Category: Prisoners

Five Christian Converts Sentenced to Prison

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News, Prisoners, Religious Minorities
Aida Najaflou, Evin Prison, Joseph Shahbazian, Lida Alek-Sani, Lida Aleksani, Nasser Navard Gol-Tapeh

HRANA – Five Christian converts, four of whom have been identified as Aida Najaflou, Nasser Navard Gol-Tapeh, Joseph Shahbazian, and Lida Alek-Sani, have been sentenced by the Tehran Revolutionary Court to a total of 55 years in prison.

According to Article 18, Nasser Navard Gol-Tapeh and Joseph Shahbazian were each sentenced to 10 years in prison, while Lida Alek-Sani received eight years. Aida Najaflou was sentenced to a total of 17 years by the same court.

Article 18 did not provide further details regarding the identity of the fifth Christian convert but stated that this individual has also been sentenced to 10 years in prison in this case.

The first hearing for the charges against Aida Najaflou, Nasser Navard Gol-Tapeh, and Joseph Shahbazian was held on September 6 at Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Abolghasem Salavati. These Christian converts defended themselves against the charges of “propaganda against the regime” and “acting against national security.” The second hearing took place on October 21 at the same branch.

The indictment for this case was issued on June 10, 2025 by the Evin Prosecutor’s Office. In the prosecutor’s final decision, activities such as establishing, operating, and leading a house church, holding evangelical Christian gatherings, and performing religious rites such as water baptism and communion were cited as examples of the alleged offenses.

On May 13 of this year, Lida Alek-Sani was released from Evin Prison on bail. She had been arrested in April at her home by Ministry of Intelligence agents.

On April 13 of this year, Aida Najaflou was transferred from The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, known as Ward 209 of Evin Prison, to the women’s ward of the same prison, where she remains in custody. Her arrest took place on February 6, 2025, by security forces.

Nasser Navard Gol-Tapeh and Joseph Shahbazian, who were arrested on the same date and transferred to Evin Prison, also remain detained there.

Both Nasser Navard Gol-Tapeh and Joseph Shahbazian, Christian converts residing in Tehran, have previously been arrested and imprisoned for their religious activities.

Based on about 180 reports compiled by HRANA over the past decade, 11% of all victims of religious minority rights violations by Iran’s security-judicial apparatus were Christians, particularly Christian converts. In 2024 alone, Christians made up over 9% of those targeted.

Attorney Mohammad Najafi Sentenced to 3 Years and Additional Penalties

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, Mohammad Najafi, محمد نجفی

HRANA – Mohammad Najafi, an attorney imprisoned in Evin Prison, has been sentenced by the Tehran Revolutionary Court to three years in prison and additional penalties in connection with a case opened against him during his imprisonment.

This verdict was communicated to Mr. Najafi’s lawyers on November 19, 2025, by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari. Under the ruling, he has been sentenced to one year in prison for “propaganda against the regime,” and two years in prison plus a 50-million-toman fine for “spreading falsehoods.” Additionally, as part of his supplementary punishment, this political prisoner has been barred from membership in political and social groups and prohibited from leaving the country for two years.

The ruling cites, among other examples, the publication of an audio file titled “Tasmim-e Kobra,” addressed to the Supreme Leader, as grounds for the charges brought against him.

The court session addressing Mr. Najafi’s charges was held on November 5, 2025, in Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court; he did not attend the hearing.

Earlier this year, Branch 1 of the High Disciplinary Court for Judges issued a ruling permanently disbarring Mr. Najafi from practicing law.

Mohammad Najafi was transferred from Arak Prison to Evin Prison in April 2023. In 2019, he was released from prison in connection with a previous case, but four days later he was arrested again over another conviction and returned to Arak Prison.

Multiple cases have been opened against this attorney over the years, and he is currently serving his sentences in Evin Prison.

The longest sentence issued against this imprisoned lawyer relates to the charge of “collaboration with a hostile government through interviews with foreign media.” He was sentenced to 10 years in prison, which was later reduced to four years and six months.

In several separate cases, Mr. Najafi has faced fourteen charges and has been sentenced to more than 24 years in prison, with no consolidation of sentences carried out to date. At least six cases have been opened against him during his imprisonment. The “publication of audio files from Arak Prison” was cited as the grounds for one of these cases. Another case, opened following a complaint by the head of Arak Prison, resulted in a four-month prison sentence for Mr. Najafi.

Throughout his imprisonment, despite suffering from various health conditions, this attorney has consistently been denied specialized medical treatment and transfer to a hospital.

Parisa Kamali Ardakani Reaches Seventh Day of Hunger Strike in Yazd Prison

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News, Prisoners
Dolatabad, HRANA, Parisa Kamali Ardakani, Yazd Prison

HRANA – Parisa Kamali Ardakani, a political prisoner held in Yazd Prison, is now on the seventh day of her hunger strike. She began the strike in protest against the authorities’ refusal to consolidate her sentences.

A source familiar with the Kamali family confirmed the news to HRANA, saying: “Ms. Kamali submitted a request for the consolidation of her sentences a long time ago, but prison authorities did not process it. For this reason, on November 24 she began a hunger strike. In response to her protest, prison officials transferred her to a solitary cell and cut off her contact with her family. She remained in solitary confinement until November 29 and was then returned to the ward. Due to suffering from toxic thyroid disease, Ms. Kamali is currently in poor physical condition.”

Parisa Kamali was arrested on April 29, 2024, in Isfahan and transferred to Dolatabad Prison in the same city. She was later sentenced by Branch 1 of the Isfahan Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Tavakoli, to a total of seven years and nine months in prison, two years of exile on the charge of “destruction of public property,” and to imprisonment on charges of ‘insulting the Supreme Leader’ and ‘membership in anti-regime groups.’

She was transferred from Dolatabad Prison in Isfahan to Yazd Prison in 2025. Parisa Kamali Ardakani, aged approximately 39, is from Abadan, married, and a geography student.

Shahram Fallah, a Baha’i Citizen, Sentenced to Imprisonment and Exile

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News, Prisoners, Religious Minorities
Baha'i citizen, Birjand, Kerman, Shahram Fallah, شهرام فلاح

HRANA – Shahram Fallah, a Baha’i citizen imprisoned in Kerman Prison, has been sentenced by the Kerman Province Court of Appeals to nine years, six months, and one day in prison, as well as one year of exile to Birjand County.

This verdict was recently issued in absentia by the Kerman Province Court of Appeals on charges of “deviant educational and promotional activities contrary to Islamic law through unfounded and false claims in religious matters, with organizational connections abroad,” as well as forming a group aimed at disrupting national security.

According to the judge’s ruling, Mr. Fallah’s original sentence of thirteen years, six months, and two days in prison, issued by the trial court, was reduced to nine years, six months, and one day. However, the one-year exile to Birjand County, imposed as a supplementary punishment, was fully upheld.

Mr. Fallah was arrested on August 18, 2025, by Ministry of Intelligence agents at his residence and transferred to Kerman Prison. At the time of his arrest, agents confiscated the mobile phones of family members and guests, as well as several books and religious images belonging to Mr. Fallah.

Shahram Fallah, a 64-year-old Baha’i citizen residing in Kerman, has previously faced legal actions, arrest, and convictions.

Six Months in Detention: Court Shifts Charges Against Attorney Abolfazl Ranjbari

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News, Prisoners
Abolfazl Ranjbari, Tabriz, ابوالفضل رنجبری

HRANA – Abolfazl Ranjbari, an attorney-at-law, has been detained for more than six months and remains held in Tabriz Prison. On November 18, the second session of his trial was convened at Branch 3 of the Tabriz Revolutionary Court.

Based on information received by HRANA, the second hearing in Mr. Ranjbari’s case took place on Tuesday, November 18, at Branch 3 of the Tabriz Revolutionary Court. In this session, the judge changed Mr. Ranjbari’s charge from “espionage” to “aiding and abetting in spreading corruption on earth (efsad fel-arz).” In the first court session, he had defended himself against the initial espionage charge.

A knowledgeable source close to the attorney confirmed this information to HRANA, stating: “The accusation against Mr. Ranjbari stems from his participation in an academic conference and the publication and translation of his articles in the Republic of Azerbaijan.”

Abolfazl Ranjbari, an attorney and writer, was arrested by security forces in Tabriz on May 4 of this year.

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Baha’i Citizen Pariya Marandiz Taken to Evin Prison to Serve Her Sentence

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News, Prisoners, Religious Minorities
Baha'i citizen, Evin Prison, HRANA, Pariya Marandiz

HRANA – On Saturday, 22 November 2025, Pariya Marandiz, a Baha’i citizen, was taken to Evin Prison to begin serving her prison sentence.

Based on information received by HRANA, Ms. Marandiz was taken to Evin Prison today, Saturday, 22 November 2025, to begin serving her sentence. Some time ago, Branch 23 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced her to three years in prison on charges of propaganda activity against the Islamic Republic of Iran during the 12-day war and propaganda activity aimed at strengthening and reinforcing the Israeli regime. She was also banned from using social media for two years.

Under Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the most severe sentence, two years in prison for the charge of propaganda activity aimed at strengthening and reinforcing the Israeli regime, will be enforceable for this Baha’i citizen. Eighteen months of the issued prison term has been suspended for five years.

Ms. Marandiz had also been summoned by the Ministry of Intelligence on 20 June, 1 July, and 13 July 2025, and interrogated for several hours each time.

On 17 June 2025, Ms. Marandiz was briefly detained by security forces. At the same time, her residence was searched. During this search, officers confiscated a number of her and her family members’ personal belongings, including books, religious images, laptops, and mobile phones.

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.

Vakilabad Prison: Death-Row Protester’s Case Under Supreme Court Review

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Executions, News, Prisoners
HRANA, Mohammad Mehdi Soleimani, Vakilabad

HRANA – Mohammad-Mehdi Soleimani, one of those arrested during the 2022 nationwide protests and later sentenced to death, is currently held in Ward 1 of Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.

In November of last year, the Mashhad Criminal Court sentenced him to death on the charge of killing a Basij member. His case is now under review by the Supreme Court.

HRANA first identified him as a death-row prisoner in January 2025. Mr. Soleimani was arrested by security forces in Mashhad in October 2022 and transferred to Ward 1 of Vakilabad Prison in March 2023. After more than two years in legal uncertainty, he was tried in November 2024 at Branch 5 of Criminal Court One in Razavi Khorasan Province. Presiding judge Mohammad Shoja’pour-Fadaki sentenced him to death for the alleged killing of Rasoul Doost-Mohammadi, a Basij member, during the Mashhad protests. His case remains under Supreme Court review.

A source familiar with the case told HRANA: “Mohammad-Mehdi has been denied access to a chosen lawyer at every stage of the legal process.”

In the same case file, he has also been sentenced to pay blood money and serve two and a half years in prison for inflicting bodily harm, and to two years and six months in prison plus 74 lashes for possessing explosive and incendiary materials.

State media previously claimed that on September 22, 2022, Mr. Soleimani stabbed and fatally wounded Rasoul Doost-Mohammadi, a Basij member, on a street in Mashhad.

Mohammad-Mehdi Soleimani is originally from Quchan, lived in Mashhad, and was approximately 20 years old at the time of his arrest.

Arman Oskouei Sentenced to Imprisonment

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News, Prisoners
Mashhad, Seyed Arman Oskouei, Vakilabad

HRANA – Seyed Arman Oskouei, a political prisoner held in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad, has been sentenced to 23 months in prison by the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad.

According to the ruling issued by the Mashhad Revolutionary Court and delivered to Mr. Oskouei last week, he received 15 months and 1 day in prison on the charge of insulting the Supreme Leader and 7 months and 23 days on the charge of propaganda against the regime. He had been formally notified of these charges in October at the Mashhad Prosecutor’s Office.

Oskouei was arrested on September 14, 2025, at his home in Mashhad and was transferred to Vakilabad Prison on September 27, 2025.

According to information obtained by HRANA, he had previously been arrested on July 6, 2025, by Basij forces for walking his dog in a park. During that incident, he was beaten, taken to a police station in Mashhad, and later released.

Seyed Arman Oskouei, 29, had also been arrested by security forces during the 2022 nationwide protests and was released afterward.

Prolonged Detention and Legal Uncertainty for Ramin and Jahangir Rostami in Evin Prison

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News, Prisoners
Ehsan Rostami, Evin Prison, Harsin, HRANA, Jahangir Rostami, Ramin Rostami, جهانگیر رستمی, رامین رستمی

HRANA – More than a month after the arrest of Jahangir Rostami, a member of the Hersin Teachers’ Trade Association, and over three months after the arrest of Tehran resident Ramin Rostami, both men remain in a state of legal limbo in Evin Prison.

A source close to their families confirmed to HRANA: “It has now been 91 days since the arrest of Ramin Rostami and 33 days since the arrest of Jahangir Rostami. They continue to be held in The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, known as Ward 209 of Evin Prison. Both have been denied access to legal counsel, and no meaningful action has been taken to advance their cases.”

On 20 August 2025, security forces arrested Ramin Rostami in Tehran and subsequently transferred him to Evin Prison. According to information obtained by HRANA, he launched a hunger strike shortly after his arrest to protest his ongoing detention and the uncertainty surrounding his legal status.

Ramin Rostami, originally from Harsin, has previously worked in publishing and the book industry.

As for Jahangir Rostami, the 63-year-old retired teacher was violently arrested at his home by security forces on 17 October 2025 and transferred to Evin Prison. He is the father of Ehsan Rostami, a cultural activist from Harsin who was himself arrested on 19 August in Tehran.

As of this report, no information has been made available regarding the charges brought against either detainee.

Another Iranian–American Imprisoned in Evin Prison

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News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, HRANA, Jamshid Sharmahd, Reza Valizadeh, جمشید شارمهد, رضا ولی زاده

HRANA – Afarin Mohajer, an Iranian-American dual national residing in Los Angeles, has been in detention for 51 days and continues to be held in legal limbo in the women’s ward of Evin Prison.

According to HRANA, Ms. Mohajer, who had traveled to Iran for a visit, was arrested on Monday, September 29, 2025, at Imam Khomeini International Airport. No reliable information has yet been made available regarding the charges brought against her.

HRANA published an initial report on her arrest eight days ago, but it has now been confirmed that she also holds United States citizenship.

The arrest of dual nationals in Iran has been widely criticized by human rights organizations and Western governments over the past four decades. Critics argue that the Islamic Republic uses such detentions as tools of political pressure or bargaining leverage. This pattern began in 1979 with the takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, and continued in the following decades with the arrests of dual-national tourists, researchers, journalists, and activists.

In recent years, several similar cases have occurred. For example, Reza Valizadeh, an Iranian-American and former Radio Farda journalist, was arrested during a trip to Iran and sentenced to 10 years in prison, two years of exile, and social restrictions on charges of cooperation with the U.S. government. Additionally, Jamshid Sharmahd, an Iranian-German political activist residing in the United States, reportedly died in custody before his execution in October 2024.

Amid the rise in such cases, the European Union and several Western governments, including France and Germany, have issued warnings about the risk of their citizens being arrested in Iran and have advised them either to avoid traveling to Iran or to leave the country as soon as possible.