Tag: Isfahan

Sepehr Amirzadeh, Detained During January Protests, Sentenced to Death

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Executions, News
Dastgerd Prison, HRANA, Isfahan, moharebeh, Sepehr Amirzadeh, سپهر امیرزاده

HRANA – Sepehr Amirzadeh, one of those arrested during the January 2026 protests and currently held in Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan, has been sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court on the charge of “moharebeh” (enmity against God).

According to HRANA, Sepehr Amirzadeh, who was arrested during the January 2026 protests, has been sentenced to death.

Based on information received by HRANA, Mr. Amirzadeh was sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court on the charge of “moharebeh” (enmity against God). His case is currently under review by the Supreme Court.

Mr. Amirzadeh was arrested by security forces at his home in Isfahan on January 13, 2026, in connection with nationwide protests. After undergoing interrogation, he was transferred to Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan, where he remains incarcerated.

HRANA’s investigation into the details of the case, including the specific acts underlying the charge brought against him, is ongoing.

Sepehr Amirzadeh, aged approximately 23, is originally from Ramhormoz, Khuzestan Province. He is an instructor and musician who plays the ney-anban, a traditional Iranian bagpipe, and resides in Isfahan.

Nasrin Kabiri Serving 10-Year Prison Sentence in Isfahan

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News, Prisoners
Dowlatabad Prison, HRANA, Isfahan, Nasrin Kabiri, Zahra Kabiri

HRANA – Nasrin (Zahra) Kabiri, a political prisoner, is currently serving her prison sentence in Dowlatabad Prison in Isfahan. Last year, she was sentenced by the judiciary to 10 years in prison.

According to HRANA, Nasrin Kabiri is currently incarcerated in Dowlatabad Prison in Isfahan.

Based on information received by HRANA, Ms. Kabiri is serving her 10-year prison sentence in Ward 2 for convicted prisoners at Dowlatabad Prison in Isfahan. Last year, the judiciary sentenced her to 10 years in prison on the charge of “espionage for Israel.”

An informed source close to the family of the political prisoner confirmed the matter to HRANA and said: “Ms. Kabiri, who is the mother of two young children, has not been granted furlough to date, despite having served approximately one year of her sentence.”

At the time of this report, no information has been obtained regarding the specific acts underlying the charge of “espionage for Israel,” on the basis of which Ms. Kabiri was handed a lengthy prison sentence. HRANA’s efforts to obtain further information in this regard are ongoing.

Ms. Kabiri was arrested by security forces in Isfahan in July 2025, in connection with the 12-day war.

Nasrin (Zahra) Kabiri is a resident of Isfahan and the mother of two children, approximately six and eight years old.

One Prisoner Executed in Isfahan Prison; Number of Executions in Zanjan Prison Rises to Two

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Executions, News
Aref Karimian, Dastgerd Prison, HRANA, Isfahan, Payam Pakzad, Zanjan Prison

HRANA – The death sentence of a prisoner who had previously been sentenced to death on a murder charge was carried out on Tuesday, August 11, at Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan. Additionally, with confirmation of the execution of another prisoner convicted of murder, the number of prisoners executed at Zanjan Prison on Saturday, August 8, has risen to two.

According to HRANA, citing Iran Human Rights Organization, the death sentence of a prisoner was carried out at Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan on the morning of Tuesday, August 11, 2026.

The prisoner has been identified as Aref Karimian, 38, a resident of Khomeini Shahr and father of one child.

According to the report, Mr. Karimian was arrested four years ago on a murder charge involving an honor-related motive and was subsequently sentenced to death by a judicial authority.

Number of Prisoners Executed at Zanjan Prison Rises to Two

According to another report by Iran Human Rights Organization, another prisoner was executed at Zanjan Prison on the morning of Saturday, August 8, 2026.

The prisoner has been identified as Payam Pakzad, 41, a native of Bojnurd, father of four children, and resident of the Shahrak-e Shohada neighborhood in Zanjan.

According to the report, Mr. Pakzad, who worked as a construction worker, became involved in an altercation with another person three years ago while working on a construction project. Following the altercation, which resulted in the other person’s death, he was arrested on a murder charge and subsequently sentenced to death by a judicial authority.

The execution of another prisoner, Yousef Bagheri, which was carried out at the same prison on the same day, had previously been reported.

As of the time of this report, the executions of these prisoners have not been officially announced by prison authorities or other relevant institutions.

According to HRA’s Annual Report, in 2025 at least 2,063 citizens, including 61 women and 2 juvenile offenders, were executed. Of these, the sentences of 11 individuals were carried out in public. During the same period, 172 other individuals were sentenced to death.

Mahshad Keshani Arrested by Security Forces in Isfahan

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Isfahan, Mahshad Keshani, مهشاد کشانی

HRANA – Mahshad Keshani, who was previously arrested during the January 2026 protests, was arrested again by security forces in Isfahan on the morning of Monday, August 3, and taken to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, Mahshad Keshani has been arrested.

According to information received by HRANA, at around 7:00 a.m. on Monday, August 3, three plainclothes men and one plainclothes woman went to Ms. Keshani’s family home in Isfahan. After arresting her, they took her away without identifying the agency responsible for the arrest. According to her family, the officers stated that the arrest was related to a new judicial case against her.

A source close to her family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “Ms. Keshani is facing charges in this new case including inciting people to wage war with the intent to disrupt national security, and disrupting public order and peace.”

The source further added: “Mahshad Keshani was first arrested on December 31, 2025, during the nationwide protests in Isfahan. At the same time that this new case was opened, she was transferred to Dolatabad Prison in Isfahan to serve a previous prison sentence. She was ultimately released in July 2026, after completing that sentence and posting bail in the case related to the protests.”

As of the time of this report, there is no information regarding her whereabouts or condition, and she has not been permitted to contact her family.

In 2024, in a joint case involving 21 other political defendants, Mahshad Keshani was sentenced by Branch 1 of the Isfahan Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Mohammad Tavakkoli, to a total of six years in prison on charges of membership in groups or organizations with the intent to disrupt national security and propaganda against the state. Under Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, five years of the sentence became enforceable, although four years and six months of that term was suspended for 10 years. She was also sentenced to a two-year travel ban and a two-year ban on online activities.

Mahshad Keshani had previously been arrested by security forces on July 11, 2023, and was released some time later on bail.

Isfahan: Abolfazl Sepahi and Amirhossein Safari Publicly Executed

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Executions, News
Abolfazl Sepahi, Alikhani Square case, Amirhossein Safari, HRANA, Isfahan, moharebeh

HRANA – Abolfazl Sepahi and Amirhossein Safari, two individuals arrested during the nationwide protests of January 2026, were publicly executed today, July 28, 2026, in Alikhani Square in Isfahan. They had been sentenced to death in the case known as the “Isfahan Alikhani Square” case. Erfan Esfandiari and Gol-Mohammad Mohammadi, two other defendants in the same case, were executed several days earlier.

According to HRANA, the death sentences of Abolfazl Sepahi Badjani and Amirhossein Safari Hosseinabadi, both arrested during the January 2026 protests in Isfahan, were carried out.

Based on information received by HRANA, the executions were carried out at dawn today, Tuesday, July 28, 2026, in Alikhani Square in Isfahan. A knowledgeable source confirmed the news to HRANA, stating:

“The bodies of those executed have not yet been returned to their families. Meanwhile, the families of the other defendants in this case are gathered outside Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan, expressing concern that the death sentences against their children and relatives may also be carried out.”

The Judiciary’s Media Center has claimed that during the protests on January 8, 2026, in Alikhani Square, Isfahan, four law enforcement officers were killed. It further alleged that a number of protesters attacked security forces using firearms, bladed weapons, and incendiary materials, while also damaging public property. The judiciary additionally claimed that, following the attack on law enforcement personnel, the defendants committed violent acts, including setting fire to the bodies of those who had been killed.

According to the Judiciary’s Media Center, Abolfazl Sepahi Badjani and Amirhossein Safari Hosseinabadi were sentenced to death on charges including “membership in rebel groups acting against national security, moharebeh (enmity against God), spreading corruption on earth, destruction and arson of public property,” along with other related charges. The judiciary further claimed that after the verdicts were issued, the case was reviewed by the Supreme Court, which upheld the sentences, and that the executions were carried out following the completion of legal procedures.

However, HRANA has not been able to independently verify the claims made by the Judiciary’s Media Center.

According to information received by HRANA, the judicial proceedings in this case were marked by significant restrictions, including the defense lawyer’s lack of effective access to the case file, court hearings conducted via videoconference, families being denied information about the contents of the verdicts, and the court’s failure to consider defense evidence. Given the well-documented record of the Islamic Republic’s security and judicial institutions in relying on forced confessions, torture, and other forms of ill-treatment in security-related cases, serious concerns remain regarding compliance with fair trial standards and the defendants’ rights.

HRANA had previously reported that the proceedings against Alireza Sepahi and Abolfazl Sepahi were also marred by procedural shortcomings, including ineffective access to the case file by defense counsel, the inability to obtain a copy of the court’s ruling, hearings conducted via videoconference, and the court’s disregard for defense evidence. According to a source close to the family, they also remain uninformed about the details of the charges, the evidence relied upon by the court, and the full contents of the verdicts.

Erfan Esfandiari and Gol-Mohammad Mohammadi, two other individuals sentenced to death in the so-called “Isfahan Alikhani Square” case, were executed in Isfahan on July 19, 2026.

In the initial trial, 15 defendants were sentenced to death. According to information provided by the defense lawyer, the death sentence of one defendant was overturned by the higher judicial authority, while the death sentences of the remaining 14 defendants were upheld.

The identities of 12 of those sentenced to death have been identified as:
Alireza Sepahi, Abolfazl Sepahi, Erfan Esfandiari, Gol-Mohammad Mohammadi, Amirhossein Safari, Ghaem Hosseini, Shervin Bagherian, Amirhossein Maleki, Ali Dashti, Abolfazl Ebrahimi, Alireza Raisi, and Amirhossein Ebrahimi Analoucheh.

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January 2026 Protests:Execution of Erfan Esfandiari and Gol-Mohammad Mohammadi

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Executions, News
Dastgerd Prison, Erfan Esfandiari, Gol-Mohammad Mohammadi, HRANA, Isfahan, January 2026 Protests

HRANA – The Iranian Judiciary’s Media Center has announced the execution of Erfan Esfandiari and Gol-Mohammad Mohammadi, two individuals arrested during the January 2026 protests in Isfahan. The two had been tried in a case referred to as the “Alikhani Square case” and sentenced to death.

According to HRANA, citing Mizan, the executions of Erfan Esfandiari and Gol-Mohammad Mohammadi, both detained during the January 2026 protests in Isfahan, were carried out at dawn on Sunday, July 19, 2026.

The Judiciary’s Media Center claimed that during the protests on January 8, 2026, in Alikhani Square in Isfahan, four law enforcement officers were killed. It further alleged that a number of protesters attacked police forces using firearms, bladed weapons, and incendiary materials, while also damaging public property and facilities. The judiciary additionally claimed that, after attacking the officers, the defendants committed acts of violence, including setting the victims’ bodies on fire, mutilating them, and filming the scenes.

However, HRANA has not been able to independently verify these allegations. Moreover, no official or transparent information has been released regarding the judicial proceedings, including the defendants’ access to legal counsel of their own choosing, the conduct of the trial the evidence presented before the court, or their ability to mount an effective defense. Given the documented record of the Islamic Republic’s security and judicial authorities in relying on forced confessions, torture, and other forms of ill-treatment in security-related cases, there are serious concerns regarding compliance with fair trial standards and the defendants’ rights in this case.

The Judiciary’s Media Center stated that death sentences had been issued for several defendants in this case and that the sentences of two of them were carried out at dawn today.

Yesterday, Voice of America (VOA) claimed that Erfan Esfandiari and Gol-Mohammad Mohammadi, along with ten other death row prisoners, had been transferred from the general ward of Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan to solitary confinement. VOA also reported that 59 individuals were tried in connection with the case, 12 of whom were sentenced to death. According to VOA, the identities of the remaining ten death row prisoners are: Alireza Sepahi, Abolfazl Sepahi, Ghaem Hosseini, Shervin Bagherian, Amirhossein Safari, Amirhossein Maleki, Ali Dashti, Abolfazl Ebrahimi, Alireza Raisi, and Amirhossein Ebrahimi Analoucheh. The report further stated that Erfan Esfandiari and Gol-Mohammad Mohammadi were 18 and 23 years old, respectively.

HRANA has not yet been able to independently verify the information published by VOA regarding the identities of those sentenced to death, the total number of defendants, their ages, or other details of the case. HRANA is continuing to investigate and verify additional information. Further reports will be published if independent and reliable information becomes available.

It should be noted that protests and strikes by shopkeepers and bazaar merchants began in Tehran on Sunday, December 28, 2025, and within two days spread beyond markets and commercial centers. With the participation of students, citizens, and various social groups, these protests became one of the largest protest movements of recent years. Following the crackdown by security and law enforcement forces, thousands were killed or injured, and tens of thousands were arrested or summoned by security agencies. For more information, readers may refer to HRANA’s comprehensive report titled “Crimson Winter,” documenting the first fifty days following the outbreak of Iran’s nationwide protests.

January 2026 Protests: Mohammad Amini Dehaqani Executed in Isfahan

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Executions, News
Dehaqan, Isfahan, January 2026 Protests, Mohammad Amini Dehaqani, محمد امین دهاقانی

HRANA – The death sentence of Mohammad Amini Dehaqani, one of those arrested during the nationwide protests of January 2026, was carried out this morning, July 15, 2026, in Isfahan. The Judiciary’s Media Center claimed that he had been sentenced to death in connection with a case involving the arson of the Dehaqan Governor’s Office and the destruction of public property in Imam Hossein Square and the city’s police station.

According to HRANA, citing Mizan News Agency, Mohammad Amini Dehaqani, one of the detainees arrested during the nationwide protests of January 2026, was executed in Isfahan.

The Judiciary’s Media Center announced that the execution was carried out at dawn today after judicial proceedings had been completed and the final verdict had been upheld by the Supreme Court.

According to the Judiciary’s claims, the protester was arrested during the demonstrations on January 9, 2026, and was tried and sentenced to death on charges of “setting fire to the Dehaqan Governor’s Office and police station by throwing Molotov cocktails, and destroying public property in Imam Hossein Square in the city.”

The report does not specify the prison where the execution was carried out.

It should be noted that protests and strikes by shopkeepers and bazaar merchants began in Tehran on Sunday, December 28, 2025, and within two days spread beyond markets and commercial centers. With the participation of students, citizens, and various social groups, these protests became one of the largest protest movements of recent years. Following the crackdown by security and law enforcement forces, thousands were killed or injured, and tens of thousands were arrested or summoned by security agencies. For more information, readers may refer to HRANA’s comprehensive report titled “Crimson Winter,” documenting the first fifty days following the outbreak of Iran’s nationwide protests.

Report on Political Prisoner Abdolrasoul Mortazavi’s Situation in Dastgerd Prison

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News, Prisoners
Abdolrasoul Mortazavi, Dastgerd Prison, HRANA, Isfahan

HRANA – Political prisoner Abdolrasoul Mortazavi is serving his sentence in Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan. He has been sentenced to more than 30 years in prison in several separate cases and is currently serving his longest executable sentence of 11 years’ imprisonment.

According to HRANA, Abdolrasoul Mortazavi is currently serving his sentence in Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan.

A source close to the family of the political prisoner told HRANA that Mr. Mortazavi is a veteran of the Iran-Iraq War and, due to his injuries, is required to use a prosthetic leg. The source added: “In addition to the difficult prison conditions Mr. Mortazavi faces, on March 1, 2026, he was taken out of prison and transferred to one of the intelligence detention cells within the prison for a period of 40 days. Prison authorities claimed that the transfer was a preventive measure.”

The source further stated that after returning from the detention facility, Mr. Mortazavi released an audio file in which he reported acts of violence against detainees in the detention facility.

In August 2019, a letter signed by 14 civil activists calling for the resignation of Ayatollah Khamenei was published. Following the publication of the letter, several of its signatories, including Abdolrasoul Mortazavi, were arrested. In connection with this case, Mr. Mortazavi was sentenced by the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad to 26 years in prison. In another part of the same case, he was sentenced by a criminal court to two years’ imprisonment on charges of disturbing public opinion. Of these sentences, 11 years as the severest punishment is enforceable, and he is currently serving this sentence in Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan.

In June 2021, in a case opened against him while he was in prison, Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced him in absentia to two years’ imprisonment. The sentence, issued on charges of “propaganda against the regime” and “disrupting public order,” was later reduced to eight months in prison on appeal.

Additionally, in 2022, in another case opened against him during his imprisonment, the Revolutionary Court of Karaj sentenced him to two years in prison on charges of insulting the Supreme Leader.

Abdolrasoul Mortazavi, a veteran of the Iran-Iraq War who had also been sentenced to imprisonment in another case in 2017, was arrested in Mashhad in 2019 and has remained in prison ever since.

Following his arrest, Mr. Mortazavi was initially transferred to Evin Prison to serve his sentence. He was subsequently transferred to Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj in April 2021 and finally to Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan in July 2022.

Three Prisoners Executed in Isfahan Prison

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Executions, News
Citizen executed, Dastgerd Prison, Fariborz Jafari, Hamidreza Afsharipour, HRANA, Isfahan

HRANA – On June 15, authorities at Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan executed three prisoners on charges of murder and drug-related offenses.

HRANA has identified one of the prisoners as Mohammadreza Gashoul. According to information received by HRANA, he had previously been arrested on a murder charge and was sentenced to death by a criminal court.

The Iran Human Rights Organization has identified the other two prisoners as Fariborz Jafari, 27, from Khomeyni Shahr, and Hamidreza Afsharipour, 51, from Fuman and the father of three children.

According to the report, Fariborz Jafari had previously been arrested on a murder charge and was sentenced to death by the judicial authorities. He was being held in Ward 4 of Dastgerd Prison and had previously been incarcerated in Najafabad Prison. Hamidreza Afsharipour had been arrested approximately two years ago on drug-related charges and was subsequently sentenced to death by the judicial authorities.

As of the time of this report, prison officials and the relevant authorities had not publicly announced the executions.

According to HRA’s Annual Report, in 2025 at least 2,063 citizens, including 61 women and 2 juvenile offenders, were executed. Of these, the sentences of 11 individuals were carried out in public. During the same period, 172 other individuals were sentenced to death.

Six Prisoners Executed in Multiple Iranian Prisons

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Executions, News
Ahmadreza Torabi, Dastgerd Prison, Farhad Minaei, Hossein Salehpour, HRANA, Isfahan, Khorramabad Prison, Shirvan Prison

HRANA – The death sentences of four prisoners were carried out in Adelabad Prison in Shiraz, Khorramabad Prison, and Shirvan Prison. In addition, following the identification of two other prisoners, the number of people executed on Tuesday in Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan and Dizelabad Prison in Kermanshah has risen to four. These prisoners had previously been sentenced to death in separate cases on charges related to drug offenses and murder.

According to a report by the Iran Human Rights Organization, two prisoners were executed at dawn on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, in Adelabad Prison in Shiraz.

They were identified as Farhad Minaei, 40, from Borujerd, and Hossein Salehpour, from Shiraz.

According to the report, Mr. Salehpour had been arrested approximately four years ago, and Mr. Minaei about two years ago, in separate cases involving drug-related charges. They were subsequently sentenced to death by judicial authorities.

The report also states that the death sentence of another prisoner was carried out on June 1, 2026, in Shirvan Prison.

The prisoner was identified as Keramat Mansouri, 53, a father of four from Baghan village in Shirvan County.

According to the report, he had been arrested about five years ago on murder charges and was later sentenced to death by a judicial authority.

Number of Executions in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan, Rises to Two

According to Iran Human Rights, on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, a prisoner identified as Reza Ghanbarlou, 45, from Rasht and the father of two children, was executed in Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan.

The report states that Mr. Ghanbarlou had been arrested approximately five years ago on drug-related charges and was subsequently sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court.

HRANA had previously reported the execution of another prisoner, Rashid Ghanbarzehi, in the same prison on the same date.

Number of Executions in Dizelabad Prison, Kermanshah, Reaches Two

According to another report from Iran Human Rights, Dariush Ghobadi was executed at dawn on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, in Dizelabad Prison in Kermanshah.

Ghobadi had been accused of murdering four members of his family and one of his friends on October 17, 2023. He was subsequently sentenced to death by judicial authorities.

The execution of Abbas Zarei in the same prison on the same date had previously been reported.

Execution of a Prisoner in Khorramabad

According to Iran Human Rights, a prisoner was executed in Khorramabad Prison on May 14, 2026.

The prisoner was identified as Ahmadreza Torabi, 32, from Khorramabad.

According to the report, Mr. Torabi had been arrested approximately five years ago on a murder charge stemming from a street altercation and was later sentenced to death by judicial authorities.

At the time of writing this report, the executions of these prisoners had not been officially announced by prison authorities or the relevant responsible institutions.

According to HRA’s annual report, in 2025, there were reports of delayed or unpaid wages amounting to at least 638 months across 182 industrial and service units, 2,458 cases of dismissals or layoffs and 3,761 workers left in uncertain employment conditions.