Behzad Rasouli Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison on Charge of Alleged Membership in an Opposition Party

HRANA – Behzad Rasouli, a detained citizen currently held in Saqqez Prison, has been sentenced by the Revolutionary Court of this city to eight years of discretionary imprisonment.

According to Kolbar News, Behzad Rasouli was sentenced by Branch 1 of the Saqqez Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Javad Ghaffari. Based on the verdict, Mr. Rasouli was sentenced to eight years in prison on charges of alleged membership in an opposition party. He is currently serving his sentence in Saqqez Prison.

Behzad Rasouli, a 42-year-old resident of Saqqez who had returned to Iran after leaving Iraq, was arrested on Saturday, July 26, 2025, during a trip to Isfahan by government forces.

Following his arrest, he was initially transferred to The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Saqqez, and after three months, he was moved to the quarantine ward of Saqqez Prison.

Six Citizens Arrested by Security Forces

HRANA – Sasan Chamanara and Parastoo Chamanara in Ilam; Sobhan Azizi and Omid Khorshidi in Saqqez; Davood Ganji, a gamer and computer programmer, in Neyshabur; and Pejman Zare, a Baha’i citizen, in Shiraz were arrested on different dates. Meanwhile, Yaser Rahmani-Rad, a general practitioner, was released from Khorramabad Prison on bail.

Based on reports received by HRANA, yesterday Sasan Chamanara and Parastoo Chamanara were arrested by security forces in Ilam and transferred to an undisclosed location. In addition, on March 14, Davood Ganji, a gamer and computer programmer in Nishapur, was arrested. A Baha’i resident of Shiraz, Pejman Zare, was also arrested at his home by security forces on March 15.

Separately, the Kurdpa news agency reported that two citizens, Sobhan Azizi and Omid Khorshidi, were arrested in Saqqez on March 14.

At the time of writing, no information is available regarding the reasons for the arrests, the detainees’ whereabouts, or the charges brought against them.

Additionally, Yaser Rahmani-Rad, a general practitioner, was released from Khorramabad Prison on Wednesday, March 11, on bail. He had previously been arrested on February 9 by the IRGC Intelligence Organization in Khorramabad in connection with the nationwide protests. He faces charges of spreading falsehoods with the intent to disturb public opinion and propaganda against the state.

Among these individuals, Yaser Rahmani-Rad and Sasan Chamanara have previously faced security-related actions due to their activities.

It is worth noting that gatherings and strikes by shopkeepers and bazaar merchants began on Sunday, December 28, in Tehran, and after two days expanded beyond markets and commercial centers. With the participation of students, citizens, and various social groups, the protests became one of the largest waves of demonstrations in recent years. Following the crackdown on the protests by law enforcement and security forces, thousands of people were killed or injured, and tens of thousands were arrested or summoned by security institutions. For more information, readers can refer to HRANA’s comprehensive report titled “Crimson Winter,” which documents the first fifty days after the start of Iran’s nationwide protests.

Report on the Arrest of Five Individuals in Mahabad, Sanandaj, and Saqqez

HRANA – In recent days, Anvar Moloudi and Avat Rostami, residents of Mahabad, as well as Zeinab Azizi and Sirvan Amini, a couple living in Sanandaj, have been arrested by security forces. So far, no information has been obtained about their whereabouts.

Meanwhile, Sedigh Yousefpour, who had previously been arrested, was released from Saqqez Prison after posting bail.

According to Kurdpa, this citizen was released on March 9 after posting bail from Saqqez Prison. He had been arrested by security forces on January 21.

In another report, Kurdpa announced the arrest of two citizens on March 6 by forces of the Intelligence Office in Mahabad. The identities of these individuals were reported as Anvar Moloudi, a 40-year-old resident of the village of Kheyrabad, and Avat Rostami, a 40-year-old resident of the village of Khorkhoreh in Mahabad.

Additionally, Kolbar News reported that Zeinab Azizi and Sirvan Amini, a couple living in Sanandaj, were arrested by security forces on March 6.

The reports did not mention the reasons for these arrests, the location where the detainees are being held, or the charges brought against them.

Uncertain Status of Iranian–Norwegian Citizen Shahin Mahmoudi Continues

HRANA – Eight days after her arrest, Shahin Mahmoudi, an Iranian-Norwegian dual national, remains in an uncertain legal situation at The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Sanandaj.

Based on information received by HRANA, Ms. Mahmoudi was summoned by telephone to the Ministry of Intelligence office in Saqqez on Sunday, December 14. Later that day, after appearing at the security agency, she was arrested. She was subsequently transferred to The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Sanandaj.

So far, no information has been provided to her family regarding the charges against her. Her relatives remain completely unaware of the reasons for her arrest, her health condition, and the status of her case.

Ms. Mahmoudi had traveled from Norway to Iran on Friday, November 28, a trip that was followed by her arrest and the opening of a judicial case against her.

Shahin Mahmoudi, born in 1979, is originally from Saqqez and holds Norwegian citizenship. Her name is registered as Shine Mahmoudi in Norwegian identity documents.

Gold Mine Security Forces Open Fire on Villagers: One Dead, Three Injured

HRANA – Following clashes between security guards of the Qolqoleh Gold Mine and a group of protesting residents of Pir-Amran village in Saqqez County, one villager was killed and three others were injured. Two of the shooters have been identified and arrested.

According to HRANA, citing ILNA, the confrontation took place yesterday evening, Monday, September 15. Four villagers were shot and transferred to medical centers. One of them died due to the severity of his injuries.

The Mukerian News Agency identified the deceased as Mohammad Rashidi, 22 years old.

The head of the Kurdistan Province Judiciary announced that a case has been opened in Saqqez County Prosecutor’s Office, adding that the shooters have been identified and arrested. Preliminary investigations by the case investigator have already begun, and the weapons used have been confiscated and handed over to law enforcement authorities.

The police commander of Saqqez County also confirmed the incident, citing disputes between villagers and mine officials as the cause of the clash.

The Qolqoleh Gold Mine, located near Pir-Emran village in Saqqez County, has previously been the scene of tensions between locals and mine authorities. Villagers have long raised concerns over environmental damage, land ownership, and lack of transparency in the exploitation of natural resources.

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Nariman Randani Arrested by Security Forces

HRANA – On August 19, 2025, Nariman Randani, a civil rights activist and resident of Saqqez, was arrested by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location.

His brother, Milad Randani, confirmed the news, writing: “My brother Nariman was arrested for the third time in recent months. Yesterday at 6 a.m., intelligence forces came to our house again and arrested him. I have no information about Nariman’s whereabouts.”

On May 11, 2025, Nariman Randani was released on bail. He had previously been arrested on April 9, 2025, for unknown reasons.

Randani had also been arrested earlier, on February 25, 2025, in connection with a general strike in Kurdish cities, and was later released.

Four Citizens Arrested by Security Forces in Saqqez

HRANA– On Monday, August 18, 2025, four citizens from Saqqez, Zakaria Moradi, Mehdi Kamali, Omid Rahimzadeh, and Mohammad Aminpour, were arrested by security forces in this city and transferred to an undisclosed location.

According to Kolbar News, the arrests reportedly took place at their private residences without the presentation of a judicial warrant.

As of the time of this report, no information has been obtained regarding the reasons for their arrest, their whereabouts, or the charges brought against them.

Arbitrary arrests, transferring detainees to undisclosed locations, and leaving families in the dark about the fate of their loved ones are routine practices of the Iranian regime’s security agencies, such as the Ministry of Intelligence and the IRGC Intelligence Unit. This pattern of behavior stands in clear violation of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, known as the Nelson Mandela Rules.

Safa Aeli, Uncle of Mahsa Amini, Arrested and Transferred to Saqqez Prison

HRANA News Agency – Safa Aeli, the uncle of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini, was arrested by security forces on the night of Friday, April 11, 2025, and transferred to Saqqez Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, Aeli was taken into custody by security forces on the evening of April 11. Following his arrest, he was transferred to Saqqez Prison. HRANA has learned that Mr. Aeli is facing a new legal case, which was being processed in the final months of last year.

In 2023, Safa Aeli had already been sentenced by Branch 1 of the Saqqez Revolutionary Court to five years and six months in prison, along with a two-year travel ban.

He was previously arrested by security forces on September 5, 2023, and later released on bail on October 17 of the same year.

Nariman Randani Arrested by Security Forces in Saqqez

HRANA News Agency – On Wednesday, April 9, Nariman Randani, a resident of Saqqez, was arrested by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location, as reported by Kurdpa.

 
According to the report, Mr. Randani was arrested at his workplace without a judicial warrant. As of the time of this report, no information has been obtained regarding the reasons for his arrest, his whereabouts, or the charges against him.
 

Randani had previously been released from Saqqez Prison on bail on February 26, 2025. His earlier arrest was in connection with the general strike held on Wednesday, January 24, 2025, in Kurdish cities.

 

Two Citizens Arrested in Saqqez by Security Forces

HRANA News Agency –According to Kurdpa, on Wednesday, January 29, Hiwa Amini and Rahman Rahimpour were arrested in Saqqez, Kurdistan Province, and taken to an undisclosed location.

The report states that the arrests were carried out by security forces without presenting a judicial warrant. Rahman Rahimpour was arrested at his home, where agents also confiscated several personal belongings, including the mobile phones of both him and his wife.

As of the time of this report, there is no information on the reasons for the arrests, the detainees’ whereabouts, or the charges against them.

Hiwa Amini and Rahman Rahimpour have previously faced arrests and judicial confrontations due to their activities.