Tag: IRGC Intelligence

Civil Rights Activist Raheleh Rahemipour Sentenced to Over Four Years in Prison Following Retrial

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News, Prisoners
Evin, Evin Prison, irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Raheleh Rahemipour, راحله راحمی

HRANA News Agency – The prison sentence of Raheleh Rahemipour, a 72-year-old civil activist currently imprisoned in Evin Prison, has been reduced to four years and two months following the acceptance of her retrial request. The revised verdict was issued by Branch 21 of the Tehran Court of Appeals, lowering her initial sentence of five years and ten months.

According to HRANA, the news agency of the Human Rights Activists in Iran, the updated ruling was recently issued by Branch 21 of the Tehran Court of Appeals and formally communicated to her defense attorney yesterday. Under the new sentence, Rahemipour has been convicted of:

“Assembly and collusion against national security” – three years, six months, and ten days in prison
“Propaganda against the regime” – seven months and twenty days in prison

Based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, which mandates the enforcement of the most severe sentence in cases involving multiple charges, Rahemipour will serve three years, six months, and ten days behind bars.

Legal Background and Arrest History

Earlier, attorney Payam Dorfeshan had announced that Branch 9 of the Supreme Court had accepted Rahemipour’s request for a retrial and referred the case to an equivalent court for reconsideration.

Rahemipour was arrested in late November 2023 after appearing at the Evin Prosecutor’s Office and was subsequently transferred to Evin Prison to serve her sentence.

Her original conviction was handed down by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, which sentenced her to five years in prison for “assembly and collusion” and ten months in prison for “propaganda against the regime.” This ruling was issued following a trial held on June 16, 2020.

Rahemipour was previously arrested on November 12, 2019, by security forces in Tehran. She was subsequently transferred to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Intelligence Detention Center, known as Ward 2A of Evin Prison, before being temporarily released.

Given her advanced age, Rahemipour suffers from multiple health conditions and has been consistently denied access to essential medical care.

Marzieh Ghafari-Zadeh Remains in Legal Limbo Over a Month After Arrest

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, IRGC Intelligence, Marzieh Ghafari-Zadeh, مرضیه غفاری زاده

HRANA News Agency – More than a month after her arrest, Marzieh Ghafari-Zadeh, a Tehran resident, remains in Evin Prison with no clarity on her legal status.

A source close to her family told HRANA: “Ms. Ghafari-Zadeh was arrested by security forces on February 1 and transferred to Ward 1A, the IRGC Intelligence Detention Facility. After completing her interrogation, she was moved to the women’s ward of Evin Prison on February 18.”

The source added: “Bail was set for her release, but the case officer opposed it. She has been battling cancer for the past couple of years and is undergoing treatment. Given her condition, prolonged detention could seriously impact her health.”

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

Marzieh Ghafari-Zadeh, a former political prisoner from the 1980s, has spent over 25 years doing volunteer work in southern Tehran. She is an active member of the 13 Aban Cultural Association and has been dedicated to supporting pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children.

Iman Khedri Arrested in Masjed Soleyman

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Freedom of Expression, News
irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Khuzestan, Masjed-Soleyman

HRANA News Agency – On Monday, March 4, Iman Khedri, a resident of Masjed Soleyman, Khuzestan province, was arrested by IRGC Intelligence agents at his home and transferred to an undisclosed location.

According to information received by HRANA, IRGC Intelligence agents arrested Khedri at his residence in Masjed Soleyman. The arrest was carried out with violence, including beatings and the use of an electric shocker.

As of the time of this report, there is no information on his whereabouts or the charges against him.

Khedri has previously been arrested and faced security-related pressures due to his activities.

Azerbaijani-Turk Activist Saman Bidar Arrested by Security Forces in Ardabil

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Ethnic Minorities, News
Ardabil, irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Saman Bidar, سامان بیدار

HRANA News Agency – Saman Bidar, an Azerbaijani-Turk activist, was arrested by IRGC Intelligence agents in Ardabil on Saturday, March 1, and transferred to an undisclosed location.

Despite four days having passed since his arrest, his family’s efforts to obtain information from judicial and security authorities about his whereabouts and condition have been unsuccessful.

The reasons for his arrest and any charges against him remain unknown.

Saman Bidar has previously been arrested and sentenced due to his activism.

Dehdasht Protests: Judiciary Spokesperson Confirms Arrest of 12 Individuals

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News, Prisoners
Ahmad Noormohammadi, Alireza Parisayi, Amirhossein Jafari, Atefeh Tahernia, Dehdasht, Hamid Parisayi, Hossein Parisayi, irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Jaber Foroughi, Kamran Buzari, Pouria Barati, Reza Yeganeh, Shahram Nooranian, Shahriar Heshmat-Nasab

HRANA News Agency – The spokesperson for Iran’s Judiciary has confirmed the arrest of 12 citizens in Dehdasht, stating that they have been charged with “disrupting public order.” On the night of Tuesday, February 11, protests erupted in the city, during which several individuals were detained. HRANA had previously identified 12 of those arrested.

According to HRANA, quoting Entekhab, Judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir claimed that the arrests were related to a “local conflict between two clans” and reiterated that the detainees were charged with “disrupting public order in the city.”

Without disclosing their identities, Jahangir added that one of the detainees is a foreign national and that their cases are under investigation.

Protests and Heavy Security Presence

On the night of February 11, residents of Dehdasht staged a protest, chanting anti-government slogans in response to mounting economic and social grievances in the region. In the aftermath of the demonstration, authorities intensified security measures, leading to widespread arrests and a heavy security presence across the city.

HRANA has identified the 12 detainees as:

  • Shahram Nooranian
  • Shahriar Heshmat-Nasab
  • Reza Yeganeh
  • Hossein Parisayi
  • Alireza Parisayi
  • Hamid Parisayi
  • Ahmad Noormohammadi
  • Atefeh Tahernia
  • Amirhossein Jafari (17 years old)
  • Kamran Buzari (16 years old)
  • Jaber Foroughi
  • Pouria Barati

Among them, Ahmad Noormohammadi has been accused of leading the protests and is currently being held at the IRGC Intelligence detention facility.

Violent Arrests and Use of Force

According to HRANA’s sources, IRGC intelligence agents opened fire on the vehicle of Shahram Nooranian and Shahriar Heshmat-Nasab during their arrest in Tang Pirza, Kohgiluyeh County.

A source close to one of the detainees’ families told HRANA:

“Shahram and Shahriar were violently arrested and beaten. Their families have had no information about their whereabouts since their detention and are deeply concerned for their well-being.”

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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.