Category: Prisoners

Four Teachers’ Union Activists Held Without Charge After May Day Protest

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Labor and Guilds, News, Prisoners
Ahmad Heydari, Evin Prison, Hossein Ebadian, Mehdi Farahi Shandiz, Vali Mirza Seyedi

HRANA News Agency – Vali Mirza Seyedi, Ahmad Heydari, Hossein Ebadian, and Mehdi Farahi Shandiz, four teachers’ union activists, remain held in Ward 209 of Evin Prison. They were arrested last week during a protest in Tehran on International Workers’ Day.

According to HRANA, quoting the Telegram channel of the Coordinating Council of Iranian Teachers’ Union Organizations, the four activists are still in custody.
The report states that Vali Mirza Seyedi, Ahmad Heydari, and Hossein Ebadian are retired teachers, while Mehdi Farahi Shandiz is a former part-time teacher. They are currently detained in Ward 209 of Evin Prison without formal charges.

As of the time this report was prepared, no information has been released about the charges brought against these union activists.

Hossein Ebadian, a retired teacher from Malayer and resident of Shahriar, was arrested on Thursday, May 1, during a teachers’ protest in Tehran held in conjunction with International Workers’ Day. Mehdi Farahi Shandiz and Ahmad Heydari were also arrested during the same protest.

Legal Uncertainty for Four Political Detainees in Masjed Soleyman

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News, Prisoners
Ali Soltani, Dezful, Hajat Susani, HRANA, Karim Jalili, Masjed-Soleyman, Moslem Alipour

HRANA News Agency – Karim Jalili, Moslem Alipour, Ali Soltani, and Hajat (also referred to as Hojjat) Susani, political defendants involved in a shared case, have been held in legal limbo for over 50 days in Masjed Soleyman Prison.

HRANA has learned that Branch 2 of the Masjed Soleyman Prosecutor’s Office has formally charged the four individuals, who share a joint case file, with offenses including “propaganda against the regime” and “insulting officials.”

A source close to the family of one of the defendants confirmed the report and told HRANA: “Their case has been transferred to the Dezful County Judiciary, but the presiding court branch has yet to be determined. They’ve been told that the court branch and hearing date will be set this week or next. According to officials, the hearing will be held remotely due to their detention in Masjed Soleyman Prison.”

Moslem Alipour was arrested by security forces in Masjed Soleyman on March 10, 2025. Hajat Susani was detained the following day, and Karim Jalili and Ali Soltani were arrested separately on March 12, all in the same city. Following their arrests, all four were transferred to Masjed Soleyman Prison.

Karim Jalili is 40 years old, Ali Soltani is 23, and both Moslem Alipour and Hajjat Sousani are also residents of Masjed Soleyman.

Political Prisoner Manoochehr Mehman-Navaz Re-Arrested and Returned to Prison

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News, Prisoners
Ghezel Hesar prison, HRANA, Khurin Prison, Manouchehr Mehman Navaz, Mohammadreza Amouzad, Seyed Ali Mazloum, Varamin

HRANA News Agency – Manouchehr Mehman-Navaz, a political prisoner who had been serving his sentence in an open prison arrangement, was arrested 16 days ago and transferred to Khurin Prison in Varamin.

Based on information received by HRANA, Mr. Mehman-Navaz, who had been serving his sentence outside of prison under an open prison system, was arrested at his private residence on Wednesday, April 16, and transferred to Khurin Prison in Varamin.

He had previously been released from Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj under the same open prison arrangement on November 19, 2023.

Mehman-Navaz was sentenced to five years in prison by Branch 29 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Seyed Ali Mazloum, on charges of “assembly and collusion against internal national security” and “disrupting public order and security through causing commotion and unrest.”

In 2022, he had been sentenced to death by Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Mohammadreza Amouzad. However, that sentence was overturned following testimony from eyewitnesses. After submitting a request for a retrial, his case was re-examined in Branch 29 of the court.

This political prisoner was arrested during the 2022 nationwide protests and was tried in Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court in November of that year.

The charges against him included arson of buildings with the intent to confront the Islamic government—an offense classified as moharebeh (waging war against God)—as well as “assembly and collusion against internal national security,” “disrupting public order and security through creating commotion and unrest,” and “participating in unlawful gatherings.”

Somayeh Rashidi Transferred to Evin Prison After Arrest and Beating by Security Forces

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, HRANA, Somayeh Rashidi, Tehran, سمیه رشیدی

HRANA News Agency – Somayeh Rashidi, a political detainee, has been held in custody for the past week following her arrest by security forces in Tehran. She is currently being held in the women’s ward of Evin Prison.

According to information obtained by HRANA, Ms. Rashidi was transferred to Evin Prison on April 26, 2025, after spending two days in a police detention facility. She faces charges of “propaganda against the regime.”

A source close to Ms. Rashidi’s family told HRANA: “Somayeh was arrested while writing protest slogans in a Tehran neighborhood. During her arrest, officers beat her—slamming her head against a wall and pinning her down by sitting on her chest. They inflicted repeated blows to her face, legs, and abdomen. She has since filed a formal complaint against the officers for these acts of violence.”

Somayeh Rashidi, 42, is a resident of Tehran.

Over Three Months in Prison: Ongoing Legal Uncertainty for Atefeh Hassani

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News, Prisoners
Atefeh Hassani, HRANA, Kachouei Prison, Karaj, Mohammad Hassani

HRANA News Agency – Atefeh Hassani, the sister of political prisoner Mohammad Hassani, has spent more than three months in a state of legal uncertainty at Kachouei Prison in Karaj, with no formal charges yet addressed in court.

A source familiar with her case told HRANA, “It has been over 110 days since Ms. Hassani was arrested. She is accused of membership in anti-regime groups, but her legal case remains unresolved and no court hearings have been scheduled.”

Ms. Hassani was arrested by security forces in January 2025 at her family’s home in Karaj. Following a period of interrogation at a security detention facility in the city, she was transferred to Kachouei Prison, where she remains in custody without due process.

Atefeh Hassani is the sister of Mohammad Hassani, a political prisoner currently held in the Central Prison of Karaj.

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Arian Shirpisheh in Evin Prison: Details on His Current Condition

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News, Prisoners
Arian Shirpisheh, HRANA, Pouya Bakhtiari

HRANA News Agency – Arian Shirpisheh, the maternal uncle of Pouya Bakhtiari—one of the victims of the November 2019 protests—is currently serving a prison sentence in Evin Prison. In the first part of his case, he was sentenced to 14 months in prison by the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

A source close to Shirpisheh’s family confirmed to HRANA: “Mr. Shirpisheh was recently sentenced to 14 months in prison on security-related charges by the Tehran Revolutionary Court. In addition, a hearing on a separate charge of insulting sanctities is scheduled to take place next month.”

Arian Shirpisheh was arrested on September 16, 2024, by Ministry of Intelligence agents at his private residence and transferred to Evin Prison.

Previously, a source familiar with the case told HRANA: “It is likely that his arrest was related to his participation in ceremonies commemorating victims of the protests and his connections with their families.”

Arian Shirpisheh has previously been detained by security agencies.

Pouya Bakhtiari, born on September 10, 1992, was killed during the November 2019 protests in Mehrshahr, Karaj. According to his father, Pouya joined the protesters on the second day of demonstrations against the fuel price hike, accompanied by his sister and mother. He was shot in the head and succumbed to his injuries before reaching the hospital.

Political Prisoner Azar Zangouyi Begins Serving One-Year Sentence in Evin Prison

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News, Prisoners
Azar Zangouyi, Evin Prison, HRANA, آذر زنگویی

HRANA News Agency – Azar Zangouyi, a political prisoner, is currently serving her sentence in Evin Prison. She had previously been sentenced by the Revolutionary Court to one year in prison.

According to information received by HRANA, on April 9, 2025, Ms. Zangouyi was arrested after appearing at the Evin Courthouse and was transferred to Evin Prison to begin serving her sentence. She had earlier been sentenced by the Revolutionary Court to one year in prison on charges of “propaganda against the regime.”

A source close to Ms. Zangouyi’s family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “Azar Zangouyi’s case was opened in 2022. At that time, security forces visited her workplace several times to arrest her, but were unsuccessful. As a result, her conviction was issued in absentia.”

Azar Zangouyi is 29 years old and a resident of Tehran.

Transfer to Solitary Confinement Raises Growing Concerns Over the Imminent Execution of Political Prisoner Hamid Hosseinnezhad Heydaranlou

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News, Prisoners
Baghi, Hamid Hosseinnezhad Heydaranlou, HRANA, Urmia prison

HRANA News Agency – Hamid Hosseinnezhad Heydaranlou, a political prisoner sentenced to death and held in Urmia Prison, has been transferred to solitary confinement. Given his death sentence, the transfer has heightened concerns among his family and close ones.

A source close to the prisoner’s family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “The transfer of this death row prisoner has increased the family’s and his relatives’ concerns about his situation.”

The political prisoner’s death sentence was recently upheld by Branch 9 of the Supreme Court and was officially communicated to him in Urmia Prison on March 26, 2025.

Mr. Hosseinnezhad was sentenced to death in July 2024 by Branch 1 of the Urmia Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Najafzadeh. He was convicted of baghi for alleged membership in an opposition party. After he appealed the ruling, the case was referred to the Supreme Court.

He was arrested on April 13, 2023, by border guards near Chaldoran. After several hours of interrogation, he was transferred to The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Urmia. There, he was subjected to psychological and physical torture for 11 months and 10 days to force a confession. He was made to sign pre-written statements.

During his detention at The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, he was only allowed two brief phone calls with his family and was denied access to legal counsel and in-person visits. Due to opposition from the Ministry of Intelligence, he was also denied a chosen lawyer during trial. The court dismissed his defense and sentenced him to death for baghi.

In court, Mr. Hosseinnezhad denied all charges. Kurdpa reported that the Ministry of Intelligence accused him of collaborating with an opposition party without presenting any evidence. The agency claimed he held a grudge against border forces because his brother-in-law, Mostafa Nouri, had been killed by them in 2015. Based on this, he was accused of involvement in an armed clash. Judge Najafzadeh issued the death sentence in a brief hearing, solely based on “the judge’s intuition.”

Hamid Hosseinnezhad Heydaranlou, aged around 40, is a father of three. He is currently being held in Ward 2 of Urmia Prison.

Saeed Madani sentenced to 4 years in prison

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Damavand Prison, Mostafa Nili, Saeed Madani

HRANA News Agency – The eight-year prison sentence of Saeed Madani, a writer and sociologist currently imprisoned in Damavand Prison, has been reduced to four years following the acceptance of his request for retrial and a new hearing in a parallel court branch.

Mostafa Nili, a defense attorney, wrote: “After the Supreme Court accepted the retrial request, the parallel branch reduced Mr. Saeed Madani’s sentence for the charge of forming a group from eight years to four years. He is currently serving his sentence in Damavand Prison, contrary to the law.”

On April 2, 2024, this writer and sociologist was transferred from Evin Prison to Damavand Prison. His lawyer called the transfer “in violation of prison regulations.” The news outlet Etemad also reported that the move was carried out under “pressure from security agencies and by order of the Prosecutor General.”

In November 2022, Saeed Madani was sentenced by Branch 29 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Ali Mazloum, to eight years in prison for “forming and running anti-government groups,” and to one year for “propaganda against the regime.” The verdict was fully upheld by Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals.

Madani was arrested in May 2022. Mehr News Agency, affiliated with the Islamic Propaganda Organization, cited “suspicious foreign ties and anti-security activities” as reasons for his arrest. After two months in Ward 209 of Evin Prison, he was transferred to Ward 4 of the same facility.

In June 2023, he was also formally charged in another case opened against him.

It is worth noting that Saeed Madani has published research on social issues in Iran, including poverty and inequality, addiction, child abuse, violence against women, sex work, social welfare, and similar topics. He has prior arrest and conviction records from 1994, 2000, 2001, and 2011.

In January 2022, his passport was confiscated at the airport and he was prevented from leaving the country.

Mehdi Meskinnavaz Sentenced to Over 5 Years in Prison on Appeal

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News, Prisoners
Ali Sharifzadeh Ardakani, Bandar-Anzali, Iman Afshari, Mehdi Meskinnavaz, Meskin-Navaz

HRANA News Agency – The 10-year prison sentence of Mehdi Meskinnavaz (Meskin-Navaz), a political prisoner held in Bandar Anzali Prison, has been reduced to five years and six months following the acceptance of his retrial request and a new review by Branch 21 of the Tehran Province Court of Appeals.

On Sunday, April 13, 2025, his lawyer, Ali Sharifzadeh Ardakani, announced that with the Supreme Court accepting Meskinnavaz’s request for retrial and the case being referred to Branch 21 of the Appeals Court, his client’s sentence was reduced from 10 years to five years and six months.

In January 2025, the Supreme Court approved his retrial request, and the case was sent to an equivalent branch for reconsideration.

Meskinnavaz was arrested on September 7, 2024, to begin serving his sentence and was transferred to Bandar Anzali Prison.

In July 2023, in connection with a new case opened against him while in prison, he was sentenced by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, to 10 years in prison for “forming a group to disrupt national security,” and to 1 year for “propaganda against the regime.” He was also sentenced to two years of complementary punishment, including a ban on residing in Tehran Province and neighboring provinces, as well as a travel ban.

Mehdi Meskinnavaz, 46, is a resident of Bandar Anzali. He has a history of arrest and judicial sentencing due to his activism.