Tag: HRANA

Behzad Dadkhah Arrested by Security Forces in Saqqez

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Freedom of Expression, News
Behzad Dadkhah, HRANA, Saqqez

On November 25, Behzad Dadkhah, a resident of Saqqez, was arrested by security forces in the city and transferred to an undisclosed location.

Behzad Dadkhah is a resident of Saqqez, and the father of a young child.

A source close to the family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “He was arrested by security forces at his workplace on Vahdat Boulevard in Saqqez and taken to an unknown location. The lack of information about his whereabouts has caused great concern among his family and loved ones.”

The reasons for his arrest and the charges against him remain unknown at this time.

Prisoner Executed in Qazvin Prison

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Executions, News
HRANA, Mohammad Ali Taheri, Qazvin prison

At dawn today, November 28, a prisoner previously sentenced to death on drug-related charges was executed in Qazvin Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, the prisoner has been identified as Mohammad-Ali Taheri, 46, from Kangavar.

Taheri had been arrested on drug-related charges and subsequently sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court.

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

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.

 

Four Prisoners Executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Including a Juvenile Offender

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Executions, News
Ghezel Hesar prison, Hamed Pakdel, HRANA, Pakdasht, Reza Shirzahi, Zabol

Early this morning, November 27, four prisoners previously convicted of murder were executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj. One of them, Reza Shirzahi, was only 17 years old at the time of the crime in 2020.

The identities of two of the executed prisoners have been confirmed as Reza Shirzahi, a resident of Pakdasht originally from Zabol, and Hamed Pakdel.

Reza Shirzahi, aged around 21, was accused of killing a friend during an altercation in 2020. He was arrested that same year, tried in a criminal court, and sentenced to death—a verdict later upheld by the Supreme Court. At the time of his arrest, He was only 17 years old. After spending time in Khorin Prison, he was transferred first to Rajai Shahr Prison and then to Ghezel Hesar Prison, where the execution was carried out. The published photo in this report is of Reza.

The identities of the other two executed prisoners remain unknown, and HRANA is continuing its investigation to confirm their details.

It is worth noting that as of the time of this report, prison authorities and responsible institutions have not officially announced the executions.

According to latest HRANA’s annual report over between October 10, 2023, and October 8, 2024, at least 811 individuals were executed by hanging in Iran, rising to 23.06% compared to the same period last year. Of these executions, four were carried out in public. Many of the defendants were denied a fair trial.

Lawyer Behnam Nezadi Sentenced to One Year in Prison and Two-Year Ban on Practicing Law

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Freedom of Expression, News
Behnam Nezadi, HRANA, Tehran, بهنام نزادی

Behnam Nezadi, a member of the Central Bar Association, has been sentenced to one year in prison and a two-year ban on practicing law by Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court in Arak.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, Mr. Nezadi was convicted on charges of “propaganda against the regime.” As an additional penalty, he has been prohibited from practicing law for two years.

Another part of Mr. Nezadi’s case, involving charges of “spreading falsehoods” and “disclosing confidential information,” is still pending review at the Criminal Court No. 2 in Arak, awaiting assignment to a branch.

Mr. Nezadi’s preliminary interrogation took place in late July at the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in District 23 of Tehran (special jurisdiction for interprovincial cases). During the session, he was charged with “propaganda against the regime,” “spreading falsehoods via cyberspace,” and “disclosing confidential investigative materials.” The authorities also cited actions such as “undermining the judiciary, eroding judges’ confidence, and attempting to overthrow the Islamic Republic” as examples of these allegations.

At the end of the interrogation, Mr. Nezadi was released on bail pending further proceedings. During the preliminary stages of the case, the investigating judge issued an order barring him from practicing law in Tehran.

Behnam Nezadi is the administrator of an Instagram page titled “Judicial Misconduct by Judges.” On this platform, he recently shared documents addressing the Disciplinary Prosecutor’s Office for Judges, arguing: “Filing complaints against judges is legally sanctioned, and encouraging people to seek legal recourse cannot be deemed a crime. Moreover, equating the judiciary as an institution with the entire regime is incorrect.”

Mr. Nezadi, a native of Arak and resident of Tehran, is a prominent lawyer and member of the Central Bar Association. His case is one of many highlighting the increasing restrictions imposed on lawyers and legal activists in Iran.

In 2023, the Department of Statistics and Publications of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) documented 2,380 cases in which citizens, including journalists and civil rights activists, faced legal and security consequences for exercising their freedom of expression and thought. These incidents resulted in the arrest of 3,130 individuals.

Prisoner Executed for Drug-Related Charges in Gorgan Prison

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Executions, News
Gorgan Prison, HRANA, Sabzevar

On Tuesday, November 26, 2024, a prisoner who had previously been sentenced to death on drug-related charges was executed in Gorgan Prison.

The identity of the executed prisoner has been confirmed by HRANA as Farhad Khosrawi Sadkharv, a resident of Sabzevar.

Based on HRANA’s findings, Mr. Khosrawi had been arrested on drug-related charges and subsequently sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court.

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

According to latest HRANA’s annual report over between October 10, 2023, and October 8, 2024, at least 811 individuals were executed by hanging in Iran, rising to 23.06% compared to the same period last year. Of these executions, four were carried out in public. Many of the defendants were denied a fair trial.

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Prisoner Executed in Karaj Central Prison for Drug-Related Offenses

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Executions, News
Ehsan Basati Vali Abad, Ehsan Basati Valiabad, HRANA, Karaj Central Prison, Kuhdasht

On Tuesday, November 26, 2024, a prisoner previously sentenced to death for drug-related offenses was executed in Karaj Central Prison.

The prisoner has been identified by HRANA as Ehsan Basati Valiabad, a 31-year-old resident of Kuhdasht. HRANA has also reported that three other death-row inmates were executed in the same prison on the previous day.

According to HRANA’s findings, Mr. Basati was arrested in 2020 in Karaj on charges related to drug offenses and was subsequently sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court. On Sunday, November 24, he was moved to solitary confinement in preparation for his execution.

As of this report, the execution has not been publicly announced by prison officials or other responsible authorities.
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.

Ali Teymouri Sentenced to One Year in Prison and Additional Restrictions

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ali Teymouri, HRANA, علی تیموری

Ali Teymouri, a war veteran from the Iran-Iraq war, has been sentenced by Branch 2 of the Karaj Revolutionary Court to one year in prison, a two-year ban on membership in social groups, and a travel ban.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, Teymouri was convicted of “propaganda against the regime.” In addition to the prison sentence, he faces complementary punishments, including a two-year prohibition from participating in social groups and organizations and a ban on leaving the country.

The verdict also acquitted Teymouri of charges related to alleged connections with anti-regime groups.

Ali Teymouri was arrested on February 3, 2024, after appearing at the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in Eshtehard, Alborz Province. He was released two days later, on February 5, after posting bail.

Teymouri, a resident of Karaj, is a veteran injured during the Iran-Iraq war.

Revolutionary Court Sentences Student Activist Leila Hosseinzadeh to Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News, Students
Gonabadi Dervish, HRANA, Leila Hosseinzadeh, Mohammad Sharifi Moghadam, لیلا حسن زاده

Leila Hosseinzadeh, a student activist, has been sentenced in absentia to prison by Branch 26 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari. The charges stem from her appearing unveiled at the University of Tehran during her thesis defense.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, Hosseinzadeh was convicted on charges of appearing in public without a hijab and “propaganda against the regime.” In a personal statement, she revealed that she was sentenced without prior notice and is unaware of the details. She added, “I have no expectations of appeal or any legal process. I’ll wait for the case to be referred to the enforcement office.”
Hosseinzadeh has faced several legal cases over the years. Most recently, a forensic medical commission confirmed her permanent inability to endure incarceration. As a result, her remaining five-year prison sentence from a 2019 case was converted to a fine of 100 million tomans, which she paid to conclude the case.
Leila Hosseinzadeh was first arrested during the 2017–2018 Iranian protests, detained for 16 days, and released on bail. On June 24, 2019, Branch 36 of Tehran’s Court of Appeals sentenced her to 30 months in prison for “assembly and collusion against national security” and an additional year for “propaganda against the regime,” along with a two-year travel ban. Charges included attending a birthday gathering for Mohammad Sharifi Moghadam, a Gonabadi Dervish imprisoned near Sharif University, and singing protest songs.

On July 28, 2019, she began serving her sentence but was released early due to a judicial directive.

In a separate case, Hosseinzadeh was sentenced in February 2021 to five years in prison and a two-year ban from online activities for “assembly and collusion with intent to act against national security” by Branch 28 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court. The sentence was upheld by Branch 36 of the Appeals Court in December 2021.

She was arrested again on August 20, 2022, after being beaten by security forces outside her home. She was released on bail from Evin Prison on January 9, 2023.

Political Prisoners Mehran Hassan Zadeh and Hamid Abdollah Zadeh Sentenced to Death

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Executions, News
Hamid Abdollah Zadeh, HRANA, Mehran Hassan Zadeh, Oshnavieh, Urmia prison, حمید عبدلله زاده, مهران حسن زاده

Mehran Hassan Zadeh and Hamid Abdollah Zadeh, political prisoners detained in Urmia Prison, have been sentenced to death in separate cases by Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court in Urmia.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, Mehran Hassan Zadeh was convicted on charges of baghi (armed rebellion), while Hamid Abdollah Zadeh was sentenced to death on suspicion of membership in an opposition party.

A source close to their cases confirmed to HRANA: “In Mehran’s case, the authorities accused him of involvement in the killing of a Basij member, which led to the baghi charge and the issuance of a death sentence. He was notified of the verdict a month ago. Regarding Hamid Abdollah Zadeh, his death sentence was issued two months ago.”

Mehran Hassan Zadeh, a resident of Oshnavieh, was initially arrested during the 2022 nationwide protests. After a period in detention, he was released on bail. In a separate part of his case, Branch 101 of the Oshnavieh Criminal Court sentenced him to nine months in prison on charges of “assembly and collusion against national security.” He was subsequently re-arrested and transferred to Urmia Prison.

Hamid Abdollah Zadeh, a resident of Urmia, was arrested by security forces in the fall of 2022 and has remained in Urmia Prison since his detention.

Both individuals are currently held in the political ward of Urmia Prison.

Fereydoun Soltani Arrested in Takab

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News, Other
Fereydoun Soltani, HRANA, Takab

Today, November 22, 2024, Fereydoun Soltani was arrested by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence in the city of Takab, West Azerbaijan province, and transferred to an undisclosed location.

A source close to Soltani’s family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “Mr. Soltani was arrested today following his summons to the Ministry of Intelligence office in Takab and has been transferred to an unknown location.”

As of this report, no information has been disclosed about the reasons for his arrest or the charges against him.

Fereydoun Soltani, a native of Takab, resides in Tehran.