Category: Prisoners

Supreme Court Overturns Death Sentence of Shahab Nadali Jouzani; Retrial Scheduled for December 3

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Executions, News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, Hamedan, HRANA, Iman Afshari, Shahab Nadali Jouzani, شهاب نادعلی

The death sentence of Shahab Nadali Jouzani, a political prisoner held in Evin Prison, has been overturned by Branch 39 of the Supreme Court. His case has been referred to a parallel court for retrial, which is scheduled for December 3, 2024.

A source close to the family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “Branch 39 of the Supreme Court recently overturned the death sentence. The case has been referred to a parallel branch for review, and a retrial is set for December 3.”

In February 2024, Nadali was sentenced to death by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, on charges of “rebellion (Baghi) through membership in opposition groups (the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization).” Additionally, he received a five-year prison sentence for “assembly and collusion to commit crimes against national security,” with his time in pretrial detention credited towards the sentence.

Shahab Nadali Jouzani was arrested on June 6, 2023, by Intelligence Ministry agents in Hamedan and has been detained in Ward 4 of Evin Prison ever since.

Now 42 years old, Nadali is married and the father of a 13-year-old daughter. Before his arrest, he worked as a laborer and resided in Hamedan.

Iraj Jamshidi Detained for Six Days Amid Uncertainty in Tabriz

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News, Prisoners
HRANA, Iraj Jamshidi, Malekan, Tabriz, ایرج جمشیدی

Iraj Jamshidi has been detained for six days by security forces in Malekan and transferred to a security detention facility in Tabriz.

A source close to the family confirmed to HRANA: “Mr. Jamshidi was arrested by Intelligence Ministry agents at his home in Malekan on Thursday, November 14, 2024, and was transferred to a security detention facility in Tabriz.” The source added: “Despite the family’s efforts to obtain information from security and judicial authorities in Tabriz, officials have refused to provide any clear answers regarding Iraj Jamshidi’s situation, increasing the family’s concerns.”

As of the time of this report, no information is available about the charges against him.

Iraj Jamshidi, 55, is unmarried and resides in Malekan.

Political Prisoner Saeed Gharibi Self-Immolates in Protest of Prison Conditions and Harsh Sentence

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News, Prisoners
Adelabad Prison, HRANA, Saeed Gharibi, Shiraz

Saeed Gharibi, a political prisoner in Adelabad Prison, Shiraz, set himself on fire on Saturday, November 16, 2024, to protest the prison’s dire conditions and the heavy sentences issued against him.

Sentenced to 15 years in prison and 15 years of exile, Gharibi sustained severe burns to his back and hands. Despite his critical condition, prison authorities have denied him transfer to a hospital or access to necessary medical treatment.

According to HRANA, a source close to Gharibi’s family confirmed the incident and reported that prison officials refused even basic medical care despite the severity of his injuries.

Before the incident, Gharibi had been suffering from significant mental distress due to the harsh conditions in Adelabad Prison. He is held in a ward shared with individuals affiliated with ISIS, and his outdoor recreation time is limited to less than an hour per week, adding to his psychological and emotional strain.

Gharibi, approximately 30 years old, was arrested last year by security forces. Branch 1 of the Shiraz Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Sadati, convicted him on charges of “propaganda against the regime,” “insulting the Supreme Leader,” and “membership in opposition groups.” His sentence includes 15 years of imprisonment and 15 years of exile to Tabas, with the most severe punishment enforceable.

Despite attempts to appeal his conviction, Gharibi’s case has not yet been registered with the Supreme Court.

This incident highlights the ongoing mistreatment of political prisoners in Iran, with detainees frequently subjected to inadequate medical care, harsh detention conditions, and psychological pressure.

Workers’ Rights Activist Farhad Sheikhi Faces Ongoing Imprisonment Amidst History of Targeted Punishment

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News, Prisoners
Farhad Sheikhi, Hashtgerd, HRANA, Karaj, The Central Prison of Karaj, فرهاد شیخی

Farhad Sheikhi, a labor activist, is currently serving an eight-month prison sentence in the Central Prison of Karaj, following a ruling by the Alborz Province Court of Appeals.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, Sheikhi was arrested in late September 2024 after appearing at the Criminal Enforcement Office in Hashtgerd and was transferred to Karaj Central Prison to serve his sentence.

On November 5, a source informed HRANA that Sheikhi was punitively transferred to solitary confinement for five days before being returned to his ward.

Sheikhi’s legal troubles began on May 28, 2023, when security forces arrested him at his home in Hashtgerd. Initially detained in Rajai Shahr Prison, he was later charged at the Hashtgerd Prosecutor’s Office on June 13, 2023. He was released on a bail of 100 million tomans pending trial.

In June 2024, Branch 1 of the Karaj Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Seyed Musa Asef al-Hosseini, convicted Sheikhi of “propaganda against the regime.” He was sentenced to one year in prison, two years of exile to Divandarreh in Kurdistan Province, a two-year travel ban, and a two-year ban on residing in Alborz and Tehran Provinces following the completion of his exile.

On August 29, 2024, the Court of Appeals reduced his prison sentence to eight months, while the other aspects of his punishment remained unchanged.

Sheikhi, a dedicated workers’ rights advocate, has faced repeated arrests and convictions for his activism. On February 7, 2023, he was released from a prior imprisonment following an amnesty directive.

Sheikhi’s case exemplifies the ongoing challenges faced by labor activists in Iran, who continue to face judicial and extrajudicial pressures for their advocacy.

Pedram Jamali, Political Prisoner, Serving Three-Year Sentence in Evin Prison

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News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, Pedram Jamali

Pedram Jamali, a political prisoner, is serving his prison sentence in Evin Prison. He was previously sentenced to three years in prison by judicial authorities.

Mr. Jamali was convicted by the Revolutionary Court on charges of “assembly and collusion to act against national security” through cooperation with opposition groups. He was sentenced to three years in prison.

On July 10, 2023, Jamali was transferred to Evin Prison to begin serving his sentence.

Pedram Jamali is a resident of Tehran.

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727 Days of Silence: The Ongoing Detention of Osman Mameh

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News, Prisoners
Bukan, HRANA, Osman Mame, Osman Mameh, Urmia, عثمان مامه

Osman Mameh, a 55-year-old resident of Bukan, has been held in detention for 727 days without any clear explanation from authorities. The prolonged lack of communication about his condition has left his family and relatives deeply concerned.

A source close to Mameh’s family told HRANA: “Despite nearly two years since his arrest and continuous efforts by his family to seek answers from security and judicial authorities in cities such as Bukan, Urmia, Karaj, and Tehran, no clear information has been provided. Mr. Mameh has not been allowed any contact with his family since his detention, which has only intensified their fears. Security officials have merely stated that he is alive and that the family would have been informed if he had died.”

Mameh was arrested by security forces on November 18, 2022, in Bukan.

As of this report, no details have been disclosed about the reasons for his arrest, the location of his detention, or the charges brought against him.

Ahmadreza Haeri Sentenced to Over Six Years in Prison Following Case Consolidation

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News, Prisoners
Abbasali Khozan, Ahmadreza Haeri, Ghezel Hesar prison, احمدرضا حائری

Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals has handed down a sentence of six years and three months to Ahmadreza Haeri, a political prisoner currently held in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj. The ruling comes after the consolidation of his cases and the overturning of earlier verdicts.

The court, presided over by Judge Abbasali Khozan, sentenced Haeri to four years for “assembly and collusion to commit crimes against national security,” one year for “propaganda against the regime,” and 15 months for “spreading falsehoods.” Under Iran’s penal code, the most severe punishment—four years—will be enforceable.

Haeri criticized the process, stating that Branch 36 issued this new ruling without notifying his legal counsel, despite the Supreme Court having overturned the initial verdict. Furthermore, the new sentence includes an additional year of imprisonment compared to the original ruling.

In late August 2022, Haeri was sentenced to three years and eight months by the Tehran Revolutionary Court. He began serving his prison term in May 2023 at Evin Prison and was transferred in September 2023, along with 12 other political prisoners, to Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.

On October 16, 2024, Haeri appeared via video conference before the First Branch of the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in Karaj, defending himself against fresh charges of “propaganda against the regime” and “spreading falsehoods.”

Ahmadreza Haeri has faced multiple arrests and imprisonment in the past due to his activism.

Ardabil Street Vendor Detained for 12 Days on Charges of “Disturbing Public Opinion”

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Ethnic Minorities, News, Prisoners
ardabil prison, Azerbaijani Turk activist, HRANA, Yousef Kari

Yousef Kari, a street vendor and Azerbaijani-Turk activist from Ardabil, has been held in Ardabil Prison for 12 days following his arrest on charges of “disturbing public opinion.”

A source close to his family confirmed to HRANA: “Mr. Kari was violently detained by police while working as a street vendor on October 29, 2024. Despite being charged by the Ardabil Prosecutor’s Office and the setting of a 5 billion rial bail, the presiding judge has refused to grant his release, leaving him in legal limbo.”

The source added, “During his arrest, Mr. Kari was subjected to physical violence, which he protested. In retaliation, security forces took him to a forensic medical examiner and pressured a psychiatrist to label him mentally unstable.”

Yousef Kari, previously dismissed from his job under security pressure, now earns a living as a street vendor in Ardabil. He has faced repeated harassment in the past due to his activism.

Imprisoned Attorney Mohammad Najafi Transferred to Hospital Following Critical Health Deterioration

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News, Prisoners
Arak prison, Evin Prison, HRANA, Mohammad Najafi, محمد نجفی

On Tuesday, November 5, Mohammad Najafi, an attorney detained in Evin Prison and suffering from a heart condition, was urgently transferred to Loghman Hakim Hospital in Tehran due to a sudden worsening of his health.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Najafi experienced a severe health incident while receiving a family visit. A source close to his family told HRANA, “During the visit, Najafi suddenly showed symptoms resembling a heart attack. He was immediately taken to the prison’s medical clinic. Given the critical nature of his condition, he was then transferred to an outside hospital, arriving at Loghman Hakim Hospital in Tehran under heavy restraints.”

Najafi was previously released from prison in 2019 after serving time in an earlier case but was re-arrested just four days later on different charges and taken to Arak Prison. In May 2023, he was transferred from Arak Prison to Evin Prison in Tehran.

Throughout his time in prison, Najafi has faced numerous charges, resulting in multiple sentences. He is currently detained in Ward 4 of Evin Prison. His longest sentence—10 years, later reduced to four years and six months—stems from a charge of “assisting a hostile government through interviews with foreign media.”

Najafi’s combined sentences now total over 21 years across various cases involving 14 separate charges, with no consolidation of these sentences applied to date. At least five new cases have been filed against him during his imprisonment, including one initiated by the warden of Arak Prison, which led to a four-month sentence. Another case involves charges for allegedly releasing audio recordings from within Arak Prison.

Gholamhossein Kalbi, Political Prisoner in His 24th Year of Life Sentence, Denied Medical Care Amid Deteriorating Health

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News, Prisoners
ahvaz, Dezful, Gholamhossein Kalbi, HRANA, Mahshahr, Saeed Masouri, Sheiban Prison

Political prisoner Gholamhossein Kalbi is now in his 24th year of a life sentence at Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz. He suffers from multiple health conditions, yet has been denied specialized medical care and transfer to treatment centers.

As per HRANA’s information, Mr. Kalbi suffers from a hernia, ear and dental infections, and has recently contracted a fungal infection that has caused severe toe infections. Despite his worsening condition and repeated transfers to the prison infirmary, he has only received basic examinations and minimal medication due to limited medical resources. Kalbi urgently needs specialized medical care, which has yet to be approved.

According to a source close to the case, the Ministry of Intelligence, overseeing Kalbi’s file, recently rejected his request for transfer to a prison near his home in Mahshahr. “He is held in Sheiban’s security ward, where he lacks any area for exercise and lives in overcrowded conditions, with twice the capacity in his cell,” the source told HRANA.

Kalbi was arrested on January 8, 2001, along with Saeed Masouri, in Dezful, on charges of membership in the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran. In 2002, he was sentenced to death by the Tehran Revolutionary Court on charges of “enmity against God” (Moharebeh). His death sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment.

After his arrest, he spent 14 months in solitary confinement at the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Ahvaz before being transferred to Ward 209, and later to Ward 350 of Evin Prison. Following his sentencing, he was moved to Mahshahr Prison and later to Karun Prison in Ahvaz. After the closure of Karun Prison in February 2016, he was transferred along with other prisoners to Sheiban Prison.

In October 2016, his brother, the last remaining member of his family, suffered a stroke and passed away while en route to the prison for a face-to-face visit with him—a visit he had managed to secure after five years of effort. The judicial authorities denied Mr. Kalbi leave to attend his brother’s funeral.

The troubling case of Kalbi underscores a broader pattern of neglect within Iranian prisons. In 2023, the Department of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran documented 1,390 instances of denial or neglect of medical care for prisoners, highlighting a systemic issue that urgently demands attention.