Category: News

Two Prisoners Executed in Qazvin Prison for Drug Offenses

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Executions, News
Nourmorad Garavand, Qazvin prison, Sanjari

At dawn today, October 17, two prisoners who had been previously sentenced to death on drug-related charges were executed in Qazvin Prison.

HRANA has identified the prisoners as Nourmorad Garavand and Sanjari (first name unknown). These individuals had been arrested on drug-related charges and later sentenced to death by the judiciary.

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

he reports from the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists for the year 2023 reveal a concerning prevalence of executions for drug offenses in Iran, constituting 56.4% of the total executions. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s report.

Two Prisoners Executed in Hamedan Prison for Drug Offenses

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Executions, News
Hamedan prison, Rasoul Feli, Rasoul Fili

At dawn on October 16, two prisoners, including a woman, were executed in Hamedan Prison after being sentenced to death on drug-related charges.

HRANA has identified one of the executed prisoners as Rasoul Fili. Both individuals had been arrested on drug charges and sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court.

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

The reports from the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists for the year 2023 reveal a concerning prevalence of executions for drug offenses in Iran, constituting 56.4% of the total executions. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s report.

Nasrin Shakarami Arrested in Khorramabad

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Freedom of Expression, News
Khorramabad, Nasrin Shakarami, Nika Shakarami, Tehran

On October 16, Nasrin Shakarami, the mother of Nika Shakarami—who was killed during the 2022 nationwide protests—was arrested in Khorramabad.

Her daughter, Aida Shakarami, confirmed the arrest but stated that the reason for the detention and any charges against Nasrin remain unclear. As of now, Nasrin’s location is also unknown.

Nika Shakarami, a 17-year-old from Khorramabad, lost her life during the 2022 protests in Tehran. Behesht Zahra Cemetery later attributed her death to “multiple injuries caused by blunt force trauma.”

Six Political Activists Sentenced to Over 50 Years in Prison

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Ethnic Minorities, Freedom of Expression, News
Abdolaziz Azimi Ghadim, and Araz Aman, Ayaz Seyfkhah, Azerbaijani Turk activist, Bagher Haji-Zadeh, Hossein Piri, Kamal Nouri, Salavati

Kamal Nouri, Ayaz Seyfkhah, Abdolaziz Azimi Ghadim, Bagher Haji-Zadeh, Hossein Piri, and Araz Aman, all Azerbaijani-Turk activists, have been sentenced to a combined 53 years in prison by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

The verdict, issued on Wednesday, October 16, by Judge Abolqasem Salavati, details the following sentences:

  • Hossein Piri: Five years for “assembly and collusion against national security.”
  • Abdolaziz Azimi Ghadim: One year for “propaganda against the regime” and five years for “assembly and collusion against national security.”
  • Araz Aman, Ayaz Seyfkhah, and Bagher Haji-Zadeh: Each sentenced to eight years for “espionage” and five years for “assembly and collusion against national security.”
  • Kamal Nouri: Three years, with two years of his sentence suspended.

Nouri, Seyfkhah, Azimi Ghadim, Haji-Zadeh, and Aman were arrested by security forces in February of last year and subsequently transferred to Evin Prison.

Four Prisoners Executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison for Drug-Related Crimes

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Executions, News
Abdolbari Tajik, Ghezel Hesar prison, HRANA, Javid Ahmadkhani, Karaj, Pasha Pashto

At dawn today, October 16, the execution of four prisoners who had previously been sentenced to death on drug-related charges was carried out in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj.

HRANA has confirmed the identities of three of the prisoners who were hanged this morning as “Abdolbari Tajik and Pasha Pashto, two Afghan nationals, and Javid Ahmadkhani.” The identity of the fourth executed prisoner is still under investigation by HRANA.

These prisoners, who had been previously sentenced to death for drug-related charges, were transferred to solitary confinement in Ghezel Hesar Prison yesterday along with two other prisoners in preparation for their execution.

According to data gathered by the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists, Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj witnessed the highest number of executions in 2023, with Zahedan Prison following closely behind. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s report.

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Prisoner Executed in Urmia Prison

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Executions, News
Naser Mohammadi Hangravani, Urmia

Yesterday, October 15, a prisoner who had been sentenced to death for murder was executed in Urmia Prison.

HRANA has identified the prisoner as Naser Mohammadi Hangravani, from the village of Nichlan in the Sumay-ye Beradust District of Urmia. He had been arrested on murder charges and sentenced to death by a judicial authority.

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

According to the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran, in 2023, at least 767 citizens, including 21 women and 2 juvenile offenders, were executed. Of these, the executions of 7 individuals were carried out in public. Additionally, during this period, 172 others were sentenced to death, with 5 of them sentenced to public execution. It is worth noting that during the same period, the initial death sentences of 49 other individuals were also upheld by the Supreme Court.

Six Prisoners Transferred to Solitary Confinement in Ghezel Hesar Prison for Execution

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Executions, News
Ghezel Hesar prison, HRANA, Karaj

On October 15, six prisoners who had previously been sentenced to death on drug-related charges were transferred to solitary confinement in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj in preparation for their execution.

These prisoners had been sentenced to death on drug-related charges, and the transfer was made to carry out their execution. HRANA is currently investigating further details, including the identities of the prisoners.

According to the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran, in 2023, at least 767 citizens, including 21 women and 2 juvenile offenders, were executed. Of these, the executions of 7 individuals were carried out in public. Additionally, during this period, 172 others were sentenced to death, with 5 of them sentenced to public execution. It is worth noting that during the same period, the initial death sentences of 49 other individuals were also upheld by the Supreme Court.

Update on the Latest Status of Journalist Reza Valizadeh in Evin Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News, Students
Abolqasem Salavati, Evin Prison, Reza Valizadeh

Reza Valizadeh, an Iranian journalist, has been arrested and transferred to Evin Prison after returning to Iran. Despite his extensive background with various media outlets, Valizadeh has been denied access to a lawyer since his detention.

Having lived abroad for several years, Valizadeh returned to Iran in February-March last year. Upon his arrival, he was interrogated by agents from the IRGC’s Intelligence and the Ministry of Intelligence. Although released after making a formal pledge to appear for future proceedings, it has been reported that several months later, he was rearrested by a security agency roughly one month ago and sent to Evin Prison. Authorities have still not granted him legal representation.

A source close to Valizadeh’s family revealed that his case is currently being handled by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, overseen by Judge Abolqasem Salavati. To date, the specific charges against him remain undisclosed.

Prior to leaving Iran, Valizadeh was arrested in 2007 and later released on bail. He is suspected to hold dual citizenship and has worked with media organizations such as Radio France, Voice of America, Radio Farda, and the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB).

Zahra Sajedinia Sentenced to Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Bukan, Urmia prison, Zahra Sajedinia

Zahra Sajedinia, a resident of Bukan, has been sentenced to 10 months in prison by the Criminal Court of this city, according to Kolbar News.

Based on a ruling issued by Branch 101 of the Criminal Court Two of Bukan and delivered to Ms. Sajedinia on September 29, she was sentenced to 10 months in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime.”

Sajedinia was arrested by security forces on July 31 of this year. She was later released from Urmia prison on bail after completing her interrogation.

Zahra Sajedinia, 38 years old, is married, a mother of three, and a resident of Bukan.

Mahsa Jalal Badiei Transferred to Lakan Prison in Rasht to Serve Her Sentence

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Lakan prison, Mahsa Jalal Badiei, Rasht

Mahsa Jalal Badiei, a resident of Rasht, was arrested and transferred to Lakan Prison in Rasht on Sunday, October 13, to serve her prison sentence.

A source close to the family confirmed to HRANA that “Ms. Badiei was arrested on Sunday, October 13, after reporting to branch 5 of the Enforcement Office of the Revolutionary Court in Rasht and was transferred to prison.” She had previously been summoned to this branch via a court notification.

On May 13 of this year, Ms. Badiei was arrested by security forces and released six days later after posting bail.

She was later sentenced by the Branch 3 of the Revolutionary Court of Rasht, presided over by Judge Mehdi Rasekhi, to seven months and 16 days in prison for “propaganda against the regime” and to three years and six months in prison for “conducting educational and promotional activities against Islamic Shaira.” Additionally, she was deprived of her social rights for 10 years.

Under Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the most severe punishment—three years and six months in prison—will be enforced.

According to information obtained by HRANA, her conviction stemmed from online activities including converting banned books into audio files and distributing them, supporting political figures, and participating in nationwide protests in 2022.

Badiei, born in 1985, is a mother of one child.