Tag: HRANA

Drug-Related Offenses: 7 Prisoners Executed in Karaj Central Prison

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Executions, News
Ali Hosseinpour, HRANA, Karaj Central Prison, Meysam Joodaki, Mohammad Golosi, Reza Bakht Avar, Sajjad Pourdanesh

HRANA – At dawn on Sunday, August 3, the death sentences of seven prisoners previously convicted on drug-related charges were carried out in Karaj Central Prison.

HRANA has identified five of those executed as Sajjad Pourdanesh, Meysam Joodaki, Mohammad Golosi, Reza Bakht Avar and Ali Hosseinpour. These individuals had been arrested on drug-related charges and later sentenced to death by Revolutionary Courts.

On Wednesday, July 30, HRANA had reported the transfer of four of these prisoners to solitary confinement in preparation for their execution.

Further details, including the identity of the seventh executed prisoner, are still under investigation by HRANA.

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

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.

Two Prisoners Executed in Dizel Abad Prison, Kermanshah

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Executions, News
Fariborz Haghi, HRANA, Kermanshah, moharebeh, Moslem Jalali

On Sunday, August 3, Dizelabad Prison in Kermanshah carried out the executions of two prisoners convicted of enmity against God (moharebeh) and drug-related offenses.

HRANA has identified one of the prisoners as Moslem Jalali, who had previously been sentenced to death on charges of moharebeh through armed robbery. The second prisoner has been identified as Fariborz Haghi, who had been arrested on drug-related charges and sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court.

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

Singer Danial Moghaddam Arrested in Shiraz

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News, Prisoners
Danial Moghaddam, Evin Prison, Greater Tehran Prison, HRANA

HRANA– Danial Moghaddam, a dissident singer, was once again arrested by security forces in Shiraz on Tuesday, July 29, and transferred to the Greater Tehran Prison. He had previously stated in a video that, during the early days of his recent detention in Evin Prison and amid an Israeli airstrike on the facility, he was evacuated due to the post-bombing conditions and never returned.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, Danial Moghaddam, a dissident singer, has been re-arrested.

His arrest took place on Tuesday, July 29, in Shiraz, and he was subsequently transferred to Greater Tehran Prison.
During his earlier detention in Evin Prison, Moghaddam released a video on his personal page describing the crisis inside the prison during the Israeli airstrike. In the video, he stated that following the shockwaves and emergency situation caused by the bombing, he unintentionally left the prison while in a disoriented and semi-conscious state and did not return.

In the same video, Moghaddam cited the reasons for his arrest as supporting the families of those killed during protests, calling for the release of political prisoners, and demonstrating in front of Evin Prison to oppose executions.

On June 25, 2025, Mohammad-Hadi Jafarpoor, Moghaddam’s attorney, announced in a post that his client had been detained by order of Branch 3 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court’s Prosecutor’s Office due to his inability to post bail.

Danial Moghaddam has previously been arrested and sentenced for his activism.

80-Year Old Former Political Prisoner Mohammad Banazadeh Arrested in Tehran

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News, Prisoners
HRANA, Mohammad Banazadeh Amirkhizi, Qom, محمد بنازاده

HRANA– Mohammad Banazadeh Amirkhizi, an 80-year-old former political prisoner, was arrested by security forces in Tehran on Monday, July 28, and transferred to The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Qom. Despite suffering from several illnesses, including prostate cancer and heart problems, he has been denied access to proper medical care.

Based on information obtained by HRANA, he was arrested at his private residence in Tehran, by security forces and then transferred to The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Qom.

A source familiar with his situation confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “Mr. Banazadeh, who suffers from prostate cancer, heart conditions, and a torn knee meniscus, has been deprived of medical treatment during this time. This has caused significant concern among his family and those close to him about his health.”

As of the time of this report, the reasons for his arrest and the charges against him remain unknown.

Mohammad Banazadeh Amirkhizi, 80, a resident of Tehran, has previously been sentenced due to his activism.

Prisoner Executed in Nahavand Prison

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Executions, News
Arash Mohammadi, HRANA, Nahavand Prison

HRANA – At dawn on Tuesday, July 29, the execution of a prisoner previously sentenced to death on a murder charge was carried out in Nahavand Prison.

HRANA has identified the individual as Arash Mohammadi, 36 years old, who was hanged at dawn on Tuesday, July 29. According to information received by HRANA, Mr. Mohammadi was arrested three years ago on a murder charge and later sentenced to death by a criminal court.

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

In 2024, Iranian prisons witnessed the execution of 930 inmates. According to HRANA’s data, the number of executions carried out by the Iranian regime’s judiciary has risen steadily over the past five years. The percentage of executions related to drug charges has also increased year after year.

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Amputation Sentences Carried Out for Three Inmates in Urmia Prison

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News, Other, Prisoners
Hadi Rostami, HRANA, Mehdi Shahivand, Mehdi Sharafian, Urmia prison

HRANA– In the early hours of Thursday, July 31, the amputation sentences of three prisoners convicted of theft were carried out in Urmia Prison. Hadi Rostami, Mehdi Sharafian, and Mehdi Shahivand had the fingers of their right hands amputated. Following the implementation of the sentences, the three were transferred to a hospital and returned to prison several hours later.

According to information received by HRANA, a disturbance broke out last night in Urmia Prison. Following the incident, prison guards transferred Hadi Rostami, Mehdi Sharafian, and Mehdi Shahivand to solitary confinement. Ultimately, around 1:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 31, the amputation sentences were carried out inside the prison.

A source familiar with the case, who spoke to HRANA on condition of anonymity for security reasons, said: “Mr. Rostami, Sharafian, and Shahivand were transferred to a hospital after the amputations were carried out. They were returned to prison several hours later.”

Hadi Rostami, 39, Mehdi Sharafian, 42, and Mehdi Shahivand, 29, were arrested in 2015 by police detectives in Urmia. The three were prosecuted in a joint case related to theft charges.

On November 19, 2019, they were sentenced by Branch 1 of the Juvenile Criminal Court to the amputation of four fingers on their right hands, in a way that the thumb and palm would remain intact. They were also ordered to return the stolen property. This sentence was upheld by Branch 13 of the Supreme Court on May 10, 2020.

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) strictly prohibits inhumane and degrading punishments such as flogging and amputation. However, in 2024, HRANA documented at least three cases where flogging sentences were carried out, totaling 106 lashes. Additionally, at least 131 individuals were sentenced to a combined 9,957 lashes by the Iranian judiciary.

Prisoner Executed in Adelabad Prison of Shiraz

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Executions, News
Adelabad Prison, HRANA, Reza Salehi, Shiraz

HRANA– At dawn on Wednesday, July 30, a prisoner named Reza Salehi was executed in Adelabad Prison in Shiraz.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, Reza Salehi, who had been held in Adelabad Prison, was executed early this morning, Wednesday, July 30, 2025. No official confirmation has been issued by judicial authorities, and details of his case have not been made public.

HRANA has identified the prisoner as Reza Salehi. According to information received, he had previously been arrested on a murder charge and sentenced to death by the Criminal Court.

As of the time of this report, prison authorities and relevant institutions have not publicly acknowledged 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.

Three Citizens Arrested in Damavand County

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Freedom of Expression, News, Other
Damavand, HRANA, irgc, IRGC Intelligence

HRANA – The commander of the IRGC in Damavand County, Tehran province, announced the arrest of three citizens on charges of alleged collaboration with Israel and the “Monafeqin” — a term the Iranian government uses to refer to the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MEK). According to the commander, legal cases have been opened and the individuals have been referred to the judiciary.

The local IRGC commander claimed the detainees were “connected to Israeli intelligence services and the MEK” and were “planning acts of sabotage targeting sensitive locations.” According to Mehr News Agency, the arrests were carried out by IRGC Intelligence agents, and their cases are currently under judicial review.

The report does not specify the date of arrest, the identities of the detainees, or where they are being held.

While espionage itself is not considered a human rights issue, the Iranian government has a long history of using such accusations to target political dissidents. Claims of this nature—especially in the absence of transparency and due process—are often met with skepticism.

Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj: 17 Political Prisoners Remain in Solitary Confinement

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News, Prisoners
Abolhassan Montazer, Ahmadreza Haeri, Akbar Bagheri, Ali Moezzi, Arsham Rezaei, Asadollah Hadi, Behrooz Ehsani Eslamlou, Hamzeh Savari, HRANA, Khosrow Rahnama, Loqman Aminpour, Mehdi Hasani, Meysam Dehbanzadeh, Mohammad Shafiei, Mostafa Ramezani, Reza Mohammad Hosseini, Reza Salmanzadeh, Salahuddin Ziaei, Sepehr Emamjomeh, Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb

HRANA – At least 17 political prisoners are being held in solitary confinement for the fifth consecutive day in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.

According to HRANA, these individuals continue to be held in solitary cells inside units 1 and 3 of Ghezel Hesar Prison: Sepehr Emamjomeh, Loqman Aminpour, Meysam Dehbanzadeh, Abolhassan Montazer, Ali Moezzi, Khosrow Rahnama, Hamzeh Savari, Asadollah Hadi, Reza Salmanzadeh, Reza Mohammad Hosseini, Mostafa Ramezani, Salaheddin Ziaei, Arsham Rezaei, Akbar Bagheri, Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb, Ahmadreza Haeri, and Mohammad Shafiei.

On Saturday, July 26, a special unit of prison guards, accompanied by agents from the Ministry of Intelligence, raided the ward housing political prisoners in Ghezel Hesar Prison. During the operation, phone lines in the ward were cut, several inmates were reportedly beaten, and a number of political prisoners were forcibly transferred to solitary confinement.

In response, some of the affected prisoners have launched a hunger strike to protest what they describe as “systematic violence by security forces against political prisoners in Unit 4.” Their complete disconnection from families and external sources has severely limited access to information about their current conditions. HRANA continues to investigate and gather further details.

This violent crackdown appears to be an attempt to suppress resistance by prisoners opposing the transfer of political prisoner Saeed Masouri to Zahedan Prison, and the implementation of death sentences against political prisoners Behrooz Ehsani Eslamlou and Mehdi Hasani.

Prolonged solitary confinement—especially without access to communication, legal counsel, medical care, or visitation—is considered a form of psychological torture and violates the principles of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the “Nelson Mandela Rules” regarding the treatment of prisoners.

Afghan National Ehsan Hosseini Arrested in Qom

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News, Other
Ehsan Hosseini, HRANA, Qom

HRANA – Ehsan Hosseini, an Afghan national residing in Qom, was arrested by security forces at his private residence on Tuesday, July 29.

According to HRANA, citing Emtedad, the arrest took place at Mr. Hosseini’s home, where agents confiscated his cellphone and electronic devices. Mr. Hosseini, identified in the report as a social activist, has reportedly collaborated in the past with academic and civil institutions working on migrant rights in Iran.

As of the time of this report, the reasons for his arrest and his whereabouts remain unknown.