Tag: Mahabad

Revolutionary Court Sentences 16 Citizens in Mahabad to Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Abdullah Ghoveh, Abdullah Houshmand, Abdulrahman Ghoveh, Ali Maroufi, Aram Mabzooleh, Ayoub Rasouli, Ghader Khoramanfar, Jalal Sadafi, Kamal Masoudi, Mahabad, Nazanin Elyasi, Othman Jahanifar, Rahman Dana, Rebwar Rasouli, Salar Shams Borhan, Yousef Tal, Zanyar Seyed-Ahmadi

HRANA – Sixteen residents of Mahabad County have been sentenced by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Mahabad to a combined 77 years and seven months in prison.

According to HRANA, citing IranWire, 16 citizens in Mahabad have been sentenced to prison.

According to the report, Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Mahabad, presided over by Judge Ahad Siami, issued sentences against the 16 residents on charges including “assembly and collusion against national security,” “membership in opposition parties,” “propaganda against the regime,” and “supporting parties opposed to the government.”

Under the court ruling, Abdullah Houshmand and Abdulrahman Ghoveh were each sentenced to seven years and one month in prison. Abdullah Ghoveh, Ghader Khoramanfar, Jalal Sadafi, Ali Maroufi, Aram Mabzooleh, Yousef Tal, Rebwar Rasouli, Ayoub Rasouli, Othman Jahanifar, Rahman Dana, Salar Shams-Borhan, and Zanyar Seyed-Ahmadi were each sentenced to five years and one month in prison. Nazanin (Golaleh) Elyasi was sentenced to two years in prison, while Kamal Masoudi received a five-month prison sentence.

The report further states that these citizens, who were arrested by security forces in October–December 2024, were subjected to torture while in detention. They were also denied access to legal counsel and deprived of phone calls and visits with their families.

Nazanin Elyasi was released from Urmia Prison on bail on April 10, 2025. She had been arrested on December 16, 2024, after reporting to the Ministry of Intelligence office in Mahabad.

Salar Shams-Borhan and Abdullah Ghoveh were arrested on December 17, 2024. Othman (Shwaneh) Jahanifar, Ayoub Rasouli, Rebwar Rasouli, Rahman Dana, Kamal Masoudi, Jalal Sadafi, Ghader Khoramanfar, Yousef Tal, Aram Mabzoleh, and Zanyar Seyed-Ahmadi were also arrested by security forces in Mahabad on December 15, 2024. Among them, Qader Khoramanfar and Jalal Sadafi were transferred to Mahabad Prison in January–February 2025. The two were released from the prison on bail in November–December 2025.

Ali Maroufi, Abdullah Houshmand, and Abdulrahman (Hawri) Ghoveh were also arrested by security forces on Monday, October 28, 2024.

Sardar Ostad-Ahmadi Arrested in Mahabad

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News, Other
HRANA, Mahabad, Sardar Ostad-Ahmadi

HRANA – Yesterday, Sardar Ostad-Ahmadi, a resident of Mahabad, was arrested by security forces in the city and transferred to an undisclosed location.

According to a report received by HRANA from Kurdpa, Sardar Ostad-Ahmadi was arrested in Mahabad.

Based on the report, security agents arrested him at his home on Tuesday, July 7, without presenting a judicial warrant.

As of the time of this report, no information is available regarding the reasons for his arrest or his whereabouts.

Sardar Ostad-Ahmadi is a native and resident of Mahabad.

Death Sentences of Raouf Sheikh Maroufi and Mohammad Faraji Upheld by the Supreme Court

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Executions, News, Prisoners
Bukan Prison, Mahabad, Mohammad Faraji, Raouf Sheikh Maroufi

HRANA – The Supreme Court of Iran has upheld the death sentences of Raouf Sheikh Maroufi and Mohammad Faraji, two political prisoners held in Bukan Prison.

According to Kurdpa, the death sentences of Raouf Sheikh Maroufi and Mohammad Faraji have been confirmed by the Supreme Court.

Based on the report, the death sentences were recently upheld by Iran’s highest judicial authority and have been forwarded to the sentence enforcement branch for implementation.

In February 2026, Branch One of the Revolutionary Court of Mahabad sentenced Raouf Sheikh Maroufi and Mohammad Faraji to death on charges of “spreading corruption on earth.” The verdicts were officially communicated to them in Bukan Prison on February 24, 2026.

Kurdpa had previously reported that interrogators pressured the two men to make forced confessions and accept responsibility for “participation in the killing of a security force member in Bukan.”

Raouf Sheikh Maroufi was arrested by security forces on December 26, 2022, and Mohammad Faraji was arrested on February 22, 2023, both without the presentation of a judicial warrant. Following the completion of interrogations, they were transferred on June 10, 2023, from The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Urmia to Bukan Prison.

Execution of Two Prisoners in Mahabad and Rasht

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Executions, News
Abdolghader Rasouli, Amirabbas Shokri, HRANA, Lakan prison, Mahabad, Rasht

HRANA – The death sentences of two prisoners previously convicted on charges related to drug offenses and murder were carried out in the prisons of Mahabad and Lakan Prison in Rasht.

According to citing Kurdpa, at dawn on Monday, May 25, 2026, a prisoner was executed in Mahabad Prison. The identity of the prisoner has been reported as Abdolghader Rasouli, a married man and father of two from Mahabad.

According to the report, Mr. Rasouli had previously been arrested on charges related to drug offenses and was later sentenced to death by the judiciary.

His execution was carried out after he was granted a final visit with his family.

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

Additionally, the Iran Human Rights Organization reported the execution of a prisoner in Lakan Prison in Rasht on the same day. His identity has been reported as Amirabbas Shokri, a 29-year-old man from Rasht.

According to the report, Mr. Shokri had been arrested approximately three years ago on charges of committing murder during a fight and was later sentenced to death by the judiciary. He had previously worked at an auto repair shop.

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

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.

Arrest of Three Citizens in Mahabad

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News, Other
Ahad Kheyri, HRANA, Mahabad, Mansour Abbasi, Vahed Kheyri

HRANA – On Monday, May 25, security forces arrested three citizens from Mahabad, Mansour Abbasi, Ahad Kheyri, and Vahed Kheyri, and transferred them to an undisclosed location.

According to a report by Kurdpa, in the early hours of Monday, May 25, 2026, three young men from the village of Bafran, located in the Shamat district of Mahabad County in West Azerbaijan Province, identified as Mansour Abbasi, Ahad Kheyri, and Vahed Kheyri, were arrested by security forces at their homes and taken to an unknown location. It should be noted that Ahad and Vahed Kheyri are brothers.

As of the time of this report, no information has been obtained regarding the reasons for their arrest or their place of detention.

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Report on the Arrest of Five Individuals in Mahabad, Sanandaj, and Saqqez

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Freedom of Expression, News
Anvar Moloudi, Avat Rostami, Mahabad, Saqqez, Sedigh Yousefpour, Sirvan Amini, Zeinab Azizi

HRANA – In recent days, Anvar Moloudi and Avat Rostami, residents of Mahabad, as well as Zeinab Azizi and Sirvan Amini, a couple living in Sanandaj, have been arrested by security forces. So far, no information has been obtained about their whereabouts.

Meanwhile, Sedigh Yousefpour, who had previously been arrested, was released from Saqqez Prison after posting bail.

According to Kurdpa, this citizen was released on March 9 after posting bail from Saqqez Prison. He had been arrested by security forces on January 21.

In another report, Kurdpa announced the arrest of two citizens on March 6 by forces of the Intelligence Office in Mahabad. The identities of these individuals were reported as Anvar Moloudi, a 40-year-old resident of the village of Kheyrabad, and Avat Rostami, a 40-year-old resident of the village of Khorkhoreh in Mahabad.

Additionally, Kolbar News reported that Zeinab Azizi and Sirvan Amini, a couple living in Sanandaj, were arrested by security forces on March 6.

The reports did not mention the reasons for these arrests, the location where the detainees are being held, or the charges brought against them.

Execution of At Least Twelve Prisoners on Murder and Drug-Related Charges

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Executions, News
Bushehr, Chabahar, Damghan, Gonabad, Kashmar, Lahijan, Mahabad, Malayer, Mashhad, Sabzevar, Shahrekord, Shiraz

HRANA – At dawn today, the death sentences of at least 12 prisoners were carried out in the prisons of Mahabad, Shiraz, Malayer, Lahijan, Gonabad, Chabahar, Damghan, Bushehr, Shahrekord, Sabzevar, Kashmar, and Mashhad. These individuals had previously been sentenced to death on charges related to murder and drug offenses.

According to information received by HRANA, Kianoush Monavari was executed in Mahabad Prison; Ghader Mohammadi in Shiraz Prison; Nariman Zangeneh in Malayer Prison; Ali Asghar Oladi in Lahijan Prison; (first name unknown) Shateri in Gonabad Prison; Mostafa Kamali in Chabahar Prison; Aysan Rostami in Damghan Prison; Jahan Azadi in Bushehr Prison; and Farshid Ghasemi in Shahrekord Prison. These individuals had previously been arrested in separate cases on murder charges and sentenced to death by criminal courts.

Meanwhile, the death sentences of Taher Yousefi in Sabzevar Prison, Hamid Tajik in Kashmar Prison, and Adel Fereshteh in Mashhad Prison were carried out on drug-related charges.

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

According to HRA’s annual report on the human rights situation in Iran, in 2025, at least 2,063 individuals were executed in Iran between January 1, 2025, and January 1, 2026. This represents a 119% increase in the implementation of death sentences compared to 2024. In many of these cases, due to secrecy, prisoners were even denied the right to a final visit with their families.

At Least 19 Prisoners Executed on Murder and Drug-Related Charges

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Executions, News
ahvaz, Bam, Birjand, Borazjan, Chabahar, Damghan, HRANA, Ilam, Jiroft, Khaf, Lahijan, Mahabad, Malayer, Rasht, Sabzevar, Shiraz, Sirjan, Yazd

HRANA – At dawn today, Tuesday, February 9, 2026, the death sentences of at least 19 prisoners were carried out in prisons across multiple cities. These individuals had previously been sentenced to death on charges related to drug offenses and murder.

Based on information received by HRANA, Gholam Hassani was executed in Birjand Prison; Fariborz Saljoughi in Bam Prison; Mohammadkaram Jafari in Ilam Prison; Sina Maleki in Borazjan Prison; Javad Najjar in Ahvaz Prison; Morad Jahromi in Jiroft Prison; Taghi Zalpour in Mahabad Prison; Amin Torkaman in Malayer Prison; Mehrshad Alinia in Damghan Prison; Ali Bazargan in Chabahar Prison; Mojtaba Barani in Rasht Prison; Yadollah Mokhtari in Sirjan Prison; and Mahmoud Niazi in Lahijan Prison. These prisoners had previously been arrested on murder charges and sentenced to death by criminal courts.

Separately, the executions of Ayoub Soufi in Khaf Prison, Afshin Ghanbari in Yazd Prison, Rajabali Arya in Sabzevar Prison, and Parviz Pirovani in Shiraz Prison were carried out on charges related to drug offenses. At the same time, two other prisoners were executed in Yazd Prison on similar charges; their identities are currently under review by HRANA.

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

According to HRA’s annual report, at least 2,063 people were executed in Iran during 2025. Based on this report, executions increased by 119% compared to 2024. In many cases, due to secrecy, prisoners were even denied the right to a final visit with their families prior to execution.

Execution of 15 Prisoners on Murder and Drug-Related Charges

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Executions, News
ahvaz, Bam, Birjand, Borazjan, executions, HRANA, Ilam, Jiroft, Khaf, Lahijan, Mahabad, Malayer, Rasht, Sabzevar, Shiraz, Sirjan, Yazd

HRANA – At dawn today, February 3, the death sentences of 15 prisoners, previously convicted on charges related to drug offenses and murder, were carried out in the prisons of Sirjan, Rasht, Yazd, Ahvaz, Jiroft, Borazjan, Ilam, Khaf, Bam, Birjand, Lahijan, Mahabad, Sabzevar, Shiraz, and Malayer.

Based on information received by HRANA, Saeed Rouhani was executed in Sirjan Prison; Ayoub Lashkari in Rasht Prison; Bahram Bani Asad in Ahvaz Prison; Hedayat Mirzaei in Borazjan Prison; Afshin Maleki in Ilam Prison; Tahmasb Mehrjou in Khaf Prison; Ali Haghighatdoost in Lahijan Prison; Hirman Sadri in Mahabad Prison; and Majid Sohrabi in Malayer Prison. These individuals had been sentenced to death on charges of murder, and their sentences were carried out.

Additionally, Kourosh Niri in Yazd Prison, Eshaq Miri in Jiroft Prison, one prisoner in Bam Prison, Moradbeyg Haghighat in Birjand Prison, Pouya Lashani in Sabzevar Prison, and Khalil Hemmati in Shiraz Prison were executed on charges related to drug offenses.

Further details, including the identity of the prisoner executed in Bam Prison, are currently under investigation by HRANA.

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

According to HRA’s annual report, at least 2,063 people were executed in Iran during the one-year period from January 1, 2025 to January 1, 2026. Based on this report, the implementation of death sentences increased by 119% compared to 2024. In many of these executions, due to secrecy, prisoners were even deprived of the right to a final visit with their families.

At Least 11 Prisoners Executed on Murder and Drug-Related Charges

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Executions, News
Bushehr, Chabahar, Damghan, Esfarayen, HRANA, Kashmar, Mahabad, Malayer, Mashhad, Sabzevar, Shahrekord, Shiraz

HRANA – At dawn yesterday, Wednesday, January 28, the death sentences of 11 prisoners, previously convicted on charges related to drug offenses and murder, were carried out in the prisons of Mahabad, Esfarayen, Sabzevar, Shiraz, Malayer, Damghan, Chabahar, Mashhad, Kashmar, Shahrekord, and Bushehr.

According to information received by HRANA, Fuad Amini was executed in Mahabad Prison; Sajjad Khani in Esfarayen Prison; Farhad Namazi in Sabzevar Prison; Nima Afshari in Malayer Prison; Khosrow Pezeshki in Damghan Prison; Darvish Abbas Yadegari in Kashmar Prison; Hossein Mousavi in Shahrekord Prison; and Mokhtar Hassani in Bushehr Prison. All had been sentenced to death on murder charges, and their sentences were carried out.

Additionally, Arshia Changi in Shiraz Prison, Armin Aghapour in Mashhad Prison, and one Afghan national in Chabahar Prison were executed on charges related to drug-related crimes.

Further details, including the identity of the prisoner executed in Chabahar Prison, are currently under investigation by HRANA.

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

According to HRA’s annual report on the human rights situation in Iran, at least 2,063 people were executed in Iran during the one-year period from January 1, 2025, to January 1, 2026. Based on this data, executions increased by 119% compared to 2024. In many of these cases, due to secrecy, prisoners were deprived even of the right to a final visit with their families.