Tag: Ghezel Hesar

Mehdi Farid Executed on Espionage Charges

Posted on by . .
News
Ghezel Hesar, HRANA, Mehdi Farid, مهدی فرید

HRANA – The Judiciary’s media center announced that Mehdi Farid, a prisoner accused of espionage, was executed early this morning. Mr. Farid, who had been an employee of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, had been sentenced to death on charges of “corruption on earth through collaboration with Israel.”

According to a report by Mizan, Mehdi Farid was executed at dawn on Wednesday, April 22, after his sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court. The Judiciary’s media center claims that Mr. Farid had been working in one of the institutions affiliated with passive defense and had established contact on Internet, with an individual mentioned as a “Mossad officer.” The report alleges that after initial contact through email, he gradually entered into intelligence cooperation and provided information regarding organizational structure, infrastructure, and personnel details.

The judiciary has stated that the case evidence included the “defendant’s confessions,” reports from security agencies, and analysis of electronic equipment. Based on these, the court deemed the actions attributed to Mehdi Farid as constituting “corruption on earth” and issued the death sentence.

The statement does not mention the location where the execution was carried out. However, on November 11 of 2025, HRANA had reported that this prisoner was transferred from Evin Prison to Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.

Mehdi Farid, born in Arak, was approximately 55 years old. He was arrested in the winter of 2023. In the initial trial, he had been sentenced to 10 years in prison and restitution of property. However, following the prosecutor’s objection, the case entered a new phase, and the Tehran Province Court of Appeals sentenced him to death on charges of cooperation with Israel.

It is worth noting that following the outbreak of military conflict between the United States–Israel and Iran, which began on February 28, 2026, the execution of prisoners with political-security charges has accelerated.

January 2026 Protests: Ali Fahim Executed

Posted on by . .
Executions, News
Ali Fahim, Ghezel Hesar, Salavati, علی فهیم

HRANA – The Judiciary’s Media Center announced that the death sentence of Ali Fahim, one of those arrested during the January 2026 protests, has been carried out. He had been sentenced to death and confiscation of property by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court in connection with the arson case involving a Basij base, and the ruling had been upheld by the Supreme Court.

Mizan, the Judiciary’s Media Center, stated that the sentence of this political prisoner was carried out at dawn today, April 6, following review of the case, rejection of his appeal, and final confirmation of the ruling by the Supreme Court. According to the Judiciary’s claims, this imprisoned protester had been prosecuted on charges of “participation in operational actions against the country’s security for Israel, the United States, and anti-government groups; entering classified military premises with the intent to remove weapons and ammunition; and destroying and setting fire to government property with the aim of confronting the Islamic Republic.”

The report further claims that “Ali Fahim had intended to enter a military center and gain access to the weapons stored there. He also removed motorcycles from that military center, which were later set on fire by protesters.”

His case, along with that of four others, was heard in Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Abolghasem Salavati, and on February 7, 2026, they were sentenced to death.

The case stems from the events of the evening of January 7, 2026, and the fire at the “185 Martyr Mahmoud Kaveh” Basij base in eastern Tehran. According to reports and videos of forced confessions broadcast by the Islamic Republic’s state television, these individuals had no role in the arson or destruction of property at the site, but had merely entered a building that had already been set on fire by others.

With the execution of Ali Fahim, a total of four people convicted in this case have now been executed. Mohammadamin Biglari, Shahin Vahedparast Kaloor, and Amirhossein Hatami are the three prisoners who were hanged in recent days. With these executions, concerns have intensified regarding the fate of Abolfazl Salehi Siavashani, another defendant in the case. These political prisoners had been transferred to solitary confinement cells in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj last Sunday.

According to HRA’s annual report, in 2025, at least 2,488 citizens, including 63 women and 2 juvenile offenders, were executed. Of these, 13 executions were carried out in public. During the same period, 130 others, including 10 women and 1 juvenile offender, were also sentenced to death.

Mounting Pressure on Prisoners: Shortages of Water, Food, and Medical Care

Posted on by . .
News, Prisoners
Evin, Ghezel Hesar, HRANA, Kermanshah, Khorin, Khorramabad, Mashhad, Urmia, Vakilabad prison

HRANA – Following developments arising from wartime conditions in Iran, prisoners in a number of the country’s prisons have faced disruptions in the provision of some of their basic needs. Reports indicate shortages of suitable drinking water, reductions in the quantity and quality of food, limitations on the operation of prison stores, shortages of medication, and a decline in medical services. The present report reviews details of conditions in prisons including Greater Tehran, Evin, Vakilabad in Mashhad, Urmia, Khorin, Ghezel Hesar, Khorramabad, and Kermanshah.

Based on information received by HRANA, in recent weeks prisoners in several prisons across the country have encountered similar problems in obtaining essential items. Among these problems are shortages of drinking water, a decline in the quality and quantity of food, restrictions on the operation of prison stores, and shortages of medication. In many of these prisons, water is supplied from wells and, according to former and current prisoners, it is not suitable for drinking. As a result, prisoners are forced to purchase bottled water from prison stores.

However, under the recent conditions, the supply of bottled water to some prisons has decreased, and the price of each bottle has reached around 25,000 tomans, an amount that, according to reports, many prisoners cannot afford.

In addition, reports indicate that prisoners in most of these prisons receive two meals per day, but the quantity and quality of the food have significantly declined compared to the period before the wartime conditions in Iran. At the same time, many prison stores are facing shortages of goods; in some cases, the stores have been closed for several days or have operated with nearly empty shelves. The high level of overcrowding in prisons has further increased pressure on prisoners and raised concerns regarding their hygienic and living conditions. There have also been reports of restrictions on prisoners’ phone calls and family visits.

A former staff member of Khorramabad Prison told HRANA regarding the prison’s population: “Approximately 4,750 prisoners are held in Khorramabad Prison, with the majority of convictions related to assault, theft, financial crimes, and murder. The prison has nine wards, one of which is allocated to service operations. The wards are assessed as having moderate access to natural light. On average, around 500 prisoners are held in each ward, while the bed capacity per ward is about 360. As a result, some prisoners are forced to sleep on the floor or stay in the prayer hall spaces of the wards.”

He added: “Even under normal conditions, the prison infirmary did not have sufficient medication, and a doctor was present in the prison only one day per week. Additionally, no counseling or psychological services were provided in the prison. With the start of the war, these conditions have worsened and resources have become even more limited.”

Another informed source told HRANA about the quality of food in the prison: “Currently, prisoners receive two meals per day, but the amount of food has been reduced to nearly half compared to before the wartime conditions in Iran began, and its quality has also dropped to roughly half.”

According to information obtained by HRANA, Greater Tehran Prison, despite being considered one of the largest prisons in the country, has faced a shortage of space following the transfer of a large number of prisoners from Evin Prison, including detainees from the nationwide protests of December. As a result, sleeping on the floor in rooms, corridors, and even prayer halls has become a common situation.

A lawyer representing one of the prisoners held in Greater Tehran Prison told HRANA that the conditions of prisoners in this facility are no different from those in other prisons. This attorney, who requested anonymity for security reasons, added that many detainees from the December protests are being held in this prison, and that the principle of separation of prisoners based on their alleged offenses is not being observed. According to him, the quality of food has declined compared to the period before the attacks on Iran, and the portion size of each meal has been reduced to about half. He also described the hygienic conditions of the prison as poor due to overcrowding, adding that these circumstances have raised serious concerns among the families of many detainees and prisoners about the physical well-being of their loved ones. The prison store has been closed, and prisoners are also facing a shortage of drinking water.

A prisoner who was recently released from Kermanshah Prison told an HRANA reporter: “Around 4,000 prisoners are held in this prison, but the accommodation conditions are not the same for everyone.”

He added:“Prisoners receive two meals per day, but the amount of food has decreased compared to the past, and its quality is about 40 percent of what it used to be. In some meals, for a stew prepared for around 20 people, only five small pieces of meat, each weighing about 10 grams, are included.”

At the same time, a relative of a prisoner held in Khorin Prison told HRANA that even before the war the prison had faced problems such as overcrowding and poor food quality, but that these issues have intensified since the outbreak of the war. As in other prisons, food portions have been reduced by half due to wartime conditions. Many prisoners are forced to purchase their food from the prison store, where prices are around 40 percent higher than outside, placing additional financial pressure on families. The prison’s drinking water, which is supplied from a well, is also of poor quality and has reportedly caused health problems such as kidney stones among prisoners. Under the current wartime conditions, the prison store is often closed or its shelves are largely empty. The prison infirmary’s doctor is present only during the early morning hours, and prisoners in need of urgent medical care are often left without treatment. In addition, the infirmary is facing shortages of medication.

In Urmia Prison, prisoners are facing similar conditions. The mother of one of the prisoners held there told HRANA: “Given the widespread attacks in Iran, I am worried about my child’s life. Earlier, in a letter, he had requested the prison authorities to grant him temporary leave during this period, but he has not yet received a response. In Urmia Prison, the quality of food has significantly declined compared to before the war, and meal portions have also been cut in half. Due to the current conditions, the prison store sells many goods to prisoners at prices higher than usual. Our family does not have the financial means to support my child so that he can buy water, food, and hygiene items from the store.”

This elderly mother added: “Visits in this prison have become very limited and are no longer like before. In a phone call my son had with me a few days ago, he said that the prison population is very high. Many people are being held in the quarantine ward. These are the same individuals who were arrested in December. The toilets and bathing facilities are not sufficient for all of us. I am worried about the health of my child and the other prisoners held in this prison.”

The child of a prisoner held in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad also told HRANA about conditions in the prison and the physical state of ill prisoners, including his father: “Even before the war, the quality of food in this prison was poor, but now under the current conditions both the quantity and quality of food have dropped significantly. My father has heart disease and is currently in the prison infirmary, but due to the absence of a doctor and a shortage of medication, the care he receives has been very limited. In addition, many of the recent detainees are being held in this prison. The overcrowding is severe, and many people sleep in the prison corridors. As far as I know, many individuals are still being held in the prison’s quarantine section.”

He added: “The water in this prison is not drinkable. During this period, the prison store has also run out of goods, and water is being sold there at extremely high prices. Many prisoners cannot afford to buy it. In addition, we have been denied the ability to visit my father. All the families of prisoners are worried about their loved ones under these conditions.”

Prisoners in Evin Prison are also facing shortages of food and water. A prisoner who was recently granted temporary leave from the prison told HRANA: “Water has been cut off in some sections of the prison, the prison stores are closed, and telephone calls have been reduced to a minimum or blocked entirely.”

According to him, prisoners’ food rations have been reduced to one meal per day, and in some cases they are given only “dry bread and something resembling soup.” There are also reports that in some wards prisoners have faced severe shortages of water and food for several days at a time. The prison infirmary is also experiencing shortages of medication.

According to information obtained by HRANA, Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj is also facing significant overcrowding in terms of capacity and detention conditions.

An informed source told HRANA: “Overcrowding in this prison is severe, and as a result some prisoners are forced to sleep on the floor. At present, large groups are sleeping on the floors of the prayer halls, and in some of the larger rooms of the prison around five prisoners are also sleeping on the floor.”

The family of one of the prisoners held in this facility told HRANA: “The food given to prisoners is poor in quality, and under the current conditions its quantity has also decreased. Prisoners are forced to purchase the items they need from the prison store. The price of bottled water has increased by about 65 percent, and the price of beef has risen by about 113 percent.”

The spouse of another prisoner held in this prison also told HRANA about the state of medical services: “At present, a doctor is not effectively present, and only a nurse’s aide is available on a limited basis. Medical attention is very minimal, and there are no counseling or psychological support services.”

She added: “Under wartime conditions, prisoners’ concerns about the safety of their families have increased, which has affected their mental well-being. In addition, movement restrictions inside the prison have intensified, and prisoners’ movements are being conducted with greater caution.”

According to information received by HRANA, problems such as food shortages, declining quality of health and medical services, limited access to drinking water, and severe overcrowding are not limited to these prisons. Similar conditions have been reported in many prisons across Iran, particularly following the recent wartime conditions.

It should be noted that military attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran began on February 27, 2026. Since the start of these attacks, HRANA has been documenting and recording related developments across various parts of the country on a daily basis. For more information, readers may refer to HRANA’s detailed report on the eleventh day of the conflict, which was published last night.

Death Sentence Issued for 19-Year-Old Protester Mohammad Amin Beiglari

Posted on by . .
Executions, News
Ghezel Hesar, Hassan Aghakhani, Mohammad Amin Beiglari, Salavati

HRANA – According to a report by a domestic media outlet, Mohammad Amin Beiglari, a 19-year-old arrested during recent protests, has been sentenced to death. According to his lawyer, the ruling was issued by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, and the case is currently under review by the Supreme Court at the appeal stage.

Hassan Aghakhani, one of Beiglari’s privately retained attorneys, told Emtedad that his client’s case, along with those of six other defendants, was jointly reviewed in Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court presided over by Judge Salavati. He stated that the “maximum punishment” was imposed on all defendants. He added that based on available information, the charge attributed to his client was likely “enmity against God” (moharebeh), although this has not been formally communicated to the defense attorneys, and they have not been granted full access to the case file.

According to this attorney, he and his colleague formally declared their representation at the appeal stage; however, they have not yet been permitted to review the case file or provide an effective defense. Aghakhani described this as a serious obstacle to exercising the right to defense, emphasizing that without access to the file’s contents, it is impossible to examine the evidence, assess the court’s reasoning, or prepare a supplementary defense brief.

He further stated that the court hearing was held on February 7, and the verdict was issued the following day. Mohammad Amin Beiglari has been held in Ghezel Hesar Prison for nearly a month. He holds a high school diploma and was employed in two jobs prior to his arrest. According to his lawyer, follow-up on the case has largely been handled by his uncle, as his father has been unable to pursue the matter consistently due to poor health.

Aghakhani also pointed to ambiguities surrounding the alleged “confession” attributed to his client. He said that a court-appointed attorney at the preliminary stage informed the family that the defendant had confessed; however, the content of this confession, the circumstances under which it was obtained, and the related documentation have not been clarified for the privately retained lawyers. Questioning the compatibility of relying on the confession of a 19-year-old obtained in detention with fair trial standards, he stressed that attributing such a confession to his client is subject to serious doubt.

According to the attorney, Beiglari’s family was also unaware of his whereabouts during the initial weeks following his arrest, and his father visited various centers in an effort to find information about his son. The defense attorneys have stated that they are attempting to approach the relevant branch of the Supreme Court to obtain access to the case file and submit a supplementary defense brief.

It should be noted that gatherings and strikes by shopkeepers and bazaar merchants began in Tehran on Sunday, December 28, 2025. After two days, the protests expanded beyond markets and commercial centers. With the participation of students, citizens, and various social groups, these demonstrations became one of the most widespread protests in recent years. Following the suppression of the protests by law enforcement and security forces, thousands were killed or injured, and tens of thousands were arrested or summoned by security institutions. For further information, refer to HRANA’s comprehensive report titled “The Crimson Winter: A 50 Day Record of Iran’s 2025–2026 Nationwide Protests.”

At Least 12 Executed Across Iranian Prisons on Murder and Drug-Related Charges

Posted on by . .
Executions, News
Bushehr, Chabahar, Damghan, Ghezel Hesar, Kashmar, Mahabad, Malayer, Sabzevar, Shahrekord

HRANA – On Wednesday, December 17, at least 12 individuals were executed in various prisons across Iran on charges of murder and drug-related offenses.

HRANA reported that on this day the death sentences of the following individuals were carried out on murder charges:

• Faramarz Papi, executed at Shahrekord Prison
• Karamkhoda Yari, executed at Sabzevar Prison
• Osman Ahmadi, executed at Mahabad Prison
• Ebrahim Azizi, executed at Malayer Prison
• Yarvali Azimi, executed at Kashmar Prison
• Sajjad Farahmand, executed at Chabahar Prison
• Mehrshad Asgari, executed at Damghan Prison
• Mohammad Boghlani, executed at Bushehr Prison

In addition, the death sentence of Parviz Sha’bani, on charges related to drug-related crimes, was carried out at Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.

Separately, the newspaper Hamshahri reported that, in addition to the execution of Raziyeh Abbasi, two other prisoners were hanged on murder charges yesterday at Ghezel Hesar Prison. Hamshahri did not disclose the identities of these individuals.

From the beginning of this year until the end of November, 2025, the Iranian regime has executed 1,594 people, marking an unprecedented increase compared to previous years.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Now is definitely not the time to stop reading!

Twenty Prisoners Executed in Multiple Iranian Prisons

Posted on by . .
Executions, News
Behbahan, Borujerd, Dastgerd, Dorud, Ghezel Hesar, HRANA, Isfahan, Qazvin

HRANA – In recent days, HRANA has reported the execution of dozens of prisoners across various prisons in Iran. This report provides details on 20 of those executions.

Sunday, November 30
On this day, HRANA reported the execution of a prisoner named Sepehr Goodarzi in Borujerd Prison. According to information received by HRANA, Mr. Goodarzi had previously been arrested on a murder charge, and the Criminal Court later issued his death sentence.

Monday, December 1
According to HRANA, a prisoner named Hossein Zamani was executed in Dorud Prison on a murder charge, and Ebrahim Tabrizi was executed in Mahabad Prison, also on a murder charge.

Tuesday, December 2
According to HRANA, five prisoners were executed in Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan on drug-related charges. HRANA has confirmed the identity of one of them: Shahab Mokhtari.
Also on this day, a prisoner identified only by the partial name (first name unknown) Pour-heidari was executed in Qazvin Prison on drug-related charges.
HRANA also reported the executions of Mohammad Jafar Alinia on a murder charge in Behbahan Prison and Ebrahim Kalagar on a murder charge in Nowshahr Prison.

Wednesday, December 3
In Gonabad Prison, the death sentence of a prisoner named Safa Jozipour, convicted on drug-related charges, was carried out.
In Sabzevar Prison, another prisoner, Pirvali Shabani, was executed on drug-related charges.
In Gorgan Prison, Ali Kalhor was executed on a murder charge.
In Lakan Prison in Rasht, Mehdi Javanmardi, 38, was executed on a murder charge.

Three prisoners were also hanged in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj; HRANA has confirmed the identity of one of them as Amir Emami.

Additionally, two prisoners, including a woman, were executed in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad. These prisoners had previously been sentenced to death on drug-related charges. HRANA has confirmed the identity of the male prisoner as Hesam Nowruzi.

From the beginning of this year until the end of November, 2025, the Iranian regime has executed 1,594 people, marking an unprecedented increase compared to previous years.

Report on the Latest Status of Death-Row Prisoner Ehsan Afrashteh

Posted on by . .
Executions, News, Prisoners
Ehsan Afrashteh, Evin Prison, Ghezel Hesar, HRANA, Isfahan, احسان افرشته

HRANA – Ehsan Afrashteh, a prisoner sentenced to death, is currently being held in Evin Prison. His second request for retrial has been filed with the Supreme Court and referred to Branch 29 for review.

According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Mr. Afrashteh was sentenced to death in June 2025 by Judge Salavati, head of Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, on the charge of “espionage.” The sentence was upheld first by Branch 39 of the Supreme Court during the appeals stage and again by Branch 9 during the first retrial. His case is now under review in the second retrial phase, referred to Branch 29 of the Supreme Court.

Ehsan Afrashteh was arrested in 2024 after returning to Iran from Turkey. Following several months in solitary confinement, he was transferred to the public ward of Evin Prison in October 2024, and he is currently held in Ward 7.

A source close to Afrashteh’s family confirmed to HRANA:
“Recently, prison officials intended to transfer him to Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj, but several inmates tried to prevent it. In response, authorities summoned some of these prisoners to the ward’s administrative office and deprived them of family visits.”

The source added: “Ehsan Afrashteh has been accused of espionage for Israel and sentenced to death. Forced confessions were obtained from him, though the content remains undisclosed. According to the source, these confessions were fabricated, and Afrashteh has denied all charges. Additionally, some of his and his family’s assets have been seized, and his family remains under pressure and threats from security agencies.”

Ehsan Afrashteh, aged approximately 32, is a civil engineering graduate (MSc), an IT and network specialist, and a native of Isfahan who previously resided in Tehran.

More than Two Decades Behind Bars, Prisoner Profiles – No. 8: Afshin Baymani

Posted on by . .
News, Prisoners
20years, Afshin Baymani, Evin, Ghezel Hesar, Rajai-Shahr, TwoDecadesBehindBars, افشین بایمانی

HRANA – Numerous political and religious prisoners in Iran have spent more than two decades in detention. To ensure their stories are not lost amid the constant churn of daily news, HRANA publishes a series of reports dedicated to them. Each report reviews the prisoner’s case history, prison conditions, access to basic rights, and urgent needs.

This report examines the current situation of Afshin Baymani after over two decades in prison.

Information Sheet

• Name: Afshin Baymani

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

• Stated Charge: “Moharebeh [enmity against God] through collaboration with the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK)”

• Initial Sentence: Death penalty

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

• Places of Detention:
After his conviction, Baymani spent years in various wards of Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj. In August 2023, he was transferred from there to Ward 10 (Section 8) of Evin Prison, without respect for the principle of separation of crimes. In September of the same year, again without separation of crimes and with violence, he was transferred from Evin to the security ward (Unit 3) of Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj. In November 2023, he was granted medical furlough from Ghezel Hesar for treatment and care. However, after about one month—despite incomplete treatment—he was rearrested at his residence by police forces on the orders of the Head of Enforcement of Verdicts of Karaj Revolutionary Court and transferred to Asadabad Prison in Mobarakeh, Isfahan, where he was held in the health ward. In January 2024, he was once again transferred from Asadabad to Ghezel Hesar Prison, where he remains to this day.

• Leave / Access: No furlough has been reported in recent years; access to family and lawyer has been limited.

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

Case Background and Judicial Process

Afshin Baymani was arrested on September 5, 2000, on charges of “Moharebeh through collaboration with the PMOI” and allegedly assisting his brother, Mehdi Baymani, a member of the PMOI, to escape. He was sentenced to death by the Tehran Revolutionary Court, and this ruling was upheld on appeal. After six years, his sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. While this change prevented his execution, it placed him in the category of indefinite imprisonment, which in practice can last for decades and significantly restricts access to review mechanisms.

Key Points in the Judicial Process

• Severe Security Charge: The “Moharebeh” charge is among the most serious in Iran’s political-security cases, with broad legal and practical consequences.

• Sentence Conversion: His initial death sentence and subsequent commutation to life highlight both the severity of the charge and later judicial interventions, though without resolving potential injustices in due process.

• Continued Imprisonment Despite Legal Changes: Legal reforms allowing retrials, sentence reductions, or conditional release in such cases have not been applied to Baymani.

Detention Conditions and Transfers

Throughout his imprisonment, Baymani has been repeatedly transferred between prisons and wards, including Rajai Shahr, Evin, Ghezel Hesar, and Asadabad Prison. Transfers were often violent and carried out without regard to the separation of crimes. He has repeatedly protested mistreatment, lack of medical care, and inhumane conditions, including hunger strikes in 2011 and 2018.

Observations on Prison Standards

• Frequent Transfers: Repeated relocations disrupted family contact, legal representation, and medical treatment.

• Solitary Confinement as Punishment: Baymani has been held in solitary on numerous occasions, sometimes for weeks, in violation of international standards that require solitary to be rare and tightly controlled.

• Violence in Prison: Reports document multiple instances of physical and verbal abuse by prison authorities, including beatings during transfers and threats during hunger strikes.

• Denial of Medical Care: Despite suffering from heart disease, blocked arteries, chest pain, hypertension, diabetes, kidney stones, and requiring angiography and mitral valve surgery, he has repeatedly been denied hospital access. This deliberate deprivation violates the right to health and, in some cases, the right to life, and is often used as a form of pressure.

Access to Family, Lawyer, and Leave

In recent years, Baymani has not been granted furlough. Reports indicate limited access to both family and lawyer, restricting not only his well-being but also his ability to pursue legal remedies.

Potential Legal Pathways (General Recommendations)

1. Retrial: Exploring new evidence or procedural flaws.

2. Sentence Reduction or Commutation: If legal grounds allow.

3. Conditional Release / Suspension of Sentence: Based on duration served, conduct, and medical condition.

4. Addressing Rights Violations: Including access to medical care, protection from abuse, family visits, and legal counsel.

5. International Documentation and Advocacy: If domestic channels remain blocked.

Timeline Summary

• 2000 (1379): Arrest; charged with Moharebeh through collaboration with the PMOI

• Initial Sentence: Death penalty commuted to life imprisonment

• 2000s–2020s: Years spent in Rajai Shahr Prison; repeated transfers

• 2011–2016: Several hunger strikes, solitary confinements, violent transfers reported

• 2018: 57-day hunger strike in protest of denial of medical leave and new case fabrication

• 2023–2024: Transfers between Evin, Ghezel Hesar, and Asadabad Prisons; medical furlough cut short; violent rearrest; chest injury during prison violence in February 2024

• Present: Serving life sentence in Ghezel Hesar, without medical access, furlough, or consistent family contact

Conclusion and Importance of Review

Despite legal changes enabling retrials, reductions, or release for those convicted of Moharebeh, Afshin Baymani remains in prison. His case highlights the broader plight of long-term political-security prisoners in Iran, underlining the need for both domestic and international mechanisms to review and reduce such sentences. His situation emphasizes denial of fundamental rights during imprisonment—furlough, visits, legal access—and the urgent necessity of sustained advocacy.

Urgent Needs:

• Regular, equal access to lawyer and family

• Independent medical evaluation, particularly after reports of violence and long-term health conditions

• Legal review for retrial, sentence reduction, or release under current laws

• Enforcement of prison regulations on visits, contact, and furlough

• Access to adequate healthcare and treatment

About this Series

This report is part of HRANA’s “More than Two Decades Behind Bars” series, aimed at continuously documenting long-term prisoner cases and reminding society of the collective responsibility to make their struggles visible and pursue their rights.

More than Two Decades Behind Bars, Prisoner Profiles – No. 5: Saeed Masouri

Posted on by . .
News, Prisoners
ahvaz, Evin, Ghezel Hesar, HRANA, Rajai-Shahr, Saeed Masouri, TwoDecadesBehindBars, سعید ماسوری

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 installment, HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, reviews the current situation of Saeed Masouri after more than two decades in prison.

Profile

• Name: Saeed Masouri

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

• Declared Charge: Moharebeh (enmity against God) through membership in the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI)

• Initial Sentence: Death

• Current Sentence: Life imprisonment (commuted by one degree)

• Detention Locations:

◦ 14 months in solitary confinement at the Ahvaz Ministry of Intelligence detention facility

◦ Ward 209 of Evin Prison

◦ Several years in Rajai Shahr Prison (Karaj), including transfers between wards

◦ June 2015: moved to the IRGC-controlled ward of Rajai Shahr

◦ August 2017: forcibly transferred from Ward 12 to Ward 10 of Rajai Shahr

◦ August 2023: after Rajai Shahr’s closure, moved to Ward 8, Hall 10 of Evin Prison, then a month later to Ghezel Hesar Prison

◦ September 2023: transferred from the secure unit (Ward 3) of Ghezel Hesar to Dar al-Quran Hall (Ward 4), designated for drug-related prisoners

◦ August 2025: exiled from Ghezel Hesar to Zahedan Prison; after rejection there, secretly transferred and ultimately returned on August 5, 2025, to solitary confinement in Ghezel Hesar

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

• Current Status: Serving life imprisonment despite legal changes that could allow review or sentence reduction

Case History

Dr. Saeed Masouri, born in 1965, lived in Norway for his studies. Upon returning to Iran, he was arrested in Dezful on January 8, 2001, on charges of membership in the PMOI. His family was informed in May 2001.

In 2002, the Revolutionary Court in Tehran sentenced him to death on charges of moharebeh. His sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment. While this prevented execution, it effectively placed him among those serving indefinite sentences, limiting opportunities for judicial review or relief.

Key points in the case:

• Severe security charges: Moharebeh is among the most serious charges in Iran’s political-security cases, carrying broad judicial and punitive consequences.

• Sentence commutation: The initial death sentence and its later reduction to life imprisonment demonstrate both the severity of the charge and the judiciary’s capacity for intervention, but do not necessarily address concerns over fairness of proceedings.

• Continued imprisonment despite legal reforms: Although recent legal changes allow retrial, sentence reductions, or conditional release, Masouri remains imprisoned.

Detention and Transfers

Throughout his imprisonment, Masouri has been repeatedly moved: from solitary confinement in Ahvaz, to Ward 209 of Evin, to Rajai Shahr, and later to Ghezel Hesar and Zahedan. These transfers have often involved violence, including beatings during moves in 2017, 2023, and 2025.

He has staged hunger strikes in protest, including after being beaten and transferred without warning in 2017. Following Zahedan Prison’s refusal to accept him in August 2025, he was held in an unknown location for several days before being returned to Ghezel Hesar.

Observations on Conditions

• Repeated transfers: Frequent relocations disrupt access to family, lawyer, and healthcare.

• Solitary confinement as punishment: He spent 14 months in solitary in Ahvaz, and has repeatedly been returned to solitary in later years, including in 2013, 2017, 2023, and 2025.

• Exposure to violence: Reports document physical and verbal abuse in Ahvaz, Rajai Shahr, Evin, Ghezel Hesar, and during forced transfers.

• Medical neglect: Despite suffering from chronic back pain, eye and dental problems, a broken ankle, urinary bleeding, and needing ultrasound examinations, prison authorities have systematically obstructed his access to specialized care. Denial of medical treatment is considered inhuman treatment and a violation of the right to health and even life.

Access to Family, Lawyer, and Furlough

In recent years, Masouri has been denied furlough. His access to family and his lawyer remains limited, negatively affecting both his mental well-being and his ability to pursue legal remedies.

Potential Legal Avenues (General Recommendations)

1. Retrial (Eda‘e Dadrasi): Based on new evidence or substantive/procedural flaws.

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

3. Conditional release/suspension: If requirements such as served time, conduct, or health conditions are met.

4. Remedying rights violations in detention: Including access to medical care, freedom from ill-treatment, and regular visitation rights.

5. International documentation and advocacy: In case domestic legal remedies are blocked.

Timeline Summary

• 2000 (1379): Arrest on charges of moharebeh through PMOI membership

• 2002 (1381): Sentenced to death; commuted to life imprisonment

• 2000–2001: 14 months in solitary, Ahvaz Intelligence facility

• 2000s–2010s: Long-term detention in Rajai Shahr Prison

• 2013: Solitary confinement reported; beatings in Rajai Shahr

• 2015: Moved to IRGC ward in Rajai Shahr

• 2017: Beaten and transferred to Ward 10, Rajai Shahr

• 2023: Transferred from Rajai Shahr to Evin, then Ghezel Hesar; solitary confinement and beatings reported

• 2025: Violently exiled to Zahedan Prison; after refusal there, returned to Ghezel Hesar solitary

• Recent years: No furlough, inadequate medical care, restricted access to family/lawyer

• Present: Still serving life sentence

Conclusion

Despite legal reforms enabling retrial, sentence reduction, or release for those convicted of moharebeh, Saeed Masouri remains imprisoned. His case exemplifies the plight of long-term political-security prisoners in Iran. Reviewing such cases is a vital step toward securing their rights and release.

Urgent Needs

• Regular, unrestricted access to lawyer and family

• Independent medical evaluation, especially after reported abuse

• Judicial review of case in light of legal reforms

• Compliance with prison regulations on visits, furloughs, and communication

• Adequate medical 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.

More than Two Decades Behind Bars, Introducing Prisoners – No. 2: Hamzeh Sawari

Posted on by . .
News, Prisoners
20years, Ghezel Hesar, Hamzeh Savari, Hamzeh Sawari Laftah, HRANA, Karun Prison, Sheiban Prison, TwoDecadesBehindBars

HRANA – A large number of political prisoners and the prisoners of conscience have spent more than two decades of their lives in Iran’s prisons. To ensure their names are not forgotten amid daily news cycles, HRANA is publishing a series introducing these prisoners and their conditions. Each report reviews their judicial case, detention situation, access rights, and urgent needs.

In this report, HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, examines the latest situation of Hamzeh Sawari Laftah after two decades of imprisonment.

Information Summary

• Name: Hamzeh Savari Leftah

• Year of Arrest: 2005 (1384 SH)

• Charges Announced: “Corruption on Earth (efsad fel-arz), moharebeh (enmity against God), and acting against national security”

• Initial Sentence: Death penalty

• Current Sentence: Life imprisonment (reduced by one degree)

• Places of Detention: Three months in Sheiban Prison (Ahvaz), eight years in Karun Prison (Ahvaz), transferred to Rajai Shahr Prison (Karaj) until 2023, held in Ward 8 of Evin Prison in August 2023, transferred to Ghezel Hesar Prison (Karaj) in September 2023 where he remains.

• Leave/Access: No furlough reported 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 History and Judicial Process

On September 2, 2005, at the age of just sixteen, Hamzeh Sawari was arrested by security forces. He was sentenced to death by the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court on charges of “corruption on Earth, moharebeh, and acting against national security.” The sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment. While this change prevented the implementation of the death penalty, it placed him among those condemned to indefinite imprisonment – effectively a punishment that can last for decades and severely limits the possibility of judicial review.

Key points in the process:

• Heavy security charge: The label of “moharebeh” is among the most severe accusations in Iran’s political-security cases, carrying extensive judicial and executive consequences.

• Sentence reduction: The initial death penalty, later converted to life imprisonment, illustrates both the severity of the charges and the possibility of judicial intervention, but does not necessarily mean injustices in the process were remedied.

• Ongoing imprisonment despite legal changes: Although legal reforms could allow for retrial, reduced sentences, or conditional release, Sawari remains in prison.

Detention Conditions and Transfers

Throughout his imprisonment, Hamzeh Savari has been held in multiple prisons: eight years in Karun Prison (Ahvaz), three months in Sheiban Prison (Ahvaz), then transferred to Rajai Shahr Prison (Karaj). In 2014, he was held in Hall 12 of Rajai Shahr, and in 2017 he was violently moved to Ward 10 (Unit 4) of the same prison.

In August 2023, he was transferred to Ward 8 of Evin Prison, but after one month, he was moved to the security unit (Ward 3) of Ghezel Hesar Prison (Karaj). He staged a hunger strike in protest of these transfers and spent some time in solitary confinement. He has remained in Ghezel Hesar since then.

Observations Related to Detention Standards

• Frequent transfers: Repeated relocations between wards and prisons disrupt access to family, legal counsel, and medical care.

• Solitary confinement as punishment: After arrest, Sawari spent nine months in solitary confinement in The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facilities in Ahvaz and Shiraz. He was repeatedly placed in solitary confinement during his years in Karun Prison. He was again sent to solitary in 2017 after protesting his transfer to Ward 10 of Rajai Shahr, in September 2023 after objecting to being moved from Evin to Ghezel Hesar, and once more in August 2025. Such practices conflict with international standards, where solitary confinement must be exceptional, limited, and supervised.

• Exposure to violence in prison: Reports document physical and verbal abuse during his eight years in Karun Prison. In August 2017, he was beaten after being moved from Hall 12 to Ward 10 of Rajai Shahr. In September 2023, he was subjected to violence during his forced transfer from Evin to Ghezel Hesar. In August 2025, following his protest against the transfer of political prisoner Saeed Masouri to Zahedan Prison and the executions of Behrouz Ehsani Eslamloo and Mehdi Hassani, he and several other prisoners were beaten by Ghezel Hesar’s special guard unit. These incidents underscore the need for independent documentation and legal follow-up.

• Deprivation of medical care: Despite suffering from heart disease, lung inflammation, a torn cruciate ligament in his right knee with severe Baker’s cyst, chronic stomach pain, cervical arthritis, and needing spinal surgery, Sawari has been consistently denied hospital transfers and specialist treatment. Denying prisoners access to medical care constitutes inhuman treatment and violates both the right to health and the right to life, often used as a tool of pressure and suppression.

Access to Family, Lawyer, and Leave

In recent years, Sawari has not been granted furlough, and his access to family and lawyer remains limited. These restrictions not only harm his social and psychological well-being but also undermine his ability to mount an effective defense and pursue retrial options.

Potential Legal Avenues (General Recommendations)

1. Retrial (E’adeye Dadrasi): Assessing new evidence or substantive/procedural flaws.

2. Sentence reduction/commutation: If legal grounds are available.

3. Conditional release/suspension: Evaluating eligibility based on time served, conduct, and health.

4. Pursuing rights violations during imprisonment: Including denial of medical care, exposure to violence, lack of visitation, and restricted access to legal counsel.

5. International documentation and advocacy: Turning to human rights mechanisms if domestic remedies are blocked.

Timeline Summary

• 2005 (1384): Arrested at age 16 on charges of “corruption on Earth, moharebeh, and acting against national security.”

• Initial Sentence: Death penalty, later commuted to life imprisonment.

• Post-conviction: Eight years in Karun Prison.

• 2014 (1393): Held in Hall 12 of Rajai Shahr Prison (Karaj).

• 2017 (1396): Beaten; transferred to Ward 10 of Rajai Shahr.

• August 2023 (Mordad 1402): Transferred to Ward 8 of Evin Prison.

• September 2023 (Shahrivar 1402): Violently transferred to Ghezel Hesar; solitary confinement.

• August 2025 (Mordad 1404): Beaten and placed in solitary again in Ghezel Hesar.

• Recent years: No furlough, denied medical care, restricted family and lawyer visits.

• Current status: Life sentence continues despite legal reforms that could allow for review.

Conclusion and Importance of Review

Despite legal changes enabling retrial, reduced sentences, or conditional release for those convicted of moharebeh, Hamzeh Sowari remains imprisoned. His case exemplifies the situation of long-term political-security prisoners in Iran whose cases require urgent review.

It highlights both the denial of fundamental rights during imprisonment (furlough, visits, legal counsel) and the necessity of using all possible domestic and international legal mechanisms to reduce sentences and secure release.

Urgent Needs

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

• Independent medical evaluation in cases of alleged abuse or long-term conditions.

• Examination of the possibility of retrial or other mechanisms for reducing/suspending the sentence under updated laws.

• Enforcement of prison regulations regarding contact, visitation, and furlough.

• Access to adequate medical care and treatment.

About this Series

This report is part of the “More than 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.