Category: News

Atash Shakarami Summoned for Execution of Flogging Sentence

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Freedom of Expression, News
Atash Shakarami, Nika Shakarami, نیکا شاکرمی

HRANA – Atash (Zahra) Shakarami has been summoned to the Second Branch of the Criminal Enforcement Office in Khorramabad to receive 38 lashes, following a notice issued for the execution of her sentence.

According to the summons, issued on October 16, Ms. Shakarami has been ordered to appear within ten days to carry out the sentence. She was previously convicted by Branch 106 of the Khorramabad Criminal Court (Category 2) on charges of “spreading falsehoods,” for which she received 38 lashes, and defamation, for which she was fined 51 million tomans. The verdict was later upheld in its entirety by the Court of Appeals. The case originated from a complaint filed by a private plaintiff.

Atash (Zahra) Shakarami, who has a prior record of arrest, is the aunt of Nika Shakarami, one of the victims killed during the nationwide protests of 2022.

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) strictly prohibits cruel, inhuman, and degrading punishments such as flogging. Nonetheless, in 2024, HRANA documented at least three cases in which flogging sentences were carried out, totaling 106 lashes. In the same year, the Iranian judiciary sentenced at least 131 individuals to a combined total of 9,957 lashes.

Three Prisoners Executed in Yazd Prison

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Executions, News
HRANA, Karim Aslani, Yazd Prison, کریم اصلانی

HRANA – At dawn on Monday, October 13, 2025, the death sentences of three prisoners previously convicted on drug-related charges were carried out in Yazd Prison.

HRANA has identified one of the executed prisoners as Karim Aslani.
Based on information obtained by HRANA, the prisoners had been arrested on drug-related charges and subsequently sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court.

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

According to HRANA’s report, in 2024, 25 prisoners were executed in Yazd Prison. Also, over 52 percent of executed prisoners across Iran had been convicted on drug-related charges. Over the past ten years, individuals convicted of drug trafficking have accounted for 40 percent of all executions. Unfortunately, HRANA’s statistics show no progress in reducing executions for drug-related offenses.

A Female Prisoner Executed in Nahavand Prison

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Executions, News
Nahavand, Nahid Hemmati

HRANA – At dawn on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, the death sentence of a female prisoner previously convicted on drug-related charges was carried out in Nahavand Prison.

HRANA has identified her as Nahid Hemmati. Based on information obtained by HRANA, Ms. Hemmati had previously been arrested on drug-related charges and subsequently sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court.

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

In 2024, the Iranian regime sent 27 women to the gallows, the highest number recorded in the past decade.

In Protest Against Executions: Report on the Fourth Day of Prisoners’ Strike in Ghezel Hesar Prison

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Executions, News
Ghezel Hesar prison, HRANA, Hunger Strike

HRANA – Today, Thursday, October 16, the hunger strike by prisoners in Karaj’s Ghezel Hesar Prison entered its fourth consecutive day. Hundreds of inmates continue refusing their food rations in protest against the escalating wave of executions. Over the past few days, at least several prisoners have been executed in this prison.

Based on information obtained by HRANA, inmates in Ward 2 of Ghezel Hesar Prison, most of whom are detained on drug-related charges, began refusing their food rations on Monday as an act of protest.

A family member of one imprisoned individual told HRANA:

“It’s been four days since I last heard from my husband. The ward’s phones have been cut off, and we’ve only heard that several people were taken for execution. We are completely deprived of any contact or information and only learn from outside sources that several prisoners are executed each day.”

Alongside the ongoing strike, several families of prisoners sentenced to death have gathered in front of the prison in recent days, calling for a halt to the executions. These gatherings have faced restrictions and pressure from security forces.

The prisoners’ protest began when 16 inmates were transferred to solitary confinement for execution. In the early days of the protest, inmates in at least Wards 1 and 2 refused their food rations and held sit-ins in the ward halls.

Since the start of these protests, at least five prisoners have been executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison.

Between October 10, 2024, and October 8, 2025, HRANA’s Statistics and Publication Department has recorded 1,537 executions in Iran. According to this data, Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj has accounted for the highest number of executions during this period.

The same report compares ten years of execution data in Iran, showing that 6,399 prisoners have been executed over the past decade. Execution rates in 2024 and 2025 have reached their peak, with at least 1,537 recorded cases—the highest figure in the past ten years. This represents an over 86% increase compared to the previous year (823 cases) and surpasses the ten-year annual average.

Urmia: Baha’i Citizen Zhinus Mohammad-Nezhad Arrested

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News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i citizen, HRANA, Urmia, Zhinus Mohammad-Nezhad, ژینوس محمد نژاد

HRANA – On Tuesday, October 14, Zhinus Mohammad-Nezhad, a Baha’i citizen residing in Urmia, was arrested by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence and transferred to an undisclosed location. At the same time, her home and her parents’ residence were searched by the agents.

Based on information obtained by HRANA, her arrest took place on Tuesday, October 14, at her home on in Urmia, when Ministry of Intelligence agents detained her. Simultaneously, both her home and her elderly parents’ nearby residence were searched. During the searches, several personal belongings of the Mohammad-Nezhad family were confiscated.

So far, no information has been made available regarding the reasons for her arrest, her place of detention, or the charges brought against this Baha’i citizen.

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.

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Three Prisoners Executed in Adelabad Prison of Shiraz

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Executions, News
Adelabad Prison, HRANA, Milad Jahani, Sajjad Shahriari Golmakani, Shiraz

Yesterday, Wednesday, October 15, the death sentences of three prisoners were carried out in Adelabad Prison in Shiraz.

HRANA has confirmed the identities of two of those executed as Milad Jahani and Sajjad Shahriari Golmakani. Jahani had previously been arrested on charges related to drug offenses and later sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court.

According to information obtained by HRANA, Mr. Shahriari was arrested about nine years ago on charges of killing his wife and was subsequently sentenced to death by a criminal court.

A source close to Shahriari’s family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating:
“The victim’s family had announced they were willing to grant forgiveness in exchange for diya (blood money). The requested amount was initially 3 billion tomans, which was later increased to 5, 8, and finally 12 billion tomans. Due to the family’s inability to raise the amount, his execution was ultimately carried out this morning.”

The third prisoner was also executed on drug-related charges, but HRANA is still investigating his identity.

According to HRANA’s statistics, in 2024, Adelabad Prison in Shiraz witnessed the execution of 92 inmates, an 88% increase compared to the previous year. This sharp rise places Adelabad as the second deadliest prison in Iran after Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.

Afshin Haghighat, a Baha’i Citizen, Arrested

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News, Religious Minorities
Afshin Haghighat, Baha'i citizen, Shiraz, افشین حقیقت

HRANA – On October 14, Afshin Haghighat, a Baha’i citizen residing in Shiraz, was arrested by security forces in the city and transferred to an undisclosed location. At the same time, his home was searched by agents, who confiscated several digital devices and religious books belonging to Mr. Haghighat and his family.

A source close to Haghighat’s family confirmed the arrest to HRANA, stating:
“On Tuesday, security agents came to the home of this Baha’i citizen in Shiraz and arrested him. His residence was simultaneously searched, and during the search, a number of digital devices and religious books belonging to him and his family were confiscated.”

As of this report, no information is available regarding the reasons for the arrest, his place of detention, or the charges brought against this Baha’i citizen.

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.

Children’s Rights Activist Hossein Mirbehari Detained by Security Forces

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Freedom of Expression, News
Hossein Mirbahari, Nadia Mirbehari, حسین میربهاری

HRANA – Yesterday, October 15, 2025, Hossein Mirbahari, founder of the Society for the Defense of Child Laborers and Street Children, was arrested by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location.

His sister, who is also a children’s rights activist, announced the news on her personal page, writing:
“This morning my brother, Hossein Mirbahari, was arrested at his home. They also went to my sister Nadia Mirbahari’s house with an arrest warrant for her. They confiscated her communication devices and gave her until Saturday to report to Evin Prosecutor’s Office. Working for children’s rights and criticizing the situation is never a crime.”

So far, no information has been obtained about the reasons for his arrest, his place of detention, or the charges against him.

Mr. Mirbahari was previously arrested on June 21, 2025, at his residence by security forces. During that period of detention, he was denied access to legal counsel and visits with his family, and was eventually released on July 20, 2025, after posting bail.

Hossein Mirbahari is a children’s rights activist residing in Pardis and the founder of the Society for the Defense of Child Laborers and Street Children.

Five Prisoners Executed in Karaj’s Ghezel Hesar Prison

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Executions, News
Amir-Reza Ghobadi, Ghezel Hesar prison, Majid Hatami, Sajjad Hatami

HRANA – Today, October 15, the death sentences of at least five prisoners were carried out in Karaj’s Ghezel Hesar Prison.

Mizan, the Judiciary’s official media outlet, confirmed the execution of three of the prisoners, identified as Amir-Reza Ghobadi, Majid Hatami, and Sajjad Hatami. Mizan referred to them as “three main members of the gang of terror,” claiming they were involved in violent home invasions and robberies in Tehran and several other cities. According to the report, the Hatamis and Ghobadi carried out 19 armed robberies, allegedly threatening residents with firearms, assaulting them, and confining family members in rooms while stealing valuables and jewelry.

Mizan further stated that the three were arrested in the counties of Shahriar, Savojbolagh, and Khorramabad, alleging that they confessed to their crimes during interrogation and were identified by complainants.

According to the indictment, the main charges against them included “enmity against God (moharebeh) through brandishing weapons at the public,” armed group robbery at night involving threats and violence, intentional assault and battery, and detaining individuals inside homes. In the preliminary trial, the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced them to death for moharebeh through armed robbery.

Their appeal was later rejected by the Supreme Court, which upheld the sentences. Ultimately, the death sentences of Amirreza Ghobadi, Majid Hatami, and Sajjad Hatami were carried out at dawn today.

Further details, including the identities of the fourth and fifth executed prisoners, are still being investigated by HRANA. Earlier, HRANA had reported the transfer of 16 prisoners to solitary confinement in preparation for execution.

Recently, HRANA reported that 1,537 people had been executed in Iran over the past year, marking an increase of more than 86% compared to the previous year. During this period, 183 executions took place in Ghezel Hesar prison.

Protest Against the Wave of Executions; Prisoners at Ghezel Hesar Continue Sit-In and Hunger Protest

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Executions, News
executions, Ghezel Hesar prison, HRANA

HRANA – Since Monday, October 13, hundreds of prisoners in Karaj’s Ghezel Hesar Prison, at least in wards 1 and 2, have refused to accept their prison meals and begun a sit-in inside their ward halls to protest the sharp rise in executions.

Recently, HRANA reported that 1,537 people had been executed in Iran over the past year, marking an increase of more than 86% compared to the previous year. During this period, 183 executions took place in Ghezel Hesar prison.

Inmates in this prison have continued their sit-in and hunger protest for the second consecutive day. Based on information obtained by HRANA, prisoners in wards 1 and 2 began their protest two days ago by refusing prison food in response to the intensifying wave of executions. These wards mainly hold prisoners convicted of drug-related offenses.

The protest coincided with the transfer of 16 prisoners to solitary confinement in preparation for their execution. It is worth noting that Ghezel Hesar Prison has witnessed a significant surge in executions in recent weeks.