Tag: HRANA

Jasem Savaedi Arrested by Security Forces in Hamidiyeh

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Freedom of Expression, News
hamidiyeh, Hassan Abyat, HRANA, Jasem savaedi

HRANA – Jasem Savaedi (Saedi), a resident of Hamidiyeh, was arrested by forces from the Ahvaz Intelligence Department and transferred to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, Jasem Savaedi (Saedi) has been arrested.

According to information received by HRANA, Mr. Savaedi was arrested today, Monday, September 14, 2026, by forces from the Ahvaz Intelligence Department.

As of the time of this report, no information has been obtained regarding the reasons for his arrest, the charges against him, or his place of detention.

Jasem Savaedi was previously arrested in February 2012 along with several others. They were tried by the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court on charges including “enmity against God” (moharebeh) and “corruption on earth” (efsad-e fel-arz). Mr. Savaedi was ultimately sentenced to 15 years in prison and, after serving approximately 11 years, was conditionally released from prison in January 2023.

Hassan Abyat, one of Mr. Savaedi’s co-defendants, was sentenced to death on the charge of “enmity against God” (moharebeh). His sentence was carried out at dawn on February 20, 2023, in Sepidar Prison in Ahvaz.

Jasem Savaedi (Saedi), aged approximately 42, is a resident of Hamidiyeh, Khuzestan province.

Eight Women Face Death Sentences in Iran in Political, Security-Related, and Protest Cases

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Executions, News, Prisoners, Publications, Women
akhshan Azizi, Arghavan Fallahi, Bita Hemmati, HRANA, Leila Abolhasani, Mahnaz Chardoli, Maryam Hodavand, Souda Ebrahimi Shamsabadi, Taraneh Rahimi, Varisheh Moradi, Zahra Shahbaz Tabari

HRANA – At least eight imprisoned women are facing death sentences in various prisons across Iran. The sentences were issued in cases involving charges including “armed rebellion” (baghi), “enmity against God” (moharebeh), and “corruption on earth” (efsad-e fel-arz).

According to HRANA, a review of the judicial cases of imprisoned women shows that at least eight women in different parts of the country are facing death sentences.

These women include Pakhshan Azizi, Arghavan Fallahi, Zahra Shahbaz Tabari, Maryam Hodavand, Mahnaz Chardoli, Leila Abolhasani, Taraneh Rahimi, and Souda (Marzieh) Ebrahimi Shamsabadi.

Four of these women, Maryam Hodavand, Mahnaz Chardoli, Leila Abolhasani, and Taraneh Rahimi, have been sentenced to death in cases related to the protests of the January 2026. Souda (Marzieh) Ebrahimi Shamsabadi is also facing a death sentence in a case connected to security-related developments that occurred during the war. Pakhshan Azizi, Arghavan Fallahi, and Zahra Shahbaz Tabari have been sentenced to death in separate political and security-related cases.

These sentences were issued by various branches of the Revolutionary Courts in Tehran, Isfahan, Rasht, and Bandar Abbas. The judges who issued these sentences include Iman Afshari, Abolghasem Salavati, Vahid Hemmat-Nejad, Morteza Barati, Mohammadreza Tavakoli, Mohammad Ali Darvish-Goftar, and Judge Hajizadeh.

According to the latest available information, the death sentences of Pakhshan Azizi and Arghavan Fallahi have been upheld by the Supreme Court. Zahra Shahbaz Tabari, whose initial death sentence was overturned, has once again been sentenced to death by a parallel branch of the court. The death sentences in the cases of the other five women remain at the trial or appellate review stages.

The latest status and judicial proceedings in each of these prisoners’ cases are detailed below:

1. Pakhshan Azizi, held in Evin Prison, is one of the women sentenced to death in political and security-related cases. She was arrested in Tehran on August 4, 2023, and in August 2024, Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Iman Afshari, sentenced her to death and four years in prison on the charge of “armed rebellion (baghi) through membership in groups opposed to the country.” Ms. Azizi’s death sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court in January 2025, and her requests for retrial have also been denied.
2. Arghavan Fallahi, another woman sentenced to death, is being held in Evin Prison. She was arrested in Tehran in February 2025, and her case was heard by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Abolghasem Salavati. Ms. Fallahi was sentenced to death on the charge of “armed rebellion (baghi) through membership in groups opposed to the government and armed action.” The sentence against her was upheld by the Supreme Court in August 2026.
3. Zahra Shahbaz Tabari, 68, who is held in Lakan Prison in Rasht, is another woman sentenced to death in a political and security-related case. She was arrested at her home in Rasht in April 2025. Ms. Shahbaz Tabari was initially sentenced to death by Branch 1 of the Rasht Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Ahmad Darvish-Goftar, but the Supreme Court overturned the sentence. Her case was subsequently referred for retrial to Branch 2 of the Rasht Revolutionary Court, presided over by Mohammad Ali Darvish-Goftar. On April 14, 2026, the court again sentenced her to death on the charge of “armed rebellion (baghi) through membership and activity in an opposition group.”
4. Maryam Hodavand, 45 and a mother of two, is being held in Evin Prison. She was arrested in connection with the events of January 8, 2026, in Pakdasht, in a joint case involving three other defendants. Their case was heard by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Iman Afshari. Ms. Hedavand has been sentenced to death on charges including “participation in the killing of two Basij members,” “deliberately setting fire to a religious site,” “destruction of public property,” and “assembly and collusion against national security.” According to the latest available information, the sentence against her remains at the trial-court stage.
5. Mahnaz Chardoli, held in Qarchak Prison in Varamin, was prosecuted in a case related to the January 2026 protests in Tehran. She and Mehdi Nazer were tried in a joint case before Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Abolghasem Salavati. The charges against her include “attacking a mosque with a Molotov cocktail,” “participating in gatherings,” and “assembly and collusion.” According to available information, Ms. Chardoli has received an initial death sentence, but the status of the sentence before the Supreme Court has not yet been determined.
6. Leila Abolhasani, approximately 43 years old and the mother of two teenage daughters, is being held in Dowlatabad Prison in Isfahan. She was arrested on January 8, 2026, during protests in Shahin Shahr, Isfahan. Branch 5 of the Isfahan Revolutionary Court, presided over by Vahid Hemmat-Nejad, sentenced her to death on the charge of “enmity against God” (moharebeh). Following an appeal by her attorney, the case was referred to the Supreme Court for appellate review. A source close to her family previously told HRANA that the charge against Ms. Abolhasani stems from her presence at and filming of the scene of a fire at a store, while judicial authorities have accused her of involvement in setting the fire.
7. Taraneh Rahimi, another woman sentenced to death in connection with the January 2026 protests, is imprisoned in Dowlatabad Prison in Isfahan. She was arrested along with a number of protesters in Isfahan, and her case was heard as part of a case known as the “Isfahan Shohada Square” case. Branch 1 of the Isfahan Revolutionary Court, with Judges Morteza Barati and Mohammadreza Tavakoli presiding, sentenced Ms. Rahimi and nine other defendants to death and 11 years in prison each. The charges in the case include “enmity against God (moharebeh) through carrying a bladed weapon,” “destruction of public property,” “assembly and collusion,” and “propaganda activity against the regime.” Her sentence remains at the trial-court stage.
8. Souda (Marzieh) Ebrahimi Shamsabadi, 32, who is held in Bandar Abbas Prison, is the only woman on this list whose death sentence was issued in a case related to security developments during the war. She was arrested on March 29 by Ministry of Intelligence agents and was subsequently tried before the Bandar Abbas Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Hajizadeh. Ms. Ebrahimi Shamsabadi was sentenced to death on the charge of “corruption on earth” (efsad-e fel-arz), as well as charges including “insulting the Supreme Leader,” “media and propaganda activities contrary to national security,” “intelligence and security activities on behalf of hostile governments,” and “photographing a military site and sending the images to Persian-language media outlets based outside Iran.” The sentence against her remains at the initial trial stage.

Bita Hemmati and Varisheh Moradi: Death Sentences Overturned, Cases Remain Unresolved Pending Retrial

In addition to the eight women who, according to the latest available information, continue to face death sentences, the cases of Bita Hemmati and Varisheh Moradi are also noteworthy because both were previously sentenced to death and their judicial proceedings remain ongoing. The Supreme Court overturned both prisoners’ death sentences and referred their cases to parallel branches for retrial; however, the final outcomes of their cases remain undetermined.

Varisheh Moradi, who has been in detention since August 2023, was sentenced to death in late November 2024 by the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Abolghasem Salavati, on the charge of “armed rebellion” (baghi). The Supreme Court overturned the sentence in late December 2025 and referred the case to a parallel branch for retrial. A retrial hearing in her case, which had been scheduled for July 2026 before Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, was canceled because Ms. Moradi did not appear. As of the time of this report, the final outcome of the retrial remains unknown.
Bita Hemmati, one of those arrested during the December 2025–January 2026 protests, was previously sentenced by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Iman Afshari, to death on the charge of “conducting operations on behalf of the hostile government of the United States and hostile groups,” and to five years in prison on the charge of “assembly and collusion against national security.” In June 2026, the Supreme Court overturned her death sentence and referred the case to a parallel branch for retrial. Ms. Hemmati, who was arrested in Tehran on January 9, 2026, is currently being held in the women’s ward of Evin Prison. HRANA’s investigations into the outcome of her retrial and her latest judicial status are ongoing.

Mohammad Kaabi Arrested by Security Forces

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, irgc, Mohammad Kaabi, Shush, محمد کعبی

HRANA – On Saturday, September 12, Mohammad Kaabi, a resident of Shush County, was arrested by IRGC Intelligence Organization forces and transferred to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, Mohammad Kaabi was arrested by security forces.

Based on information received by HRANA, on the afternoon of Saturday, September 12, Mr. Kaabi was arrested by IRGC Intelligence Organization forces and subsequently transferred to an undisclosed location.

As of the time of this report, no information has been obtained regarding the reasons for Mr. Kaabi’s arrest, his place of detention, or the charges brought against him.

Mohammad Kaabi, also known as “Abu Idris,” is a poet and cultural activist from Shush County.

Two Khuzestan Residents Arrested, Two Musicians Summoned Over Song

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Freedom of Expression, News
Aref Naseri, Hossein Ahvazi, HRANA, irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Mehdi Naseri, Mehdi Zaeri

HRANA – Mehdi Naseri and Aref Naseri, two residents of Khuzestan Province, were arrested by IRGC Intelligence forces. Hossein Ahvazi and Mehdi Zaeri, two musicians, were also summoned by the same security agency in connection with the production of a song. No information is currently available regarding the charges against the detained individuals or their whereabouts.

According to HRANA, on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, Mehdi Naseri was arrested by IRGC Intelligence agents in Ahvaz.

According to information received by HRANA, Naseri’s arrest was related to his cultural activities and the production and release of a song titled “From Karun to Olive” (“Az Karun ta Zeytun”).

A source familiar with the matter told HRANA that the work had previously received official authorization; however, its video was removed from online platforms after being released.

Subsequently, on Saturday, September 12, Aref Naseri, Mehdi Naseri’s cousin, was arrested by IRGC Intelligence agents in the Saadi district of Shadegan. Security forces also searched his home during the arrest.

Aref Naseri, also known as “Abu Nayef,” is a poet and host of a cultural program published online.

At the same time, Hossein Ahvazi and Mehdi Zaeri, two musicians who collaborated on the production of “From Karun to Olive,” were summoned by IRGC Intelligence. According to information received by HRANA, the summonses were also related to the production and release of the same work.

As of the time of this report, no precise information has been obtained regarding the specific reasons for the arrests, the charges brought against Mehdi Naseri and Aref Naseri, their legal status, or their place of detention. Further details regarding the summonses and the status of Hossein Ahvazi and Mehdi Zaeri are also unavailable.

January 2026 Protests: Erfan Haj Bonyan Dehaghani Sentenced to Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Erfan Haj Bonyan Dehaghani, HRANA, irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Isfahan

HRANA – Erfan Haj Bonyan Dehaghani, one of those arrested in connection with the January 2026 protests in Isfahan, was sentenced by the city’s Revolutionary Court to one year in prison. In the same case, he was also sentenced to 10 years in prison on non-political charges.

According to HRANA, Erfan Haj Bonyan Dehaghani has been sentenced to prison.

According to a ruling issued on August 11 by Branch 5 of the Isfahan Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Vahid Hemmat-Nejad as an advisory judge, Haj Bonyan Dehaghani was sentenced to one year in prison on the charge of “propaganda activity against the regime through participation in the January 8 gatherings, wearing distinctive clothing bearing writings against national interests, and activity on social media.”

He was also sentenced to 10 years in prison on non-political charges brought against him in the same case. These charges were brought following a search of his home and were based on claims by IRGC Intelligence agents that he possessed prohibited items (six grams of hallucinogenic mushrooms).

During his arrest and the search of his home, security forces confiscated many of his personal and valuable belongings, including digital devices, clothing, cash, and cryptocurrency-related assets.

He was arrested on March 6, 2026, and was released on bail on April 7, 2026.

Erfan Haj Bonyan Dehaghani, aged approximately 26, works in cryptocurrency trading, and resides in Isfahan.

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Zahra Naghshineh, Attorney Arrested in Tabriz

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Tabriz, Zahra Naghshineh, زهرا نقشینه

HRANA – Zahra Naghshineh, an attorney and member of the East Azerbaijan Bar Association, was arrested on Wednesday, September 9, after appearing before Branch 15 of the Tabriz Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office.

According to HRANA, Zahra Naghshineh, an attorney and member of the East Azerbaijan Bar Association, has been arrested.

According to information received by HRANA, on Wednesday, September 9, Naghshineh appeared before Branch 15 of the Tabriz Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office after receiving a summons. She was arrested after appearing before the judicial authority.

The summons issued to the attorney listed the charge against her as “lacking a criminal characterization.” A source close to Naghshineh confirmed the news to HRANA and said that her case was opened following a report by the Tabriz Ministry of Intelligence in connection with her activities and her legal and critical writings on various issues.

As of the time of this report, no information is available regarding Naghshineh’s place of detention or the possible charge or charges formally communicated to her after she appeared at the prosecutor’s office.

In addition to practicing law, Zahra Naghshineh has a history of professional association activities within the East Azerbaijan Bar Association. She previously served on the association’s Women’s Commission and was also active in the Secretariat for the Prevention of Violence Against Women.

Nasimeh Eslamzahi Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison

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News, Prisoners
Amanj Karvanchi, Arsalan Sheikhi, HRANA, Nasimeh Eslamzahi, نسیمه اسلام زهی

HRANA – Nasimeh Eslamzahi, a Sunni security-related prisoner held in Evin Prison, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

According to HRANA, Nasimeh Eslamzahi, a Sunni security-related defendant, has been sentenced to imprisonment.

According to a verdict issued by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Abolghasem Salavati, and communicated to Ms. Eslamzehi earlier this week, she was sentenced to 25 years in prison on the charge of “complicity in the crime of baghi (armed rebellion).” Her husband, Arsalan Sheikhi, and Amanj Karvanchi, another defendant in the case, had previously been sentenced to death on the charge of “baghi through membership in ISIS,” and their sentences were carried out.

A source familiar with the case confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “During the proceedings in her case, Nasimeh appeared at three court sessions before the aforementioned branch, presided over by Judge Salavati. She denied all the charges brought against her and emphasized that she had never been a member of or cooperated with any group.”

The source also addressed Ms. Eslamzahi’s access to legal representation, stating that various attorneys had sought to represent her during this period, but Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court refused to accept them, and proceedings in her case were conducted with a court-appointed attorney.

Previously, some state-affiliated media outlets had reported that Nasimeh Eslamzahi and two other defendants in the case had been sentenced to death, and this claim was also reflected in subsequent reports.

It should be noted that Ms. Eslamzahi had previously been sentenced to three years and six months in prison by a criminal court in another part of her case.

Nasimeh Eslamzahi was arrested along with her husband, Arsalan Sheikhi, in September 2023. During the prosecutorial stage, the couple were charged on suspicion of membership in the militant group ISIS. According to a source familiar with the case who spoke to HRANA, Ms. Eslamzehi was merely Arsalan Sheikhi’s wife and was present at their home when security forces arrived to arrest her husband; she was also arrested at the scene.

Nasimeh Eslamzahi is approximately 42 years old and is the mother of two daughters. Ayesha, the couple’s daughter, who was approximately two years old at the time of the arrests, was separated from her mother during the arrest, and the family was informed that the child had been transferred to the state welfare organization. After following up on the matter, Eslamzehi’s family succeeded in obtaining custody of Ayesha.

In late April 2024, Nasimeh Eslamzahi gave birth to her second child, Tasnim, in Evin Prison. The mother and newborn were held for 40 days in a solitary confinement cell under inadequate conditions, without proper ventilation or sufficient light, and were subsequently transferred to the quarantine ward.

Death-Row Political Prisoner Arghavan Fallahi’s Request for Retrial Rejected

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Executions, News, Prisoners
Arghavan Fallahi, Evin Prison, HRANA, ارغوان فلاحی

HRANA – The Supreme Court has rejected a request for retrial filed by Arghavan Fallahi, a political prisoner held in Evin Prison who had previously been sentenced to death.

According to HRANA, citing Emtedad, the Supreme Court rejected the request for retrial filed by Arghavan Fallahi, a political prisoner held in Evin Prison.

According to the report, Ms. Fallahi’s request for retrial, which had been filed with one of the branches of the Supreme Court, was rejected by the judicial authority this week.

In July of this year, the political prisoner was sentenced to death on the charge of “baghi” (armed rebellion) by Judge Abolghasem Salavati, head of Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court. In late August, her death sentence was upheld by Branch 41 of the Supreme Court.

Arghavan Fallahi, aged approximately 25, was arrested by security forces in late January 2025 and transferred to the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, known as Ward 209 of Evin Prison.

Following the Israeli attack on Evin Prison in June 2025, she was first transferred to the Greater Tehran Prison and later to Qarchak Prison in Varamin. She was subsequently transferred back to Evin Prison.

Previously, a source familiar with the political defendant’s situation told HRANA: “Following her arrest, Ms. Fallahi spent some time detained in Wards 209 and 241 of Evin Prison under the supervision of the Judiciary’s Intelligence Protection Organization. During this period, she was subjected to severe psychological torture, and attempts were made to extract forced confessions from her in connection with the assassination of two judges, Mohammad Moghiseh and Ali Razini.”

Ms. Fallahi had previously been arrested along with her father by security forces in November 2022 and was later transferred to Evin Prison. She was subsequently sentenced to two years in prison by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, on charges of “assembly and collusion” and “propaganda against the regime.” She was released from Evin Prison after completing her sentence.

Saba Sefidi, Baha’i Citizen, Arrested to Begin Prison Sentence

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News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i citizen, HRANA, Saba Sefidi, Tehran, صبا سفیدی

HRANA – Saba Sefidi, a Baha’i citizen residing in Tehran, was arrested on Thursday, September 10, to begin serving her three-year-and-five-month prison sentence and was transferred to Qarchak Prison in Varamin.

According to HRANA,on Thursday, September 10, 2026, Saba Sefidi, a Baha’i citizen, was arrested by security forces outside her home in Tehran.

According to information obtained by HRANA, following her arrest, Ms. Sefidi was initially taken to the Jannat Abad Prosecutor’s Office and was subsequently transferred to Qarchak Prison in Varamin to serve her sentence.

A source familiar with the Baha’i citizen’s situation told HRANA that Ms. Sefidi was arrested despite having previously been granted a two-month period to report to authorities to begin serving her prison sentence.

In December 2023, Branch 36 of the Tehran Province Court of Appeals sentenced Ms. Sefidi to three years and five months in prison on the charge of “membership in groups opposed to the regime.” On appeal, she was acquitted of the charge of “propaganda against the regime.”

At the initial trial stage, in November 2023, Ms. Sefidi had been sentenced to imprisonment by Branch 29 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Seyed Ali Mazloum.

On January 11, 2022, Ms. Sefidi was arrested after appearing before Branch 2 of the Evin Prosecutor’s Office. She was released from Evin Prison on February 23, 2022, after posting bail of 1.5 billion tomans.

Over the past decade, Iran’s Baha’i community has faced more security and judicial actions than any other religious minority in the country. A review of HRA’s annual reports shows that, over the past year, an average of 62.41% of reports concerning religious minorities involved violations of the rights of Baha’i citizens.

Hossein Afrasiab Sentenced to More Than Three Years and Nine Months in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Dastgerd Prison, Hossein Afrasiab, HRANA, Isfahan, حسین افراسیاب

HRANA – The judiciary sentenced Hossein Afrasiab, a detained citizen currently held in Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan, to three years, nine months, and twenty days in prison.

According to HRANA, Hossein Afrasiab has been sentenced to imprisonment.

A social media page attributed to the prisoner wrote: “Hossein Afrasiab was initially sentenced by the judiciary to five years and one month in prison. In the final ruling, his sentence was reduced to three years, nine months, and twenty days.”

Without providing further details, including the charges against the prisoner or the judicial authority that issued the sentence, the page stated that possession of satellite internet equipment (Starlink) was among the alleged grounds for the charges brought against Mr. Afrasiab.

On March 14, 2026, Hossein Afrasiab was arrested by security forces in Shahin Shahr and subsequently transferred to Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan.

HRANA’s inquiries regarding the judicial authority that issued the sentence and the details of this prisoner’s case remain ongoing.