Tag: Tabriz

Two Prisoners Executed in Tabriz Prison

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Executions, News
Asghar Nouri-Nia, Jolfa, Mehran Zolfi, Tabriz, Tabriz Prison

HRANA News Agency – On April 23, 2025, two prisoners previously sentenced to death on separate drug-related charges were executed in Tabriz Prison.

Iran Human Rights have identified them as Mehran Zolfi, 27, from Tabriz, and Asghar Nouri-Nia, 35, from Jolfa.

According to the report, Zolfi had been detained for four years and Nouri-Nia for five years, both on drug-related charges. They were ultimately sentenced to death in separate cases by the Revolutionary Court.

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

In 2024, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran documented 812 cases related to the right to life, including the sentencing of 214 individuals to death and the execution of 930 individuals. Among these, 4 executions were carried out in public. Of those executed, 818 were male, 26 were female, and 5 were juvenile offenders—individuals under 18 years old at the time of their alleged crimes.

Sima Alipour Arrested After Summons to IRGC Intelligence in Tabriz

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Sima Alipour, Tabriz, سیما علیپور

HRANA News Agency – On Monday, March 17, Sima Alipour, an Azerbaijani-Turk activist, was arrested after appearing at the IRGC Intelligence office in Tabriz and was transferred to the agency’s detention facility.

A source close to Alipour’s family confirmed the arrest in a conversation with HRANA, stating: “After being summoned, Ms. Alipour appeared at the IRGC Intelligence office in Tabriz on the morning of Monday, March 17. Hours later, the family was informed through their contacts that she had been arrested by the agency. They were advised to follow up on the case through the Tabriz Prosecutor’s Office.”

As of this report, no information has been released regarding the reasons for the arrest or the charges against her.

Last week, IRGC Intelligence agents searched Alipour’s home and confiscated several personal belongings, including her mobile phone.

Previously, in April 2023, a court hearing was held for Ms. Alipour and her husband, Davoud Shiri (Derakhshan), regarding their charges.

On May 28, 2022, both were arrested by Tabriz’s Ministry of Intelligence agents and released several days later on bail from the agency’s detention facility.

Sima Alipour has a prior record of arrests and encounters with security forces.

Azerbaijani-Turk Activist Salar Taher Afshar Arrested in Urmia

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Freedom of Expression, News
Azerbaijani Turk activist, Salar Taher Afshar, Tabriz, Urmia

HRANA News Agency – Salar Taher Afshar, an Azerbaijani-Turk activist, was arrested yesterday, February 18, in Urmia by the Ministry of Intelligence.

A source close to his family told HRANA: “Around noon on Tuesday, intelligence agents arrived at Mr. Taherafshar’s workplace with two vehicles and arrested him. A few hours later, he informed his family by phone that he is set to be transferred from the Intelligence Detention Facility in Urmia to Tabriz in the coming days.”

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

Taher Afshar had previously been sentenced to five years in prison by Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals in January 2025 on charges of “assembly and collusion against national security.”

He was first arrested on February 6, 2024, in Urmia and later transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison. He was released on February 28, 2024, on bail.

Azerbaijani-Turk Activist Ebrahim Asemani Sentenced to Prison and Flogging

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Ethnic Minorities, Freedom of Expression, News
Azerbaijani Turk, Ebrahim Asemani, Tabriz, Zohreh Sa’adati Vafaie

HRANA News Agency – Azerbaijani-Turk activist Ebrahim Asemani has been sentenced to three months in prison and 30 lashes by Branch 118 of the Tabriz Criminal Court.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, Asemani was convicted on charges of “disrupting public order through unconventional attire and creating commotion during the funeral of Zohreh Sa’adati Vafaie.” The verdict, issued on February 15, 2025, sentenced him to three months and one day of imprisonment and 30 lashes.

This verdict was issued in absentia and can be appealed within 20 days of notification, with an additional 20-day window for appeal in the Court of Appeals.

Asemani was arrested on September 23, 2024, during the funeral of Sa’adati Vafaie at a Cemetery in Tabriz for wearing traditional clothing featuring specific inscriptions. He was released on bail after eight days.

Asmani, aged approximately 60, is a married Azerbaijani-Turk activist from Tabriz. He has previously faced summonses, arrests, and judicial sentences due to his activism.

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) strictly prohibits inhumane and degrading punishments such as flogging and amputation. However, in 2024, HRANA documented at least three cases where flogging sentences were carried out, totaling 106 lashes. Additionally, at least 131 individuals were sentenced to a combined 9,957 lashes by the Iranian judiciary.

Furthermore, four individuals had their hand amputation sentences executed, while four others were sentenced to amputation.
For detailed statistics and further insights, read HRANA’s 2024 Annual Report.

Interrogation Sessions Held for 12 Azerbaijani-Turk Activists at Tabriz Prosecutor’s Office

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ali Babaei, Amirhossein Aghaei, Araz Ebrahim-Nejad, Azerbaijani Turk activists, Davoud Shiri, Ebrahim Avaz-Zadeh, Hamed Yeganehpour, Hossein Azadi, Javad Soodbar, Mehrdad Ghaderi, Mohammadreza Movahed, Morteza Nourmohammadi, Tabriz, Yoroush Mehrali Beiglou

HRANA News Agency – Interrogation sessions for 12 Azerbaijani-Turk activists, were held at Branch 15 of the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in Tabriz.

According to HRANA, the interrogation sessions, related to a joint case involving the 12 individuals, took place separately from January 11 to January 22, 2025. These activists are: Yoroush Mehrali Beiglou, Araz Ebrahim Nejad, Davoud Shiri, Mehrdad Ghaderi, Hamed Yeganehpour, Mohammadreza Movahed, Amirhossein Aghaei, Ali Babaei, Javad Soodbar, Morteza Nourmohammadi, Hossein Azadi, and Ebrahim Ava-Zadeh

During these sessions, the defendants defended themselves against charges of “membership in an illegal group with the intent to oppose the regime” and “assembly and collusion to commit crimes against national security.” Additionally, Yoroush Mehrali Beiglou faced the separate charge of “forming a group with the intent to oppose the regime.”

Although Naser Razmjoo, one of the accused in the case, was named and notified of his case registration at Branch 15, he has not yet been summoned. The other activists had been summoned through individual notices prior to the sessions.

Background on the Activists

  • Yoroush Mehrali Beiglou was arrested in November 2023 in Jolfa and transferred to The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Tabriz. In February 2024, he was transferred to Tabriz Prison and later released on bail. He has a history of prior arrests and convictions related to his activism.
  • Mohammadreza Movahed, Araz Ebrahim Nejad, and Davoud Shiri were arrested in September 2023 and transferred to Tabriz Prison. They were released on bail in December 2023. Both Shiri and Movahed have previously faced judicial actions due to their activism.
  • Mehrdad Ghaderi was arrested in September 2023 by security forces in Tabriz and released on bail in November 2023.
  • Morteza Nourmohammadi Nadarli (Nazarlo) was arrested in September 2023 and transferred to The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Tabriz. He was later moved to Tabriz Prison but then returned to the same detention facility. In early November 2023, he was charged with “assembly and collusion to act against national security” in Shabestar Prosecutor’s Office and later faced new charges of “membership in a group to act against national security.” He was released on bail in November 2023.
  • Hamed Yeganehpour, a resident of Maragheh, was arrested in November 2023 by security forces in Tabriz and released from detention in November 28, 2023.
  • Amir-Hossein Aghaei was arrested in September 2023 in Baghmisheh, Tabriz, and released on bail in December 2023.
  • Ali Babaei and Javad Soodbar were arrested in September 2023 in Tabriz and released on bail in December 2023.
  • Hossein Azadi was arrested in September 2023 in Baghmisheh, Tabriz, and released on bail in November 2023.
  • Ebrahim Avaz-Zadeh was arrested in October 2023 in Tehran and released on bail in late-November 2023.
  • Naser Razmjoo was arrested in October 2023 in Tabriz and released on bail in late-November 2023.

This case highlights the ongoing judicial and security pressures faced by Azerbaijani-Turk activists in Iran.

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Update on Student Ehsan Faridi’s Status in Tabriz Prison

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News
Ehsan Faridi, HRANA, Tabriz, Tabriz Prison, احسان فریدی

Ehsan Faridi, a student at Tabriz Technical and Vocational College, remains in limbo in Tabriz Prison nearly six months after his arrest.

A source close to his family confirmed to HRANA: “Mr. Faridi has been held in limbo for about six months in Tabriz Prison. On Wednesday, December 11, his second court session was held at the Revolutionary Court of Tabriz via video conference, during which he defended himself against the charges.”

The first court session for Mr. Faridi was held on August 3, also via video conference. Additionally, in September, a separate hearing for another part of his case was held at the Tabriz Criminal Court Branch 2.

Ehsan Faridi was arrested on June 18, 2024, after reporting to the Tabriz Prosecutor’s Office and was transferred to Tabriz Prison.

Faridi, a 21-year-old engineering student specializing in manufacturing and production, had previously been arrested on March 8, transferred to Tabriz Prison, and later released on bail after ten days.

Nima Radmanesh and Hossein Esmaeilzadeh Arrested in Tabriz

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Freedom of Expression, News
Hossein Esmaeilzadeh, Nima Radmanesh, Tabriz

Yesterday, December 16, Nima Radmanesh and Hossein Esmaeilzadeh, two residents of Tabriz, were arrested by security forces in the city and taken to an undisclosed location.

Based on information received by HRANA, the arrests of Mr. Radmanesh and Mr. Esmaeilzadeh took place separately yesterday at their family homes in Tabriz.

As of the time of this report, no information is available about the reasons for their arrests, their current whereabouts, or the charges against them.

Nima Radmanesh, 21, has a history of prior judicial encounters and arrests.

Iraj Jamshidi Detained for Six Days Amid Uncertainty in Tabriz

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News, Prisoners
HRANA, Iraj Jamshidi, Malekan, Tabriz, ایرج جمشیدی

Iraj Jamshidi has been detained for six days by security forces in Malekan and transferred to a security detention facility in Tabriz.

A source close to the family confirmed to HRANA: “Mr. Jamshidi was arrested by Intelligence Ministry agents at his home in Malekan on Thursday, November 14, 2024, and was transferred to a security detention facility in Tabriz.” The source added: “Despite the family’s efforts to obtain information from security and judicial authorities in Tabriz, officials have refused to provide any clear answers regarding Iraj Jamshidi’s situation, increasing the family’s concerns.”

As of the time of this report, no information is available about the charges against him.

Iraj Jamshidi, 55, is unmarried and resides in Malekan.

Yashar Tabrizi Arrested by IRGC Intelligence in Tabriz

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Freedom of Expression, News
aKBAR gHOLIZADEH, HRANA, Tabriz, Yashar Tabrizi, یاشار تبریزی

On Tuesday, November 19, 2024, Yashar Tabrizi, a civil activist, was arrested today after appearing at the News Office of the IRGC Intelligence in Tabriz.

Based on information received by HRANA, Mr. Tabrizi appeared at the News Office of the IRGC Intelligence in Tabriz at 8:00 AM. His family later learned of his arrest, and his wife’s mobile phone was also confiscated. So far, the reasons behind his arrest remain unclear.

On November 12, 2024, IRGC Intelligence forces searched the home of this civil activist in Tabriz. During the search, authorities instructed him to report to the News Office to answer a few questions posed by the prosecutor.

On September 13, 2023, Tabrizi was previously arrested by security forces in Tabriz. Shortly after, he was transferred from The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, also known as Ward 240 of Evin Prison, to Ward 4 of the same prison. He was eventually released on bail on April 25, 2024.

In August 2023, Mr. Tabrizi was sentenced to one year in prison by the Shahriar Revolutionary Court on the charge of “propaganda against the regime.”

Akbar Gholizadeh (also known as Yashar Tabrizi), a civil activist, has a history of previous arrests and convictions related to his activities.

 

Jebreil Pakrooh Sentenced to Six Months for Spreading Falsehoods

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Freedom of Expression, News
Farhad Pakrooh, HRANA, Jebreil Pakrooh, Tabriz, جبرئیل پاک روح

Jebreil Pakrooh, a resident of Tabriz, has been sentenced to six months of imprisonment by the Criminal Court in Tabriz.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, Mr. Pakrooh was sentenced in absentia by Branch 109 of the Second Criminal Court of Tabriz. The charges stem from “spreading falsehoods on the Internet,” for which he received a six-month prison sentence. Additionally, the court ordered him to “publishing a statement retracting his false information and issuing a formal apology through an official news outlet.”

The case against Mr. Pakrooh was initiated following a complaint filed by Ali Abbaszadeh, an official in The Law Enforcement Command of the East Azerbaijan Provincial Police.

A source close to Mr. Pakrooh’s family told HRANA: “In 2021, Mr. Pakrooh was arrested over a financial case. During his detention, he was beaten by officers from the Criminal Investigation Department. He later experienced severe dizziness, prompting medical examinations that revealed he had suffered internal bleeding in his head due to blows inflicted during his detention. He underwent urgent surgery to remove the clotted blood, but the complications persist. He has now lost the ability to walk and suffers from blurred vision and motor issues in his hands.”

The source added: “After being beaten by officers at the Criminal Investigation Department, Mr. Pakrooh filed a complaint against them. Concurrently, he posted online content protesting the officers’ violence. This ultimately led to the complaint by the Legal Affairs Office of the East Azerbaijan Provincial Police against him.”

Jebreil Pakrooh, a resident of Tabriz, was arrested by security forces on Monday, May 13, 2024, and released on bail a day later.

Pakrooh, aged around 59, is the father of Farhad Pakrooh, an Azerbaijani-Turk activist. He has previously faced security-related confrontations due to his own and his son’s activities.