Ghezel Hesar Prison: Six Inmates Transferred to Solitary Confinement for Execution

Today, December 9, 2024, six inmates in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj, who were previously sentenced to death on drug-related charges, were transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for their executions.

The transfer was carried out to prepare for the implementation of their death sentences. Among the six inmates is a citizen of Afghanistan.

Further details, including the identities of the prisoners, are under investigation by HRANA.

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.

 

Prisoner Executed in Miandoab Prison

On Wednesday, December 4, 2024, a prisoner who had previously been sentenced to death on murder charges was executed in Miandoab Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, the executed prisoner has been identified as Sina Shams-Elahi, a resident of a village in Leylan County, East Azerbaijan Province.

A source close to the prisoner’s family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “Mr. Shams-Elahi was arrested a year ago on charges of murdering a man and was sentenced to death by the Criminal Court.”

As of the time of this report, prison authorities and relevant institutions have not officially announced the execution.

According to latest HRANA’s annual report over between October 10, 2023, and October 8, 2024, at least 811 individuals were executed by hanging in Iran, rising to 23.06% compared to the same period last year. Of these executions, four were carried out in public. Many of the defendants were denied a fair trial.

Prisoner Executed in Yasuj Prison

At dawn yesterday, December 3, a prisoner previously sentenced to death on charges of murder was executed in Yasuj Prison.

The identity of the prisoner has been confirmed by HRANA as Sadegh Asadi, approximately 40 years old and a resident of Gachsaran.

Based on HRANA’s information, the prisoner was arrested five years ago for the murder of a relative and was sentenced to death by the judiciary.

As of the time of this report, prison authorities and relevant institutions have not publicly announced the execution.

According to latest HRANA’s annual report over between October 10, 2023, and October 8, 2024, at least 811 individuals were executed by hanging in Iran, rising to 23.06% compared to the same period last year. Of these executions, four were carried out in public. Many of the defendants were denied a fair trial.

Two Women and a Man Executed in Ilam Prison

At dawn yesterday, December 2, 2024, the death sentences of three prisoners, including two women who had previously been convicted of murder, were carried out in Ilam Prison.

HRANA has identified two of the prisoners as Farideh Jafarzadeh (female) and Hassan Hassan-Beigi (male).

The three individuals had been arrested on murder charges and subsequently sentenced to death by criminal courts.

As of the time of this report, prison officials and relevant authorities have not announced 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.

Prisoner Executed in Lakan Prison, Rasht, for Drug-Related Offenses

At dawn today, December 3, a prisoner previously sentenced to death on charges related to drug offenses was executed in Lakan Prison, Rasht.

HRANA has identified the prisoner as Hassan Sa’adati. He was previously arrested on drug-related charges and subsequently sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court.

No official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have provided coverage of these executions 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.

The reports from the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists for the year 2023 reveal a concerning prevalence of executions for drug offenses in Iran, constituting 56.4% of the total executions. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s report.

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Four Prisoners Executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj

The death sentences of four prisoners, convicted on charges related to drug offenses and murder, were carried out yesterday in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, the executions took place at dawn on Saturday, November 30, 2024. Among the executed was Amir Moradi, who had been arrested on drug-related charges and sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court. The other three prisoners had been convicted and sentenced to death for murder.

HRANA is working to verify additional details, including the identities of the three prisoners convicted of murder.

As of this writing, neither prison authorities nor relevant institutions have officially announced the executions.

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.

Amir Moradi
Amir Moradi

Three Prisoners Executed in Yazd Prison

According to Haal Vsh, three prisoners were executed at Yazd Prison at dawn on Thursday, November 28, 2024.

The report states that Davood Mohammadi Takht-Shah (Dahmardeh) and Othman Dahmardeh, previously sentenced to death for drug-related charges by the Yazd Revolutionary Court were executed. The third prisoner has been identified as Esmail Barakzaie, approximately 18 years old and an Afghan national residing in Yazd. He was arrested for murder in Meybod, Yazd, and subsequently sentenced to death by the judiciary.

Haal Vsh also reported that Esmail Barakzaie was about 17 years old at the time of the murder.

As of this report’s publication, the execution of these three prisoners has not been officially announced by prison authorities or responsible institutions.

According to latest HRANA’s annual report over between October 10, 2023, and October 8, 2024, at least 811 individuals were executed by hanging in Iran, rising to 23.06% compared to the same period last year. Of these executions, four were carried out in public. Many of the defendants were denied a fair trial.

Six Death Sentences and Over 54 Years of Imprisonment Issued for Eight Political Prisoners in Tehran

Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court has sentenced six political prisoners—Akbar Daneshvar Kar, Seyed Mohammad Taghavi Sang-Dehi, Babak Alipour, Pouya Ghobadi Bistoni, Vahid Bani-Amerian, and Seyed Abolhassan Montazer—to death on charges of armed rebellion (Baghi) through membership in anti-regime groups. Additionally, these individuals, along with Seyed Ali Taghavi Sang-Dehi and Seyed Mojtaba Taghavi Sang-Dehi, were collectively sentenced to over 54 years of imprisonment and 20 years of exile.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, Judge Iman Afshari of Branch 26 issued severe sentences for these eight political prisoners.

Details of the Sentences:

  1. Akbar Daneshvar Kar
    • Death sentence for Baghi through membership in anti-regime groups.
    • 5 years in prison for assembly and collusion with intent to disrupt national security.
    • 10 years in prison for forming illegal groups.
  2. Seyed Mohammad Taghavi Sang-Dehi
    • Death sentence for Baghi.
    • 5 years in prison for assembly and collusion.
    • 10 years in prison for forming illegal groups.
  3. Babak Alipour
    • Death sentence for Baghi.
    • 5 years in prison for assembly and collusion.
    • 20 years of exile to the city of Khash for destruction of public property.
  4. Pouya Ghobadi Bistoni
    • Death sentence for Baghi.
    • 1 year in prison for illegal border crossing.
  5. Vahid Bani-Amerian
    • Death sentence for Baghi.
    • 5 years in prison for assembly and collusion.
  6. Seyed Abolhassan Montazer
    • Death sentence for Baghi.
    • 5 years in prison for collusion with intent to disrupt national security.
  7. Seyed Ali Taghavi Sang-Dehi
    • 2 years in prison for membership in anti-regime groups.
  8. Seyed Mojtaba Taghavi Sang-Dehi
    • 3 years and 7 months in prison for assembly and collusion with intent to disrupt national security.
    • 3 years in prison for membership in groups opposing the regime.

 

The court sessions for these individuals, who share a common legal case, were held in mid-October this year.

Vahid Bani-Amerian and Abolhassan Montazer were arrested in December 2023, while Babak Alipour was detained in the fall of 2023 by security forces in Tehran.

On February 23, 2024, Pouya Ghobadi and Seyed Mohammad Taghavi were arrested in Chaldoran County and transferred to Maku Prison, seven days later, being moved to Evin Prison.

Akbar Daneshvar and Mojtaba Taghavi had previously been detained and transferred to Evin Prison. Ali Taghavi had also been arrested earlier but was released on bail.

These individuals were formally charged in late May 2024 at Branch 5 of the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in Tehran.

Notably, Abolhassan Montazer and Seyed Mohammad Taghavi were political prisoners in the 1980s, while Vahid Bani-Amerian, Pouya Ghobadi, and Babak Alipour have prior records of imprisonment for their activism.

Prisoner Executed in Arak Prison for Murder Charges

At dawn on Thursday, November 28, 2024, a prisoner sentenced to death for murder was executed in Arak Prison.

HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, has confirmed the identity of the executed individual as Kamran Hemmati. He was arrested on murder charges and later sentenced to death by a criminal court.

Despite the execution, neither prison officials nor responsible institutions have made any public announcement regarding the case at the time of this report.

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.

According to latest HRANA’s annual report over between October 10, 2023, and October 8, 2024, at least 811 individuals were executed by hanging in Iran, rising to 23.06% compared to the same period last year. Of these executions, four were carried out in public. Many of the defendants were denied a fair trial.

Kamran Hemmati
 

Prisoner Executed in Qazvin Prison

At dawn today, November 28, a prisoner previously sentenced to death on drug-related charges was executed in Qazvin Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, the prisoner has been identified as Mohammad-Ali Taheri, 46, from Kangavar.

Taheri had been arrested on drug-related charges and subsequently sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court.

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

The reports from the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists for the year 2023 reveal a concerning prevalence of executions for drug offenses in Iran, constituting 56.4% of the total executions. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s report.