Political Prisoner Saeed Shah-Ghaleh Marks 26th Year Behind Bars

HRANA – Saeed Shah-Ghaleh, a political prisoner, is currently serving the twenty-sixth year of his life sentence in Ward 4 of Qom Prison. Despite his repeated requests over the years, the relevant authorities have so far refused to grant him temporary leave or release through a special pardon.

According to HRANA, Saeed Shah-Ghaleh, one of Iran’s longest-held political prisoners, continues to serve his life sentence in Qom Prison.

A source familiar with the matter confirmed the information to HRANA, stating: “Mr. Shah-Ghaleh is serving the twenty-sixth year of his life sentence in Ward 4 of Qom Prison. Despite his repeated requests over the years for temporary leave or release through a special pardon, none of the relevant authorities have responded to his appeals, and there has been no change in his situation.”

Shah-Ghaleh, who has spent more than two decades behind bars, was transferred from Bushehr Prison to Ward 4 of Qom Prison in 2022. He had previously been held in Evin Prison and Mahshahr Prison.

Shah-Ghaleh was arrested in 2000 and was initially sentenced to death by a criminal court on the charge of “enmity against God (moharebeh) through collaboration with the Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MEK).” His sentence was later reduced by one degree to life imprisonment.

There have also been reports that Shah-Ghaleh was subjected to physical assault while in prison in 2008. Additionally, in 2022, he was reportedly coerced into making a forced confession renouncing his affiliation with the Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization, which was obtained under psychological pressure.

Execution of Two Prisoners in Ahvaz and Qom

HRANA – Two prisoners previously sentenced to death on charges related to drug offenses and murder were executed in Sepidar Prison in Ahvaz and Qom Prison.

According to HRANA, citing the Iran Human Rights Organization, two prisoners were executed in Sepidar Prison in Ahvaz and Qom Prison. The prisoners have been identified as Saman Rashidi, 32, from Izeh, and Vahid Salimi, 28, from Pakdasht, Tehran.

According to the report, Mr. Rashidi was arrested five years ago on a murder charge and was subsequently sentenced to death by the judiciary. His execution was carried out on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at Sepidar Prison in Ahvaz.

Mr. Salimi was executed on Monday, June 16, 2026, in Qom Prison. He had been arrested two years earlier on charges related to drug offenses and was sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court.

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

According to HRA’s Annual Report, in 2025 at least 2,063 citizens, including 61 women and 2 juvenile offenders, were executed. Of these, the sentences of 11 individuals were carried out in public. During the same period, 172 other individuals were sentenced to death.

Updated Report: Number of Executions in Qom Prison Rises to Two

HRANA – At dawn on Saturday, October 18, alongside the execution of Javad Naeimi, a prisoner previously sentenced to death on espionage charges, another prisoner was also executed in Qom Prison. The latter had been sentenced to death for murder.

Earlier, the head of the Qom Judiciary and the province’s Judicial Council had announced the execution of a man convicted of “spying for Israel.” HRANA has since identified this individual as Javad Naeimi. In addition to Naeimi’s execution, another prisoner, identified as Sadegh Nik-Ravesh, was also executed that same day in Qom Prison.

According to information obtained by HRANA, Mr. Nik-Ravesh had previously been arrested on murder charges and later sentenced to death by the Criminal Court.

As of the time of this report, the execution of Sadegh Nik-Ravesh has not been officially announced by prison authorities or other responsible institutions.

From the beginning of this year until the end of September, the Islamic Republic of Iran has carried out 1,028 executions, reflecting an unprecedented surge compared to previous years.

Prisoner Accused of “Espionage” Executed in Qom Prison

HRANA – The head of the Judiciary in Qom Province announced the execution of a prisoner convicted of “espionage” for Israel. The prisoner was executed at dawn on Saturday, October 18, in Qom Prison, after previously being sentenced to death on charges of moharebeh (enmity against God) and corruption on earth (efsad fel-arz).

According to Mizan, the head of the Judiciary and the Judicial Council of Qom Province, without disclosing the prisoner’s identity, stated that the execution was carried out after the sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court and the prisoner’s request for clemency was denied.

Seyed Kazem Mousavi claimed that the individual had begun cooperating with Israeli intelligence services “for personal and occupational reasons” in October 2023, and was arrested in February 2024.

The Judiciary’s Media Center, without providing details about the trial process, announced that after obtaining the suspect’s “confessions,” the case was referred to court, which eventually issued a death sentence on charges of Moharebeh and efsad fel-arz.

Drug-Related Charges; A Prisoner Executed in Qom Prison

HRANA– At dawn yesterday, September 9, the death sentence of a prisoner previously convicted on drug-related charges was carried out in Qom Prison.

HRANA has identified the prisoner executed at dawn on Tuesday, September 8, as Javad Mohammad-Panah. Based on information obtained by HRANA, Mr. Mohammad-Panah had earlier been arrested on drug-related charges and subsequently sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court.

As of the time of this report, the execution has not been announced by prison officials or judicial authorities.

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

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Four Prisoners Executed on Drug-Related Charges in Qom Prison

HRANA– Yesterday, September 3, the death sentences of four prisoners, including three Afghan nationals, previously convicted on drug-related charges, were carried out in Qom Prison.

HRANA has confirmed the identity of one of the executed prisoners as Mehrdad Iravani. The other three individuals were Afghan nationals.

Based on information received by HRANA, these prisoners had previously been arrested on drug-related charges and later sentenced to death by Revolutionary Courts.

Further details, including the identities of the three Afghan nationals, are still under investigation by HRANA.

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

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

Appeals Court Upholds Prison Sentence and Defrocking of Shiite Cleric Mohammad-Taghi Akbarnejad

HRANA – The Appeals Court of the Special Clerical Court has upheld the prison sentence and defrocking order against Shiite cleric Mohammad-Taghi Akbarnejad. In the initial ruling, he had been sentenced to 23 months and six days in prison, along with three years of defrocking from the clergy.

A page attributed to this cleric reported that the Appeals Court of the Special Clerical Court confirmed in full both his prison sentence and defrocking order. In the lower court, he had been sentenced to eight months and one day in prison on the charge of “acting against the regim,” and to 15 months and five days in prison for “insulting the leaders of the Islamic Revolution.” Additionally, he was sentenced to three years of defrocking on the charge of “dishonoring the clergy.”

Mr. Akbarnejad was released from Qom Prison in March 2024 after posting bail. His arrest had taken place on February 17, 2024, by agents of the IRGC Intelligence.

In an earlier audio message sent to HRANA, Akbarnejad described being pressured to make forced confessions.

Mr. Akbarnejad, a Shiite cleric and former professor at the Qom Seminary, has previously faced judicial action due to his activities.

Number of Executions in Qom Prison Rises to Five

HRANA – With the identities of two additional inmates confirmed, the number of individuals executed at Qom Prison on the morning of Tuesday, June 24, has risen to five.

According to HRANA, citing Iran Human Rights, five inmates—including one woman—were executed at Qom Prison on Tuesday, June 24, 2025.

In addition to the previously reported executions of Azim Mohammadi, Hassan Rostam Nejad, and Tal’at Sabzi—who had all been sentenced to death for murder—the executions of two more inmates were carried out. These individuals were identified as Fereydoun Naziri, 36, from Mehrshahr, Karaj, and Hadi Naseri, 26, from Robat Karim.

According to the report, Mr. Naziri was arrested three years ago on murder charges following a dispute over financial matters. Mr. Naseri was also arrested three years ago for murder. Both were later sentenced to death by the criminal court.

As of now, prison authorities and official sources have not publicly confirmed these executions.

Two Prisoners Executed in Qom Prison

HRANA News Agency – At dawn on Thursday, July 10, two prisoners previously sentenced to death on murder charges were executed in Qom Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, the executions took place early this morning, with both individuals hanged after being convicted of murder in criminal courts.

Efforts by HRANA to confirm the identities of the executed prisoners and obtain further details are ongoing.

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

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

Prisoner Executed in Qom Prison

HRANA News Agency – At dawn on Sunday, June 1, the death sentence of a prisoner previously convicted on drug-related charges was carried out in Qom Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, the executed individual has been identified as Shahriar Khalafi.

Based on information received by HRANA, Khalafi was arrested on drug-related charges and later sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court.

As of the time of this report, prison authorities and official bodies have not publicly announced the execution.

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