Category: News

Morteza Damour Sentenced to Prison and Fine

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News, Prisoners
Hamadan, Morteza Damour, مرتضی دامور

HRANA – Morteza Damour, the father of Vahid Damour, one of those killed during the November 2019 nationwide protests, has been sentenced by Branch 2 of the Hamadan Revolutionary Court to six months and 20 days in prison and a fine.

The verdict was recently issued by Branch 2 of the Hamadan Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Torabipour. According to the ruling, Damour was sentenced to six months and 20 days in prison and a fine on the charge of “propaganda against the regime.”

On August 16, 2025, Morteza Damour was arrested by agents of the Hamadan Ministry of Intelligence at his family home in Karaj, and was transferred to Hamadan Prison the following day.

Morteza Damour, a 70-year-old resident of Karaj, is the father of Vahid Damour, one of the victims of the November 2019 nationwide protests. He has previously been subjected to arrest and judicial harassment.

Appeals Court: Baha’i Citizen Maryam Zabihi Sentenced to Imprisonment

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News, Religious Minorities
Baha’i Institute for Higher Education, Bahais, BIHE, Maryam Zabihi, Qaemshahr

HRANA – The prison sentence of Maryam Zabihi, a Baha’i citizen residing in Qaemshahr, has been reduced by the Mazandaran Province Court of Appeals to three months and one day. She had initially been sentenced to ten months in prison by a lower court.

According to Hyrkani news, Ms. Zabihi’s ten-month prison sentence was reduced to three months and one day by the Mazandaran Province Court of Appeals in late September.

The initial verdict against Ms. Zabihi was issued by Branch 104 of the Qaemshahr Criminal Court (Category Two) on the charge of “educational activities contrary to and disruptive of the sacred Islamic law.”

The charge reportedly stemmed from holding university examination sessions for students of the Baha’i Institute for Higher Education (BIHE) at her private residence. It is worth noting that, since Baha’is are denied access to higher education in Iran, this unofficial university was established by members of the Baha’i community to provide Baha’i students with access to higher education.

On Monday, February 12, 2024, security agents searched Maryam Zabihi’s home, seizing all electronic devices, textbooks, laptops, and tablets belonging to five Baha’i youths who were present at the time.

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.

Arrest and Broadcast of Forced Confessions of Two Rap Artists in Iran

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ardalan Aghashahi, Dalu, Danial Faraji, forced confessions, Meshki

HRANA – Danial Faraji and Amir Ardalān Aghashahi, two rap artists known by their stage names “Meshki” and “Dalu,” have been arrested by the Security Police. Videos of their forced confessions, recorded under unclear circumstances, have been disseminated on their personal social media accounts as well as by state-run media outlets.

According to information obtained by HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, the two rappers were detained by security forces. Following their arrest, state media published videos of their forced confessions, which were also shared on the artists’ personal pages under unknown conditions. In one of these videos, Faraji expresses remorse for what he describes as “social and political activities through rap music and insulting the Supreme Leader.”

In a separate video, Aghashahi expresses regret for “displaying cold weapons” and “using profanity in his music videos.”

State media have accused the two of “producing and distributing unconventional and controversial works,” identifying the arresting authority as the Security Police. Official reports have not provided details regarding the time of arrest or location of detention.

It is worth noting that prior to the release of the forced confession videos, Danial Faraji consistently appeared wearing a black mask in his music videos, and no images of his real face had previously been made public.

In 2024, HRANA documented 28 cases of forced confessions extracted from prisoners. The practice of obtaining and broadcasting coerced confessions from political dissidents and protesters by the Iranian regime’s security apparatus is as old as the regime itself. In 2022, amid nationwide protests, the number of such forced confessions surged to 391 cases.

HRANA emphasizes that the recording and dissemination of forced confessions violate human dignity and fundamental rights. Furthermore, under the law, every individual is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Any punitive measures taken prior to a final conviction constitute a violation of civil and human rights.

Fares Kaab Karmalallah Arrested by Shushtar Intelligence Agents

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Freedom of Expression, News
Fares Kaab Karmalallah, Shushtar

HRANA – Fares Kaab Karmalallah, a resident of Shushtar County, was arrested by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence in Shushtar, Khuzestan province, on Tuesday, October 7, and taken to an undisclosed location.

Based on information obtained by HRANA, Mr. Kaab Karmalallah was arrested at his home in the early hours of October 7 by security forces without a judicial warrant. Following his arrest, agents searched his residence and confiscated several digital items, including his cameras, computer, and mobile phone.

As of this report’s publication, the reasons for his arrest, the charges brought against him, and his current whereabouts remain unknown.

Fares Kaab Karmalallah, 30, is a resident of of Shushtar County and the father of two children. Mr. Kaab Karmalallah works as a photographer and videographer for religious events, celebrations, seminars, and local festivals, and is also involved in agricultural work.

A source close to the family told HRANA: “Fares Kaab Karmalallah is known as a cultural activist for sharing visual content on social media aimed at raising public awareness and preserving Arab identity and culture.”

Mansour Iranpour Sentenced to Imprisonment

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Kerman, Mansour Iranpour, محسن ایرانپور

HRANA – Mansour Iranpour, a media activist based in Kerman, has been sentenced to 10 months in prison by Branch 101 of the Kerman Criminal Court.

According to HRANA, the verdict was issued on September 5 on the charge of “spreading false information with the intent to disturb public opinion.”

Mr. Iranpour had previously been interrogated in February 2025 at Branch 5 of the Kerman Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office, where the investigating prosecutor also imposed a three-month ban on his online activities.

On January 10, 2025, he was summoned to the FARAJA Intelligence Office in Kerman for questioning. He subsequently appeared before the Cybercrime Division of the Kerman Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office, where he faced accusations of “spreading false information online” and “propaganda against the regime.” Following the session, he was released on bail.

Mansour Iranpour, a resident of Kerman, has previously faced arrest and prosecution in connection with his activities.

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Death Sentence of Ehsan Faridi Upheld by Supreme Court

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Executions, News, Prisoners
Ehsan Faridi, HRANA, Tabriz, احسان فریدی

HRANA – The Supreme Court of Iran has upheld the death sentence of Ehsan Faridi, a political defendant and student at Tabriz Technical University.

According to information obtained by HRANA, Mr. Faridi’s death sentence, previously issued by Branch 3 of the Tabriz Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Hassan Fathpour, was confirmed by the Supreme Court. He had been convicted on the charge of “corruption on earth” (efsad fel-arz).

Three of Mr. Faridi’s trial sessions were held via video conference last year at the Tabriz Revolutionary Court.

In September 2025, a separate hearing related to another part of his case was held at Branch 2 of the Tabriz Criminal Court, where he was subsequently sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Mr. Faridi was arrested on June 18, 2024, after appearing at the Tabriz Prosecutor’s Office, and was transferred to Tabriz Prison.

Ehsan Faridi, 22, a student of Manufacturing Engineering at Tabriz Technical University, had previously been arrested on March 8, 2024, and transferred to Tabriz Prison. He was released ten days later, on March 18, after posting bail.

Two Brothers, Hossein and Mohsen Gardeshi, Arrested by Intelligence Agents in Bukan

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Freedom of Expression, News
Bukan, Hossein Gardeshi, Mohsen Gardeshi, بوکان

HRANA – On the evening of Tuesday, October 7, Hossein Gardeshi and Mohsen Gardeshi, two brothers residing in Bukan, were arrested by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence and taken to an undisclosed location.

Based on information obtained by HRANA, on the evening of October 7, intelligence agents arrested Mohsen Gardeshi at his home. His brother, Hossein Gardeshi, was also arrested the same day at his workplace by the same security agency.

A source close to the family confirmed the arrests, telling HRANA that following the brothers’ detention, agents searched their residence and confiscated several personal and electronic items, including their mobile phones and laptops.

The family’s inquiries with judicial and security authorities regarding the brothers’ fate have so far yielded no results, and their continued incommunicado detention has heightened concerns among relatives and friends.

As of this report’s publication, no information is available about the reasons for the arrests or the charges brought against the two brothers.

Hossein Gardeshi had previously been arrested and prosecuted for his activities. In 2020, he was sentenced to imprisonment and a fine on charges of “membership in groups opposed to the regime.” His case was closed after he served his sentence and paid the fine.

Piranshahr: Three Citizens Arrested by Security Forces

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News, Other
Khaled Ghaderpour, Mohammad Ghaderi, Morad-Rasoul Bahrami, Moradrasoul Bahrami, Piranshahr

HRANA – On the evening of Wednesday, October 8, Khaled Ghaderpour (30), Mohammad Ghaderi (27), and Morad-Rasoul Bahrami (36), residents of the village of Tamarchian in Piranshahr County, West Azerbaijan Province, were arrested by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, quoting Kolbar News, the arrests were carried out by security forces without the presentation of a judicial warrant.

As of this report’s publication, no information is available regarding the reasons for the arrests, the detainees’ whereabouts, or the charges brought against them.

Over the past year, HRANA published 585 reports of human rights violations in West Azerbaijan Province, making it the third province with the highest number of HRANA reports on human rights abuses.

Arrest of Four Individuals by Security Forces in Oshnavieh

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News
Fakhreddin Khaledi, Keyvan Saeedi, Oshnavieh, Rebwar Mousavi, Zaher Azeri

HRANA – On Tuesday, October 7, Keyvan Saeedi, Fakhreddin Khaledi (27), and two 16-year-old teenagers identified as Rebwar Mousavi and Zaher Azeri were arrested by security forces in the city of Oshnavieh. The two detained teenagers were released after 24 hours.

According to Kurdpa, the arrests were carried out by security forces without the presentation of a judicial warrant.

While the two teenagers were released 24 hours after their arrest, Saeedi and Khaledi remain in detention, and no information is available regarding their whereabouts.

As of this report’s publication, the reasons for their arrest and the charges brought against them remain unknown.

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.

Death Sentence of Hossein Shahoozahi Upheld by the Supreme Court

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Executions, News
irgc, Razavi Khorasan Province, Vakilabad prison, Yousef Mohammad-Hosseini

HRANA – Hossein Shahoozahi, a detainee held in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad, has been sentenced to death by the Mashhad Revolutionary Court, a verdict that has recently been upheld by the Supreme Court.

Following his arrest by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Intelligence Organization, Shahoozahi has been accused of attempting to assassinate the Supreme Leader’s representative in Razavi Khorasan Province and of planning an attack on the governor’s office.

According to Haal Vsh, Mashhad Revolutionary Court had previously issued the initial death sentence against Shahoozahi, which has now been upheld by the country’s highest judicial authority.

Hossein Shahoozahi, 29, a native of Zahedan, is currently being held in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.

He was arrested by IRGC Intelligence forces at the Mashhad bus terminal. On December 9, 2022, the Public Relations Office of the IRGC in Razavi Khorasan Province confirmed the arrest of several individuals, including Shahouzehi, claiming that they were affiliated with an opposition group. The IRGC’s statement further alleged that “a significant quantity of weapons, ammunition, and explosives was discovered and confiscated from these individuals.”

Following his arrest, Shahoozahi faced multiple charges, including possession of weapons, attempting to assassinate Ahmad Alamolhoda -the Supreme Leader’s representative in Razavi Khorasan Province – and planning an attack on the governor’s office in Mashhad. The Revolutionary Court ultimately sentenced him to death. Throughout the judicial process, he was denied the right to access legal counsel.

According to local media reports, Shahouzehi was held for about six months in the IRGC Intelligence detention facility, where he was subjected to pressure and violent treatment by interrogators. During this period, he was also denied any contact or visits with his family.

Local sources further reported that Shahoozahi had been arrested simultaneously with another individual named Yousef Mohammad-Hosseini, 25, and a native of Mirjaveh. To date, there has been no information about Mohammad-Hosseini’s fate, which remains unknown.