HRANA – Karim Masoudi, Behzad Samadzadeh, Sardar Pourmirzaei, Gholamreza Abdollahzadeh, and Farshad Souri, all detained during the nationwide protests in January 2026 and currently held in Urmia Central Prison, have been sentenced to prison by the Revolutionary Court of Urmia.
According to HRANA, citing Kolbar News, five citizens, arrested during the nationwide protests in January 2026, have been sentenced to imprisonment.
According to the ruling issued by Branch 3 of the Revolutionary Court of Urmia, Karim Masoudi and Sardar Pourmirzaei were each sentenced to two years of discretionary imprisonment on the charge of “acting against national security.” Of these sentences, 18 months of Masoudi’s sentence and 17 months of Pourmirzaei’s sentence were suspended. Gholamreza Abdollahzadeh was also sentenced by the same branch to one year of discretionary imprisonment, which was reduced to nine months after he accepted the court’s ruling.
Separately, Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Urmia, presided over by Judge Doosti, sentenced Behzad Samadzadeh to two years of discretionary imprisonment on the charge of “acting against national security,” with 18 months of the sentence suspended. Farshad Souri was also sentenced by the same branch to one year in prison, which was later reduced to nine months after he accepted the verdict.
The five citizens were arrested by security forces in Urmia on January 8, 2026, during the nationwide protests. After completing the interrogation process, they were transferred to Urmia Central Prison, where they remain in custody.
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.
