Category: News

Appeals Court Upholds Prison Sentence and Ban on Legal Practice for Behnam Nezadi

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Freedom of Expression, News
Behnam Nezadi, HRANA, Markazi Province, بهنام نزادی

HRANA News Agency – Branch 8 of the Markazi Province Court of Appeals fully upheld the conviction of attorney Behnam Nezadi, who was sentenced to four months in prison and a one-year ban from practicing law. The Supreme Court had referred the case to this equivalent branch for reconsideration after accepting his request for retrial.

In a ruling issued on May 16, 2025, Branch 8 of the Markazi Province Court of Appeals reaffirmed the previous sentence: four months of imprisonment and a one-year ban from the legal profession. The case had initially been returned for review by Branch 39 of the Supreme Court following a request for retrial, and was referred to this equivalent branch.

Mr. Nezadi was released from Evin Prison on April 15, 2025. He had been arrested on March 1, 2025, to serve his sentence.

This member of the Central Bar Association had previously been sentenced on January 2025, by Branch 9 of the Markazi Province Court of Appeals to four months in prison and a one-year ban from practicing law, following a retrial request submitted by his lawyers. Earlier, in late November 2024, he had been sentenced by the Revolutionary Court of Arak to one year in prison and a two-year ban from practicing law on the charge of “propaganda against the regime.”

In another part of his case, Branch 106 of the Arak Criminal Court sentenced Behnam Nezadi to 13 months and 16 days in prison for “disclosing confidential information,” and to 113 days in prison for “spreading falsehoods.”

Prisoner Executed in Qom Prison

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Executions, News
Alireza Gholi-Beigi, Qom prison

HRANA News Agency – At dawn on Monday, May 19, the execution of a prisoner previously sentenced to death on charges of murder was carried out in Qom Prison.

Iran Human Rights has identified his identity as Alireza Gholi-Beigi, 33 years old.

According to the report, around four years ago, the prisoner was arrested on charges of killing his male cousin in what has been described as a so-called honor-related case. He was later sentenced to death.

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

In 2024, according to 812 reports compiled by HRANA, the Iranian regime executed 930 individuals in its prisons—marking the highest number of executions in the past 12 years. Despite the scale of these executions, prison officials and other relevant authorities publicly acknowledged only 6% of them, highlighting the regime’s lack of transparency and accountability.

16-Year-Old Teenager Arrested by Security Forces

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Children, News
children’s rights, Mani Dehani, Sistan and Baluchestan Province

HRANA News Agency – On Sunday, May 18, Mani Dehani, a 16-year-old resident of Sib and Suran County, was arrested by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location.

According to Haal Vsh, the identity of the detained minor has been confirmed as Mani Dehani, a 16-year-old resident of a village in Sib and Suran County, Sistan and Baluchestan province.

The report states that the arrest took place last night and involved physical assault by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence. Following inquiries by the teenager’s relatives, they were informed that Mani had been arrested due to his online activity and the publication of certain images on social media.

As of the time of this report, no information has been made available regarding his whereabouts or the specific charges against him.

In 2024, HRANA documented the detention of 34 individuals under the age of 18 by security forces in Iran. For detailed statistics and further insights into children’s rights violations, read HRANA’s 2024 Annual Report.

Mashallah Karami’s Sentence Reduced to 3 Years and 7 Months After Sentence Consolidation

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News, Prisoners
Alborz province, Karaj, Mashallah Karami, Mohammad-Mehdi Karami, Ruhollah Ajamian

HRANA News Agency – Mashallah Karami, father of Mohammad Mehdi Karami, a protester executed in connection with the 2022 nationwide protests, has had his combined prison sentence reduced to three years and seven months following the approval of a request for sentence consolidation. He had previously been sentenced to a total of five years and three months across two separate cases.

His lawyer, Ali Sharifzadeh, announced that with the acceptance of this request, Karami’s prison term was officially reduced to three years and seven months. Given that he has already served more than half of this time, he is now eligible for conditional release. A request for his conditional release has been submitted to the judicial authorities.

Mr. Karami is currently held in Karaj Central Penitentiary. In the previous rulings, he had received a total of five years and three months in prison across two separate cases.

On January 22, 2025, the Alborz Province Court of Appeals sentenced him to one year in prison and confiscation of his house and vehicle on charges of money laundering and acquiring illicit property. This came after an earlier ruling in August 2024 by Branch 102 of the Nazarabad Criminal Court, which had sentenced him to eight years and ten months in prison, a fine of 1.9 billion tomans, and confiscation of his assets on the same charges.

In another part of his case, in September 2024, the Alborz Appeals Court sentenced Karami to three years and seven months for “assembly and collusion” and to eight months for “propaganda against the regime.” Previously, on May 21, 2024, the Karaj Revolutionary Court had sentenced him to five years for “assembly and collusion against national security” and one year for “propaganda against the regime.”

Karami was transferred from The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility to Karaj Central Penitentiary on October 28, 2023. After three months in quarantine, he was moved to Ward 15 of the prison. He was originally arrested by security forces on August 23, 2023. At the time of his arrest, security agents confiscated all electronic devices and blocked the family’s bank cards.

It is worth noting that at dawn on Saturday, January 7, 2023, Mohammad Mehdi Karami—Mashallah Karami’s son and one of the detainees from the nationwide protests—was executed in connection with the case known as the “killing of Basij member Ruhollah Ajamian.”

Sanandaj: Armin Khodamoradi Arrested and Taken to Unknown Location

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News, Other
Armin Khodamoradi, Sanandaj, آرمین خدامرادی

HRANA News Agency – On Friday, May 16, 2025, Armin Khodamoradi, a 26-year-old resident of Sanandaj, was arrested by security forces and transferred to an undisclosed location.

His identity was confirmed by Kolbar News, which reported that Khodamoradi was detained in Sanandaj by security agents.

Despite repeated inquiries, his family has been unable to obtain any information about his whereabouts or current condition, prompting growing concern for his safety.

At the time of this report, the reasons for his arrest and any charges brought against him remain unknown.

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Majid Roshannejad in Prison: Details of His Current Situation

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News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, HRANA, Majid Roshannejad

HRANA News Agency – Political prisoner Majid Roshannejad (Roshan-Nejad) is serving his sentence in the Greater Tehran Penitentiary without being held separately from inmates convicted of violent crimes, in violation of the principle of separation of prisoners based on their charges. He was previously sentenced to six years in prison and 74 lashes in connection with the case known as the Evin Prison fire.

A source close to the prisoner’s family confirmed to HRANA: “Mr. Roshannejad is serving his sentence related to the Evin Prison fire case. On the night of the incident, he was shot in the knee. He was then held in solitary confinement for two months, before being transferred to a hospital. However, he was returned to prison the next day without receiving adequate medical treatment.”

On June 19, 2024, verdicts were issued for the defendants in the Evin Prison fire case, just one day after the court session was held. The trial took place in Branch 1148 of Tehran’s Criminal Court No. 2.

In this case, Roshannejad was sentenced to six years in prison and 74 lashes for “destruction of property.” He also received 16 months in prison and 74 lashes for “disrupting prison order,” and an additional 16 months for “disobeying officers’ orders.” The verdict was later upheld in full by the Tehran Provincial Court of Appeals.

It is worth noting that this case, initiated by the Prisons Organization, resulted in prison sentences for 39 other defendants in addition to Roshannejad. A separate lawsuit has also been filed by the General Directorate of Prisons, seeking damages related to the fire.

On May 3, 2023, Roshannejad was transferred from Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj to the Greater Tehran Penitentiary.

On the night of October 15, 2022, after tensions rose in Evin Prison, fire was seen above the prison, and sounds of gunfire and explosions were heard. Despite officials claiming to have controlled the fire and clashes, gunfire continued for several hours. As a result, several prisoners were injured and killed, and some were transferred out of the prison.

Death Sentences Carried Out for Two Prisoners in Kermanshah and Ilam

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Executions, News
Behrouz Fathollahi, Dizelabad Prison, HRANA, Ilam prison, Sirus Jafari

HRANA News Agency – At dawn on Saturday, May 17, the death sentences of two prisoners previously convicted of murder were carried out in the prisons of Kermanshah and Ilam.

HRANA has learned that Sirus Jafari was executed in Dizelabad Prison in Kermanshah, and Behrouz Fathollahi was executed in Ilam Prison.

These individuals had been arrested in separate cases on charges of murder and were later sentenced to death by criminal courts.

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

In 2024, according to 812 reports compiled by HRANA, the Iranian regime executed 930 individuals in its prisons—marking the highest number of executions in the past 12 years. Despite the scale of these executions, prison officials and other relevant authorities publicly acknowledged only 6% of them, highlighting the regime’s lack of transparency and accountability.

Azim Yadegari Arrested by Security Forces in Tehran

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Freedom of Expression, News
Azim Yadegari, Dehloran, Tehran

HRANA News Agency – On Wednesday, May 14, Azim Yadegari, a resident of Dehloran, was arrested by security forces in Tehran and taken to an undisclosed location.

According to Kolbar News, the arrest took place in Tehran. In recent months, Yadegari had been summoned several times to begin serving his prison sentence.

Mr. Yadegari had previously been sentenced to 10 years in prison. As of now, there is no information on his whereabouts. His case was reviewed in the September 2023 by the Ilam Criminal Court.

He had also been arrested in August 2023 by security forces. Prior to that, he had a record of arrest related to the 2022 nationwide protests.

Taher Haji Ghorbani Sentenced to Over 14 Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, Iman Afshari, Taher Haji Ghorbani, Tehran

HRANA News Agency – Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court has sentenced Taher Haji Ghorbani, a resident of Tehran, to 14 years and 2 months in prison, a monetary fine, and additional restrictions. Judge Iman Afshari presided over the case.

According to information obtained by HRANA, the court convicted Ghorbani on the following charges:

5 years and 6 months for “assembly and collusion to commit a crime against internal and external security,”
6 years for “blasphemy,”
8 months for “propaganda against the regime,”
2 years for “spreading falsehoods,”
and imposed a fine of 500 million rials (50 million tomans).

The court also handed down supplementary punishments, barring him for two years from living in Tehran Province and adjacent regions, traveling abroad, and joining political or social groups.

Under Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, only the severest sentence—six years in prison—will be enforceable.

Authorities cited Ghorbani’s online activities as grounds for the charges. The court issued the verdict on May 2, 2025, and delivered it to him in prison. His trial had taken place earlier that month in the same court.

In February 2025, the court set bail at 3.5 billion tomans, but judicial officials refused to accept it, effectively blocking his release.

Security forces arrested Ghorbani at his Tehran residence on February 2, 2025, and transferred him to Evin Prison.

Two Prisoners Executed in Zabol Prison

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Executions, News
HRANA, Reza Dahmardeh, Zabol, Zabol Prison

HRANA News Agency – At dawn yesterday, May 15, the death sentences of two prisoners previously convicted of murder were carried out in Zabol Prison.

HRANA has identified the individuals as Reza Dahmardeh, approximately 24 years old, the resident of a village in Zabol County, and Abdullah (last name unknown), a citizen of Afghanistan.

The two had been arrested in separate cases on murder charges and later sentenced to death by criminal courts.

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

In 2024, according to 812 reports compiled by HRANA, the Iranian regime executed 930 individuals in its prisons—marking the highest number of executions in the past 12 years. Despite the scale of these executions, prison officials and other relevant authorities publicly acknowledged only 6% of them, highlighting the regime’s lack of transparency and accountability.