Kamran Sakhtemanqar Sentenced to Imprisonment and Fine

HRANA Kamran Sakhtemanqar, a labor activist from Sanandaj, has been sentenced by Branch 2 of the Sanandaj Revolutionary Court to three months of discretionary imprisonment and a fine of 30 million tomans. The verdict, issued on Tuesday, July 15, pertains to the charge of “propaganda against the regime.”

A preliminary hearing in the case was held on May 18, 2025, in Branch 2 of the Sanandaj Prosecutor’s Office, following a summons issued on May 10.

Mr. Sakhtemanqar was arrested by security forces on February 5, 2025, and released from Sanandaj Prison on March 11 after posting bail.

In mid-January 2025, he also appeared before Branch 109 of the Sanandaj Criminal Court to respond to separate charges of defamation and slander.

Kamran Sakhtemanqar has previously faced multiple arrests and convictions due to his labor activism.

Four Citizens Arrested by Security Forces in Sanandaj

HRANA – On Monday, July 14, Diyar Ahmadi, Ayoub Ahmadi, Abed Ahmadi, and Ali Ahmadi were arrested by security forces in Sanandaj and taken to an undisclosed location.

According to Kolbar News, security agents arrested them without presenting a judicial warrant.

As of the time of this report, there is no information about the reasons for their arrest, their whereabouts, or the charges brought against them.

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.

Three Sentenced to Death, Two to Long Prison Terms in Khuzestan Political Case

HRANA – The Ahvaz Revolutionary Court has sentenced political prisoners Masoud Jamei, Alireza Merdasi, and Farshad Etemadifar each to two death sentences and one year in prison. In the same case, the court handed down a combined 27 years of imprisonment to Saman Hormatnejad and Davoud Hormatnejad.

Branch 1 of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Adibimehr, issued the verdicts and formally delivered them to the defendants on July 11. Judge Adibimehr convicted Jamei, Merdasi, and Etemadifar of corruption on earth (efsad fel-arz), membership in rebel groups, and propaganda against the regime, sentencing each to two executions and one year behind bars. He also sentenced Hormatnejad and Hormatnejad to 12 and 15 years in prison, respectively, on similar charges.

According to the court rulings, membership in the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MEK) was cited as the basis for the charges. This case constitutes one of the harshest security-related verdicts issued in Khuzestan province in recent months.

A source familiar with the case, who spoke to HRANA on condition of anonymity due to security concerns, stated: “These individuals have spent nearly two years in pre-trial detention in a state of uncertainty. During this time, they were denied access to legal representation and adequate medical care. The verdicts were issued despite clear violations of fair trial standards. The confessions attributed to the defendants were obtained under coercion and in inhumane conditions.”

Farshad Etemadifar, Saman Hormatnejad, and Davoud Hormatnejad were arrested by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence on June 16, 2023. Masoud Jamei and Alireza Mordasi were also arrested by security forces in Ahvaz on August 1, 2023, and transferred to Sheyban Prison.

Following these arrests, Tasnim News Agency, affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), published a report claiming the detainees were connected to the “Monafeqin network” (a term used by the Islamic Republic to refer to the MEK) and were planning “sabotage operations” in Khuzestan, Fars, and Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad provinces.

Farshad Etemadifar is from Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, while Masoud Jamei and Alireza Merdasi (also known as Hamidavi) are residents of Ahvaz. Masoud Jamei, 47, suffers from liver disease and stomach cancer. His health condition in prison is critical, and he urgently needs treatment in specialized medical facilities outside the prison. Before his arrest, he worked for the National Iranian Oil Company. In March 2025, he, along with his wife Zeinab Hezbapour and children Nahid, Dalal, and Roghayeh Jamei, was tried in the Bavi Revolutionary Court on charges related to alleged connections with an opposition group.

Ehsan Khazaei and Neda Kargar Arrested by Security Forces

HRANA – Ehsan Khazaei, the brother of Erfan Khazaei—who was killed during the 2022 nationwide protests—was arrested this morning along with his wife, Neda Kargar, by security forces. The couple was taken to an undisclosed location.

According to information received by HRANA, the arrest took place at their home, where security agents also confiscated the mobile phones of their parents.

A source close to the family confirmed the incident, telling HRANA: “The agents physically assaulted Bozorgan Khazaei, Erfan’s other brother, as well as their mother, when they tried to stop the arrest.”

As of the time of this report, the reasons for the arrests and the charges against Ehsan Khazaei and Neda Kargar remain unknown.

Both individuals have previously faced legal pressure and judicial action.

Erfan Khazaei, 30, was a resident of Kangavar in Kermanshah province. He was fatally shot on September 21, 2022, during the nationwide protests in the city of Shahriar.

Sajjad Haeri Arrested by Security Forces

HRANA – On Saturday, July 12, Sajjad Haeri, the brother of political prisoner Ahmadreza Haeri—currently held in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj—was arrested by security forces in Damavand and taken to an undisclosed location.

His arrest took place on the evening of Saturday, July 12, at his family’s home in Damavand. As of the time of this report, no information is available regarding the reasons for his arrest, his whereabouts, or the charges against him.

Sajjad Haeri is the brother of Ahmadreza Haeri, a political prisoner held in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.

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Mansour Rahimi Arrested by Security Forces in Mahabad

HRANA – On Friday, July 11, Mansour Rahimi, a resident of Mahabad, was arrested by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location.

The report by Kolbar News states that Mr. Rahimi was detained at his parents’ home by security agents, who also confiscated his electronic devices.

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

It is worth noting that on May 9, Mansour Rahimi had been summoned to the Ministry of Intelligence’s office in Mahabad after sharing information on social media about a protest gathering held by farmers and seasonal workers in Mahabad.

Jafar Sadeghi Sentenced to 10 Months in Prison

HRANA– Jafar Sadeghi, a resident of Oshnavieh, has been sentenced to 10 months of discretionary imprisonment by Branch 101 of the Criminal Court in Oshnavieh.

According to Kurdpa, Jafar Sadeghi has been sentenced to 10 months in prison by Branch 101 of the Oshnavieh Criminal Court on the charge of “propaganda against the regime.”

It is worth noting that the charge of “propaganda against the regime” falls under the jurisdiction of the Revolutionary Court. However, due to the absence of a Revolutionary Court in Oshnavieh, security-related cases are typically referred to the Revolutionary Court in Mahabad. After review and the issuance of a ruling there, the case is sent back to the Criminal Court in Oshnavieh for execution.

Jafar Sadeghi was previously arrested by security forces and later released on bail.

He is a mountaineering and rock climbing instructor and a member of the Baran Mountaineering Group in Oshnavieh.

Five Protesters from the 2022 Nationwide Protests Sentenced to Death

HRANA– Rezgar Beigzadeh Babamiri, Pejman Soltani, Ali (Soran) Ghasemi, Kaveh Salehi, and Teyfour Salimi Babamiri — all detained during the 2022 nationwide protests — have been sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court of Urmia.

According to HRANA, the news agency of the Human Rights Activists in Iran, these individuals were jointly tried and sentenced to death in the same case. The charges against them include baghi (armed rebellion), moharebeh (enmity against God), and leading and forming a rebellious criminal group. Four of them were sentenced to death more than once. The verdicts were officially communicated to their lawyers today, Monday, July 7.

Ali (Soran) Ghasemi, Pejman Soltani, and Kaveh Salehi have each been sentenced to death three times on charges of baghi, moharebeh, and leading and forming a rebellious criminal group. Rezgar Beigzadeh Babamiri received two death sentences on charges of baghi and leadership in a rebellious group. Teyfour Salimi Babamiri has also been sentenced to death for allegedly leading and forming such a group.

Additionally, eight other defendants in the same case have received prison sentences and monetary fines.

Currently, Pejman Soltani, Rezgar Beigzadeh Babamiri, and Ali (Soran) Ghasemi are being held in Ward 2 of Urmia Prison. Previously, they were sentenced to death, 15 years, and 10 years in prison, respectively, for allegedly killing a security officer.

Pejman Soltani, Rezgar Beigzadeh Babamiri, Ali (Soran) Ghasemi, and Kaveh Salehi were arrested in April 2023. Teyfour Salimi Babamiri was arrested by security forces in March 2023 and released after approximately 18 months in detention.

Arrest of 24 Citizens in Ardabil for Alleged Disturbing Public Opinion on Social Media

HRANA– The police commander of Ardabil has announced the arrest of 24 citizens for what he described as “disturbing public opinion on social media.” According to him, judicial cases have been opened for these individuals.

According to Tasnim News Agency, the Ardabil police commander referred to them as “agents of disturbing public opinion on social media,” claiming they had spread “rumors and false news” with the intention of “creating psychological insecurity in society.”

Without disclosing their identities, he added that judicial cases have been filed against all of them.

The report did not provide further details regarding the detainees’ current status or place of detention.

Since the twelve-day war between Israel and Iran, the Iranian regime has arrested hundreds of individuals for expressing opinions and sharing content related to the war and the country’s situation.

Appeals Court Upholds Prison Sentence for Political Activist Hossein Yazdi

HRANA– The Isfahan Court of Appeals has upheld the conviction of political activist Hossein Yazdi. He had previously been sentenced to one year in prison, along with two-year bans on international travel, online activity, and access to social rights.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, Yazdi was convicted of “propaganda against the regime.” The initial verdict had been issued by the Isfahan Revolutionary Court.

Yazdi was released from Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan on July 12, 2023, after posting bail. His arrest took place earlier that month following a summons to the Isfahan Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office.

Hossein Mohammadi Yazdi is a political activist and former editor-in-chief of the Mobin 24 website and the Iran Times news channel. He has previously faced arrest and legal action for his activism.