Tag: Karaj

Ghezel Hesar Inmates Protest Transfer of Six Death Row Prisoners for Execution

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Executions, News
Ghezel Hesar prison, HRANA, Karaj

HRANA – Today, July 13, 2026, prisoners held in Unit 2 of Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj refused to accept their food rations in protest against the transfer of six death row prisoners to solitary confinement for the implementation of their death sentences.

According to HRANA, prisoners in Unit 2 of Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj have gone on strike.

Based on information received by HRANA, prisoners in Unit 2 of Ghezel Hesar Prison began their protest today, Monday, July 13, 2026, after six prisoners sentenced to death were transferred to solitary confinement ahead of their executions. As part of the protest, the inmates refused to receive the prison’s food rations and launched a strike.

Earlier today, the six prisoners, who had been sentenced to death on charges related to drug offenses, were moved to solitary confinement in preparation for the implementation of their death sentences.

It is worth noting that last year, HRANA also reported on strikes by a number of prisoners at Ghezel Hesar Prison protesting the implementation of execution sentences.

Journalist Omid Faraghat Arrested

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Karaj, Omid Faraghat, امید فراغت

HRANA – Omid Faraghat, a journalist based in Karaj, was arrested yesterday after being summoned by security authorities. He was transferred to the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office and was ultimately sent to prison following the issuance of a temporary detention order.

According to HRANA, Omid Faraghat has been arrested. The journalist was summoned by security authorities earlier this morning and taken to the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office. Following the issuance of a temporary detention order, he was transferred to prison.

The charges brought against Omid Faraghat are “disturbing public opinion” and “acting against national security.”

Faraghat had announced the previous day that he had been summoned to the Security Police by phone.

In November 2025, Branch 36 of the Tehran Province Court of Appeals sentenced Faraghat to pay a fine of 20 million tomans in lieu of serving a three-month prison sentence. He had previously been sentenced to three months’ imprisonment by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court in the same case.

In August 2025, a hearing was held at the Karaj Revolutionary Court in another case against Faraghat on charges of “propaganda against the regime” and “disturbing public opinion.” He was acquitted of both charges in that case.

Omid Faraghat, a journalist and political media activist based in Karaj, has previously faced judicial prosecution due to his professional activities.

Eight Prisoners Executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj

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Executions, News
Amirabbas Dekavand, Ghezel Hesar prison, HRANA, Karaj, Seyed Akbar Banihashem

HRANA – On Saturday, June 13, Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj witnessed the execution of eight prisoners. HRANA has confirmed the identities of two of those executed, both of whom had previously been sentenced to death on murder charges.

On Saturday, June 13, authorities at Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj carried out the executions of eight prisoners. HRANA has identified two of them as Seyed Akbar Banihashem and Amirabbas Dekavand. Both prisoners had been sentenced to death on charges of murder. HRANA is continuing to investigate and verify the identities of the other six prisoners.

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

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.

Baha’i Citizen Riyaz Behrad Arrested in Karaj

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News, Religious Minorities
Bahais, Karaj, Riyaz Behrad, ریاض بهراد

HRANA – Riyaz Behrad, a Baha’i citizen, was arrested on Wednesday, May 6, after appearing at the Karaj Prosecutor’s Office and was transferred to an undisclosed location.

The arrest of this Baha’i citizen took place on Wednesday, May 6, after he appeared at the Karaj Prosecutor’s Office. Mr. Behrad’s home had also been searched by security forces on Monday, May 4.

At the time of this report, no information has been obtained regarding the reasons for his arrest, his whereabouts, or the charges brought against this Baha’i citizen.

Over the past decade, the Baha’i community in Iran has faced more security and judicial pressure than any other religious minority. HRA’s annual report reveals that in 2025, an average of 62.41% of reports concerning religious minorities were related to violations of the rights of Baha’i citizens.

Report on the Latest Status of Soheil Arabi in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj

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News, Prisoners
Ghezel Hesar prison, HRANA, Karaj, Soheil Arabi, سهیل عربی

HRANA – Soheil Arabi, a political defendant imprisoned in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj, is still being held in a state of uncertainty in this prison. He was recently summoned to attend an interrogation session after receiving an official notice.

An informed source close to Arabi’s family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “Mr. Arabi has been held in solitary confinement in Ghezel Hesar Prison since his arrest, without a clear status. During interrogations, he was beaten by prison officers. He was eventually transferred to a hospital outside the prison and then returned to solitary confinement.”

According to this source, Arabi, who is facing charges of membership in anti-government groups, was recently summoned to attend an interrogation session after receiving a formal notice.

In March 2026, Soheil Arabi was arrested by security forces and transferred to Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.

Soheil Arabi has previously been arrested and faced judicial action due to his activities.

It is worth noting that Soheil Arabi is a blogger and citizen journalist who received the “Press Freedom Award” from Reporters Without Borders in 2017. He has previously faced multiple convictions and legal actions. In 2014, he was sentenced to death by Branch 76 of the Tehran Criminal Court on charges of “insulting the Prophet of Islam” on Facebook. This sentence was later overturned and commuted to other punishments.

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Political Prisoners Babak Alipour and Pouya Ghobadi Executed

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Executions, News
Akbar Daneshvar Kar, Babak Alipour, Ghezel Hesar prison, HRANA, Karaj, Mohammad Taghavi, Pouya Ghobadi

HRANA – The Judiciary Media Center has announced the execution of death sentences against Babak Alipour and Pouya Ghobadi, two political prisoners held in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj, carried out at dawn today, Tuesday, March 31.

According to Mizan, the Judiciary Media Center, the executions were carried out this morning after the sentences had been upheld by the Supreme Court and the defendants’ appeals had been rejected.

The death sentences against Babak Alipour and Pouya Ghobadi, along with four others, had previously been issued on the charge of “baghi” (armed rebellion) through alleged membership in groups opposed to the state. In July of last year, the Supreme Court overturned this ruling and referred the case to a parallel branch for reconsideration.

In November 2025, they were retried in Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari. Ultimately, on December 7, 2025, the same branch reissued the death sentences for these political prisoners and formally notified their lawyers.

Regarding Babak Alipour, the Judiciary Media Center has claimed that he had been in contact via cyberspace with one of the “liaisons” of the MEK (People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran). It alleged that, “at this person’s request to carry out an armed operation, he traveled from Gilan to Tehran and fired a projectile weapon (launcher) at the building of one of the country’s institutions. Of the four launchers used, only two functioned.”

As for Pouya Ghobadi, the same institution claimed that he had also “participated in several terrorist actions under the direction of the MEK.” According to the report, Ghobadi “was in a safe house assembling parts of explosive packages.” It further alleged that he had been in contact with one of the group’s liaisons through Telegram and had intended to illegally cross the border in order to receive the training necessary for conducting operations in Tehran.

Babak Alipour was arrested by security forces in Tehran in autumn 2023. On February 23, 2024, Pouya Ghobadi was also arrested in Chaldoran County and transferred to Maku Prison.

These individuals were formally charged in May 2024 in Branch 5 of the Tehran Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office, and were later transferred in the summer of that year to Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.

Yesterday, the death sentences of Akbar Daneshvar-Kar and Seyed Mohammad Taghavi-Sangdehi, other defendants in the same case, were also carried out.

According to HRA’s Annual Report, in 2025, at least 2,063 people were executed in Iran. Based on this report, executions increased by 119% compared to 2024.

Milad Bakhtiari Receives 20-Month Prison Term

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Freedom of Expression, News
Hourieh Farajzadeh Tarani, HRANA, Karaj, Milad Bakhtiari, Shahram Farajzadeh

HRANA – Milad Bakhtiari, a resident of Karaj, has been sentenced to 20 months in prison by Branch Two of the Revolutionary Court of this city.

Based on information received by HRANA, Branch Two of the Karaj Revolutionary Court sentenced him to a total of 20 months in prison on charges of “propaganda against the regime” and “assembly and collusion.”

An informed source close to Mr. Bakhtiari’s family confirmed the news to HRANA and stated: “Milad Bakhtiari has objected to the verdict issued by the Revolutionary Court, and the case is currently under review for reconsideration. He is presently being held in Ward Two of Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.”

Mr. Bakhtiari was arrested on Friday, January 9, on one of the streets of Karaj and was transferred to an undisclosed location. He was ultimately transferred to Ghezel Hesar Prison on January 11.

Milad Bakhtiari, 29, is the son of Hourieh Farajzadeh Tarani and the nephew of Shahram Farajzadeh, who was killed during the violent events following the tenth presidential election on Ashura in 2009.

It should be noted that gatherings and strikes by shopkeepers and bazaar merchants began on Sunday, December 28, 2025, in Tehran. After two days, the protests expanded beyond markets and commercial centers. With the participation of students, citizens, and various social groups, these demonstrations became one of the most widespread protests in 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 institutions. For more information about these protests, refer to HRANA’s comprehensive report.

Mehdi Sabeti Arrested and Transferred to Karaj Central Penitentiary

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News, Prisoners
HRANA, IRGC Intelligence, Karaj, Mehdi Sabeti, Meshkin Dasht, مهدی ثابتی

HRANA – Mehdi Sabeti, a political defendant, was arrested last week by security forces in Karaj and transferred to the city’s Central Penitentiary.

Based on information received by HRANA, Mr. Sabeti was arrested in Karaj last week and transferred to Ward 16, the security ward of the city’s Central Penitentiary. He has been formally charged with “insulting the Supreme Leader” and “propaganda against the regime.”

Mr. Sabeti had previously been released from Karaj Central Penitentiary in late April of this year on “leave connected to the end of his sentence.”

In June 2024, Branch 4 of the Revolutionary Court of Karaj sentenced him to two years in prison on the charge of “insulting the Supreme Leader” and one year in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime.”

The court hearing to address the charges against this political defendant was held on June 18, 2024, in the aforementioned branch, in the presence of his court-appointed lawyer.

Mr. Sabeti was arrested on September 17, 2023, by agents of the IRGC Intelligence Organization in Meshkin Dasht, located in Fardis County. He was later transferred to Karaj Central Penitentiary.

A source close to the family of this political prisoner had previously told HRANA: “A few days after his arrest, Mehdi was additionally charged during interrogation in Fardis with insulting religious sanctities, spreading falsehoods, and assaulting an officer. His case in this regard is currently under review at Branch 1 of the Criminal Court of Karaj County.”

Mehdi Sabeti, aged approximately 36, is a resident of Fardis County, Karaj.

Execution of 17 Prisoners on Charges of Murder or Drug-Related Offenses

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Executions, News
Citizen executed, Ghezel Hesar prison, HRANA, Karaj, Urmia prison

HRANA – Over the past two days, HRANA reported the execution of 17 prisoners in various prisons across the country on charges related to drug offenses or murder.

On Saturday, February 14, four prisoners were hanged in Urmia Prison on murder charges. Further details regarding this case, including the identification of these four prisoners, are still under review by HRANA.

On Sunday, February 15, Mohammadshah Rashidi and Ali Davtalab were executed on murder charges in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.

On the same day, Siros Alizadeh in Nowshahr Prison, Amir Khan Mohammadi in Bandar Abbas Prison, Sohrab Daei in Ardabil Prison, a woman identified as Esmat Najafi in Qom Prison, Sasan Pazouki in Semnan Prison, and Ali Ashraf Rahmati in Borujerd Prison were also executed. These prisoners had previously been arrested on murder charges and sentenced to death by criminal courts.

Meanwhile, the executions of Ali Nouri in Naein Prison, Foroud Khalili and another prisoner in Arak Prison, Hassan Doosti in Tabriz Prison, and Mostafa Cheshmi in Qazvin Prison were carried out on charges related to drug offenses.

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

According to HRA’s annual report, in 2025, at least 2,063 people were executed in Iran. Based on this report, the implementation of death sentences increased by 119% compared to the year 2024. In many of these executions, due to secrecy and lack of transparency, prisoners were even deprived of the right to a final visit with their families.

At Least 282 Arrested in Connection with Nationwide Protests

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ahmad Negahban, Anzali, Bam, IRIB, Karaj, Parand, Yazd

HRANA – Official media outlets have reported the arrest of at least 282 individuals in the cities of Karaj, Anzali, Bam, Parand, and Yazd Province in connection with the recent protests. This figure includes the arrest of eight people in Karaj, Anzali, and Bam; 135 people in Parand; and 139 foreign nationals in Yazd Province.

According to the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), the police commander of Alborz Province claimed that those arrested were involved in setting fire to a police kiosk and the municipal building of District One in Karaj. The police commander of Anzali County also announced the arrest of two individuals, alleging that they had played a role in setting fire to a chain store. Additionally, the police commander of Bam County stated that one individual, described as a “leader,” had been identified and arrested by the Public Security Police.

Separately, the Tasnim News Agency, quoting the Public Relations Office of the Haidar Guards Corps in Parand, reported that 135 people were arrested during the recent protests in the city. In a statement issued by the organization, the detainees were accused of “destruction of public property and insulting national and religious sanctities.”

In another report, Tasnim announced the arrest of 139 foreign nationals in Yazd Province. Ahmad Negahban, the police commander of Yazd Province, claimed that these individuals had taken advantage of the “existing social atmosphere” to play a role in organizing and directing the protests and, in some cases, had connections with networks outside the country.

These reports do not provide information regarding the identities, places of detention, or legal status of those arrested.

It should be noted that gatherings and strikes by shopkeepers and bazaar merchants began in Tehran on December 28, 2025, After two days, the protests spread beyond markets and commercial centers. With the participation of students, citizens, and various social groups, these demonstrations turned into one of the most widespread protests of recent years. Following the crackdown on the protests by security and law enforcement forces, thousands of people were killed or injured, and tens of thousands were arrested or summoned by security agencies. For more information, readers may refer to HRANA’s detailed report published last night on the thirty-seventh day since the start of the protests.