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Two Individuals Detained by Security Forces in Piranshahr

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Freedom of Expression, News
Hossein Bayazidi, Naqadeh, Piranshahr, Somayeh Ghaderi

On May 6, 2024, security forces apprehended Somayeh Ghaderi and Hossein Bayazidi in Piranshahr, West Azerbaijan province, and transported them to an undisclosed location, according to Kurdpa.

Somayeh Ghaderi’s brother, Mohsen Ghaderi, is presently incarcerated in Naqadeh Prison on political charges. The individuals were reportedly taken from their residences without the presentation of any arrest warrant. As of now, the motive for their detention, their current whereabouts, and the specifics of the allegations against them remain unknown.

Shirin Saeedi Receives Five-Year Sentence on Political Charges

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News, Prisoners
Revolutionary Court of Tehran, Salavati, Shirin Saeedi, شیرین سعیدی

Shirin Saeedi, a political prisoner, has been sentenced to five years in prison by the Revolutionary Court of Tehran.

Currently held in the Women’s Ward of Evin Prison, Saeedi’s conviction stems from charges of “assembly and collusion to act against national security,” as determined by Judge Abolghasem Salavati of Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court. Saeedi retains the option to appeal within a 20-day window.

The specifics of the alleged actions leading to this political charge remain undisclosed at present.

Approximately 53 years old, Saeedi resided in Lebanon for a period before returning to Iran, where she was summoned by judicial authorities on December 23, 2023. Subsequently indicted for “assembly and collusion against national security,” she was detained in Evin Prison.

On April 28, 2024, Mizan, the Judiciary News Agency, released a report erroneously linking Saeedi with another individual outside the prison who shares a similar name, possibly attempting to insinuate that Saeedi was not incarcerated in Evin Prison. In response, HRANA conducted a fact-check and refuted Mizan’s claim, ensuring that Saeedi’s imprisonment was not denied by the authorities.

Mahmood Mehrabi, a Political Prisoner, Receives Death Sentence

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Executions, News
Babak Eslami Farsani, Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan, Mahmood Mehrabi, Mahmoud Mehrabi, revolutionary court, محمود مهرابی

Mahmood (Mahmoud) Mehrabi has been sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court in Isfahan on charges of “spreading corruption on earth.” He is currently held at Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan.

Babak Eslami Farsani, Mehrabi’s legal representative, relayed that Branch 5 of the Isfahan Revolutionary Court issued the death sentence. Farsani highlighted that they were only informed of the decision at court, with no written verdict provided. He expressed hope that the Supreme Court would address the perceived shortcomings in the ruling. The court justified the sentence by accusing Mehrabi of “widespread dissemination of false information on Instagram.”

Mehrabi was first detained by security forces on February 1, 2023, in Isfahan, and was temporarily released on bail on March 16, 2023, only to be rearrested at his home shortly after.

In September 2023, Mehrabi faced a series of additional charges, including propaganda against the regime, incitement of police and military forces to disobedience, incitement to war, crimes against national security, and insulting the founder and Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

In January of this year, he was further charged with publishing confidential information and committing acts of blasphemy, including insulting Shia Imams.

Mehrabi has a history of arrests and convictions linked to his activism.

Political Prisoner Siamak Nasiri Sentenced to Imprisonment and Exile

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News, Prisoners
Alborz province, HRANA, Karaj, Musa Asef-Al-Hosseini, Siamak Nasiri

The Appellate Court of Alborz province has reduced political prisoner Siamak Nasiri’s sentence from six years to three years and one month.

Branch 12 of the Appellate Court of Alborz province issued the verdict, sentencing Nasiri to three years and one month in prison, plus two years of exile in Ahvaz County, following his appeal.

Initially, the Karaj Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Musa Asef Al-Hosseini, had sentenced Nasiri to five years in prison for “inciting people to violence and waging war against national security,” along with an additional year for “propaganda against the regime.” He was also required to reside in Ahvaz for two years.

Nasiri was arrested by IRGC Intelligence in Karaj on August 28, 2023, and is currently being held in the Central Prison of Karaj.

Previously, a source informed HRANA that Nasiri was detained in December 2022 in Karaj, where he was held in the Ministry of Intelligence’s facility. He was later transferred to the Central Prison of Karaj and subsequently released under a general pardon and commutation directive.

Omid Mehrban Sentenced to Over One Year and Nine Months on Political Charges

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Freedom of Expression, News
ahvaz, Behbahan, Mohammad-Hassan Mehrban, Omid Mehrban

The Revolutionary Court of Mahshahr sentenced Mohammad-Hassan (Omid) Mehrban to one year, nine months, and two days.

Mehrban’s lawyer, Sajjad Chatrsefid, announced that his client received one year, three months, and one day for “insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran,” and six months and one day for “spreading propaganda against the regime.” Mehrban has the right to appeal the verdict.

Mehrban was arrested by IRGC Intelligence at his workplace in Behbahan on September 9, 2023. On September 27, he was transferred from the IRGC detention facility in Ahvaz to Behbahan Prison after his interrogation ended. He was released on bail after seven days.

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Inmate Executed in Kermanshah for Murder

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Executions, News
Ali Ashraf-Khani, Dizelabad Prison, Kermanshah, علی اشرف خانی

On May 2, 2024, an inmate convicted of murder was executed in Dizelabad Prison, Kermanshah.

HRANA reported that the executed individual was Ali Ashraf-Khani. A source close to his family confirmed the execution.

No official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have provided coverage of this execution at the time of writing. In 2023, 66% of HRANA’s reports on executions lacked official announcements by judicial authorities and went unreported by media inside Iran, highlighting a troubling lack of transparency in due process.

In 2023, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran registered the execution of 767 individuals. Out of these, 7 were carried out in public. Among the executed individuals whose genders were identified, 21 were female. Additionally, 2 juvenile offenders, defined as individuals under the age of 18 at the time of their alleged crimes, were also executed.

Six Individuals Arrested in Oshnavieh by Security Forces

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Freedom of Expression, News, Other
Fakhreddin Modarresi, Hassan Rasouli, Hesameddin Mohmoudi, Moloud Roosta, Omid Rashid-Pak, Oshnavieh, Rahim Rafa'ati

Security forces in Oshnavieh, West Azerbaijan province, arrested six residents and transferred them to an undisclosed location, according to reports from Kurdpa.

The individuals have been identified as Omid Rashid-Pak, Fakhreddin Modarresi, Rahim Rafa’ati, Hesameddin Mohmoudi (aged 19), Moloud Roosta, and Hassan Rasouli.

Rashid-Pak and Modarresi were taken into custody on May 2, while the other four were arrested on May 1, 2024.

The reasons for their arrests, their current locations, and the charges against them remain unknown at this time.

Journalist Mohammad Parsi Faces Legal Action

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Freedom of Expression, News
Mohammad Parsi, Nika Shakarami, محمد پارسی

The Tehran prosecutor has initiated legal action against journalist Mohammad Parsi for “publishing an article detailing Nika Shakarami’s death.” Parsi confirmed this legal action to the public.

Recently, a report by the BBC revealed leaked documents about the sexual assault and murder of teenage girl Nika Shakarami, committed by security forces during nationwide protests. This report has sparked widespread reactions, resulting in the arrest of several individuals by the Iranian regime in an attempt to silence dissent.

Parsi, the chief editor of the literary magazine Kandoo, has previously faced legal challenges for his journalistic work.

Update on Execution of Five Inmates in Ghezel Hesar Prison

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Executions, News
Anvar Khezri, Farzad Geravand, Ghezel Hesar prison, HRANA, Majid Barati, Majid Hajbari, Reza Shir-Zahi

On May 1, 2024, Sunni prisoner Anvar Khezri and four other inmates were executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj.

As previously reported by HRANA, Khezri had been in prison for over 14 years. The other inmates executed include Farzad Geravand and Majid Barati, both convicted of drug offenses, and Reza Shir-Zahi and Majid Hajbari, both convicted of murder.

No official sources or domestic media outlets have reported on these executions at the time of writing. The lack of official information raises concerns about transparency and accountability in the execution process.

According to data gathered by the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists, Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj witnessed the highest number of executions in 2023, with Zahedan Prison following closely behind. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s report.

Student Motahareh Goonehei Arrested by IRGC Intelligence

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Freedom of Expression, News, Students
Ardabil, Mehdi Hadizadeh, Motahareh Goonehei, Tehran University of Medical Science, مطهره گونه ای

On May 1, 2024, Motahareh Goonehei, a student at Tehran University of Medical Science, was summoned and arrested by IRGC Intelligence in Tehran.

A source close to Goonehei’s family confirmed to HRANA that she was summoned by IRGC Intelligence over the phone, leading to her arrest. She is currently being held in the women’s ward of Evin Prison.

The charges against Goonehei have not been disclosed at this time.

Both Goonehei and her husband, Mehdi Hadizadeh, who is also a student at Tehran University of Medical Science, had previously been suspended from the university and required to continue their studies at Ardabil University of Medical Sciences.

Goonehei was previously arrested by security forces in Tehran during the nationwide protests in 2022.