Tag: IRGC Intelligence

Mohammad Sultani Arrested by IRGC Intelligence in Arak

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Mehrshad Shahidi, محمد سلطانی

HRANA News Agency – On Friday, February 21, Mohammad Sultani (Soltani), a resident of Arak, was arrested by IRGC Intelligence agents in the city. He is currently being held in one of the agency’s detention centers.

According to information obtained by HRANA, Sultani was detained by IRGC Intelligence agents on a street in Arak. A day after his arrest, he contacted his family by phone and informed them of his transfer to the agency’s detention facility.

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

Sultani had previously been arrested on August 5, 2023, after attending a memorial ceremony at the gravesite of Mehrshad Shahidi, one of those killed during the 2022 nationwide protests. Following his arrest by security forces in Arak, he was transferred to the city’s prison.

In September 2023, he and seven others were tried in a joint case by Branch 2 of the Arak Criminal Court. He was ultimately sentenced to six years in prison and 74 lashes.

On October 1, 2023, Sultani was released from Arak Prison on bail.

Four Months in Legal Limbo: Mohammad-Ali and Hoda Mehreganfar Denied Medical Care in Shiraz Prison

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News, Prisoners
Adelabad Prison, Fars Province, irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Zarghan

HRANA News Agency – Mohammad-Ali Mehreganfar and his daughter, Hoda Mehreganfar, political detainees from Zarghan in Fars Province, have been held in Adelabad Prison in Shiraz for over four months without due process. Despite suffering from serious health issues, both have been denied medical care and access to essential medication.

HRANA has learned that the father and daughter were arrested by security forces in Zarghan on October 22, 2024. They were held for 58 days in an IRGC Intelligence detention facility before being transferred to Adelabad Prison. Authorities have accused them of alleged ties to an opposition group, and they remain in custody without the possibility of release on bail.

A source close to the family confirmed to HRANA: “Hoda Mehreganfar had recently undergone gynecological surgery before her arrest. She received no medical care while in IRGC Intelligence detention, and now in Adelabad Prison, she is also being denied access to hospital treatment. Additionally, Mohammad-Ali Mehreganfar suffers from heart problems, and one of his eyes requires surgery, yet he has not received any medical attention.”

The source further stated: “Prison authorities have refused to provide Hoda Mehreganfar with her prescribed medications. The prison’s medical unit has informed her that she must personally cover the cost and arrange for the medicine to be brought from outside. However, she has no one outside prison to handle her medical needs.”

Mohammad-Ali Mehreganfar, 66, is a former political prisoner from the 1980s. His daughter, Hoda Mehreganfar, 38, is an electronics engineer. Both are residents of Zarghan, Fars Province.

Report on the Arrest of Christian Convert Somayeh Rajabi in Babol

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News, Religious Minorities
Babol, HRANA, IRGC Intelligence, Sari, Somayeh Rajabi

HRANA News Agency – On the evening of Thursday, February 6, 2025, security forces raided a gathering of dozens of Christian converts in Gatab, a town in Babol County, and arrested Somayeh Rajabi, a Christian convert, transferring her to prison.

According to HRANA, citing Mohabat News, agents from the IRGC Intelligence in Babol stormed the gathering, where around 80 Christian converts were present.

Rajabi was arrested during the raid and, one day later, informed her family in a brief phone call that she had been transferred to a prison in Sari.

Reports indicate that security forces treated the attendees harshly and confiscated all religious books, musical instruments, and digital devices.

No information is currently available regarding the charges against Rajabi.

Notably, while Christianity is officially recognized as a minority religion in Iran, security agencies view the conversion of Muslims to Christianity as a highly sensitive matter and respond with severe crackdowns on those involved in religious activism.

The persecution of Christian converts in Iran persists despite Article 18 of both the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which affirm every individual’s right to freedom of religion, including the right to change their faith and to practice it openly or privately, alone or in community with others.

Minoo Roozehdar Still in Limbo 25 Days After Arrest

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News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Minou Roozehdar, مینو روزه دار

HRANA News Agency – Minoo Roozehdar, a Tehran resident, remains in legal uncertainty in the women’s ward of Evin Prison, 25 days after her arrest. She was recently charged at Evin Prosecutor’s Office.

A source close to her family told HRANA: “She was recently charged at Branch 5 of Evin Prosecutor’s Office with ‘propaganda against the regime’ and ‘insulting the Supreme Leader and the founder of the Islamic Republic.’”

Roozehdar was arrested on January 20, 2025, by security forces in Tehran and taken to the IRGC Intelligence Detention Facility, known as Ward 1-A. After a week, she was transferred to the women’s ward of Evin Prison.

Roozehdar is a mother of three and remains in detention without clarity on the next steps in her case.

A Supporter of Erfan-e Halgheh Arrested by IRGC Intelligence in Isfahan

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Freedom of Expression, News
Erfan-e-Halgheh, HRANA, irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Isfahan

HRANA News Agency – IRGC Intelligence has announced the arrest of a supporter of Erfan-e Halgheh in Isfahan.

According to HRANA, citing Fars News Agency, the Sahib al-Zaman IRGC Intelligence Organization in Isfahan issued a statement confirming the arrest, referring to the individual as the “main leader” of Erfan-e Halgheh (Interuniversal Mysticism). The statement claimed that the arrest was carried out under Article 500 Bis of the Islamic Penal Code.

The statement further alleged that Erfan-e Halgheh is a “deviant sect” that, under the pretense of energy healing and addressing mental health issues, interferes in medical matters, misguides people’s beliefs, and illegitimately profits from its activities.

The report does not provide any details regarding the identity, location of detention, or specific charges against the arrested individual.

The Iranian government classifies Erfan-e-Halgheh as a “deviant and anti-religious movement” and has taken strict judicial and security actions against its founder and followers. Participants in the movement have faced severe punishments, including imprisonment, fines, and flogging.

International human rights organizations have condemned these actions as violations of the right to freedom of belief and expression. They have repeatedly urged the Iranian government to cease such repressive measures and respect religious and ideological freedoms.

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Report on the Latest Situation of Ehsan Meshksar in Adel Abad Prison, Shiraz

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News, Prisoners
Adelabad Prison, Ehsan Meshksar, HRANA, irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Shiraz, احسان مشکسار

HRANA News Agency – The Supreme Court has rejected the retrial request of Ehsan Meshksar, a political prisoner held in Adelabad Prison, Shiraz.

A source familiar with the case informed HRANA that Meshksar suffers from a gastrointestinal illness and requires specialized medical care, raising concerns about his health behind bars.

Meshksar was arrested on October 28, 2023, by IRGC intelligence agents at his home in Sadra, Shiraz. He was later transferred to Adelabad Prison.

In June 2024, the Revolutionary Court sentenced him to 10 years in prison on charges including “membership in illegal groups with the intent to disrupt national security.” The Fars Province Court of Appeals subsequently upheld the verdict in full.

Ehsan Meshksar, 37, is married, a father to a 13-year-old child, and a resident of Shiraz.

Mazdak Maleki Sentenced to Prison and Additional Punishments

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Dastgerd Prison, irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Isfahan, Mazdak Maleki

HRANA News Agency – Mazdak Maleki, a political prisoner held in Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan, has been sentenced by Branch 1 of the Isfahan Revolutionary Court to five years in prison, along with a two-year travel ban and a two-year prohibition from online activities. Three and a half years of his prison sentence have been suspended.

A source familiar with Maleki’s case told HRANA: “According to the verdict issued by Branch 1 of the Isfahan Revolutionary Court on January 10, 2025, and officially communicated to him, he was sentenced to five years in prison for ‘propaganda against the regime’ and ‘membership in a group with the intent to disrupt national security.’ As additional punishments, he was also given a two-year travel ban and a two-year prohibition from online activities. His alleged crimes were based on his activity on the social media platform ‘Clubhouse’.”

The source added: “Three and a half years of his prison sentence have been suspended, and five months have been deducted from his sentence due to his acceptance of the court ruling. Furthermore, Maleki has been denied the right to a lawyer, and his confiscated belongings have yet to be returned to his family.”

He was initially arrested on August 27, 2024, in Isfahan by IRGC intelligence forces. On October 23, after completing his interrogation, he was transferred to Dastgerd Prison. His preliminary hearing was held in November at Branch 11 of the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in Isfahan.

Mazdak Maleki, 38, is an electrical engineer from Isfahan who has been involved in solar energy and environmental issues.

Student Soroush Nourbakhsh Arrested by IRGC Intelligence

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Freedom of Expression, News, Students
irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Mahabad, Soroush Nourbakhsh

HRANA News Agency – On Saturday, February 1, Soroush Nourbakhsh, a student at the University of Tehran, was arrested by security forces after being summoned to the IRGC Intelligence Office in Mahabad, according to Kolbar News.

According to the report, Mr. Nourbakhsh was detained after being summoned to the IRGC Intelligence Office in the city. His family’s attempts to obtain information about his condition have so far been unsuccessful.

Nourbakhsh, 25 years old, is a native of Mahabad, and a music student at Tehran University of Arts.

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

Several Members of a Religious Group Arrested in Javanrud

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News, Other, Religious Minorities
irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Javanrud, Kermanshah

HRANA News Agency – The Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor of Javanrud has announced the arrest of several members of a religious group in northwestern Kermanshah by security forces in the province.

According to IRNA, the Javanrud prosecutor, without revealing the identities or charges of the detainees, described them as members of a “widespread Salafi-Takfiri network.” The report provides no details on the number of those arrested or their whereabouts.

Notably, in recent weeks, IRGC Intelligence forces carried out two separate operations in Kermanshah, leading to the arrest of members of another religious group.

Appeals Court Upholds 10-Year Prison Sentence and Additional Punishments for Reza Valizadeh

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Ministry of Intelligence, Reza Valizadeh

HRANA News Agency – The Tehran Court of Appeals has upheld the 10-year prison sentence and additional punishments for Reza Valizadeh, a journalist currently imprisoned in Evin Prison.

He was previously convicted by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court and sentenced to 10 years in prison, a travel ban, a ban on residing in Tehran and neighboring provinces, and a two-year prohibition on membership in political and social groups.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, the Appeals Court confirmed all aspects of the initial verdict against Reza Valizadeh.

His lawyer, Mohammad-Hossein Aghasi, stated:

“Today, I visited Abdolreza Valizadeh to show him the appeal rejection. I had previously said that the court’s standard procedure is to uphold the original ruling, but perhaps a retrial could finally open the blindfolded eyes of justice.”

In December 2024, Judge Iman Afshari of Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Reza Valizadeh to 10 years in prison on charges of “collaboration with a hostile government (the U.S.)”. Additionally, he was banned from leaving the country, prohibited from residing in Tehran and neighboring provinces, and barred from joining political or social groups for two years.

Background on Reza Valizadeh’s Arrest

  • After living abroad for several years, Reza Valizadeh returned to Iran in March 2023. Upon arrival, he was interrogated by IRGC intelligence and the Ministry of Intelligence, released after signing a commitment, and allowed to remain free.
  • However, a few months later, in early October 2023, he was arrested by security forces and transferred to Evin Prison.
  • According to Voice of America (VOA), he was detained in Ward 209 of Evin Prison, controlled by the Ministry of Intelligence, and denied family visits.

Before emigrating, Reza Valizadeh was previously arrested in 2007 but later released on bail. He reportedly holds dual citizenship and has worked with various media outlets, including Radio France, Voice of America (VOA), Radio Farda, and the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB).