Tag: Peyman Farah-Avar

Monthly Report – September 2025: Human Rights Situation in Iran

Posted on by . .
News, Other
Babak Shahbazi, Craig and Lindsay Foreman, Hesam Pourahmadi, moharebeh, Peyman Farah-Avar, Qarchak Prison of Varamin, Shadi Falahati, Shahrzad Sharabiyani, Somayeh Rashidi

HRANA– This report reviews documented cases of human rights violations in Iran in September 2025, based on statistics compiled by HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran. The sharp rise in executions during this month, the arrests of minors, and the alarming reports of prisoner deaths in Qarchak Prison of Varamin were among the most notable human rights violations recorded.

Executions

In September, Iranian prisons recorded 183 executions, marking the highest monthly total since the start of the year. According to HRANA, the executed included 164 men and 6 women, while the gender of 13 prisoners remains unverified due to the lack of official announcements.

At least 9 Afghan nationals were among those executed, bringing the total number of Afghan citizens executed in Iran since the beginning of this year to 50.

Of those executed, 92 prisoners had been sentenced to death on drug-related charges, and 83 were executed on murder charges. Since the beginning of this year, the Iranian regime’s judiciary has executed 486 individuals on drug-related charges.

In addition, two individuals, including Babak Shahbazi, were executed on the political charge of “enmity against God” (Moharebeh). For Babak Shahbazi, “intelligence and security collaboration with Israel” was cited as an instance of this charge.

Furthermore, one prisoner was executed on politico-religious charges, and another on security-related charges. The charges against four prisoners remain unknown.

In September, the Iranian regime’s judiciary issued death sentences against ten individuals, including one woman. The gender of two of those sentenced to death remains unknown. Among these cases is the concerning news of the Supreme Court’s confirmation of the death sentence against Peyman Farah-Avar, a poet from Gilan.

Additionally, one individual in Yasuj has also been sentenced to execution in public.

right to life

Prisoners’ Rights

In September, six prisoners died in Iranian prisons due to illness and the lack of adequate or timely medical care. Among these cases, HRANA reported the consecutive deaths of three women in Qarchak Prison of Varamin. One of them, Somayeh Rashidi, who had been arrested in Tehran for writing slogans, died as a result of delays in being transferred to a hospital.

In addition to the above cases, in September HRANA documented 31 reports of political and religious prisoners being denied medical care in prison.

The detention of political and religious prisoners under harsh and unsuitable conditions is another recurring instance of rights violations in Iran’s prisons. Among such cases is the detention of the British couple, Craig and Lindsay Foreman, in poor conditions, including being held in an overcrowded ward lacking proper sleeping arrangements.

Other instances of prisoners’ rights violations reported by HRANA this month regarding political prisoners and prisoners of conscience include: 45 cases of holding prisoners in legal limbo, 14 cases of families being denied information about the condition of their detained relatives, 44 reports of prisoners being transferred to solitary confinement, 2 cases of denial of access to a lawyer, 13 cases of denial of visitation rights, and 8 cases of pressure and threats against prisoners.

In response to such violations, some prisoners resort to hunger strikes. In September, HRANA documented 4 hunger strikes and 2 cases of suicide among prisoners (political and non-political).

prisoners rights

Kolbars and Fuel Carriers

In September, 15 citizens lost their lives as a result of indiscriminate shootings by military and security forces – a figure that is three times higher than the previous month. Since the beginning of this year, military forces, particularly in border areas, have taken the lives of 77 people.

Of those killed this month, five were fuel carriers (sukhtbar) and one was a kolbar (cross-border porter). In addition, 13 others were injured as a result of these indiscriminate shootings, including two kolbars and three fuel carriers.

In addition, landmine explosions in September caused the death and injury of four Iranian citizens. Among the victims were two teenage brothers killed in Mirjaveh, located in Sistan and Baluchestan Province.

Freedom of Thought and Expression

In September, 34 individuals were arrested by security forces for expressing their opinions and beliefs. Additionally, 15 people were summoned to security agencies and 23 others to court.

Among those arrested were three lawyers in Gilan Province: Shahrzad Sharabiyani, Shadi Falahati, and Hesam Pourahmadi. Furthermore, ten other lawyers in this province were also summoned to security and judicial authorities.

During the same month, 14 people were tried on similar charges, and convictions were issued against 23 individuals, resulting in a total of 868 months of prison sentences as well as a ruling of 38 lashes.

Regarding freedom of expression, eight protest gatherings were held in September, while in one case security forces prevented a ceremony and gathering from taking place. During the same month, the Press Court also tried the managers of three media outlets as well as a member of parliament.

Workers’ Rights

In September, HRANA documented 122 workers’ protest gatherings and two labor strikes, including strikes by workers in the oil and gas industries. According to these reports, more than 5,100 workers stated that they have not received their overdue wages.

Additionally, a labor activist was sentenced to 72 months in prison.

Also, workplace accidents in September claimed the lives of 35 workers and left 69 others injured. Since the beginning of this year, 280 workers have lost their lives in workplace incidents.

In September, trade associations and unions held 68 protest gatherings and two strikes. In one case, a teachers’ gathering was met with mass arrests and the confiscation of personal belongings. A total of 19 people were arrested, and 10 individuals faced convictions in court. HRANA also documented the closure of 29 commercial establishments during this month.

Women’s Rights

Among the most serious violations of women’s rights this month were the killings of three women, including a 35-year-old woman in Saqqez who was set on fire by her husband and died. In addition, a woman in Khomam, Gilan Province, was the target of an acid attack.

A man was also murdered in a so-called honor killing, and one case of sexual assault was reported.

Furthermore, the Iranian regime sealed eight commercial establishments for allegedly failing to enforce mandatory hijab regulations.

Children’s Rights

In September, Iranian security forces arrested 11 minors under the age of 18.

During the same month, the killings of seven children were reported, including the murder of a teenage girl in Shadegan in an honor-related killing.

Additionally, the deaths of two children and injuries to two others were reported as a result of the negligence of state authorities.

Children Rights

Religious Minorities

In September, security forces arrested one member of a religious minority. Additionally, the Iranian judiciary sentenced eight members of religious minorities to a combined total of 701 months in prison. In one case, Loghman Amini, a Sunni cleric, was sentenced to imprisonment and stripped of his clerical status.

HRANA also documented six court summonses and one case of a house search targeting religious minorities during this month.

Ethnic Rights

In September, 21 members of ethnic minorities were arrested by security forces. Among them was Peyman Ebrahimi, an Azerbaijani-Turk activist.

HRANA also reported two summonses to security agencies, two court summonses, and one case of physical assault carried out by security forces against members of ethnic minorities.

Inhuman Punishment

In September, the Iranian regime issued a total of 642 flogging sentences, along with one case of shame parading of a defendant in the city of Borujerd, and a ruling for amputation – all examples of inhuman punishments.

Death Sentence of Peyman Farah-Avar Upheld by Supreme Court

Posted on by . .
Executions, News, Prisoners
Ahmad Darvish Goftar, HRANA, Lakan prison, Peyman Farah-Avar, Peyman Farahavar, Ramin Safarnia, پیمان فرح آور

HRANA – The death sentence of Peyman (Amin) Farah-Avar, a poet from Gilan currently held in Lakan Prison, Rasht, has been upheld by Branch 39 of the Supreme Court.

Ramin Safarnia, Mr. Farah-Avar’s defense lawyer, announced that Branch 39 of the Supreme Court rejected his client’s appeal and confirmed the death sentence. He added that a petition for retrial will be submitted to the country’s highest judicial authority.

Mr. Farah-Avar’s original death sentence was issued by Branch 1 of the Rasht Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Ahmad Darvish Goftar, on charges of “Baghi” (armed rebellion) and “Moharebeh” (enmity against God).

A source close to the prisoner’s family told HRANA: “These charges were leveled against Mr. Farah-Avar based on his poetry and protest activities in the areas of social justice and civil rights.”

Farah-Avar was arrested by security forces in September 2024 and taken to The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility. He was later transferred to Lakan Prison following the interrogation phase.

A father of a 10-year-old boy, Peyman (Amin) Farah-Avar has previously been detained for his activism.

Political Prisoner Yaghoub Derakhshan Sentenced to Death

Posted on by . .
Executions, News
Ahmad Darvish Goftar, Lakan prison, Manouchehr Fallah, Peyman Farah-Avar, Sharifeh Mohammadi, Yaghoub Derakhshan

HRANA– Yaghoub Derakhshan, a 50-year-old prisoner from Bandar Anzali, has been sentenced to death by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court in Rasht, presided over by Judge Ahmad Darvish-Goftar. The sentence was formally delivered to him on Thursday, July 24, 2025, in Lakan Prison in Rasht.

Sources familiar with the case told HRANA that during his first arrest in July 2024, Derakhshan was charged with “propaganda against the regime” and was released on bail after several weeks. However, during his second arrest, he was charged with the more serious offense of “armed rebellion (baghi).”

HRANA’s sources say the court proceedings were “unusually fast” and “lacked fair trial standards.” The trial was reportedly held via videoconference without the presence of his chosen defense lawyer, and his family was kept uninformed about the legal process.

These sources also reported that Derakhshan was subjected to intense physical and psychological pressure during interrogation, leading to coerced confessions which were later used as the primary basis for his death sentence.

A source close to the family stated: “The judicial process was neither transparent, nor fair, nor legal. Derakhshan was not given a chance to defend himself, and we were kept in the dark about the case.”

Lakan Prison, where Derakhshan is currently held, has been repeatedly criticized by human rights organizations for housing political prisoners alongside inmates convicted of violent crimes, its lack of access to medical services, and unsanitary conditions.

Due to a lack of transparency from the judiciary, specific details of Mr. Derakhshan’s charges remain unknown.

HRANA’s investigations also show that Judge Ahmad Darvish-Goftar, who presided over this court, has issued similar sentences for political prisoners in Gilan over the past year, including for Manouchehr Fallah, Peyman Farah-Avar and Sharifeh Mohammadi.

Currently, based on data collected by HRANA, at least 56 prisoners in Iran face the death penalty on political and security-related charges.

Updated List of Political and Security Prisoners Facing Execution in Iran

Posted on by . .
Executions, News, Other, Prisoners
Abbas Deris, Abdolghani Shahbakhsh, Abdolrahim Ghanbarzehi Gorgij, Adham Narouei, Adnan Ghabishavi, Afshin Ghorbani Mishaie, Ahmadreza Jalali, Akbar Daneshvar Kar, Ali Ghasemi, Ali Mojadam, Ali Obeidavi, Alireza Barmarzpoornak, Alireza Kafaee, Alireza Mardasi, Alireza Merdasi, Amir Rahimpour, Amir-Mohammad Khosh Eghbal, Amirhossein Maghsoodlou, Babak Alipour, Behrooz Ehsani, Eido Shahbakhsh, Execution, Farshad Etemadi Far, Farshad Etemadifar, Farshid Hasan Zehi, Habib Deris, Hatam Ozdemir, Hossein Nemati, Isa Eidmohammadi, Kaveh Salehi, Malek Davarshenas, Manoochehr Fallah, Masoud Jamei, Mehdi Hasani, Mehrab Abdollahzadeh, Mehran Abdollahzadeh, Mehran Farahavar, Milad Armoon, Moein Khanfari, Mohammad Zeynoddini, Mohammadjavad Vafaee Sani, Mohammadmahdi Soleimani, Mohammadreza Moghadam, Navid Najjaran, Pakhshan Azizi, Pejman Soltani, Peyman Farah-Avar, Peyman Farahavar, Political Prisoners, Pouya Ghobadi Bistooni, Rahim Mirbaloch, Rezgar Beigzadeh Babamiri, Roozbeh Vadi, Salem Mousavi, Saman Mohammadi Khiarah, Security Prisoners, Seyed Abolhassan Montazer, Seyed Malek Mousavi, Seyed Mohammad Taghavi Sangdehi, Shahin Basami, Shahin Bassami, Sharifeh Mohammadi, Soleiman Shahbakhsh, Soran Ghasemi, Tataloo, Tifour Salimi Babamiri, Vahid Baniamrian, Verisheh Moradi, Yousef Ahmadi

HRANA – At least 56 individuals facing political or security-related charges have been sentenced to death and are currently held in various prisons across Iran. HRANA’s investigations show that the death sentences of at least 22 of these individuals have been issued by judicial authorities in Tehran, accounting for a significant share of the total. This report provides a detailed list and the latest updates on their cases.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, many of these prisoners have been denied fair trial rights. These include limited or no access to legal counsel and a lack of transparency in judicial proceedings. Some were denied the right to legal counsel of one’s choosing, while others were prevented from meeting with their chosen legal representatives despite having them. A significant number of these individuals, while rejecting the charges against them, have been arbitrarily sentenced to death through opaque and unfair processes. Reports also indicate that some of these prisoners are currently being held in solitary confinement awaiting execution.

HRANA’s findings reveal that courts in Tehran have issued the highest number of death sentences in political and security-related cases. Among them, Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Abolghasem Salavati; Branch 26, led by Judge Iman Afshari; and Branch 28, headed by Judge Mohammadreza Amouzad, have played especially prominent roles. In northwestern Iran, the Revolutionary Court of Urmia has handed down the highest number of death sentences for political offenses. Additionally, courts in Ahvaz, Rasht, Mashhad, Mahshahr, and Zahedan have each sentenced multiple individuals mentioned in this report to death. The primary charges brought against these defendants include baghi (armed rebellion) and moharebeh (enmity against God).

In several instances, death sentences initially overturned by the Supreme Court were reinstated by parallel judicial branches. For example, Hatam Ozdemir, Mohammad-Javad Vafa’i Sani, Isa Eidmohammadi, Saman Mohammadi Kheyareh, and Sharifeh Mohammadi were all resentenced to death after the Supreme Court had annulled their original verdicts. Notably, Mohammad-Javad Vafa’i Sani was sentenced to death for a third time during retrial proceedings.

Defense attorneys have consistently raised concerns over the lack of fairness and due process in these cases. In one example, following the Supreme Court’s rejection of Mehdi Hasani’s fourth request for retrial, his lawyer revealed that the court had dismissed the petition without retrieving the original case file from the trial court—likely without even reviewing the submitted legal arguments.

In the cases of Pakhshan Azizi, Verisheh Moradi, and Sharifeh Mohammadi, more than 200 attorneys issued a public statement addressed to Iran’s Chief Justice, condemning the death sentences issued against the three women and calling for their immediate revocation. The statement described the verdicts as “a blatant violation of human rights” and pointed to “serious ambiguities and deficiencies in legal proceedings, access to legal counsel, evaluation of evidence, and judicial impartiality.”

This report, with a focus on the human cost, outlines the names and current legal statuses of 56 individuals sentenced to death on political and security-related charges.

 

1. Varisheh Moradi

  • Prison: Qarchak Prison, Varamin
  • 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 (armed rebellion).

 

2. Pakhshan Azizi

  • Prison: Qarchak Prison, Varamin
  • 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. The Supreme Court has recently upheld her case.

 

 

3. Akbar Daneshvar-Kar

  • Prison: Great Tehran Penitentiary
  • Main Charge: Baghi (armed rebellion)
  • Court: Branch 26, Tehran Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Initial death sentence issued
4. Seyed Mohammad Taghavi Sangdehi

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

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

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

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

  • Prison: Great Tehran Penitentiary
  • 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, assembly and collusion 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 Amouzad 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 (in a case known as Ekbatan Town case)
  • 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
  • (in a case known as Ekbatan Town case)
  • 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
  • (in a case known as Ekbatan Town case)
  • 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
  • (in a case known as Ekbatan Town case)
  • 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
  • (in a case known as Ekbatan Town case)
  • 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
  • (in a case known as Ekbatan Town case)
  • Court: Branch 13, Tehran Criminal Court One
  • Case Status: Initial death sentence issued
These individuals are defendants in the so-called “Ekbatan Town” case. They were arrested in 2022 during nationwide protests after the killing of a Basij militia member named Arman Ali Vardi in Ekbatan Town. In November 2024, Branch 13 of Tehran Criminal Court One sentenced each of them to death for “participation in murder and intentional assault.”

 

19. Behrooz Ehsani

  • Prison: Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj
  • Main Charge: Baghi (armed rebellion)
  • Court: Branch 26, Tehran Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: death sentence upheld by the Supreme Court
20. Mehdi Hasani

  • Prison: Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj
  • 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 Hasani 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.” In mid-July 2025, Mehdi Hasani’s request for retrial was rejected by the Supreme Court for the fourth time.

 

21. Hatem Özdemir

  • Prison: Urmia Prison
  • Main Charge: Moharebeh (enmity 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. In May of this year, Özdemir’s request for retrial was also rejected for the second time.

 

22. 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.

 

23. Farshid Hassan Zahi

  • Prison: Ward 9, Zahedan Prison
  • Main Charge: Moharebeh (enmity against God)
  • Court: Branch 1, Zahedan Criminal Court
  • Case Status: Death sentence issued, referred to Branch 32 of the Supreme Court
Farshid Hassan Zahi, 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 Brahooie, and injuring lieutenant Mehdi Hashem Zahi.” 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.

 

24. Mohammad Zeyneddini

  • Prison: Ward 9, Zahedan Prison
  • Main Charge: Moharebeh (enmity against God)
  • Court: Branch 1, Zahedan Criminal Court
  • Case Status: Death sentence upheld by the Supreme Court
25. 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, Sistan and Baluchestan province, 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 20, 2023.

 

26. 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 following a retrial
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. The case was once 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. This verdict is subject to appeal.

 

27. Abbas Deris

  • Prison: Mahshahr Prison
  • Main Charge: Moharebeh (enmity against God)
  • Court: Branch 1, Mahshahr Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Death sentence upheld by the Supreme Court
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. The sentence 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.

 

28. Ahmadreza Jalali (Djalali) 

  • Prison: Unknown
  • 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 on May 10, 2023, that the sentence is final and enforceable.

 

29. 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 January 2024.

 

30. 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.

 

31. Ali Mojaddam

  • Prison: Sepidar Prison, Ahvaz
  • Main Charge: Leadership and membership in a rebellious group
  • Court: Ahvaz Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Initial death sentence issued
32. Mohammadreza Moghaddam

  • Prison: Sepidar Prison, Ahvaz
  • Main Charge: Leadership and membership in a rebellious group
  • Court: Ahvaz Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Initial death sentence issued
33. Moein Khanfari

  • Prison: Sepidar Prison, Ahvaz
  • Main Charge: Membership in a rebellious group
  • Court: Ahvaz Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Initial death sentence issued
34. Adnan Ghobeishavi

  • Prison: Sepidar Prison, Ahvaz
  • Main Charge: Membership in a rebellious group
  • Court: Ahvaz Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Initial death sentence issued
35. Salem Mousavi

  • Prison: Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz
  • Main Charge: Membership in a rebellious group
  • Court: Ahvaz Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Initial death sentence issued
36. Habib Deris

  • Prison: Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz
  • Main Charge: Membership in a rebellious group
  • Court: Ahvaz Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Initial death sentence issued
They were arrested in February 2019 by security forces in Khuzestan. In March 2023, Mojaddam 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.
Meanwhile, Ali Mojadam, Moein Khonafari, and Mohammadreza Moghadam were transferred to solitary confinement in this prison on June 26, 2025.

 

37. 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

In 2015, Isa Eidmohammadi and eleven others were arrested in a joint case by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence and were transferred a year later to Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad. Ultimately, in 2019, Branch 1 of the Mashhad Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Mahmoud Davoudabadi, sentenced Isa Eidmohammadi, Hamid Rast Bala, Farhad Shakeri, Kabir Sa’adat Jahani, Mohammad-Ali Arayesh, Hakim Azim Gorgij, Abdolrahman Gorgij, Taj Mohammad Khormali, and Malek Ali Fadaei Nasab to death on charges of baghi (armed rebellion) through membership in the Salafi group “Hizb al-Furqan” and membership in the “National Solidarity Front of Iranian Sunnis.” Mohammadreza Sheikh Ahmadi, Abdolbaset Oorsan, and Morteza Fakouri were each sentenced to 15 years in prison on charges of baghi through membership in the Takfiri-Salafi group ISIS.

Among them, the death sentences of Hamid Rast Bala, Kabir Sa’adat Jahani, and Mohammad-Ali Arayesh were carried out on December 31, 2020, in Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad. The death sentences of the other six prisoners were later overturned by Branch 41 of the Supreme Court, presided over by Judge Ali Razini, and the case was referred to a parallel branch for retrial.

In July 2023, Branch 4 of the Mashhad Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Ahmadian Salami, sentenced the six prisoners to death again following a retrial. In August 2023, their death sentences were upheld by Branch 39 of the Supreme Court. On April 7, 2025, Farhad Shakeri, Abdolhakim Azim Gorgij, Abdolrahman Gorgij, Taj Mohammad Khormali, and Malek Ali Fadaei Nasab were executed in Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad.

 

38. 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.”

 

39 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.

 

40. Saman Mohammadi Kheyareh

  • Prison: Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj
  • Main Charge: Moharebeh (enmity 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.

 

41. Amir Rahimpour

  • Prison: Unknown
  • Main Charge: Collaboration with a hostile government (the United States)
  • Court: Unknown
  • Case Status: Death sentence upheld by the Supreme Court
On February 4, 2020, Gholamhossein Esmaeili, former spokesperson for the judiciary, announced that the Supreme Court had upheld the death sentence of Amir Rahimpour, who holds a master’s degree in power engineering, on charges of “collaboration with the hostile government of the United States.” Esmaeili claimed that the defendant had “established ties with an intelligence agency, received large payments as compensation, and attempted to pass part of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s nuclear information to the U.S. intelligence service.”

 

42. Amir Hossein Maghsoudloo (Tataloo)

  • Prison: Greater Tehran Penitentiary
  • Main Charge: Sab al-Nabi (insulting the Prophet of Islam)
  • Court: Branch 6 of the Tehran Criminal Court
  • Case Status: Initial verdict issued

In December 2023, Amirhossein Maghsoudlou, known as “Tataloo,” was transferred to Iran at his request by Turkish police and was arrested in coordination with Iranian judicial authorities.

In April 2025, the spokesperson for the judiciary announced that Branch 6 of Tehran Province Criminal Court had issued a death sentence for Maghsoudlou on the charge of Sab al-Nabi (insulting the Prophet of Islam).

Tataloo was also sentenced to 10 years in prison in a separate case on charges of “encouraging immorality and immodesty.” That verdict was upheld by the court of appeals, and the case was forwarded to the sentence enforcement branch.

In May 2025, his defense attorney announced that “a request under Article 477 was submitted, challenging the religious legality of the ruling, and the Chief Justice issued an order for the case to be reviewed.” The lawyer did not specify which of Mr. Maghsoudlou’s cases the request pertained to.

 

 

43. Rezgar Beigzadeh Babamiri

  • Prison: Urmia Prison
  • Main Charge: Moharebeh (enmity against God)
  • Court: Branch 1 of the Urmia Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Initial death sentence issued
44. Pezhman Soltani

  • Prison: Urmia Prison
  • Main Charge: Moharebeh (enmity against God)
  • Court: Branch 1 of the Urmia Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Initial death sentence issued
45. Ali (Soran) Ghasemi

  • Prison: Urmia Prison
  • Main Charge: Moharebeh (enmity against God)
  • Court: Branch 1 of the Urmia Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Initial death sentence issued
46. Kaveh Salehi

  • Prison: Urmia Prison
  • Main Charge: Moharebeh (enmity against God)
  • Court: Branch 1 of the Urmia Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Initial death sentence issued
47. Teyfour Salimi Babamiri

  • Prison: Urmia Prison
  • Main Charge: Moharebeh (enmity against God)
  • Court: Branch 1 of the Urmia Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Initial death sentence issued

In July 2025, these political prisoners were sentenced to death and imprisonment by Branch 1 of the Urmia Revolutionary Court. Ali (Soran) Ghasemi, Pezhman Soltani, and Kaveh Salehi were each sentenced to death three times on charges of baghi (armed rebellion), moharebeh (enmity against God), and leading and forming an armed rebellious group.

Rezgar Bigzadeh Babamiri was sentenced to death twice on charges of baghi and leading and forming an armed rebellious group. Teyfour Salimi Babamiri was also sentenced to death on the charge of leading and forming an armed rebellious group.

 

48. Manouchehr Fallah

  • Prison: Lakan Prison, Rasht
  • Main Charge: Moharebeh (enmity against God)
  • Court: Branch 2 of the Rasht Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Initial death sentence issued
In June 2023, Fallah was arrested by security forces at Rasht Airport and transferred to Lakan Prison in the city. In February 2025, he was sentenced to death by Branch 2 of the Rasht Revolutionary Court on the charge of moharebeh. The court session reviewing his charges was held via video conference on December 11, 2024.

 

49. Peyman (Amin) Farah-Avar

  • Prison: Lakan Prison, Rasht
  • Main Charge: Baghi (armed rebellion) and Moharebeh (enmity against God)
  • Court: Branch 1 of the Rasht Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Initial death sentence issued
In September 2024, Farah-Avar was arrested by security forces and transferred to The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility. After completing the interrogation process, he was moved to Lakan Prison in Rasht. In May 2025, Branch 1 of the Rasht Revolutionary Court sentenced him to death on charges of Baghi and Moharebeh.

 

50. Sharifeh Mohammadi

  • Prison: Lakan Prison, Rasht
  • Main Charge: Baghi (armed rebellion) and Moharebeh (enmity against God)
  • Court: Branch 1 of the Rasht Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Death sentence issued following a retrial

On December 5, 2023, Sharifeh Mohammadi was arrested at her home by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence. In July 2023, she was initially sentenced to death by Branch 2 of the Rasht Revolutionary Court on the charge of baghi. That sentence was later overturned by Branch 39 of the Supreme Court.

In February 2025, she was retried and once again sentenced to death by Branch 2 of the Rasht Revolutionary Court on the same charge of baghi.

 

51. Roozbeh Vadi

  • Prison: Unknown
  • Main Charge: Collaboration or contact with Israel
  • Court: Unknown
  • Case Status: Initial death sentence issued
52. Shahin Basami

  • Prison: Unknown
  • Main Charge: Collaboration or contact with Israel
  • Court: Unknown
  • Case Status: Initial death sentence issued
53. Afshin Ghorbani Mishaie

  • Prison: Unknown
  • Main Charge: Collaboration or contact with Israel
  • Court: Unknown
  • Case Status: Death sentence upheld by the Supreme Court
Amnesty International recently announced that three prisoners are on the verge of execution. While the organization did not provide details about the charges or judicial proceedings, it confirmed that the death sentence of Afshin Ghorbani Mishaei’i has been upheld by the Supreme Court.

HRANA has not independently verified the status of this case following Amnesty reports.

 

54. Masoud Jamei

  • Prison: Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz
  • Main Charge: Efsad fel-Arz (corruption on earth), membership in armed rebellious groups
  • Court: Branch 1 of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Initial death sentence issued
55. Alireza Merdasi

  • Prison: Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz
  • Main Charge: Efsad fel-Arz (corruption on earth), membership in armed rebellious groups
  • Court: Branch 1 of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Initial death sentence issued
56. Farshad Etemadifar

  • Prison: Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz
  • Main Charge: Efsad fel-Arz (corruption on earth), membership in armed rebellious groups
  • Court: Branch 1 of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court
  • Case Status: Initial death sentence issued

Farshad Etemadi-Far was arrested by security forces on June 16, 2023, while Masoud Jamei and Alireza Mardasi were detained on August 1, 2023.

Recently, Branch 1 of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court sentenced all three political prisoners—Etemadi-Far, Mardasi, and Jamei—to two death sentences and one year in prison each on charges of efsad fel-arz (corruption on earth), membership in armed rebellious groups, and propaganda against the regime.

They are currently held in Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz.

This report offers a stark picture of the widespread human rights violations and systemic injustice in Iran. It documents the cases of individuals sentenced to death on political and security-related charges, including baghi (armed rebellion) and moharebeh (enmity against God)—charges often brought against people who were involved in non-violent activities or were arrested solely for their political beliefs or ideological affiliations. In many cases, defendants have been denied basic fair trial rights, such as access to independent legal counsel and a transparent judicial process leading to urgent dangers of arbitrary executions.

Human Rights Activists in Iran calls for a moratorium on the use of the death penalty in all circumstances. These patterns raise serious concerns about the use of the death penalty as a tool for silencing political and ideological dissent.

It is critical to recognize that the crisis of executions in Iran extends well beyond the political prisoner population. According to the annual report of the Statistics and Publications Center of Human Rights Activists in Iran, at least 930 individuals were executed in Iranian prisons between January 1 and December 31, 2024—including five juvenile offenders. This figure represents a 24.6% increase compared to the same period the year before. Of those executed, four were hanged in public, while another 214 people were newly sentenced to death. During the same period, the Supreme Court upheld the initial death sentences of 54 more individuals.

The international community, human rights organizations, and concerned members of the public must act with urgency—by closely monitoring these cases and applying pressure on the Iranian authorities to prevent the continuation of unjust and politically motivated executions.

 

Monthly Report – May 2025: Human Rights Situation in Iran

Posted on by . .
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.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Now is definitely not the time to stop reading!

Rasht Revolutionary Court Sentences Poet Peyman Farah-Avar to Death

Posted on by . .
Executions, News, Prisoners
Ahmad Darvish Goftar, Amin Farahavar, Baghi, HRANA, Lakan prison, moharebeh, Peyman Farah-Avar, Peyman Farahavar

HRANA News Agency – Peyman (Amin) Farah-Avar (Farahavar), a poet from Gilan currently held in Lakan Prison in Rasht, has been sentenced to death by Branch 1 of the Rasht Revolutionary Court.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, the sentence was issued by Judge Ahmad Darvish Goftar and is based on charges of “baghi” (armed rebellion against the state) and “moharebeh” (enmity against God).

A source close to Farahavar’s family confirmed the ruling and told HRANA: “The charges are based on his poetry and protest-related activities focused on social justice and civil rights. His trial was held behind closed doors, without access to a chosen lawyer, and the verdict was issued without due process or transparency.”

The court session took place on May 1, 2025, at the mentioned branch. Specific evidence cited in the charges has not been made public.

Farah-Avar was arrested by security forces in September 2024 and taken to The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility. He was later transferred to Lakan Prison following the interrogation phase.

A father of a 10-year-old boy, Peyman (Amin) Farah-Avar has previously been detained for his activism.

Six Months of Detention Without Trial: Ongoing Uncertainty for Peyman Farah-Avar in Lakan Prison

Posted on by . .
News, Prisoners
Gilan, Lakan prison, Peyman Farah-Avar, Rasht, پیمان فرح آور

HRANA News Agency – Peyman (Amin) Farah-Avar, a political detainee and poet from Gilan, has been detained for over six months and remains in Lakan Prison in Rasht without a trial or formal charges.

HRANA has learned that more than 180 days have passed since Farah-Avar’s arrest, and he is facing charges including “propaganda against the regime,” “armed rebellion (baghi),” and “enmity against God (moharebeh).” However, his case remains in legal limbo, and no court hearing has been scheduled yet. His detention order has been extended until May 2025.

Farah-Avar was arrested in September 2024 by security forces and, after completing interrogation at the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, was transferred to Lakan Prison in Rasht.

Peyman (Amin) Farah-Avar is a father to a 10-year-old son and a resident of Rasht. He has been arrested in the past due to his activism.

Prolonged Detention of Gilan Poet Peyman Farah-Avar Without Trial in Lakan Prison

Posted on by . .
News, Prisoners
Amin Farah-Avar, Baghi, Gilan, Lakan prison, Ministry of Intelligence, moharebeh, Peyman Farah-Avar, Rasht, پیمان فرح آور

Peyman (Amin) Farah-Avar, a poet from Gilan Province, remains in detention at Lakan Prison in Rasht more than five months after his arrest, with no resolution to his case.

A source close to his family confirmed to HRANA: “Mr. Farah-Avar faces charges including ‘propaganda against the regime,’ baghi (armed rebellion), and moharebeh (enmity against God). He has been detained for over five months in a state of limbo at Lakan Prison in Rasht, with no court hearings held to address his charges.”

Mr. Farah-Avar was arrested by security forces in August 2024 and initially taken to The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility. After completing the interrogation process, he was transferred to Lakan Prison in Rasht.

Peyman (Amin) Farah-Avar, a poet from Gilan and the father of a 10-year-old son, has previously been arrested due to his activities.