Category: Freedom of Expression

Five Poets and Journalists Sentenced to Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Abadan, Arash Ghaleh-Golab, Farzaneh Yahya Abadi, Kourosh Karam-Pour, Mandana Sadeghi

HRANA News Agency – Arash Ghaleh-Golab, Kourosh Karam-Pour, Farzaneh Yahya-Abadi, Mandana Sadeghi and his husband, Reza Mohammadi, have been sentenced to a total of more than 10 years and 9 months in prison by Branch One of the Abadan Revolutionary Court.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, five poets and journalists have been sentenced to prison terms.

Based on the verdict issued by Branch One of the Abadan Revolutionary Court, Mandana Sadeghi and Arash Ghaleh-Golab have each been sentenced to 4 years, 1 month, and 17 days in prison. Kourosh Karam-Pour has been sentenced to 2 years in prison.
Reza Mohammadi and Farzaneh Yahya-Abadi have each been sentenced to 3 months and 1 day in prison.

Breakdown of Charges and Sentences

Mandana Sadeghi and Arash Ghaleh-Golab were convicted of “propaganda against the regime” and sentenced to 7 months and 16 days in prison. They were also convicted of “assembly and collusion against national security” and sentenced to 3 years, 6 months, and 1 day in prison.
Kourosh Karam-Pour, a poet and journalist from Abadan, was sentenced to 2 years in prison on similar charges.
Reza Mohammadi, poet and literary critic, and Farzaneh Yahya-Abadi, journalist, were each sentenced to 3 months and 1 day in prison for “propaganda against the regime”. The sentence against Yahya-Abadi was issued in absentia.

Court Proceedings and Previous Arrests

These three journalists, along with Reza Mohammadi, Ms. Sadeghi’s husband, had previously been summoned to the Abadan Revolutionary Court for their defense.

Mandana Sadeghi and Reza Mohammadi were arrested at their home in Abadan on October 19, 2022, by security forces and transferred to Ahvaz. They were later released on bail. They had previously faced legal action for their activities.
Farzaneh Yahya-Abadi was also arrested on October 19, 2022, in Abadan and later released on bail.
Arash Ghaleh-Golab was arrested on May 26, 2022, in front of the Metropol Building while mourning the victims of the Metropol collapse. Security forces detained him violently, and he was later released after 11 days on bail.

Karim Jalili Arrested in Masjed Soleyman

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Karim Jalili, Masjed-Soleyman, کریم جلیلی

HRANA News Agency – Karim Jalili, a resident of Masjed Soleyman, was arrested by security forces at his home and taken to an undisclosed location.

Based on information received by HRANA, on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, Mr. Jalili was arrested by security forces at his home in Masjed Soleyman. A source close to his family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating, “It is likely that Mr. Jalili was arrested due to his activities on social media. His online accounts are now being controlled by security forces.”

As of the time of this report, no information is available regarding his whereabouts or the charges against him.

Karim Jalili, 40, has previously faced security-related confrontations due to his activism.

Revolutionary Court Sentences Samad Pourshah to One Year in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Mahsa Amini, Samad Pourshah, Yasuj, صمد پورشه

HRANA News Agency – Samad Pourshah, a resident of Yasuj, has been sentenced to one year in prison by the city’s Revolutionary Court on charges of “propaganda against the regime.”

According to a verdict issued by the Revolutionary Court of Yasuj and personally delivered to him yesterday, Mr. Pourshah was convicted and sentenced to one year in prison. His trial took place on March 8, 2025, at the same court.

He was initially arrested by security forces in Yasuj in September 2023, during the first anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death. He was later released from Yasuj Prison in November 2023 after posting bail and securing a guarantor’s commitment.

In February 2024, the Revolutionary Court of Yasuj sentenced him to three months and one day in prison for “insulting the Supreme Leader” and a fine as a substitute for an additional three-month prison term for “propaganda against the regime.” Pourshah was transferred to Yasuj Prison in March 2024 to serve his sentence and was later released upon its completion.

Five Members of a Family Tried in Bavi County

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Freedom of Expression, News
Bavi County, Khuzestan province, Masoud Jamei, Zeinab Hezbapour

HRANA News Agency – The Revolutionary Court of Bavi County, Khuzestan Province, held a hearing for Masoud Jamei, a political prisoner detained in Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz, along with his wife, Zeinab Hezbapour, and their children, Nahid, Dalal, and Roghayeh Jamei.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, five members of this family stood trial earlier this week. During the session, Masoud Jamei, his wife, and their three children defended themselves against charges of alleged connections with an opposition group. They had previously been summoned to court through official notices.

Masoud Jamei had already been indicted by the Ahvaz Prosecutor’s Office on charges including “spreading corruption on earth,” membership in opposition groups, and “assembly and collusion to disrupt national security.”

Jamei, who suffers from fatty liver disease and digestive issues, was arrested by security forces on August 1, 2023, in Ahvaz and subsequently transferred to Sheiban Prison.

Masoud Jamei, approximately 47 years old, his wife Zeinab Hezbapour, and their children—Nahid (22), Dalal (20), and Roghayeh (16)—are all residents of Ahvaz.

Nina Golestani Arrested in Rasht

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Freedom of Expression, News
irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Javad Sajjadi Rad, Lakan prison, Nina Golestani, Rasht

HRANA News Agency – On Tuesday, March 11, IRGC Intelligence agents arrested Nina Golestani, a writer and resident of Rasht, and transferred her to Lakan Prison in the city.

Her husband, Seyed Javad Sajjadi Rad, stated that on the morning of March 11, 2025, IRGC Intelligence agents disguised themselves as electricity company employees to gain entry into her parents’ home. After presenting an arrest warrant, they detained Golestani and searched the house. She was then taken for interrogation.

Later that day, at 5:30 PM, after a judge set bail, she was transferred to Lakan Prison. However, when her husband visited Branch 4 of the Prosecutor’s Office the following day, the judge deemed the bail insufficient and insisted on re-interrogating her before proceeding with the case.

As of the time of this report, the charges against Nina Golestani remain unknown.

Golestani, a writer from Rasht, has previously faced arrest and legal action due to her activities.

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Ali Jahanian and Fereshteh Souri Sentenced to Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ali Jahanian, Fereshteh Souri, Malayer Prison, Nahavand

HRANA News Agency – Ali Jahanian and his wife, Fereshteh Souri, have each been sentenced to one year in prison by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Nahavand.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, the couple was convicted of “propaganda against the regime” and sentenced to serve their terms in Nahavand Prison. However, the court acquitted them of the charge of “forming a group to disrupt national security.”

Their trial was held in late January 2025, and the verdict was issued and formally communicated to them on March 10, 2025.

Jahanian and Souri were originally arrested by Intelligence Ministry agents on September 9, 2024, at their home in Nahavand. While Souri was released on bail after several hours of interrogation, she was rearrested on September 11 and later transferred to Malayer Prison.

Both were eventually released on bail on November 11, 2024. A source close to their family told HRANA that Fereshteh Souri was subjected to verbal abuse and physical violence during her interrogations at the Intelligence Ministry’s detention facility.

Ali Jahanian, a poet and political activist from Nahavand, has been previously arrested due to his activism.

Leila Pashaei Arrested in Sanandaj

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Freedom of Expression, News, Women
International Women's Day, Leila Pashaei, Pashaei, Sanandaj, لیلا پاشایی

HRANA News Agency – On Monday, March 10, 2025, Leila Pashaei, a resident of Sanandaj, was arrested by security forces and transferred to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of the Human Rights Activists in Iran, Pashaei was detained at her home by agents of the Intelligence Department on charges of “acting against national security.”

Her brother, who reported the arrest, stated that the reason for her detention was her public remarks on women’s issues during International Women’s Day.

As of now, no information is available regarding her whereabouts.

Pashaei has previously faced security-related arrests and encounters with authorities due to her activism.

Civil Rights Activist Soheila Mataei Arrested in Dehgolan

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Freedom of Expression, News, Women
Dehgolan, Sanandaj, Soheila Mataei

HRANA News Agency – On Monday, March 10, 2025, Soheila Mataei, a resident of Dehgolan, Kurdistan province, was arrested by security forces and transferred to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, quoting Kurdpa, Mataei was detained without a court order. Reports suggest that her arrest was linked to her role in organizing an International Women’s Day event in Sanandaj. As of now, no information is available about her whereabouts or the charges against her.

History of Arrests and Legal Proceedings

Mataei has a history of previous arrests related to her activism:

January 22, 2025: She was briefly detained in Dehgolan amid protests against death sentences issued for Varisheh Moradi and Pakhshan Azizi.
October 1, 2022: Arrested during the nationwide protests and later released on bail.
November 12, 2022: Arrested again by security forces and transferred to the Sanandaj Juvenile Correctional Center after interrogation.
December 2022: Branch 2 of the Dehgolan Criminal Court sentenced her to three years and nine months in prison on charges of “disrupting public order, spreading false information to disturb public opinion, defying authorities, and propaganda against the regime through support for opposition groups.”

Mataei’s repeated arrests and prison sentences highlight the continued targeting of civil activists in Iran.

Christian Convert Narges Nasri Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison and Additional Penalties

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Freedom of Expression, News, Religious Minorities
Christian convert, Evin Prison, HRANA, Iman Afshari, Narges Nasri

HRANA News Agency – Narges Nasri, a Christian convert, has been sentenced by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court to 16 years in prison, 15 years of social rights deprivation, and a fine. She was arrested by Ministry of Intelligence agents on November 1nd, while in the first month of pregnancy, and was later released on bail from Evin Prison on December 1st.

According to the verdict issued by Judge Iman Afshari, Nasri has been sentenced to:

10 years in prison for “propaganda activity contrary to Islamic law” due to her alleged “influential connections abroad” and the broad impact of her activities, with an increased degree of severity.
5 years in prison for “membership in anti-regime groups.”
1 year in prison for “propaganda against the regime.”
15 years of social rights deprivation and a fine of 3.3 billion rials.

In addition to her prison sentence, Nasri, now in her fourth month of pregnancy, has been subjected to further restrictions, including a two-year ban on leaving the country, residing in Tehran and neighboring provinces, and joining any social or political groups.

A source familiar with the case told HRANA that her one-year sentence for “propaganda against the regime” was issued due to her online activities, including posts critical of the country’s situation.

Nasri’s trial was held on February 13th at Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, while her initial interrogation sessions took place in January at Branch 3 of the Tehran Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office.

Nasri, a 37-year-old Christian convert and resident of Tehran, was arrested on November 1nd alongside two other Christian converts by Ministry of Intelligence agents for forming a house church in Tehran. She was transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison, a detention facility under the control of the Ministry of Intelligence, where she was subjected to daily interrogations. She was eventually released on December 1st after posting bail set at 2.5 billion tomans.

Report on the Arrest of Three Citizens in Qasreqand County

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Freedom of Expression, News, Other
Alam Azizi, HRANA, Javid Kadkhodaei, Nikshahr, Qasreqand, Saeed Azizi, قصرقند

HRANA News Agency – On Saturday, March 8, security forces arrested three citizens, Alam Azizi, Saeed Azizi, and Javid Kadkhodaei, in Qasreqand County. Among them, Saeed Azizi and Javid Kadkhodaei were released after a few hours of interrogation.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, three citizens were arrested in Qasr-e Qand County.

HRANA has identified the individuals as:

  • Alam Azizi, approximately 36 years old, a resident of Azizabad village.
  • Saeed Azizi, approximately 40 years old, a resident of Gehjan village.
  • Javid Kadkhodaei, approximately 33 years old, a resident of Beg village.

All three individuals are from villages in Qasreqand County, Sistan and Baluchestan province.

According to information received by HRANA, the arrests took place at noon on Saturday, March 8, at the home of Alam Azizi, carried out by security forces.

A source close to the family of one of the detainees confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “Saeed and Javid were transferred to Nikshahr County after their arrest. They were released after three hours of interrogation. Alam Azizi was transferred to Zahedan following his arrest, but there is no information available about his whereabouts.”

As of the time of this report, the reasons for the arrests and the charges against these individuals remain unknown.

Alam Azizi has previously been arrested due to his activities.