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Bayan Salehian Arrested and Transferred to Urmia Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Bayan Salehian, HRANA, Urmia prison, بیان صالحیان

HRANA – Bayan Salehian, a physician residing in Urmia, was arrested by security forces eight days ago and transferred to Urmia Prison.

According to HRANA, Bayan Salehian remains in detention.

Based on information obtained by HRANA, Ms. Salehian was arrested by security forces at her family home on Sunday, September 27, 2026, and subsequently transferred to Urmia Prison. Eight days after her arrest, she remains in a state of legal uncertainty.

An informed source told HRANA that her arrest was related to her participation and remarks in an online discussion. The source added that efforts by her elderly parents to visit their daughter have so far been unsuccessful.

As of the time of this report, no information has been obtained regarding the charges brought against the physician.

In April of 2025, in a separate case, Ms. Salehian was sentenced to imprisonment and a fine on charges of “propaganda against the regime” and “disseminating false information with the intent to disturb public opinion online.” That case was subsequently closed after completing the judicial process.

She was also arrested and interrogated in October 2024.

Bayan Salehian, an internal medicine specialist residing in Urmia, has previously faced judicial proceedings and convictions.

Aida Ghaderi Arrested in Saqqez

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News, Other
Aida Ghaderi, HRANA, Saqqez, آیدا قادری

HRANA – Yesterday, Aida Ghaderi, a 20-year-old resident of Saqqez, was arrested by Ministry of Intelligence agents and transferred to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, citing Kurdpa, Aida Ghaderi has been arrested.

According to the report, Aida Ghaderi was arrested at her home on Sunday, October 4, by Ministry of Intelligence agents without the presentation of a judicial warrant. She has also been denied access to an attorney, phone calls, and visits with her family.

Aida Ghaderi is a 20-year-old swimming instructor and athlete from Saqqez.

As of the time of this report, no information is available regarding her place of detention, the charges against her, or her current condition.

January 2026 Protests: Alireza Raisi Executed

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Executions, News
Abolfazl Ebrahimi, Abolfazl Sepahi, Ali Dashti, Alireza Raisi, Alireza Sepahi, Amirhossein Ebrahimi Analoucheh, Amirhossein Maleki, Amirhossein Safari, Erfan Esfandiari, Ghaem Hosseini, Gol-Mohammad Mohammadi, HRANA, Shervin Bagherian

HRANA – At dawn today, October 5, Alireza Raisi, one of those arrested during the January 2026 protests and one of the individuals sentenced to death in the case known as the “Isfahan Alikhani Square” case, was executed at Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan.

Based on information obtained by HRANA, Alireza Raisi was executed at dawn today, Monday, October 5, 2026, at Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan.

An informed source close to the Raisi family told HRANA about the hours leading up to the execution, saying that Mr. Raisi met with his family for the final time on Sunday, October 4. At the end of the visit, he refused to part from his family, and prison authorities and officers ultimately separated him from them by force. According to the source, members of his family also gathered outside Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan last night, seeking information about his situation.

Mr. Raisi’s death sentence was carried out at the same time as that of Alireza Sepahi, another defendant in the case.

Alireza Raisi had previously been sentenced to death along with several other defendants in the case known as the “Isfahan Alikhani Square” case. At the trial-court stage, 15 defendants in the case were sentenced to death. According to information provided by an attorney, the sentence of one defendant was overturned by a higher judicial authority, while the death sentences of the other 14 defendants were upheld.

HRANA had previously confirmed the identities of several individuals sentenced in this case. They include Alireza Sepahi, Abolfazl Sepahi, Erfan Esfandiari, Gol-Mohammad Mohammadi, Amirhossein Safari, Ghaem Hosseini, Shervin Bagherian, Amirhossein Maleki, Ali Dashti, Abolfazl Ebrahimi, Alireza Raisi, and Amirhossein Ebrahimi Analoucheh.

The death sentences of several other defendants in this case had already been carried out. Erfan Esfandiari and Gol-Mohammad Mohammadi were executed on July 19. Abolfazl Sepahi and Amirhossein Safari were publicly executed at Alikhani Square in Isfahan at dawn on July 28. Ghaem Hosseini’s death sentence was also carried out in late August.

In previous reports on this case, HRANA documented restrictions on effective access by the defendants and their attorneys to the case files, the inability to obtain complete copies of the rulings, the court’s failure to give due consideration to certain defense evidence, and allegations of pressure and torture during the investigation.

World Teachers’ Day: At Least 47 Iranian Teachers Imprisoned, Detained, or in Exile

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Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News, Prisoners, Publications
Abbas Bagheri, Abolfazl Khoran, Ahanali Jahandideh, Ahmad Alizadeh, Alan Hekmatirad, Ali Ahmadi, Alireza Mardasi, Alireza Shaygan, Aman Jalalinezhad, Ameneh Biraqdari, Amir Rahimi, Arman Shahpourikho, Bakhtiar Rezvani, Farhad Rahmani, Fatemeh Zarei, Forouzan Yektaei, Hashem Khastar, Hossein Khaleghi, Hossein Ramezanpour, Iraj Toubeiha, Javad Laal Mohammadi, Javad Safari, Mahmoud Heidarian, Masoud Farhikhteh, Masoud Kiani, Mastoureh Narimani, Mehdi Farahi Shandiz, Milad Khorshidi, Mohammad Hassan Davoudi, Mohammad Hossein Sepehri, Mohammad Rafi Sadeghi, Mohsen Khodaei, Mojtaba Iravi, Reza Amanifar, Reza Gerami, Reza Kamalvand, Reza Taheri, Sabah Valadbeigi, Sadegh Sedaghat, Sattar Zarei, Shervin Hamideh, Shokrollah Ahmadi, Siamak Sadeghi Chehrazi, Sina Karimi-Mofrad, Sirous Sattarnezhad, Yousef Amini, Zahra Arefi Mehr

HRANA – At least 47 current and retired teachers across Iran are imprisoned, detained, or serving sentences of exile, according to data compiled by HRANA on the occasion of World Teachers’ Day. Of those, 13 are serving prison sentences, 32 remain in detention, and two are serving court-ordered exile. This report provides an overview of their latest known status and focuses exclusively on their current circumstances.

World Teachers’ Day, observed annually on October 5, has been commemorated since 1994 and marks the anniversary of the adoption of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers. The document addresses, among other issues, teachers’ rights and responsibilities, conditions of employment, and standards for their working conditions and education.

Overview of Teachers’ Current Status

CategoryNumber
Total individuals47
Serving prison sentences13
In detention32
Serving sentences of exile2
Geographic scope19 provinces

 

These 47 teachers are spread across 19 provinces in Iran. Razavi Khorasan has the highest number on the list, with eight individuals. It is followed by Fars and Khuzestan provinces, with five each; North Khorasan, with four; and Alborz and West Azerbaijan, with three each.

Kurdistan, Kermanshah, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, Markazi, Isfahan, and Tehran each have two individuals on the list, while Lorestan, Bushehr, Kerman, Zanjan, Gilan, Qazvin, and Ilam each have one.

Names of the 47 Teachers:

Shokrollah Ahmadi, Masoud Farhikhteh, Milad Khorshidi, Amir Rahimi, Reza Amanifar, Ali Ahmadi, Mohammad Rafi Sadeghi, Sabah Valadbeigi, Siamak Sadeghi Chehrazi, Mojtaba Iravi, Mohammad Hassan Davoudi, Bakhtiar Rezvani, Javad Safari, Forouzan Yektaei, Hossein Khaleghi, Ahanali Jahandideh, Hashem Khastar, Javad Laal-Mohammadi, Mohsen Khodaei, Iraj Toubeiha, Shervin Hamideh, Masoud Kiani, Hossein Ramezanpour, Mahmoud Heidarian, Reza Taheri, Sirous Sattarnezhad, Mastoureh Narimani, Farhad Rahmani, Ahmad Alizadeh, Sina Karimi-Mofrad, Sadegh Sedaghat, Abolfazl Khoran, Mehdi Farahi Shandiz, Alireza Mardasi, Aman Jalalinezhad, Mohammad Hossein Sepehri, Reza Kamalvand, Yousef Amini, Zahra Arefi-Mehr, Alireza Shaygan, Arman Shahpourikho, Alan Hekmatirad, Reza Gerami, Ameneh Biraqdari, Fatemeh Zarei, Sattar Zarei, and Abbas Bagheri.

Among those on the list, Alireza Mardasi has been sentenced to death on two counts and one year in prison. The sentences issued against Javad Laal-Mohammadi total 21 years in prison, a portion of which is enforceable. Hashem Khastar has been sentenced to 18 years and six months in prison, while Mohammad Hossein Sepehri has been sentenced to 11 years and nine months in prison.

Teachers Serving Prison Sentences

According to available information, 13 teachers are currently serving their sentences:

• Masoud Farhikhteh – Sentenced to five years, one month, and 17 days in prison and is serving his sentence at Karaj Central Penitentiary.

• Amir Rahimi – Sentenced to four years in prison and is incarcerated at Dorud Prison.

• Mohammad Hassan Davoudi – Sentenced to three years, four months, and two days in prison and is serving his sentence at Urmia Prison.

• Javad Safari – Sentenced to five years in prison and a fine and is incarcerated at Zanjan Prison.

• Abolfazl Khoran – Sentenced to a total of six years and five months in prison and 74 lashes and is serving his sentence at Arak Prison.

• Hashem Khastar – Has been in detention and prison since August 2019. He was sentenced to 18 years and six months in prison, two years of exile, and a two-year ban on leaving the country. He is currently incarcerated at Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.

• Javad Laal-Mohammadi – Has been in detention and prison since October 2021. His sentences total 21 years in prison, a portion of which is enforceable. In August 2026, he was also dismissed from the Ministry of Education by the Primary Board for Administrative Violations of Employees of the Razavi Khorasan Department of Education.

• Mohammad Hossein Sepehri – Sentenced to 11 years and nine months in prison and dismissal from the Ministry of Education. He is serving his sentence at Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.

• Aman Jalalinezhad – Sentenced by a criminal court to three years and six months in prison and is incarcerated at Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz.

• Arman Shahpourikho – Currently serving a two-year prison sentence at Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz.

• Reza Kamalvand – Currently serving a five-year prison sentence and has been suspended from his job. He is held at Esfarayen Prison.

• Alireza Mardasi – Incarcerated at Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz and sentenced to death on two counts and one year in prison. According to available information, his sentence has been upheld by the Supreme Court.

• Ameneh Biraqdari – Arrested in January 2026 and transferred to Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad. She was subsequently sentenced to one year in prison. After accepting the verdict and waiving her right to appeal, her sentence was reduced to eight months.

Teachers in Detention

In addition to the teachers sentenced to prison, 32 other teachers remain in detention. They are being held in prisons in various cities across the country, and in several cases, their exact place of detention or the charges brought against them remain unknown.

Fars: Shokrollah Ahmadi, Ali Ahmadi, Hossein Khaleghi, Ahanali Jahandideh, and Sadegh Sedaghat are in detention. Shokrollah Ahmadi was arrested in Nurabad, Mamasani, on September 25, 2026, and, following interrogation, was transferred to the city’s prison. Five other teachers who were arrested at the same time were later released on bail.

Razavi Khorasan: Zahra Arefi-Mehr, Alireza Shaygan, Reza Gerami, and Fatemeh Zarei are in detention.

Kurdistan: Milad Khorshidi and Mojtaba Iravi are in detention.

Khuzestan: Siamak Sadeghi Chehrazi and Mastoureh Narimani are in detention.

North Khorasan: Hossein Ramezanpour, Mahmoud Heidarian, and Abbas Bagheri are in detention.

Alborz: Shervin Hamideh and Reza Taheri are in detention.

Kermanshah: Sabah Valadbeigi and Masoud Kiani are in detention.

Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad: Bakhtiar Rezvani and Sina Karimi-Mofrad are in detention.

Tehran: Mehdi Farahi Shandiz and Sirous Sattarnezhad are in detention.

Additionally, Reza Amanifar in Bushehr, Mohammad Rafi Sadeghi in Sirjan, Forouzan Yektaei in Rasht, Mohsen Khodaei in Javersian, Farhad Rahmani in Takestan, Yousef Amini in Bukan, Alan Hekmatirad in Naqadeh, and Sattar Zarei in Khomeyni Shahr remain in detention.

Teachers Serving Sentences of Exile

In addition to those imprisoned or detained, two teachers are currently serving sentences of exile. Iraj Toubeiha, following his release from Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan, was sent to Dehsalm Rural District in Nehbandan County, South Khorasan Province, to serve a two-year sentence of exile. Ahmad Alizadeh, after completing his prison sentence, is also serving his sentence of exile in Fanuj County.

Conclusion

The cases documented in this report reflect the current circumstances of at least 47 current and retired teachers across Iran, based on information available at the time of publication.

Penalties imposed on individuals in this group include death sentences, lengthy prison terms, flogging, fines, dismissal from the Ministry of Education, suspension from employment, travel bans, and exile. In addition, the legal status of some detained teachers—including the charges against them and, in some cases, their exact place of detention—remains unclear.

 

January 2026 Protests: Alireza Sepahi Executed

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Executions, News
Abolfazl Ebrahimi, Abolfazl Sepahi, Ali Dashti, Alireza Raeisi, Alireza Sepahi, Amirhossein Ebrahimi Analoucheh, Amirhossein Maleki, Amirhossein Safari, Erfan Esfandiari, Ghaem Hosseini, Gol-Mohammad Mohammadi, HRANA, Isfahan Alikhani Square, January 2026 Protests, Shervin Bagherian, علیرضا سپاهی

HRANA – The death sentence of Alireza Sepahi, arrested during the January 2026 protests and one of the defendants in the case known as the “Isfahan Alikhani Square” case, was carried out at dawn today in Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan.

According to HRANA, Alireza Sepahi has been executed.

Shahrzad Shahbazi, an attorney, announced in a post that at dawn today, Monday, October 5, the death sentence of Alireza Sepahi, one of those arrested during the January 2026 protests and a defendant in the case known as the “Isfahan Alikhani Square” case, was carried out at Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan.

Yesterday, HRANA reported that Mr. Sepahi had been transferred to solitary confinement and that his family had been summoned for a final visit with him.

It is also worth noting that yesterday, attorney Amirsalar Davoudi announced the marriage of the two prisoners by posting an audio recording of the marriage ceremony of Alireza Sepahi and Mahshad Kashani on his page.

HRANA had previously reported that after the Supreme Court approved a retrial in Alireza Sepahi’s case, his case was referred for reconsideration to a parallel branch of Branch 2 of the Isfahan Revolutionary Court. However, that branch rejected the retrial request without holding a hearing and sent the case to the Enforcement of Judgments Branch for implementation of the death sentence.

Alireza Sepahi, aged approximately 25, was arrested on January 10, 2026, in connection with the nationwide protests. He was subsequently transferred to Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan.

HRANA had previously reported that the proceedings in the cases of Alireza and Abolfazl Sepahi were marked by restrictions including the attorney’s lack of effective access to the case file, the inability to obtain a copy of the court ruling, hearings conducted via videoconference, and the court’s failure to give due consideration to evidence presented by the defense.

According to a source close to the family, surveillance-camera footage and other evidence show that Alireza Sepahi was not present at Alikhani Square when the incident cited in the case occurred and was instead at another location. Nevertheless, Morteza Barati, the judge presiding over the case, sentenced him to death on four counts without effectively examining this evidence.

Several other defendants in the case have also stated that during interrogations they were subjected to pressure and torture to make them confirm that Alireza Sepahi had been present at the scene of the incident. Despite these allegations, no independent and effective investigation has yet been conducted into whether statements were obtained under duress.

Erfan Esfandiari and Gol-Mohammad Mohammadi, two other defendants in the case, were executed on July 19. The death sentences of Abolfazl Sepahi and Amirhossein Safari were also carried out publicly at Alikhani Square in Isfahan at dawn on July 28. Alireza Sepahi was scheduled to be executed alongside them, but before being transferred to the execution site, he suffered a stroke. After being taken to a hospital and receiving medical treatment, he was returned to Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan. On Thursday, August 20, the death sentence of Ghaem (Arian) Hosseini, another defendant in the case, was also carried out.

At the trial-court stage, 15 defendants in this case were sentenced to death. According to information provided by an attorney, the sentence of one defendant was overturned by a higher judicial authority, while the death sentences of the other 14 defendants were upheld.

Twelve of the defendants in this case have been identified as: Alireza Sepahi, Abolfazl Sepahi, Erfan Esfandiari, Gol-Mohammad Mohammadi, Amirhossein Safari, Ghaem Hosseini, Shervin Bagherian, Amirhossein Maleki, Ali Dashti, Abolfazl Ebrahimi, Alireza Raeisi, and Amirhossein Ebrahimi Analoucheh.

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Alireza Rashidi, a 16-Year-Old Teenager, Arrested by Security Forces

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Freedom of Expression, News
Alireza Rashidi, Ashkhaneh, HRANA, January 2026 Protests, علیرضا رشیدی

HRANA – On Wednesday, September 30, Alireza Rashidi, a 16-year-old resident of Ashkhaneh in North Khorasan Province, was arrested by security forces in connection with the nationwide protests of January 2026.

According to HRANA, citing Kolbar News, Alireza Rashidi was arrested.

According to the report, the 16-year-old was arrested by security forces on Wednesday, September 30, in connection with his participation in the protests of January 2026.

As of the time of this report, no information is available regarding the teenager’s place of detention or the charges brought against him.

Background on January 2026 Protests:

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.

January 2026 Protests: Siavash Jamshidi Kheirabadi Executed

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Executions, News
HRANA, January 2026 Protests, moharebeh, Shahrekord, Siavash Jamshidi Kheirabadi, سیاوش جمشیدی

HRANA – The Judiciary’s Media Center announced today that the death sentence of Siavash Jamshidi Kheirabadi, one of those arrested in connection with the nationwide protests of January 2026 in Shahrekord, has been carried out. According to the media outlet, Mr. Jamshidi Kheirabadi had previously been sentenced to death on charges of “moharebeh” (enmity against God) and “assembly and collusion against national security.”

According to HRANA, citing Mizan, Siavash Jamshidi Kheirabadi, son of Khodamorad, was executed.

The Judiciary’s Media Center announced today, October 3, that this citizen allegedly opened fire on security forces using a firearm on January 8, 2026, during protests on Naser Khosrow Street in Shahrekord. He was arrested two days later, and several additional firearms were reportedly discovered in his possession.

According to the institution’s claims, Mr. Jamshidi Kheirabadi also used social media during the January’s protests to “organize and carry out actions against national security.”

The report further alleged that Siavash Jamshidi Kheirabadi had prior criminal records and judicial cases, including one involving possession of an unauthorized firearm.

Ultimately, Mr. Jamshidi Kheirabadi was sentenced to death on charges of “moharebeh through drawing and firing a firearm” and “assembly and collusion against national security.” The sentence was carried out after being upheld by the Supreme Court.

The report did not specify the date or location where his execution was carried out.

Actress Elnaz Shakerdoost Sentenced to One Year in Prison and Additional Punishments for Supporting Protests

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Freedom of Expression, News
Elnaz Shakerdoost, HRANA, January 2026 Protests, الناز شاکردوست

HRANA – Elnaz Shakerdoost, a film and television actress, was sentenced by Branch 23 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court to one year in prison and a two-year ban on political, online, and artistic activities over a post she published in support of the January 2026 protests. The ruling was recently upheld in full by Branch 36 of the Tehran Province Court of Appeals.

According to HRANA, citing Emtedad, the conviction of film and television actress Elnaz Shakerdoost has been upheld on appeal.

Houshang Pourbabayi, an attorney, provided details about the case, stating that Shakerdoost had previously been sentenced by Branch 23 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court to one year in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime” for supporting the January protests. As an additional punishment, she was also banned from political, online, and artistic activities for two years. According to Pourbabayi, the ruling was recently upheld in full by Branch 36 of the Tehran Province Court of Appeals.

Regarding the basis for the charges against Ms. Shakerdoost, her attorney added: “My client was sentenced solely for posting a story on her personal social media account following the events of last January, which left every Iranian grieving. From beginning to end, the post was nothing more than a sincere expression of sorrow over the deaths of young people in this country.”

Referring to the content of his client’s post, Pourbabayi further stated: “Nowhere in the post is there even a single word referring to the regime, the government, officials, or any state institution, nor does it contain any call for collective action, organized activity, or the overthrow of the government.”

In July of this year, Elnaz Shakerdoost was summoned to the Tehran Revolutionary Court after receiving an official notice. Shakerdoost has previously faced judicial action.

Execution of Five Prisoners in Arak, Zanjan, and Meshgin Shahr Prisons

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Executions, News
Abbas Amirgheshlaghi, Arak, Aref Dorosti, Fateh Shafiei, Hassan Mahdipour, HRANA, Meshgin Shahr, Mostafa Bikas, zanjan

HRANA – Five prisoners who had previously been sentenced to death in separate cases on charges related to drug offenses and murder were executed in prisons in Arak, Zanjan, and Meshgin Shahr.

According to HRANA, citing Iran Human Rights Organization, at dawn on Wednesday, September 30, a prisoner was executed in Arak Prison.

The prisoner has been identified as Abbas Amirgheshlaghi, 27, and unmarried.

Mr. Amirgheshlaghi was reportedly arrested approximately three years ago on charges related to drug offenses and was subsequently sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court.

Zanjan Prison: Three Prisoners Executed

According to Iran Human Rights Organization, the three prisoners, who had been sentenced to death in separate cases, were hanged at dawn on Sunday, September 27, in Zanjan Prison.

They have been identified as Fateh Shafiei, 33, a resident of Zanjan and father of one; Hassan Mahdipour, 30, from Mianeh; and Aref Dorosti, 51, from Karaj and father of three.

According to the report, Mr. Shafiei and Mr. Dorosti were arrested approximately three years ago, while Mr. Mahdipour was arrested approximately two years ago, all on charges related to drug offenses. They were subsequently sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court.

Report on the Execution of a Prisoner in Meshgin Shahr Prison

Iran Human Rights Organization also reported the execution of another prionser in Meshgin Shahr Prison.

The prisoner, who was hanged at dawn on Sunday, August 9, has been identified as Mostafa Bikas, 35, a father of three and a resident of one of the villages in Meshgin Shahr.

The report states that Mr. Bikas was arrested approximately six years ago on a murder charge and was subsequently sentenced to death by the Criminal Court.

As of the time of this report, the executions of these prisoners have not been announced by prison officials or the relevant authorities.

According to HRA’s Annual Report, in 2025 at least 2,063 citizens, including 61 women and 2 juvenile offenders, were executed. Of these, the sentences of 11 individuals were carried out in public. During the same period, 172 other individuals were sentenced to death.

Mehdi Abiyat Arrested by Security Forces in Ahvaz

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News, Other
ahvaz, HRANA, Mehdi Abiyat, مهدی عبیات

HRANA – Today, Mehdi Abiyat, a resident of Ahvaz, was arrested by Ministry of Intelligence agents in the city and transferred to an undisclosed location.

According to information received by HRANA, Mehdi Abiyat, 31, was arrested on the evening of Thursday, October 1, by Ministry of Intelligence agents on a street in the Kuy-e Shahrak neighborhood of Ahvaz, without the presentation of a judicial warrant.

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

Mehdi Abiyat, also known as Abu Farouq, is a resident of the Kuy-e Shahrak neighborhood of Ahvaz. Prior to his arrest, he made a living by selling clothes as a street vendor.