Tag: Iman Afshari

Report on the Latest Status of Akbar Bagheri in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj

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News, Prisoners
Akbar Bagheri, Ghezel Hesar, Iman Afshari

HRANA News Agency – Akbar Bagheri, a political detainee, remains in custody at Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj more than 177 days after his arrest, with his legal status still unresolved.

Based on information received by HRANA, Mr. Bagheri has been imprisoned for nearly six months. He remains in a state of legal uncertainty at Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj. His court hearing will be held on May 13, 2025, at Branch 26 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari. He is charged with “assembly and collusion to disrupt national security through cooperation with opposition groups.”

Bagheri was transferred from Evin Prison to Ghezel Hesar in mid-February 2024. He is currently held in Ward 4 of the facility.

Mr. Bagheri, who suffers from blood-related hemoglobin disorders, intestinal and liver issues, and hemorrhoids, was arrested by security forces in Tehran on November 10, 2023.

He was previously arrested in 2017 by security forces in Tehran and taken to Evin Prison. In the summer of 2018, Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Salavati, sentenced him to nine years in prison on charges of “propaganda against the regime” and “assembly and collusion.” This sentence was later upheld in the appeals court. Following the events at Evin Prison in October 2022, he was transferred along with several others to Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj. He was eventually released on May 8, 2023, under a general pardon directive.

Four Protesters Sentenced to Prison and Flogging

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Freedom of Expression, News
Alireza Barmarz Pournak, Alireza Kafaei, Amir-Mohammad Khosh Eghbal, Hossein Nemati, Iman Afshari, kbatan Complex, Masoud Vazifeh, Milad Armoun, Mojtaba Ebrahimi, Navid Najaran, Sina Maleki, Sohrab Hassan-Khani, Tehran

HRANA News Agency – Masoud Vazifeh, Sohrab Hassan-Khani, Sina Maleki, and Mojtaba Ebrahimi — political defendants — were sentenced by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court to a total of 9 years in prison, 184 lashes, and paying a fine. These individuals had previously staged a sit-in to protest death sentences issued against defendants in the so-called “Ekbatan Complex” case. They were later released after being arrested.

Based on the ruling issued by Iman Afshari, the presiding judge of Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court:

  1. Masoud Vazifeh was sentenced to one year in prison for “propaganda against the regime,” one year in prison and 74 lashes for “disturbing public order and peace,” and two years in prison plus a 50-million-toman fine for “spreading falsehoods.” He did not attend the court sessions, and the verdict was issued in absentia.

  2. Sohrab Hassan-Khani was sentenced to eight months in prison and 40 lashes for “disturbing public order and peace,” and two years in prison along with a 50-million-toman fine for “spreading falsehoods.”

  3. Sina Maleki was sentenced to six months in prison and 30 lashes for “disturbing public order and peace.” His sentence has been suspended for three years. During the suspension period, he is also banned from using a smartphone.

  4. Mojtaba Ebrahimi was sentenced to 14 months in prison and a 30-million-toman fine for “spreading falsehoods,” and eight months in prison and 40 lashes for “disturbing public order and peace” (with time served counted toward the sentence). His sentence has also been suspended for three years, and he is banned from using a smartphone during the suspension period.

Masoud Vazifeh was released from Evin Prison on bail on February 5, Mojtaba Ebrahimi on January 4, Sohrab Hassan-Khani on December 30, 2024, and Sina Maleki during the winter.

These individuals had been arrested by security forces in December 2024 after staging a sit-in to protest the death sentences in the “Ekbatan Complex” case. Following their arrest, they were transferred to The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, known as Ward 209 of Evin Prison.

Masoud Vazifeh has previously faced arrest and judicial action due to his activism.

It is worth noting that in November 2024, attorney Babak Paknia reported that death sentences had been issued for Milad Armoun, Alireza Kafaei, Amir Mohammad Khosh-Eghbal, Navid Najaran, Hossein Nemati, and Alireza Barmarz Pournak— all defendants in the “Ekbatan Complex” case. These sentences were issued by Branch 13 of the Tehran Criminal Court.

Gelareh Abbasi Sentenced to Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, Gelareh Abbasi, Iman Afshari, گلاره عباسی

HRANA News Agency – Gelareh Abbasi, a political defendant, has been sentenced to 51 months in prison by Branch 23 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, the court sentenced Abbasi to a total of four years and three months on charges of “assembly and collusion against national security” and “propaganda against the regime.”

Abbasi was arrested on February 16, 2025, at her home in western Tehran by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence and transferred to Evin Prison. She was released from Evin Prison on March 28, 2025, after posting a bail of one billion tomans.

Earlier, in a separate case, Abbasi had been sentenced by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, to two years and six months in prison for “assembly and collusion against national security.” After serving several months, she was released from Evin in February 2023.

Gelareh Abbasi, 48, is the mother of a young daughter and the head of her household.

Supreme Court Rejects Second Request for Retrial of Death Row Political Prisoner Mehdi Hassani

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Executions, News
Amin Adel Ahmadian, Behrooz Ehsani Eslamlou, Evin Prison, Iman Afshari, Mehdi Hasani, Mehdi Hassani

HRANA News Agency – Amin Adel Ahmadian, attorney at law, has announced that the Supreme Court of Iran has rejected the second request for retrial filed on behalf of Mehdi Hasani (Hassani), a political prisoner sentenced to death.

Ahmadian stated that the Supreme Court’s Branch 29 rejected the second retrial request without even requesting the case file from Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court. He also noted that no judicial body had allowed him access to the case documents.

Hassani’s first retrial request had previously been rejected by Branch 39 of the Supreme Court on February 24, 2024.

On January 26, 2025, Hassani and Behrooz Ehsani Eslamlou were transferred from Evin Prison to Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj under the pretext of receiving medical attention. Their executions were subsequently halted following the registration and temporary acceptance of their retrial requests by the Supreme Court.

In late September 2023, Mehdi Hassani and Behrouz Ehsani Eslamloo were tried in Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari. The court sentenced both men to death on charges including baghi (armed rebellion), moharebeh (enmity against God), spreading corruption on earth, gathering classified information, and collusion against national security. These verdicts were later upheld by Iran’s highest judicial authority and communicated to their lawyers.

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

Mehdi Hassani, aged about 47, is married and the father of two. He was arrested on September 9, 2022, while attempting to leave the country and was later transferred to Evin Prison.

Amirhossein Maghsoudlou (Tataloo) Sentenced to Death

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Executions, News
Amirhossein Maghsoudlou, Iman Afshari, Tataloo

HRANA News Agency – The spokesperson for Iran’s Judiciary has announced that Iranian singer Amirhossein Maghsoudlou, known as “Tataloo,” has been sentenced to death by Branch 6 of the Criminal Court One of Tehran Province. Previously, following an appeal by the Tehran Prosecutor, a five-year prison sentence issued in the same case was overturned by the Supreme Court, which then referred the case to a parallel court for retrial.

Judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir stated: “After the Supreme Court overturned Mr. Maghsoudlou’s five-year prison sentence, the case was referred to Branch 6 of the Criminal Court One of Tehran Province. This court has sentenced Amirhossein Maghsoudlou to death on the charge of ‘sabb al-nabi’ (insulting the Prophet). The verdict is currently under review by the Supreme Court.”

In December 2024, following an appeal by the Tehran Prosecutor, the initial five-year sentence—previously issued by Branch 9 of Tehran Province’s Criminal Court—was nullified by the Supreme Court.

Separately, in September-October 2024, Tataloo was sentenced to ten years in prison on charges of “promoting immorality and indecency” in another case. That ruling was upheld on appeal, and the case was sent to the enforcement branch. Hearings for this case were held between March 4 and May 7, 2024, in Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari.

Maghsoudlou was extradited from Turkey to Iran in December 2023 and was ultimately arrested in coordination with judicial authorities.

Previously, while living abroad, he was summoned to the Tehran Criminal Court following complaints by a number of victims of betting websites.

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Minoo Roozehdar Sentenced to Imprisonment and Fine

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, HRANA, Iman Afshari, IRGC Intelligence, Minoo Roozehdar

HRANA News Agency – Minoo Roozehdar , a Tehran resident, has been sentenced to 14 months in prison and paying a fine by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

Presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Ms. Roozehdar to 14 months in prison and a 30 million toman fine on charges including propaganda against the regime and spreading false information. Her prison sentence has been suspended for four years.

Minoo Roozehdar had been arrested by security forces on January 20, 2025, in Tehran and transferred to the IRGC Intelligence Detention Facility, known as Ward 1-A. After one week, she was moved to the women’s ward of Evin Prison. She was released on March 4, 2025, after posting bail.

Roozehdar is a Tehran resident and mother of three.

In 2024, the Department of Statistics and Publication of HRA reported a total of 84 cases where Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, issued verdicts that violated the human rights of defendants.

Mehdi Meskinnavaz Sentenced to Over 5 Years in Prison on Appeal

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News, Prisoners
Ali Sharifzadeh Ardakani, Bandar-Anzali, Iman Afshari, Mehdi Meskinnavaz, Meskin-Navaz

HRANA News Agency – The 10-year prison sentence of Mehdi Meskinnavaz (Meskin-Navaz), a political prisoner held in Bandar Anzali Prison, has been reduced to five years and six months following the acceptance of his retrial request and a new review by Branch 21 of the Tehran Province Court of Appeals.

On Sunday, April 13, 2025, his lawyer, Ali Sharifzadeh Ardakani, announced that with the Supreme Court accepting Meskinnavaz’s request for retrial and the case being referred to Branch 21 of the Appeals Court, his client’s sentence was reduced from 10 years to five years and six months.

In January 2025, the Supreme Court approved his retrial request, and the case was sent to an equivalent branch for reconsideration.

Meskinnavaz was arrested on September 7, 2024, to begin serving his sentence and was transferred to Bandar Anzali Prison.

In July 2023, in connection with a new case opened against him while in prison, he was sentenced by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, to 10 years in prison for “forming a group to disrupt national security,” and to 1 year for “propaganda against the regime.” He was also sentenced to two years of complementary punishment, including a ban on residing in Tehran Province and neighboring provinces, as well as a travel ban.

Mehdi Meskinnavaz, 46, is a resident of Bandar Anzali. He has a history of arrest and judicial sentencing due to his activism.

Filmmakers of “My Favourite Cake” Sentenced to Imprisonment and Fines

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Freedom of Expression, News
Behtash Sanaeeha, Gholamreza Mousavi, Iman Afshari, Maryam Moghaddam, My Favourite Cake

HRANA News Agency – Behtash Sanaeeha and Maryam Moghaddam, directors of the film My Favourite Cake, along with producer Gholamreza Mousavi, have been sentenced by Branch 26 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court to a total of five years and four months in prison and monetary fines. All prison sentences have been suspended for five years.

Sanaeeha and Moghaddam were each sentenced to 14 months of imprisonment and paying a fine for “propaganda against the regime through spreading falsehoods with the intent to disturb public opinion.” Their prison terms are suspended for five years.

In a separate charge, all three—Sanaeeha, Moghaddam, and Mousavi—were sentenced to one year of suspended imprisonment and ordered to forfeit related equipment for “participation in the production of obscene content.” Judge Iman Afshari also sentenced them to pay a fine each and ordered the confiscation of all remaining equipment for “screening the film without official permission.”

The court session for these three individuals, as well as three other defendants in the case—two actors and a cinematographer—was held on March 1, 2025.

Despite international recognition of My Favourite Cake, including the Silver Hugo at the Chicago International Film Festival, Sanaeeha and Moghaddam were unable to attend due to a travel ban imposed on them.

The film was produced without censorship and did not enforce the mandatory hijab for female actors, prompting sharp criticism from Iran’s Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance.

My Favourite Cake, a 2024 drama, received the Silver Hugo at the Chicago Film Festival and gained significant attention after being released online.

Critical Health Concerns Amid Medical Neglect of Political Prisoner Marziyeh Farsi in Evin Prison

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News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, HRANA, Iman Afshari, Marziyeh Farsi, مرضیه فارسی

HRANA News Agency – Marzieh Farsi, a political prisoner held in Evin Prison, has been denied access to specialized medical care and transfer to medical facilities despite her poor health condition.

A source close to her family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “Ms. Farsi suffers from heart disease, persistent dizziness, headaches, nausea, and severe physical weakness. She also had breast cancer in the past and underwent surgery. However, after her arrest and transfer to prison, she was not sent to a hospital for specialized medical examinations. This has worsened her physical condition, and her health is currently in a concerning state.”

On February 14, 2024, Farsi was sentenced to 15 years in prison by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court on suspicion of membership in opposition groups.

The specific charges cited by the judge for this sentence remain unclear. However, Iman Afshari, the presiding judge of Branch 26, has a history of issuing unfair verdicts against political activists. Her trial was held in absentia by the same court earlier in February.

On August 21, 2023, Farsi was arrested by security forces in Tehran. Shortly after, she informed her family in a phone call that she had been transferred to The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, known as Ward 209 of Evin Prison. She was later moved to the women’s ward of the same prison.

Marzieh Farsi has previously been arrested and imprisoned for her activism.

Political Prisoner Behfar Lalehzari Awaits Supreme Court Review of Retrial Request After 14 Months in Limbo

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News, Prisoners
Behfar Lalehzari, Evin Prison, HRANA, Iman Afshari

HRANA News Agency– Behfar Lalehzari, a political prisoner held in Evin Prison, has been waiting more than 14 months for the Supreme Court of Iran to review his retrial request. Despite repeated follow-ups, his case remains unresolved.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, the Supreme Court has yet to process Lalehzari’s retrial petition.

A source close to the prisoner’s family confirmed the prolonged delay, telling HRANA: “During a visit by a judicial official to Ward 4 of Evin Prison, Behfar Lalehzari raised his protest over the lack of progress on his retrial request pending in Branch 39 of the Supreme Court. The official responded by claiming the case file had been ‘lost’ and that the branch currently has no file to review.”

In protest, Lalehzari launched a hunger strike on February 11, 2025, demanding action on his case. He ended his strike in late March after prison authorities promised to address his demands.

Lalehzari first submitted his retrial request to the Supreme Court in February 2024. Despite suffering from multiple health conditions, he has filed nine requests for medical furlough to date—each denied by prison officials.

On September 18, 2023, security forces arrested Behfar Lalehzari at his home. After seven days in solitary confinement at the Security Police detention facility, he was transferred to Evin Prison.

Later, Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, sentenced him to four years in prison for “assembly and collusion against internal security” and one year for “propaganda against the regime,” totaling five years. The verdict was upheld by Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals.