Category: Prisoners

Critical Health Concerns Amid Medical Neglect of Political Prisoner Marziyeh Farsi in Evin Prison

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News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, HRANA, Iman Afshari, Marziyeh Farsi, مرضیه فارسی

HRANA News Agency – Marzieh Farsi, a political prisoner held in Evin Prison, has been denied access to specialized medical care and transfer to medical facilities despite her poor health condition.

A source close to her family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “Ms. Farsi suffers from heart disease, persistent dizziness, headaches, nausea, and severe physical weakness. She also had breast cancer in the past and underwent surgery. However, after her arrest and transfer to prison, she was not sent to a hospital for specialized medical examinations. This has worsened her physical condition, and her health is currently in a concerning state.”

On February 14, 2024, Farsi was sentenced to 15 years in prison by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court on suspicion of membership in opposition groups.

The specific charges cited by the judge for this sentence remain unclear. However, Iman Afshari, the presiding judge of Branch 26, has a history of issuing unfair verdicts against political activists. Her trial was held in absentia by the same court earlier in February.

On August 21, 2023, Farsi was arrested by security forces in Tehran. Shortly after, she informed her family in a phone call that she had been transferred to The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, known as Ward 209 of Evin Prison. She was later moved to the women’s ward of the same prison.

Marzieh Farsi has previously been arrested and imprisoned for her activism.

Alam Azizi Held Incommunicado for 26 Days Following Arrest

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News, Prisoners
Alam Azizi, HRANA, Qasr-e Qand, Sistan and Baluchestan

HRANA News Agency – Alam Azizi, a resident of Qasr-e Qand, has been held in detention by security forces for 26 days, with no information available about his whereabouts.

A source close to Mr. Azizi’s family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “Despite 26 days having passed since his arrest, Azizi has not had any visits or contact with his family. The lack of information about his condition has deepened the concerns of his family and relatives.”

He was previously arrested by security forces on March 8, 2025, in Qasr-e Qand.

As of the time of this report, no information has been obtained regarding the location of his detention or the charges brought against him.

Alam Azizi is approximately 36 years old and a resident of Azizabad village in Qasr-e Qand County, Sistan and Baluchestan Province. He has previously been arrested due to his activities.

Death Sentence of Political Prisoner Hamid Hosseinnezhad Upheld by Supreme Court

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News, Prisoners
Chaldoran, Hamid Hosseinnezhad, HRANA, Najafzadeh, Urmia, Urmia prison

HRANA News Agency – The death sentence of Hamid Hosseinnezhad Heydaranlou, a political prisoner held in Urmia Prison, has been upheld by the Supreme Court of Iran. He had previously been sentenced to death by the Urmia Revolutionary Court on the charge of baghi (armed rebellion).

According to HRANA, quoting Kurdpa, the Supreme Court’s Branch 9 confirmed the death sentence, which was officially communicated to him on March 26, 2025, in Urmia Prison.

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.

Varisheh Moradi, a political prisoner on death row, denied medical treatment

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News, Prisoners
armed rebellion, bolghasem Salavati, Evin Prison, Sanandaj, Varisheh Moradi

HRANA News Agency – Varisheh Moradi, a political prisoner sentenced to death and held in Evin Prison, is being denied hospital transfer and adequate medical care despite her deteriorating physical condition.

A social media page affiliated with Varisheh Moradi reported that she suffers from several health issues, including severe spinal disc problems in her back and neck, and has required urgent surgery and proper medical attention for over three months, as confirmed by a specialist. Despite prison doctors at Evin confirming the severity of her condition and emphasizing the urgent need for treatment outside the prison, she continues to be denied transfer to medical facilities on orders from the relevant authorities.

Ms. Moradi had previously also been denied transfer to medical centers despite requiring specialized treatment.

Varisheh Moradi was arrested by security forces in August 2023 in the outskirts of Sanandaj. She was eventually transferred on December 26 of that year from the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, known as Ward 209 of Evin Prison, to the women’s ward.

In late November 2024, Ms. Moradi was sentenced to death by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Abolghasem Salavati, on the charge of baghi (armed rebellion).

In another case, in late October 2023, she was sentenced to six months in prison by Branch Two of the Qods Judicial Complex Criminal Court in Tehran, in a joint case involving four other inmates. The charge against her in this case was “assaulting an officer and disobedience.”

This case stemmed from events on August 7, following protests by female prisoners in Evin’s women’s ward after learning about the execution of Reza Rasaei, which led to a clash with prison guards.

Evin Prison: Medical Care and Medical Leave Denied to Layan Darvish

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News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, Gilan, HRANA, Layan Darvish

HRANA News Agency – Layan Darvish, a political prisoner held in Evin Prison, is being denied essential medical care and transfer to a hospital despite suffering from a severe kidney and bladder infection.

According to information obtained by HRANA, Darvish is in urgent need of medical treatment, yet prison authorities have blocked her transfer to external medical facilities.

A source close to her family told HRANA, “Ms. Darvish’s request for conditional release has been approved and is legally due for implementation, but prison officials continue to withhold her release. Her application for short-term medical leave was initially approved but has yet to be carried out. These repeated broken promises are taking a serious toll on her mental health.”

Darvish was transferred to the women’s ward of Evin Prison on February 21, 2024, to begin serving her sentence.

A mother in her early 40s from Gilan Province, Layan Darvish was sentenced to a total of five years in prison on charges of “assembly and collusion against national security,” “insulting the Supreme Leader,” and “propaganda against the regime.”

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Detention Without Due Process: Farzaneh Mohammadi Parsa Still Held in Evin Prison Without Charges

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News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, Farzaneh Mohammadi Parsa, HRANA, Tehran

HRANA News Agency- Farzaneh Mohammadi Parsa, a political detainee, remains in a state of legal uncertainty more than 90 days after her arrest. She is currently being held in the women’s ward of Evin Prison.

According to information received by HRANA, Mohammadi Parsa has been in detention for over three months without formal charges or legal proceedings. After spending more than 40 days in the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, known as Ward 209 of Evin Prison, she was transferred to the prison’s women’s ward on February 11, 2025. Authorities have so far denied her release on bail.

A source close to the family confirmed to HRANA that her arrest was linked to her public protest against compulsory hijab laws in Tehran.

She was arrested on December 25, 2024, by security forces at her home in Tehran. The arrest reportedly involved physical assault.

According to earlier reports, Mohammadi Parsa had previously been detained over issues related to mandatory hijab and for sharing content discouraging participation in Iran’s presidential elections. She was released on that occasion after signing a written pledge.

To date, no formal charges have been announced against her.

Farzaneh Mohammadi Parsa is approximately 55 years old, a dentist by profession, and resides in Tehran.

Mehdi Eydi Vandi Arrested and Transferred to Prison in Masjed Soleyman

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News, Prisoners
HRANA, Masjed-Soleyman, Mehdi Eydi Vandi, مهدی عیدی وندی

HRANA News Agency – Mehdi Eydi Vandi, a resident of Masjed Soleyman, was arrested by security forces on March 18, 2025, and is currently held in limbo at the city’s prison.

Based on information received by HRANA, he was arrested by security forces on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, in front of his workplace. Following his arrest, he was transferred to Masjed Soleyman Prison in Khuzestan province, where he remains in a state of uncertainty.

The reasons for his arrest and the charges against him remain unknown at the time of this report.

Labor Activist Morteza Seydi Goes on Hunger Strike in Evin Prison

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News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, HRANA, Hunger Strike, Morteza Seydi, مرتضی صیدی

HRANA News Agency –Morteza Seydi, a labor activist imprisoned in Evin Prison, began a hunger strike yesterday, March 25, 2025.

According to information obtained by HRANA, in the final days of the previous Iranian year, Evin Prison officials attempted to transfer Seydi from Ward 8 to Ward 7. Seydi resisted the transfer, after which prison authorities punished him by moving him to the quarantine ward. In protest, he launched a hunger strike.

Morteza Seydi was arrested on November 5, 2024, after appearing at Branch 3 of the Enforcement Unit of the Shahr-e Qods Prosecutor’s Office to begin serving his sentence. He was subsequently transferred to Evin Prison.

In June 2024, Branch 2 of the Shahriar Revolutionary Court sentenced Seydi to two years in prison on charges of “forming a group under the name of a labor union with the intent to disrupt national security.”

Previously, on April 15, 2022, Seydi was arrested along with several other labor activists by security forces. He was released on bail on May 9, 2022.

Morteza Seydi has faced repeated judicial prosecution over his labor activism.

Political Prisoner Behfar Lalehzari Awaits Supreme Court Review of Retrial Request After 14 Months in Limbo

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News, Prisoners
Behfar Lalehzari, Evin Prison, HRANA, Iman Afshari

HRANA News Agency– Behfar Lalehzari, a political prisoner held in Evin Prison, has been waiting more than 14 months for the Supreme Court of Iran to review his retrial request. Despite repeated follow-ups, his case remains unresolved.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, the Supreme Court has yet to process Lalehzari’s retrial petition.

A source close to the prisoner’s family confirmed the prolonged delay, telling HRANA: “During a visit by a judicial official to Ward 4 of Evin Prison, Behfar Lalehzari raised his protest over the lack of progress on his retrial request pending in Branch 39 of the Supreme Court. The official responded by claiming the case file had been ‘lost’ and that the branch currently has no file to review.”

In protest, Lalehzari launched a hunger strike on February 11, 2025, demanding action on his case. He ended his strike in late March after prison authorities promised to address his demands.

Lalehzari first submitted his retrial request to the Supreme Court in February 2024. Despite suffering from multiple health conditions, he has filed nine requests for medical furlough to date—each denied by prison officials.

On September 18, 2023, security forces arrested Behfar Lalehzari at his home. After seven days in solitary confinement at the Security Police detention facility, he was transferred to Evin Prison.

Later, Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, sentenced him to four years in prison for “assembly and collusion against internal security” and one year for “propaganda against the regime,” totaling five years. The verdict was upheld by Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals.

Christian Convert Naser Navard Goltapeh Denied Medical Care Amid Ongoing Detention in Evin Prison

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News, Prisoners, Religious Minorities
Evin Prison, Joseph Shahbazian, Naser Navard Goltapeh, Tehran, ناصر نورد گل تپه

HRANA News Agency – Naser Navard Goltapeh, a Christian convert imprisoned in Evin Prison, has been denied access to specialized medical care. He was recently transferred to a hospital due to deteriorating health but was returned to prison without receiving adequate treatment.

According to HRANA, quoting Article 18 News Outlet, on the 35th day of his hunger strike, Goltapeh was transferred to a hospital with symptoms suggesting a possible stroke. Following initial examinations, doctors suspected either a mild stroke or a minor heart attack. He experienced impaired movement in his left arm and leg. Despite the attending physician’s recommendation for physiotherapy and continued medical treatment, he was returned to prison without receiving adequate care.

The report states that no action has been taken so far to address his case or hold a trial. Although bail has been set, his release remains impossible.

On February 6, 2025, Goltapeh was arrested along with another Christian citizen, Joseph Shahbazian, in Tehran and transferred to Evin Prison.

At the time of this report, no information has been made available regarding the charges brought against him.

Goltapeh, a Christian convert residing in Tehran, has previously been arrested and imprisoned for his religious activities.n July 2016, he was detained during a private gathering and was ultimately sentenced to 10 years in prison on charges of “establishing a house church.” He served his sentence in Evin Prison from 2017 without any furlough, and multiple requests for a retrial or conditional release were denied. After serving more than half of his sentence, he was released in October 2022.

Notably, while Christianity is officially recognized as a minority religion in Iran, security agencies view the conversion of Muslims to Christianity as a highly sensitive matter and respond with severe crackdowns on those involved in religious activism.

The persecution of Christian converts in Iran persists despite Article 18 of both the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which affirm every individual’s right to freedom of religion, including the right to change their faith and to practice it openly or privately, alone or in community with others.