Tag: Behbahan

Execution of Two Prisoners, Including a Juvenile Offender, in Sepidar Prison, Ahvaz

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
ahvaz, Ali Aghajeri Peyvand, Behbahan, Sajad Shokri, Sepidar Prison

HRANA – At dawn on Monday, October 20, the death sentences of two prisoners, including a juvenile offender, were carried out in Sepidar Prison, Ahvaz. Both individuals had previously been convicted of murder.

HRANA has identified the executed prisoners as Ali Aghajeri Peyvand, a resident of Behbahan, and Sajad Shokri.

According to information obtained by HRANA, five years ago, when Aghajeri was 17 years old, he was arrested following a group altercation over farmland that led to one person’s death. He was subsequently sentenced to death by a criminal court.

A source close to the prisoner’s family confirmed the execution, noting that despite years of efforts by Aghajeri’s family to obtain the victim’s family’s consent and pay blood money (diya), these efforts were ultimately unsuccessful.

Based on HRANA’s findings, Mr. Shokri had also been arrested on a murder charge and later sentenced to death by a criminal court.

As of the time of this report, judicial and prison authorities have not officially announced the executions.

Parsa Ghasemi Arrested in Behbahan

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
Behbahan, HRANA, IRGC Intelligence, Parsa Ghasemi, پارسا قاسمی

HRANA – Parsa Ghasemi, a resident of Behbahan, was arrested yesterday, September 2, by agents of the IRGC Intelligence.

Based on information obtained by HRANA, 18-year-old Parsa Ghasemi’s arrest is connected to the publication of critical content on social media.

Despite the family’s inquiries with security institutions to learn about their son’s fate, officials have refused to provide clear answers, which has heightened the Ghasemi family’s concerns.

No information is available regarding the charges brought against this citizen.

Over the past decade, Iran’s Judiciary has dramatically escalated its use of imprisonment as a tool of repression, with the total number of months sentenced for peaceful expression more than quadrupling from about 4,500 months in 2013 to over 26,000 months in 2024.

Teacher Forough Khosravi Arrested by IRGC Intelligence

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
Behbahan, HRANA, irgc, IRGC Intelligence

HRANA – Forough Khosravi, an elementary school teacher and resident of Behbahan, was arrested on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, by agents of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Intelligence.

A source familiar with her situation told HRANA: “On Tuesday morning, Ms. Khosravi received a phone call from an unknown number, instructing her to appear at the courthouse by noon. She declined to comply, citing the absence of an official summons. A few hours later, around 2:30 PM, IRGC Intelligence agents arrived with an arrest warrant, detained her, and transferred her to an undisclosed location.”

As of the time of this report, the reasons for her arrest and the charges brought against her remain unclear.

This arrest follows a previous incident on June 19, when six IRGC Intelligence agents — including two women — entered Ms. Khosravi’s home without presenting a judicial warrant. During the raid, they created a climate of intimidation while conducting a search, and confiscated several personal belongings, including her cellphone. Ms. Khosravi’s daughter, who was home at the time, was reportedly deeply traumatized by the experience.

Subsequently, Ms. Khosravi filed a formal complaint against the agents. However, in what has been described as a one-sided decision in favor of the security apparatus, Judge Ruhollah Farzadnasab of Branch 2 in Behbahan dismissed the case, issuing an order not to pursue prosecution.

Forough Khosravi holds a doctorate in education and works as an elementary school teacher. She was previously expelled from Payam Noor University in Bandar Imam in the aftermath of the 2009 protests.

Prisoner Executed in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan

Posted on by . .
Executions, News
Behbahan, Dastgerd Prison, HRANA, Isfahan, Samad Najar-Asl

At dawn yesterday, January 9, 2025, the execution of a prisoner previously sentenced to death on charges of murder was carried out in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan.

The identity of the prisoner, Samad Najar-Asl, father of two, and a resident of Behbahan, has been verified by HRANA.

Based on information received by HRANA, Mr. Najar-Asl was arrested in 2019 during a financial dispute in Isfahan that escalated to murder. He was later sentenced to death by the criminal court.

As of the time of this report, the execution has not been officially announced by prison authorities or relevant institutions. In 2024, judicial authorities or domestic media in Iran officially announced only 6% of executions, underscoring a deeply troubling lack of transparency in the country’s legal and judicial processes.

In 2024, HRA reported 53 executions in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan, making it the fourth-highest among prisons in terms of execution numbers.

Omid Mehrban Sentenced to Over One Year and Nine Months on Political Charges

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
ahvaz, Behbahan, Mohammad-Hassan Mehrban, Omid Mehrban

The Revolutionary Court of Mahshahr sentenced Mohammad-Hassan (Omid) Mehrban to one year, nine months, and two days.

Mehrban’s lawyer, Sajjad Chatrsefid, announced that his client received one year, three months, and one day for “insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran,” and six months and one day for “spreading propaganda against the regime.” Mehrban has the right to appeal the verdict.

Mehrban was arrested by IRGC Intelligence at his workplace in Behbahan on September 9, 2023. On September 27, he was transferred from the IRGC detention facility in Ahvaz to Behbahan Prison after his interrogation ended. He was released on bail after seven days.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Now is definitely not the time to stop reading!

Concerns Mount Over Hamidreza Dorostkar’s Month-long Detention

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
Bahbahan Prison, Behbahan, Hamidreza Dorostkar, حمیدرضا درستکار

Hamidreza Dorostkar, 39, has been held in Bahbahan Prison for over a month, his legal status shrouded in uncertainty as he remains deprived of access to legal representation and family visits.

A source close to Dorostkar’s family confirmed his 34-day detention in Behbahan prison, amplifying worries for his family who have been barred from visiting him.

Dorostkar was apprehended by security forces on February 16, 2024, during which he sustained injuries to his feet and teeth due to the use of force by intelligence agents.

In December 2023, Dorostkar was convicted by the Criminal and Revolutionary Courts of Behbahan. He received a six-month sentence for “insulting the Supreme Court” and a one-year-and-three-month sentence for “spreading propaganda against the regime.” Notably, he was acquitted of charges related to “inciting people to wage war and cause unrest against national security.”

During the nationwide protests of 2022, Dorostkar had previously been detained for four months. Initially sentenced to four years and 74 lashes on multiple charges, including “disturbing public order by participating in and filming unrests to send them to anti-regime media,” “disseminating false information,” and “promoting violence,” he later received amnesty under “the general pardon and commutation,” resulting in the closure of his legal case.

Zeinab Khenyab Pour Faces Imprisonment and Fine for Photos Without Hijab

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News, Women
Behbahan, Khuzestan, Mahshahr, Zeinab Khenyab Pour

The Appellate Court in Khuzestan Province sentenced Zeinab Khenyab Pour, a resident of Behbahan, to four months in prison and paying a fine, for the publication of photos without hijab.

Initially, Khenyab Pour was handed two years in prison by the Behbahan Criminal Court.

In a separate legal development overseen by the Mahshahr Revolutionary Court, Khenyab Pour had previously received a three-month sentence. This verdict was upheld on appeal.

The legal proceedings stem from Khenyab Pour’s participation in a general strike supporting nationwide protests on December 5, 2022. In response to the closure of her garment shop, she sought clarification from judicial authorities and was subsequently detained for six days in Sepidar Prison, located in Ahvaz. The case has ignited discussions about freedom of expression and the legal consequences individuals may face for their involvement in civic actions.

 

Update on the Health and Legal Situation of Political Prisoner Mehran Gharabaghi in Sheiban Prison

Posted on by . .
News, Prisoners
Behbahan, HRANA, Mahshahr, Mehran Gharabaghi

Mehran Gharabaghi, a 31-year-old political prisoner, is serving his sentence in Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz. Despite facing deteriorating health and the urgent need for medical treatment, he has not been transferred to a hospital outside the prison.

According to a source close to his family who informed HRANA, Gharabaghi is suffering from heart disease. Despite receiving medical confirmation of the necessity for hospital treatment two weeks ago, prison officials have refused to facilitate his transfer to a hospital.

On September 20, 2023, the Criminal Court of Behbahan sentenced Gharabaghi to three years and six months for a legal case initiated against him while imprisoned. The charges include “destruction of public property (setting fire to a women’s seminary in Behbahan),” and an additional 45 lashes for “disturbing public order.” Of this sentence, two years have been suspended for five years.

In a previous legal case, Gharabaghi had received a 10-year and one-month sentence along with additional penalties from the Revolutionary Court of Mahshahr. Additionally, he has been handed a three-year imprisonment, with a two-year prison term enforceable by another Revolutionary Court branch. The concerning state of his health emphasizes the need for immediate attention and appropriate medical care.

Hossein Fathi Initiates His Ten-Year Prison Term at Behbahan Correctional Facility

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
Behbahan, Hossein Fathi, Rasoul Asadpour

On February 7, 2024, Hossein Fathi, arrested during the nationwide protests in 2019, commenced serving his ten-year sentence at Behbahan Correctional Facility.

In October 2020, Branch 102 of the Criminal Court of Behbahan, under the jurisdiction of Judge Rasoul Asadpour, sentenced Fathi to ten years for “destruction and arson of banks and public property.” He also received an additional one-year prison term and 74 lashes for “disturbing public order.” The verdict, featuring a ten-year enforceable prison term, was affirmed on appeal by the Khuzestan Court of Appeal.

The November 2019 protests were triggered by a surge in fuel prices, leading to demonstrations in numerous cities across the country. Seyed Hossein Taghavi, the spokesperson for the Parliamentary National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, stated that approximately 7,000 individuals were arrested during these protests. Reports from human rights organizations indicate that hundreds of people lost their lives as a result of the actions carried out by the security apparatus.

Zeinab Khenyab Pour Sentenced to Two Years for Publishing Photo without Hijab

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News, Women
ahvaz, Bahar Khenyab Pour, Behbahan, Mahshahr, Sepidar Prison, Zeinab Khenyab Pour

The Behbahan Criminal Court has issued a two-year prison sentence to Zeinab (Bahar) Khenyab Pour, a resident of Behbahan, for the publication of photos without hijab.

The announcement of this verdict was made by Sajjad Chatr Sefid, Khenyab Pour’s legal representative. The court session addressing her charges took place on October 9, 2023.

In a separate legal development overseen by the Mahshahr Revolutionary Court, Khenyab Pour had previously received a three-month sentence.

On December 5, 2022, Khenyab Pour’s garment shop was closed following her participation in a general strike in support of nationwide protests. In response to the closure, she sought clarification from judicial authorities and was subsequently detained for six days in Sepidar Prison, located in Ahvaz.