Category: News

Crackdown on Gilan Lawyers: 3 Arrested, 10 Summoned

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
Gilan province, Hesam Pourahmadi, HRANA, Lakan prison, Rasht, Shadi Falahati, Shahrzad Sharbiyani

HRANA – In recent days, at least 13 defense lawyers in Gilan Province have been subjected to judicial and security measures, including summonses and arrests. Among them, Shahrzad Sharbiyani, Shadi Falahati, and Hesam Pourahmadi have been arrested and remain in an uncertain situation.

According to information obtained by HRANA, Hesam Pourahmadi and Shahrzad Sharbiyani are currently held in Lakan Prison in Rasht, while the whereabouts of Shadi Falahati remain unknown. HRANA had previously reported on the arrests of these individuals.

The newspaper Etemad has also reported that more than ten other lawyers in Gilan Province have been summoned to judicial and security bodies. According to this report, charges such as “propaganda against the regime” and “assembly and collusion against the country” have been brought against them. However, Etemad did not provide the names of the summoned lawyers or specify the authorities that issued the summonses.

Several lawyers, including Parto Borhanpour and Saleh Noghrehkar, have publicly condemned these measures against their colleagues and called for an immediate end to such actions.

Eskandar Bazmandegan and Mohammad Kashefi Executed on Charge of Moharebeh

Posted on by . .
Executions, News
Eskandar Bazmandegan, HRANA, Mohammad Kashefi, moharebeh

HRANA – Eskandar Bazmandegan and Mohammad Kashefi, two prisoners previously sentenced to death on the charge of moharebeh (enmity against God), were executed at dawn on Sunday, August 24, in Adelabad Prison, Shiraz.

The two prisoners, both Sunni, have been identified as Eskandar Bazmandegan, from Bandar Khamir in Hormozgan Province, and Mohammad Kashefi, from Khour in Fars Province.

They were arrested approximately two years ago and later sentenced to death by Revolutionary Courts on the charge of moharebeh. According to information obtained by HRANA, authorities accused them of membership in an operational support team connected to the attack on the Shah Cheragh Shrine in Shiraz. Their families, however, have consistently stated that both men denied the allegations throughout interrogation and trial.

A source close to the families told HRANA: “During their detention, these two prisoners were denied access to legal counsel. Their trial was conducted behind closed doors.”

Reports received by HRANA indicate that the executions of Mr. Bazmandegan and Mr. Kashefi were carried out without prior notice to their families, who were therefore deprived of the right to a final visit. Additionally, their bodies have not yet been returned to their families since the execution.

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.

Protester Arrested in 2022 Uprising, Mehran Bahramian, Executed

Posted on by . .
Executions, News
HRANA, Isfahan, Mehran Bahramian, Semirom, مهران بهرامیان

HRANA – At dawn today, Saturday, September 6, the death sentence of Mehran Bahramian, one of those arrested during the nationwide protests of 2022 in Semirom, Isfahan Province, was carried out. He had previously been sentenced to death on the charge of moharebeh (enmity against God) for the alleged killing of a Special Forces officer.

Mizan, the Judiciary’s Media Center, reported that on the morning of September 6, 2025, Bahramian was executed by hanging on charges of moharebeh through the killing of Mohsen Rezaei, a Special Forces officer.

According to the Judiciary, Bahramian was arrested on January 16, 2023, along with several others in the same case. He was initially sentenced to death by a branch of the Revolutionary Court in Isfahan. The Supreme Court later overturned the ruling and referred the case to a parallel court for retrial. Following a new trial, the death sentence was reissued and ultimately upheld by the country’s highest judicial authority.

The Judiciary alleges that on January 10, 2023, Bahramian, together with others, carried out an armed attack on a police vehicle, during which officer Mohsen Rezaei was fatally shot in the head.

The report did not specify the prison where Bahramian’s execution took place.

Execution of Three Prisoners in Yazd Prison

Posted on by . .
Executions, News
Ebrahim Safari, HRANA, Yazd Prison, Zahedan

On Thursday, September 4, three prisoners were executed in Yazd Prison.

HRANA has confirmed the identity of one of the executed prisoners as Mohammad Salehi. Haal Vsh outlet has identified another as Ebrahim Safari (Mingel), 22, a resident of Zahedan. He had been arrested four years ago on charges of murder and sentenced to death by a criminal court in Yazd.

Further details, including the identity of the third executed prisoner, are under investigation by HRANA.

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

In 2024, according to 812 reports compiled by HRANA, the Iranian regime executed 930 individuals in its prisons—marking the highest number of executions in the past 12 years. Despite the scale of these executions, prison officials and other relevant authorities publicly acknowledged only 6% of them, highlighting the regime’s lack of transparency and accountability.

Prisoner Executed in Kermanshah

Posted on by . .
Executions, News
HRANA, Jalal Moradi, Kermanshah

HRANA – At dawn on Tuesday, September 2, the death sentence of a prisoner previously convicted of murder was carried out in Kermanshah Prison.

HRANA has identified him as Jalal Moradi. Based on information obtained by HRANA, Mr. Moradi had been arrested on murder charges and subsequently sentenced to death by a criminal court.

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

In 2024, according to 812 reports compiled by HRANA, the Iranian regime executed 930 individuals in its prisons—marking the highest number of executions in the past 12 years. Despite the scale of these executions, prison officials and other relevant authorities publicly acknowledged only 6% of them, highlighting the regime’s lack of transparency and accountability.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Now is definitely not the time to stop reading!

Omid Fathi on Hunger Strike in Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad

Posted on by . .
News, Prisoners
Mashhad, Omid Fathi, Vakilabad prison, امید فتحی

HRANA – Political prisoner Omid Fathi has gone on hunger strike in Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad, in protest against his poor detention conditions and the authorities’ failure to uphold the principle of separation of crimes.

A source close to his family confirmed the news to HRANA, explaining: “Mr. Fathi was recently transferred to Ward 103 of Vakilabad Prison by order of the prison’s internal management and security. He has been denied separation of crimes, and his detention conditions are harsh, particularly as he suffers from health problems, including a herniated disc. In protest against this situation, he began his hunger strike on Thursday, September 4.”

In June, Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad sentenced Fathi to a fine of 50 million tomans in lieu of six months in prison. Unable to pay the fine, he was subsequently arrested and transferred to Vakilabad Prison.

Fathi, a resident of Mashhad, has previously been targeted by security authorities in connection with his activities.

HRANA’s data from the past decade shows that during this ten-year period, over 2,050 political prisoners and prisoners of conscience in Iran prisons have been forced to go on hunger strike in protest of various abuses—including prolonged detention, being held in legal limbo, unfair trials, poor prison conditions, and being held in solitary confinement or alongside inmates convicted of violent crimes.

Attorney Shahrzad Sharabiyani Arrested in Rasht

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
Lakan prison, Rasht, Shahrzad Sharabiyani

HRANA News Agency – Shahrzad Sharabiyani, an attorney residing in Rasht, has been arrested by security agents and transferred to Lakan Prison in the city.

Based on information received by HRANA, her arrest took place on Sunday, August 31, by security agents in Rasht. Following her arrest, she was transferred to Lakan Prison.

The charge brought against her has been cited as “propaganda against the regime.”

Shahrzad Sharabiyani is a licensed attorney and a resident of Rasht.

Naqadeh: Farhad Karimi Sentenced to Six Months in Prison

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
Farhad Karimi, Naqadeh, فرهاد کریمی

HRANA– Farhad Karimi, from Naqadeh, has been sentenced to six months in prison by Branch 103 of the Criminal Court of this city.

According to Kolbar News, Branch 103 of the Naqadeh Criminal Court, presided over by Judge Hejazi, sentenced Mr. Karimi to six months in prison on “suspicion of collaboration with one of anti-regime groups.”

Karimi was arrested on June 24, 2025, and transferred to one of Urmia’s detention facilities. After the interrogation process, he was moved to Naqadeh Prison. He was eventually released on bail from Naqadeh Prison on Tuesday, August 12.

During his detention, Farhad Karimi was denied access to a lawyer.

Although, under Article 302 of Iran’s Code of Criminal Procedure, charges such as “propaganda against the regime” fall under the jurisdiction of the Revolutionary Court, in some smaller cities such cases are tried in Criminal Courts. This practice, stemming from the absence or limited structure of Revolutionary Courts in smaller towns, is inconsistent with the law but has become common in practice due to the lack of specialized judicial institutions.

Four Prisoners Executed on Drug-Related Charges in Qom Prison

Posted on by . .
Executions, News
Mehrdad Iravani, Qom prison

HRANA– Yesterday, September 3, the death sentences of four prisoners, including three Afghan nationals, previously convicted on drug-related charges, were carried out in Qom Prison.

HRANA has confirmed the identity of one of the executed prisoners as Mehrdad Iravani. The other three individuals were Afghan nationals.

Based on information received by HRANA, these prisoners had previously been arrested on drug-related charges and later sentenced to death by Revolutionary Courts.

Further details, including the identities of the three Afghan nationals, are still under investigation by HRANA.

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

According to HRANA’s report, in 2024, over 52 percent of executed prisoners 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.

Amin Dehestani Arrested in Khorramabad

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
Amin Dehestani, HRANA, irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Khorramabad, امین دهستانی

HRANA – Amin Dehestani, a blogger residing in Khorramabad, was arrested yesterday in the city by security forces and transferred to the IRGC Intelligence detention facility.

Based on information received by HRANA, Mr. Dehestani was arrested on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, at his workplace, a drug rehabilitation center, by IRGC Intelligence agents. He was then transferred to the detention facility of this security institution in Khorramabad.

As of the time of this report, no information is available regarding the charges against this citizen.

Amin Dehestani, a 46-year-old blogger from Khorramabad, is the father of one child. He had previously published posts criticizing public services and addressing citizens’ problems.

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.