Tag: Evin Prison

Forced Confession and Security Accusations Against Amirhossein Mousavi Broadcast on State TV

Posted on by . .
News, Prisoners
Abolghasem Salavati, Amirhossein Mousavi, Evin Prison, Reza Shafakhah

HRANA – The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) has released a video featuring the forced confession of Amirhossein Mousavi, a political detainee held in Evin Prison.

According to HRANA, IRIB aired a video of Amirhossein Mousavi, in which efforts are made to portray him as involved in espionage and intelligence cooperation with Israel. Mousavi, appearing under apparent duress, describes his social media activities and voices remorse. The video claims he exchanged information with individuals linked to Israel during the 12-day war – despite the fact that his arrest took place roughly six months before that conflict began.

In September 2025, Mousavi’s case was referred to Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Abolghasem Salavati, following an indictment on charges of “assembly and collusion to act against national security” and “propaganda against the regime.” He also faces a separate charge of “insulting sacred beliefs,” which falls under the jurisdiction of the Tehran Province Criminal Court One. His lawyer previously announced that the first court hearing is scheduled for November 2, 2025.

A source close to Mousavi’s family told HRANA: “After ten months of investigation by Branch 5 of the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office of District 33 in Tehran, his case was referred to the mentioned court branch with bail increased to 10 billion tomans.”

Earlier, Mousavi’s defense attorney, Reza Shafakhah, had shared updates regarding his client’s continued legal uncertainty and prolonged detention.

Mousavi, a Tehran resident approximately 41 years old, was arrested on December 18, 2024, at Mehrabad Airport while preparing to travel to Kish Island. His lawyer has stated that Mousavi’s account on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) had been under surveillance for nearly six months and that his arrest stemmed from his activity there.

Before his arrest, Amirhossein Mousavi was active on X under the handle “James B Dean.”

More than Two Decades Behind Bars, Prisoner Profiles – No. 7: Gholamhossein Kalbi

Posted on by . .
News, Prisoners
Dezful, Evin Prison, Gholamhossein Kalbi, moharebeh, غلامحسین کلبی

HRANA – Many political and religious prisoners in Iran have endured over twenty years behind bars. To prevent their cases from fading from public memory in the flow of daily news, HRANA has launched a series of reports highlighting their situations. Each installment outlines the prisoner’s legal case, detention conditions, access to rights, and immediate needs.

In this report, HRANA, the news arm of Human Rights Activists in Iran, examines the latest situation of Gholamhossein Kalbi after more than twenty years of imprisonment.

Information Sheet

• Name: Gholamhossein Kalbi

• Year of arrest: 2000 (1379 in the Iranian calendar)

• Charge: Moharebeh (“enmity against God”) through membership in the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MEK)

• Initial sentence: Death penalty

• Current sentence: Life imprisonment (commuted with one degree of reduction)

• Places of detention: After arrest, he spent 14 months in solitary confinement at The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Ahvaz, later held in Ward 209 and then Ward 350 of Evin Prison. In October 2007, following conviction, he was transferred to Mahshahr Prison, and later to Karoon Prison in Ahvaz. After the closure of Karoon Prison in February 2016, he was moved to Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz, where he remains incarcerated to this day.

• Furlough / Access: No reports of furlough in recent years; limited access to family and lawyer.

• Current status: Still serving a life sentence, despite legal changes that could allow for review or reduction.

Case Narrative and Judicial Process

On January 8, 2001, Gholamhossein Kalbi was arrested in Dezful on charges of membership in the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization. In 2002, the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced him to death on the charge of Moharebeh. His sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment. While this commutation avoided the escalation of punishment, it placed him in a category of indefinite imprisonment, which in practice can extend for decades and limit access to review mechanisms.

Key Points in the Case:

• Severe security charge: The label of Moharebeh in political-security cases in Iran is among the heaviest accusations, usually carrying wide-ranging judicial and executive consequences.

• Sentence reduction: The initial death sentence and its conversion to life imprisonment show both the gravity of the charges and the scope for judicial intervention—but do not necessarily correct potential injustices in the trial process.

• Continued imprisonment despite legal changes: Although legal reforms have made retrial, sentence reduction, or conditional release possible in some cases, Kalbi remains in prison.

Detention Conditions and Transfers

Over his decades in prison, Kalbi has been moved between several facilities. After his arrest, he spent 14 months in solitary confinement at The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Ahvaz, then was transferred to Ward 209 and later Ward 350 of Evin Prison. In October 2007, he was moved to Mahshahr Prison, where he was held for several years. Despite his family residing in Mahshahr, he was later transferred to Karoon Prison in Ahvaz. After that prison was closed, in February 2016, he was transferred to Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz, where he has been held in various wards ever since.

In July 2021, after protesting prison conditions, officials at Sheiban Prison punished him by binding his hands and feet and leaving him for hours under the scorching sun. He was then transferred to a ward worse than the previous one, prompting him to go on hunger strike.

In April 2024, he was placed in Ward 5 of Sheiban Prison without regard for the principle of separation of crimes. Later, in November 2024, he was transferred to the prison’s security ward, under overcrowded conditions without adequate space for walking. He remains there today.

Observations on Standards of Detention

• Repeated transfers: Frequent movements between wards and prisons disrupt access to family, lawyer, and medical care.

• Solitary confinement as punishment: Kalbi spent 14 months in solitary confinement at The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Ahvaz. International standards require solitary confinement to be exceptional, time-limited, and supervised.

• Exposure to violence: Reports document both physical and verbal abuse during his imprisonment in Sheiban Prison. Notably, in July 2021, he was tied up and left under extreme heat as punishment for protesting prison conditions. Such incidents highlight the need for independent documentation and legal accountability.

• Medical neglect: Despite suffering from heart disease, hernia, dental infections, jaw and gum problems, spinal and neck arthritis, fungal infection leading to severe toenail disease, high cholesterol, chronic ear infection with hearing loss, Kalbi has consistently been denied transfer to hospitals or specialized treatment. “Access to medical care” is a fundamental right recognized in Iranian law, international treaties, and human rights standards. Systematic denial of medical care constitutes inhuman treatment and violates both the right to health and, in some cases, the right to life, often being used as an instrument of coercion and repression.

Access to Family, Lawyer, and Furlough

In recent years, Kalbi has not been granted furlough. His access to his family and lawyer has been reported as limited. These restrictions not only have psychological and social consequences but also undermine his ability to mount an effective legal defense or pursue retrial mechanisms.

Potential Legal Remedies (General Recommendations)

1. Retrial: Based on new evidence or substantive/procedural flaws in the original ruling.

2. Sentence reduction or conversion: If legal grounds exist.

3. Conditional release / suspension of sentence: Subject to conditions such as time served, good behavior, or health status.

4. Redress for rights violations during detention: Including access to healthcare, protection from violence, and regular visits.

5. International advocacy and documentation: If domestic remedies are blocked, use of international reporting and human rights mechanisms.

Summary Timeline

• 2001: Arrest; charge of Moharebeh through MEK membership.

• Initial sentence: Death; commuted to life imprisonment.

• Post-arrest: 14 months in solitary at The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Ahvaz, then Ward 209 and 350 of Evin.

• 2007 (1386): Transferred to Mahshahr Prison.

• 2016 (1394): Transferred to Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz.

• July 2021 (Tir 1400): Punitive torture reported—hands and feet tied, left for hours under scorching sun.

• April 2024 (Farvardin 1403): Moved to Ward 5 of Sheiban Prison without separation of crimes.

• November 2024 (Aban 1403): Transferred to security ward of Sheiban Prison.

• Recent years: No furlough, denial of medical care, restricted access to family and lawyer.

• Current status: Serving life sentence despite potential legal changes allowing review.

Conclusion and Importance of Case Review

Despite legal changes that allow retrials, sentence reductions, or conditional release for those convicted of Moharebeh, Kalbi remains imprisoned. His case illustrates the plight of long-term political-security prisoners in Iran, whose files deserve review as a crucial step toward freedom and justice.

His situation highlights both the denial of fundamental rights during detention (furlough, visits, legal representation) and the urgent need to use all domestic and international legal mechanisms for review and reduction of such lengthy sentences.

Urgent Needs

• Regular, non-discriminatory access to lawyer and family.

• Independent medical evaluation, especially regarding torture allegations and chronic illnesses.

• Consideration for retrial or other legal remedies for sentence reduction/termination under current laws.

• Enforcement of prison regulations regarding calls, visits, and furlough.

• Adequate medical services and treatment.

About this Series

This report is part of the “Two Decades Behind Bars” series, which aims to document the cases of long-term prisoners and to highlight the collective responsibility to ensure their visibility and pursue their rights.

Following Delay in Hospital Transfer; Somayeh Rashidi Dies

Posted on by . .
News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, HRANA, Qarchak, Somayeh Rashidi, Varamin, سمیه رشیدی

HRANA- Somayeh Rashidi, a detained citizen, died in hospital on the morning of Thursday, September 25, after prison officials delayed her transfer to medical facilities and failed to provide adequate medical care.

On September 16, her health sharply deteriorated, and she suffered a severe seizure. In a state of severely reduced consciousness, she was transferred from Qarchak Prison in Varamin to Mofatteh Hospital, where she later passed away.

A source close to her family told HRANA:
“Ms. Rashidi had long complained of health problems, but prison officials, despite her repeated visits to the infirmary, refused to take her condition seriously. On some occasions, they even accused her of faking illness. She was only given psychiatric and sedative medications, which further worsened her health. On September 15, she suffered a severe seizure and was taken to Mofatteh Hospital with a consciousness level of five. According to hospital doctors, the delay in her transfer was the primary cause of her irreversible deterioration.”

The Judiciary’s media center, while confirming her death, claimed that upon entering prison, Ms. Rashidi disclosed an addiction to synthetic drugs as well as a history of psychiatric disorders and seizures. Mizan News Agency further alleged that she had been prescribed and received all necessary medications by prison doctors.

The Judiciary also stated that during her detention, Ms. Rashidi was examined eight times by a general practitioner, six times by psychiatric and internal medicine specialists, and was twice referred to forensic authorities for psychological evaluation.

However, information obtained by HRANA indicates that her condition steadily declined throughout detention, and that the medical care provided was inadequate and, at times, substandard. Her family had previously expressed concern over her health, but their warnings went unheeded.

Instead of addressing the circumstances of her death, Judiciary-affiliated outlets focused their reporting on her alleged background, claiming links to the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK) and past arrests on similar accusations. They further alleged involvement in sabotage activities, while failing to acknowledge the delays in her transfer to hospital, the medical neglect she endured, or the state’s legal responsibility for her health and safety in custody. Publishing such claims posthumously, without verifiable evidence, raises concerns that officials are attempting to deflect accountability for her death.

Ms. Rashidi was arrested on April 25 of this year for writing slogans in the Javadieh neighborhood of Tehran. After two days in custody at the 15 Khordad Police Investigation Center, she was transferred to the women’s ward of Evin Prison. Following the Israeli attack on Evin Prison, she and dozens of other women were relocated to Qarchak Women’s Prison in Varamin.

Throughout her detention, Ms. Rashidi struggled with ongoing medical issues and lack of adequate care. A source close to her family told HRANA:
“Somayeh Rashidi had a history of psychiatric disorders that appeared periodically. These episodes caused loss of concentration and impaired movement, at times leaving her unable to walk or manage daily tasks without the help of fellow prisoners.”

Somayeh Rashidi was born in 1983 and lived in Tehran.

A Christian Convert Sentenced to Over Eight Years in Prison

Posted on by . .
News, Religious Minorities
Evin Prison, Hesamoddin Mohammad Joneydi, Varamin

HRANA – Hesamoddin (Yahya) Mohammad Joneydi, a Christian convert residing in Varamin, has been sentenced by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court in this city to eight years and one month in prison.

According to Mohabat News, this Christian convert was sentenced by Branch 1 of the Varamin Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Ashkan Ramesh, to seven years and six months in prison for “propaganda activities contrary to Islamic law due to ties with foreign countries,” and an additional seven months for “propaganda against the regime.”

According to the report, the charges against Mohammad Joneydi included participating in Christian training courses abroad (in Turkey), attending online and house churches, and promoting Christianity both online and in person.

Mohammad Joneydi, age 45, was arrested by security forces in October-November 2024 and transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison.

He was later released after posting bail set at 1.5 billion tomans.

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.

Detained Citizen Bijan Kazemi on Hunger Strike in Qom Intelligence Facility

Posted on by . .
News, Prisoners
Bijan Kazemi, Evin Prison, Kuhdasht, Qom, Shahnaz Khosravi

HRANA – Bijan Kazemi, a detained citizen, has been on hunger strike since Thursday, September 18, to protest the poor conditions of his detention. He is currently held in The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Qom, in a state of prolonged legal uncertainty.

According to his mother, Shahnaz Khosravi, Kazemi began the strike in response to mistreatment by intelligence agents, his detention far from his hometown, and the indefinite nature of his case.

In mid-August, an interrogation session was held at Branch 5 of the District 33 Prosecutor’s Office in Tehran without the presence of a lawyer. Although bail was set at 4 billion tomans, the case officer opposed his release. Shortly afterward, he was transferred to Qom.

Earlier, following Israel’s military attack on Evin Prison, Kazemi was among dozens of detainees moved to the Greater Tehran Prison.

Kazemi was first arrested on January 19, 2025, by intelligence agents in Kuhdasht County. Two days later, on January 22, he was transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison, under the control of the Ministry of Intelligence.

Kazemi has previously faced judicial proceedings due to his activism.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Now is definitely not the time to stop reading!

Political Prisoner Mohammad-Bagher Bakhtiar Transferred from Evin Prison to Hospital

Posted on by . .
Executions, News
Evin Prison, Hanieh Bakhtiar, Mohammad-Bagher Bakhtiar

HRANA – Mohammad-Bagher Bakhtiar, a political prisoner held in Evin Prison, was transferred to Taleghani Hospital in Tehran four days ago due to deteriorating health and remains under medical care.

His daughter, Hanieh Bakhtiar, stated: “For the past four days, my father, Mohammad-Bagher Bakhtiar, has been hospitalized due to health problems after being transferred from Evin Prison. Since yesterday, his hands have been cuffed to the hospital bed. My father suffers from multiple illnesses that require proper medical attention. Holding him in Evin Prison under such conditions poses serious risks.”

In May 2025, Bakhtiar was taken to Evin Prison to serve a two-year prison sentence, six months of which was set to be carried out under electronic monitoring.

He had been arrested on February 13, 2025, during a gathering protesting the continued house arrest of three political figures, and spent more than a month in detention before his sentencing.

Student Activist Motahareh Goonehi Sentenced to Prison

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, Motahareh Goonehi, Motahareh Gounei, Student activist

HRANA – Motahareh Goonehi (Gounei), a student activist, has been sentenced by Branch 29 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court to 21 months in prison.

In a statement published by this student activist, she wrote: “By order of the Revolutionary Court, I was sentenced to 15 months in prison for ‘propaganda against the Islamic Republic’ and to six months in prison for ‘insulting the Supreme Leader,’ as well as the confiscation of my mobile phone containing so-called ‘criminal content.’ This ruling was issued by Branch 29 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court in less than one week.”

Ms. Goonehi was arrested by security forces in Tehran on Saturday, June 14, and released more than a month later on bail. Following her release, she shared a disturbing account of her arrest, reporting that she was detained without a judicial warrant, that shots were fired inside her home during the arrest, and that she was blindfolded and taken barefoot into the street at night before being released.

Goonehi is a dental student and the former political secretary of the Islamic Association of Students at the University of Tehran and Tehran University of Medical Sciences. She has previously faced arrest and security-related pressures due to her activism. She was released from Evin Prison on March 16, 2025, after completing her prison sentence.

For the second time, Babak Shahbazi’s request for retrial rejected by the Supreme Court

Posted on by . .
Executions, News
Babak Shahbazi, Evin Prison, Ghezel Hesar prison

HRANA – Branch 9 of the Supreme Court has for the second time rejected the retrial request of Babak Shahbazi, a political prisoner sentenced to death and currently held in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj.

Kian Shahbazi, Babak Shahbazi’s brother, confirmed in a statement yesterday that the retrial request had once again been dismissed by Branch 9 of the Supreme Court, under the authority of Judge Ghasem Mazinani.

Two days ago, after 12 days without any contact or information about his condition, Shahbazi was transferred to the public ward of Ghezel Hesar Prison. His family had previously voiced concern about the lack of information regarding his situation.

BBC Persian has previously reported that Babak Shahbazi’s death sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court.

Shahbazi was arrested on charges of espionage and sentenced to death, with prosecutors citing his attempt to send a message to the President of Ukraine as evidence for the charge.

He was initially arrested in December 2023 and transferred to Evin Prison. Following an Israeli airstrike on the facility, he, along with other political prisoners, was relocated to the Greater Tehran Penitentiary before later being moved to Ghezel Hesar Prison.

Hasti Amiri Sentenced to Prison, Fine, and Additional Punishments

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, Hasti Amiri, Iman Afshari, هستی امیری

HRANA – Hasti Amiri, a student at Allameh Tabataba’i University in Tehran, has been sentenced by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court to three years in prison, fines, and supplementary punishments.

This verdict was issued in absentia by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court and was notified to Amiri yesterday. Based on the ruling, she was sentenced to one year in prison for “propaganda against the regime,” and fined 3.3 million tomans for “appearing in public without mandatory hijab.” She was also sentenced to two years in prison and fined 50 million tomans for “spreading falsehoods with the intent to disturb public opinion.”

Judge Iman Afshari also imposed supplementary punishments, banning Amiri for two years from leaving the country and from membership in political and social groups.

On Saturday, April 26, 2025, Amiri was arrested after appearing at the Evin Courthouse and transferred to Evin Prison. She was released the following day after posting bail.

Hasti Amiri has previously been arrested and served prison time due to her activism.

FARAJA Reports Mass Arrests After Israeli Strike on Evin Prison, Including Thousands of Foreign Nationals

Posted on by . .
News, Other
Evin Prison, Faraja, Israel’s Attack

HRANA – The spokesperson for the Law Enforcement Command of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FARAJA) has announced the arrest of 2,774 foreign nationals and dozens of individuals accused of “anti-security activities” following Israel’s recent attack on Evin Prison.

According to Tasnim News Agency, Saeed Montazer-al-Mahdi presented a report on the agency’s activities during Israel’s attack on Evin Prison, including statistics on arrests and security measures.. He claimed that some detainees face charges of espionage and unauthorized filming. The FARAJA spokesperson also reported that 21,000 people were arrested during the 12-day war, attributing the arrests to a 41% increase in public tip-offs.

Montazer-al-Mahdi stated that following the attack, a total of 2,774 foreign nationals were arrested by FARAJA officers. He said examinations of the detainees’ mobile phones revealed that some had filmed or photographed highlands and sensitive sites, and had sent location data.

The spokesperson further said that during the 12-day war, calls to the 110 police hotline rose by about 41%, leading to 7,850 citizen reports and the arrest of 21,000 “suspects.”

He added that among them, 261 people were arrested on suspicion of espionage and 172 on charges of unauthorized filming. Additionally, during investigations, 30 individuals described as “special security cases” were identified through data retrieved from the mobile phones of suspects and detainees.

While combating espionage is not considered a human rights violation in itself, given the Iranian government’s history of using such charges as a tool against political opponents, such claims—especially when details and judicial procedures remain unclear—are often viewed with skepticism.

The social deputy of FARAJA also said that 30 individuals who had expressed support for Israel’s recent attack on social media were arrested. According to him, legal cases were opened against another 35 people deemed “prone to anti-security activities.”

Montazer-al-Mahdi added that 147 social media pages belonging to individuals who had merely expressed joy over Israel’s recent attacks were identified, but he did not provide further details on what measures were taken against them.

He reported that police forces prevented a gathering in Tehran’s Palestine Square, describing it as linked to Israel’s recent aerial and drone operations. He said calls to join the gathering had previously circulated online.

The spokesperson also claimed that after the bombing of Evin Prison, 127 political and security prisoners attempting to escape were identified and arrested by the northern Tehran police security unit. Among them, he said, were two prisoners who had disguised themselves in firefighter uniforms.

In another part of his remarks, Montazer-al-Mahdi stated that during the 12-day war, over 40,000 FARAJA officers were stationed on urban and intercity roads. He added that since the start of the current year, about 102,000 conscripts have been dispatched to service, with 30,000 of them appointed as police officers in the past month alone.

On June 23, during Israeli airstrikes on Tehran, Evin Prison was directly targeted. Several parts of the prison were hit, including the entrance gate, the judiciary building inside the compound, the infirmary, Ward 209, the bakery, and the visitation hall.