Tag: Isfahan

Former Student Activist Ali Abdi Summoned to Serve Prison Sentence

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ali Abdi, HRANA, Isfahan, Student activist, علی عبدی

HRANA News Agency – Ali Abdi, a former student activist, has been summoned to begin serving his prison sentence.

In a post on his Telegram channel, Abdi announced that he has been ordered to appear at the Sentence Enforcement Branch of Evin Prosecutor’s Office and will report there on Monday, February 24.

According to Abdi, he was sentenced to six years in prison for articles he wrote a decade ago about gender and sexual minorities, five years in prison for protesting the announced results of the 2009 presidential election, and one year in prison for “propaganda against the regime.” His sentence was later upheld by the Court of Appeals.

Abdi was previously arrested in June 2023 in Isfahan and spent 140 days in detention before being released on bail.

Update: Number of Executions in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan, Rises to Six

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Executions, News
Ali Es'haghi, Borhan Wasim-Zahi, Dastgerd Prison, Ezzat Hosseini Duraki, Heydar Babaei, HRANA, Isfahan, Mohammad Shamseddin

HRANA News Agency – With the identification of two additional prisoners executed in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan, the total number of executions carried out yesterday in this facility has risen to six.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, at dawn on Monday, February 17, six prisoners were executed in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan.

In addition to the executions of Ezzat Hosseini Duraki, Ali Eshaghi, Mohammad Shamseddin, and another prisoner whose identity is still under investigation by HRANA, the sentences of Borhan Wasim-Zahi, an Afghan national, and Heydar Babaei were also carried out. Both had previously been arrested on drug-related charges and sentenced to death by judicial authorities.

It is worth noting that Duraki, Eshaghi, and Shamseddin had also been sentenced to death on drug-related charges.

As of the time of this report, prison authorities and relevant institutions have not officially announced these executions.

In 2024, HRA reported 53 executions in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan, making it the fourth-highest among prisons in terms of execution numbers.
According to data compiled by HRANA, 52.69% of all executions in Iran in 2024 were related to drug-related charges. Notably, only 6% of the executions were officially announced, highlighting a significant lack of transparency. For a detailed analysis of these executions and the associated statistics, see HRANA’s full report.

Updated Report: Number of Executions in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan, Rises to Four

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Executions, News
Ali Es'haghi, Dastgerd Prison, Ezzat Hosseini Duraki, HRANA, Isfahan, Mohammad Shamseddin

HRANA News Agency – At dawn on Monday, February 17, 2025, the execution of three more prisoners in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan, brought the total number of executions carried out in the prison today to four.

In addition to the execution of Ezzat Hosseini Duraki, who had been sentenced to death on drug-related charges, three other prisoners were also executed. HRANA has confirmed the identities of two of them as Ali Eshaghi and Mohammad Shamseddin. Both had previously been arrested on drug-related charges and later sentenced to death by the judiciary.

HRANA is still investigating further details, including the identity of the fourth executed prisoner.

As of the time of this report, prison authorities and relevant institutions have not publicly announced these executions.

In 2024, HRA reported 53 executions in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan, making it the fourth-highest among prisons in terms of execution numbers.
According to data compiled by HRANA, 52.69% of all executions in Iran in 2024 were related to drug-related charges. Notably, only 6% of the executions were officially announced, highlighting a significant lack of transparency. For a detailed analysis of these executions and the associated statistics, see HRANA’s full report.

A Prisoner Executed in Dastgerd Prison on Drug-Related Charges

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Executions, News
Dastgerd Prison, Ezzat Hosseini Duraki, HRANA, Isfahan

HRANA News Agency – At dawn on Monday, February 17, 2025, a prisoner who had previously been sentenced to death on drug-related charges was executed in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, the identity of the prisoner has been confirmed as Ezzat Hosseini Duraki.

Based on information obtained by HRANA, Mr. Hosseini Duraki had been arrested on drug-related charges and subsequently sentenced to death by the judiciary. He had spent more than ten years in prison before his execution.

As of the time of this report, prison authorities and relevant institutions have not publicly announced the execution.

In 2024, HRA reported 53 executions in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan, making it the fourth-highest among prisons in terms of execution numbers.
According to data compiled by HRANA, 52.69% of all executions in Iran in 2024 were related to drug-related charges. Notably, only 6% of the executions were officially announced, highlighting a significant lack of transparency. For a detailed analysis of these executions and the associated statistics, see HRANA’s full report.

Prisoner Executed in Dastgerd Prison on Drug-Related Charges

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Executions, News
Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan, Shahbakhsh Pirsorani

HRANA News Agency – At dawn today, Wednesday, February 12, 2025, the death sentence of a prisoner convicted on drug-related charges was carried out in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan.

According to HRANA, citing Haal Vsh, a prisoner was executed in Dastgerd Prison early this morning. The individual has been identified as Mehdi Shahbakhsh Pirsorani, approximately 40 years old resident of Zahedan and father of one child.

According to the report, Shahbakhsh Pirsorani was arrested about six years ago in Naein, Isfahan, on drug-related charges. He was later sentenced to death by the Isfahan Revolutionary Court. On February 8, he was transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for the execution and had his final visit with his family yesterday.

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

According to data compiled by HRANA, 52.69% of all executions in Iran in 2024 were related to drug-related charges. HRA reported 53 executions in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan, making it the fourth-highest among prisons in terms of execution numbers. For a detailed analysis of these executions and the associated statistics, see HRANA’s full report.

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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.

Death Row Prisoner Dies by Suicide in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan

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Executions, News, Prisoners
Dastgerd Prison, HRANA, Isfahan

HRANA News Agency – On Tuesday, February 4, a prisoner sentenced to death for murder died by suicide in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan.

HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, has identified the prisoner as Rasoul Ibn Ali. A source informed HRANA that he ended his life by ingesting pills and methadone, succumbing to the effects before prison medical staff could intervene.

Ibn Ali had been in prison for seven years after being convicted of murder and sentenced to death by a criminal court. On February 4, he took his own life.

In 2024, HRANA documented 20 suicides in prisons across Iran.

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.

Two Prisoners Executed in Dastgerd Prison for Drug-Related Crimes

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Executions, News
Dastgerd Prison, HRANA, Isfahan, Rasht

HRANA News Agency – On January 30, 2025, the death sentences of two prisoners, previously convicted in separate cases on drug-related charges, were carried out in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan.

Iran Human Rights have been identified these hanged prisoners as Mahdi Salehzadeh, 35, from Rasht, and Abdollah Khademi, 41, from Urmia, a father of three who resided near Tabriz.

According to the report, both individuals had been arrested in separate cases on drug-related charges and were sentenced to death by the judiciary. Their executions were carried out without a final visit with their families.

As of the time of this report, prison authorities and relevant institutions have not officially announced the executions.

According to data compiled by HRANA, 52.69% of all executions in Iran in 2024 were related to drug-related charges. Notably, only 6% of the executions were officially announced, highlighting a significant lack of transparency. For a detailed analysis of these executions and the associated statistics, see HRANA’s full report.

Thirteen Baha’i Citizens Arrested by the IRGC Intelligence Organization in Isfahan

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News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i faith, Bahais, HRANA, irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Isfahan

HRANA News Agency – The IRGC Intelligence Organization in Isfahan has announced the arrest of 13 Baha’i citizens for allegedly promoting and teaching beliefs associated with the Baha’i faith.

According to HRANA, quoting ISNA, in a statement released today, the IRGC Intelligence Organization claimed that the arrests were made due to the promotion and teaching of Baha’i beliefs among children and teenagers through virtual classes. the IRGC Intelligence, without disclosing the identities or whereabouts of the detainees, alleged that these individuals engaged in actions such as “altering Islamic lifestyles through promoting promiscuity, dog walking, intermingling of girls and boys.”

It is worth noting that HRANA previously reported on the imprisonment of 10 Baha’i women in Isfahan, but it remains unclear whether the ISNA report refers to these individuals or to other Baha’i citizens recently arrested in the city.

According to the Department of Statistics and Publications of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA), between January 1, 2024, and December 20, 2024, a total of 157 reports were recorded in the category of religious and faith-based minority rights. Among these, Baha’is accounted for 67.54% of the reports, ranking as the most observed group in human rights monitoring.

The Baha’i faith is not recognized as a legitimate religion by Iranian authorities, leading to systematic and longstanding violations of the rights of Baha’is in the country. This includes the denial of their fundamental right to practice their religion, which constitutes a clear breach of both Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The United Nations covenant holds that every person has the right to freedom of religion, freedom of converting religion, as well as freedom of expression, individually or collectively; openly or secretly.