Tag: Shiraz

Baha’i Couple Still Detained Without Charges in Shiraz

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Freedom of Expression, News
Behzad Yazdani, irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Romina Khazali, Shiraz

HRANA – Nearly one month after the arrest of Romina Khazali and her husband, Behzad Yazdani, this Baha’i couple residing in Shiraz remains in a state of uncertainty in Adel-Abad Prison in the city. Ms. Khazali, who suffers from multiple medical conditions, has been deprived of access to her necessary medications.

A source close to the couple’s family, confirming the news, told HRANA: “Before her arrest, Ms. Khazali had undergone stomach surgery and also suffered from conditions such as severe migraines, eye pressure, and back pain. In a recent brief call with her family, she said that her essential medications have run out. However, the medications sent by her family have not been accepted by prison authorities, which has heightened concerns about her health. Romina Khazali is only allowed a 30-second phone call with her family per week. She still does not have access to a phone card and has not been allowed to purchase items from the prison store.”

The source further added: “No interrogation session has been held for these individuals so far, and they remain unaware of the charges against them and the reasons for their arrest.”

Behzad Yazdani was arrested on the evening of March 28, 2026, and his wife, Romina Khazali, was arrested on March 29, 2026, by IRGC intelligence agents at their home in Shiraz.

Romina Khazali, a painter, and Behzad Yazdani, a translator and editor, are a Baha’i couple living in Shiraz and the parents of two teenage children, a daughter and a son.

Report on the Arrest of Keyvan Ahmadi by the IRGC Intelligence

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Keyvan Ahmadi, Shiraz

HRANA – Keyvan Ahmadi, a resident of Noorabad Mamasani, was arrested in late Match by agents of the IRGC Intelligence, and there is still no precise information available about his condition.

Based on information received by HRANA, Mr. Ahmadi was arrested in late March, 2026, by IRGC Intelligence agents in Shiraz. Despite nearly a month having passed since his arrest, there is still no clear information about his situation.
The reason for his arrest has been reported as accusations related to events that took place during the funeral of one of those killed in the January protests.

Keyvan Ahmadi had been working in a commercial unit in Noorabad Mamasani and was also active in the field of local music.

Maryam Derisi and Fariba Hosseini Sentenced to Imprisonment and Flogging

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Freedom of Expression, News
Fariba Hosseini, Kazerun, Maryam Derisi, Shiraz

HRANA – Maryam Derisi and Fariba Hosseini, residents of Kazerun and Shiraz respectively, have been sentenced by Branch 101 of the Revolutionary Court of Shiraz to a total of seven years in prison and 74 lashes.

Based on a ruling recently issued by Branch 101 of the Revolutionary Court of Shiraz and communicated to these individuals, Maryam Derisi has been sentenced to one year in prison and 74 lashes on the charge of “disrupting public order.” Fariba Hosseini has been sentenced to five years in prison on the charge of “assembly and collusion against national security,” and one additional year on the charge of “propaganda against the regime.” The court acquitted Ms. Hosseini of the charge of insulting the Supreme Leader.

According to information received by HRANA, Maryam Derisi also faces a charge of propaganda against the state; however, this charge has not yet been adjudicated in court.

Maryam Derisi was arrested on February 13, 2026, in Kazerun, and Fariba Hosseini was arrested on January 4, 2026, in Shiraz during nationwide protests. Both were released on bail on March 9, 2026.

Both have previously been arrested and convicted due to their activities.

Families in the Dark as Detention of Three Baha’i Residents Continues in Shiraz

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News, Prisoners, Religious Minorities
Baha'i, Behzad Basiri, Mahsa Sotoudeh, Mandana Sotoudeh, Shiraz

HRANA – Nearly three weeks after their arrests, Behzad Basiri and Mandana Sotoudeh, a Baha’i couple living in Shiraz, along with Mahsa Sotoudeh, another Baha’i resident of the city, remain in a state of uncertainty. The lack of information about their fate has caused growing concern among their families and relatives.

Based on information received by HRANA, 18 days have passed since the arrests of Behzad Basiri and Mandana Sotoudeh, and 21 days since the arrest of Mahsa Sotoudeh. Despite this, their families and relatives remain completely unaware of their condition. Efforts to obtain information about their place of detention and their situation have so far been unsuccessful. Additionally, lawyers have not yet been able to formally register representation or follow up on their legal cases.

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

Mahsa Sotoudeh was arrested on Sunday, March 29, by IRGC intelligence forces at her home in Shiraz. Behzad Basiri and Mandana Sotoudeh were also arrested on Wednesday, April 1, by forces affiliated with the IRGC. Their arrests were accompanied by searches of their homes, during which agents confiscated their electronic devices.

Over the past decade, the Baha’i community in Iran has been subjected to security and judicial measures more than any other religious minority. A review of the annual reports published by the Statistics, Publications, and Works Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran shows that over the past year, an average of 62% of reports concerning religious minorities were dedicated to violations of the civil rights of Baha’is.

Report on the Arrest of Four Female Protesters During the January Protests

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News, Prisoners
Adelabad Prison, Ghazal Ghodrat, HRANA, Kamelia Nazari, Negin Azad, Saghar Ghodrat, Shiraz

HRANA – Negin Azad, Kamelia Nazari, Saghar Ghodrat, and Ghazal Ghodrat, four citizens who were arrested during the January protests in Shiraz, were released from Adelabad Prison in March under electronic ankle monitor supervision after going through detention, trial, and sentencing.

A source close to Negin Azad’s family told HRANA that at the time of arrest, the women were shot with paintball pellets in front of their home, causing physical injuries. The source also stated that “although no reports of physical mistreatment inside the prison have been raised, there has been psychological pressure, and in some cases, such as injury to one detainee’s ear, adequate medical care was not provided.”

Their arrests took place during the nationwide January protests in Shiraz. Following their detention, a joint case was opened against them, and judicial proceedings on the charges began.

In the initial trial, the judicial authority sentenced each of the four women to five years in prison on the charge of “disrupting public order.” After they appealed, the Fars Province Court of Appeals reviewed the case and ultimately reduced the sentence, sentencing each of them to two years of imprisonment to be served outside prison under electronic monitoring.

According to information received by HRANA, the four women were released from Adelabad Prison in late March 2026 under the new ruling, with electronic monitoring in place. Their release does not nullify their convictions, and the sentences will continue to be enforced in an alternative form outside prison.

It should be noted that protests and strikes by shopkeepers and bazaar merchants began in Tehran on Sunday, December 28, 2025, and within two days spread beyond markets and commercial centers. With the participation of students, citizens, and various social groups, these protests became one of the largest protest movements of recent years. Following the crackdown by security and law enforcement forces, thousands were killed or injured, and tens of thousands were arrested or summoned by security agencies. For more information, readers may refer to HRANA’s comprehensive report titled “Crimson Winter,” documenting the first fifty days following the outbreak of Iran’s nationwide protests.

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Woman Arrested in Shiraz on Espionage Charges

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Freedom of Expression, News
Shiraz, Yousef Malekzadeh

HRANA – The deputy commander of Fars Province’s police force announced the arrest of a female citizen in Shiraz. The official cited the reason for her arrest as “espionage through sending videos and images of missile launch and impact sites, cooperation with international hostile networks, and distributing anti-government leaflets.”

According to IRNA, the deputy police commander of Fars Province said that a woman had been arrested in Shiraz. Yousef Malekzadeh stated that the reason for her arrest was “espionage through sending footage and images from enemy missile launch and impact locations, cooperation with international hostile networks, and distributing anti-government leaflets.”

The police official further claimed that the woman had extensive contact with two media outlets based outside the country. He added that she had also intended to financially support one of these networks and served as the admin of two Instagram pages that widely published stories and messages.

Malekzadeh continued by claiming that “sending images of launchers, the moment of missile launches, and launch sites along with their geographic locations to foreign-based networks, chanting slogans against the regime at night from rooftops and across the city with several others, supporting one of the regime’s opposition groups, and participating in the protests of last January” were among her other alleged activities.

However, the deputy commander did not disclose the woman’s identity or place of detention.

Teachers’ Union Activist Mohammad-Ali Zahmatkesh Arrested

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Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News
Fars Province, Mohammad Ali Zahmatkesh, Mohammadali Zahmatkesh, Shiraz, Teachers union activist

HRANA – Yesterday, Tuesday, April 14, Mohammad-Ali Zahmatkesh, a teachers’ union activist in Fars Province, was arrested by security forces in Shiraz.

According to a report by the Coordinating Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations, Mohammad-Ali Zahmatkesh was arrested in Shiraz. Based on this report, the arrest of this teachers’ union activist took place yesterday, Tuesday, April 14, at his private residence by security forces.

As of the time of this report, no information has been obtained regarding the reasons for his arrest or his place of detention.

Zahmatkesh had previously been arrested and convicted due to his union activities.

Baha’i Citizen Sara Sepehri Arrested in Shiraz

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News, Other
Baha'i citizen, HRANA, Sara Sepehri, Shiraz, سارا سپهری

HRANA – Yesterday, Sara Sepehri, a Baha’i resident of Shiraz, was arrested by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location. At the same time, both her residence and her mother’s home were searched, during which a number of her personal and digital belongings were confiscated.

A source close to the family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “Ms. Sepehri was arrested yesterday by security agents at her residence. Simultaneously, both her home and her mother’s home were searched. During the search, all of her electronic devices, as well as personal and work-related items, were seized.”

The source further added: “The agents broke down the front door in order to enter Ms. Sepehri’s home. Her mother also lives with a disability and requires continuous care. In addition, Sara Sepehri is under medical supervision, and the stress caused by the situation, combined with concern for her mother, could put her health at risk.”

As of the time of this report, no information has been obtained regarding the reasons for her arrest, her place of detention, or the charges brought against this Baha’i citizen.

Over the past decade, the Baha’i community in Iran has been subjected to more security and judicial pressure than any other religious minority. According HRA’s annual reports, an average of 62.41% of all reported violations concerning religious minorities over the past year involved violations of the rights of Baha’i citizens.

Baha’i Citizen Angha Siavashi Arrested in Shiraz

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News, Religious Minorities
Angha Siavashi, Baha'i citizen, Shiraz, عنقا سیاوشی

HRANA – Last night, Angha Siavashi, a Baha’i resident of Shiraz, was arrested by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location. At the same time, his residence was searched, and a number of his personal belongings were confiscated by agents.

A knowledgeable source close to the family of this Baha’i citizen, while confirming the matter, told HRANA: “Mr. Siavashi was arrested on the evening of Tuesday, April 7, 2026, by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence. At the same time, his residence was searched by the agents. During the search, electronic and personal items, including a modem, computer, laptop, mobile phones, photo albums, books, religious images, gold, and other property in the home, were confiscated.”

According to this informed source, “At the time of the arrest, the family was hosting guests. Security forces also searched all of the guests and confiscated their personal belongings as well, including phones and jewelry.”

As of the time of this report, no information has been obtained regarding the reasons for his arrest or the charges brought against this Baha’i citizen.

Angha Siavashi, a 19-year-old Baha’i resident of Shiraz, has a prior conviction due to his religious beliefs.

Over the past decade, the Baha’i community in Iran has been targeted by security and judicial authorities more than any other religious minority. A review of HRA’s annual reports shows that during the past year, an average of 62.41% of reports related to religious minorities concerned violations of the civil rights of Baha’is.

Mandana Sotoudeh and Behzad Basiri, a Baha’i Couple Living in Shiraz, Arrested

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News, Religious Minorities
Behzad Basiri, HRANA, Mandana Sotoudeh, Shiraz

HRANA – Behzad Basiri and Mandana Sotoudeh, a Baha’i couple residing in Shiraz, were arrested by security forces on Wednesday, April 1. At the same time, their home was searched by agents, and a number of their electronic devices were confiscated.

Based on information received by HRANA, on Wednesday, April 1, security forces raided the home of Behzad Basiri and Mandana Sotoudeh. During the search, the agents confiscated these citizens’ electronic devices. The officers first arrested Mr. Basiri, who was at home, and then proceeded to arrest Ms. Sotoudeh at her mother’s house. During the search of the home and the arrest of these citizens, the agents did not present a judicial warrant.

So far, no information has been obtained regarding the reasons for their arrest or the location where these Baha’i citizens are being held.

It is worth noting that Mahsa Sotoudeh, Mandana Sotoudeh’s sister, was also arrested by security forces in the city on Sunday, March 29. Her arrest was likewise accompanied by a house search and the confiscation of electronic devices, and no information has yet emerged about her fate.

Notably, over the past decade, the Baha’i community in Iran has been targeted by security and judicial actions more than any other religious minority. A review of the annual reports by the Statistics, Publications, and Works Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran indicates that over the past year, an average of 62.41% of reports concerning religious minorities were related to violations of the civil rights of Baha’is.