Category: Freedom of Expression

Appeals Court Upholds Prison Sentence for Farhad Avizheh

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Freedom of Expression, News
Dehdasht, Farhad Avizheh, Yasuj, فرهاد آویژه

HRANA – The Appeals Court Branch 1 of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province has upheld the two years and one month prison sentence issued against Farhad Avizheh, a resident of Dehdasht. A portion of this sentence has been suspended for two years.

Avizheh has been sentenced to 10 months in prison for “propaganda against the regime” and to 15 months and one day for “insulting the Supreme Leader.” According to the verdict, half of the harsher sentence has been suspended for two years. As a result, Mr. Avizheh’s enforceable sentence is seven months and 15 days.

A source familiar with the case told HRANA: “Mr. Avizheh’s case has been referred to the sentence enforcement office, and he will likely be summoned soon to begin serving his sentence.”

Earlier this year in June, Mr. Avizheh had been sentenced to this prison term by Branch 1 of the Yasuj Revolutionary Court.

Farhad Avizheh was arrested in May this year and released about a month later on bail. The Dehdasht resident has previously faced judicial action over his activism.

New Case Filed in Prison: Mehdi Mahmoudian Summoned to Tehran Prosecutor’s Office

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Freedom of Expression, News
Greater Tehran Prison, HRANA, Iman Afshari, Mehdi Mahmoudian

HRANA – Mehdi Mahmoudian, a civil activist imprisoned in the Greater Tehran Prison, is facing a new legal case. He has been summoned to the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in Tehran after receiving a notice to defend himself against new charges.

A recent summons, issued by Branch 5 of the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office of District 31 (Media and Cyber Crimes) in Tehran, was delivered to Mr. Mahmoudian’s family. He has been asked to appear and respond to the charge of “spreading false information.”

Earlier this month, following Israel’s attack on Evin Prison, Mr. Mahmoudian was transferred to Greater Tehran Prison along with several other prisoners.

On February 3, 2025, he was arrested at the Enforcement Branch and sent to prison to serve his sentence.

Previously, Mahmoudian had been tried in Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari. He was sentenced to 8 months in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime,” along with two-year bans on party membership, smartphone use, and foreign travel.

Commenting on his sentence, Mahmoudian had written that “all of these punishments were imposed solely because I responded to a false report by a news outlet about the ‘eradication of bedbugs in prison,’ and wrote that they are ‘addicted to lying.’”

He had also previously faced prosecution for giving an interview about the difficulties Baha’is face in burying their deceased. In May of last year, he was arrested after appearing at the Prosecutor’s Office for Culture and Media and released a day later on bail.

Yilmaz Mehrali Beiglou Arrested in Jolfa County

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Jolfa, Yilmaz Mehrali Beiglou, جلفا, مهرعلی بیگلو

HRANA News Agency – On July 21, attorney Yilmaz Mehrali Beiglou was arrested by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence in Jolfa County and taken to an undisclosed location. The agents also searched his father’s home.

A source close to the family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “Mr. Mehrali Beiglou was arrested today by Ministry of Intelligence agents in Jolfa County. After the arrest, he was transferred to an undisclosed location. Following the arrest, the agents searched his father’s house and confiscated some of his personal belongings.”

On May 26 of 2024, a preliminary hearing for Mehrali Beiglou was held in Branch 1 of the Prosecutor’s Office of the Public and Revolutionary Court in Jolfa. He had previously been summoned to the same branch via an official notice.

In 2024, a total of 2,783 Iranian citizens were arrested by security and judicial authorities due to their beliefs, opinions, or political and civil activities. Over the past decade, the number of such arrests has exceeded 56,000. The highest number of arrests occurred in 2022, during the nationwide protests, when HRANA documented 23,977 detentions.

North Khorasan: 2 Citizens Arrested, Legal Cases Filed Against 15 Others

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Freedom of Expression, News, Other
Bojnurd, North Khorasan

HRANA – The Prosecutor of Bojnurd announced the arrest of two citizens in North Khorasan Province on charges of alleged cooperation with Israel. According to him, since the beginning of Israel’s attacks on Iran, legal cases have also been opened against 15 individuals for offenses such as spreading false information and propaganda against the regime.

According to Mehr News Agency, the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor of Bojnurd claimed that these individuals were collaborating with Israeli intelligence. He stated, “They were arrested in the early days of the war.”

Javad Elahi also announced that legal cases have been filed against 15 others in the province on charges including “spreading false information, disturbing public opinion, and propaganda against the regime.”

The report does not disclose the identities of those arrested or subjected to legal proceedings.

While combating espionage is not considered a human rights violation per se, given the Iranian government’s track record of using such accusations as a tool to suppress political dissent, such claims—especially when details and legal proceedings remain unclear—are often met with skepticism.

Mahsa Shafiee-Moghaddam Arrested in Yasuj

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Freedom of Expression, News
irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Mahsa Shafiee Moghaddam, Yasuj

HRANA – On Thursday, July 17, Mahsa Shafiee Moghaddam, a resident of Yasuj, was arrested by IRGC Intelligence forces at her home and taken to an undisclosed location.

Based on information received by HRANA, Ms. Shafiee-Moghaddam was arrested at her home on Thursday, July 17, by IRGC Intelligence agents. The officers confiscated her mobile phone and electronic devices. Her Instagram account has also been deactivated. After her arrest, she made a brief phone call to her mother, during which she stated that she is on a hunger strike and does not know where she is being held.

A source close to the family told HRANA: “At the time of her arrest, the agents showed Ms. Shafiee-Moghaddam a warrant. She was reportedly arrested on charges of insulting military officials killed in the 12-day Israel conflict and collaborating with Persian-language media outlets outside Iran.”

Mahsa Shafiee-Moghaddam, 22 years old, has previously been arrested and faced legal action due to her activism.

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Over 80 Arrested in Lorestan for Alleged Ties to Israel

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Freedom of Expression, News, Other
HRANA, Israel, Lorestan

HRANA – The police commander of Lorestan Province has announced the arrest of 87 individuals accused of having ties to Israel.

According to HRANA, citing Fars News Agency, more than 80 citizens have been detained in Lorestan Province. Yahya Elahi, Lorestan’s police commander, stated that during the 12-day war between Iran and Israel, 87 people were arrested in the province. He cited reasons for the arrests as “spreading public fear, sabotage operations, ties to foreign agents, and possession of explosives.”

He did not disclose the identities or whereabouts of those detained.

In the early hours of Friday, June 13, 2025, the Israeli military launched a wave of airstrikes on Iranian territory. According to HRANA’s field reports, in addition to military targets, the strikes hit residential and civilian areas, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of non-combatants. Around the same time, several citizens were arrested by security forces on charges of espionage or for expressing opinions online.

For more information, see HRANA’s full report on the 12-day war between Iran and Israel.

Two Balochi Cultural Advocates Arrested by Security Forces in Mehrestan

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ashar, Balochi, Irafshan, Mehrestan, Mohsen Raisi, Saeed Raisi

HRANA – Saeed Raisi and Mohsen Raisi, two residents of Mehrestan County in Sistan and Baluchestan Province, were arrested by security forces on Wednesday, July 16, and taken to an undisclosed location, according to Haal Vsh.

The two men, identified as Saeed Raeisi (Rand), 27, from the city of Ashar, and Mohsen Raisi (Rand), 29, a father of two from a village in the Irafshan district, were reportedly arrested without judicial warrants.

Security agents arrested Mohsen Raisi at his home, while Saeed Raisi was detained the same day at his workplace in Ashar.

At the time of this report, the reasons for their arrest, the charges they may face, and their current whereabouts remain unknown.

Both individuals are known for their involvement in promoting the Balochi language and culture.

Abolfazl Ghadiani Sentenced to 10 Months in Prison Over New Case

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Freedom of Expression, News
Abolfazl Ghadiani, Evin Prison, HRANA

HRANA – Abolfazl Ghadiani, an 80-year-old political prisoner, has been sentenced to 10 months in prison over a new case opened against him while in custody.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, Ghadiani was convicted of “propaganda against the regime” in connection with this new case. The news was announced by his son, Ahmad Ghadiani, via social media.

Following an Israeli attack on Evin Prison on June 23, Ghadiani and several other prisoners were transferred to Greater Tehran Prison.

On September 30, 2024, he had been arrested by security forces in Tehran to begin serving a previous sentence of three years and six months. He was subsequently transferred to Ward 6 of Evin Prison. Charges against him included “insulting the Supreme Leader” and “propaganda against the regime.”

Ghadiani faces multiple legal cases. In July 2023, Branch 28 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court had sentenced him to 10 months for “propaganda against the regime” and summoned him to Branch 1 of the Tehran Prosecutor’s Office to enforce the sentence.

He has also faced another case in Branch 1025 of Tehran’s Government Employees Court on the charge of “spreading falsehoods online.”

Abolfazl Ghadiani, 80, has a history of arrest and imprisonment due to his political activities.

Sasan Chaman-Ara Arrested by Security Forces in Ilam

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ilam, Maryam Kian Ersi, Sasan Chaman Ara

HRANA – Yesterday, July 16, Sasan Chaman-Ara, a resident of Ilam, was arrested by security forces in the city and taken to an undisclosed location.

Maryam Kian Ersi, Mr. Chaman-Ara’s lawyer, announced in a statement that her client was arrested yesterday in Ilam and transferred to an unknown location.

On Monday, July 14, Mr. Chaman-Ara had received a summons to appear before Branch 4 of the Ilam Prosecutor’s Office for a defense regarding the charge of “unauthorized access to data, computer systems, or telecommunications systems.” His arrest took place despite the fact that the five-day deadline for him to appear before the judicial authority had not yet expired.

Sasan Chaman-Ara, a 36-year-old resident of Ilam, has previously been arrested and convicted.

Mohammad Ahmadi, Creator of the “Dialogue Iran” Program, Arrested

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Freedom of Expression, News
Dialogue Iran, irgc, Mohammad Ahmadi

HRANA – On Monday, July 14, Mohammad Ahmadi, the creator of the program Dialogue Iran, was arrested following a court session and transferred to an undisclosed location.

The official page of Dialogue Iran announced that on Monday, July 14, Mr. Ahmadi appeared in court to defend himself against charges brought against him last year in connection with the program. Following the hearing, he was arrested by security forces.

Videos from the most recent episode, titled Dialogue as Post-War, which aired a few days ago, have been widely circulated on social media. The program is a discussion-based series focusing on Iranian social and political issues. Its main platform is YouTube, though portions have also aired on Radio Namayesh.

As of the time of this report, no information has been made available regarding Mr. Ahmadi’s whereabouts, the reasons for his arrest, or the charges against him.

Mohammad Ahmadi Feyzabadi, a social researcher and creator of Dialogue Iran, has previously faced arrest and pressure from security forces.

Arbitrary arrests, transferring detainees to undisclosed locations, and leaving families in the dark about the fate of their loved ones are routine practices of the Iranian regime’s security agencies, such as the Ministry of Intelligence and the IRGC Intelligence Unit. This pattern of behavior stands in clear violation of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, known as the Nelson Mandela Rules:
“Every prisoner shall have the right, and shall be given the ability and means, to inform immediately his or her family, or any other person designated as a contact person, about his or her imprisonment, about his or her transfer to another institution and about any serious illness or injury. The sharing of prisoners’ personal information shall be subject to domestic legislation.”