Tag: Ghezel Hesar prison

In Protest Against Executions: Report on the Fourth Day of Prisoners’ Strike in Ghezel Hesar Prison

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Executions, News
Ghezel Hesar prison, HRANA, Hunger Strike

HRANA – Today, Thursday, October 16, the hunger strike by prisoners in Karaj’s Ghezel Hesar Prison entered its fourth consecutive day. Hundreds of inmates continue refusing their food rations in protest against the escalating wave of executions. Over the past few days, at least several prisoners have been executed in this prison.

Based on information obtained by HRANA, inmates in Ward 2 of Ghezel Hesar Prison, most of whom are detained on drug-related charges, began refusing their food rations on Monday as an act of protest.

A family member of one imprisoned individual told HRANA:

“It’s been four days since I last heard from my husband. The ward’s phones have been cut off, and we’ve only heard that several people were taken for execution. We are completely deprived of any contact or information and only learn from outside sources that several prisoners are executed each day.”

Alongside the ongoing strike, several families of prisoners sentenced to death have gathered in front of the prison in recent days, calling for a halt to the executions. These gatherings have faced restrictions and pressure from security forces.

The prisoners’ protest began when 16 inmates were transferred to solitary confinement for execution. In the early days of the protest, inmates in at least Wards 1 and 2 refused their food rations and held sit-ins in the ward halls.

Since the start of these protests, at least five prisoners have been executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison.

Between October 10, 2024, and October 8, 2025, HRANA’s Statistics and Publication Department has recorded 1,537 executions in Iran. According to this data, Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj has accounted for the highest number of executions during this period.

The same report compares ten years of execution data in Iran, showing that 6,399 prisoners have been executed over the past decade. Execution rates in 2024 and 2025 have reached their peak, with at least 1,537 recorded cases—the highest figure in the past ten years. This represents an over 86% increase compared to the previous year (823 cases) and surpasses the ten-year annual average.

Five Prisoners Executed in Karaj’s Ghezel Hesar Prison

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Executions, News
Amir-Reza Ghobadi, Ghezel Hesar prison, Majid Hatami, Sajjad Hatami

HRANA – Today, October 15, the death sentences of at least five prisoners were carried out in Karaj’s Ghezel Hesar Prison.

Mizan, the Judiciary’s official media outlet, confirmed the execution of three of the prisoners, identified as Amir-Reza Ghobadi, Majid Hatami, and Sajjad Hatami. Mizan referred to them as “three main members of the gang of terror,” claiming they were involved in violent home invasions and robberies in Tehran and several other cities. According to the report, the Hatamis and Ghobadi carried out 19 armed robberies, allegedly threatening residents with firearms, assaulting them, and confining family members in rooms while stealing valuables and jewelry.

Mizan further stated that the three were arrested in the counties of Shahriar, Savojbolagh, and Khorramabad, alleging that they confessed to their crimes during interrogation and were identified by complainants.

According to the indictment, the main charges against them included “enmity against God (moharebeh) through brandishing weapons at the public,” armed group robbery at night involving threats and violence, intentional assault and battery, and detaining individuals inside homes. In the preliminary trial, the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced them to death for moharebeh through armed robbery.

Their appeal was later rejected by the Supreme Court, which upheld the sentences. Ultimately, the death sentences of Amirreza Ghobadi, Majid Hatami, and Sajjad Hatami were carried out at dawn today.

Further details, including the identities of the fourth and fifth executed prisoners, are still being investigated by HRANA. Earlier, HRANA had reported the transfer of 16 prisoners to solitary confinement in preparation for execution.

Recently, HRANA reported that 1,537 people had been executed in Iran over the past year, marking an increase of more than 86% compared to the previous year. During this period, 183 executions took place in Ghezel Hesar prison.

Protest Against the Wave of Executions; Prisoners at Ghezel Hesar Continue Sit-In and Hunger Protest

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Executions, News
executions, Ghezel Hesar prison, HRANA

HRANA – Since Monday, October 13, hundreds of prisoners in Karaj’s Ghezel Hesar Prison, at least in wards 1 and 2, have refused to accept their prison meals and begun a sit-in inside their ward halls to protest the sharp rise in executions.

Recently, HRANA reported that 1,537 people had been executed in Iran over the past year, marking an increase of more than 86% compared to the previous year. During this period, 183 executions took place in Ghezel Hesar prison.

Inmates in this prison have continued their sit-in and hunger protest for the second consecutive day. Based on information obtained by HRANA, prisoners in wards 1 and 2 began their protest two days ago by refusing prison food in response to the intensifying wave of executions. These wards mainly hold prisoners convicted of drug-related offenses.

The protest coincided with the transfer of 16 prisoners to solitary confinement in preparation for their execution. It is worth noting that Ghezel Hesar Prison has witnessed a significant surge in executions in recent weeks.

Kowsar Dehbanzadeh Arrested and Transferred to Adelabad Prison in Shiraz

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News, Prisoners
Adelabad Prison, Ghezel Hesar prison, HRANA, Karaj, Kowsar Dehbanzadeh, کوثر دهبان زاده

HRANA – On Saturday, October 11, 2025, Kowsar Dehbanzadeh, a political defendant, was arrested following a summons to the Revolutionary Court of Shiraz and transferred to Adelabad Prison in the same city.

A source close to the family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “Kowsar Dehbanzadeh was arrested on Saturday, October 11, after being summoned to one of the branches of the Revolutionary Court of Shiraz. The presiding judge set a bail of 10 billion tomans for her temporary release. Due to her inability to post bail, Ms. Dehbanzadeh was transferred to Adelabad Prison in Shiraz.”

According to information obtained by HRANA, Ms. Dehbanzadeh had received a court summons on Thursday, October 9, ordering her to appear before one of the branches of the Shiraz Revolutionary Court.

As of this report’s publication, the reasons for her arrest and the charges against her remain unknown.

Kowsar Dehbanzadeh, the sister of Meysam Dehbanzadeh, a political prisoner currently held in Ghezel Hesar Prison of Karaj, has previously been subjected to arrest and judicial harassment.

Nine Prisoners Executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj

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Executions, News
Ghezel Hesar prison, HRANA, Karaj, Mahmoud Valiollah

HRANA- On Wednesday, October 8, nine prisoners were executed by hanging in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.

According to HRANA, four of the executed individuals had been sentenced to death on drug-related charges, four on murder charges, and one on a charge of rape.

The identity of one of the prisoners has been confirmed as Ahmadi Mohammadi, who was convicted on drug-related charges. HRANA has also identified another prisoner as Mahmoud Valiollah, who had been arrested on a murder charge.

A close relative of Mr. Valiollah told HRANA: “Mahmoud was the father of a 16-year-old son and two daughters, aged 6 and 10. He had lived in Tehran for many years. In the summer of 2021, he shot and killed his wife. He was eventually arrested and sentenced to death by the Criminal Court.”

The Hamshahri daily reported that one of the other executed prisoners was a man who, in March 2024, killed the wife of one of his colleagues during a robbery. He was arrested, sentenced to death, and his sentence was carried out in prison.

According to the same source, another executed prisoner was a man named Pedram, who three years earlier had killed the woman he was romantically interested in in order to steal her Tiggo car and buried her body in the Taleqan desert. He was arrested, tried, sentenced to death, and executed at dawn on Wednesday.

Hamshahri also reported that another of those executed was a man who had been arrested about seven years ago on charges of killing a young woman over a financial dispute. Her body was later found along the Tehran–Qom highway. The man was executed early Wednesday morning following his trial and sentencing.

In addition, Hamshahri reported that one of the executed prisoners had been arrested on charges of raping one of his relatives.

Since the beginning of this year, 183 people have been executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison alone, a figure unprecedented in comparison to previous years.

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Civil Rights Activist Sajjad Haeri Sentenced to Prison and Additional Punishments

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ahmadreza Haeri, Ghezel Hesar prison, HRANA, Karaj, Sajjad Haeri, سجاد حائری

HRANA – Civil activist Sajjad Haeri, the brother of political prisoner Ahmadreza Haeri, has been sentenced by the Damavand Revolutionary Court to two years and six months in prison, along with supplementary punishments.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, the court issued this ruling against Haeri on charges of “propaganda against the regime” and “spreading falsehoods with intent to disturb public opinion.”

A social media page attributed to Ahmadreza Haeri reported that, in addition to imprisonment, Sajjad Haeri was given a two-year ban on membership in political and social parties, groups, and associations. The ruling also includes the suspension of any media outlet or institution allegedly involved in the charges.

He was initially arrested on July 12 by security forces at his father’s residence in Damavand and was later released on bail pending trial.

Sajjad Haeri is the brother of political prisoner Ahmadreza Haeri, who is currently serving his sentence in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj.

Four Prisoners Executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison on Drug-Related Charges

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Executions, News
Ali Geravand, Ghezel Hesar prison, Hamidreza Maleki, Javad Sargazi, Karaj

HRANA – At dawn yesterday, Wednesday, October 1, four prisoners previously sentenced to death on drug-related charges were executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj.

HRANA has confirmed the identities of three of the prisoners as Ali Geravand, Javad Sargazi, and Hamid-Reza Maleki.

Based on information obtained by HRANA, these prisoners had previously been arrested on drug-related charges and subsequently sentenced to death by Revolutionary Courts.

At the time of this report, the executions have not been announced by prison authorities or other responsible institutions.

According to HRANA’s statistics, Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj carried out the highest number of executions among all Iranian prisons, with 150 inmates hanged. This figure has nearly doubled compared to the previous year — a deeply alarming increase that underscores the escalating use of capital punishment in Iran.

Number of Executions in Ghezel Hesar Prison Rises to Four

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Executions, News
Ali Esmaeili, Babak Shahbazi, Ghezel Hesar prison, HRANA, Majid Hosseini, Rahman Sarlak

HRANA- Today, September 17, alongside the execution of political prisoner Babak Shahbazi in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj, three other prisoners previously sentenced to death on drug-related charges were also hanged.

HRANA has identified the executed prisoners as Rahman Sarlak, Majid Hosseini, and Ali Esmaeili. According to information received by HRANA, the three had earlier been arrested on drug-related charges and sentenced to death by the judiciary.

As of the time of this report, the executions of these three prisoners have not been officially announced by prison authorities or state institutions. The Judiciary’s Media Center had earlier this morning reported the execution of Babak Shahbazi.

According to HRANA’s statistics, Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj carried out the highest number of executions among all Iranian prisons, with 150 inmates hanged. This figure has nearly doubled compared to the previous year — a deeply alarming increase that underscores the escalating use of capital punishment in Iran.

Judiciary Announces Execution of Babak Shahbazi

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Executions, News
Babak Shahbazi, Esmail Fekri, Ghasem Mazinani, Ghezel Hesar prison, Karaj

HRANA – This morning, Wednesday, the Judiciary’s Media Center announced the execution of Babak Shahbazi on charges of “espionage and intelligence cooperation with Israel.” Shahbazi had been transferred to solitary confinement in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj yesterday.

The Judiciary’s Media Center stated that the execution took place this morning, Wednesday, September 17, 2025, after the Supreme Court upheld the ruling. The report claimed that “Babak Shahbazi worked as a contractor in the design and installation of industrial cooling systems with companies affiliated with telecommunications, military, and security institutions. He was accused of intelligence and security cooperation with Israel and of exchanging information with individuals affiliated with that country. Ultimately, he was sentenced to death on charges of corruption on earth through moharebeh (enmity against God).”

The Judiciary’s news agency also named Esmail Fekri as one of Shahbazi’s associates. He was arrested on similar “espionage” charges and was executed in the same prison on June 16, 2025.

Yesterday, Shahbazi’s brother announced that the political prisoner had been transferred to solitary confinement in Ghezel Hesar Prison. He added that the family, along with relatives, staged a sit-in outside the prison.

Shahbazi’s request for a retrial was recently rejected by the Supreme Court for the third time. His brother had earlier reported that the Ninth Branch of the Supreme Court, presided over by Judge Ghasem Mazinani, had also denied the second retrial request.

On August 19, after 12 days during which his family had no information about his whereabouts, Shahbazi was transferred to the public ward of Ghezel Hesar Prison. His relatives had previously expressed deep concern over being left in the dark about his condition.

BBC Persian had earlier reported that Shahbazi’s death sentence had been confirmed by the Supreme Court for the first time.

Shahbazi was arrested on charges of espionage and sentenced to death. One of the accusations against him included sending a message to the President of Ukraine.

He was detained in January 2024 and initially held in Evin Prison. Following an Israeli airstrike on Evin, he, along with other political prisoners, was transferred to the Greater Tehran Prison before being moved again to Ghezel Hesar.

Death-Row Political Prisoner Babak Shahbazi Transferred to Solitary Confinement

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Executions, News
Babak Shahbazi, Ghasem Mazinani, Ghezel Hesar prison, Keyhan Shahbazi, بابک شهبازی

HRANA – The family of Babak Shahbazi, a political prisoner sentenced to death, has reported that he was transferred today to solitary confinement in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.

In a video message released yesterday, Keyhan Shahbazi, Babak’s brother, confirmed that the death-row prisoner had been moved to one of the solitary cells of Ghezel Hesar Prison. This transfer has intensified the family’s fears, as it is widely regarded as a prelude to carrying out executions. He added that the family, along with several relatives, has staged a sit-in outside the prison in protest.

Shahbazi’s request for a retrial was recently rejected by the Supreme Court for the third time. Earlier, his brother had reported that the Ninth Branch of the Supreme Court, presided over by Judge Ghasem Mazinani, had also denied the second retrial request.

On August 19, after 12 days during which his family had no information about his whereabouts, Shahbazi was transferred to the public ward of Ghezel Hesar Prison. His relatives had previously expressed deep concern over being left in the dark about his condition.

BBC Persian had earlier reported that Shahbazi’s death sentence had been confirmed by the Supreme Court for the first time.

Shahbazi was arrested on charges of espionage and sentenced to death. One of the accusations against him included sending a message to the President of Ukraine.

He was detained in January 2024 and initially held in Evin Prison. Following an Israeli airstrike on Evin, he, along with other political prisoners, was transferred to the Greater Tehran Prison before being moved again to Ghezel Hesar.