HRANA – Yesterday, July 22, 2026, prisoners held in Ward 2 of Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj entered the tenth consecutive day of their protest against executions. The prisoners have continued both their sit-in and their refusal to accept prison food in response to the transfer of six inmates to solitary confinement for the implementation of their death sentences.
According to HRANA, the hunger strike by prisoners in Ward 2 of Ghezel Hesar Prison, which began on Monday, July 13, 2026, after six prisoners sentenced to death were transferred to solitary confinement, continued today.
Based on information received by HRANA, the prisoners gathered in the ward hall on Wednesday and once again refused to receive prison meals, marking the tenth day of their hunger strike. The protesting prisoners stated their opposition to the implementation of death sentences, particularly in cases involving drug-related offenses.
In recent days, videos recorded inside Ghezel Hesar Prison have also emerged, showing scenes from the prisoners’ hunger strike and sit-in.
The protests began on Monday, July 13, following the transfer of six prisoners sentenced to death in drug-related cases to solitary confinement. The move prompted a collective response from prisoners in Ward 2, who have continued their hunger strike and sit-in ever since.
It is worth noting that HRANA also reported last year on similar hunger strikes by a number of prisoners at Ghezel Hesar Prison protesting the implementation of death sentences.
A video showing yesterday’s sit-in and hunger strike by the prisoners of Ghezel Hesar Prison is provided below.
HRANA – Amirhassan Akbari Monfared, a political prisoner held in Evin Prison, has been sentenced to death by Judge Abolghasem Salavati on the charge of baghi (armed rebellion).
According to HRANA, 27-year-old Amirhassan Akbari Monfared has been sentenced to death.
According to a verdict issued by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Abolghasem Salavati, and served on Mr. Akbari Monfared two days ago, he was sentenced to death on the charge of baghi (armed rebellion) through alleged membership in the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK). He is currently imprisoned in Evin Prison and had previously stood trial before the same court.
Amirhossein Akbari Monfared was arrested alongside his father, Mohammad Akbari Monfared, and his brother and sister, Amir hossein and Zeinab Akbari Monfared, by Ministry of Intelligence agents in Karaj during the winter of 2025. The three other family members were later released on bail.
So far, no information has been made available regarding the details of the charges brought against the other members of the family. However, a source previously informed HRANA that they are facing security-related charges.
Mohammad Akbari Monfared, aged approximately 58, Amirhassan Akbari Monfared, 33, Zeinab Akbari Monfared, 30, and Amirhossein Akbari Monfared, 27, are residents of Karaj.
HRANA – The death sentence issued against Ali Fattah (Kamali), arrested during the January 2026 protests, has been overturned by the Supreme Court. He had previously been sentenced to death by Judge Iman Afshari.
According to HRANA, the Supreme Court has overturned the death sentence imposed on Ali Fattah (Kamali), one of the detainees arrested during the January 2026 protests.
Based on information received by HRANA, the Supreme Court overturned the political prisoner’s death sentence some time ago.
A source familiar with the case told HRANA: “Following the onset of serious mental health issues, Ali Fattah (Kamali) is currently hospitalized at Razi Psychiatric Teaching and Treatment Hospital (Aminabad). He had previously been transferred to the same facility once before to receive medical treatment.”
Ali Fattah (Kamali) was arrested in Tehran on January 12, 2026, during the nationwide protests. Holding a Malaysian student residence permit, he had returned to Iran only a few days before his arrest.
Following his arrest, he was held at Greater Tehran Penitentiary before being transferred to Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj in late June.
In May of this year, Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, sentenced him to death on the charge of “enmity against God” (moharebeh).
It should be noted that protests and strikes by shopkeepers and bazaar merchants began in Tehran on Sunday, December 28, 2025, and within two days spread beyond markets and commercial centers. With the participation of students, citizens, and various social groups, these protests became one of the largest protest movements of recent years. Following the crackdown by security and law enforcement forces, thousands were killed or injured, and tens of thousands were arrested or summoned by security agencies. For more information, readers may refer to HRANA’s comprehensive report titled “Crimson Winter,” documenting the first fifty days following the outbreak of Iran’s nationwide protests.
HRANA – HRANA has obtained information regarding the case of 16 citizens arrested in connection with the January 2026 protests, a case referred to as the “Isfahan Shohada Square Case.” HRANA has so far verified the identities of 12 of the defendants. Several of these citizens are facing charges of moharebeh (enmity against God), an accusation that carries severe criminal consequences, including the possibility of a death sentence.
According to HRANA, judicial proceedings are underway against 16 citizens arrested in connection with the January 2026 protests in a case known as the “Isfahan Shohada Square Case.”
Note: The “Isfahan Shohada Square Case” should not be confused with the separate “Isfahan Alikhani Square Case.” Although the two cases involve a similar number of defendants and comparable charges, they are distinct judicial proceedings. In the Alikhani Square case, several defendants were sentenced to death.
HRANA has verified the identities of 12 of the defendants. They are:
• Ahmadreza Saeedi
• Navid Elyasi
• Abolfazl Dadgostar
• Mehdi Mansouri
• Hamed Mehralian
• Mehdi Asadi
• Three brothers: Milad Boveyri, Mehrdad Boveyri, and Ali Boveyri
• Two 20-year-old twin sisters: Taraneh Rahimi and Romina Rahimi
• Setayesh Saedi
These citizens are currently being held in Dastgerd Prison and Dowlatabad Prison in Isfahan. The identities of the remaining four defendants had not been verified by HRANA at the time of publication.
Hearing Held at Dastgerd Prison
According to information received by HRANA, the hearing for all 16 defendants was held on July 13, at Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan. The proceedings were video recorded.
Judge Morteza Barati and Judge Mohammadreza Tavakkoli presided over the hearing. An individual identified by the surname Kheirollahi attended the session as the prosecutor’s representative.
According to information obtained by HRANA, the case was registered with Branch 5 of the Isfahan Revolutionary Court. However, it has been adjudicated by judges from Branch One of the Revolutionary Court in the city.
Most of the defendants are accused of moharebeh through the use of bladed weapons, destruction of public property amounting to “moharebeh”, “assembly and collusion against national security,” and “propaganda against the regime.”
Defense Lawyers Denied Full Access to the Case File
Before the hearing, defense attorneys were denied access to the majority of the case file and were not given the opportunity to fully review the documents, evidence, and other materials contained in it.
In response to these restrictions, the defense lawyers objected and requested sufficient time to examine the case file, as well as a postponement of the court’s verdict.
A source close to the families of several defendants told HRANA:
“The lawyers’ access to the case file was restricted, and they were unable to review all of the documents and evidence before the hearing.”
Restricting defense lawyers’ access to the contents of the case file—particularly in a case in which several defendants face the charge of moharebeh (enmity against God) and the risk of severe punishments—can seriously undermine the right to an effective defense, adequate time and facilities to prepare that defense, and the guarantees of a fair trial.
Differences in the Charges Against Some Defendants
According to HRANA’s investigations and documentation, two of the defendants have been charged with aiding and abetting moharebeh and aiding and abetting the destruction of public property.
The charges against Setayesh Saedi also differ from those brought against several of the other defendants. The principal charge in her case is “assembly and collusion against national security.” Based on the evidence contained in the case file, her defense lawyers have requested that she be acquitted.
Several Defendants Connected to Shoe Stores in Shohada Square
According to information obtained by HRANA, the events underlying this case originated in the vicinity of several shoe stores in Shohada Square in Isfahan. Most of the defendants either owned or worked at these stores.
Among the defendants are three brothers, Milad Booari, Mehrdad Booari, and Ali Booari. Milad Booari owned a shoe store in Isfahan, while his two brothers and their mother worked at the same shop. Taraneh Rahimi and Ahmadreza Saeedi were also employees of that store.
Taraneh and Romina Rahimi, twin sisters, are also among the defendants.
Defendant Alleges Torture During Interrogation
During the court hearing, Ahmadreza Saeedi told the judges that he had been subjected to torture while under interrogation.
According to his testimony, the investigating judge personally used an electric stun gun to inflict injuries to his neck and genitals.
At the time of publication, it remains unclear whether a formal complaint has been filed regarding Mr. Saeedi’s allegations or whether an independent investigation has been opened to examine the torture claims and identify those allegedly responsible.
Given the nature and severity of the conduct described, the allegations raised by the defendant require a prompt, independent, impartial, and effective investigation. Furthermore, any statements or confessions that may have been obtained through torture, threats, or other forms of ill-treatment should not be relied upon in judicial proceedings or used as the basis for a conviction.
Uncertainty Surrounding the Defendants’ Alleged Connection to the Deaths of Two Individuals
During the January 2026 protests, two individuals lost their lives in the vicinity of Shohada Square in Isfahan. These events ultimately led to the judicial case known as the “Isfahan Shohada Square Case.”
One of the deceased was identified as a member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), while the other was described as a homeless man.
20-year-old Taraneh Rahimi
According to information obtained by HRANA, the indictment issued against the defendants does not include any specific murder charges related to the deaths of these two individuals. Instead, the proceedings have focused on charges including moharebeh (enmity against God), destruction of public property, assembly and collusion against national security, and propaganda against the regime.
A source familiar with the case told HRANA that, during the hearing, no evidence was presented specifically establishing the defendants’ involvement in the deaths of the two individuals.
The source further stated that the location where the IRGC member died was separate from the area where several of the defendants were working near the shoe stores, and that, according to the available information, no connection has been established between those defendants and the incident that resulted in his death.
Regarding the second victim, the same source said that a video found on the mobile phones of several defendants shows Taraneh Rahimi urging those present not to assault the homeless man while a group of individuals was attacking him.
According to information received by HRANA, this video has been included among the evidence in the case file.
In light of the absence of any specific murder charges in the indictment, and the available information indicating that no evidence was presented linking the defendants to the deaths of these two individuals, attributing legal responsibility for those deaths to the defendants would be without legal basis.
Background on the January 2026 Protests
It should be noted that protests and strikes by shopkeepers and bazaar merchants began in Tehran on Sunday, December 28, 2025, and within two days spread beyond markets and commercial centers. With the participation of students, citizens, and various social groups, these protests became one of the largest protest movements of recent years. Following the crackdown by security and law enforcement forces, thousands were killed or injured, and tens of thousands were arrested or summoned by security agencies. For more information, readers may refer to HRANA’s comprehensive report titled “Crimson Winter,” documenting the first fifty days following the outbreak of Iran’s nationwide protests.
HRANA – Alireza Sepahi and Abolfazl Sepahi, two death row prisoners in the case known as the “Alikhani Square case” in Isfahan, have been held in solitary confinement at Dastgerd Prison since the early hours of Saturday. Their transfer to solitary confinement, a family visit that relatives believe was a “final visit,” and the execution of two other defendants in the same case at dawn today have intensified concerns that their death sentences may be carried out imminently. Information received by HRANA also indicates that the defendants and their lawyer were denied effective access to the case file, that the court failed to consider exculpatory evidence, and that allegations of coercion and torture during the investigation were never examined.
According to HRANA, Alireza Sepahi, aged approximately 25, and Abolfazl Sepahi, aged approximately 23, were taken from the general ward of Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan at 5:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 18, 2026, and transferred to solitary confinement.
The two prisoners are first cousins. One is married to the other’s sister, making them both cousins and brothers-in-law. They were arrested on January 10, 2026, in connection with the nationwide January protests.
According to information received by HRANA, the death sentences against Alireza and Abolfazl Sepahi were recently upheld by Iran’s highest judicial authority. However, their families remain unaware of the full details of the charges, the evidence in the case, and the judicial proceedings, while their lawyer has also been denied full access to the case file.
A source close to the families told HRANA:
“The lawyer said that after the death sentence was issued, an appeal was filed, and the verdict was later upheld by the Supreme Court. But even the lawyer was never given full access to the case file or a meaningful opportunity to pursue the case. Everywhere we go, no one provides any answers.”
According to the source, the lawyer was not permitted to photograph or obtain a copy of the verdict and was only allowed to take handwritten notes from portions of the ruling. As a result, the families remain unaware of the precise charges, the evidence relied upon by the court, and the details of the judgments issued against all defendants in the case.
The trial hearings for Alireza and Abolfazl Sepahi were held inside the prison via videoconference. According to the family source, the court failed to consider exculpatory evidence submitted by the defendants and their families during the proceedings.
The source said that CCTV footage and other evidence show that Alireza and Abolfazl Sepahi were not present at Alikhani Square at the time of the incident cited in the case and were elsewhere. Nevertheless, the presiding judge, Morteza Barati, issued death sentences against them, ordering Alireza to be executed four times and Abolfazl three times,without conducting an effective examination of this evidence.
The source added:
“There is video footage showing that they were somewhere else at that date and time, but Judge Morteza Barati ignored it. During family visits, Alireza repeatedly said, ‘We didn’t do anything. We weren’t there.'”
According to information received by HRANA, several other defendants in the same case have stated that they were subjected to pressure and torture during interrogations to force them to confirm that Alireza and Abolfazl Sepahi had been present at Alikhani Square.
The family source said that several defendants currently held in Dowlatabad Prison claimed investigators presented them with a pre-written statement and instructed them to confirm Alireza Sepahi’s presence at the scene. According to the source, they stated that they had been pressured to falsely identify both Alireza and Abolfazl Sepahi as being at the location of the incident.
Although these allegations were raised during the judicial proceedings, information received by HRANA indicates that no independent or effective investigation was conducted into the allegations of torture, ill-treatment, or coerced statements. The court also failed to conduct any transparent review of the reliability of the disputed statements or the circumstances under which they were obtained.
Under fair trial standards, any allegation of torture or ill-treatment must be investigated promptly, independently, and impartially, and any statement obtained through torture or coercion must not be admitted as evidence against a defendant. The lack of effective access to legal counsel and the case file, the court’s failure to consider exculpatory evidence, and the absence of any investigation into torture allegations have raised serious concerns regarding the defendants’ fundamental rights, particularly given that the sentences imposed carry the death penalty.
Meanwhile, according to information received by HRANA, Somayeh, the mother of one of the prisoners, who is herself serving a five-year prison sentence in the women’s ward of Isfahan Prison, was transferred to the men’s prison to visit her son and son-in-law. The circumstances of the visit, combined with the prisoners’ transfer to solitary confinement, have led their families to fear that it was arranged as a final visit before the executions.
The families’ last regular visit with Alireza and Abolfazl Sepahi took place approximately one month ago.
Unconfirmed reports received by HRANA also indicate that Alireza and Abolfazl Sepahi are among the first prisoners whose death sentences may be carried out. HRANA has not been able to independently verify these reports. However, their transfer to solitary confinement, together with the execution of two other defendants in the same case, has significantly heightened the families’ concerns.
At dawn today, Erfan Esfandiari and Gol-Mohammad Mohammadi, two other defendants sentenced to death in the Alikhani Square case, were executed in Isfahan. Their executions, carried out shortly after Alireza and Abolfazl Sepahi were transferred to solitary confinement, have intensified fears that the remaining death sentences in the case may soon be carried out.
At the trial court stage, 15 defendants in this case were sentenced to death. According to information provided by the defense lawyer, the death sentence of one defendant was overturned by the higher judicial authority, while the death sentences of the remaining 14 defendants were upheld.
In addition to Alireza Sepahi, Abolfazl Sepahi, Erfan Esfandiari, and Gol-Mohammad Mohammadi, HRANA has confirmed the identities of eight other individuals sentenced to death in this case: Ghaem Hosseini, Shervin Bagherian, Amirhossein Safari, Amirhossein Maleki, Ali Dashti, Abolfazl Ebrahimi, Alireza Raeisi, and Amirhossein Ebrahimi Analoucheh.
HRANA is continuing to investigate the case, including the identities of the remaining three defendants sentenced to death.
The family source also described the circumstances of Alireza Sepahi’s arrest, stating that security forces fired numerous rounds as they entered the family home, causing extensive damage to the building and its contents.
According to the source, bullet marks remain visible on the house, in the alley, and on the rooftop. Several months later, only the shattered windows have been replaced. Due to financial hardship, Alireza’s family has been unable to fully repair the home or replace the damaged belongings. Alireza’s father is a municipal employee.
It should be noted that protests and strikes by shopkeepers and bazaar merchants began in Tehran on Sunday, December 28, 2025, and within two days spread beyond markets and commercial centers. With the participation of students, citizens, and various social groups, these protests became one of the largest protest movements of recent years. Following the crackdown by security and law enforcement forces, thousands were killed or injured, and tens of thousands were arrested or summoned by security agencies. For more information, readers may refer to HRANA’s comprehensive report titled “Crimson Winter,” documenting the first fifty days following the outbreak of Iran’s nationwide protests.
HRANA – Yesterday, Thursday, July 16, prisoners in Unit 2 of Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj entered the fourth consecutive day of their protest against the implementation of death sentences and the transfer of six prisoners to solitary confinement for execution. The prisoners continued their sit-in and refused to receive their food rations.
According to HRANA, the hunger strike by prisoners in Unit 2 of Ghezel Hesar Prison, which began on Monday in response to the transfer of six death row prisoners to solitary confinement, entered its fourth consecutive day yesterday.
Based on information received by HRANA, the protesting prisoners gathered in the prison ward and refused to accept prison meals to express their opposition to executions, particularly in cases involving drug-related offenses. Some also held handwritten signs reading “No to Executions,” calling for an end to the implementation of death sentences.
Informed sources also reported that signal-jamming devices (jammers) remain active inside the prison. According to these sources, prison authorities activated the equipment after videos of the prisoners’ hunger strike and sit-in were published, in an effort to prevent images and videos from being sent outside the prison.
In recent days, videos recorded inside Ghezel Hesar Prison have circulated, showing parts of the prisoners’ hunger strike and sit-in.
The prisoners’ protest began on Monday, July 13, following the transfer of six prisoners sentenced to death in drug-related cases to solitary confinement in preparation for their executions. The move prompted a collective response from prisoners in Unit 2, who have continued their hunger strike and sit-in ever since.
HRANA – The attorney for Dena Karari, a dual Iranian-American citizen, announced that his client has left Iran and is en route to the United States. Ms. Karari, who traveled to Iran in December 2024 to visit her family, was detained for a period and later released on bail. However, she had been barred from leaving the country until today.
According to HRANA, on Thursday, July 16, 2026, Dena Karari departed Iran.
Jared Genser, Ms. Karari’s attorney, stated in a post, that his client is now safe and on her way back to the United States.
Genser also said in an interview that “53-year-old Karari had suffered a massive heart attack last week, and there were significant concerns about her condition moving forward.”
According to Genser, Iranian authorities had pursued charges against Ms. Karari on allegations of “cooperation with a hostile government” and “espionage.” He described the accusations as baseless and said that although she had been accused, she was never formally charged.
Dena Karari, a dual citizen of the United States and Iran, traveled to Iran in December 2024 to visit her family. As she was preparing to leave the country, security agents confiscated her passports. She was detained for a period and later released on bail; however, she was not permitted to leave Iran.
Karari is an employee of a U.S. technology company and the founder of a charitable organization supporting underprivileged children in Iran.
HRANA – The death sentences issued against Behrouz Zamaninejad and his son, Kourosh Zamaninejad, who were arrested during the January 2026 protests and are currently imprisoned in Greater Tehran Penitentiary, have been overturned by the Supreme Court. Their case has been referred to a parallel court branch for retrial. The two had previously been sentenced to death by Judge Iman Afshari.
According to HRANA, the Supreme Court has overturned the death sentences of two individuals arrested during the January 2026 protests.
Based on information received by HRANA, Branch 32 of the Supreme Court accepted the request for a retrial submitted by Behrouz Zamaninejad and his son, Kourosh Zamaninejad, overturned the death sentences issued against them, and referred the case to a parallel branch for renewed proceedings.
In April 2026, the two men, along with their co-defendants Mohammadreza Majidi-Asl and his wife, Bita Hemmati, were sentenced to death by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, on the charge of “conducting operational activities on behalf of the hostile government of the United States and hostile groups.” All four defendants were also sentenced to five years of discretionary imprisonment each on the charge of “assembly and collusion against national security.” The court additionally ordered the confiscation of all their assets as a supplementary punishment. In late May 2026, the Supreme Court overturned the death sentences of Mohammadreza Majidi-Asl and Bita Hemmati.
It should also be noted that another defendant in the same case, Amir Hemmati, was sentenced to five years of discretionary imprisonment on the charge of “assembly and collusion against national security,” as well as eight months in prison for “propaganda against the regime.”
According to the court’s ruling, the defendants were accused of participating in protest gatherings on January 8 and 9, 2026, chanting protest slogans, throwing objects including bottles, concrete blocks, and incendiary materials, and damaging public property. The ruling further alleged that these actions were intended to disrupt national security and were carried out in connection with hostile groups. Judge Afshari also referred to the alleged use of explosives and an unspecified weapon, injuries inflicted on deployed security forces, and the dissemination of content aimed at undermining national security. However, the ruling did not specify the details of these allegations or explain how each accusation was individually attributed to each defendant.
A source close to the families of the prisoners previously told HRANA: “Mohammadreza Majidi-Asl and Bita Hemmati are a married couple living in Tehran, and Amir Hemmati is a relative of theirs. Kourosh Zamaninejad and Behrouz Zamaninejad were also living in the same residential building, and they were arrested simultaneously.”
According to information obtained by HRANA, the defendants were subjected to pressure during interrogations, raising concerns that forced confessions may have been extracted during that period.
The death sentences issued by the trial court were based on a combination of legal provisions, including Articles 131 and 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, as well as Articles 500 and 610, which relate to “propaganda against the regime” and “assembly and collusion against national security.” The application of the death penalty in conjunction with these charges, particularly in cases stemming from public protests, has drawn increasing criticism from human rights organizations in recent years.
The defendants were arrested by security forces in Tehran on January 9, 2026. Behrouz Zamaninejad and his son, Kourosh Zamaninejad, are currently being held in Greater Tehran Penitentiary, while Bita Hemmati is detained in the women’s ward of Evin Prison. HRANA is still investigating the whereabouts of Mohammadreza Majidi-Asl.
HRANA – Craig Foreman, a British citizen imprisoned in Evin Prison, has been sentenced to two years in prison in connection with a new case opened against him during his incarceration.
According to HRANA, Craig Foreman received the two-year prison sentence in relation to a case that was initiated against him while he was already in custody. Speaking with foreign media outlets was among the allegations brought against him and was cited as one of the reasons for issuing the sentence.
Joe Bennett, the prisoner’s son, announced the news, stating: “My father was told he was being taken to meet his lawyer, but instead he was taken before the judge, where he was informed of this sentence.”
Previously, an informed source told HRANA that pressure on Craig Foreman and Lindsay Foreman, the British couple detained in Evin Prison, had intensified after they gave an interview to BBC World and referred to the number of executions in Iran. During his imprisonment in Evin and Greater Tehran prisons, Craig Foreman has lived alongside prisoners sentenced to death, witnessed the transfer of death row prisoners for execution, and is currently housed with several inmates awaiting execution. In her interview from inside prison, Lindsay Foreman also addressed the issue of executions in Iran. The couple stated: “In Iran, speaking about executions can result in people being deprived of their most basic rights. The Iranian government has no problem executing people, but if those executions are spoken about or reported, it responds harshly against those who tell the story.”
In February of last year, Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Abolghasem Salavati, sentenced the couple to ten years in prison on charges of “espionage.” Their prison sentences were upheld in full by the Court of Appeals in May.
Craig Foreman and Lindsay Foreman had entered Iran by motorcycle as part of a round-the-world journey. They were arrested in December 2024 by Intelligence Organization of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces in Kerman. Judicial authorities had previously accused them of “espionage,” alleging that they gathered information in several provinces while posing as tourists and conducting research activities.
The then British ambassador to Iran also met with the two defendants at the Kerman Prosecutor’s Office in February of that year.
In recent years, Iranian authorities have arrested several foreign nationals on charges such as espionage or cooperation with hostile governments. Some of those detained have later been released following political negotiations. Human rights organizations and several Western governments have accused Iran of using such arrests as a means of political leverage, while Iranian authorities have consistently denied these allegations.
In February 2026, Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Abolghasem Salavati, sentenced the couple to 10 years in prison on charges of “espionage.”
According to the couple, “Although we appeared before the court, no evidence was presented, and we were given no opportunity to defend ourselves.”
Craig and Lindsay Foreman, who had entered Iran by motorcycle as part of a round-the-world journey, were arrested in January 2025 in Kerman by IRGC intelligence forces. Iranian judicial authorities accused them of “espionage,” alleging that they had gathered information in several provinces under the guise of tourism and research activities.
The then British ambassador to Iran met with the couple at the Kerman Prosecutor’s Office in February 2025.
In recent years, Iranian authorities have arrested several foreign nationals on charges such as espionage or cooperation with hostile governments. Some have later been released following political negotiations. Human rights organizations and several Western governments have accused Iran of using such arrests as a means of political leverage, allegations that Iranian authorities have consistently denied.
HRANA – Shadi (Khadijeh) Shadman, arrested during the nationwide protests of 2026, who is currently imprisoned in Evin Prison, has been sentenced to five years in prison by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court.
Based on information received by HRANA, Shadi Shadman was sentenced to five years in prison by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari. The verdict was formally communicated to her last week while she was being held in Evin Prison.
An informed source told HRANA: “Shadi Shadman was sentenced to this prison term due to her participation in the January 2026 protests.”
A hearing on the charges against Ms. Shadman was held before the same branch of the Revolutionary Court some time ago.
Ms. Shadman was arrested by security forces during the nationwide protests in January 2026. After spending one month in detention at a security detention facility in eastern Tehran, she was transferred to the women’s ward of Evin Prison on January 29, 2026.
A source close to Ms. Shadman’s family told HRANA’s reporter that she is the mother of a nine-year-old daughter and the sole provider for her household. Before her arrest, she worked as a seamstress and baker. She had participated in the January 2026 protests to demonstrate against rising prices, inflation, and poor economic conditions. The source emphasized that she had no particular political affiliation.
The source further stated that Ms. Shadman was arrested in front of her daughter. Since then, responsibility for caring for the child has fallen to her extended family. Her family lives in Khorasan Province, and during the seven months she has remained in detention, the long distance and other existing difficulties have prevented her from seeing her daughter.
HRANA’s investigation into the charges brought against Ms. Shadman remains ongoing.
It should be noted that protests and strikes by shopkeepers and bazaar merchants began in Tehran on Sunday, December 28, 2025, and within two days spread beyond markets and commercial centers. With the participation of students, citizens, and various social groups, these protests became one of the largest protest movements of recent years. Following the crackdown by security and law enforcement forces, thousands were killed or injured, and tens of thousands were arrested or summoned by security agencies. For more information, readers may refer to HRANA’s comprehensive report titled “Crimson Winter,” documenting the first fifty days following the outbreak of Iran’s nationwide protests.
