Tag: Ghezel Hesar prison

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.

Three Prisoners Executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison

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Executions, News
Ghezel Hesar prison, Karaj, Sajad Sadeghi

HRANA – At dawn today, September 3, the death sentences of three prisoners were carried out in Ghezel Hesar Prison. These prisoners had previously been sentenced to death in separate cases on charges related to drug offenses.

HRANA has identified one of the executed prisoners as 42-year-old Sajad Sadeghi from Kuhdasht.

Based on information obtained by HRANA, these prisoners had previously been arrested on drug-related charges and later sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court. Yesterday, HRANA also reported that four death-row prisoners were executed in this facility.

As of the time of this report, the executions have not been announced by prison authorities or official 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.

Execution of Four Prisoners in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj

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Executions, News
Ghezel Hesar prison, Hooman Geravand, Karaj

HRANA – Today, September 2, four prisoners were executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison.

HRANA has identified one of the executed prisoners as Hooman Geravand from Kuhdasht. He had previously been arrested on drug-related charges, sentenced to death, and spent 18 years in prison.

The identities of the three other prisoners are still under investigation. One of them had earlier been sentenced to death by the court on charges of membership in the “ISIS” group.

The two remaining prisoners were executed despite no details of their cases being released, and judicial authorities have yet to officially confirm their executions.

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.

Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj: Eight Prisoners Transferred to Solitary Confinement for Execution

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Executions, News
Ghezel Hesar prison, HRANA, Karaj

HRANA – Yesterday, eight prisoners in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj, who had previously been sentenced to death on drug-related charges, were transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for the implementation of their sentences.

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

HRANA is currently working to confirm the identities of the prisoners.

It is noteworthy that simultaneously with their transfer, the execution of Soleiman Koushki—who had also been sentenced to death on similar charges—was carried out in this prison.

According to HRANA’s monthly report, 153 people were executed in Iran last month. With eight months having passed in the current year, the number of executions has reached 837, which, compared to 930 executions in the entire previous year, reflects a concerning rise.

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Four Prisoners Executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj

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Executions, News
Ghezel Hesar prison, Hossein Biabani, HRANA, Karaj

HRANA– At dawn today, Wednesday, August 27, the death sentences of four prisoners previously convicted on drug-related charges were carried out in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj.

HRANA has confirmed the identities of two of the executed prisoners as Hossein Biabani and an individual identified only by the surname Yousefi, whose first name remains unknown.

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

Further details, including the identities of the two other executed prisoners, are under investigation by HRANA.

As of the time of this report, the executions have not been announced by prison authorities or official bodies.

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.

Ghezel Hesar Prison: Three Prisoners Transferred to Solitary Confinement for Execution

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Executions, News
Ghezel Hesar prison, HRANA, Karaj

HRANA– On the morning of Tuesday, August 26, three prisoners in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj, who had previously been sentenced to death on charges related to drug offenses and murder, were transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for the execution of their sentences.

Their transfer was carried out for the implementation of their death sentences. Based on information received by HRANA, two of the prisoners had been sentenced to death on murder charges by criminal courts, while the third had been sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court on drug-related charges.

Further details, including the identities of these prisoners, are still being investigated by HRANA.

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.

Ghezel Hesar Prison: Six Prisoners Transferred to Solitary Confinement for Execution

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Executions, News
Ghezel Hesar prison, HRANA, Karaj, قزل حصار

HRANA – On the morning of Monday, August 25, six prisoners in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj, all previously sentenced to death on drug-related charges, were transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for their executions.

According to information received by HRANA, the six prisoners had been arrested on drug charges and later sentenced to death by Revolutionary Courts. Their transfer marks the final step before the implementation of their sentences. Further details, including the prisoners’ identities, are still under investigation by HRANA.

HRANA’s statistics show that Ghezel Hesar Prison recorded the highest number of executions among all Iranian prisons, with 150 inmates hanged. This figure represents nearly double the executions carried out the previous year — a deeply alarming rise highlighting the escalating use of capital punishment in Iran.

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

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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.

Death Sentence for Babak Shahbazi Upheld by Supreme Court

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Executions, Freedom of Expression, News
Babak Shahbazi, Evin Prison, Ghezel Hesar prison, Karaj, Ukraine

HRANA – The Supreme Court of Iran has upheld the death sentence of Babak Shahbazi, a political prisoner currently held in Tehran’s Greater Prison. Shahbazi was previously arrested on charges of espionage and sentenced to death.

According to HRANA, citing BBC Persian, Shahbazi was accused of spying for Israel. The Supreme Court has now confirmed the verdict. Authorities have issued an order for his transfer to Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.

BBC Persian, quoting informed sources, reports that Shahbazi denied all charges throughout the judicial process. One of the accusations reportedly used to support the espionage charge was that he had sent a message to the President of Ukraine.

Shahbazi was arrested in January 2024 and initially detained in Evin Prison. He was later transferred to Tehran’s Greater Prison along with other political prisoners after an Israeli airstrike targeted Evin.