Category: Freedom of Expression

Mohsen Parish Arrested in Meshkindasht

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Meshkindasht, Mohsen Parish

HRANA – Mohsen Parish, a resident of Meshkindasht, Karaj, was arrested yesterday, October 21, by security forces in front of his home and transferred to Karaj Central Penitentiary.

A source close to his family confirmed the news to HRANA, saying: “Mr. Parish was arrested this Tuesday in front of his residence in Meshkindasht, Karaj. The agents used violence during the arrest. After being detained, he was taken to Branch 6 of the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in Meshkindasht. A few hours later, following the formal announcement of charges, he was transferred to Karaj Central Penitentiary.”

According to information obtained by HRANA, after Parish’s arrest, agents prevented his family from entering the courthouse. When he was transferred to prison, visible injuries were observed on his elbow and neck. His mobile phone was also confiscated by agents from the Ministry of Intelligence. The prosecutor in charge of his case has reportedly set bail at 750 million tomans.

As of the time of this report, the exact charges against this citizen remain unknown.

Mohsen Parish has previously been arrested and faced judicial proceedings due to his activism. He was among those injured during the November 2019 protests and was arrested again in 2020. In a two-part case, he was convicted on charges including “insulting the Prophet,” “insulting sacred values,” “insulting the Supreme Leader,” “propaganda against the regime,” and “acting against national security through calling for anti-regime demonstrations.” He was sentenced to imprisonment and flogging. Parish was eventually released under a general amnesty in early 2023.

Execution of Two Prisoners, Including a Juvenile Offender, in Sepidar Prison, Ahvaz

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Freedom of Expression, News
ahvaz, Ali Aghajeri Peyvand, Behbahan, Sajad Shokri, Sepidar Prison

HRANA – At dawn on Monday, October 20, the death sentences of two prisoners, including a juvenile offender, were carried out in Sepidar Prison, Ahvaz. Both individuals had previously been convicted of murder.

HRANA has identified the executed prisoners as Ali Aghajeri Peyvand, a resident of Behbahan, and Sajad Shokri.

According to information obtained by HRANA, five years ago, when Aghajeri was 17 years old, he was arrested following a group altercation over farmland that led to one person’s death. He was subsequently sentenced to death by a criminal court.

A source close to the prisoner’s family confirmed the execution, noting that despite years of efforts by Aghajeri’s family to obtain the victim’s family’s consent and pay blood money (diya), these efforts were ultimately unsuccessful.

Based on HRANA’s findings, Mr. Shokri had also been arrested on a murder charge and later sentenced to death by a criminal court.

As of the time of this report, judicial and prison authorities have not officially announced the executions.

Jahangir Rostami Arrested and Transferred to Evin Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ehsan Rostami, Evin Prison, Harsin, HRANA, Kermanshah

HRANA – Jahangir Rostami, a member of the Harsin Teachers’ Trade Association, was arrested by security forces at his home on Friday, October 17, and transferred to Evin Prison.

A source close to Rostami confirmed the violent nature of his arrest and told HRANA:
“On Friday, October 17, security agents arrested Jahangir Rostami at his home in Harsin. His family later went to the Kermanshah Prosecutor’s Office, where they were informed that he had been transferred to Evin Prison.”

As of now, no information has been made available regarding the charges brought against him.

Jahangir Rostami, a 63-year-old retired teacher, is the father of Ehsan Rostami, a cultural activist from Harsin who was arrested by security forces in Tehran on August 20. Since his arrest, Ehsan Rostami has been denied family visits by order of Naser Jalayer Sartaghi, the investigator of Branch 5 of Evin Prosecutor’s Office. On Wednesday, October 2, he began a hunger strike to protest the uncertainty surrounding his case and the pressure exerted by interrogators.

Atash Shakarami Summoned for Execution of Flogging Sentence

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Freedom of Expression, News
Atash Shakarami, Nika Shakarami, نیکا شاکرمی

HRANA – Atash (Zahra) Shakarami has been summoned to the Second Branch of the Criminal Enforcement Office in Khorramabad to receive 38 lashes, following a notice issued for the execution of her sentence.

According to the summons, issued on October 16, Ms. Shakarami has been ordered to appear within ten days to carry out the sentence. She was previously convicted by Branch 106 of the Khorramabad Criminal Court (Category 2) on charges of “spreading falsehoods,” for which she received 38 lashes, and defamation, for which she was fined 51 million tomans. The verdict was later upheld in its entirety by the Court of Appeals. The case originated from a complaint filed by a private plaintiff.

Atash (Zahra) Shakarami, who has a prior record of arrest, is the aunt of Nika Shakarami, one of the victims killed during the nationwide protests of 2022.

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) strictly prohibits cruel, inhuman, and degrading punishments such as flogging. Nonetheless, in 2024, HRANA documented at least three cases in which flogging sentences were carried out, totaling 106 lashes. In the same year, the Iranian judiciary sentenced at least 131 individuals to a combined total of 9,957 lashes.

Children’s Rights Activist Hossein Mirbehari Detained by Security Forces

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Freedom of Expression, News
Hossein Mirbahari, Nadia Mirbehari, حسین میربهاری

HRANA – Yesterday, October 15, 2025, Hossein Mirbahari, founder of the Society for the Defense of Child Laborers and Street Children, was arrested by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location.

His sister, who is also a children’s rights activist, announced the news on her personal page, writing:
“This morning my brother, Hossein Mirbahari, was arrested at his home. They also went to my sister Nadia Mirbahari’s house with an arrest warrant for her. They confiscated her communication devices and gave her until Saturday to report to Evin Prosecutor’s Office. Working for children’s rights and criticizing the situation is never a crime.”

So far, no information has been obtained about the reasons for his arrest, his place of detention, or the charges against him.

Mr. Mirbahari was previously arrested on June 21, 2025, at his residence by security forces. During that period of detention, he was denied access to legal counsel and visits with his family, and was eventually released on July 20, 2025, after posting bail.

Hossein Mirbahari is a children’s rights activist residing in Pardis and the founder of the Society for the Defense of Child Laborers and Street Children.

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Retired Employee Arrested by IRGC Intelligence in Ahvaz

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Freedom of Expression, News
IRGC Intelligence, Mohammad-Zaman Kamrava

HRANA – Mohammad-Zaman Kamrava, a retired employee of the Social Security Organization residing in Ahvaz, was arrested on October 11 by agents of the IRGC Intelligence Organization.

According to the Iranian Retirees Council, after several hours of not hearing from Mr. Kamrava and receiving no response to phone calls, his family went to his residence, where they found the house in disarray and learned of his arrest. Hours later, he managed to make a brief phone call, confirming that he had been detained by IRGC Intelligence forces.

On October 7, Mr. Kamrava, along with Mohammad Nochian, a retired teacher, and Maryam Zaleki, a sports instructor, had been summoned to Branch 13 of the Prosecutor’s Office to present their final defense in a case involving charges of “propaganda against the regime” and “assembly and collusion against national security.”

Earlier this year, in June 2025, Mr. Kamrava was sentenced by Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court to two years in prison on the same charges. The case stemmed from retirees’ protest gatherings held in February 2022.

Arrest and Broadcast of Forced Confessions of Two Rap Artists in Iran

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ardalan Aghashahi, Dalu, Danial Faraji, forced confessions, Meshki

HRANA – Danial Faraji and Amir Ardalān Aghashahi, two rap artists known by their stage names “Meshki” and “Dalu,” have been arrested by the Security Police. Videos of their forced confessions, recorded under unclear circumstances, have been disseminated on their personal social media accounts as well as by state-run media outlets.

According to information obtained by HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, the two rappers were detained by security forces. Following their arrest, state media published videos of their forced confessions, which were also shared on the artists’ personal pages under unknown conditions. In one of these videos, Faraji expresses remorse for what he describes as “social and political activities through rap music and insulting the Supreme Leader.”

In a separate video, Aghashahi expresses regret for “displaying cold weapons” and “using profanity in his music videos.”

State media have accused the two of “producing and distributing unconventional and controversial works,” identifying the arresting authority as the Security Police. Official reports have not provided details regarding the time of arrest or location of detention.

It is worth noting that prior to the release of the forced confession videos, Danial Faraji consistently appeared wearing a black mask in his music videos, and no images of his real face had previously been made public.

In 2024, HRANA documented 28 cases of forced confessions extracted from prisoners. The practice of obtaining and broadcasting coerced confessions from political dissidents and protesters by the Iranian regime’s security apparatus is as old as the regime itself. In 2022, amid nationwide protests, the number of such forced confessions surged to 391 cases.

HRANA emphasizes that the recording and dissemination of forced confessions violate human dignity and fundamental rights. Furthermore, under the law, every individual is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Any punitive measures taken prior to a final conviction constitute a violation of civil and human rights.

Fares Kaab Karmalallah Arrested by Shushtar Intelligence Agents

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Freedom of Expression, News
Fares Kaab Karmalallah, Shushtar

HRANA – Fares Kaab Karmalallah, a resident of Shushtar County, was arrested by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence in Shushtar, Khuzestan province, on Tuesday, October 7, and taken to an undisclosed location.

Based on information obtained by HRANA, Mr. Kaab Karmalallah was arrested at his home in the early hours of October 7 by security forces without a judicial warrant. Following his arrest, agents searched his residence and confiscated several digital items, including his cameras, computer, and mobile phone.

As of this report’s publication, the reasons for his arrest, the charges brought against him, and his current whereabouts remain unknown.

Fares Kaab Karmalallah, 30, is a resident of of Shushtar County and the father of two children. Mr. Kaab Karmalallah works as a photographer and videographer for religious events, celebrations, seminars, and local festivals, and is also involved in agricultural work.

A source close to the family told HRANA: “Fares Kaab Karmalallah is known as a cultural activist for sharing visual content on social media aimed at raising public awareness and preserving Arab identity and culture.”

Mansour Iranpour Sentenced to Imprisonment

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Kerman, Mansour Iranpour, محسن ایرانپور

HRANA – Mansour Iranpour, a media activist based in Kerman, has been sentenced to 10 months in prison by Branch 101 of the Kerman Criminal Court.

According to HRANA, the verdict was issued on September 5 on the charge of “spreading false information with the intent to disturb public opinion.”

Mr. Iranpour had previously been interrogated in February 2025 at Branch 5 of the Kerman Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office, where the investigating prosecutor also imposed a three-month ban on his online activities.

On January 10, 2025, he was summoned to the FARAJA Intelligence Office in Kerman for questioning. He subsequently appeared before the Cybercrime Division of the Kerman Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office, where he faced accusations of “spreading false information online” and “propaganda against the regime.” Following the session, he was released on bail.

Mansour Iranpour, a resident of Kerman, has previously faced arrest and prosecution in connection with his activities.

Two Brothers, Hossein and Mohsen Gardeshi, Arrested by Intelligence Agents in Bukan

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Freedom of Expression, News
Bukan, Hossein Gardeshi, Mohsen Gardeshi, بوکان

HRANA – On the evening of Tuesday, October 7, Hossein Gardeshi and Mohsen Gardeshi, two brothers residing in Bukan, were arrested by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence and taken to an undisclosed location.

Based on information obtained by HRANA, on the evening of October 7, intelligence agents arrested Mohsen Gardeshi at his home. His brother, Hossein Gardeshi, was also arrested the same day at his workplace by the same security agency.

A source close to the family confirmed the arrests, telling HRANA that following the brothers’ detention, agents searched their residence and confiscated several personal and electronic items, including their mobile phones and laptops.

The family’s inquiries with judicial and security authorities regarding the brothers’ fate have so far yielded no results, and their continued incommunicado detention has heightened concerns among relatives and friends.

As of this report’s publication, no information is available about the reasons for the arrests or the charges brought against the two brothers.

Hossein Gardeshi had previously been arrested and prosecuted for his activities. In 2020, he was sentenced to imprisonment and a fine on charges of “membership in groups opposed to the regime.” His case was closed after he served his sentence and paid the fine.