Tag: HRANA

Mahvash Seydal Begins Hunger Strike in Evin Prison

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News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, HRANA, Hunger Strike, Iman Afshari, Mahvash Seydal

HRANA News Agency – Mahvash (Sayeh) Seydal, a political prisoner and holder of a PhD in international law, has gone on hunger and medication strike in protest against inadequate medical care.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, Seydal, currently held in Evin Prison, began her strike due to what she describes as the authorities’ failure to provide proper medical attention.

On March 10, 2025, Seydal was formally charged in Branch 3 of the Evin Prosecutor’s Office in connection with a new case opened during her incarceration, facing accusations of property damage and disturbing public order.

She had been granted furlough on February 3, 2025. During that time, she posted on Instagram that upon reporting to Branch 1 of the Sentence Enforcement Office at Evin Prosecutor’s Office, she was physically assaulted and insulted by a security officer for refusing to wear a chador. Seydal stated that when she attempted to file a complaint, the prosecutor refused to register it.

Seydal was first arrested on October 6, 2024, by security forces and transferred to the women’s ward of Evin Prison.

Following a new conviction, her previously suspended sentence was converted into an enforceable one. She was prosecuted in Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court on charges including “spreading falsehoods” and was sentenced to two years in prison and paying a fine. One of the charges related to her reposting news about the wave of poisonings targeting schoolgirls.

In November 2023, the same court under Judge Iman Afshari had previously sentenced her to one year in prison and a fine for “spreading falsehoods with the intent to disturb public opinion,” though the prison sentence had been suspended for five years.

Seydal was initially arrested on June 21, 2023, along with several other Clubhouse activists in Tehran, reportedly due to her activity on the platform. She was released on bail from The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility (Ward 209 of Evin Prison) on July 23, 2023.

HRANA’s data from the past decade shows that during this ten-year period, over 2,050 political prisoners and prisoners of conscience in Iran prisons have been forced to go on hunger strike in protest of various abuses—including prolonged detention, being held in legal limbo, unfair trials, poor prison conditions, and being held in solitary confinement or alongside inmates convicted of violent crimes.

Prisoner Executed in Nahavand Prison

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Executions, News
Hamadan province, HRANA, Nahavand, Tahmas Jahanian

HRANA News Agency – At dawn on Saturday, May 24, a prisoner previously sentenced to death for murder was executed in Nahavand Prison, Hamadan province.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, the identity of the executed individual has been confirmed as Tahmas (Tahmasb) Jahanian. Jahanian had been arrested on murder charges and was later sentenced to death by the criminal court.

As of the time of this report, prison authorities and relevant institutions have not officially announced the execution.

In 2024, according to 812 reports compiled by HRANA, the Iranian regime executed 930 individuals in its prisons—marking the highest number of executions in the past 12 years. Despite the scale of these executions, prison officials and other relevant authorities publicly acknowledged only 6% of them, highlighting the regime’s lack of transparency and accountability.

Homes of Six Baha’i Citizens Raided in Yazd

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News, Religious Minorities
Bahais, Farrokh Shadpour, Ghodrat Mirzaei, HRANA, Jamal Ghadirzadeh, Manouchehr Sobhani, Ramin Jiveh, Taraz Amiri, Yazd

HRANA News Agency – On the evening of Thursday, May 22, security forces raided the homes of six Baha’i citizens in Yazd.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, agents from the Yazd branch of the Ministry of Intelligence conducted the coordinated raids on Thursday evening. Security forces searched the homes of Ramin Jiveh, Jamal Ghadirzadeh, and Ghodrat Mirzaei, and later targeted the residences of Manouchehr Sobhani, Farrokh Shadpour, and Taraz Amiri. During the raids, agents confiscated personal belongings including Baha’i religious books, mobile phones, and laptops.

It is worth noting that Jamal Ghadirzadeh is currently facing legal proceedings related to his Baha’i faith and activities.

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 Offense: Prisoner Executed in Zanjan Prison

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Executions, News
Homayoun Amjad, HRANA, Zanjan Prison

HRANA News Agency – At dawn on Saturday, May 24, a prisoner previously sentenced to death on drug-related charges was executed in Zanjan Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, the identity of the executed prisoner has been confirmed as Homayoun Amjad.

Authorities had arrested Mr. Amjad earlier on charges related to drug offenses, and he was subsequently sentenced to death by the judiciary.

As of the time of this report, prison officials and relevant authorities have not publicly announced the execution.

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.

Five Prisoners Executed in Yazd Prison

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Executions, News
HRANA, Yazd, Yazd Prison, Zabol

HRANA News Agency – On Wednesday, May 21, the death sentences of five prisoners previously convicted on charges related to drug offenses and murder were carried out in Yazd Prison.

Their identities have been confirmed by HRANA as: Nourweis Achkizahi from Zabol, Javad Rezaei, Reza Beigi, Vali Shahrbabaki, and Mohammadreza Dehghan Dehnouri, 38 years old.

Based on information obtained by HRANA, Mr. Achkizehi had been arrested six years ago and Mr. Beigi at an earlier date, both on drug-related charges, and were sentenced to death. Mr. Rezaei and Mr. Shahrbabaki had been detained five years ago, and Mr. Dehghan Dehnouri earlier, all on murder charges in separate cases, and were also sentenced to death.

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

In 2024, according to 812 reports compiled by HRANA, the Iranian regime executed 930 individuals in its prisons—marking the highest number of executions in the past 12 years. Despite the scale of these executions, prison officials and other relevant authorities publicly acknowledged only 6% of them, highlighting the regime’s lack of transparency and accountability.

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Prisoner Executed in Ilam Prison

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Executions, News
Adnan Labakpour, HRANA, Ilam

HRANA News Agency – On Saturday, May 17, the death sentence of a prisoner previously convicted of murder was carried out in Ilam Prison.

HRANA has identified the individual executed at dawn on Saturday, May 17, as Adnan Labakpour, a resident of Ilam.

Based on information received by HRANA, Mr. Labakpour had been arrested on murder charges and later sentenced to death by a criminal court.

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

In 2024, according to 812 reports compiled by HRANA, the Iranian regime executed 930 individuals in its prisons—marking the highest number of executions in the past 12 years. Despite the scale of these executions, prison officials and other relevant authorities publicly acknowledged only 6% of them, highlighting the regime’s lack of transparency and accountability.

Prisoner Executed in Central Prison of Karaj

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Executions, News
Armin Bahrami, Central Prison of Karaj, HRANA

HRANA News Agency – At dawn on Sunday, May 18, the execution of a prisoner previously sentenced to death on a murder charge was carried out at Central Prison of Karaj.

HRANA has identified the prisoner as Armin Bahrami. According to information obtained by HRANA, Mr. Bahrami had been previously arrested on a murder charge and was later sentenced to death by the judiciary.

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

In 2024, a total of 191 inmates were executed in Alborz province alone — equivalent to 7 executions per 100,000 people in this small province.

Farid Rafeh Arrested in Rask

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News, Other
Farid Rafeh, HRANA, Rask

HRANA News Agency – On Tuesday, May 20, Farid Rafeh, a resident of Rask, was arrested by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, citing Rasank News, a citizen was detained in the city of Rask.

The individual has been identified as Farid Rafeh, 26 years old, and a native of Rask.

According to the report, Mr. Rafeh was arrested with the use of force by security forces on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. He was detained without a judicial warrant while visiting the city’s marketplace for personal errands.

As of now, no information is available regarding the charges against him or his whereabouts.

Death Sentence Carried Out for Prisoner in Hamedan Prison

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Executions, News
Hamedan prison, HRANA, Saeed Kashani, سعید کاشانی

HRANA News Agency – At dawn on Wednesday, May 21, a prisoner who had previously been sentenced to death on a murder charge was executed in Hamedan Prison.

The identity of the executed prisoner has been confirmed by HRANA as Saeed Kashani.

According to information obtained by HRANA, Mr. Kashani had been arrested on a murder charge and later sentenced to death by the Criminal Court.

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

In 2024, according to 812 reports compiled by HRANA, the Iranian regime executed 930 individuals in its prisons—marking the highest number of executions in the past 12 years. Despite the scale of these executions, prison officials and other relevant authorities publicly acknowledged only 6% of them, highlighting the regime’s lack of transparency and accountability.

Execution of a Prisoner in Qom Prison

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Executions, News
HRANA, Meysam Khazaei, Qom, میثم خزایی

HRANA News Agency – At dawn on Tuesday, May 20, a prisoner previously sentenced to death on a murder charge was executed in Qom Prison.

The identity of the prisoner has been confirmed by HRANA as Meysam Khazaei.

According to information received by HRANA, Mr. Khazaei had been arrested on a murder charge and later sentenced to death by the judicial authorities.

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

According to HRANA reports, in 2024, only 6% of executions were announced by official bodies or domestic media outlets. Over the past five years, 77% of executions have gone unreported—commonly referred to as secret executions. In some of these cases, the lack of transparency is so severe that the death-row prisoners are denied even the chance for a final visit with their families.