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Leila Pashaei Arrested in Sanandaj

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Freedom of Expression, News, Women
International Women's Day, Leila Pashaei, Pashaei, Sanandaj, لیلا پاشایی

HRANA News Agency – On Monday, March 10, 2025, Leila Pashaei, a resident of Sanandaj, was arrested by security forces and transferred to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of the Human Rights Activists in Iran, Pashaei was detained at her home by agents of the Intelligence Department on charges of “acting against national security.”

Her brother, who reported the arrest, stated that the reason for her detention was her public remarks on women’s issues during International Women’s Day.

As of now, no information is available regarding her whereabouts.

Pashaei has previously faced security-related arrests and encounters with authorities due to her activism.

Civil Rights Activist Soheila Mataei Arrested in Dehgolan

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Freedom of Expression, News, Women
Dehgolan, Sanandaj, Soheila Mataei

HRANA News Agency – On Monday, March 10, 2025, Soheila Mataei, a resident of Dehgolan, Kurdistan province, was arrested by security forces and transferred to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, quoting Kurdpa, Mataei was detained without a court order. Reports suggest that her arrest was linked to her role in organizing an International Women’s Day event in Sanandaj. As of now, no information is available about her whereabouts or the charges against her.

History of Arrests and Legal Proceedings

Mataei has a history of previous arrests related to her activism:

January 22, 2025: She was briefly detained in Dehgolan amid protests against death sentences issued for Varisheh Moradi and Pakhshan Azizi.
October 1, 2022: Arrested during the nationwide protests and later released on bail.
November 12, 2022: Arrested again by security forces and transferred to the Sanandaj Juvenile Correctional Center after interrogation.
December 2022: Branch 2 of the Dehgolan Criminal Court sentenced her to three years and nine months in prison on charges of “disrupting public order, spreading false information to disturb public opinion, defying authorities, and propaganda against the regime through support for opposition groups.”

Mataei’s repeated arrests and prison sentences highlight the continued targeting of civil activists in Iran.

Political Activist Mohsen Ghashghaei-Zadeh Sentenced to Two Years in Prison

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News, Prisoners
Ghashghaei-Zadeh, Ghashghaeizadeh, HRANA, Mehdi Karroubi, Mir Hossein Mousavi, Zahra Rahnavard, محسن قشقایی زاده

HRANA News Agency – Branch 23 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Mohsen Ghashghaei-Zadeh, a political activist currently imprisoned in Evin Prison, to two years in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of the Human Rights Activists in Iran, the sentence was recently issued by Judge Mohammad Taghi Taghizadeh and formally communicated to Ghashghaei-Zadeh. He has been convicted of “assembly and collusion against national security.”

Ghashghaei-Zadeh was arrested on February 13 during a gathering in front of the University of Tehran, where protesters had assembled to demand an end to the house arrest of Mir Hossein Mousavi, Zahra Rahnavard, and Mehdi Karroubi. He was detained by security forces and transferred to Evin Prison.

Despite tight security measures, the protest took place, resulting in the arrest of several participants.

It is worth noting that Ghashghaei-Zadeh has a history of previous arrests and convictions related to his political activism.

Civil Rights Activist Raheleh Rahemipour Sentenced to Over Four Years in Prison Following Retrial

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News, Prisoners
Evin, Evin Prison, irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Raheleh Rahemipour, راحله راحمی

HRANA News Agency – The prison sentence of Raheleh Rahemipour, a 72-year-old civil activist currently imprisoned in Evin Prison, has been reduced to four years and two months following the acceptance of her retrial request. The revised verdict was issued by Branch 21 of the Tehran Court of Appeals, lowering her initial sentence of five years and ten months.

According to HRANA, the news agency of the Human Rights Activists in Iran, the updated ruling was recently issued by Branch 21 of the Tehran Court of Appeals and formally communicated to her defense attorney yesterday. Under the new sentence, Rahemipour has been convicted of:

“Assembly and collusion against national security” – three years, six months, and ten days in prison
“Propaganda against the regime” – seven months and twenty days in prison

Based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, which mandates the enforcement of the most severe sentence in cases involving multiple charges, Rahemipour will serve three years, six months, and ten days behind bars.

Legal Background and Arrest History

Earlier, attorney Payam Dorfeshan had announced that Branch 9 of the Supreme Court had accepted Rahemipour’s request for a retrial and referred the case to an equivalent court for reconsideration.

Rahemipour was arrested in late November 2023 after appearing at the Evin Prosecutor’s Office and was subsequently transferred to Evin Prison to serve her sentence.

Her original conviction was handed down by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, which sentenced her to five years in prison for “assembly and collusion” and ten months in prison for “propaganda against the regime.” This ruling was issued following a trial held on June 16, 2020.

Rahemipour was previously arrested on November 12, 2019, by security forces in Tehran. She was subsequently transferred to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Intelligence Detention Center, known as Ward 2A of Evin Prison, before being temporarily released.

Given her advanced age, Rahemipour suffers from multiple health conditions and has been consistently denied access to essential medical care.

Christian Convert Narges Nasri Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison and Additional Penalties

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Freedom of Expression, News, Religious Minorities
Christian convert, Evin Prison, HRANA, Iman Afshari, Narges Nasri

HRANA News Agency – Narges Nasri, a Christian convert, has been sentenced by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court to 16 years in prison, 15 years of social rights deprivation, and a fine. She was arrested by Ministry of Intelligence agents on November 1nd, while in the first month of pregnancy, and was later released on bail from Evin Prison on December 1st.

According to the verdict issued by Judge Iman Afshari, Nasri has been sentenced to:

10 years in prison for “propaganda activity contrary to Islamic law” due to her alleged “influential connections abroad” and the broad impact of her activities, with an increased degree of severity.
5 years in prison for “membership in anti-regime groups.”
1 year in prison for “propaganda against the regime.”
15 years of social rights deprivation and a fine of 3.3 billion rials.

In addition to her prison sentence, Nasri, now in her fourth month of pregnancy, has been subjected to further restrictions, including a two-year ban on leaving the country, residing in Tehran and neighboring provinces, and joining any social or political groups.

A source familiar with the case told HRANA that her one-year sentence for “propaganda against the regime” was issued due to her online activities, including posts critical of the country’s situation.

Nasri’s trial was held on February 13th at Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, while her initial interrogation sessions took place in January at Branch 3 of the Tehran Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office.

Nasri, a 37-year-old Christian convert and resident of Tehran, was arrested on November 1nd alongside two other Christian converts by Ministry of Intelligence agents for forming a house church in Tehran. She was transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison, a detention facility under the control of the Ministry of Intelligence, where she was subjected to daily interrogations. She was eventually released on December 1st after posting bail set at 2.5 billion tomans.

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Christian Converts Mehran Shamlooei and Abbas Soori Sentenced to Over 25 Years in Prison

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News, Religious Minorities
Abbas Soori, Christian converts, Iman Afshari, Mehran Shamlooei

HRANA News Agency – Mehran Shamlooei and Abbas Soori, Christian converts residing in Tehran, have been sentenced by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court to a total of 25 years and eight months in prison, 30 years of social deprivation, fines, and additional penalties.

Based on the verdict issued yesterday by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, Shamlooei and Soori were found guilty of “propaganda activities contrary to Islamic law due to their connections abroad and the extensive depth of their criminal acts” (with an increased degree of severity) and “membership in groups opposing the state.” Their sentences include:

A total of 25 years and 8 months in prison
30 years of deprivation of social rights
A fine of 580 million tomans (approximately 7,250 USD)

Sentences in Detail:

Abbas Soori was sentenced to:

10 years in prison for “propaganda activities contrary to Islamic law”
5 years in prison for “membership in groups opposing the state”
15 years of social deprivation
A fine of 330 million tomans (approximately 6,500 USD)
Additional penalties, including a travel ban, a ban on residing in Tehran and neighboring provinces, and a ban on membership in social groups for two years.

Mehran Shamlooei was sentenced to:

8 years in prison for “propaganda activities contrary to Islamic law”
2 years and 8 months in prison for “membership in groups opposing the state”
15 years of social deprivation
A fine of 250 million tomans (approximately 4,120 USD)

The trial took place on February 13, 2025, and the interrogation sessions were held in December at Branch 3 of the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in Tehran.

Shamlooei and Soori were arrested on November 1 by Ministry of Intelligence agents for organizing a house church in Tehran. They were transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison, a detention facility run by the Ministry of Intelligence, where they were interrogated daily. On December 2, they were released on bail of 2 billion tomans (approximately 25,000 USD) each.

Mehran Shamlooei is a 43-year-old Christian convert, and Abbas Soori is also a Christian convert residing in Tehran.

Civil Rights Activist Baran Saedi Arrested in Sanandaj

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News, Women
Baran Saedi, HRANA, Sanandaj, باران ساعدی

HRANA News Agency – Today, Monday, March 10, Baran Saedi, a resident of Sanandaj, was arrested by security forces in the city and taken to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, quoting Kurdpa, Saedi’s arrest took place at her home by security forces without a judicial warrant. The report further mentions that the civil rights activist was detained following her participation in an event commemorating International Women’s Day in Sanandaj.

Baran Saedi had previously been arrested during the nationwide protests of 2022 and was released on bail after about two months.

As of the time of this report, there is no information on her whereabouts or the charges against her.

Report on the Arrest of Three Citizens in Qasreqand County

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Freedom of Expression, News, Other
Alam Azizi, HRANA, Javid Kadkhodaei, Nikshahr, Qasreqand, Saeed Azizi, قصرقند

HRANA News Agency – On Saturday, March 8, security forces arrested three citizens, Alam Azizi, Saeed Azizi, and Javid Kadkhodaei, in Qasreqand County. Among them, Saeed Azizi and Javid Kadkhodaei were released after a few hours of interrogation.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, three citizens were arrested in Qasr-e Qand County.

HRANA has identified the individuals as:

  • Alam Azizi, approximately 36 years old, a resident of Azizabad village.
  • Saeed Azizi, approximately 40 years old, a resident of Gehjan village.
  • Javid Kadkhodaei, approximately 33 years old, a resident of Beg village.

All three individuals are from villages in Qasreqand County, Sistan and Baluchestan province.

According to information received by HRANA, the arrests took place at noon on Saturday, March 8, at the home of Alam Azizi, carried out by security forces.

A source close to the family of one of the detainees confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “Saeed and Javid were transferred to Nikshahr County after their arrest. They were released after three hours of interrogation. Alam Azizi was transferred to Zahedan following his arrest, but there is no information available about his whereabouts.”

As of the time of this report, the reasons for the arrests and the charges against these individuals remain unknown.

Alam Azizi has previously been arrested due to his activities.

Iran Reduces Prison Sentences for Political Prisoners Ali Younesi and Amirhossein Moradi

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ali Younesi, Amirhossein Moradi, Evin Prison, Mostafa Nili, امیرحسین مرادی, علی یونسی

HRANA News Agency – Attorney Mostafa Nili has announced a reduction in the prison sentences of Ali Younesi and Amirhossein Moradi, two political prisoners. Following the Supreme Court’s approval of their retrial, a parallel judicial branch lowered their maximum sentences from 10 years to 6 years and 8 months. Previously, they had been sentenced to a combined total of 32 years in prison.

According to Nili, this reduction was first applied to Amirhossein Moradi and has now been extended to Ali Younesi as well.

On June 25, 2022, more than two years after their arrest, Younesi and Moradi were transferred from The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility (Ward 209 of Evin Prison) to the prison’s general ward.

In May 2022, Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals upheld their original convictions. The two Sharif University of Technology students had been sentenced to 10 years in prison for destruction and arson of public property as their most serious charge. They also received 5 years for conspiracy against national security and 1 year for propaganda against the regime.

Arrest and Allegations

Ali Younesi, a computer engineering student, and Amirhossein Moradi, a physics student, were arrested on April 10, 2020, by Ministry of Intelligence agents. The arrest, conducted by plainclothes officers without a judicial warrant and involving physical violence, sparked widespread condemnation.

On May 5, 2020, Gholamhossein Esmaeili, spokesperson for Iran’s Judiciary, accused them of collaborating with an opposition group (MEK). Shortly after, Aida Younesi, Ali Younesi’s sister, publicly rejected these allegations, attributing them to their parents’ history as former political prisoners in the 1980s.

Academic Achievements

Amirhossein Moradi won the silver medal in Iran’s 2017 National Astronomy Olympiad, while Ali Younesi won the silver medal in 2016 and the gold medal in 2017. Younesi also won gold in the 12th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics, held in China, securing first place in the competition.

Their arrests and heavy sentences have drawn international criticism, with human rights organizations calling for their immediate release.

Azerbaijani-Turk Activist Alireza Farshi Sentenced to 8 Months in Prison

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Ethnic Minorities, News
Alireza Farshi, Marand, Mohammad Taghi Taghizadeh, علی رضا فرشی

HRANA News Agency – Azerbaijani-Turk activist Alireza Farshi has been sentenced to eight months in prison by the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

Branch 23 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced this Azerbaijani-Turk activist to eight months in prison on charges of “propaganda against the regime.” The verdict was issued on March 2, 2025, by Judge Mohammad-Taghi Taghizadeh and was officially communicated to Mr. Farshi today.

The charges against Mr. Farshi include publishing content on social media. The ruling is subject to appeal in the Tehran Court of Appeals within 20 days of its issuance.
The court session addressing Ali Reza Farshi’s charges was held on March 1, 2025, in his absence.

Ali Reza Farshi Yekanli, a resident of Marand, has a history of previous arrests and legal confrontations due to his activism.