Tag: Mohammad Amin Mahdavi Shayesteh

Monthly Report – June 2025: Human Rights Situation in Iran

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News, Other
Azad Shojaei, Edris (Idris) Ali, Majid Mosayebi, Mohammad Amin Mahdavi Shayesteh, Mojahed Korkor, Rasoul Ahmad

HRANA News Agency has compiled this monthly overview to highlight key human rights abuses reported across Iran in June. This month, following the outbreak of the Iran-Israel war, Iran witnessed a widespread wave of arrests on national security charges (espionage) or for expressing opinions about the war.

Executions

During this month, Iranian prison authorities executed 98 individuals, marking a 37% decrease compared to the previous month. Notably, eight of those executed were Afghan nationals. Of the total, 86 were men, while the lack of transparency in reporting by Iran’s judicial authorities has left the gender of 12 executed individuals still unknown.

Of those executed, 42 were hanged on drug-related charges, 33 for murder, two for rape, and thirteen on charges of “corruption on earth” (a political charge).

The most prominent case of a political execution was that of Mojahed Korkor, who was sentenced to death for alleged involvement in the killing of Kian Pirfalak, a child who died during the nationwide protests. This accusation was made despite the Pirfalak family rejecting the claim. Kian’s mother has repeatedly stated that “as we were returning home, security forces opened fire on our vehicle.”

Amid the 12-day war between Israel and Iran, Iranian authorities carried out the executions of five individuals previously sentenced to death on charges of espionage and collaboration with Israel. The executed were: Mohammad-Amin Mahdavi Shayesteh, Majid Mosayebi, Edris (Idris) Ali, Azad Shojaei, and Rasoul Ahmad.

This month, death sentences were also issued for two men and one woman, all on murder charges.

Freedom of Thought and Expression

In June, security forces arrested 45 individuals for expressing their opinions and beliefs. Two notable examples include the arrest of Tehran-based singer Danial Moghaddam and Behnaz Mahjoubi, the sister of Behnam Mahjoubi, a deceased Gonabadi dervish. Additionally, 11 individuals were summoned to court and three others were summoned by security agencies for expressing their opinions and beliefs. Seven people were also tried on similar grounds. There have also been reports of beatings by security forces.

With the onset of the Israel-Iran war, the regime’s security apparatus launched widespread arrests of citizens on national security-related charges. According to HRANA’s statistics, 1,295 people were arrested on charges such as espionage for Israel, drone operation, arms trafficking, and acts against national security. Additionally, at least 301 individuals were detained for expressing opinions or sharing content about the war on social media. Read more in HRANA’s detailed report on the war-related arrests.

In June, the Iranian judiciary sentenced twenty Iranian citizens to a total of 228 months in prison on charges indicative of violations of free expression. Of this total, 36 months were suspended sentences.

Women’s Rights

In the past month, the murder of four women and one case of rape were reported. Additionally, a man was killed in a so-called honor-related incident.

Workers’ Rights

In June, HRANA reported 13 labor protests and 23 labor strikes. Regarding workplace incidents, 17 workers lost their lives and 44 others were injured. The deadliest incident was a fire at Kaveh Methanol Petrochemical Plant in the city of Dayyer, which resulted in the death or injury of 13 workers.

HRANA’s reports also recorded wage arrears affecting 4,057 workers during the month.

In June, guilds and unions held 47 protest gatherings. Twenty-seven individuals were summoned to court, 11 were tried, and one person was arrested. In terms of prison sentences, two retirees of the Social Security Organization, Mohammad Zaman Kamrava and Morad Zohrabi, were each sentenced to two years in prison by the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court.

Children’s Rights

This month, one case of child suicide was reported. According to the report, a 15-year-old boy ended his life after being sexually assaulted by two individuals. In Mashhad, a 17-year-old boy was also murdered in an honor-related incident. Additionally, two cases of child sexual abuse were reported during the month.

Religious Minorities

In June, the repression of religious minorities in Iran intensified. Thirty-seven individuals were arrested. Following the outbreak of the Iran-Israel war, 35 Iranian Jews were also summoned and interrogated by security agencies. The homes of three members of religious minorities were searched by security forces.

Iranian judicial authorities also sentenced ten members of religious minorities to a total of 1,091 months in prison. The most significant case involved the sentencing of six Baháʼí women in Hamedan to over 38 years in prison.

Ethnic Rights

In June, seven individuals from ethnic minorities or minority rights activists were arrested by security forces. In three of these cases, the security forces did not present any arrest warrants.

Kolbars and Fuel Carriers

This month, indiscriminate shootings by military forces claimed the lives of seven individuals. Among the victims were a kolbar and three fuel carriers (sookhtbars). These shootings also injured three people, including one kolbar and one fuel carrier.

In one example, military forces opened fire on the fuel carriers at a checkpoint in Bam County without issuing a prior stop or warning. The shooting caused their vehicle to catch fire. In this incident, one fuel carrier was killed and another was injured.

Prisoners’ Rights

In Iran, prisoners’ rights are routinely violated, with widespread reports of unfair legal proceedings and prolonged legal uncertainty. In June, HRANA reported 74 cases of political detainees being held in legal limbo. In 41 of these arrests, the regime’s security and judicial bodies provided no information to families about the detainees’ conditions. One hundred prisoners and detainees were denied the right to contact or visitation, and 11 individuals were transferred to solitary confinement. Reports also indicated that at least 120 political prisoners or prisoners of conscience were being held in poor conditions.
Two cases of prisoner deaths—both political and non-political—were also reported.

Inhuman Punishment

In violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which strictly prohibits inhumane and degrading treatment, Iran’s judiciary issued sentences totaling 99 lashes this month, and two amputation sentences were carried out.

Monthly Report – May 2025: Human Rights Situation in Iran

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News, Other
Ahmadreza Djalali, Delfan Prison, Ghezel Hesar prison, HRANA, Mohammad Amin Mahdavi Shayesteh, Pedram Madani, Peyman Farah-Avar, Rouya Sabet

HRANA News Agency  has compiled this monthly overview to highlight key human rights abuses reported across Iran in May. The execution of 157 individuals in May alone reflects a deeply alarming upward trend. If this pace continues, Iran is on track to record the highest number of executions in recent years.

Also concerning this month were the rise in arrests related to freedom of expression and belief, as well as the increase in casualties from indiscriminate shootings by military forces.

Executions

In May, HRANA reported the execution of 157 inmates across Iranian prisons—the highest monthly total since the beginning of the year. Among those executed were eight women, while the gender of three individuals remains unknown.

Most of the executions were carried out for murder (71 cases) and drug-related offenses (68 cases). Additionally, five individuals were executed on charges of rape, and three on non-political charges of corruption on earth. The charges against nine executed prisoners remain undisclosed, highlighting the Iranian regime’s lack of transparency in disseminating information.

Separately, on May 28, a prisoner named Pedram Madani was hanged in Ghezel Hesar Prison on charges of spying for Israel. A day before his execution, his mother released a video denouncing the legal proceedings in her son’s case as unjust.

Although public executions have decreased by approximately 90 percent over the past five years compared to the previous five-year period, the public hanging of a prisoner this month in Delfan Prison, Lorestan Province on May 27, indicates the Iranian judiciary’s continued insistence on such practices.

This Month, the Iranian judiciary sentenced twelve individuals to death. The most prominent cases included the Supreme Court’s upholding of the death sentence for political prisoner Mohammad-Amin Mahdavi Shayesteh, and the issuance of a death sentence for Gilan-based poet Peyman (Amin) Farah-Avar on charges of baghi (armed rebellion) and moharebeh (enmity against God). According to a source familiar with the case who spoke to HRANA, the charges against the poet stem from his protest-related activities and poems focused on social justice and civil rights.

Aside from these two cases, seven of the twelve individuals were sentenced to death on murder charges, while three others received death sentences on charges of spreading corruption on earth.

Freedom of Thought and Expression

According to reports received by HRANA, Iranian security agencies arrested 75 individuals in May for expressing their beliefs and opinions, bringing the total number of such arrests since the beginning of the year to 292. Twenty of these arrests were carried out solely for supporting the widespread truckers’ strike.

In addition, for similar reasons, four people were summoned by intelligence agencies, seven were summoned to court, and another seven stood trial. Security forces also searched the homes of four individuals.

In May, the Iranian judiciary sentenced twenty Iranian citizens to a total of 866 months in prison on charges indicative of violations of free expression. Of this total, 36 months were suspended sentences. In addition to the prison terms, the courts also issued sentences of ten lashes and twelve months of exile. One example is the sentencing of Taher Haji Ghorbani to 14 years and 2 months in prison on charges including insulting sacred beliefs, propaganda against the regime, and spreading false information.

As another example of violations against the right to freedom of expression, police and security forces of the regime prevented six peaceful gatherings from taking place during the month.

Women’s Rights

In May, seven more women were murdered, two of which are classified as so-called “honor killings.” Since the beginning of this year, HRANA has reported five such cases. Last year, that number reached 37—another indication of the lack of adequate legal protection for women in Iran.

Women’s rights activists were collectively sentenced to 31 months in prison during May.

Additionally, Masoumeh Soleimani, a world medalist in women’s wrestling, is now facing legal action for what authorities described as “encouraging women to remove their hijab.”

Workers’ Rights

May saw a 64% increase in labor protests, with 56 recorded gatherings compared to the previous month. More notably, the month witnessed 245 labor strikes across the country, particularly among truck drivers. Truckers across Iran launched a sweeping protest movement that began on May 22 and has now spread to at least 163 cities. Fueled by growing frustration over soaring operational costs, plummeting freight rates, deteriorating living conditions, and the government’s persistent disregard for their demands, drivers have staged widespread shutdowns by parking their trucks and halting services nationwide. For details, see HRANA’s report.

In this month, 21 workers lost their lives in workplace accidents, and 41 others were injured.

Although the International Labour Organization (ILO) does not rank Iran in terms of occupational safety due to insufficient data, an analysis based on statistics gathered by HRANA places Iran 97th out of 109 countries in terms of workplace accident fatalities—a notably low ranking. According to these figures, in the past year, roughly 9 out of every 100,000 workers in Iran died in workplace accidents.

Another example highlighting the lack of legal protection for workers was the dismissal of at least 40 employees from the Aria Steel Factory in Ardestan.

HRANA has also documented further labor rights violations, including unpaid wages for 4,315 workers, 180 cases of job suspension, one trial, and one court summons related to labor matters.

In May, guilds and unions held 160 protest gatherings—more than three times the number recorded in the previous month. One strike was also reported during this period. Also, security forces arrested seven individuals, including four teachers who were detained during a Labor Day protest in Tehran.

Other reported violations against guilds and unions include one case of a home search and one report of physical assault by police or security forces.

Children’s Rights

HRANA’s reports on violations of children’s rights over the past month include two cases of child suicide, four cases of child murder, two cases of sexual abuse, and three cases of domestic violence involving children. The most tragic incident occurred in the city of Mianeh, where a man killed his three children—aged 4, 7, and 10—before taking his own life.

In addition to these cases, the negligence of responsible institutions led to the death of one child and injuries to 13 others. HRANA also reported three cases of children being arrested by security forces.

Religious Minorities

This month, nine members of religious minorities faced a total of 672 months of imprisonment, fines, and other supplementary punishments—the highest recorded since the beginning of the current year. Among the harshest sentences was that of Rouya Sabet, a Baha’i citizen, who was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Two Christian converts, Mehdi Rahimi and Kia Nourinia, were each sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Additionally, six members of religious minorities were arrested this month, and three others were sent to prison to begin serving their sentences.

Other violations of religious minority rights reported by HRANA this month include: 19 home raids, 41 summonses by security agencies, one interrogation, and four cases of bans from economic activity.

Ethnic Rights

In May, according to HRANA’s reports, fourteen individuals were arrested by security forces for reasons related to ethnic rights activism. In five cases, the arrests were carried out arbitrarily and without a warrant.

Also this month, the five years and six months prison sentence of Vadood Asadi, an Azerbaijani-Turk activist currently held in Evin Prison, was fully upheld by Branch 11 of the Gilan Province Court of Appeals.

Other ethnic minority rights violations reported by HRANA this month include two home raids, two summonses by security agencies, and one case of interrogation.

Prisoners’ Rights

In Iran, prisoners’ rights are routinely violated, with widespread reports of unfair legal proceedings and prolonged legal uncertainty. In just the past month, documented violations include: two cases of assault, denial of medical care to seven prisoners, 54 cases of legal limbo, 28 instances where detainees’ families were kept uninformed about their condition or whereabouts, 31 transfers to solitary confinement, one case of denied access to legal counsel, one ban on phone calls, four forced relocations, and 10 cases of threats or coercion against inmates.

In protest against the violation of their rights, four prisoners went on hunger strike this month. Additionally, one case of suicide and one death due to illness and inadequate medical care were reported.

An example of prisoners’ rights violations was the denial of proper medical treatment to Ahmadreza Djalali (Jalali), a dual-national political prisoner sentenced to death, following a cardiac episode.

Kolbars and Fuel Carriers

In the past month, indiscriminate shootings by military and police forces claimed more civilian lives than the previous month. Eleven citizens—including five kolbars and three fuel carriers—were killed, and sixteen others, including two kolbars and one fuel carrier, were injured.

Also this month, a landmine left over from the Iran-Iraq war exploded in Marivan County, killing two conscripted soldiers. Two other border guard personnel, including one conscript, were injured.

Inhuman Punishment

In violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which strictly prohibits inhumane and degrading treatment, Iran’s judiciary issued sentences totaling 74 lashes this month.

The Latest Comprehensive List of 54 Political and Security Prisoners Sentenced to Death in Iran

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Executions, Freedom of Expression, News
Abbas Deris, Abbas Korkor, Abdolhakim Azim Gorgij, Abdolrahim Ghanbarzahi, Abdolrahman Gorgij, Adham Naroui, Adnan Ghabishavi, Ahmadreza Jalali, Akbar Daneshvarkar, Ali Mojdam, Ali Obeidavi, Alireza Barmerzpournak, Alireza Kafaei, Amir-Mohammad Khosh Eghbal, Azad Shojaei, Babak Alipour, Behrouz Ehsani, Edris Ali, Eido Shah-Bakhsh, Farhad Shakri, Farshid Hassanzahi, Gorgij Abdolghani Shah-Bakhsh, Habib Deris, Hamid Hossein-Nezhad Heidaranlou, Hatam Ozdemir, Hossein Nemati, Isa Eidmohammadi, Malek Ali Fadaei Nasab, Malek Davarshenas, Mehdi Hassani, Milad Armon, Moein Khenafri, Mohammad Amin Mahdavi Shayesteh, Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani, Mohammad Mehdi Soleimani, Mohammad Reza Moghadam, Mohammad Zeynaldini, Naser Bakirzadeh, Navid Najaran, Pakhshan Azizi, Pouya Ghabadi Biston, Rasoul Ahmad Mohammad, Salem Mousavi, Saman Mohammadi Khiyareh, Seyed Abolhasan Montazer, Seyed Mohammad Taghavi Sangdehi, Shahin Vasaf, Shahriar Bayat, Soleiman Shah-Bakhsh, Taj Mohammad Khormal, Vahid Bani-Amirian, Varisheh Moradi, Yousef Ahmadi

HRANA News Agency –Recent investigations by HRANA reveal that at least 54 prisoners across Iran have been sentenced to death on political or security-related charges. The findings show that some of these sentences have been upheld by the Supreme Court and forwarded to execution branches. Of these, at least 24 were sentenced to death by Tehran’s Revolutionary and Criminal Courts, while the remaining 30 are concentrated in provinces such as Khuzestan, Razavi Khorasan, West Azerbaijan, Sistan and Baluchestan, and Kurdistan.

HRANA’s research highlights serious due process violations in many of these cases. Prisoners were frequently denied fair trials, including restricted or outright denial of access to legal representation and a lack of transparency in judicial proceedings. Some were denied access to their chosen attorneys, while in other instances, judicial authorities blocked meetings between prisoners and their lawyers. A significant number of these individuals, who denied the charges against them, were sentenced to death following opaque and unjust trials. Reports further indicate that some of these prisoners are currently held in solitary confinement, awaiting execution.

Investigations show that judges in Tehran courts have issued the majority of death sentences for these prisoners. The main charge against them is cited as “Baghi” (armed rebellion or uprising against the government). Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Abolghasem Salavati, and Branch 26, led by Judge Iman Afshari, have played significant roles in issuing these sentences. In Urmia, sentences against prisoners, including porters accused of espionage for Israel, have been issued by Branch 3 of the Urmia Revolutionary Court.

Some death sentences were reissued in equivalent-level courts after being overturned by the Supreme Court. For example, Hatem Özdemir and Abbas (Mojahid) Korkor (Korkori) were resentenced to death in equivalent courts following the annulment of their initial sentences. Similarly, Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani was sentenced to death for the third time during judicial proceedings.

While certain individuals have been accused of espionage, the Iranian government’s track record of leveraging such charges as a political tool against dissidents raises serious doubts about these allegations. The use of the death penalty in cases shrouded in secrecy and lacking transparency only exacerbates concerns.

Lawyers for some of these prisoners have repeatedly asserted that their clients were sentenced to death in unfair judicial processes that failed to meet fair trial standards. For instance, in the case of Pakhshan Azizi, her lawyers stated that the evidence presented to the Supreme Court demonstrated that she had no involvement in military activities and was solely engaged in humanitarian efforts in refugee camps for those displaced by ISIS. They expressed concern over the potential rushed handling of the case and called for a thorough and fair review of the evidence.

This report focuses on the human consequences of these cases, identifying the names and examining the latest legal statuses of 54 prisoners sentenced to death on political and security-related charges.

 

1. Varisheh Moradi

  • Prison: Evin Prison
  • Main Charge: Baghi (armed rebellion)
  • Court: Branch 15, Tehran Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Initial death sentence issued
Varisheh Moradi was arrested by security forces in the suburbs of Sanandaj on August 1, 2023. She was transferred to the women’s ward of Evin Prison on December 26. In November, 2024, she was sentenced to death by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Abolghasem Salavati, on charges including membership in an opposition group and Baghi.

 

2. Pakhshan Azizi

  • Prison: Evin Prison
  • Main Charge: Baghi
  • Court: Branch 26, Tehran Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Death sentence issued and upheld by the Supreme Court
Pakhshan Azizi, a resident of Mahabad, was arrested in Tehran on August 4, 2023, and transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison. After four months of interrogation, she was moved to the women’s ward. On July 24, 2023, Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, sentenced her to death and four years of imprisonment on charges of Baghi through membership in opposition groups. Her case has been recently upheld by the Supreme Court.

 

 

3. Akbar Daneshvar-Kar

  • Prison: Evin Prison
  • Main Charge: Baghi
  • Court: Branch 26, Tehran Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Initial death sentence issued
4. Seyed Mohammad Taghavi Sangdehi

  • Prison: Evin Prison
  • Main Charge: Baghi
  • Court: Branch 26, Tehran Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Initial death sentence issued
5. Babak Alipour

  • Prison: Evin Prison
  • Main Charge: Baghi
  • Court: Branch 26, Tehran Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Initial death sentence issued
6. Pouya Ghobadi Bistoni

  • Prison: Evin Prison
  • Main Charge: Baghi
  • Court: Branch 26, Tehran Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Initial death sentence issued
7. Vahid Bani-Amerian

  • Prison: Evin Prison
  • Main Charge: Baghi
  • Court: Branch 26, Tehran Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Initial death sentence issued
8. Seyed Abolhasan Montazer

  • Prison: Evin Prison
  • Main Charge: Baghi
  • Court: Branch 26, Tehran Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Initial death sentence issued
Vahid Bani-Amerian and Seyed Abolhasan Montazer were arrested in December 2022, and Babak Alipour was detained in autumn 2023 in Tehran. Pouya Ghobadi and Seyed Mohammad Taghavi were arrested in Chaldoran, and Akbar Daneshvar-Kar was detained on February 23, 2024, by security forces and transferred to Evin Prison.

In December 2024, Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, sentenced these six political prisoners to death on charges including Baghi (armed rebellion) through membership in opposition groups, conspiracy to disrupt national security, formation of illegal groups, destruction of public property, and illegal border crossing.

Additionally, they received supplementary sentences:

  • Akbar Daneshvarkar and Seyed Mohammad Taghavi Sangdehi: 15 years imprisonment each.
  • Babak Alipour: 5 years imprisonment and 20 years exile in Khash.
  • Pouya Ghobadi Bistoni: 1 year imprisonment.
  • Vahid Bani-Amerian: 5 years imprisonment.
  • Seyed Abolhasan Montazer: 5 years imprisonment.

 

9. Eido Shah-Bakhsh

  • Prison: Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj
  • Main Charge: Baghi (armed rebellion)
  • Court: Branch 28, Tehran Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Sentence upheld by the Supreme Court; referred to the execution branch
10. Abdolghani Shah-Bakhsh

  • Prison: Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj
  • Main Charge: Baghi
  • Court: Branch 28, Tehran Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Sentence upheld by the Supreme Court; referred to the execution branch
11. Abdolrahim Ghanbarzahi Gorgij (Rahim Mirbaloch)

  • Prison: Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj
  • Main Charge: Baghi
  • Court: Branch 28, Tehran Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Sentence upheld by the Supreme Court; referred to the execution branch
12. Soleiman Shah-Bakhsh

  • Prison: Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj
  • Main Charge: Baghi
  • Court: Branch 28, Tehran Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Sentence upheld by the Supreme Court; referred to the execution branch
These individuals were arrested in 2012. Many of their court sessions were irregular, and some defendants, such as Eido Shah-Bakhsh and Abdolghani Shah-Bakhsh, were acquitted by Branch 1 of the Zahedan Revolutionary Court but were rearrested in 2016 following objections from security agencies. On February 4, 2024, Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Mohammad Reza Amozad Khalili, sentenced them to death for Baghi through membership in opposition groups and armed rebellion against the regime. The Supreme Court’s Branch 32 upheld their death sentences, and the cases were referred to the first branch of the Tehran Security Prosecutor’s Execution Office.

 

13. Milad Armoun

  • Prison: Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj
  • Main Charge: Participation in murder and intentional assault
  • Court: Branch 13, Tehran Criminal Court One
  • Case Status: Initial death sentence issued
14. Alireza Kafaei

  • Prison: Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj
  • Main Charge: Participation in murder and intentional assault
  • Court: Branch 13, Tehran Criminal Court One
  • Case Status: Initial death sentence issued
15. Amir Mohammad Khosh-Eghbal

  • Prison: Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj
  • Main Charge: Participation in murder and intentional assault
  • Court: Branch 13, Tehran Criminal Court One
  • Case Status: Initial death sentence issued
16. Navid Najaran

  • Prison: Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj
  • Main Charge: Participation in murder and intentional assault
  • Court: Branch 13, Tehran Criminal Court One
  • Case Status: Initial death sentence issued
17. Hossein Nemati

  • Prison: Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj
  • Main Charge: Participation in murder and intentional assault
  • Court: Branch 13, Tehran Criminal Court One
  • Case Status: Initial death sentence issued
18. Alireza Barmarz Pournak

  • Prison: Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj
  • Main Charge: Participation in murder and intentional assault
  • Court: Branch 13, Tehran Criminal Court One
  • Case Status: Initial death sentence issued
Milad Armoun, Alireza Kafaei, Amir Mohammad Khosh-Eghbal, Navid Najaran, Hossein Nemati, and Alireza Barmerz Pournak are defendants in the so-called “Ekbatan Complex” case. They were arrested in 2022 during nationwide protests after the killing of a Basij militia member named Arman Ali Vardi in Ekbatan Complex. In November 2024, Branch 13 of Tehran Criminal Court One sentenced each of them to death for “participation in murder and intentional assault.”

 

19. Edris Ali

  • Prison: Urmia Prison
  • Main Charge: Espionage
  • Court: Branch 3, Urmia Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Initial death sentence issued
20. Azad Shojaei

  • Prison: Urmia Prison
  • Main Charge: Espionage
  • Court: Branch 3, Urmia Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Initial death sentence issued
21. Rasoul Ahmad Mohammad

  • Prison: Urmia Prison
  • Main Charge: Espionage
  • Court: Branch 3, Urmia Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Initial death sentence issued
Edris (Idris) Ali, Azad Shojaei, and Rasoul Ahmad Mohammad were arrested earlier this year and transferred to Urmia Prison. In November, 2024, the judiciary spokesperson announced their death sentences, claiming they were involved in espionage and, under the guise of alcohol smuggling, transported “assassination equipment” intended for a senior official of Iran’s nuclear program. The sentences were issued by Branch 3 of the Urmia Revolutionary Court.

 

22. Behrooz Ehsani

  • Prison: Evin Prison
  • Main Charge: Baghi (armed rebellion)
  • Court: Branch 26, Tehran Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: death sentence upheld by the Supreme Court
23. Mehdi Hassani

  • Prison: Evin Prison
  • Main Charge: Baghi
  • Court: Branch 26, Tehran Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: death sentence upheld by the Supreme Court
Behrooz Ehsani was arrested on November 28, 2022, at his home in Tehran and transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison. Mehdi Hassani was arrested on September 9, 2022, while attempting to leave the country in Zanjan and later transferred to Evin Prison. In September 2024, Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, sentenced them to death. The charges included “Baghi, Moharebeh (enmity against God), spreading corruption on earth, membership in opposition groups, gathering classified information, and collusion against national security.” On January 8, 2025, the Supreme Court upheld their death sentences.

 

24. Hamid Hossein-Nezhad Heidaranlou

  • Prison: Urmia Prison
  • Main Charge: Baghi
  • Court: Branch 1, Urmia Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Death sentence issued, referred to the Supreme Court
Hamid Hossein-Nezhad Heidaranlou was arrested in April 2023 at the Chaldoran border by border guards. He was reportedly subjected to physical and psychological torture in the detention center of the Urmia Intelligence Office to extract a forced confession regarding participation in armed clashes between opposition parties and border forces. He was later transferred to Urmia Prison. In July 2024, Branch 1 of the Urmia Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Najafzadeh, sentenced him to death for Baghi through membership in opposition parties. His case has been referred to the Supreme Court.

 

25. Hatem Özdemir

  • Prison: Urmia Prison
  • Main Charge: Moharebeh (waging war against God)
  • Court: Branch 3, Urmia Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Death sentence upheld by the Supreme Court
Hatem Özdemir was arrested in Maku in early summer 2019 by security forces and transferred to the political ward of Urmia Prison after two months. Initially sentenced to death for Baghi by the Khoy Revolutionary Court in late winter 2021, his sentence was overturned by the Supreme Court and sent for retrial. In May 2024, he was resentenced to death for Moharebeh by Branch 3 of the Urmia Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Najafzadeh. The sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court in September 2023.

 

26. Mehrab (Mehran) Abdollahzadeh

  • Prison: Urmia Prison
  • Main Charge: Baghi
  • Court: Urmia Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Initial death sentence issued
Mehrab (Mehran) Abdollahzadeh was arrested during the nationwide protests of 2022 and transferred to Urmia Prison. He was later sentenced to death by the Urmia Revolutionary Court, accused of killing a Basij militia member, leading to charges of Baghi and his death sentence.

 

27. Naser Bekrzadeh

  • Prison: Urmia Prison
  • Main Charge: Espionage
  • Court: Branch 3, Urmia Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Initial death sentence issued
Naser Bekrzadeh, 25, a resident of Urmia, was arrested in January 2024 by security forces and transferred to the city’s prison. In mid-November 2024, Branch 3 of the Urmia Revolutionary Court sentenced him to death. The judiciary media center claimed he was charged with “espionage for Israel and collaboration with Mossad.”

 

28. Shahin Vasaf

  • Prison: Urmia Prison
  • Main Charge: Espionage
  • Court: Branch 3, Urmia Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Initial death sentence issued
Shahin Vasaf, 28, a resident of Salmas and Urmia, was arrested in September 2022 by security forces. After completing his interrogation at the Urmia Intelligence Office, he was transferred to Urmia Prison. In October 2023, he was sentenced to death by Branch 3 of the Urmia Revolutionary Court for “espionage for Israel.”

 

29. Shahriar Bayat

  • Prison: Evin Prison
  • Main Charge: Sab-al-Nabi (blasphemy against the Prophet)
  • Court: Branch 13, Tehran Criminal Court One
  • Case Status: Initial death sentence issued
Shahriar Bayat, 64, was arrested at his home in Shahriar on September 25, 2022, during nationwide protests. Initially transferred to Greater Tehran Prison and later to Evin Prison, he faced multiple charges in two cases. On March 1, 2023, Branch 1 of the Shahriar Revolutionary Court sentenced him to a total of 18 years imprisonment for charges including “propaganda against the regime,” “insulting the founder of the Islamic Republic,” “collusion against national security,” and “forming and managing illegal groups.” On March, 2024, Branch 13 of Tehran Criminal Court One sentenced him to death for “insulting the prophet of Islam and Islamic sanctities” through online posts and content.

 

30. Farshid Hassan Zahi

  • Prison: Ward 9, Zahedan Prison
  • Main Charge: Moharebeh (waging war against God)
  • Court: Branch 1, Zahedan Criminal Court
  • Case Status: Death sentence issued, referred to Branch 32 of the Supreme Court
Farshid Hassan Zahi, son of Hanif, was arrested on November 24, 2022, in the village of Cheshmeh Ziarat, Zahedan, by security forces. He was accused of “shooting at a police vehicle in Cheshmeh Ziarat, killing soldier Behzad Barahouyi, and injuring lieutenant Mehdi Hashem Zehi.” He is currently held in Ward 9 of Zahedan Prison. The court session that led to his death sentence was conducted online, without the presence of his defense attorney.

 

31. Mohammad Zeyneddini

  • Prison: Ward 9, Zahedan Prison
  • Main Charge: Moharebeh
  • Court: Branch 1, Zahedan Criminal Court
  • Case Status: Death sentence upheld by the Supreme Court
32. Adham Naroui

  • Prison: Ward 9, Zahedan Prison
  • Main Charge: Moharebeh
  • Court: Branch 1, Zahedan Criminal Court
  • Case Status: Death sentence upheld by the Supreme Court
Mohammad Zeyneddini was arrested in October 2020, and Adham Naroui was detained on May 25, 2021, in Lashar, Espakeh County, by security forces. Their cases, initially investigated by Branch 6 of the Zahedan Prosecutor’s Office, were later referred to Branch 1 of Zahedan Criminal Court for the killing of three security forces. In early 2023, both were sentenced to death by the court for “Moharebeh through armed action.” Their sentences were upheld by the Supreme Court on November 19, 2023.

 

33. Mohammad Javad Vafaei Thani

  • Prison: Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad
  • Main Charge: Corruption on Earth through arson and deliberate destruction of specific sites
  • Court: Branch 2, Mashhad Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Initial death sentence issued
Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani, a 28-year-old boxing coach, was arrested in March 2020 in Mashhad by security forces and transferred to Vakilabad Prison. In January 2022, he was sentenced to death by Branch 4 of Mashhad Revolutionary Court for “corruption on earth through arson and deliberate destruction of specific sites, including a government building.” The sentence was overturned by the Supreme Court, and the case was sent for retrial. In August 2023, Branch 2 of Mashhad Revolutionary Court reissued the death sentence. This was again overturned by the Supreme Court, but in September 2023, Branch 3 of Mashhad Revolutionary Court sentenced him to death for a third time. His lawyer, Babak Paknia, criticized the decision, stating the court ignored the Supreme Court’s reasoning.

 

34. Abbas Deris

  • Prison: Mahshahr Prison
  • Main Charge: Moharebeh
  • Court: Branch 1, Mahshahr Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Death sentence upheld by the Supreme Court; retrial request denied
Abbas Deris was arrested on December 8, 2019, alongside his brother Mohsen by intelligence agents. In October 2022, he was sentenced to death for Moharebeh by Branch 1 of Mahshahr Revolutionary Court. This was upheld by the Supreme Court in July 2023. After a retrial request in July 2023, the Supreme Court temporarily suspended the sentence but ultimately rejected the request in February 2024. His lawyer has filed for judicial review under Article 477. In another case, he was sentenced to 14 years for murder and weapons possession. Abbas Deris, a father of three, has denied involvement in arson and road blockades during protests in November 2019.

 

35. Ahmadreza Jalali (Djalali) 

  • Prison: Evin Prison
  • Main Charge: Espionage
  • Court: Not specified
  • Case Status: Death sentence upheld by the Supreme Court
Ahmadreza Jalali, a dual-national academic, was arrested in April 2016 during a visit to Iran upon the invitation of Tehran University. He was later sentenced to death for espionage. The Supreme Court upheld his sentence in December 2017. The judiciary spokesperson, Zabihollah Khodaian, confirmed in May 10, 2023, that the sentence is final and enforceable.

 

36. Yousef Ahmadi

  • Prison: Sanandaj Prison
  • Main Charge: Baghi (armed rebellion)
  • Court: Branch 1, Sanandaj Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Death sentence upheld by the Supreme Court
Yousef Ahmadi, along with three co-defendants in a joint case, was arrested in April 2020 on suspicion of “collaborating with a Kurdish opposition party.” In September 2023, Branch 1 of the Sanandaj Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Saeedi, sentenced Ahmadi to death for Baghi and sentenced the other three co-defendants to long prison terms for complicity. The Supreme Court upheld Ahmadi’s death sentence in February 2024.

 

37. Mohammad Mehdi Soleimani

  • Prison: Ward 1, Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad
  • Main Charge: Killing a Basij member
  • Court: Branch 5, Khorasan Razavi Criminal Court One
  • Case Status: Initial death sentence issued
State media reported that an individual identified as “Mohammad Mehdi-S” was sentenced to death by Branch 5 of the Khorasan Razavi Criminal Court for the killing of Basij member Rasoul Doost Mohammadi during the 2022 nationwide protests. He was also sentenced to flogging (74 lashes) and imprisonment for possession of explosives and incendiary materials. HRANA confirmed his identity as Mohammad Mehdi Soleimani, currently held in Ward 1 of Vakilabad Prison.

 

38. Ali Mojdam

  • Prison: Sepidar Prison, Ahvaz
  • Main Charge: Leadership and membership in a Baghi group
  • Court: Ahvaz Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Death sentence under review by the Supreme Court
39. Mohammadreza Moghadam

  • Prison: Sepidar Prison, Ahvaz
  • Main Charge: Leadership and membership in a Baghi group
  • Court: Ahvaz Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Death sentence under review by the Supreme Court
40. Moein Khanfari

  • Prison: Sepidar Prison, Ahvaz
  • Main Charge: Membership in a Baghi group
  • Court: Ahvaz Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Death sentence under review by the Supreme Court
41. Adnan Ghobeishavi

  • Prison: Sepidar Prison, Ahvaz
  • Main Charge: Membership in a Baghi group
  • Court: Ahvaz Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Death sentence under review by the Supreme Court
42. Salem Mousavi

  • Prison: Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz
  • Main Charge: Membership in a Baghi group
  • Court: Ahvaz Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Death sentence under review by the Supreme Court
43. Habib Deris

  • Prison: Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz
  • Main Charge: Membership in a Baghi group
  • Court: Ahvaz Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Death sentence under review by the Supreme Court
Ali Mojdam, Mohammadreza Moghadam, Moein Khanfari, Habib Deris, Adnan Ghobeishavi, and Salem Mousavi were arrested in February 2019 by security forces in Khuzestan. In March 2023, Mojdam and Moghadam were sentenced to death for leadership and membership in the “armed branch of Harakat al-Nazal al-Arabi,” accused of armed opposition to the Islamic Republic. The others were sentenced to death for membership in the same group. Their cases are currently under review by the Supreme Court. In late October 2024, Mojdam, Moghadam, Khanfari, and Ghobeishavi were transferred from Sheiban Prison to Sepidar Prison in Ahvaz.

 

44. Farhad Shakeri

  • Prison: Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad
  • Main Charge: Baghi (armed rebellion) through membership in a Salafi group
  • Court: Branch 4, Mashhad Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Death sentence upheld by the Supreme Court
45. Isa Eidmohammadi

  • Prison: Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad
  • Main Charge: Baghi through membership in a Salafi group
  • Court: Branch 4, Mashhad Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Death sentence upheld by the Supreme Court
46. Abdolrahman Gorgij

  • Prison: Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad
  • Main Charge: Baghi through membership in a Salafi group
  • Court: Branch 4, Mashhad Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Death sentence upheld by the Supreme Court
47. Abdolhakim Azim Gorgij

  • Prison: Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad
  • Main Charge: Baghi through membership in a Salafi group
  • Court: Branch 4, Mashhad Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Death sentence upheld by the Supreme Court
48. Taj Mohammad Khormali

  • Prison: Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad
  • Main Charge: Baghi through membership in a Salafi group
  • Court: Branch 4, Mashhad Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Death sentence upheld by the Supreme Court
49. Malek Ali Fadaei Nasab

  • Prison: Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad
  • Main Charge: Baghi through membership in a Salafi group
  • Court: Branch 4, Mashhad Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Death sentence upheld by the Supreme Court
Malek Ali Fadaei Nasab (a Shia Muslim), Isa Eidmohammadi, Farhad Shakeri, Abdolhakim Azim Gorgij, Abdolrahman Gorgij, Taj Mohammad Khormal (Sunni Muslims), and others were arrested in 2015 by the Intelligence Ministry. They were transferred to Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad a year later. In 2019, Branch 1 of the Mashhad Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Mahmoud Davoodabadi, sentenced several of them to death for “Baghi through membership in the Salafi group Al-Furqan and the National Solidarity Front of Sunni Muslims in Iran.”

In December 31, 2020, the death sentences for Hamid Rast Bala, Kabir Saadat Jahani, and Mohammad Ali Arayesh were carried out. The Supreme Court later overturned the sentences of six others and referred the cases for retrial. In August 2023, Branch 4 of the Mashhad Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Ahmadian Salami, resentenced them to death. The Supreme Court upheld the death sentences in August 2024.

 

50. Malek Davarshenas (Seyed Malek Mousavi)

  • Prison: Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz
  • Main Charge: Baghi through setting fire to a Basij base
  • Court: Branch 2, Dezful Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Initial death sentence issued
Malek Davarshenas (Seyed Malek Mousavi) was arrested in May 2021 along with another individual by security forces. Following interrogations, Branch 2 of Dezful Revolutionary Court sentenced Davarshenas to death for “Baghi,” while the co-defendant was sentenced to 10 years in prison for “participation in disrupting order.” The charges against Davarshenas include “attacking and setting fire to the Shavoor Basij Resistance Base.”

 

51. Ali Obeidavi

  • Prison: Mahshahr Prison
  • Main Charge: Attack on a Basij base
  • Court: Mahshahr Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Initial death sentence issued
Ali Obeidavi was arrested in 2019 along with his brother, Hossein Obeidavi, on charges of “attacking a Basij base.” After four years, the Mahshahr Revolutionary Court sentenced Ali to death and his brother to 13 years in prison.

 

52. Saman Mohammadi Kheyareh

  • Prison: Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj
  • Main Charge: Moharebeh (waging war against God)
  • Court: Branch 15, Tehran Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Initial death sentence issued
Saman Mohammadi Kheyareh, a 34-year-old from Sanandaj, was arrested in February 2010 on charges of Moharebeh. A few months later, he was sentenced to death by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Abolghasem Salavati. Due to insufficient evidence, the Supreme Court overturned the sentence, and the case was referred for retrial, resulting in a 15-year prison sentence for membership in opposition groups. However, under pressure from security agencies, the previous ruling was annulled, and he was again sentenced to death on the same charges.

 

53. Mohammad Amin Mahdavi Shayesteh

  • Prison: Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj
  • Main Charge: Collaboration with a hostile government
  • Court: Branch 15, Tehran Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Initial death sentence issued
Mohammad Amin Mahdavi Shayesteh, 26, was arrested in the fall of the previous year and sentenced to death by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Abolghasem Salavati, for alleged collaboration with Israel. His appeal is currently pending in the Supreme Court

 

54. Abbas (Mojahed) Korkor (Korkouri)

  • Prison: Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz
  • Main Charge: Moharebeh
  • Court: Ahvaz Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Initial death sentence issued
Mojahed Korkouri was sentenced to death in April 2023 for “Moharebeh through armed action, corruption on earth by shooting with a military weapon, causing the death of seven people, and forming a Baghi group.” The Supreme Court overturned this ruling in the fall of the same year, and the case was sent for retrial. After the retrial in the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court, he was once again sentenced to death.

 

This report highlights the widespread violations of human rights and justice in Iran. Many of the individuals sentenced to death are accused of political offenses such as “Baghi” and “Moharebeh,” while some were engaged in non-violent activities or were arrested solely for political or ideological reasons. Many have been denied fair trials, including access to independent legal representation and transparent judicial processes.

The death penalty, as a form of punishment, stands in complete contradiction to the fundamental right to life and universal principles of human rights. Its use, particularly against political prisoners, is often accompanied by blatant violations of defendants’ rights, including forced confessions obtained under torture, denial of fair trials, and its application as a tool to suppress dissenting views and activities. Such actions not only violate human dignity but also lack any moral or legal justification under human rights principles and must be halted immediately.

It is worth noting that the crisis of executions extends beyond political and security prisoners. According to the annual statistics of the Human Rights Activists News Agency, at least 930 prisoners, including 5 juvenile offenders, were executed in Iran between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024. This represents an increase of approximately 24.6% compared to the same period in the previous year. Among these, 4 executions were carried out publicly, 214 individuals were sentenced to death, and the Supreme Court upheld 54 other initial death sentences during the same period.

This report reveals that many individuals are sentenced to death not for committing violent crimes but for engaging in civic, political, or ideological activities. This raises serious concerns about the use of the death penalty as a tool to suppress political and ideological dissent.

The international community, human rights organizations, and the public must actively monitor these cases and apply pressure on the Iranian government to prevent the unjust execution of these sentences.