Tag: Gorgan

HRANA’s Report on the Execution of 31 Prisoners in Recent Days

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Executions, News
ahvaz, Aligudarz, Arak, Bam, Bandar-Abbas, Behbahan, Bukan, Damghan, Dezful, Gorgan, Ilam, Kermanshah, Khorramabad, Mashhad, Nahavand, Qom, Sabzevar, Salmas, Sanandaj, Semnan, Taybad, Yasuj, zanjan

HRANA – In recent days, authorities in several prisons across Iran have carried out the execution of dozens of inmates on drug-related and murder charges. The pace of executions this year has been unprecedented compared to previous years.

HRANA has documented the following executions in recent days:

Tuesday, November 11

• Reza Geraei, on drug-related charges, in Behbahan Prison

• Yaqub Dachi, 28, on murder charges, in Ilam Prison

Wednesday, November 12

• Abbas Beigi, on murder charges, in Yasuj Prison

• Saber Fallah, 33, on murder charges stemming from a street altercation, in Qom Prison

Thursday, November 13

• Qomri Abbaszadeh, 29, and Iraj Aghaei, 30, on murder and drug-related charges respectively, in Sari Prison

Saturday, November 15

• Nour Mohammad Rahmati, on drug-related charges, in Aligudarz Prison

• Yar Morad Hassanvand, on murder charges, in Khorramabad Prison

• Two prisoners executed in Dizelabad Prison in Kermanshah on murder charges; HRANA has confirmed the identity of one of them as Kamyar Fathi

•Jaber Saki and Jahan Rasouli, on murder and drug-related charges respectively, in Dezful Prison

Sunday, November 16

• Seyed Ali Hashemi of Karaj, on drug-related charges, in Salmas Prison

• (First name unknown) Yeganeh, on drug-related charges, in Bam Prison

• Habib Ezzati, on murder charges, in Sanandaj Prison

• Mohammad Amin Safari, on murder charges, in Bukan Prison

• Yasin Esfandiari, on drug-related charges, in Semnan Prison

• An unidentified prisoner, on murder charges, in Nahavand Prison

• Shokat Veisi (female), on drug-related charges, in Damghan Prison

• Amin Shokarkhodaei, on murder charges, in Arak Prison

• Mosib Khalavand, on drug-related charges, in Bandar Abbas Prison

Monday, November 17

• Reza Kamayi, on murder charges, in Sepidar Prison of Ahvaz

• Alireza Keshavarz, on murder charges, in Sabzevar Prison

• Amir Farkhnezhad, on drug-related charges, in Zanjan Prison

• Behzad Hasani, on murder charges, in Gorgan Prison

• Two prisoners previously convicted on drug-related charges in Taybad Prison; HRANA has verified the identity of one of them as Javad Sattari

• Four prisoners were executed in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad on drug-related charges. HRANA has confirmed the identities of two of them as Shamseddin (surname unknown), an Afghan national, and Alimardan Barani.

As of the time of this report, prison authorities and responsible institutions have not publicly announced these executions.

From the beginning of this year until the end of October, the Iranian regime has executed 1,286 people, marking an unprecedented increase compared to previous years.

Execution of 24 Prisoners in Various Prisons Across Iran in Recent Days

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Executions, News
Aligudarz, Bojnourd, Dezful, Gorgan, HRANA, Qazvin, Shahrekord

HRANA – Amid an unprecedented surge in executions in recent months, HRANA and Iran Human Rights have reported the execution of dozens of prisoners in multiple prisons across Iran in recent days.

According to HRANA, on Sunday, November 9, a prisoner named Allahkaram Nazari was executed on murder charges in Dezful Prison. On the same day, Dariush Amini in Ilam Prison and Seyed Mohammad Haeri in Saveh Prison were also executed on murder charges.
Iran Human Rights additionally reported that Hassan Hajizadeh, 30, from Semnan, was executed in Semnan Prison. Hajizadeh had been arrested a year earlier on charges of possessing three kilograms of narcotics and later sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court.

On Monday, November 10, HRANA reported the execution of Shahab Nazemi in Bojnourd Prison and two prisoners in Qazvin Prison, one of whom has been identified only as Shahriar, all on drug-related charges. On the same day, a prisoner identified as Ghasemi (first name unknown) was executed in Damghan Prison, Behzad Zeidi in Zanjan Prison, Noushad Mousavi on murder charges in Chabahar Prison, and Milad Nemati on murder charges in Jiroft Prison.
Iran Human Rights also reported the execution of Abdolrahman Mehrbani, 57, in Gorgan Prison, on murder charges. Mehrbani had been arrested about six years ago for murder during a dispute over farmland and was later sentenced to death.

On Tuesday, November 11, Shahin Saleh was executed in Birjand Prison on murder charges, Khodayar Joghtai in Sabzevar Prison (charges unknown), Omid Beqlani in Sepidar Prison, Ahvaz, on murder charges, Mostafa Al-Khamis on murder charges in Bushehr Prison, Kaka Morad Panahi on drug-related charges in Kashmar Prison, and Arash Karimi on drug-related charges in Ardabil Prison.
Iran Human Rights also reported that Vahid Fazeli, 42, was executed in Lakan Prison, Rasht, on murder charges.

On Wednesday, November 12, HRANA reported the execution of Mehdi Moridi in Aligudarz Prison and Nezam Saeedi in Kerman Prison, both on murder charges.
Iran Human Rights also confirmed the execution of Saeed Mokhtari, 35, from Jahrom, and Shahrokh Mostafavi, 40, a father of one from Karaj, in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan, both on drug-related charges.

Finally, on Thursday, a prisoner named Ali Safa Niazi was executed in Shahrekord Prison on murder charges.

As of the time of this report, the executions of these prisoners have not yet been announced by prison officials or judicial authorities.

Farhad Fahandej, a Baha’i Citizen, Arrested in Gorgan

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News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i citizen, Farhad Fahandej, Gorgan, HRANA, حمید فرهادی

HRANA – On Wednesday, November 12, Farhad Fahandej, a Baha’i citizen residing in Gorgan, was arrested by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location. At the same time, his home was searched by the agents.

According to HRANA, eight security officers carried out the arrest at Mr. Fahandej’s residence. During the search, several personal items, including his books and photographs, were confiscated.

A source close to the family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “The agents only showed Mr. Fahandej, who was home alone at the time, a warrant to search the house. Later, when his wife and children returned, they were threatened and interrogated by the agents.”

As of now, no information is available regarding the reasons for his arrest, the charges against him, or his place of detention.

Farhad Fahandej, aged approximately 66, living in Gorgan, has previously faced arrest and judicial persecution due to his faith.

Over the past decade, the Iranian Bahá’í community has been disproportionately targeted by Iran’s security forces and judiciary, more than any other minority group. In the past three years, an average of 72 percent of the reports on religious rights violations collected by HRANA have documented the Iranian regime’s repression of the Bahá’í community.

Drug-Related Charges: Two Prisoners Executed in Gorgan Prison

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Executions, News
Abdollah Mohseni, Behzad Parsa, Gorgan, Gorgan Prison, HRANA

HRANA – On September 10, the death sentences of two prisoners previously convicted on drug-related charges were carried out in Gorgan Prison.

HRANA has confirmed the identities of those executed on Wednesday, September 10, as Behzad Parsa and Abdollah Mohseni.

A source familiar with the case told HRANA: “Behzad Parsa, a member of the Bakhtiari Lur ethnic group, was arrested in 2019 on drug-related charges and sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court. Abdollah Mohseni, a resident of Gorgan, was arrested four years ago on similar charges and also sentenced to death.”

At the time of this report, the execution of these prisoners has not been officially announced by prison authorities or judicial bodies.

According to HRANA’s report, in 2024, over 52 percent of executed prisoners had been convicted on drug-related charges. Over the past ten years, individuals convicted of drug trafficking have accounted for 40 percent of all executions. Unfortunately, HRANA’s statistics show no progress in reducing executions for drug-related offenses.

Prisoner Executed in Gorgan Prison

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Executions, News
Ahmad Yavari, Amirabad prison, Gorgan, HRANA

HRANA News Agency – On Thursday, April 17, the death sentence of a prisoner previously convicted of murder was carried out at Amirabad Prison in Gorgan.

Hyrcani News has identified the executed prisoner as Ahmad Yavari, 40 years old, a resident of Gorgan, and father of two children.

According to the report, this prisoner had been arrested about two years ago on charges of murder. Although the victim’s family had declared their consent and agreed to forgive him, his execution was carried out suddenly and without prior notice.

As of the time of this report, the execution has not been officially announced by prison authorities or relevant institutions.

In 2024, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran documented 812 cases related to the right to life, including the sentencing of 214 individuals to death and the execution of 930 individuals. Among these, 4 executions were carried out in public. Of those executed, 818 were male, 26 were female, and 5 were juvenile offenders—individuals under 18 years old at the time of their alleged crimes.

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Baha’is Shahin Mavaddat and Soodabeh Mahdinzhad Arrested in Gorgan

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News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i faith, Bahais, Gorgan, HRANA, Shahin Mavaddat, Soodabeh Mahdinzhad, Soodabeh Mehdinejad

On Monday, September 23, 2024, Baháʼí couple Shahin Mavaddat and Soodabeh Mahdinzhad, residents of Gorgan, were arrested by security forces at their home and taken to an undisclosed location. The agents also conducted a thorough search of their residence, seizing multiple electronic devices and religious books.

A source close to the family confirmed to HRANA: “On Monday, 10 Ministry of Intelligence agents arrived at the home of Shahin Mavaddat and Soodabeh Mahdinzhad with a search and arrest warrant. They detained the couple following a two-hour search, during which they confiscated mobile phones, personal electronic devices, Baháʼí religious texts, and the home’s CCTV system.”

The source added that security forces also examined the electronic devices of other family members. During the entire search, the agents recorded the events using three cameras.

As of now, no information has been released regarding the reasons for their arrest or their current whereabouts.

Soodabeh Mahdinzhad has a prior history of arrest and sentencing due to her religious beliefs.

Baha’is are subjected to violations of their religious rights, comprising 82% of reports on infringements against religious minorities, according to HRA’s 2023 annual report.

The Baha’i faith is not recognized as a legitimate religion by Iranian authorities, leading to systematic and longstanding violations of the rights of Baha’is in the country. This includes the denial of their fundamental right to practice their religion, which constitutes a clear breach of both Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The United Nations covenant holds that every person has the right to freedom of religion, freedom of converting religion, as well as freedom of expression, individually or collectively; openly or secretly.

Two Prisoners Executed in Karaj and Gorgan

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Executions, News
Elias Rezaie, Gorgan, Karaj, Naser Shafiee, Takab

At dawn on Wednesday, August 14, the execution of two prisoners, previously sentenced to death on charges related to drug offenses and murder, was carried out in Gorgan Prison and the Central Prison of Karaj.

According to Iran Human Rights Organization, Elias Rezaie, approximately 40 years old was executed in Gorgan Prison. This prisoner had been previously arrested on drug-related charges and subsequently sentenced to death by the judiciary.

Additionally, on that day, the execution of another prisoner identified as Naser Shafiee, 37 years old, from Takab and residing in Tehran, was carried out in the Central Prison of Karaj. This prisoner had been arrested about four years ago on charges of murdering his wife and was subsequently sentenced to death.

As of the time of this report, the executions of these prisoners have not been officially announced by prison authorities or relevant institutions. In 2023, 66% of HRANA’s reports on executions lacked official announcements by judicial authorities and went unreported by media inside Iran, highlighting a troubling lack of transparency in due process.

According to the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran, in 2023, at least 767 citizens, including 21 women and 2 juvenile offenders, were executed. Of these, the executions of 7 individuals were carried out in public. Additionally, during this period, 172 others were sentenced to death, with 5 of them sentenced to public execution. It is worth noting that during the same period, the initial death sentences of 49 other individuals were also upheld by the Supreme Court.

Two Prisoners Executed in Gorgan Prison for Drug Offenses

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Executions, News
Gorgan, Hatam Shahidi, Mostafa Hosseini

On July 7, 2024, the death sentences of two prisoners previously convicted on drug-related charges in a joint case were carried out in Gorgan Prison, as reported by Iran Human Rights Organization.

The identities of these prisoners have been reported as Mostafa Hosseini, 41 years old, and Hatam Shahidi, 38 years old, residents of Nazarabad, Karaj.

According to the report, Mostafa Hosseini and Hatam Shahidi were arrested three years ago in a joint case on drug-related charges and subsequently sentenced to death by the judiciary.

No official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have provided coverage of these executions at the time of writing.

The reports from the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists for the year 2023 reveal a concerning prevalence of executions for drug offenses in Iran, constituting 56.4% of the total executions. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s report.

Mohammad-Reza Shoghi Arrested in Gorgan

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Freedom of Expression, News
Gorgan, HRANA, Mohammad Reza Shoghi, محمدرضا شوقی

On Wednesday, July 10, Mohammad-Reza Shoghi, a resident of Gorgan, was arrested by security forces in the city.

A source close to his family confirmed this news to HRANA, saying: “This morning, Mohammad Reza Shoghi was arrested after an appearance at the Security Police office in Gorgan. Mr. Shoghi had previously been summoned to this security agency by phone.”

So far, no information has been obtained regarding the charges and reasons for the arrest of this resident of Gorgan.

Mohammad Reza (Tahmuras) Shoghi has a history of arrest and conviction due to his activities.

Nirvana Torbati-Nejad Receives Ten-Month Sentence and Fine for Political Charges

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Freedom of Expression, News
Golestan province, Gorgan, Nirvana Torbati-Nejad

Gorgan’s Criminal Court has recently issued a ten-month prison sentence and a fine to Nirvana Torbati-Nejad on political charges.

The verdict, delivered by Judge Abedi, was communicated to her lawyer, Haji Mashhadi, on January 6.

Torbati-Nejad has been convicted of “membership in anti-regime activities aimed at undermining national security,” resulting in a ten-month prison term. Additionally, she has been fined for charges related to “assembly and collusion against national security.”

The events leading to her legal troubles trace back to September 10, 2023, when security forces apprehended Torbati-Nejad at her workplace. After spending 25 days in detention, she was released on bond.