Category: News

Urmia: Baha’i Citizen Zhinus Mohammad-Nezhad Arrested

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News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i citizen, HRANA, Urmia, Zhinus Mohammad-Nezhad, ژینوس محمد نژاد

HRANA – On Tuesday, October 14, Zhinus Mohammad-Nezhad, a Baha’i citizen residing in Urmia, was arrested by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence and transferred to an undisclosed location. At the same time, her home and her parents’ residence were searched by the agents.

Based on information obtained by HRANA, her arrest took place on Tuesday, October 14, at her home on in Urmia, when Ministry of Intelligence agents detained her. Simultaneously, both her home and her elderly parents’ nearby residence were searched. During the searches, several personal belongings of the Mohammad-Nezhad family were confiscated.

So far, no information has been made available regarding the reasons for her arrest, her place of detention, or the charges brought against this Baha’i citizen.

Over the past decade, the Iranian Bahá’í community has been disproportionately targeted by Iran’s security forces and judiciary, more than any other minority group. In the past three years, an average of 72 percent of the reports on religious rights violations collected by HRANA have documented the Iranian regime’s repression of the Bahá’í community.

Three Prisoners Executed in Adelabad Prison of Shiraz

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Executions, News
Adelabad Prison, HRANA, Milad Jahani, Sajjad Shahriari Golmakani, Shiraz

Yesterday, Wednesday, October 15, the death sentences of three prisoners were carried out in Adelabad Prison in Shiraz.

HRANA has confirmed the identities of two of those executed as Milad Jahani and Sajjad Shahriari Golmakani. Jahani had previously been arrested on charges related to drug offenses and later sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court.

According to information obtained by HRANA, Mr. Shahriari was arrested about nine years ago on charges of killing his wife and was subsequently sentenced to death by a criminal court.

A source close to Shahriari’s family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating:
“The victim’s family had announced they were willing to grant forgiveness in exchange for diya (blood money). The requested amount was initially 3 billion tomans, which was later increased to 5, 8, and finally 12 billion tomans. Due to the family’s inability to raise the amount, his execution was ultimately carried out this morning.”

The third prisoner was also executed on drug-related charges, but HRANA is still investigating his identity.

According to HRANA’s statistics, in 2024, Adelabad Prison in Shiraz witnessed the execution of 92 inmates, an 88% increase compared to the previous year. This sharp rise places Adelabad as the second deadliest prison in Iran after Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.

Afshin Haghighat, a Baha’i Citizen, Arrested

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News, Religious Minorities
Afshin Haghighat, Baha'i citizen, Shiraz, افشین حقیقت

HRANA – On October 14, Afshin Haghighat, a Baha’i citizen residing in Shiraz, was arrested by security forces in the city and transferred to an undisclosed location. At the same time, his home was searched by agents, who confiscated several digital devices and religious books belonging to Mr. Haghighat and his family.

A source close to Haghighat’s family confirmed the arrest to HRANA, stating:
“On Tuesday, security agents came to the home of this Baha’i citizen in Shiraz and arrested him. His residence was simultaneously searched, and during the search, a number of digital devices and religious books belonging to him and his family were confiscated.”

As of this report, no information is available regarding the reasons for the arrest, his place of detention, or the charges brought against this Baha’i citizen.

Over the past decade, the Iranian Bahá’í community has been disproportionately targeted by Iran’s security forces and judiciary, more than any other minority group. In the past three years, an average of 72 percent of the reports on religious rights violations collected by HRANA have documented the Iranian regime’s repression of the Bahá’í community.

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.

Five Prisoners Executed in Karaj’s Ghezel Hesar Prison

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Executions, News
Amir-Reza Ghobadi, Ghezel Hesar prison, Majid Hatami, Sajjad Hatami

HRANA – Today, October 15, the death sentences of at least five prisoners were carried out in Karaj’s Ghezel Hesar Prison.

Mizan, the Judiciary’s official media outlet, confirmed the execution of three of the prisoners, identified as Amir-Reza Ghobadi, Majid Hatami, and Sajjad Hatami. Mizan referred to them as “three main members of the gang of terror,” claiming they were involved in violent home invasions and robberies in Tehran and several other cities. According to the report, the Hatamis and Ghobadi carried out 19 armed robberies, allegedly threatening residents with firearms, assaulting them, and confining family members in rooms while stealing valuables and jewelry.

Mizan further stated that the three were arrested in the counties of Shahriar, Savojbolagh, and Khorramabad, alleging that they confessed to their crimes during interrogation and were identified by complainants.

According to the indictment, the main charges against them included “enmity against God (moharebeh) through brandishing weapons at the public,” armed group robbery at night involving threats and violence, intentional assault and battery, and detaining individuals inside homes. In the preliminary trial, the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced them to death for moharebeh through armed robbery.

Their appeal was later rejected by the Supreme Court, which upheld the sentences. Ultimately, the death sentences of Amirreza Ghobadi, Majid Hatami, and Sajjad Hatami were carried out at dawn today.

Further details, including the identities of the fourth and fifth executed prisoners, are still being investigated by HRANA. Earlier, HRANA had reported the transfer of 16 prisoners to solitary confinement in preparation for execution.

Recently, HRANA reported that 1,537 people had been executed in Iran over the past year, marking an increase of more than 86% compared to the previous year. During this period, 183 executions took place in Ghezel Hesar prison.

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Protest Against the Wave of Executions; Prisoners at Ghezel Hesar Continue Sit-In and Hunger Protest

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Executions, News
executions, Ghezel Hesar prison, HRANA

HRANA – Since Monday, October 13, hundreds of prisoners in Karaj’s Ghezel Hesar Prison, at least in wards 1 and 2, have refused to accept their prison meals and begun a sit-in inside their ward halls to protest the sharp rise in executions.

Recently, HRANA reported that 1,537 people had been executed in Iran over the past year, marking an increase of more than 86% compared to the previous year. During this period, 183 executions took place in Ghezel Hesar prison.

Inmates in this prison have continued their sit-in and hunger protest for the second consecutive day. Based on information obtained by HRANA, prisoners in wards 1 and 2 began their protest two days ago by refusing prison food in response to the intensifying wave of executions. These wards mainly hold prisoners convicted of drug-related offenses.

The protest coincided with the transfer of 16 prisoners to solitary confinement in preparation for their execution. It is worth noting that Ghezel Hesar Prison has witnessed a significant surge in executions in recent weeks.

Baha’i Citizen Fardin Bengaleh Arrested

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News, Religious Minorities
Fardin Bengaleh, فردین بنگاله

HRANA – On Tuesday, October 14, Fardin Bengaleh, a Baha’i citizen residing in Shiraz, was arrested by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location.

According to a report received by HRANA, Mr. Bengaleh was arrested in Shiraz by security forces on Tuesday, October 14. So far, no information has been obtained regarding the reasons for his arrest, the location of his detention, or the charges brought against him.

Fardin Bengaleh is a Baha’i citizen living in Shiraz.

Over the past decade, the Iranian Bahá’í community has been disproportionately targeted by Iran’s security forces and judiciary, more than any other minority group. In the past three years, an average of 72 percent of the reports on religious rights violations collected by HRANA have documented the Iranian regime’s repression of the Bahá’í community.

Two Prisoners Executed in Dezful Prison

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Executions, News
Dezful, Hamid Abdali, HRANA, Saadi Khalifeh

HRANA – At dawn on Sunday, October 12, two prisoners were executed in Dezful Prison.

HRANA has confirmed the identity of one of the prisoners as Hamid Abdali. Separately, Iran Human Rights has reported the identity of the other prisoner as Saadi Khalifeh, 36, a resident of Dezful.

According to information obtained by HRANA, Mr. Abdali had previously been arrested on charges of murder and later sentenced to death by the Criminal Court. Khalifeh was also arrested in 2018 on a murder charge and subsequently sentenced to death by the same court.

As of the time of this report, the execution of these prisoners has not been announced by prison officials or other relevant authorities.

According to HRANA reports, in 2024, only 6% of executions were announced by official bodies or domestic media outlets. Over the past five years, 77% of executions have gone unreported—commonly referred to as secret executions. In some of these cases, the lack of transparency is so severe that the death-row prisoners are denied even the chance for a final visit with their families.

Drug-Related Crimes: Two Prisoners Executed in Yasuj Prison

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Executions, News
Allahkaram Ghasemi, Yasuj

HRANA – At dawn yesterday, October 14, the death sentences of two prisoners previously convicted on charges related to drug offenses were carried out in Yasuj Prison.

HRANA has been able to confirm their identity  as Allahkaram Ghasemi and Ebrahim Delaram. Based on information obtained by HRANA, the prisoners had been arrested on charges related to drug offenses and subsequently sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court.

As of the time of this report, the execution of these prisoners has not been announced by prison officials or state media.

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.

Two French Citizens Each Sentenced to Over 30 Years in Prison in Iran

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News, Prisoners
Cécile Kohler, Emmanuel Macron, Jacques Paris

HRANA – Mizan, a website affiliated with Iran’s Judiciary, has reported that two French citizens have received lengthy prison sentences on charges of “espionage” and “intelligence cooperation with Israel.”

According to HRANA, the Tehran Revolutionary Court issued the initial verdict in the case. Based on Mizan’s report, one defendant was sentenced to 6 years in prison for “espionage on behalf of French intelligence services,” 5 years for “assembly and collusion to commit crimes against national security,” and 20 years in exile for “intelligence cooperation with Israel,” a charge classified as “enmity against God (moharebeh).”

The second defendant was sentenced to 10 years in prison for “espionage,” 5 years for “assembly and collusion,” and 17 years for “aiding and abetting intelligence cooperation with Israel.”

While the Judiciary’s statement did not name the two defendants, independent media reports and official statements from French authorities indicate that the sentences likely pertain to Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, two French nationals arrested in Iran in 2022. The French government has repeatedly called for their release, and President Emmanuel Macron reportedly raised their case in a recent meeting with officials of the Islamic Republic.

The two have been held in Evin Prison since their arrest. Their families and French officials have rejected the charges and demanded their immediate release.

According to the Judiciary, the verdicts can be appealed within 20 days of their formal notification to the Supreme Court.