nine

HRANA News Agency – At dawn on February 26, 2025, at least nine prisoners were executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj. Among them, five were convicted of murder in separate cases, one was sentenced to death for “enmity against God” (moharebeh) due to his role in an armed robbery, and three were executed on rape charges.

HRANA has confirmed the identities of four of the executed individuals: Mosayeb Azizi, Sajad Eghbali, Bahman Hooshmand (from Hamedan), and Alireza Basati-Nia (from Ilam). All had previously been arrested on murder charges in separate cases and were later sentenced to death.

The fifth executed prisoner, whose identity has not yet been confirmed, had been sentenced to death for moharebeh due to his involvement in armed robbery.

Additionally, the official news outlet Ivna News reported the execution of four other prisoners.

According to the report, one of the executed individuals had killed his neighbor during an altercation in 2022 and was later sentenced to death by the judiciary. He was hanged at dawn on February 26.

The report does not provide further details regarding the three prisoners executed on rape charges.

According to data gathered by the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists, Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj witnessed the highest number of executions in 2024. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s report.

Two Prisoners Executed in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan, on Drug-Related Charges

HRANA News Agency – At dawn today, February 27, two prisoners previously sentenced to death on drug-related charges were executed in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan.

HRANA has identified the executed prisoners as Morteza Jafari and Javad Mohammad Khani.

Based on information obtained by HRANA, both individuals had been arrested on drug-related charges and later sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court.

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

According to data compiled by HRANA, 52.69% of all executions in Iran in 2024 were related to drug-related charges. Notably, only 6% of the executions were officially announced, highlighting a significant lack of transparency. For a detailed analysis of these executions and the associated statistics, see HRANA’s full report.