Tag: Mashhad

Three Prisoners Executed in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad

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Executions, News
HRANA, Kuhdasht, Mashhad, Rasoul Kahzadi, Vakilabad prison

HRANA – On Tuesday, November 4, three prisoners were executed in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.

According to Khorasan daily, one of the executed prisoners was identified as Majid Sh., 29 years old. The report states that in June 2021, he was arrested on charges of murdering “Reza A.”, the husband of one of his acquaintances. The crime was allegedly committed in collaboration with the victim’s wife, motivated by an extramarital relationship between the two.

Both defendants confessed to the crime after their arrest. The Criminal Court Branch One of Razavi Khorasan Province sentenced Majid to death for murder and his accomplice to a long-term prison sentence. The death sentence was later upheld by the Supreme Court and subsequently carried out.

HRANA has identified another executed prisoner as Rasoul Kahzadi, a native of Kuhdasht. According to information received by HRANA, Mr. Kahzadi was arrested in 2022 after traveling to Mashhad, where he was involved in a fatal altercation that resulted in the death of a young man. He was later sentenced to death by the Criminal Court.

The third executed prisoner had also been sentenced to death for murder.

Further details, including the identity of the third prisoner, are still under investigation by HRANA.

In 2024, according to 812 reports compiled by HRANA, the Iranian regime executed 930 individuals in its prisons, marking the highest number of executions in the past 12 years. Despite the scale of these executions, prison officials and other relevant authorities publicly acknowledged only 6% of them, highlighting the regime’s lack of transparency and accountability.

Three Prisoners, Including a Woman, Executed in Vakilabad Prison of Mashhad

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Executions, News
Mashhad, Vakilabad prison

HRANA – At dawn on Wednesday, October 29, three prisoners, including one woman, were executed in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad. These individuals had previously been sentenced to death by a criminal court on charges of murder.

HRANA has confirmed the identities of two of the executed prisoners as Saman Daliri and Katayoun Shamsi. According to information obtained by HRANA, they had been arrested earlier on murder charges and later sentenced to death by a criminal court.

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

In 2024, according to 812 reports compiled by HRANA, the Iranian regime executed 930 individuals in its prisons, marking the highest number of executions in the past 12 years. Despite the scale of these executions, prison officials and other relevant authorities publicly acknowledged only 6% of them, highlighting the regime’s lack of transparency and accountability.

Uncertainty Surrounds the Situation of Detained Citizen Arman Oskouei in Mashhad

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News, Prisoners
Arman Oskooie, Arman Oskouei, HRANA, Mashhad, آرمان اسکویی

HRANA  – Seyed Arman Oskouei, a resident of Mashhad, has been in custody for six days after being arrested by security forces in the city. His whereabouts and current condition remain unknown.

A source close to his family told HRANA:
“On Saturday, September 20, Arman Oskouei was arrested by security forces in Mashhad. Since his arrest, he has had no contact with his family. Efforts by his family to obtain information from judicial and security authorities about his fate have yielded no results. The lack of information has deepened the family’s concern for his safety.”

Further details, including the reasons for his arrest and the charges against him, are still under investigation by HRANA.

Seyed Arman Oskouei, 30, and a resident of Mashhad, was previously arrested by security forces during the nationwide protests of 2022 and later released.

Omid Fathi on Hunger Strike in Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad

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News, Prisoners
Mashhad, Omid Fathi, Vakilabad prison, امید فتحی

HRANA – Political prisoner Omid Fathi has gone on hunger strike in Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad, in protest against his poor detention conditions and the authorities’ failure to uphold the principle of separation of crimes.

A source close to his family confirmed the news to HRANA, explaining: “Mr. Fathi was recently transferred to Ward 103 of Vakilabad Prison by order of the prison’s internal management and security. He has been denied separation of crimes, and his detention conditions are harsh, particularly as he suffers from health problems, including a herniated disc. In protest against this situation, he began his hunger strike on Thursday, September 4.”

In June, Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad sentenced Fathi to a fine of 50 million tomans in lieu of six months in prison. Unable to pay the fine, he was subsequently arrested and transferred to Vakilabad Prison.

Fathi, a resident of Mashhad, has previously been targeted by security authorities in connection with his activities.

HRANA’s data from the past decade shows that during this ten-year period, over 2,050 political prisoners and prisoners of conscience in Iran prisons have been forced to go on hunger strike in protest of various abuses—including prolonged detention, being held in legal limbo, unfair trials, poor prison conditions, and being held in solitary confinement or alongside inmates convicted of violent crimes.

Two Prisoners Executed on Drug Charges in Mashhad’s Vakilabad Prison

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Executions, News
HRANA, Javad Soheili, Mashhad, Nader Sepahdar, Vakilabad prison

HRANA – At dawn on Sunday, August 17, the death sentences of two prisoners previously convicted on drug-related charges were carried out in Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad.

HRANA has confirmed the identities of the prisoners executed at dawn on Sunday, August 17, as Javad Soheili and Nader Sepahdar. According to information received by HRANA, the two had been arrested on drug-related charges and later sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court.

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

According to HRANA’s report, in 2024, over 52 percent of executed prisoners had been convicted on drug-related charges. Over the past ten years, individuals convicted of drug trafficking have accounted for 40 percent of all executions. Unfortunately, HRANA’s statistics show no progress in reducing executions for drug-related offenses.

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Prisoner Executed in Vakilabad Prison on Drug-Related Charges

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Executions, News
HRANA, Mashhad, Omid Azizian, Vakilabad prison

HRANA – At dawn on Wednesday, August 6, a prisoner who had previously been sentenced to death on drug-related charges was executed in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.

HRANA has confirmed the identity of the executed prisoner as Omid Azizian, who was hanged at dawn on Wednesday, August 6.

According to information received by HRANA, Mr. Azizzian had been arrested on drug-related charges and later sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court.

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

According to HRANA’s report, in 2024, over 52 percent of executed prisoners had been convicted on drug-related charges. Over the past ten years, individuals convicted of drug trafficking have accounted for 40 percent of all executions. Unfortunately, HRANA’s statistics show no progress in reducing executions for drug-related offenses.

4 Prisoners Executed in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad

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Executions, News
Bahman Piroozehi, Davood Najibollahi, HRANA, Mashhad, Mohammad Golestani, Reza Sarparast, Vakilabad prison

HRANA– At dawn yesterday, August 5, the death sentences of four prisoners previously convicted on drug-related charges were carried out in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.

The identities of the executed prisoners have been reported by Iran Human Rights as Reza Sarparast (30), Davood Najibollahi (40), Bahman Piroozehi (30), and Mohammad Golestani (30), all residents of Mashhad.

According to the report, these individuals had been arrested four years ago on drug-related charges and were sentenced to death in a joint case.

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

According to HRANA’s report, in 2024, over 52 percent of executed prisoners had been convicted on drug-related charges. Over the past ten years, individuals convicted of drug trafficking have accounted for 40 percent of all executions. Unfortunately, HRANA’s statistics show no progress in reducing executions for drug-related offenses.

Afghan Student Sara Gowhari Held Without Charges in Ministry of Intelligence Facility

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News, Prisoners
Mashhad, Reza Shafakhah, Sara Gohari, Sara Gowhari, Taybad

HRANA – Sara Gowhari (Gohari), an Afghan student residing in Tehran, has been detained for 12 days and remains in legal limbo at the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Mashhad.

Her attorney, Reza Shafakhah, announced yesterday that Sara informed her family during a phone call that she is being held in the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Mashhad. According to Shafakhah, her family has traveled to Mashhad to pursue her case.

Sara Gowhari was arrested on July 6 by security forces at the Taybad border while conducting independent research on the deportation of Afghan migrants from Iran.

As of the time of this report, no information has been released regarding the charges against her.

Sara Gowhari, 29, is an Afghan national and a sociology student at the University of Tehran.

Christian Convert Mehran Shamlooei Arrested in Mashhad

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News, Religious Minorities
Mashhad, Mehran Shamlooei, Tehran

HRANA – Security forces arrested Christian convert Mehran Shamlooei yesterday at Mashhad Airport and transferred him to a security detention facility in the city.

A source close to Shamlooei’s family confirmed to HRANA: “He was arrested upon entering Iran at Mashhad Airport and taken to a local security facility. As he is facing a prison sentence, the on-duty judge has ordered his transfer to Tehran on Monday.”

Shamlooei was previously sentenced by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court to 10 years and 8 months in prison, a fine of 250 million tomans, and an 11-year ban on social rights. The charges against him included “propaganda against Islamic law” and “membership in groups opposing the state.” The verdict was upheld in full by Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals on April 23, 2025.

His trial was held on February 13, 2025, following an earlier interrogation in January at Branch 3 of the Tehran Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office.

Shamlooei was last released from Evin Prison on December 1, 2024, after posting bail. He had been arrested on November 1, 2024, by Ministry of Intelligence agents for establishing a house church in Tehran and was held in Ward 209 of Evin Prison, which is operated by the Ministry.

Based on about 170 reports compiled by HRANA over the past decade, 11% of all victims of religious minority rights violations by Iran’s security-judicial apparatus were Christians—particularly Christian converts. In 2024 alone, Christians made up over 9% of those targeted.

Seyed Javad Hosseini-Nejad Sentenced to Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Fariman Dam, Javad Hosseini Nejad, Mashhad, جواد حسینی نژاد

HRANA – Seyed Javad Hosseini-Nejad, a resident of Mashhad, has been sentenced to three months and one day in prison by the city’s Criminal Court.

On June 30, Branch 133 of the Second Criminal Court of Mashhad County convicted Hosseini-Nejad on the charge of “spreading falsehoods.” The verdict was based on a video he recently produced in response to the drying of the Fariman Dam.

Hosseini-Nejad, approximately 37 years old, is a father of one and resides in Mashhad. He has a history of arrest and conviction related to his activism.