Tag: Sanandaj

Karim Asghari, a Relative of Varisheh Moradi, Arrested in Sanandaj

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, Karim Asghari, Mehraneh Moradi, Sanandaj, Varisheh Moradi

HRANA News Agency – Today, Karim Asghari, the brother-in-law of Vrisheh Moradi, a political prisoner sentenced to death, was arrested in Sanandaj by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence, who reportedly beat him during the arrest.

Based on information received by HRANA, at 1 PM today, Sunday, June 8, agents from the Ministry of Intelligence in Sanandaj went to Mr. Asghari’s workplace. After presenting a judicial warrant, they arrested him with physical violence.

A source close to the family confirmed the news and told HRANA: “In recent months, members of Varisheh Moradi’s family—including her sister Mehraneh Moradi and Karim Asghari—have been under increasing security pressure.” According to this source, after Varisheh’s arrest, her family has been summoned multiple times to the Ministry of Intelligence in Sanandaj and has been repeatedly threatened with arrest. The source also reported that Mehraneh Moradi was directly threatened with arrest should she continue to follow up on her sister’s case. She had previously, in 2016, been detained along with Karim Asghari for three months.

The source added: “In recent months, as the family sought to pursue Varisheh’s medical treatment and raised concerns over her being denied visits, Karim Asghari was temporarily detained by plainclothes security forces in front of Evin Prison. He was held in a vehicle for three hours, interrogated, and threatened. The agents explicitly warned that any disclosure of information about the case is prohibited and that media coverage would provoke severe consequences.”

As of the time of this report, there is no information on the reasons for Mr. Asghari’s arrest, his place of detention, or the charges against him.

Varisheh Moradi was arrested by security forces in the outskirts of Sanandaj in August 2023. She was ultimately transferred to Evin Prison on December 26, 2023. In late November 2024, she was sentenced to death by Branch 15 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Abolghasem Salavati, on the charge of baghi (armed rebellion).

Report on the Latest Status of Detained Truckers Amid Ongoing Strikes

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Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News
Alireza Faghfoori, Ata Aziri, IRGC Quds forces, Kermanshah, Rezgar Moradi, Sanandaj, Sediq Mohammadi, Shahab Darabi, Truckers’ Strike, Zanko Rostami

HRANA News Agency – Since the start of nationwide truckers’ strikes in Iran on May 22, more than 40 truck drivers, supporters, and other citizens have been arrested in various cities. The strikes emerged in protest of rising costs, reduced freight rates, difficult living conditions, and the government’s neglect of truck drivers’ professional demands.

Since the strikes began, reports have confirmed the arrest of over 40 people in different cities. The identities of seven detainees have been confirmed as: Farzad Rezaei from Divandarreh, Zanko Rostami in Dehgolan, Rezgâr Moradi, Sediq Mohammadi, and Ata Aziri from Sanandaj, Alireza Faghfoori from Behbahan, and Shahab Darabi in Eslamabad-e Gharb. Among them, Shahab Darabi has recently been released.

Following the start of the strikes, the Union of Iranian Truckers and Drivers’ Associations reported the arrest of 11 drivers in Kermanshah and several others in Sanandaj.

Additionally, a citizen was arrested by IRGC Quds forces in Gilan province for supporting the nationwide truckers’ strikes in Rasht.

The Public Relations and Propaganda Division of the Khuzestan IRGC also announced the arrest of two citizens in Bandar Imam Khomeini for supporting the strikes. A video of the two individuals’ “forced confessions” was later published by state media.

In another case, the police chief of Bandar Lengeh stated that a citizen had been arrested for encouraging participation in the strike. According to him, the individual had produced and shared a video clip on social media encouraging heavy vehicle drivers to join the strike, which was later shared with foreign-based media outlets.

In addition, the prosecutor of Shiraz confirmed the arrest of several protesting drivers, accusing them of disrupting transportation. Without specifying the number of detainees, he claimed the individuals were “purposefully and systematically disrupting the transport system.”

In a related development, state media reported that nine citizens had been arrested and transferred to prison in Qazvin province for their involvement in the truckers’ strike.

Two citizens were also arrested in Bahar County, and five more in Khuzestan and Hamadan provinces, all in connection with activities related to the strike.

It’s worth noting that HRANA has recently published a detailed report covering the past week of truckers’ strikes. The report comprehensively addresses the causes of the protests, their expansion, the government’s response, and the status of the detainees.

Truckers’ Strike: Two Arrested in Kurdistan Province

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Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News
Dehgolan, HRANA, Rezgar Moradi, Sanandaj, Zanko Rostami

HRANA News Agency – Zanko Rostami in Dehgolan and Rezgar Moradi in Sanandaj were arrested by security forces for supporting and participating in the nationwide truckers’ strike.

Based on information obtained by HRANA, Rezgar Moradi was arrested on May 27 in Sanandaj, and Zanko Rostami was detained on May 25 in Dehgolan by security forces.

Mr. Rostami was arrested during a protest gathering by truckers in Dehgolan, and his current status remains unknown. Moradi was detained on the Sanandaj–Marivan road and, following the issuance of a one-month detention order, was transferred to Sanandaj Prison.

The truckers’ protests began in Iran on May 22. Since then, dozens of truckers and supporters have been arrested in various cities across the country.

Additionally, HRANA has published a comprehensive report on the past week’s strikes, detailing the causes behind the protests, their spread, the government’s response, and the status of those detained.

Ata Aziri Arrested for Supporting Truckers’ Strike

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ata Aziri, HRANA, Sanandaj, Truckers’ Strike

HRANA News Agency – On Wednesday, May 28, truck driver Ata Aziri was arrested by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence in Sanandaj for his support of the ongoing nationwide truck drivers’ strike. He is currently being held at the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility.

According to a source close to his family, agents from the Ministry of Intelligence visited Aziri’s home around noon, presented a warrant, and arrested him before transferring him to the agency’s detention center.

Information obtained by HRANA indicates that his arrest is directly linked to his participation in and support for the strike.

The nationwide truck drivers’ protests began on May 21. Since then, over 20 truckers and citizens supporting the movement have been arrested in various cities across Iran.

HRANA has also published a detailed report on the truckers’ strike over the past week, outlining the causes of the protest, its spread, the government’s response, and the condition of those detained.

Dozens Arrested as Truckers’ Strikes Spread Across Iran

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Freedom of Expression, News
Bandar Imam Khomeini, Bandar Lengeh, Gilan, HRANA, irgc, IRGC officials, Kermanshah, Rasht, Sanandaj, Shiraz

HRANA News Agency –At least 20 truckers and supporters have been arrested in connection with a wave of truckers’ strikes that began on May 22 in cities across Iran, including Sanandaj, Eslamabad-e Gharb, Kermanshah, Rasht, Bandar Imam Khomeini, Bandar Lengeh, and Shiraz.

The strikes, launched in protest of longstanding grievances over working conditions and economic pressures, have drawn a strong security response. Among those detained are Sediq Mohammadi and Shahab Darabi, arrested in Sanandaj and Eslamabad-e Gharb respectively. The whereabouts of Mohammadi remain unknown.

The National Union of Truckers and Drivers has released several statements confirming the arrest of at least 11 drivers in Kermanshah and several others in Sanandaj. The union also reported violent police tactics, including the use of pepper spray against striking drivers at the Sanandaj terminal.

In Rasht, the IRGC’s Gilan provincial office announced the arrest of a citizen for allegedly supporting the strike. The individual was accused of “disrupting the order and security of road transport” and “aiding opposition groups” through negative portrayals of the situation.

The IRGC in Khuzestan Province reported the arrest of two individuals in Bandar Imam Khomeini on similar charges. State media later aired what appeared to be their forced confessions.

Authorities in Bandar Lengeh also arrested a citizen for allegedly producing and distributing videos encouraging strike participation. Police claimed the videos were shared with foreign media outlets.

In Shiraz, the local prosecutor confirmed the detention of several drivers, accusing them of “deliberate and organized disruption” of the transportation system. No specific number of detainees was disclosed.

HRANA previously published a detailed report on the first week of the truckers’ strike, outlining its causes, scale, and the government’s response, including arrests and repression.

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Sanandaj: Armin Khodamoradi Arrested and Taken to Unknown Location

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News, Other
Armin Khodamoradi, Sanandaj, آرمین خدامرادی

HRANA News Agency – On Friday, May 16, 2025, Armin Khodamoradi, a 26-year-old resident of Sanandaj, was arrested by security forces and transferred to an undisclosed location.

His identity was confirmed by Kolbar News, which reported that Khodamoradi was detained in Sanandaj by security agents.

Despite repeated inquiries, his family has been unable to obtain any information about his whereabouts or current condition, prompting growing concern for his safety.

At the time of this report, the reasons for his arrest and any charges brought against him remain unknown.

Varisheh Moradi, a political prisoner on death row, denied medical treatment

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News, Prisoners
armed rebellion, bolghasem Salavati, Evin Prison, Sanandaj, Varisheh Moradi

HRANA News Agency – Varisheh Moradi, a political prisoner sentenced to death and held in Evin Prison, is being denied hospital transfer and adequate medical care despite her deteriorating physical condition.

A social media page affiliated with Varisheh Moradi reported that she suffers from several health issues, including severe spinal disc problems in her back and neck, and has required urgent surgery and proper medical attention for over three months, as confirmed by a specialist. Despite prison doctors at Evin confirming the severity of her condition and emphasizing the urgent need for treatment outside the prison, she continues to be denied transfer to medical facilities on orders from the relevant authorities.

Ms. Moradi had previously also been denied transfer to medical centers despite requiring specialized treatment.

Varisheh Moradi was arrested by security forces in August 2023 in the outskirts of Sanandaj. She was eventually transferred on December 26 of that year from the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, known as Ward 209 of Evin Prison, to the women’s ward.

In late November 2024, Ms. Moradi was sentenced to death by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Abolghasem Salavati, on the charge of baghi (armed rebellion).

In another case, in late October 2023, she was sentenced to six months in prison by Branch Two of the Qods Judicial Complex Criminal Court in Tehran, in a joint case involving four other inmates. The charge against her in this case was “assaulting an officer and disobedience.”

This case stemmed from events on August 7, following protests by female prisoners in Evin’s women’s ward after learning about the execution of Reza Rasaei, which led to a clash with prison guards.

Six Citizens Arrested Over Nowruz Celebration in Sanandaj

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News
Ariwan Shakeri, Edris Heydari, Mahmoud Naderi, Sanandaj, Sheno Mohammadi, Shirwan Heydari, Sirwan Hatami

HRANA News Agency – Six citizens have been arrested by security forces in Sanandaj in connection with a Nowruz celebration. They were subsequently taken to an undisclosed location.

The individuals have been identified by Kolbar News as Sheno Mohammadi and Ariwan Shakeri, both residents of Sanandaj; Shirwan Heydari, Edris Heydari, and Sirwan Hatami, all from the village of Avihang; and Mahmoud Naderi, from the village of Dadaneh Kamangar.

According to the report, five of the detainees were arrested on Sunday, March 23, 2025. Mahmoud Naderi was arrested a day earlier, on Saturday, March 22.

At the time of this report, there is no information available regarding their current whereabouts or the charges filed against them.

It is worth noting that Mahmoud Naderi had previously been arrested on March 4, 2025, and was released on bail.

Leila Pashaei Arrested in Sanandaj

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Freedom of Expression, News, Women
International Women's Day, Leila Pashaei, Pashaei, Sanandaj, لیلا پاشایی

HRANA News Agency – On Monday, March 10, 2025, Leila Pashaei, a resident of Sanandaj, was arrested by security forces and transferred to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of the Human Rights Activists in Iran, Pashaei was detained at her home by agents of the Intelligence Department on charges of “acting against national security.”

Her brother, who reported the arrest, stated that the reason for her detention was her public remarks on women’s issues during International Women’s Day.

As of now, no information is available regarding her whereabouts.

Pashaei has previously faced security-related arrests and encounters with authorities due to her activism.

Civil Rights Activist Soheila Mataei Arrested in Dehgolan

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Freedom of Expression, News, Women
Dehgolan, Sanandaj, Soheila Mataei

HRANA News Agency – On Monday, March 10, 2025, Soheila Mataei, a resident of Dehgolan, Kurdistan province, was arrested by security forces and transferred to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, quoting Kurdpa, Mataei was detained without a court order. Reports suggest that her arrest was linked to her role in organizing an International Women’s Day event in Sanandaj. As of now, no information is available about her whereabouts or the charges against her.

History of Arrests and Legal Proceedings

Mataei has a history of previous arrests related to her activism:

January 22, 2025: She was briefly detained in Dehgolan amid protests against death sentences issued for Varisheh Moradi and Pakhshan Azizi.
October 1, 2022: Arrested during the nationwide protests and later released on bail.
November 12, 2022: Arrested again by security forces and transferred to the Sanandaj Juvenile Correctional Center after interrogation.
December 2022: Branch 2 of the Dehgolan Criminal Court sentenced her to three years and nine months in prison on charges of “disrupting public order, spreading false information to disturb public opinion, defying authorities, and propaganda against the regime through support for opposition groups.”

Mataei’s repeated arrests and prison sentences highlight the continued targeting of civil activists in Iran.