Tag: Karaj

Civil Rights Activist Sajjad Haeri Sentenced to Prison and Additional Punishments

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ahmadreza Haeri, Ghezel Hesar prison, HRANA, Karaj, Sajjad Haeri, سجاد حائری

HRANA – Civil activist Sajjad Haeri, the brother of political prisoner Ahmadreza Haeri, has been sentenced by the Damavand Revolutionary Court to two years and six months in prison, along with supplementary punishments.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, the court issued this ruling against Haeri on charges of “propaganda against the regime” and “spreading falsehoods with intent to disturb public opinion.”

A social media page attributed to Ahmadreza Haeri reported that, in addition to imprisonment, Sajjad Haeri was given a two-year ban on membership in political and social parties, groups, and associations. The ruling also includes the suspension of any media outlet or institution allegedly involved in the charges.

He was initially arrested on July 12 by security forces at his father’s residence in Damavand and was later released on bail pending trial.

Sajjad Haeri is the brother of political prisoner Ahmadreza Haeri, who is currently serving his sentence in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj.

Four Prisoners Executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison on Drug-Related Charges

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Executions, News
Ali Geravand, Ghezel Hesar prison, Hamidreza Maleki, Javad Sargazi, Karaj

HRANA – At dawn yesterday, Wednesday, October 1, four prisoners previously sentenced to death on drug-related charges were executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj.

HRANA has confirmed the identities of three of the prisoners as Ali Geravand, Javad Sargazi, and Hamid-Reza Maleki.

Based on information obtained by HRANA, these prisoners had previously been arrested on drug-related charges and subsequently sentenced to death by Revolutionary Courts.

At the time of this report, the executions have not been announced by prison authorities or other responsible institutions.

According to HRANA’s statistics, Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj carried out the highest number of executions among all Iranian prisons, with 150 inmates hanged. This figure has nearly doubled compared to the previous year — a deeply alarming increase that underscores the escalating use of capital punishment in Iran.

Judiciary Announces Execution of Babak Shahbazi

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Executions, News
Babak Shahbazi, Esmail Fekri, Ghasem Mazinani, Ghezel Hesar prison, Karaj

HRANA – This morning, Wednesday, the Judiciary’s Media Center announced the execution of Babak Shahbazi on charges of “espionage and intelligence cooperation with Israel.” Shahbazi had been transferred to solitary confinement in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj yesterday.

The Judiciary’s Media Center stated that the execution took place this morning, Wednesday, September 17, 2025, after the Supreme Court upheld the ruling. The report claimed that “Babak Shahbazi worked as a contractor in the design and installation of industrial cooling systems with companies affiliated with telecommunications, military, and security institutions. He was accused of intelligence and security cooperation with Israel and of exchanging information with individuals affiliated with that country. Ultimately, he was sentenced to death on charges of corruption on earth through moharebeh (enmity against God).”

The Judiciary’s news agency also named Esmail Fekri as one of Shahbazi’s associates. He was arrested on similar “espionage” charges and was executed in the same prison on June 16, 2025.

Yesterday, Shahbazi’s brother announced that the political prisoner had been transferred to solitary confinement in Ghezel Hesar Prison. He added that the family, along with relatives, staged a sit-in outside the prison.

Shahbazi’s request for a retrial was recently rejected by the Supreme Court for the third time. His brother had earlier reported that the Ninth Branch of the Supreme Court, presided over by Judge Ghasem Mazinani, had also denied the second retrial request.

On August 19, after 12 days during which his family had no information about his whereabouts, Shahbazi was transferred to the public ward of Ghezel Hesar Prison. His relatives had previously expressed deep concern over being left in the dark about his condition.

BBC Persian had earlier reported that Shahbazi’s death sentence had been confirmed by the Supreme Court for the first time.

Shahbazi was arrested on charges of espionage and sentenced to death. One of the accusations against him included sending a message to the President of Ukraine.

He was detained in January 2024 and initially held in Evin Prison. Following an Israeli airstrike on Evin, he, along with other political prisoners, was transferred to the Greater Tehran Prison before being moved again to Ghezel Hesar.

Two Prisoners Executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison on Drug-Related Charges

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Executions, News
Akbar Emami, Ghezel Hesar, Karaj, Masoud Okhtizadeh

HRANA – At dawn today, Tuesday, September 16, the death sentences of two prisoners previously convicted on drug-related charges were carried out in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj.

HRANA has identified the executed prisoners as Masoud Okhtizadeh, from Kuhdasht, and Akbar Emami, from Nourabad.

Information obtained by HRANA indicates that both men had been arrested on charges related to narcotics offenses and later sentenced to death by Revolutionary Courts.

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

According to HRANA’s statistics, Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj carried out the highest number of executions among all Iranian prisons, with 150 inmates hanged. This figure has nearly doubled compared to the previous year – a deeply alarming increase that underscores the escalating use of capital punishment in Iran.

Three Prisoners Executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison

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Executions, News
Ghezel Hesar prison, Karaj, Sajad Sadeghi

HRANA – At dawn today, September 3, the death sentences of three prisoners were carried out in Ghezel Hesar Prison. These prisoners had previously been sentenced to death in separate cases on charges related to drug offenses.

HRANA has identified one of the executed prisoners as 42-year-old Sajad Sadeghi from Kuhdasht.

Based on information obtained by HRANA, these prisoners had previously been arrested on drug-related charges and later sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court. Yesterday, HRANA also reported that four death-row prisoners were executed in this facility.

As of the time of this report, the executions have not been announced by prison authorities or official institutions.

According to HRANA’s statistics, Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj carried out the highest number of executions among all Iranian prisons, with 150 inmates hanged. This figure has nearly doubled compared to the previous year – a deeply alarming increase that underscores the escalating use of capital punishment in Iran.

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Execution of Four Prisoners in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj

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Executions, News
Ghezel Hesar prison, Hooman Geravand, Karaj

HRANA – Today, September 2, four prisoners were executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison.

HRANA has identified one of the executed prisoners as Hooman Geravand from Kuhdasht. He had previously been arrested on drug-related charges, sentenced to death, and spent 18 years in prison.

The identities of the three other prisoners are still under investigation. One of them had earlier been sentenced to death by the court on charges of membership in the “ISIS” group.

The two remaining prisoners were executed despite no details of their cases being released, and judicial authorities have yet to officially confirm their executions.

According to HRANA’s statistics, Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj carried out the highest number of executions among all Iranian prisons, with 150 inmates hanged. This figure has nearly doubled compared to the previous year — a deeply alarming increase that underscores the escalating use of capital punishment in Iran.

Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj: Eight Prisoners Transferred to Solitary Confinement for Execution

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Executions, News
Ghezel Hesar prison, HRANA, Karaj

HRANA – Yesterday, eight prisoners in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj, who had previously been sentenced to death on drug-related charges, were transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for the implementation of their sentences.

Based on information received by HRANA, these prisoners had been arrested on drug-related charges and later sentenced to death by Revolutionary Courts.

HRANA is currently working to confirm the identities of the prisoners.

It is noteworthy that simultaneously with their transfer, the execution of Soleiman Koushki—who had also been sentenced to death on similar charges—was carried out in this prison.

According to HRANA’s monthly report, 153 people were executed in Iran last month. With eight months having passed in the current year, the number of executions has reached 837, which, compared to 930 executions in the entire previous year, reflects a concerning rise.

Four Prisoners Executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj

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Executions, News
Ghezel Hesar prison, Hossein Biabani, HRANA, Karaj

HRANA– At dawn today, Wednesday, August 27, the death sentences of four prisoners previously convicted on drug-related charges were carried out in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj.

HRANA has confirmed the identities of two of the executed prisoners as Hossein Biabani and an individual identified only by the surname Yousefi, whose first name remains unknown.

Based on information received by HRANA, these prisoners had previously been arrested on drug-related charges and later sentenced to death by Revolutionary Courts.

Further details, including the identities of the two other executed prisoners, are under investigation by HRANA.

As of the time of this report, the executions have not been announced by prison authorities or official bodies.

According to HRANA’s statistics, Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj carried out the highest number of executions among all Iranian prisons, with 150 inmates hanged. This figure has nearly doubled compared to the previous year — a deeply alarming increase that underscores the escalating use of capital punishment in Iran.

Ghezel Hesar Prison: Three Prisoners Transferred to Solitary Confinement for Execution

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Executions, News
Ghezel Hesar prison, HRANA, Karaj

HRANA– On the morning of Tuesday, August 26, three prisoners in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj, who had previously been sentenced to death on charges related to drug offenses and murder, were transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for the execution of their sentences.

Their transfer was carried out for the implementation of their death sentences. Based on information received by HRANA, two of the prisoners had been sentenced to death on murder charges by criminal courts, while the third had been sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court on drug-related charges.

Further details, including the identities of these prisoners, are still being investigated by HRANA.

According to HRANA’s statistics, Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj carried out the highest number of executions among all Iranian prisons, with 150 inmates hanged. This figure has nearly doubled compared to the previous year – a deeply alarming increase that underscores the escalating use of capital punishment in Iran.

Journalist Omid Faraghat Sentenced to 3 Months in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Iman Afshari, Karaj, Omid Faraghat

HRANA – Omid Faraghat, a journalist, has been sentenced to three months in prison by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court. In a separate ruling, Branch 3 of the Karaj Revolutionary Court acquitted him of other charges.

According to HRANA, Mr. Faraghat reported that Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, convicted him on the charge of propaganda against the regime and sentenced him to three months in prison. The charge was based on allegations of interviews with Persian-language media outlets based abroad, a claim he has denied.

At the same time, Branch 3 of the Karaj Revolutionary Court acquitted him of additional charges of propaganda against the regime and spreading falsehoods to disturb public opinion. The trial concerning these accusations took place on Monday, August 18.

The conviction that resulted in his prison sentence was issued following a separate hearing held on Sunday, July 13, in Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

Omid Faraghat, a journalist and political media activist residing in Karaj, has previously faced judicial proceedings in connection with his professional activities.