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Prisoner Executed in Gorgan Prison for Drug Offenses

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Executions, News
Armin Aghcheli, Gorgan Prison

At dawn October 23 the execution of a prisoner previously sentenced to death on drug-related charges was carried out in Gorgan Prison.

HRANA has identified the prisoner as “Armin Aghcheli.” Based on reports received by HRANA, Mr. Aghcheli was arrested in 2019 on drug-related charges and was subsequently sentenced to death by the judiciary.

As of the time of this report, the execution of this prisoner has not been officially announced by prison authorities or relevant institutions.

According to HRANA’s latest annual report, between October 10, 2023, and October 8, 2024, at least 811 individuals were executed in Iran, marking a 23.06% increase compared to the same period last year. Four of these executions were carried out publicly, with many of the accused reportedly being denied fair trials.

Two Baha’i Women in Babol Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison and Social Restrictions

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News, Religious Minorities
Babol, HRANA, Mohammad Sadegh Akbari, Niusha Badiei Sabet, Suzan Eid Mohammadzadegan, Tehran

Suzan Eid Mohammadzadegan and Niusha Badiei Sabet, two Baha’i citizens, have been sentenced to a total of 10 years in prison, along with additional social restrictions, by Branch 1 of the Babol Revolutionary Court.

In the court’s ruling, delivered to the defendants today, each was sentenced to five years in prison, with time served during pre-trial detention considered. Additionally, both women have been banned from all educational and training activities for 18 months. They were convicted of “engaging in educational or promotional activities contrary to the sacred Sharia of Islam.”

Eid Mohammadzadegan and Badiei Sabet were arrested on August 15, 2023, at Mohammadzadegan’s residence in Babol by security forces, who did not present a judicial warrant. The two were eventually released on bail on September 11, 2023, from Babol Prison.

Mohammad Sadegh Akbari, head of the judiciary in Mazandaran Province, had previously justified the closure of two schools and ten educational and sports centers in Babol by claiming these institutions were promoting the Baha’i faith. He also mentioned the arrest of two individuals, describing them as “prominent Baha’i instructors in Iran.”

However, a reliable source refuted these claims, telling HRANA, “Only four kindergartens were involved, at most. No religious promotion occurred in these centers; the focus was solely on children’s education, with parents present at all times.”

Niusha Badiei Sabet, 39, a psychologist, translator, and resident of Tehran, has faced previous arrests and judicial encounters due to her faith.

Five Prisoners Executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj

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Executions, News
Arman Nasirzadeh, Ghezel Hesar prison, Mohammad Koushki, Salam Baba-Khan Jafari

At dawn on October 23, five prisoners were executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj, following convictions for drug-related offenses, murder, and rape.

HRANA has confirmed the identities of two prisoners sentenced to death for drug-related charges: Salam Baba-Khan Jafari and Mohammad Koushki. The identities of two Afghan nationals, executed for murder and rape, are still under investigation.

Earlier this week, HRANA had reported that these four prisoners were transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for their executions. However, as of this report, prison officials and relevant authorities have not made formal announcements regarding the executions.

In a separate case, the Rokna news agency reported the execution of 33-year-old Arman Nasirzadeh, also in Ghezel Hesar Prison. According to Rokna, a long-standing dispute between Nasirzadeh and the victim, Akbar R., escalated, leading to the murder. Despite filing a complaint against Akbar R., Nasirzadeh eventually killed him. After the incident, Nasirzadeh surrendered to the police and was sentenced to death for premeditated murder.

Throughout the legal process, many individuals and authorities attempted to secure forgiveness from the victim’s family, even in the final moments before the execution. However, after Nasirzadeh spent 10 years in prison, the family of Akbar R. chose not to pardon him, resulting in the execution being carried out as planned.

According to HRANA’s latest annual report, between October 10, 2023, and October 8, 2024, at least 811 individuals were executed in Iran, marking a 23.06% increase compared to the same period last year. Four of these executions were carried out publicly, with many of the accused reportedly being denied fair trials.

Political Detainee Jila Zehtab Moghaddam Held in Evin Prison with Poor Health and Unclear Legal Status

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News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, Zehtab Moghaddam

Jila (Zhila) Zehtab Moghaddam, a political detainee in poor health, remains in legal limbo in Evin Prison. After completing her interrogation, she was transferred to the women’s ward 14 days ago.

A source close to her family told HRANA that Zehtab Moghaddam was arrested by security forces and transferred to Evin on October 9, 2024. Before her arrest, she had undergone breast cancer surgery, and both breasts were removed. She is currently being held in prison under poor physical conditions, with no clarity regarding her case.

At around 43 years old, Zehtab Moghaddam was charged with “propaganda against the regime,” “insulting the Supreme Leader,” “disturbing public opinion,” and “assembly and collusion against national security” by the Evin Prosecutor’s Office. She was recently acquitted of the latter two charges, though her case has not yet been referred to court. The charges against her primarily relate to posts on her personal Twitter (X) account.

Four Prisoners Executed in Karaj for Alleged Role in Toxic Alcohol Distribution

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Executions, News
Citizen executed, Karaj Central Prison

On October 23, four prisoners were executed in Karaj Central Prison after being convicted of “the large-scale production and distribution of toxic alcoholic beverages” and charged with “corruption on earth.” The judiciary’s news agency, Mizan, reported the execution but did not disclose the identities of the prisoners.

The executions were tied to a case from June 16, 2023, involving the widespread distribution of toxic alcoholic beverages in Karaj. The four prisoners had previously been sentenced to death for “corruption on earth through crimes against the physical integrity of individuals.” Their original death sentences were overturned by the Supreme Court in late June 2024, but after further review, they were again sentenced to death by Branch 2 of the Karaj Revolutionary Court.

The judiciary’s spokesperson had earlier claimed that the actions of these individuals resulted in the deaths of 17 people and caused blindness in 191 others.

In addition to the four executions, seven other defendants in this case were sentenced to prison terms.

Many experts believe that the ban on the import, sale, and consumption of alcohol in Iran has contributed to the rise of counterfeit alcohol production, leading to numerous fatalities and health complications.

According to HRANA’s latest annual report, between October 10, 2023, and October 8, 2024, at least 811 individuals were executed in Iran, marking a 23.06% increase compared to the same period last year. Four of these executions were carried out publicly, with many of the accused reportedly being denied fair trials.

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Yashar Nikroo Sentenced to One Year in Prison Following Appeal

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ahmad Gourabi, Azerbaijani Turk activist, Rasht, Rasht Revolutionary Court, Yashar Nikroo

After the acceptance of his appeal and a retrial, Azerbaijani-Turk activist Yashar Nikroo has been sentenced to one year in prison by Branch 3 of the Rasht Revolutionary Court.

Nikroo’s initial trial was held in absentia earlier this year, resulting in a one-year prison sentence for “propaganda against the regime.” On September 10, a new hearing was held in the same court to reconsider the charges. Despite the appeal, the court reaffirmed the one-year prison sentence during a subsequent session on October 9.

Yashar Nikroo, also known as Ahmad Gourabi, is a well-known Azerbaijani-Turk activist residing in Rasht. He had previously faced similar charges in the Rasht Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office.

10 Prisoners Executed in Different Prisons Across Iran

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Executions, News
Isfahan, Jiroft, Malayer, Qom

The death sentences of 10 prisoners were carried out in the prisons of Qom, Jiroft, Isfahan, and Malayer.

Two Prisoners Executed in Jiroft: According to the Iran Human Rights Organization, two prisoners were executed early on Monday, October 21, 2024, in Jiroft Prison. They have been identified as Mohammad Farhadzadeh and Hamid Chatr Simabeh (Sabaki), both around 40 years old. Farhadzadeh had been imprisoned for seven years on murder charges, while Chatr Simabeh had been detained for the same period on charges of “waging war against God” for his involvement in a confrontation and the murder of a police officer.

Five Executions in Qom Over 40 Days: In the past 40 days, five prisoners convicted of murder were executed in Qom Prison. One of these, Milad Badinlou, was executed on September 7, 2024. Two others, executed on October 10, 2024, were identified as Shahin Dehghani and Abdulqadir (last name unknown), an Afghan national. Additionally, on October 16, 2024, Hassan Khodabandelou and another Afghan national were also executed.

Two Prisoners Executed in Isfahan: On Wednesday, October 16, 2024, Mohammad Ashoori, 32 years old, was executed in Isfahan Prison after spending six years in detention on murder charges. Another execution took place on Thursday, October 17, in the same prison, where Mohammad Reza Mahjour was also put to death for murder.

Prisoner Executed in Malayer: On Sunday, October 20, 2024, Mohammad Saberi was executed in Malayer Prison. He had been incarcerated for two years on drug-related charges and was sentenced to death.

As of this report, prison officials and relevant authorities have not publicly confirmed the executions.

According to the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran, in 2023, at least 767 citizens, including 21 women and 2 juvenile offenders, were executed. Of these, the executions of 7 individuals were carried out in public. Additionally, during this period, 172 others were sentenced to death, with 5 of them sentenced to public execution. It is worth noting that during the same period, the initial death sentences of 49 other individuals were also upheld by the Supreme Court.

Arsham Rezaei Sentenced to Flogging and a Fine on Appeal

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News, Prisoners
Arsham Rezaei, Arsham Rezaie, Evin Prison, Fardis, flogging, Iman Afshari, Jamal al-Din Yassini, Karaj

Branch 41 of the Tehran Court of Appeals has upheld the sentence of 50 lashes and a monetary fine against Arsham Rezaei, a political prisoner in Evin Prison. The charges stem from a case initiated during his imprisonment.

Rezaei’s mother announced that Judge Seyed Jamal al-Din Yassini of Branch 41 confirmed her son’s conviction, which includes both the flogging and a fine of 16 million tomans. Another prisoner had accused Rezaei of insulting him and issuing death threats, which led to this case during his time in prison.

IRGC Intelligence agents arrested Arsham (Mahmoud) Rezaei at his home in Fardis, Karaj, on October 17, 2023, before transferring him to Evin Prison. His trial took place on December 25, 2023, where Judge Iman Afshari of Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced him to 15 years in prison, alongside a 15-million-toman fine and other penalties.

Rezaei has a history of imprisonment due to his activism.

Flogging is considered a violation of human dignity, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights prohibits inhumane and degrading punishments. However, Iran continues to enforce such sentences despite widespread domestic and international criticism.

Five Female Prisoners Sentenced to 27 Months in Evin Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, Mahboobeh Rezaie, Narges Mohammadi, Pakhshan Azizi, Parivash Moslemi, Reza Rasaei, Tehran, Varishe Moradi

Varishe Moradi, Pakhshan Azizi, Mahboobeh Rezaei, Narges Mohammadi, and Parivash Moslemi, all prisoners held in Evin Prison, have been sentenced to a total of 27 months and one day in prison in connection with a recently opened case against them.

The ruling, issued by Branch 2 of the Criminal Court at the Quds Judicial Complex in Tehran, was presided over by Judge Abolfazl Amiri Shahrabi. The verdict was delivered to the prisoners in Evin on Saturday, October 19. Pakhshan Azizi, Mahboobeh Rezaei, Narges Mohammadi, and Varishe Moradi each received six-month sentences, while Pariyoush Moslemi was sentenced to three months and one day. The charges against them included “assaulting officers” and “disobedience.” Ms. Moslemi was acquitted of “disturbing prison order,” and the other defendants were cleared of “property destruction.”

A source close to the family of one of the prisoners confirmed the news to HRANA, noting that “Only Ms. Moslemi attended the court session, while the other prisoners refused to appear in court.”

The case dates back to August 6, when inmates in Evin’s women’s ward protested after learning of the execution of Reza Rasaei, resulting in a clash with prison guards. Following the protest, several female prisoners, including these five, were barred from making phone calls or meeting with their families.

7 Political Defendants Begin Hunger Strike in Protest of Prolonged Detention

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News, Prisoners
Ashkan Mohammadi, Farshid Kazemi, Hooman Almasi, HRANA, Izeh, Maziar Nekooie, Ramin Mohammadi, Reza Karimnejad, Ruhollah Khosravi

Seven political defendants held in Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz—Ramin Mohammadi, Farshid Kazemi, Maziar Nekooie, Ruhollah Khosravi, Reza Karimnejad, Ashkan Mohammadi, and Hooman Almasi—have gone on hunger strike as of Saturday, October 19. The strike is in protest of their indefinite detention, which has lasted for over a year without trial. Following their action, all seven were transferred to solitary confinement.

A source close to one of the families confirmed to HRANA that the defendants initiated the hunger strike due to “their continued detention and the lack of progress in their judicial cases.” After launching the strike, they were moved to solitary confinement.

These detainees have been held in Sheiban Prison for more than 14 months without any court hearings to address their cases.

Hooman Almasi was arrested in April 2023, while Ashkan Mohammadi, Ramin Mohammadi, and Farshid Kazemi, all residents of Ahvaz, along with Reza Karimnejad and Maziar Nekooie, residents of Isfahan, were arrested in August 2023 by security forces in Izeh. Ruhollah Khosravi, born in 1989, is married and the father of two children. He was detained by security forces in Izeh on August 23, 2023.

After completing interrogations at The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Ahvaz, the detainees were transferred to Sheiban Prison.

Their cases are under review by a branch of the Izeh Prosecutor’s Office on charges related to national security. However, as of the time of this report, no specific details regarding the charges against them have been disclosed.