Mohammad-Taher Hosseinpour Sentenced to 13 Years in Prison on Political Charges

According to a report by Kurdpa, Mohammad-Taher Hosseinpour has been handed a 13-year prison term by the Revolutionary Court of Mahabad.

Judge Doosti, presiding over Branch 1 of the Mahabad Revolutionary Court, notified Hosseinpour of his conviction for “collaboration and membership in an anti-regime political party.”

Hosseinpour was apprehended by security forces in Naqadeh on August 23, 2023. Following 40 days of interrogation, he was transferred to Naqadeh Prison. This isn’t his first encounter with arrests and convictions stemming from his activism.

Execution of Three Inmates in Mahabad and Kashan

In recent days, two death-row inmates in Mahabad Prison and one in Kashan Prison were executed for murder.

Kurdpa disclosed that on March 7, 2024, Fakhredin Mangur-Nejad, a resident of Oshnavieh, and Abbas Dadvar, from Mahabad, faced the death penalty for their involvement in murders dating back four years.

The Iran Human Rights Organization also reported the execution of Salim Bagheri, a 37-year-old individual in Kashan Prison on March 6. As per sources cited in the report, Bagheri was found guilty of taking someone’s life three years ago amid a financial dispute.

No official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have provided coverage of these executions at the time of writing. The lack of official information raises concerns about transparency and accountability. In 2023, 66% of HRANA’s reports on executions lacked official announcements by judicial authorities and went unreported by media inside Iran, highlighting a troubling lack of transparency in due process.

Moreover, in 2023, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran registered the execution of  746 individuals. Out of these, 6 were carried out in public. Among the executed individuals whose genders were identified, 597 were male and 20 were female. Additionally, 2 juvenile offenders, defined as individuals under the age of 18 at the time of their alleged crimes, were also executed. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s annual report.

Hossein Hosseinpour Sentenced to Eleven Months in Prison

Hossein Hosseinpour, a resident of Mahabad, received an 11-month prison sentence after originally being sentenced to one year, following a plea of no contest. The verdict, based on charges of “spreading propaganda against the regime,” cites Instagram posts as evidence.

Arrested by the Ministry of Intelligence in Shiraz in August 2023, Hosseinpour underwent the interrogation process in a detention facility before being transferred to Adelabad Prison. In January 2024, he was relocated to Prison No. 2 in Shiraz.

During the 2022 nationwide protests, Hosseinpour suffered injuries to his right eye from an airgun bullet fired by regime forces, undergoing four surgeries since then. Despite contracting an infection in his eye during detention, he has been denied access to necessary medical treatment.

In December 2023, he was indicted on charges of “spreading propaganda against the regime,” leading to the initial one-year sentence, later reduced to 11 months. The case highlights ongoing concerns about the treatment of individuals involved in the protests and their access to adequate medical care.

Sunni Prisoner Farhad Salimi Executed in Ghezel Hesar, Karaj

On January 23, 2024, Sunni Prisoner Farhad Salimi was executed in Ghezel Hesar, Karaj, following more than 13 years of incarceration.

In this legal case, three other Sunni defendants—Ghasem Abasteh, Ayoub Karimi, and Davoud Abdollahi—were executed on November 5, November 29, 2023, and January 2, 2024, respectively.

A source close to Salimi’s family informed HRANA that they had not received any phone calls from him in the days leading up to the execution, and the family was not formally notified about the carrying out of the sentence.

The unnamed source, citing security concerns, expressed, “A psychological game was played with the Salimi family; no official took responsibility to inform them about his whereabouts, status, or any plans they had for him. The family was not even formally notified about the execution; we only learned about it through his fellow inmates. The family is actively seeking further inquiries and custody of the body.”

The roots of the case trace back to September 2008 when Abdolrahim Tina, the Imam of a mosque in Mahabad, was assassinated by unidentified individuals. In January-February 2010, Salimi and six other Sunni suspects were arrested in connection to the assassination.

During his detention, Salimi faced multiple charges, including enmity against God (Moharebeh), allegedly through sympathizing with Salafism—a charge he consistently refuted. After spending fourteen months in legal limbo, Salimi was transferred to Rajai Shahr Prison, Karaj, where he remained until his relocation to Ghezel Hesar Prison in August of the current year.

Initially sentenced to death by Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Mohammad Moghiseh, the verdict was later overturned by the Supreme Court. The case was then assigned to Branch 15 of the court, presided over by Judge Salavati, who reinstated the death sentences for him and six other defendants—Anvar Khezri, Kamran Sheikheh, Davoud Abdollahi, Khosro Besharat, Ghasem Abasteh, and Ayoub Karimi. This time, the Supreme Court confirmed the death sentences for him and his co-defendants.

Sunni Prisoner Ayoub Karimi Executed in Karaj

Ayoub Karimi, a Sunni prisoner, was executed today, November 29, in Qezel (Ghezel) Hesar Prison, Karaj, after enduring more than 13 years of incarceration.

Karimi had been moved to solitary confinement in the prison the previous Sunday, foreshadowing his imminent execution.
Notably, in this legal case, another Sunni prisoner, Ghasem Abasteh, met the same fate in the same prison on November 5 of this year.

The legal case traces back to September 2008 when Abdolrahim Tina, the Imam of a mosque in Mahabad, was assassinated by unidentified individuals. In January-February 2010, Ayoub Karimi and six other Sunni suspects were arrested and accused in connection to the assassination.

Subsequently, Karimi was charged with “enmity against God (Moharebeh) through sympathizing with Salafism,” a charge he consistently refuted. After spending fourteen months in legal limbo, Karimi was transferred to Rajai Shahr prison, Karaj, where he remained until his relocation to Qezel Hesar Prison in August of this year.

Initially sentenced to death by Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Mohammad Moghiseh, the verdict was later overturned by the Supreme Court. The case was then assigned to Branch 15 of the court, presided over by Judge Salavati, who reinstated the death sentences for Ayoub Karimi and six others – Anvar Khezri, Kamran Sheikheh, Farhad Salimi, Khosro Besharat, Ghasem Abasteh, and Davoud Abdollahi.

This time, the Supreme Court confirmed the death sentences for Ayoub Karimi and his co-defendants.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Now is definitely not the time to stop reading!

Yaser Rahmani Rad Arrested in Khorramabad

On September 21, 2023, Yaser Rahmani Rad, a physician, was arrested by security forces in Khorramabad and taken to an undisclosed location.

A source close to Rahmani’s family informed HRAHA that at 6:00 a.m., the intelligence agents went to Rahmani’s residence and arrested him. They also searched the house and confiscated some items including cell phones belonging to his and his family.

The motive behind Rahmani’s arrest and the specific allegations against him remain undisclosed at this time. In December 2022, Rahmani and two other physicians were arrested by security forces on their trip from Tehran and Khorramabad to Mahabad. All their medical equipment and public aid collected for the people of Mahabad were seized by security forces.
Rahmani was released on bail from Mahabad Prison on January 18, 2024. After a while, Rahmani Rad was indicted of “assembly and collusion against national security” of which he was acquitted.

Taha Rasoulian Sentenced to Seven Years, Three Months in Prison

In a recent verdict issued by the Mahabad Revolutionary Court, Taha Rasoulian, a resident of Piranshahr, has been handed a sentence of seven years and three months, according to a report from Kurdpa.

This sentence encompasses three years for “membership in a political opposition party,” three years and seven months for “assembly and collusion against national security,” and an additional eight months for “spreading propaganda against the regime,” culminating in a total imprisonment period of seven years and three months.

Taha Rasoulian’s legal ordeal commenced with his arrest in Piranshahr on January 18, 2023, followed by his release on February 21, 2023.

In a separate legal case, in May 2023, Rasoulian faced a sentence from the Piranshahr Criminal Court, resulting in a fine and a punishment of 40 lashes, stemming from allegations of “disrupting public order and safety.”

Omid Mazloum Arrested in Mahabad

On July 25, security forces conducted the arrest of Omid Mazloum in Mahabad County, taking him to an undisclosed location.

A trusted source close to his family, who spoke to HRANA, disclosed that Mazloum was apprehended at his residence in a village near Mahabad. During the arrest, the agents searched his house.

It’s worth noting that Omid’s brother, Mohsen Mazloum, is a political prisoner who was arrested on September 23, 2022, along with three other individuals, Pezhman (Perjman) Fatehi, Vafa Azarbar, and Hazhir (Hajir) Faramarzi.

Following their arrest, the security-institution-affiliated news agency, Tasnim, reported on the arrest of what they referred to as a “network of Israeli spies,” implicating the aforementioned individuals. Approximately 80 days later, Iran’s state TV aired coerced confessions from them, accusing them of spying for foreign intelligence and claiming they were arrested in sensitive locations in Isfahan.

In response to these developments, Komalah (CPI), a Kurdish oppositional political party, issued a statement firmly denying all allegations and warned against potential conspiracies by intelligence institutions targeting detainees accused of being members of the party.

 

Bapir Barzeh Sentenced to Three Years in Prison

Former political prisoner Bapir Barzeh has been sentenced to three years in prison by the Mahabad Revolutionary Court.

As reported by Kurdpa, Judge Amir Ojaghlou presided over Branch 1 of the Mahabad Revolutionary Court, which found Barzeh guilty of “acting against national security through membership in an anti-regime political party.”

Additionally, Barzeh has recently received a one-year prison sentence from the Piranshahr Criminal Court.

Barzeh’s arrest took place on November 22, 2022, when security forces apprehended him without presenting an arrest warrant. He was subsequently held in a detention facility in Urmia. Throughout his detention period, reports indicate that Barzeh was denied access to legal representation and visits from his family. Finally, he was released on bail from Naqadeh prison on January 26, 2023.

It’s important to note that Barzeh has a history of previous arrests and convictions related to his activism.

Fereydoon Nabi Receives Seven-Year, Eight-Month Prison Sentence

Mahabad Revolutionary Court and Piranshahr Criminal Court have imposed a seven-year, eight-month prison sentence and fine on Fereydoon Nabi.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, sourced from Kurdpa, Fereydoon Nabi has been convicted and sentenced to imprisonment along with a financial penalty.

The Mahabad Revolutionary Court handed down a three-year, seven-month sentence for “assembly and collusion against national security,” a two-year, eleven-month sentence for “membership in an anti-regime political party,” and an additional eight-month sentence for “propaganda against the regime.” Pursuant to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the three-year, seven-month prison term will be enforceable.

Furthermore, the Piranshahr Criminal Court has sentenced Nabi to six months in prison and a fine for “carrying an illegal weapon and throwing a Molotov cocktail.”
On October 29, 2022, security forces arrested Nabi at his family residence in Piranshahr without presenting an arrest warrant. After two days of interrogation at a detention facility in Urmia, he was subsequently incarcerated in Naghadeh Prison. Nabi was eventually released on bail on May 9, 2023.