Tag: HRANA

Four Prisoners Executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison on Drug-Related Charges

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Executions, News
Abbas Lak, Afshin Ezzati, Ghezel Hesar prison, Hojjat Havasi, HRANA, Karaj, Majid Khalifeh

At dawn today, four prisoners previously sentenced to death on drug-related charges were executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.

HRANA has identified the executed individuals as Abbas Lak, Hojjat Havasi, Majid Khalifeh, and Afshin Ezzati.

According to information received by HRANA, they had been arrested on drug-related charges and subsequently sentenced to death by Revolutionary Courts.

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

According to HRANA’s statistics, Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj carried out the highest number of executions among all Iranian prisons, with 150 inmates hanged. This figure has nearly doubled compared to the previous year — a deeply alarming increase that underscores the escalating use of capital punishment in Iran.

Two Prisoners Executed in Central Prison of Karaj

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Executions, News
Central Prison of Karaj, Harsin, HRANA, Lorestan province, Rahim Amiri

HRANA News Agency – At dawn on Tuesday, May 27, two prisoners previously sentenced to death on drug-related charges were executed in  Central Prison of Karaj.

HRANA has confirmed the identity of one of the executed individuals as Rahim Amiri, a resident of Harsin. The second prisoner, whose identity has not yet been established, was reportedly from Nurabad in Lorestan Province.

On Sunday, May 25, both prisoners were transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for the execution.

According to information received by HRANA, the two individuals had previously been arrested on drug-related charges and were subsequently sentenced to death by Revolutionary Courts.

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

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

Babak Asadi Arrested and Transferred to Tabriz Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Asadollah Asadi, Babak Asadi, Heris, HRANA, Tabriz Prison

HRANA News Agency – Babak Asadi, an Azerbaijani-Turk activist, was arrested yesterday by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence in Heris County, East Azerbaijan province, and transferred to Tabriz Prison.

A source close to his family told HRANA: “A few hours after the arrest, Mr. Asadi called his family and informed them that he had been transferred to Tabriz Prison.”

The day before, on Sunday, May 25, intelligence agents had searched both his workplace and his family residence in Heris without presenting a court warrant. Following the search, they summoned him to the Intelligence Office without providing a formal summons.

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

Babak Asadi Daghdaghan, an Azerbaijani-Turk activist, has previously faced pressure and security-related actions due to his activism. He is the son of Asadollah Asadi, a political activist and former prisoner.

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.

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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.

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.