Tag: HRANA

Two Prisoners Executed in Yasuj Prison on Drug-Related Charges

Posted on by . .
Executions, News
HRANA, Mohammad Ahmadzadeh, Yasuj Prison, یاسوج

HRANA News Agency – On Monday, April 21, the death sentences of two prisoners previously convicted on drug-related charges were carried out in Yasuj Prison.

HRANA has identified the hanged individuals as Mohammad Ahmadzadeh and Behnam (last name unknown).

According to information received by HRANA, both individuals had been arrested on drug-related charges and were later sentenced to death by judicial authorities.

As of the time of this report’s publication, the executions have not been officially announced by prison officials or relevant authorities.

According to data compiled by HRANA, 52.69% of all executions in Iran in 2024 were related to drug-related charges. Notably, only 6% of the executions were officially announced, highlighting a significant lack of transparency. For a detailed analysis of these executions and the associated statistics, see HRANA’s full report.

Execution of a Prisoner Carried Out in Malayer Prison

Posted on by . .
Executions, News
HRANA, Malayer, Sajad Emkani, Sajjad Emkani, سجاد امکانی, ملایر

HRANA News Agency – At dawn on Monday, April 21, the death sentence of a prisoner previously convicted of murder was carried out in Malayer Prison, Hamadan province.

HRANA has identified the executed prisoner as Sajad (Sajjad) Emkani, who was hanged at dawn yesterday.

According to information received by HRANA, Mr. Emkani had been previously arrested on a murder charge and was later sentenced to death by the Criminal Court.

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

Ten Death Row Inmates Facing Imminent Execution in Ghezel Hesar Prison

Posted on by . .
Executions, News
Ghezel Hesar prison, HRANA, قزل حصار

HRANA News Agency – On April 22, at least ten inmates sentenced to death were transferred to solitary confinement in Ghezel Hesar Prison in preparation for the execution of their sentences.

According to information received by HRANA, two of these prisoners had previously been sentenced to death on charges of murder. A third individual, an Afghan national, was sentenced to death for the charge of rape. The remaining seven inmates had received death sentences for drug-related offenses.

Further details, including the identities of these prisoners, are currently being investigated by HRANA.

According to data gathered by the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists, Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj witnessed the highest number of executions in 2024. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s report.

Political Prisoner Hamid Hosseinnezhad Heydaranlou Executed

Posted on by . .
Executions, News
Chaldoran, Hamid Hosseinnezhad Heydaranlou, HRANA, Urmia prison

HRANA News Agency – Hamid Hosseinnezhad Heydaranlou, a political prisoner from Chaldoran, was executed secretly without his family’s knowledge. Judicial authorities summoned his family to the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in Urmia, where they informed them that his execution had been carried out after he was transferred to Tehran.

According to HRANA, citing Fars News Agency, Hamid Hosseinnezhad Heydaranlou, a political prisoner, has been executed.

Last night, his family was summoned to the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in Urmia and informed that his execution had been carried out following his transfer to Tehran. They gathered in front of Urmia Prison, demanding the return of their son’s body.

Kurdpa News Agency reported that, hours after the official announcement of the execution, the family still has no information about the exact time and location of the execution, and they have not yet received his body.

Over the past week, the family and close relatives of this political prisoner repeatedly gathered in front of Urmia Prison and the Urmia Judiciary, demanding clarification of his situation and the halt of his death sentence.

In the early hours of Saturday, April 19, Fars News Agency, affiliated with security institutions, published a video of the prisoner’s forced confessions, attempting to accuse him of “baghi” (armed rebellion). In the video — recorded under unknown circumstances — Mr. Hosseinnezhad is seen participating in a staged reenactment of an alleged “armed operation at the Chaldoran border.”

Mr. Hosseinnezhad Heydaranlou, who had recently been moved to solitary confinement in Urmia Prison, was transferred to an unknown location on April 17.

His death sentence had been previously upheld by Branch 9 of the Supreme Court and officially communicated to him at Urmia Prison on March 26, 2025.

In late July 2024, he had been sentenced to death by Branch 1 of the Urmia Revolutionary Court on the charge of “baghi” through alleged membership in an opposition group. Throughout all stages of his trial, he was denied access to legal counsel.

A source close to his family had earlier told HRANA:
“Mr. Hosseinnezhad Heydaranlou rejected all charges during his trial and stated that on the day of the alleged clash, he was traveling to Turkey with his family.”

This political prisoner had been arrested on April 13, 2023, at the Chaldoran border by border guards. After several hours of interrogation at the Border Guards’ detention center, he was transferred to the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Urmia, where he endured 11 months and 10 days of physical and psychological torture aimed at extracting forced confessions about participation in an armed clash between border guards and members of an opposition party.

Hamid Hosseinnezhad Heydaranlou, born in 1985, was the father of three children and had been working as a border tradesman in Chaldoran in recent years to provide for his family.

Prisoner Executed in Gorgan Prison

Posted on by . .
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.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Now is definitely not the time to stop reading!

Kaveh Amiri Sentenced to 2 Years in Prison

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Kaveh Amiri, کاوه امیری

HRANA News Agency – Kaveh Amiri, a citizen residing in Shahriar, has been sentenced to two years in prison by the Revolutionary Court of this city. The sentence has been suspended for five years.

Branch 1 of the Shahriar Revolutionary Court sentenced Mr. Amiri to two years in prison on charges of insulting the Supreme Leader and propaganda against the regime. However, the sentence has been suspended for five years.

Kaveh Amiri, a resident of Shahriar, was arrested on January 20, 2025, after being summoned to the Security Police of this city. He was released from Evin Prison eight days later after posting bail.

In October 2023, Amiri was sentenced by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Shahriar to eight months in prison for “propaganda against the regime,” a sentence later upheld by Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals. He was arrested on January 2, 2024, to serve his prison sentence and was granted conditional release from Evin Prison in May 2024.

Mr. Amiri is also facing another legal case in Branch 108 of the Revolutionary Court of Shahriar on charges of “disturbing public opinion.”

Kaveh Amiri, 40, is a judo coach and a resident of Shahriar.

Maryam Zabihi, a Baha’i Citizen from Qaemshahr, Receives 10 Months in Prison

Posted on by . .
News, Religious Minorities
HRANA, Maryam Zabihi, Qaemshahr

HRANA News Agency – Maryam Zabihi, a Baha’i citizen residing in Qaemshahr, has been sentenced to 10 months in prison by the Criminal Court of this city.

Based on a verdict issued by Branch 104 of the Second Criminal Court of Qaemshahr, Mazandaran provinceو this Baha’i citizen was sentenced to 10 months in prison on the charge of “educational activities contrary to and disruptive of Islamic Sharia.” The court session addressing Ms. Zabihi’s charges was held on April 16, 2025, and the verdict was issued the same day.

Holding examination sessions for students of the unofficial Baha’i university of Iran at her private residence was cited as the basis for the charge against Ms. Zabihi.

On Monday, February 12, 2024, Maryam Zabihi’s home was searched by security forces. Officers confiscated all electronic devices, textbooks, laptops, and tablets belonging to five young Baha’is who were guests at her residence.

After Baha’is in Iran were barred from attending public universities due to their religious beliefs, the Baha’i Institute for Higher Education (BIHE) was established by the Iranian Baha’i community in 1987. This unofficial university, operating under highly restricted conditions with the help of volunteer professors, provides opportunities for Baha’i citizens to pursue higher education. Over the years, many professors and administrators associated with this educational system have faced judicial and security pressures.

According to the Department of Statistics and Publications of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA), between January 1, 2024, and December 20, 2024, a total of 157 reports were recorded in the category of religious and faith-based minority rights. Among these, Baha’is accounted for 67.54% of the reports, ranking as the most observed group in human rights monitoring.

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.

Arian Shirpisheh in Evin Prison: Details on His Current Condition

Posted on by . .
News, Prisoners
Arian Shirpisheh, HRANA, Pouya Bakhtiari

HRANA News Agency – Arian Shirpisheh, the maternal uncle of Pouya Bakhtiari—one of the victims of the November 2019 protests—is currently serving a prison sentence in Evin Prison. In the first part of his case, he was sentenced to 14 months in prison by the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

A source close to Shirpisheh’s family confirmed to HRANA: “Mr. Shirpisheh was recently sentenced to 14 months in prison on security-related charges by the Tehran Revolutionary Court. In addition, a hearing on a separate charge of insulting sanctities is scheduled to take place next month.”

Arian Shirpisheh was arrested on September 16, 2024, by Ministry of Intelligence agents at his private residence and transferred to Evin Prison.

Previously, a source familiar with the case told HRANA: “It is likely that his arrest was related to his participation in ceremonies commemorating victims of the protests and his connections with their families.”

Arian Shirpisheh has previously been detained by security agencies.

Pouya Bakhtiari, born on September 10, 1992, was killed during the November 2019 protests in Mehrshahr, Karaj. According to his father, Pouya joined the protesters on the second day of demonstrations against the fuel price hike, accompanied by his sister and mother. He was shot in the head and succumbed to his injuries before reaching the hospital.

Political Prisoner Azar Zangouyi Begins Serving One-Year Sentence in Evin Prison

Posted on by . .
News, Prisoners
Azar Zangouyi, Evin Prison, HRANA, آذر زنگویی

HRANA News Agency – Azar Zangouyi, a political prisoner, is currently serving her sentence in Evin Prison. She had previously been sentenced by the Revolutionary Court to one year in prison.

According to information received by HRANA, on April 9, 2025, Ms. Zangouyi was arrested after appearing at the Evin Courthouse and was transferred to Evin Prison to begin serving her sentence. She had earlier been sentenced by the Revolutionary Court to one year in prison on charges of “propaganda against the regime.”

A source close to Ms. Zangouyi’s family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “Azar Zangouyi’s case was opened in 2022. At that time, security forces visited her workplace several times to arrest her, but were unsuccessful. As a result, her conviction was issued in absentia.”

Azar Zangouyi is 29 years old and a resident of Tehran.

Transfer to Solitary Confinement Raises Growing Concerns Over the Imminent Execution of Political Prisoner Hamid Hosseinnezhad Heydaranlou

Posted on by . .
News, Prisoners
Baghi, Hamid Hosseinnezhad Heydaranlou, HRANA, Urmia prison

HRANA News Agency – Hamid Hosseinnezhad Heydaranlou, a political prisoner sentenced to death and held in Urmia Prison, has been transferred to solitary confinement. Given his death sentence, the transfer has heightened concerns among his family and close ones.

A source close to the prisoner’s family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “The transfer of this death row prisoner has increased the family’s and his relatives’ concerns about his situation.”

The political prisoner’s death sentence was recently upheld by Branch 9 of the Supreme Court and was officially communicated to him in Urmia Prison on March 26, 2025.

Mr. Hosseinnezhad was sentenced to death in July 2024 by Branch 1 of the Urmia Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Najafzadeh. He was convicted of baghi for alleged membership in an opposition party. After he appealed the ruling, the case was referred to the Supreme Court.

He was arrested on April 13, 2023, by border guards near Chaldoran. After several hours of interrogation, he was transferred to The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Urmia. There, he was subjected to psychological and physical torture for 11 months and 10 days to force a confession. He was made to sign pre-written statements.

During his detention at The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, he was only allowed two brief phone calls with his family and was denied access to legal counsel and in-person visits. Due to opposition from the Ministry of Intelligence, he was also denied a chosen lawyer during trial. The court dismissed his defense and sentenced him to death for baghi.

In court, Mr. Hosseinnezhad denied all charges. Kurdpa reported that the Ministry of Intelligence accused him of collaborating with an opposition party without presenting any evidence. The agency claimed he held a grudge against border forces because his brother-in-law, Mostafa Nouri, had been killed by them in 2015. Based on this, he was accused of involvement in an armed clash. Judge Najafzadeh issued the death sentence in a brief hearing, solely based on “the judge’s intuition.”

Hamid Hosseinnezhad Heydaranlou, aged around 40, is a father of three. He is currently being held in Ward 2 of Urmia Prison.