Category: News

Mazandaran: Eight Administrators of a Telegram Channel Arrested

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Freedom of Expression, News
Chalus, HRANA, Mazandaran

HRANA – The Chief Justice of Mazandaran Province has announced the arrest of eight citizens who administered a Telegram channel. The detainees are facing charges including “participation in forming and operating a network aimed at disrupting national security” and “propaganda activity against the regime.” After cases were opened against them in the Chalus Prosecutor’s Office, they were subsequently transferred to prison.

According to ILNA, the Chief Justice identified the detainees as core members of the Telegram channel “Shikar-e Mozdoor” (Mercenary Hunter) and reiterated the charges of “forming and managing a network allegedly intended to undermine national security and engaging in propaganda activities against the regime”.

Abbas Pouriani further stated that the Telegram channel attributed to these individuals has been blocked, and that investigations are ongoing to identify and arrest additional suspects. He noted that the arrests—carried out in Ramsar, Tonekabon, Chalus, Abbasabad, and Nowshahr—followed nearly ten months of surveillance, after which the individuals were transferred to prison under judicial orders.

No additional details, including the individuals’ identities or the precise dates of their arrests, have been disclosed.

Two Individuals Arrested in Oshnavieh by Security Forces

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News, Other
Hassan Shadi-Khah, Oshnavieh, Showaneh Ebrahimi

HRANA- Yesterday, December 4, security forces in Oshnavieh, West Azerbaijan province, detained two citizens, Hassan Shadi-Khah and Showaneh Ebrahimi, and transferred them to an undisclosed location.

According to Kurdpa, Mr. Ebrahimi was arrested at his family home without a judicial warrant.

As of the time of writing, no information has been obtained regarding the reasons for the arrests, the place of detention, or the charges brought against these individuals.

Arbitrary arrests, transferring detainees to undisclosed locations, and leaving families in the dark about the fate of their loved ones are routine practices of the Iranian regime’s security agencies, such as the Ministry of Intelligence and the IRGC Intelligence Unit. This pattern of behavior stands in clear violation of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, known as the Nelson Mandela Rules.

Death Sentence of a Juvenile Offender Upheld

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Executions, News
Dariush Atashafrouz, داریوش آتش افروز

HRANA – The Supreme Court has upheld, for the second time, the death sentence of a juvenile offender named Dariush Atashafrouz.

According to his defense lawyer, this defendant, who has been imprisoned for 14 years, committed the killing at age 17 unintentionally and in self-defense against someone twice his age.

Reza Shafakhah, the prisoner’s defense lawyer, announced in a published statement that Dariush Atashafrouz committed the killing at age 17 and was sentenced to death by the Criminal Court. The Supreme Court has now upheld this death sentence for the second time.
According to the defense lawyer, Mr. Atashafrouz has been imprisoned for 14 years, and the killing occurred unintentionally and in self-defense against an individual twice his age.

As of the time this report was compiled, no information is available about his place of detention or the court that issued the death sentence.

According to reports documented by HRANA, over the past five and a half years, at least 23 juvenile offenders have been executed.

Hossein Amani Arrested in Shabestar

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Freedom of Expression, News
Hossein Amani, Shabestar, حسین امانی

HRANA – Yesterday, Hossein Amani, an Azerbaijani-Turk activist residing in Shabestar, was arrested by security forces in this county and transferred to an undisclosed location.

Based on information received by HRANA, Mr. Amani was arrested on Wednesday, December 3, 2025 by security forces at his workplace. This citizen had recently been summoned by security agencies.

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

Hossein Amani Nadarli, an Azerbaijani-Turk activist, has previously faced arrests and other security and judicial actions due to his activities.

Arbitrary arrests, transferring detainees to undisclosed locations, and leaving families in the dark about the fate of their loved ones are routine practices of the Iranian regime’s security agencies, such as the Ministry of Intelligence and the IRGC Intelligence Unit. This pattern of behavior stands in clear violation of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, known as the Nelson Mandela Rules.

Twenty Prisoners Executed in Multiple Iranian Prisons

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Executions, News
Behbahan, Borujerd, Dastgerd, Dorud, Ghezel Hesar, HRANA, Isfahan, Qazvin

HRANA – In recent days, HRANA has reported the execution of dozens of prisoners across various prisons in Iran. This report provides details on 20 of those executions.

Sunday, November 30
On this day, HRANA reported the execution of a prisoner named Sepehr Goodarzi in Borujerd Prison. According to information received by HRANA, Mr. Goodarzi had previously been arrested on a murder charge, and the Criminal Court later issued his death sentence.

Monday, December 1
According to HRANA, a prisoner named Hossein Zamani was executed in Dorud Prison on a murder charge, and Ebrahim Tabrizi was executed in Mahabad Prison, also on a murder charge.

Tuesday, December 2
According to HRANA, five prisoners were executed in Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan on drug-related charges. HRANA has confirmed the identity of one of them: Shahab Mokhtari.
Also on this day, a prisoner identified only by the partial name (first name unknown) Pour-heidari was executed in Qazvin Prison on drug-related charges.
HRANA also reported the executions of Mohammad Jafar Alinia on a murder charge in Behbahan Prison and Ebrahim Kalagar on a murder charge in Nowshahr Prison.

Wednesday, December 3
In Gonabad Prison, the death sentence of a prisoner named Safa Jozipour, convicted on drug-related charges, was carried out.
In Sabzevar Prison, another prisoner, Pirvali Shabani, was executed on drug-related charges.
In Gorgan Prison, Ali Kalhor was executed on a murder charge.
In Lakan Prison in Rasht, Mehdi Javanmardi, 38, was executed on a murder charge.

Three prisoners were also hanged in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj; HRANA has confirmed the identity of one of them as Amir Emami.

Additionally, two prisoners, including a woman, were executed in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad. These prisoners had previously been sentenced to death on drug-related charges. HRANA has confirmed the identity of the male prisoner as Hesam Nowruzi.

From the beginning of this year until the end of November, 2025, the Iranian regime has executed 1,594 people, marking an unprecedented increase compared to previous years.

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Shahram Tahzib, a Baha’i Citizen in Gonbad-e Kavus, Arrested

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News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i citizen, Gonbad-e Kavus, Shahram Tahzib

HRANA – Yesterday, December 3, Shahram Tahzib, a Baha’i citizen residing in Gonbad-e Kavus, was arrested by security forces in the city and taken to an undisclosed location. At the same time, his home was searched by agents.

Based on information received by HRANA, Mr. Tahzib was arrested on Wednesday, December 3, by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence at his family home. The agents also searched the residence and confiscated books related to the Baha’i faith.

As of the time of this report, there is no information on his whereabouts, the reasons for his arrest, or the charges brought against him.

Shahram Tahzib is a Baha’i citizen living in Gonbad-e Kavus.

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.

Motahareh Goonehi’s Prison Sentence Upheld on Appeal

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Freedom of Expression, News
Motahareh Goonehi, Tehran, مطهره گونه ای

HRANA – The prison sentence of Motahareh Goonehi, a student activist, has been upheld by the Tehran Province Court of Appeal. She had previously been sentenced by Branch 29 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court to 21 months in prison.

She wrote about this ruling: “Student Day’s gift: my sentence in the Court of Appeal was upheld with the explanation of ‘the manner of committing the offense, its harmful consequences, criminal record, and the impact of punishment on the defendant.’”

This student activist was previously sentenced by the Revolutionary Court to 15 months in prison for the charge of ‘propaganda against the Islamic Republic’, and six months in prison for the charge of ‘insulting the Supreme Leader,’ as well as the confiscation of her mobile phone.

Ms. Goonehi was arrested by security forces in Tehran on June 14, 2025, and was released on bail after more than a month. After her release, she published an account of her detention, reporting arrest without a judicial warrant, gunfire being shot inside the enclosed space of her home during the arrest, and her late-night transfer, blindfolded and without shoes, onto the street for release.

Motahareh Goonehi is a dentistry student and the former political secretary of the Islamic Association of Students at the University of Tehran and Tehran University of Medical Sciences. She has previously faced arrest and other security pressures due to her activism. She was released from Evin Prison on March 16, 2025, after completing her prison sentence.

Ebrahim Asemani Arrested in Tabriz

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ebrahim Asemani, Tabriz, ابراهیم آسمانی

HRANA – Ebrahim Asemani, an Azerbaijani-Turk activist, was arrested by security forces in Tabriz and taken to an unknown location.

Based on information received by HRANA, Mr. Asemani was arrested today by security forces in Tabriz and transferred to an undisclosed location. So far, no information has been obtained regarding his whereabouts, the reasons for his arrest, or the charges against him.

Ebrahim Asemani, aged approximately 61, is married and an Azerbaijani-Turk activist residing in Tabriz. He has previously faced summonses, arrests, and judicial convictions due to his activism.

Two Citizens Arrested by Security Forces in Piranshahr

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News, Other
Kamel Oslub, Mohammad Oslub, Piranshahr

HRANA – Early this morning, two brothers from Piranshahr, Mohammad Oslub and Kamel Oslub, were arrested by security forces in the city and transferred to an unknown location.

Kurdpa haS identified them as Mohammad Oslub and Kamel Oslub, residents of Piranshahr.

According to this report, the arrest of the two brothers took place early this morning, Wednesday, 3 December 2025, without the presentation of a judicial warrant and with the use of violence by security forces.

As of the time of this report, no information is available regarding the reasons for their arrest, their place of detention, or the charges brought against them.

Ongoing Detention: Fate of Baha’i Citizen Arvin Avazpour Unknown

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News, Religious Minorities
Arvin Avazpour, Gonbad-e Kavus, آروین عوض پور

HRANA – Despite 22 days having passed since the arrest of Arvin Avazpour, a Baha’i citizen residing in Gonbad-e Kavus, no information has yet been obtained regarding his place of detention. The lack of news about his condition has increased his family’s concerns.

Based on information received by HRANA, despite the passage of 22 days since Mr. Avazpour’s arrest, he continues to be held in an uncertain state, and no details have been obtained regarding where he is being kept. A source close to the family confirmed the continued lack of information, adding that repeated attempts by relatives to learn about his situation have so far been unsuccessful, circumstances that have deepened the family’s worry and increased the uncertainty surrounding his condition.

Arvin Avazpour was arrested on November 12, 2025 by security forces at his workplace. Arvin Avazpour, 45, is the father of two and a resident of Gonbad-e Kavus.