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.

Saqqez: Civil Rights Activists Nariman and Milad Randani Arrested by Security Forces

HRANA News Agency – Nariman and Milad Randani, two brothers and civil rights activists from Saqqez, were arrested by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location, as reported by Kurdpa.

The two individuals have been identified as “Nariman Randani and his younger brother, Milad Randani.” According to the report, Nariman Randani was arrested in Saqqez on Wednesday, January 22, by security forces without a judicial warrant. Similarly, Milad Rendani was apprehended the following day, Thursday, January 23, at his workplace, also without a judicial warrant.

The arrests of the Rendani brothers are believed to be connected to the general strike held in Kurdish cities on Wednesday, January 22, in protest of the death sentences issued against Pakhshan Azizi and Varisheh Moradi.

As of now, no details have been released about the reasons for their arrests, their current whereabouts, or the charges against them.

Kurdistan Shopkeepers’ Strike; 7 Protesters Against Executions Arrested

HRANA News Agency – Yesterday, January 22, 2025, amid a strike by shopkeepers across cities in Kurdistan Province protesting the death sentences of Varisheh Moradi and Pakhshan Azizi, seven citizens were arrested by security forces and taken to unknown locations.

According to HRANA, quoting Kolbar News, Soheila Mataei, previously arrested during the 2022 nationwide protests in Dehgolan, was detained for participating in the strikes. Additionally, six residents of Sanandaj—Amjad Geriakhiz, Naeem Doosti, Mohammad Seif-Panahi, Sina Rezaei, Mohammad Atlasi, and 33-year-old Omid Mohammadi—were arrested without judicial warrants for joining the strike.

As of this report, no information about the charges against these individuals has been released. Soheila Motaei has a history of arrests and legal confrontations due to her activism.

Yesterday, shopkeepers in various cities across Kurdistan, including Sanandaj, Saqqez, Divandarreh, and Marivan, went on strike, halting daily activities in protest against the death sentences of Varisheh Moradi and Pakhshan Azizi.

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Teacher Azad Khadem Detained in Saqqez, Whereabouts Unknown

Azad Khadem, a teacher residing in Saqqez, has been detained by security forces for ten days, with no information available about his place of detention.

A source close to the teacher’s family told HRANA, “Mr. Khadem was arrested by security forces in Saqqez on Monday, November 25. Since then, no details have emerged about his location, exacerbating concerns among his family and loved ones.”

As of the time this report was prepared, no information is available regarding the reasons for his arrest or the charges against him.

Azad Khadem is a teacher, a father of one, and a resident of Saqqez.

Behzad Dadkhah Arrested by Security Forces in Saqqez

On November 25, Behzad Dadkhah, a resident of Saqqez, was arrested by security forces in the city and transferred to an undisclosed location.

Behzad Dadkhah is a resident of Saqqez, and the father of a young child.

A source close to the family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “He was arrested by security forces at his workplace on Vahdat Boulevard in Saqqez and taken to an unknown location. The lack of information about his whereabouts has caused great concern among his family and loved ones.”

The reasons for his arrest and the charges against him remain unknown at this time.

Solmaz Hassanzadeh Sentenced to One Year in Prison

Solmaz Hassanzadeh, sister of Mohammad Hassanzadeh, who was killed by regime forces during the 2022 nationwide protests, has been sentenced to one year in prison by judicial authorities.

According to Kurdpa, the one-year sentence was issued by Branch 101 of Criminal Court Two in Bukan, presided over by Judge Mehdi Fakhri, on the charge of “propaganda against the regime.”

Though cases of this nature typically fall under the jurisdiction of the Revolutionary Court, the lack of such a court in Bukan means security-related cases are first referred to the Revolutionary Court in Mahabad. Once a decision is reached, the case is returned to Bukan’s Criminal Court for sentencing.

On July 30, Solmaz and her father were arrested by security forces while attempting to hold a memorial ceremony for Mohammad’s birthday. The next day, her father, Ahmad Hassanzadeh, was released on a bail of four billion tomans, while Solmaz was released on August 13 after posting a bail of 500 million tomans.

Solmaz Hassanzadeh had previously been detained by security forces at a checkpoint between Bukan and Saqqez on September 27 of last year, and was subsequently released.

Mohammad Hassanzadeh, a 28-year-old Bukan resident, was fatally shot during the 2022 protests and passed away on November 16 of that year.

Journalist Fardin Mostafaie Arrested

Journalist Fardin Mostafaie was arrested by security forces in Saqqez today and transferred to an unknown location, as reported by Kurdpa.

According to the report, Mr. Mostafaie was detained on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, without a judicial warrant, at a café in Saqqez.

As of this report, there is no information regarding the charges against him or his current whereabouts.

A member of the International Federation of Journalists, Mostafaie was previously summoned and interrogated by the Cyber Police (FATA) in November 2023 on charges of “spreading falsehoods and disturbing public opinion.”

Mostafaie has a history of prior summons and interrogations.

Sunni Cleric Saber Khodamoradi Sentenced to 15 Months in Prison

Saber Khodamoradi, a Sunni cleric and Imam of Friday prayers in a town in Saqqez County, has been sentenced to 15 months in prison by the Special Clerical Court in Hamedan.

Mr. Khodamoradi announced that he was sentenced to 15 months in prison following a phone call from the Special Clerical Court in Hamedan. He had previously been summoned to this court in July 2023.

This Sunni cleric had earlier been sentenced to seven months in prison and 74 lashes by the Special Clerical Court in Hamedan.

Additionally, on April 26, 2023, Saber Khodamoradi was summoned to the Special Clerical Court in Hamedan for the third consecutive time due to his support of the nationwide protests in 2022.