Tag: Iman Afshari

Neda Fotoohi and Zohreh Sarv Face Fresh Charges in Prison

Posted on by . .
News, Prisoners
Iman Afshari, Mahsa Amini, Neda Fotoohi, Qarchak Prison, Zohreh Sarv, زهره سرو, ندا فتوحی

HRANA – Political prisoners Zohreh Sarv and Neda Fotoohi, held in Qarchak Varamin Prison, are now facing a new case filed against them at the Tehran Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office.

According to information received by HRANA, a recent power outage in Qarchak Prison led some inmates to chant protest slogans. In the aftermath, Branch 39 of the Tehran Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office opened a new case against Sarv and Fotoohi, accusing them of “insulting the Supreme Leader.”

In July of this year, Sarv’s six-year prison sentence was upheld in full after the Supreme Court approved her retrial request and the case was re-examined by another branch of the Revolutionary Court. Earlier, Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court had sentenced her to a total of seven years in prison on charges of “assembly and collusion” and “propaganda against the regime.” Under Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, six years of that sentence remain enforceable.

In October last year, Sarv’s request for conditional release was once again denied, despite the fact that, including her pre-trial detention, she had already served more than one-third of her sentence.

Zohreh Sarv, 39, and active on social media under the name “Mah Far”, was arrested by security forces in August 2022. She has previously faced arrest and conviction.

Neda Fotoohi was also tried by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Iman Afshari. She was sentenced to a total of six years and eight months in prison on charges including “propaganda against the regime,” “membership in the Erfan-e Halgheh group,” and “assembly and collusion against national security” through attending and encouraging others to attend protests related to Mahsa Amini and her anniversary. This political prisoner, a resident of Tehran, was arrested by security forces in October 2023.

Journalist Omid Faraghat Sentenced to 3 Months in Prison

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Iman Afshari, Karaj, Omid Faraghat

HRANA – Omid Faraghat, a journalist, has been sentenced to three months in prison by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court. In a separate ruling, Branch 3 of the Karaj Revolutionary Court acquitted him of other charges.

According to HRANA, Mr. Faraghat reported that Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, convicted him on the charge of propaganda against the regime and sentenced him to three months in prison. The charge was based on allegations of interviews with Persian-language media outlets based abroad, a claim he has denied.

At the same time, Branch 3 of the Karaj Revolutionary Court acquitted him of additional charges of propaganda against the regime and spreading falsehoods to disturb public opinion. The trial concerning these accusations took place on Monday, August 18.

The conviction that resulted in his prison sentence was issued following a separate hearing held on Sunday, July 13, in Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

Omid Faraghat, a journalist and political media activist residing in Karaj, has previously faced judicial proceedings in connection with his professional activities.

Singer Danial Moghaddam Sentenced to Prison and Additional Penalties

Posted on by . .
News, Prisoners
Danial Moghaddam, HRANA, Iman Afshari, Mohammad Hadi Jafarpoor, دانیال مقدم

HRANA – Danial Moghaddam, a dissident singer held in Evin Prison, has been sentenced by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court to eight months in prison along with additional penalties.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, Judge Iman Afshari of Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court issued the verdict against Moghaddam.

Based on information received by HRANA, the ruling was issued on August 9 and was recently delivered to Moghaddam. He has been sentenced to eight months in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime” and banned for two years from residing in Tehran Province and neighboring provinces, as well as from leaving the country.

A source familiar with the case told HRANA that Moghaddam’s charges stemmed from publishing posts on social media and sending photos to Persian-language media outlets abroad.

Earlier in late June, his lawyer, Mohammad Hadi Jafarpoor, announced that Moghaddam had been arrested after failing to post bail, following a detention order issued by Branch 3 of the Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office. Shortly afterward, Moghaddam published a video on his personal page referring to the dire conditions in Evin Prison during Israel’s airstrikes. In the video, he stated that due to the shockwaves and emergency situation, he unintentionally left the prison while in a state of confusion and lack of full awareness, and did not return. Moghaddam also cited reasons for his arrest, including support for the families of those killed in protests, calls for the release of political prisoners, and his presence outside Evin Prison to oppose executions.

On Tuesday, July 29, he was rearrested by security forces in Shiraz, transferred to the Greater Tehran Prison, and later returned to Evin.

Danial Moghaddam has previously been arrested and convicted due to his activism.

Hasti Amiri Sentenced to Prison, Fine, and Additional Punishments

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, Hasti Amiri, Iman Afshari, هستی امیری

HRANA – Hasti Amiri, a student at Allameh Tabataba’i University in Tehran, has been sentenced by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court to three years in prison, fines, and supplementary punishments.

This verdict was issued in absentia by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court and was notified to Amiri yesterday. Based on the ruling, she was sentenced to one year in prison for “propaganda against the regime,” and fined 3.3 million tomans for “appearing in public without mandatory hijab.” She was also sentenced to two years in prison and fined 50 million tomans for “spreading falsehoods with the intent to disturb public opinion.”

Judge Iman Afshari also imposed supplementary punishments, banning Amiri for two years from leaving the country and from membership in political and social groups.

On Saturday, April 26, 2025, Amiri was arrested after appearing at the Evin Courthouse and transferred to Evin Prison. She was released the following day after posting bail.

Hasti Amiri has previously been arrested and served prison time due to her activism.

New Case Filed in Prison: Mehdi Mahmoudian Summoned to Tehran Prosecutor’s Office

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
Greater Tehran Prison, HRANA, Iman Afshari, Mehdi Mahmoudian

HRANA – Mehdi Mahmoudian, a civil activist imprisoned in the Greater Tehran Prison, is facing a new legal case. He has been summoned to the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in Tehran after receiving a notice to defend himself against new charges.

A recent summons, issued by Branch 5 of the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office of District 31 (Media and Cyber Crimes) in Tehran, was delivered to Mr. Mahmoudian’s family. He has been asked to appear and respond to the charge of “spreading false information.”

Earlier this month, following Israel’s attack on Evin Prison, Mr. Mahmoudian was transferred to Greater Tehran Prison along with several other prisoners.

On February 3, 2025, he was arrested at the Enforcement Branch and sent to prison to serve his sentence.

Previously, Mahmoudian had been tried in Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari. He was sentenced to 8 months in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime,” along with two-year bans on party membership, smartphone use, and foreign travel.

Commenting on his sentence, Mahmoudian had written that “all of these punishments were imposed solely because I responded to a false report by a news outlet about the ‘eradication of bedbugs in prison,’ and wrote that they are ‘addicted to lying.’”

He had also previously faced prosecution for giving an interview about the difficulties Baha’is face in burying their deceased. In May of last year, he was arrested after appearing at the Prosecutor’s Office for Culture and Media and released a day later on bail.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Now is definitely not the time to stop reading!

Supreme Court Rejects Death-Row Political Prisoner Mehdi Hasani’s Retrial Request for the Fourth Time

Posted on by . .
Executions, News
Behrooz Ehsani, Behrouz Ehsani Eslamlou, HRANA, Iman Afshari, Mehdi Hasani

HRANA — The Supreme Court has, for the fourth time, rejected the retrial request of Mehdi Hasani, a political prisoner on death row currently held in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.

Amin Adel Ahmadian, Hasani’s defense attorney, announced the decision in a public statement, saying: “The Supreme Court rejected the retrial request without retrieving the original case file from the lower court and likely without reviewing the legal brief I submitted. I have also not yet been granted access to examine Mr. Hasani’s case file.”

This marks the fourth rejection of a retrial request for Hasani. The third was denied in April 2025, and the second earlier that same month. The first request was dismissed on February 24, 2024, by Branch 39 of the Supreme Court.

On January 26, 2025, Mehdi Hasani and fellow death row political prisoner Behrooz Ehsani Eslamlou were transferred from Evin Prison to Ghezel Hesar under the pretense of receiving medical care. The execution of their death sentences was subsequently paused after their retrial requests were registered and initially accepted by the Supreme Court.

In September 2024, both men were tried by Branch 26 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari. They were sentenced to death on charges including baghi (armed rebellion), moharebeh (waging war against God), efsad-e fel arz (corruption on earth), gathering classified information, and assembly and collusion against national security.

Alleged membership in the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) is among the central charges brought against them.

Mehdi Hasani, approximately 49 years old, is married and the father of two. He was arrested on September 9, 2022, while attempting to leave the country through Zanjan and was subsequently transferred to Evin Prison.

Appeals Court Upholds Sentences for Creators of My Favourite Cake

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
Behtash Sanaeeha, Iman Afshari, Maryam Moghaddam, My Favourite Cake

HRANA News Agency – The prison and financial penalties for Behtash Sanaeeha and Maryam Moghaddam, directors of the film My Favourite Cake, along with the film’s producer Gholamreza Mousavi, have been upheld in full by Branch 36 of the Tehran Appeals Court. In the initial ruling, the three were sentenced to a total of five years and four months in prison and ordered to pay monetary fines.

As per the ruling issued on May 27, 2025, the defendants were collectively sentenced to five years and four months in prison and fined 1.4 billion rials.

In the lower court ruling, issued by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, Behtash Sanaeeha and Maryam Moghaddam were each sentenced to 14 months in prison and fined 400 million rials for “propaganda against the regime through spreading falsehoods to disturb public opinion.” Their prison terms were suspended for five years. Additionally, Sanaeeha, Moghaddam, and Mousavi were each sentenced to one year in prison—also suspended for five years—and had their equipment confiscated for “collaboration in producing obscene content.”

Separately, Judge Iman Afshari convicted all three of “screening the film without a license,” ordering them to pay 200 million rials in fines and to forfeit all related equipment.

On March 1, 2025, a hearing for the three filmmakers, along with three other defendants—two actors and a cinematographer—was held in the same court.

The indictment for the filmmakers was issued in February 2025.

Despite My Favourite Cake receiving awards at international festivals—including the Silver Hugo at the Chicago International Film Festival—Sanaeeha and Moghaddam, who are also a married couple, were unable to attend due to a travel ban.

The film was produced without censorship or enforcement of the mandatory hijab for its female actors. It drew significant criticism from officials at the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance.

It’s worth noting that My Favourite Cake, a drama released in 2024, won the Silver Hugo at the Chicago International Film Festival and attracted public attention after its online release.

Political Prisoner Sayeh Seydal Hospitalized Amid Ongoing Hunger Strike

Posted on by . .
News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, Evin Prosecutor, Iman Afshari, Mahvash Seydal

HRANA News Agency – Mahvash (Sayeh) Seydal, a political prisoner held in Evin Prison, is now on the eighth day of her hunger and medication strike. Despite a serious decline in her health that led to her transfer to the hospital last night, she was returned to prison in poor physical condition.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, Sayeh Seydal continues her hunger and medication strike in Evin Prison for the eighth consecutive day.

On the night of June 1, Seydal was transferred from prison to a hospital due to worsening health. Medical tests revealed the presence of a hemorrhagic cyst. She refused to take prescribed medication and, despite her critical condition, was returned to prison.
Seydal began her hunger and medication strike on May 26, 2025, in protest against the lack of adequate medical care in prison.

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.

Mahvash Seydal Begins Hunger Strike in Evin Prison

Posted on by . .
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.

Iranian-British national Nasrin Roshan Released from Evin Prison

Posted on by . .
News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, Iman Afshari, Nasrin Roshan, نسرین روشن

HRANA News Agency – Today, May 20, dual Iranian-British national Nasrin Roshan was conditionally released from Evin Prison.

HRANA has learned that her release took place earlier today under conditional terms from Evin Prison.

Ms. Roshan had previously been tried by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari. She was sentenced to four years in prison for “assembly and collusion” and eight months for “propaganda against the regime.” Her total sentence was later reduced to three years after she accepted the verdict.

A source earlier told HRANA that the charges against Ms. Roshan, who had lived in the UK for many years, stemmed from her participation in overseas protests related to the death of Mahsa Amini.

Ms. Roshan, aged around 62, was transferred to the women’s ward of Evin Prison on January 1, 2024, after being held in Ward 209—the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility—for interrogation.

Security forces arrested her on November 16, 2023, at Imam Khomeini Airport while she was attempting to leave the country.

According to HRANA’s 2024 report, Iman Afshari, the presiding judge of Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, tops the list of human rights–violating judges in Iran, having issued at least 84 verdicts that constitute clear instances of human rights violations.