Publications Archives

Who is Responsible for the Sharp Rise in Political and Security-Related Executions Following the January 2026 Protests in Iran?

Posted on June 3, 2026June 3, 2026 by . .

Behrouz Zamani Nezhad, Bita Hemmati, Ehsan Hosseinipour Hessarlou, Erfan Amiri, Kourosh Zamani Nezhad, Maryam Hodavand, Matin Mohammadi, Mohammadreza Majidi-Asl

HRANA – Since March 2026, Iran has witnessed a sharp escalation in executions on political and security-related charges, as 40 people were executed between March 18 and June 3.

In response to this surge, Spreading Justice examined the officials and institutions responsible for facilitating these executions. While such executions continue beyond the reporting period, this report focuses on the two months between March 18 and May 18, 2026, during which at least 32 individuals were executed following grossly unfair trials. The youngest among them, Amirhossein Hatami, was only 18 years old. Although limited in its temporal scope, the findings reflect a broader and ongoing pattern, with executions on political and security-related charges continuing at an alarming pace.

A significant number of those executed were accused of involvement in the January 2026 protests, known as the Dey Protests, which began on December 28, 2025, and rapidly spread across the country amid widespread public anger over economic collapse, corruption, and state repression. Demonstrations continued for weeks despite a violent regime crackdown involving mass arrests and the widespread use of lethal force, resulting in the deaths of at least 7,00 7 individuals in conduct likely amounting to crimes against humanity. The same period also saw the highest recorded number of forced confessions in recent years, surpassing 350 documented cases.

Others executed during this period were accused of involvement in the 2022 Women, Life, Freedom protests or alleged activity connected to the 12-day war with Israel in June 2025.

Comparatively, according to HRA documentation, between March 18 and May 18, 2025, a total of 198 individuals were executed in Iran, compared to 65 executions during the same period in 2026. However, only 8 individuals were executed on political and security-related charges in 2025, underscoring the sharp escalation in the use of executions as a tool of political repression in 2026.

Spreading Justice has identified the judicial authorities responsible for issuing these arbitrary death sentences. These individuals have long-standing records of involvement in violations of the right to life and the systematic denial of fair trial guarantees Among them, Judge Iman Afshari has played a particularly central role. During this same period, Afshari sentenced at least eight individuals to death on political and security-related charges, including:

• Ehsan Hosseinipour Hessarlou ( Sentence upheld)
• Matin Mohammadi ( Sentence upheld)
• Erfan Amiri ( Sentence upheld)
• Maryam Hodavand ( Sentence upheld)
• Mohammadreza Majidi-Asl ( Sentence overturned)
• Bita Hemmati ( Sentence overturned)
• Behrouz Zamaninejad
• Kourosh Zamaninejad

Afshari is also implicated in at least six additional cases outlined below that resulted in arbitrary executions.

The following list includes 14 individuals who were executed between March 18 and May 18, 2026, in connection with their participation in the January 2026 Dey Protests.

	Victim	Individuals Involved in Violations of the Right to Life
	Mehdi Ghasemi Age: Not specified Date of Execution: March 19, 2026 Charge: Moharebeh through use of a bladed weapon in unlawful gatherings leading to the killing of law enforcement agents; operational action for Israel and the United States; inciting people to war and murder	Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i Mohammad-Jafar Montazeri Mohammad Movahediazad
	Saleh Mohammadi Age: 19 Date of Execution: March 19, 2026 Charge: Moharebeh through use of a bladed weapon in unlawful gatherings leading to the killing of law enforcement agents; operational action for Israel and the United States; inciting people to war and murder	Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i Mohammad-Jafar Montazeri Mohammad Movahediazad
	Saeed Davoudi Age: Not specified Date of Execution: March 19, 2026 Charge: Moharebeh through use of a bladed weapon in unlawful gatherings leading to the killing of law enforcement agents; operational action for Israel and the United States; inciting people to war and murder	Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i Mohammad-Jafar Montazeri Mohammad Movahediazad
	Amirhossein Hatami Age: 18 Date of Execution: April 2, 2026 Charge: Moharebeh through participation in operational activities against national security for Israel, the United States, and opposition groups	Abolghasem Salavati Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i Mohammad-Jafar Montazeri Mohammad Movahediazad
	Mohammad-Amin Biglari Age: 19 Date of Execution: April 5, 2026 Charge: Moharebeh through participation in operational activities against national security for Israel, the United States, and opposition groups	Abolghasem Salavati Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i Mohammad-Jafar Montazeri Mohammad Movahediazad
	Shahin Vahedparast Age: 30 Date of Execution: April 5, 2026 Charge: Moharebeh through participation in operational activities against national security for Israel, the United States, and opposition groups	Abolghasem Salavati Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i Mohammad-Jafar Montazeri Mohammad Movahediazad
	Ali Fahim Age: 23 Date of Execution: April 6, 2026 Charge: Moharebeh through participation in operational activities against national security for Israel, the United States, and opposition groups	Abolghasem Salavati Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i Mohammad-Jafar Montazeri Mohammad Movahediazad
	Amirali Mirjafari Age: 24 Date of Execution: April 21, 2026 Charge: Operational action for the Israeli regime and hostile governments; collaboration with Mossad-linked networks; arson and destruction of public property	Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i Mohammad-Jafar Montazeri Mohammad Movahediazad
	Erfan Kiani Age: Not specified Date of Execution: April 25, 2026 Charge: Moharebeh through use of a bladed weapon to intimidate the public and participate in destruction of public property	Revolutionary Court of Isfahan Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i Mohammad-Jafar Montazeri Mohammad Movahediazad
	Sasan Azadvar Junaqani Age: 21 Date of Execution: April 30, 2026 Charge: Moharebeh (enmity against God)	Seyed-Mahmoud Kazem Zadeh Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i Mohammad-Jafar Montazeri Mohammad Movahediazad
	Mehdi Rasouli Age: 25 Date of Execution: May 3, 2026 Charge: Operational activities against national security for Israel, the United States, and opposition groups	Gholamreza Akbari Moghadam Ghasem Mazinani Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i Mohammad-Jafar Montazeri Mohammad Movahediazad
	Ebrahim Dolatabadi Age: Not specified Date of Execution: May 3, 2026 Charge: Moharebeh and leading the protests	Gholamreza Akbari Moghadam Ghasem Mazinani Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i Mohammad-Jafar Montazeri Mohammad Movahediazad
	Mohammadreza Miri Age: 21 Date of Execution: May 3, 2026 Charge: Operational activities against national security for Israel, the United States, and opposition groups	Gholamreza Akbari Moghadam Ghasem Mazinani Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i Mohammad-Jafar Montazeri Mohammad Movahediazad
	Mohammad Abbasi Age: Not specified Date of Execution: May 13, 2026 Charge: Moharebeh (enmity against God)	Abolghasem Salavati Seyyed Kazem Sadati Firuzabad Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i Mohammad-Jafar Montazeri Mohammad Movahediazad

During this period, 18 individuals were also executed on political and security-related charges. However, these charges were not connected to the January protests. Instead, these individuals were executed for their alleged involvement in the 2022 Women, Life, Freedom protests and alleged activity during the 12-day war with Israel.

	Victim	Individuals Involved in Violations of the Right to Life
	Kourosh Keyvani Age: Not specified Date of Execution: March 18, 2026 Charge: Espionage for Israel	Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i Mohammad-Jafar Montazeri Mohammad Movahediazad
	Akbar Daneshvar-Kar Age: 59 Date of Execution: March 30, 2026 Charge: Baghi (armed rebellion) through membership in opposition groups	Iman Afshari Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i Mohammad-Jafar Montazeri Mohammad Movahediazad
	Seyed Mohammad Taghavi-Sangdehi Age: 60 Date of Execution: March 30, 2026 Charge: Baghi (armed rebellion) through membership in opposition groups	Iman Afshari Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i Mohammad-Jafar Montazeri Mohammad Movahediazad
	Babak Alipour Age: Not specified Date of Execution: March 31, 2026 Charge: Baghi (armed rebellion) through membership in opposition groups	Iman Afshari Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i Mohammad-Jafar Montazeri Mohammad Movahediazad
	Pouya Ghobadi Age: Not specified Date of Execution: March 31, 2026 Charge: Baghi (armed rebellion) through membership in opposition groups	Iman Afshari Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i Mohammad-Jafar Montazeri Mohammad Movahediazad
	Abolhassan Montazer Age: 68 Date of Execution: April 4, 2026 Charge: Baghi (armed rebellion) through membership in opposition groups	Iman Afshari Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i Mohammad-Jafar Montazeri Mohammad Movahediazad
	Vahid Baniamerian Age: 34 Date of Execution: April 4, 2026 Charge: Baghi (armed rebellion) through membership in opposition groups	Iman Afshari Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i Mohammad-Jafar Montazeri Mohammad Movahediazad
	Mohammad Masoum Shahi Age: Not specified Date of Execution: April 20, 2026 Charge: Moharebeh, cooperation with a hostile state, assembly and collusion against national security, and membership in a group with intent to disrupt national security	Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i Mohammad-Jafar Montazeri Mohammad Movahediazad
	Hamed Validi Age: 45 Date of Execution: April 20, 2026 Charge: Moharebeh, cooperation with a hostile state, assembly and collusion against national security, and membership in a group with intent to disrupt national security	Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i Mohammad-Jafar Montazeri Mohammad Movahediazad
	Mehdi Farid Age: 55 Date of Execution: April 22, 2026 Charge: Efsad-e fel-arz (corruption on earth) through cooperation with Israel	Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i Mohammad-Jafar Montazeri Mohammad Movahediazad
	Soltanali Shirzadi Fakhr Age: Not specified Date of Execution: April 23, 2026 Charge: Cooperation with Israel and moharebeh	Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i Mohammad-Jafar Montazeri Mohammad Movahediazad
	Amer Ramesh Age: 22 Date of Execution: April 26, 2026 Charge: Baghi (armed rebellion) and membership in an armed opposition group	Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i Mohammad-Jafar Montazeri Mohammad Movahediazad
	Mehrab Abdollahzadeh Age: 28 Date of Execution: May 2, 2026 Charge: Corruption on Earth	Ghorban Shahini Seyyed Kazem Sadati Firuzabad Ghasem Mazinani Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i Mohammad-Jafar Montazeri Mohammad Movahediazad
	Yaghoub Karimpour Age: Not specified Date of Execution: May 2, 2026 Charge: Distributing information and images of military sites. Manufacturing sounds bombs, and field cooperation with Mossad Officers	Sajjad Doosti Ghasem Mazinani Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i Mohammad-Jafar Montazeri Mohammad Movahediazad
	Naser Bekrzadeh Age: 26 Date of Execution: May 2, 2026 Charge: Espionage for Israel	Ghorban Shahini Seyyed Kazem Sadati Firuzabad Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i Mohammad-Jafar Montazeri Mohammad Movahediazad
	Erfan Shakourzadeh Age: Not specified Date of Execution: May 11, 2026 Charge: Spying for CIA and The Mossad	Abolghasem Salavati Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i Mohammad-Jafar Montazeri Mohammad Movahediazad
	Abdoljalil Shahbakhsh Age: 24 Date of Execution: May 12, 2026 Charge: Baghi (armed rebellion) through armed attacks on law enforcement facilities and membership in the insurgent group Ansar al-Furqan	Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i Mohammad-Jafar Montazeri Mohammad Movahediazad
	Ehsan Afrashteh Age: Not specified Date of Execution: May 13, 2026 Charge: Spying for Israel	Abolghasem Salavati Seyyed Kazem Sadati Firuzabad Ghasem Mazinani Sheykh Abbasali Alizade Baygi Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i Mohammad-Jafar Montazeri Mohammad Movahediazad

Download All Slide Files in PDF Format

A Report on the Poor Quality of Virtual Education and Deprivation of Access to Learning

Posted on May 19, 2026May 19, 2026 by . .

Children, News, Publications, Students

HRANA, right to education, Rubika, Virtual Education

HRANA – While virtual education was initially intended as a temporary solution to allow students to continue their studies during the wartime crisis, many families and teachers now say that rather than serving as a sustainable substitute for in-person schooling, it has led to a severe decline in the quality of education.

The following report, prepared by HRANA based on interviews with students’ families, teachers, school administrators, and education experts, examines the deepening crisis of remote education in Iran. The report explores how widespread internet disruptions, inadequate educational infrastructure, limited access to digital equipment, mounting economic pressure on families, and the absence of coherent planning for an uncertain future have severely undermined access to effective education across the country.

Many of the individuals interviewed by HRANA say that education in recent months has effectively been left adrift amid internet outages, unstable educational platforms, and contradictory decisions by officials. According to them, this situation has not only reduced the quality of learning but has also raised serious concerns about students’ educational future.

After schools were closed due to wartime conditions, education initially continued through an application called Shad. However, widespread disruptions in the platform forced many schools to move classes to another application called Rubika, a platform which, according to families and teachers, also suffers from numerous problems. Many students say that online classes either fail to open altogether or experience constant interruptions in audio and video during sessions. Some educational files fail to upload, and in certain cases, even sending a simple video or audio file can take hours.

It is around 10 a.m., and a science class at a middle school has just begun, but the teacher’s voice keeps cutting in and out. Several students repeatedly write in the class group chat: “We can’t hear anything,” “The image isn’t loading,” “The file won’t open.” A few minutes later, the class becomes inaccessible, and attempts to reconnect begin again. One parent says this happens almost every day.

She says:

“Some days, the children spend more time clicking the refresh button than actually studying, just hoping the class will reconnect. In the end, the class is left unfinished because either the teacher gets exhausted or the internet cuts out.”

The mother of an elementary school student says her child has effectively lost concentration and connection with schoolwork:

“Most of the class time, the children are saying things like ‘Ma’am, the sound cut out’ or ‘The image isn’t loading.’ Sometimes the class doesn’t open at all. In the end, half the lesson remains unfinished.”

She says many families have been forced to increase spending on internet access and mobile phones so their children can attend classes, yet despite this, the quality of education remains poor.

In some areas, the problem is not limited to software disruptions; restricted or weak internet access has also caused some students to effectively fall behind in the educational process. A high school teacher says some of her students can only join classes using their parents’ mobile phones, and if the parents are at work, those students are effectively deprived of attending class that day.

She says:

“We send files, but many students either don’t have suitable internet access or can’t open the files at all. Some only mark their attendance and then leave the class completely because the phone doesn’t belong to them.”

According to her, virtual education in recent weeks has become more like attendance registration than real learning:

“Sometimes at the end of class I ask the students if they understood anything. They stay silent. Some of them don’t even know what the teacher taught because half the class was disconnected.”

In some households, several students are forced to share a single mobile phone in order to attend classes. Some parents also say that due to economic hardship, they cannot afford suitable phones or reliable internet access, placing additional pressure on students.

The father of one student in southern Tehran says:

“We have three school-age children, but only one relatively functional phone at home. When their classes are held at the same time, one or two of them are effectively deprived of attending lessons.”

In some areas, power outages have further compounded the problems of online education. Families say there have been many instances where students were disconnected from online classes or exams due to electricity cuts and internet shutdowns.

An eleventh-grade student says:

“Sometimes it takes half an hour just to enter the class. And when we finally connect, the teacher says there’s no time and rushes through the lesson. In the end, we don’t understand anything.”

At the same time, amid the ongoing disruptions, some schools attempted to hold limited in-person classes to compensate for students’ academic decline. However, according to families, these decisions were also accompanied by confusion and contradictory restrictions.

Several families say that during meetings, schools asked parents to provide written consent for remedial classes to be held outside the formal school environment, since the Ministry of Education had not authorized in-person classes inside schools.

One parent of an elementary school student says that during one of these meetings, it was suggested that classes be held at the local mosque or that families collectively rent a location for lessons.

She says:

“They asked us to let the children attend classes twice a week for two hours each time so they wouldn’t fall too far behind in their studies, but many families opposed the idea.”

According to her, families’ concerns are not limited to education alone; wartime conditions and insecurity have also made many unwilling to send their children to locations outside school premises.

“Some families said they would not allow their children to attend classes in mosques or unspecified places. Everyone is afraid of the situation. Private homes are also completely unsuitable for holding classes for such a large number of students.”

Following these disagreements, some schools, with the agreement of a number of parents, decided to hold limited classes at centers run by the Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults. However, these classes were also suspended after only a few sessions.

One teacher at a girls’ school in Tehran says that schools were later informed that no in-person classes should be held anywhere:

“We were told that under no circumstances were we allowed to hold in-person classes, neither inside the school nor anywhere else. They emphasized that education must remain entirely virtual.”

Some teachers say that even school principals often do not know exactly which directives are supposed to be implemented. Circulars change constantly, and decisions are sometimes completely reversed within just a few days.

One administrator at a private school says:

“One day they tell us to hold limited in-person classes, and two days later they call and tell us to cancel them immediately. Neither the families nor the schools know what they’re supposed to do.”

At the same time, some teachers report educational pressure and unofficial directives aimed at ensuring all students pass to the next grade, a development that has further deepened concerns about declining educational standards.

One high school teacher, who asked not to be named, says schools have recently been instructed that students at all grade levels must be promoted, even if their academic performance is weak.

She says:

“Some teachers were told that if a student fails, the teacher themselves would have to hold remedial summer classes until the student passes. In practice, it means no one is supposed to fail.”

According to her, under such conditions, assessing students’ actual learning has become nearly impossible:

“When a student hasn’t had proper classes, real exams, or full access to education, how can anyone know what level they’re really at? But in the end, we’re still expected to pass everyone.”

Some families say their children have lost motivation to study in recent months. The mother of a ninth-grade student says her son spends hours in front of a mobile phone but ultimately learns very little from class:

“At the end of the night, when I ask him what he learned today, he says, ‘Nothing, the internet kept disconnecting and the teacher couldn’t teach.’”

Another parent says:

“Children used to have school, recess, friends, and teachers. Now their entire school has turned into a mobile phone screen that constantly freezes.”

Educational experts have warned for years about the consequences of unstable education, but families say their concern today is not merely declining grades, but the deterioration of real learning quality. According to them, many students are advancing to higher grades without properly learning foundational concepts.

One elementary school teacher says some of her students are now struggling even with reading and writing, yet will likely still be promoted to the next grade:

“A child who still hasn’t fully learned this year’s lessons is going to move up to the next grade. This problem isn’t just about this year, its effects may only become visible years later.”

Some psychologists and education activists have also warned about the psychological consequences of the current situation. They say the combination of insecurity, prolonged isolation, unstable education, and economic pressure could have long-term effects on students’ concentration, motivation, and mental health.

One educational counselor in Tehran says:

“We’re not only facing academic decline. Some students have developed feelings of exhaustion, hopelessness, and constant anxiety. For some children, school no longer has the meaning it once did.”

While officials describe the continuation of virtual education as a solution for overcoming the crisis, many families and teachers say what is actually taking place is more a form of minimum crisis management than real education. Students whose classes are disrupted by internet outages, interrupted audio and video, unopened files, and contradictory educational decisions are now expected to advance to higher grades without proper evaluation.

For many families, the concern is not simply falling behind in a few subjects. They say the real issue is a generation of students who, during one of the most important periods of their education, have lost access to regular and effective learning, a generation that now experiences school mainly through a mobile phone screen; a screen on which classes sometimes fail to load, the teacher’s voice cuts out, and in the end, the only thing left from a school day is a recorded attendance mark.

At night, in many homes, students still try to download files sent by teachers or watch videos that fail to load. Some parents sit beside their children in hopes that an online class might finally proceed without interruption, while others simply hope the school year ends as soon as possible.

Overall, at a time when the country’s formal education system remains caught between closures, virtual learning, and bans on in-person classes, many students are experiencing not education itself, but a state of educational uncertainty, an uncertainty whose real consequences may only become clear years from now.

Between Missiles and Repression; HRA Releases New Report on US/Israeli Operations in Iran

Posted on May 18, 2026 by Hrana

News, Publications

Between Missiles and Repression, Israel attacks, US-Iran War

HRANA – Today, Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) released a new report examining the US and Israeli military campaign in Iran between 28 February and 8 April 2026. The report documents 6,324 unique incidents comprising 12,798 distinct attacks, based on 177 verified sources, including open-source reporting and HRA’s in-country network.

It is important to note that the report is not intended to provide a comprehensive account of the conflict. Rather, its findings are limited to incidents documented and verified within HRA’s dataset.

Methodology

HRA relies on two primary and parallel workflows to document the scale of destruction and associated civilian harm.

First, HRA systematically collects open-source information, which is cross-checked against credible external reporting and corroborated through its established in-country network.

Second, HRA receives direct reports from its network, which are independently verified through additional contacts or cross-referenced with open-source material. In all cases, inclusion requires corroboration from at least two independent sources, with consistency in key details such as time, location, and nature of the incident.

HRA also separately preserves official narratives and state-reported figures, which are not incorporated into verified casualty counts. Incident data and casualty figures presented in the report represent documented minimums only and do not capture the full scope of harm.

Key Findings

◾️HRA documented 6,324 unique incidents comprising 12,798 distinct attacks between 28 February and 8 April 2026. Within HRA’s dataset, 77 percent of incidents involved civilian harm or damage to civilian objects.
◾️Of HRA’s verified incidents, Tehran province accounted for 44.85 percent of documented incidents, followed by Isfahan (10.5 percent), Khuzestan (6.74 percent), and Alborz (6.23 percent), indicating that some of Iran’s most densely populated provinces experienced a disproportionate concentration of attacks and civilian harm.
◾️HRA documented at least 3,636 fatalities, including 1,701 civilians, 1,221 military personnel, and 714 individuals whose identity or status could not be confirmed. These figures should be understood as minimums.
◾️HRA verified the deaths of 307 children and injuries to 2,213 children as a result of the attacks. HRA documented attacks affecting schools, sports facilities, parks, and residential areas where children were present, a majority on the first day of the conflict.

The report identifies several patterns that raise serious concerns under international humanitarian law, including:

◽️apparent failures in target verification,
◽️use of artificial intelligence with minimal human oversight,
◽️inadequate and inaccessible warnings,
◽️the use of large explosive weapons in populated areas,
◽️Repeated or “double-tap” strikes,
◽️attacks targeting widespread civilian infrastructure

Public rhetoric by senior US and Israeli officials also raised concerns, particularly statements suggesting disregard for rules of engagement and direct threats directed at civilian infrastructure.

◾️HRA independently verified damage to the following (noncomprehensive):

▫️108 educational facilities
▫️50 healthcare facilities
▫️122 cultural and religious sites
▫️381 industrial and commercial facilities
▫️173 electricity generation and distribution sites
▫️191 judicial and law enforcement facilities

HRA additionally documented conduct by Iranian authorities that increased civilian exposure to harm.

At the same time, Iranians experienced a convergence of harm through increased domestic repression. At least 4,023 individuals were arrested on accusations including espionage, threats to national security, or sharing information related to the conflict. Conditions inside detention facilities sharply deteriorated, while authorities expanded checkpoints, intensified movement restrictions, and imposed a prolonged internet blackout that reduced national connectivity to approximately 1 percent of normal levels. Between 28 February and 13 May, HRA documented 50 executions, including 32 carried out on political and security-related grounds. HRA also documented increased child presence at Basij checkpoints following an IRGC recruitment campaign targeting children as young as 12 years old.

Annexes

The report annexes include:

◾️a detailed list and analysis of weapons and munitions documented during the conflict, prepared with the support of HRA’s internal weapons specialist,
◾️casualty documentation,
◾️detainee documentation,
◾️and a compilation of HRA’s ground reporting, open-source verification, and exclusive visual documentation

Click on the image to download the full report

Alarming Figures: 70% of Post-War Executions Involve Political Prisoners; A Comprehensive List of the Sentenced and Executed

Posted on May 1, 2026May 2, 2026 by . .

Executions, Freedom of Expression, News, Publications

Abolfazl Salehi Siavashani, Ali Pishevarzadeh, Behrouz Zamani-Nejad, Bita Hemmati, Ehsan Hosseinipour Hesarlou, Erfan Amiri, Farzad Moradi, Kourosh Zamani-Nejad, Majid Nasiri, Maryam Hodavand, Masih Abbaskhani Davanlou, Matin Mohammadi, Mohammad Abbasi, Mohammadreza Majidi-Asl, Shahab Dadkhah

HRANA – Concurrent with the onset of military conflict and the intensification of the security measures, the process of issuing and carrying out execution sentences in political and security-related cases in Iran has undergone notable changes. This report, focusing on the impact of the conflict on the situation of political and security prisoners, particularly those detained during the January 2026 protests, shows that in some cases the handling of these cases has proceeded at a pace beyond usual procedures, and the interval between arrest, sentencing, and execution has decreased. In addition to examining details of the issued verdicts, this report presents a list of the names of these individuals along with details of their cases.

According to HRANA, executions of prisoners on political and security-related charges have increased alongside the outbreak of military conflict in Iran.

A review of the trend in carrying out execution sentences for political and security prisoners since the beginning of U.S. and Israeli military attacks on Iran indicates that this process has undergone significant changes in recent months. While in previous years a considerable portion of executions in Iran was related to drug-related offenses, during this period the share of political and security cases among carried-out sentences has increased markedly. Collected data indicates that over approximately 65 days, on average, nearly one political or security prisoner has been executed every three days.

This shift has occurred simultaneously with the intensification of the security atmosphere resulting from military conflict and reflects the direct impact of the conflict on judicial processes. Meanwhile, the situation of detainees from the January protests shows that the handling of these cases has proceeded faster than previous practices, and in some instances the time between arrest, sentencing, and execution has significantly decreased, an issue that has overall led to an increased share of political and security cases among execution sentences.

The total number of executions carried out during a comparable 65-day period in the previous year was 191, of which only 7 involved political and security prisoners. In comparison, under current conditions, the total number of executions has decreased to 31; however, the share of political and security prisoners has increased to 22 cases. This means that executions of political-security prisoners account for 71% of all executions carried out since the beginning of the conflict between Israel–the United States and Iran.

On the other hand, at least 16 individuals detained during the protests have been sentenced to death. Death sentences for some of these individuals have been issued at the trial court level, while in other cases these sentences have been upheld by the Supreme Court.

According to reports compiled by HRANA, protesters from the Dey protests have predominantly been sentenced to death in Iran’s Revolutionary Courts on charges such as “enmity against God” (moharebeh), “armed rebellion” (baghi), “corruption on earth” (efsad-e fel-arz), and “acting against national security.” Many of them were denied access to a lawyer of their choosing during the judicial process, and their cases were largely handled by court-appointed attorneys. In some instances, there have also been reports indicating that chosen lawyers were denied access to case files and that independent and human rights lawyers faced harsh treatment during proceedings. It is said that a significant portion of the cases were essentially never reviewed by independently selected legal counsel.

Some close relatives of these individuals, in interviews with HRANA, have stated that “forced confessions obtained as a result of torture and physical and psychological abuse by interrogators” were among the main pieces of evidence upon which judicial authorities relied in deciding the fate of the defendants.

Death sentences for these individuals have primarily been issued by judges such as Abolghasem Salavati and Iman Afshari. Among them, Iman Afshari has issued at least 7 death sentences, the highest number, followed by Abolghasem Salavati with at least 5.

The Tehran Revolutionary Court, having issued at least 12 death sentences in total, is considered the body playing the most significant role in issuing death penalties for detainees in protest-related cases. Additionally, the Qom Revolutionary Court, with 3 death sentences, ranks second in terms of the number of death sentences issued for detainees of the recent nationwide protests.

The following section presents three lists outlining these prisoners and the details of their legal cases: first, 16 detained protesters sentenced to death; second, 10 protesters whose sentences have been carried out; and third, 12 prisoners executed during this period on political or security-related charges in cases separate from the protests.

**List of 16 protesters sentenced to death**
	1. Mohammad Abbasi Arrest Date: January 22, 2026 Place of Arrest: Malard Sentencing Judge: Abolghasem Salavati Branch: Branch 15, Tehran Revolutionary Court Charge: Moharebeh (enmity against God) Latest Case Status: Sentence upheld by the Supreme Court Place of Detention: Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj
	2. Abolfazl Salehi Siavashani Arrest Date: January 2026 Place of Arrest: Karaj Sentencing Judge: Abolghasem Salavati Branch: Branch 15, Tehran Revolutionary Court Charge: Moharebeh through participation in operational activities against national security, including collaboration with Israel, the United States, and opposition groups; entering classified military sites with intent to remove weapons and ammunition; destruction and arson of state property with intent to oppose the Islamic Republic Latest Case Status: Death sentence issued at the initial trial (not final) Place of Detention: Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj
	3. Bita Hemmati Arrest Date: January 9, 2026 Place of Arrest: Tehran Sentencing Judge: Iman Afshari Branch: Branch 26, Tehran Revolutionary Court Charge: Operational action in favor of a hostile state (United States) and hostile groups Latest Case Status: Death sentence issued at the initial trial (not final) Place of Detention: Unknown
	4. Mohammadreza Majidi-Asl Arrest Date: January 9, 2026 Place of Arrest: Tehran Sentencing Judge: Iman Afshari Branch: Branch 26, Tehran Revolutionary Court Charge: Operational action in favor of a hostile state (United States) and hostile groups Latest Case Status: Death sentence issued at the initial trial (not final) Place of Detention: Unknown
	5. Kourosh Zamani-Nejad Arrest Date: January 9, 2026 Place of Arrest: Tehran Sentencing Judge: Iman Afshari Branch: Branch 26, Tehran Revolutionary Court Charge: Operational action in favor of a hostile state (United States) and hostile groups Latest Case Status: Death sentence issued at the initial trial (not final) Place of Detention: Unknown
	6. Behrouz Zamani-Nejad Arrest Date: January 9, 2026 Place of Arrest: Tehran Sentencing Judge: Iman Afshari Branch: Branch 26, Tehran Revolutionary Court Charge: Operational action in favor of a hostile state (United States) and hostile groups Latest Case Status: Death sentence issued at the initial trial (not final) Place of Detention: Unknown
	7. Ehsan Hosseinipour Hesarlou Arrest Date: January 2026 (Dey 1404) Place of Arrest: Pakdasht County Sentencing Judge: Iman Afshari Branch: Branch 26, Tehran Revolutionary Court Charge: Acting against internal security through effective participation in unrest; assembly and collusion against national security; involvement in the murder of two individuals; intentional arson of Seyed al-Shohada Mosque; destruction of public property Latest Case Status: Death sentence issued at the initial trial (not final) Place of Detention: Khorin Prison
	8. Matin Mohammadi Arrest Date: January 2026 Place of Arrest: Pakdasht County Sentencing Judge: Iman Afshari Branch: Branch 26, Tehran Revolutionary Court Charge: Acting against internal security through effective participation in unrest; assembly and collusion against national security; involvement in the murder of two individuals; intentional arson of Seyed al-Shohada Mosque; destruction of public property Latest Case Status: Death sentence issued at the initial trial (not final) Place of Detention: Khorin Prison
	9. Erfan Amiri Arrest Date: January 2026 Place of Arrest: Pakdasht County Sentencing Judge: Iman Afshari Branch: Branch 26, Tehran Revolutionary Court Charge: Acting against internal security through effective participation in unrest; assembly and collusion against national security; involvement in the murder of two individuals; intentional arson of Seyed al-Shohada Mosque; destruction of public property Latest Case Status: Death sentence issued at the initial trial (not final) Place of Detention: Khorin Prison
	10. Maryam Hodavand Arrest Date: January 2026 Place of Arrest: Pakdasht County Sentencing Judge: Iman Afshari Branch: Branch 26, Tehran Revolutionary Court Charge: Acting against internal security through effective participation in unrest; assembly and collusion against national security; involvement in the قتل of two individuals; intentional arson of Seyed al-Shohada Mosque; destruction of public property Latest Case Status: Death sentence issued at the initial trial (not final) Place of Detention: Evin Prison Additional Info: 45 years old, mother of two
	11. Masih Abbaskhani Davanlou Arrest Date: February 2026 Place of Arrest: Sari Sentencing Judge: Unknown Branch: Judicial authorities of Sari (unspecified) Charge: Identified as a leader of protests and responsible for the death of a Basij member named Amin Ziaei on January 7, 2026 (18 Dey 1404) Latest Case Status: Death sentence issued at the initial trial (not final) Place of Detention: Sari Prison Additional Info: Forced confessions broadcast on state media
	12. Farzad Moradi Arrest Date: January 27, 2026 Place of Arrest: Izeh Sentencing Judge: Unknown Branch: Ahvaz Revolutionary Court (unspecified) Charge: Moharebeh and forming an armed group Latest Case Status: Death sentence issued Place of Detention: Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz
	13. Shahab Dadkhah Arrest Date: January 2026 Place of Arrest: Shiraz Sentencing Judge: Unknown Branch: Shiraz Revolutionary Court (unspecified) Charge: Setting fire to a base and killing a special forces officer Latest Case Status: Death sentence issued (not final) Place of Detention: Adel-Abad Prison, Shiraz
	14. Majid Nasiri Arrest Date: January 2026 Place of Arrest: Shiraz Sentencing Judge: Unknown Branch: Shiraz Revolutionary Court (unspecified) Charge: Setting fire to a base and killing a special forces officer Latest Case Status: Death sentence issued (not final) Place of Detention: Adel-Abad Prison, Shiraz
	15. Unidentified (co-defendant of Majid Nasiri and Shahab Dadkhah) Arrest Date: January 2026 Place of Arrest: Shiraz Sentencing Judge: Unknown Branch: Shiraz Revolutionary Court (unspecified) Charge: Setting fire to a base and killing a special forces officer Latest Case Status: Death sentence issued (not final) Place of Detention: Adel-Abad Prison, Shiraz
	16. Ali Pishevarzadeh Arrest Date: January 8, 2026 Place of Arrest: Rasht Sentencing Judge: Unknown Branch: Rasht Revolutionary Court (unspecified) Charge: Moharebeh through setting fire to a mosque and the Rasht bazaar Latest Case Status: Death sentence issued (not final) Place of Detention: Lakan Prison, Rasht

**List of 10 protesters who were executed**
	1. Mehdi Ghasemi Arrest Date: mid-January 2026 Place of Arrest: Qom Sentencing Judge: Unknown Branch: Judicial authorities of Qom Charge: Moharebeh (enmity against God) through use of a cold weapon in unlawful gatherings leading to the killing of law enforcement agents; operational action for Israel and the hostile government of the United States and affiliated actors; inciting people to war and murder with intent to disrupt national security Execution Date: March 19, 2026 Place of Execution: Public execution in Qom
	2. Saleh Mohammadi Arrest Date: January 15, 2026 Place of Arrest: Qom Sentencing Judge: Unknown Branch: Judicial authorities of Qom Charge: Moharebeh (enmity against God) through use of a cold weapon in unlawful gatherings leading to the killing of law enforcement agents; operational action for Israel and the hostile government of the United States and affiliated actors; inciting people to war and murder with intent to disrupt national security Execution Date: March 19, 2026 Place of Execution: Public execution in Qom
	3. Saeed Davoudi Arrest Date: Late January 2026 (late Dey 1404) Place of Arrest: Qom Sentencing Judge: Unknown Branch: Judicial authorities of Qom Charge: Moharebeh (enmity against God) through use of a cold weapon in unlawful gatherings leading to the killing of law enforcement agents; operational action for Israel and the hostile government of the United States and affiliated actors; inciting people to war and murder with intent to disrupt national security Execution Date: March 19, 2026 Place of Execution: Public execution in Qom
	4. Amirhossein Hatami Arrest Date: January 8, 2026 Place of Arrest: Tehran Sentencing Judge: Abolghasem Salavati Branch: Branch 15, Tehran Revolutionary Court Charge: Moharebeh (enmity against God) through participation in operational activities against national security for Israel, the United States, and opposition groups; entering classified military sites to remove weapons; destruction and arson of state property Execution Date: April 2, 2026 Place of Execution: Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj
	5. Mohammadamin Biglari Arrest Date: January 8, 2026 Place of Arrest: Tehran Sentencing Judge: Abolghasem Salavati Branch: Branch 15, Tehran Revolutionary Court Charge: Moharebeh (enmity against God) through participation in operational activities against national security for Israel, the United States, and opposition groups; entering classified military sites to remove weapons; destruction and arson of state property Execution Date: April 5, 2026 Place of Execution: Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj
	6. Shahin Vahedparast Arrest Date: January 8, 2026 Place of Arrest: Tehran Sentencing Judge: Abolghasem Salavati Branch: Branch 15, Tehran Revolutionary Court Charge: Moharebeh (enmity against God) through participation in operational activities against national security for Israel, the United States, and opposition groups; entering classified military sites to remove weapons; destruction and arson of state property Execution Date: April 5, 2026 (16 Farvardin 1405) Place of Execution: Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj
	7. Ali Fahim Arrest Date: January 8, 2026 Place of Arrest: Tehran Sentencing Judge: Abolghasem Salavati Branch: Branch 15, Tehran Revolutionary Court Charge: Moharebeh (enmity against God) through participation in operational activities against national security for Israel, the United States, and opposition groups; entering classified military sites to remove weapons; destruction and arson of state property Execution Date: April 6, 2026 Place of Execution: Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj
	8. Amirali Mirjafari Arrest Date: January 2026 Place of Arrest: Tehran Sentencing Judge: Unknown Branch: Judicial authorities of Tehran Charge: Operational action for the Israeli regime and hostile governments; collaboration with Mossad-linked networks; arson of Qolhak Grand Mosque; destruction of public property; blocking roads; attacking security forces with cold weapons Execution Date: April 21, 2026 Place of Execution: Unknown
	9. Erfan Kiani Arrest Date: January 2026 Place of Arrest: Isfahan Sentencing Judge: Unknown Branch: Isfahan Revolutionary Court Charge: Moharebeh (enmity against God) through use of a cold weapon (machete) to intimidate the public, create insecurity, incite violence, and participate in destruction of public property Execution Date: April 25, 2026 Place of Execution: Unknown
	10. Sasan Azadvar Junaqani Arrest Date: January 1, 2026 Place of Arrest: Isfahan Sentencing Judge: Seyed Mahmoud Kazemzadeh, with special advisor Mohammad Vakili Branch: Branch 1 of the Isfahan Revolutionary Court Charge: Moharebeh (enmity against God) Execution Date: April 30, 2026 Place of execution: Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan

**Since January 2026, at least 12 other political or security prisoners have also been executed.**
	1. Kourosh Keyvani (Iranian-Swedish dual national) Arrest Date: June 16, 2025 (26 Khordad 1404) Place of Arrest: Savojbolagh Sentencing Judge: Unknown Branch: Tehran Revolutionary Court Charge: Espionage for Israel Execution Date: March 18, 2026 (27 Esfand 1404) Place of Execution: Unknown
	2. Akbar Daneshvarkar Arrest Date: 2023 Place of Arrest: Unknown Sentencing Judge: Iman Afshari Branch: Branch 26, Tehran Revolutionary Court Charge: Baghi (armed rebellion) through membership in opposition groups (People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran) Execution Date: March 30, 2026 (10 Farvardin 1405) Place of Execution: Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj
	3. Seyed Mohammad Taghavi-Sangdehi Arrest Date: March 2024 (Esfand 1402) Place of Arrest: Chaldoran County Sentencing Judge: Iman Afshari Branch: Branch 26, Tehran Revolutionary Court Charge: Baghi (armed rebellion) through membership in opposition groups (People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran) Execution Date: March 30, 2026 (10 Farvardin 1405) Place of Execution: Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj
	4. Babak Alipour Arrest Date: January 2024 (Dey 1402) Place of Arrest: Tehran Sentencing Judge: Iman Afshari Branch: Branch 26, Tehran Revolutionary Court Charge: Baghi (armed rebellion) through membership in opposition groups (People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran) Execution Date: March 31, 2026 (11 Farvardin 1405) Place of Execution: Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj
	5. Pouya Ghabadi Arrest Date: March 2024 (Esfand 1402) Place of Arrest: Chaldoran County Sentencing Judge: Iman Afshari Branch: Branch 26, Tehran Revolutionary Court Charge: Baghi (armed rebellion) through membership in opposition groups (People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran) Execution Date: March 31, 2026 (11 Farvardin 1405) Place of Execution: Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj
	6. Abolhassan Montazer Arrest Date: January 2024 (Dey 1402) Place of Arrest: Tehran Sentencing Judge: Iman Afshari Branch: Branch 26, Tehran Revolutionary Court Charge: Baghi (armed rebellion) through membership in opposition groups (People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran) Execution Date: April 4, 2026 (15 Farvardin 1405) Place of Execution: Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj
	7. Vahid Baniamerian Arrest Date: January 2024 (Dey 1402) Place of Arrest: Tehran Sentencing Judge: Iman Afshari Branch: Branch 26, Tehran Revolutionary Court Charge: Baghi (armed rebellion) through membership in opposition groups (People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran) Execution Date: April 4, 2026 (15 Farvardin 1405) Place of Execution: Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj
	8. Mohammad Masoum Shahi Date of arrest: May 13, 2025 Place of arrest: Tehran Sentencing judge: Unknown Branch: Karaj Revolutionary Court Charges: Moharebeh (enmity against God), cooperation with a hostile state, assembly and collusion against national security, and membership in a group with the intent to disrupt national security Date of execution: April 20, 2026 Place of execution: Unknown
	9. Hamed Validi Date of arrest: May 13, 2025 Place of arrest: Tehran Sentencing judge: Unknown Branch: Karaj Revolutionary Court Charges: Moharebeh (enmity against God), cooperation with a hostile state, assembly and collusion against national security, and membership in a group with the intent to disrupt national security Date of execution: April 20, 2026 Place of execution: Unknown
	10. Mehdi Farid Arrest Date: Winter 2023 (1401) Place of Arrest: Tehran Sentencing Judge: Unknown Branch: Unknown Charge: Efsad-e fel-arz (corruption on earth) through cooperation with Israel Execution Date: April 22, 2026 (2 Ordibehesht 1405) Place of Execution: Unknown
	11. Soltanali Shirzadi Fakhr Arrest Date: Unknown Place of Arrest: Unknown Sentencing Judge: Unknown Branch: Unknown Charge: Cooperation with Israel and Moharebeh (enmity against God) Execution Date: April 23, 2026 (3 Ordibehesht 1405) Place of Execution: Unknown
	12. Amer Ramesh Arrest Date: October 2024 (Mehr 1403) Place of Arrest: Chabahar Sentencing Judge: Unknown Branch: Zahedan Revolutionary Court Charge: Baghi (armed rebellion) and membership in an armed opposition group (Jaish al-Adl) Execution Date: April 26, 2026 (6 Ordibehesht 1405) Place of Execution: Zahedan Prison

Regarding the nationwide protests of January 2026

It should be noted that protests and strikes by shopkeepers and bazaar merchants began in Tehran on Sunday, December 28, 2025, and within two days spread beyond markets and commercial centers. With the participation of students, citizens, and various social groups, these protests became one of the largest protest movements of recent years. Following the crackdown by security and law enforcement forces, thousands were killed or injured, and tens of thousands were arrested or summoned by security agencies. For more information, readers may refer to HRANA’s comprehensive report titled “Crimson Winter,” documenting the first fifty days following the outbreak of Iran’s nationwide protests.

International Workers’ Day: A Year in Review of Iranian Workers’ Conditions

Posted on April 30, 2026May 1, 2026 by . .

Labor and Guilds, News, Publications

Ahmad Alizadeh, Asghar Amirzadegan, International Workers' Day, Mehran Raouf, Mohammad Hassan Davoudi, Sharifeh Mohammadi

HRANA – May 1st marks International Workers’ Day, offering another opportunity to reflect on the condition of the country’s labor community and their numerous challenges, particularly regarding wages and salaries, unpaid wages, workplace safety, and the right to form labor unions.

According to a report by HRA’s Statistics and Documents Center, based on a review of labor-related reports published over the past 12 months (from May 1, 2025 to April 28, 2026), at least 5,019 workers were reported injured or killed in workplace incidents during this period by media outlets or organizations active in this field.

At least 586 workers lost their lives in workplace incidents during this period. Authorities and relevant institutions reported 284 deaths in 10 official reports, while independent organizations collected and updated 302 additional cases of worker fatalities that had not been mentioned in official statements.

At least 4,433 workers were also injured in workplace accidents. In 9 official reports or statements at national and provincial levels, authorities announced that 3,846 individuals had been injured. In addition, 587 other cases were documented and reported by civil or labor organizations.

Despite the significance of these figures, it should be noted that, due to the lack of transparency in reporting by responsible institutions and officials, the majority of workplace incidents go unreported in the media.

Most workers in Iran operate under conditions lacking job security and adequate insurance coverage. A shortage of inspectors and weak safety infrastructure have created serious challenges in the registration and prevention of occupational accidents.

As shown in the chart below, based on the data collected by HRA’s Statistics And Documents Center, the causes of these incidents are distributed as follows: 20.28% construction-related accidents, 15.91% falls from height, 15.21% struck by hard objects, 11.89% fires, 7.69% mining incidents, 7.17% traffic accidents, 5.94% electrocutions, 3.32% explosions, 2.97% gas poisoning, 2.45% accidents in wells, 2.27% in factories, 2.10% poisoning, 1.05% drowning, 0.52% heatstroke, 0.52% smoke inhalation, 0.52% in petrochemical and refinery sectors, and 0.17% agricultural accidents.

Workplace Accident Categorization Chart

According to data compiled by HRA’s Statistics and Documents Center, at least 613 months of unpaid wages have been recorded across 119 industrial and service units.

Breakdown of Wage Arrears by Sectors

Based on reports collected by this organization’s statistics department, 51% of wage arrears are related to government entities, 25% to private sector organizations, 13% to the energy sector, and 11% remain unspecified.

Estimates indicate a high level of protest activity within the labor community; however, over the past year, only a portion of these protests, specifically 682 labor gatherings and 691 guild-related gatherings, have been reported by media outlets or civil society organizations. Compared to the previous year, guild-related gatherings decreased by 39.6%, while labor gatherings declined by 7.5%.

Among the most significant events in Iran over the past year were protests by workers of the Middle East Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company, the Karkheh Mianab Sugarcane Agro-Industry Company, railway technical and infrastructure workers, the National Iranian Steel Industrial Group, the Qalat Ghareh Oil Company, as well as guild-related protests by teachers, retirees, and Social Security pensioners.

Over the past 12 months, various cities across Iran have witnessed diverse forms of protest actions by workers. A wide range of workers have taken to the streets due to non-payment of their monthly wages and the neglect of their insurance-related demands. Some of these workers have gone on strike and protested after going as long as 30 months without receiving their pay. In total, 383 labor strikes and 39 guild-related strikes took place. Labor strikes decreased by 72.1%, while guild-related strikes declined by 43.4%.

Workers’ ability to organize in Iran to pursue their demands faces legal challenges and state repression. Repression, obstruction, and the refusal to recognize the rights of trade unions and independent labor organizations, along with the imprisonment and issuance of prison sentences for several labor activists, as well as restrictions on the right to protest, have contributed to the fragmentation and disorganization of some labor gatherings and protests.

In Iran, labor organizations do not exist in the conventional global sense, and independent groups such as the Syndicate of Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, the Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Workers’ Syndicate, the Coordinating Council of Teachers’ Union Organizations, and the Free Union of Iranian Workers face security and political charges.

Many workers have been arrested or sentenced on charges such as organizing peaceful gatherings and protesting low wages. Over the past 12 months, at least 10 workers and labor activists have been arrested. Among the most notable cases are the arrests of several workers from the Isfahan Steel Company and five workers from the Middle East Sugar Factory in Shush.

It is also worth noting that Sharifeh Mohammadi and Mehran Raouf are among the prominent labor activists currently imprisoned, alongside union activists such as Asghar Amirzadegan, Ahmad Alizadeh, and Mohammad Hassan Davoudi.

In addition, one can point to the sentencing of two labor activists to a total of 75 months of discretionary imprisonment and fines amounting to 30 million tomans, two cases of self-immolation, the trial of two individuals, the summoning of nine individuals to judicial and security authorities, the closure of 10 factories, 2,922 cases of dismissal and workforce reduction, 114,954 cases of unemployment, 839,953 instances of workers lacking insurance coverage, and 3,806 cases of employment uncertainty.

Furthermore, in the area of unions and union/guild activities, a total of 40 arrests of union activists, 317 months of discretionary imprisonment and 3 months of suspended sentences, 24 cases of deprivation of social rights, 148 lashes, fines totaling 359.1 million tomans, and 120 months of internal exile for 67 union activists were reported. Additionally, there was 1 case of travel ban, 16 trials in judicial authorities, 43 summonses to judicial-security bodies, 195 cases of business closures (sealings), 18 cases of dismissal and workforce reduction, at least 105 months of unpaid wages, 407 cases of forced retirement, 8 house searches, 4 sentence enforcements, 2 cases of physical assault, and 1 case of self-immolation.

Over the past year, teachers and education sector workers, both active and retired, across various cities and provinces in the country staged protest gatherings and strikes in response to the failure to address their demands. In total, 40 gatherings were recorded. Over the past year, 32 cases of arrest, 37 summonses, 16 trials in judicial authorities, 4 instances of sentence enforcement, 18 cases of dismissal, workforce reduction, and bans from teaching, as well as 7 cases of forced retirement among teachers, were documented.

Additionally, 64 teachers and activists in this field were sentenced to a total of 269 months of discretionary imprisonment and 3 months of suspended sentences, 74 lashes, 23 cases of deprivation of social rights, and fines amounting to 359.1 million tomans.

The head of the National Association of Union Organizations of Construction Workers reported a worsening state of uncertainty and deteriorating living conditions for this group due to wartime circumstances. Akbar Shokat stated: “The most important issue for construction workers is employment. Many of them work on a daily wage basis and rely on just a few days of work per week to cover their living expenses. However, under current conditions, even these limited opportunities have declined, and their livelihoods are facing serious challenges. Wartime conditions have led to the closure of many workshops, and rising prices—especially in the steel sector—have further reduced employment in this field.”

A workers’ representative in the Supreme Labor Council announced that the cost of a basic livelihood basket for a worker’s household this year has reached approximately 40 to 45 million tomans per month, while the minimum income of workers is around 15 million tomans. This highlights a significant gap between income and living expenses. According to Mohammadreza Tajik, to bridge this gap, the minimum wage would need to increase by 17 million tomans to reach around 31 million tomans. Even with a 100% wage increase, workers’ livelihood problems would not be fully resolved, and wage-setting should be based on preserving purchasing power rather than merely percentage increases.

The executive secretary of the Workers’ House in Rey, referring to the sharp rise in healthcare costs and deficiencies in the supplementary insurance of the Social Security Organization, stated that in recent months, increasing imposed and unlawful medical expenses have become a problem worse than the illness itself for many retirees and workers. Mohammadali Torkashvand added that the ability to pay for medical expenses has become impossible for many. He further noted that the “Obligation Plan” of the Social Security Organization, one of its core responsibilities, has not been properly implemented for years. If properly enforced, there would be no need for supplementary insurance, and many healthcare-related problems of retirees would be resolved.

The executive secretary of the Workers’ House in Qazvin stated that today, workers remain hungry despite working double shifts. Wages are not aligned with current inflation, and with daily price changes, 70 to 80 percent of workers’ income is spent on food. Eydali Karimi added that housing allowance is only 900,000 tomans, while in many cases, an entire worker’s salary is spent on rent. Workers and retirees are also under severe pressure from medical costs, with even a simple surgery now costing over 100 million tomans.

Ali Moghaddasi-Zadeh, head of the Coordinating Council of Islamic Labor Councils of South Khorasan, stated that in mining cities such as Tabas and Eastern Alborz, there are still no Social Security hospitals. According to him, this has forced mine workers, who earn very low wages, to bear heavy medical costs in public and private hospitals in the event of accidents. Moghaddasi-Zadeh identified the main cause of this situation as the “existing Social Security law,” explaining: “According to current regulations, a dedicated hospital will not be built until the number of insurance booklets reaches 100,000, whereas in Tabas alone, at least 11,000 workers and their families require insurance services.” He emphasized that this law must be revised so that workers can access Social Security healthcare services in their place of residence.

The prohibition of child labor and the provision of free education for children, the establishment of the highest safety standards in work environments, and the removal of discriminatory laws against women and migrant workers are among the key demands of the labor community.

Despite being described as the cheapest labor force in the country, Iranian women workers face worse employment conditions than men and receive fewer legal protections, rights, and benefits.

At the same time, women workers have less bargaining power compared to their male counterparts. Moreover, production and industrial units show less willingness to hire married women, and in some cases employ single women under commitments not to marry or become pregnant.

The situation of women workers in small workshops is significantly worse. Women make up half of the workforce in brick kilns, where they work under extremely harsh conditions.

In Iran, International Workers’ Day arrives at a time when the privatization of factories and state-owned companies continues without regard for the long-term interests of workers, a trend that has led to widespread labor protests.

World Day for Safety and Health at Work: One-Year Statistical Report on Workplace Accidents in Iran

Posted on April 28, 2026May 1, 2026 by . .

Labor and Guilds, News, Publications

Borkhar, Fariman, HRANA, ILO, Nahroudbar, Razavi, World Day for Safety and Health

HRANA – On the occasion of World Day for Safety and Health at Work, the Human Rights Activists in Iran have examined the situation of workplace accidents caused by unsafe environments or working conditions over the period from 3 May 2025 to 27 April 2026.

According to data compiled by the organization’s statistics department, during this period, at least 586 workers lost their lives and at least 4,424 workers were injured due to workplace accidents resulting from unsafe environments or working conditions.

In 2003, the International Labour Organization (ILO), after extensive review, designated April 28 as World Day for Safety and Health at Work. The aim is to raise awareness about occupational safety and health, with an emphasis on preventing workplace accidents and diseases. In effect, it is an international campaign highlighting the importance of improving workplace safety and its impact on reducing work-related fatalities. Accordingly, governments are required to develop systematic policies and programs to monitor and enforce compliance with occupational safety and health regulations. It is also noteworthy that since 1996, labor unions worldwide have marked this day as a global day of remembrance for workers killed or injured on the job.

According to HRA’s Statistics And Documents Center, based on reports published over the past 12 months, the deaths of at least 586 workers due to workplace accidents linked to unsafe conditions have been reported by media outlets or relevant organizations.

In addition, 4,424 cases of work-related injuries have been reported and compiled by the organization’s statistics department.

Among the most tragic and notable incidents of the past year are: the deaths of 9 workers in a fire at an industrial workshop in Borkhar, located in Isfahan province; the poisoning of 17 workers by carbon monoxide gas in a cold storage facility in Fariman, Razavi Khorasan Province; the death and injury of 13 workers in a fire at the Kaveh Methanol Petrochemical plant; and the death and injury of 3 miners following a coal mine collapse in Nahroudbar, located in Mazandaran Province.

Based on the data collected by HRA’s Statistics And Documents Center, the causes of these incidents are distributed as follows: 20.28% construction-related accidents, 15.91% falls from height, 15.21% struck by hard objects, 11.89% fires, 7.69% mining incidents, 7.17% traffic accidents, 5.94% electrocutions, 3.32% explosions, 2.97% gas poisoning, 2.45% accidents in wells, 2.27% in factories, 2.10% poisoning, 1.05% drowning, 0.52% heatstroke, 0.52% smoke inhalation, 0.52% in petrochemical and refinery sectors, and 0.17% agricultural accidents.

Workplace Accident Categorization Chart

A Statistical Overview of Human Rights Violations in Iran in the Hijri Year 1404

Posted on March 19, 2026March 19, 2026 by . .

News, Other, Publications

children’s rights, Crimson Winter, HRA, HRANA, human rights violations, Women's rights, worker's rights

HRANA – The year 1404 (Hijri calendar) paints a stark picture of ongoing human rights violations in Iran. The ongoing threat to freedom of thought and expression, bloody crackdown on peaceful protesters, increasing pressure on ethnic groups and religious minorities, the prosecution and harassment of human rights activists, the execution of juveniles, the issue of child labor, violations of women’s rights, and the poor conditions of detention centers and prisons are only some examples of the daily violations of human rights in Iran.

The comprehensive report by HRA’s Statistics and Documentation Center, presented below, outlines a deeply concerning human rights situation in Iran over the past year.

During this period (March 21, 2025 to March 20, 2026), a total of 78,907 citizens were arrested in Iran on ideological or political grounds, or in clear violation of fundamental human rights principles. Notably, 78,126 of these arrests were linked to cases involving freedom of thought and expression.

During the same period, the nationwide protests between December 2025 and February 2026 can be regarded as one of the most complex and multi-layered waves of unrest in the past two decades. These demonstrations differed markedly from previous protests in their geographical reach, the extent of repression, and the nature of the government’s response.

Taken together, these developments point to one of the most significant periods of repression in recent years, particularly in terms of the scale of arrests. However, due to internet shutdowns during the protests and subsequent restrictions, the actual number of arrests is likely higher than recorded, with some cases remaining outside statistical coverage due to limited access to information. For more details, refer to HRANA’s comprehensive report titled “Crimson Winter,” which documents the first fifty days after the start of Iran’s nationwide protests.

Freedom of Thought and Expression

In 1404, at least 78,126 individuals were arrested for expressing their thoughts and opinions, of whom at least 228 were detained without a judicial warrant. Additionally, there were 250 cases of physical assault, 126 trials, 75 home searches, 15 instances of publications being declared criminal, 26 cases of internet filtering, 1 case of confiscation of a home and property, 793 protest gatherings, 11,744 summonses to security and judicial bodies, and 74 cases of prison sentences being carried out.

Over the past year, in violation of citizens’ right to freedom of expression, Iran’s judiciary issued a total of at least 13,812 months of imprisonment for 332 individuals. Of this amount, 13,173 months were discretionary prison sentences, and 639 months were suspended sentences. Notably, 1,693 months of these sentences were issued by appellate courts and 816 months by the Supreme Court.

In addition, 64 individuals were fined a total of 2,640.8 million tomans, 13 individuals were sentenced to 624 lashes, 13 individuals were sentenced to 492 months of exile, and 46 individuals were sentenced to deprivation of social rights.

Over the past year, Iran witnessed nationwide protests between December 2025 and February 2026, widely known as the January protests, which are considered one of the most widespread, complex, and multi-layered waves of unrest in the past two decades. These protests differed significantly from previous movements not only in terms of their geographical scope, intensity of violence, and scale of repression, but also in their underlying dynamics, the composition of participants, and the nature of the government’s response.

According to aggregated data from HRANA, during these protests, the number of confirmed fatalities reached 6,724 protesters, including 236 children. In addition to these confirmed figures, 11,744 cases remain under review, with the verification process still ongoing. Furthermore, at least 25,877 individuals sustained severe injuries, and the total number of arrests has been reported at 53,777.

Overall, 203 cities across all 31 provinces of the country witnessed protests on 682 occasions. In some cases, due to the heavy presence and strict control of security and military forces, protesters were unable to take to the streets, and demonstrations took other forms. Based on the 2016 census, the population of these 203 cities is estimated at 44,866,746—accounting for more than half of the country’s total population.

In addition to 627 instances of widespread street protests, 36 universities also became sites of student demonstrations, with 55 protest gatherings recorded across academic settings.

*Annual Statistical Comparison of Arrests in the Past Five Years (Freedom of Thought and Expression)*
Year	Number of Arrests	Arrests per Million People	Percentage Change Compared to Previous Year
1400	1,419	16	+ %5,405
1401	28,647	32	+ %172,7
1402	2,496	38.6	+ %3,030
1403	1,300	14.2	+ %5,909
1404	78,126	845,4	–

*Judicial Authorities Issuing the Most Sentences in the Freedom of Thought and Expression Category*
Judge Name	Court Branch	Number of Cases	Prison Sentences (Months)	Fine (Million Toman)
Iman Afshari	Branch 26 of Revolutionary Court, Tehran	17	705	313.3
Ali Ansari	Branch 101 of Criminal Court No. 2, Oshnavieh	15	326	–
Ehsan Adibi Mehr	Branch 1 of Revolutionary Court, Ahvaz	11	720	–
Yaser Guzali	Branch 1 of Revolutionary Court, Mahabad	9	268	–
Velaei	Branch 101 of Criminal Court No. 2, Miandoab	9	27	–
Ahad Siami	Branch 2 of Revolutionary Court, Mahabad	6	720	–
Abolghasem Salavati	Branch 15 of Revolutionary Court, Tehran	6	636	–
Abbasali Houzan	Branch 36 of the Court of Appeals, Tehran Province	5	225	60
Gorban Shahini	Branch 2 of Revolutionary Court, Urmia	4	156	–
Muhammad Makhmalzadeh	Branch 2 of Revolutionary Court, Dezful	4	54	–

Children’s Rights

In 1404, a total of 570 reports related to children’s rights were recorded. During this period, there were at least 20 cases of child rape and sexual abuse, 36 cases of child homicide, 2 so-called honor killings, and 5 cases of abandoned infants.

Additionally, there were 5 deaths and 9 injuries among child laborers, 15 deaths and 262 injuries of children due to negligence by authorities, 10 cases of suicide, at least 23,538 cases of child abuse, the arrest of 343 individuals under the age of 18, more than one million students deprived of education, and at least 10,000 documented child laborers.

It should be noted that, as mentioned in the execution section of this report, at least 2 juvenile offenders were executed in Iran over the past year.

According to official data from the Statistical Center of Iran, in 1398 (March 21, 2019 – March 19, 2020), approximately 16.8% of girls aged 15 to 19 in Iran were married. Among the limited official statistics available on this issue, the same institution reported that from winter 1400 (2021–2022) to the end of autumn 1401 (2022–2023), at least 27,448 girls under the age of 15 were married in Iran.

Although the rate of marriages involving girls under 15 had been declining since 1396 (2017–2018), it returned to previous levels starting in 1398 (2019–2020) and has since followed an upward trend. According to reports, 31,646 and 32,655 girls under the age of 15 were married in 1399 (2020–2021) and 1400 (2021–2022), respectively.

The number of marriages involving girls under 15 increased by 933 cases in autumn 1401 (2022–2023) compared to the summer of the same year. Additionally, in autumn 1401, more than 5,500 additional girls aged 15 to 19 were married compared to the preceding season, summer 1401.

According to the report, many child brides become mothers at an early age. Data from Iran’s Civil Registration Organization, published in May 2022, indicates that in 1400 (2021–2022), at least 69,103 babies were born to mothers aged 10 to 19, including 1,474 births to mothers aged 10 to 14.

In September 2024, the newspaper Etemad reported that the publication of statistics and information on child marriage and the number of children born to underage mothers in Iran had been halted. According to the report, an official from the Civil Registration Organization stated that “orders have been given” to stop publishing these statistics.

Women’s Rights

In 1404, a total of 138 reports related to women’s rights were recorded. These included 105 cases of murder of women, 7 so-called honor killings (including the murder of 2 men), 68 cases of rape and sexual abuse, 180 cases of domestic violence, 5 acid attacks, 12 cases involving enforcement actions over improper hijab, 8 summonses to security and judicial authorities, and a total of 62 months of imprisonment.

During the past year, at least 3 arrests were recorded for non-compliance with compulsory hijab and for singing in public spaces.

Workers’ Rights

Over the past year, a total of 1,709 reports were recorded related to labor rights, based on which 20 individuals were arrested. Additionally, 2 workers or labor activists were sentenced to a combined 75 months of discretionary imprisonment and fines totaling 30 million tomans. It is also noteworthy that 9 summonses to security and judicial authorities, 5 interrogations, 2 trials, 2 cases of self-immolation, 724 protests, and 390 strikes were recorded.

In 1404, reports of delayed or unpaid wages amounted to at least 672 months across 188 industrial and service units. Additionally, there were 2,457 dismissals or layoffs, 658 cases of unemployment, 560 months without work insurance coverage, 9 factory closures, and 2,259 workers left in uncertain conditions.

Trade and Labor Unions

In 1404, a total of 914 reports related to trade and unions groups were recorded by HRA’s Statistics and Documentation Center. According to these reports, a total of 39 union activists were arrested. Additionally, there were 44 summonses to judicial and security authorities, 191 cases of business closures (sealed premises), 2 instances of physical assault, 1 license revocation, 17 trials in judicial bodies, 4 interrogations by security institutions, 18 dismissals or layoffs, 407 cases of forced retirement, 757 protests, at least 41 strikes, at least 105 months of delayed wages, 4 home searches, and 4 cases of prison sentences being carried out.

Furthermore, 46 individuals were sentenced to a total of 347 months of imprisonment, including 344 months of discretionary sentences and 3 months of suspended sentences. Of this total, 89 months were issued by appellate courts. In addition, 2 individuals were sentenced to 120 months of exile, 2 individuals to 148 lashes, and 27 individuals were fined a total of 359.1 million tomans.

Prisoners’ Rights

Regarding prisoners’ rights in 1404, documented violations included 25 cases of physical assault against prisoners, 182 instances of denial or lack of access to medical care for prisoners and detainees, 307 transfers to solitary confinement, and 172 hunger strikes by prisoners and detainees.

Additionally, there were 38 cases of forced transfers, 187 instances of threats and pressure against political and ideological prisoners, 28 cases of denial of visitation, 14 deaths due to illness, 17 suicides, and 4 cases of murder of prisoners.

Further violations included 108 cases of denial of access to legal counsel, 256 instances of deprivation of the right to phone contact, 14 cases of failure to separate prisoners based on charges, 2,520 cases of detention in inappropriate conditions, 398 instances of forced confessions, and 11 cases of denial of medical leave.

Moreover, 716 cases of enforced disappearance (lack of information on detainees’ whereabouts) and 1,390 cases of detainees being kept in uncertain or unresolved legal status were documented.

Executions

As in previous decades following the 1979 revolution, executions remain one of the most prominent manifestations of human rights violations in Iran. In 1404, at least 2,488 individuals were executed, including 63 women and 2 juvenile offenders. Of these, 13 executions were carried out in public.

During the same period, 130 individuals, including 10 women and 1 juvenile offender, were sentenced to death, of whom 4 were sentenced to public execution. It should also be noted that, within this timeframe, the initial death sentences of an additional 45 individuals were upheld by the Supreme Court.

Annual Statistical Comparison of Executions in the Past Five Years
Year	Number of Executions	Executions per Million People	Percentage Change Compared to Previous Year
1400	351	4.0	+ %608.8
1401	620	6.9	+ %301.2
1402	771	8.5	+ %222.6
1403	1069	12.0	+ %132.7
1404	2488	26.94	–

Execution Rate by Province (Executions Per 100,000 People)
Province	Population	Number of Executions	Execution Rate
Razavi Khorasan	7,109,000	235	3.31
Alborz	3,028,000	200	6.61
Isfahan	5,429,000	178	3.28
Fars	5,136,000	149	2.9
Lorestan	1,792,000	130	7.26
Khuzestan	5,115,000	129	2.52
Kerman	3,413,000	101	2.96
Hamedan	1,769,000	98	5.54
East Azerbaijan	4,092,000	84	2.05
South Khorasan	845,000	79	9.35
Markazi	1,472,000	79	5.37
Qom	1,454,000	79	5.43
Sistan and Baluchestan	3,280,000	76	2.32
Yazd	1,314,000	75	5.71
Gilan	2,569,000	74	2.88
Semnan	787,000	72	9.15
Mazandaran	3,415,000	68	1.99
West Azerbaijan	3,529,000	65	1.84
Kermanshah	1,999,000	62	3.1
Qazvin	1,346,000	58	4.31
Zanjan	1,119,000	53	4.74
Golestan	2,016,000	51	2.53
North Khorasan	875,000	43	4.91
Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad	759,000	43	5.67
Bushehr	1,277,000	41	3.21
Hormozgan	2,018,000	39	1.93
Ilam	597,000	29	4.86
Kurdistan	1,689,000	28	1.66
Ardabil	1,299,000	22	1.69
Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari	997,000	19	1.91

Ethnic Minorities’ Rights

In 1404, a total of 171 reports related to ethnic minority rights were recorded. According to these reports, 207 citizens were arrested, including 136 cases carried out without a judicial warrant. Although the charges against 192 of those detained remain unclear, these arrests have been classified as violations of ethnic minority rights based on available indicators and the documented pattern of conduct by security institutions.

Additionally, a total of 251 months of imprisonment was issued for 6 individuals, including 153 months by lower courts, 74 months by appellate courts, and 24 months by the Supreme Court.

Furthermore, 18 individuals were summoned to security and judicial authorities, while 16 home searches, 7 trials, and 2 interrogations were also recorded.

*Annual Statistical Comparison of Arrests in the Past Five Years (Ethnic Minorities’ Rights)*
Year	Number of Arrests	Arrests per Million People	Percentage Change Compared to Previous Year
1400	358	4.05	– %42.1
1401	242	4.73	– %14.4
1402	371	4.09	– %44.2
1403	332	3.63	– %37.6
1404	207	2.24	–

Religious Minority Rights

In 1404, a total of 190 reports on violations of religious minority rights in Iran were recorded, according to which 169 citizens were arrested. Additionally, a total of 6,927 months of discretionary imprisonment and 798 months of suspended sentences were issued for 95 individuals. Of this total, 3,837 months were handed down by lower courts and 3,888 months by appellate courts.

Furthermore, 26 individuals were fined a total of 4,739 million tomans, and 9 individuals were sentenced to 288 months of exile.

In addition, 141 summonses to judicial and security authorities, 37 trials, 51 interrogations, 1 case of cemetery destruction, 126 home searches, 33 travel bans, 40 cases of prison sentences being carried out, 33 cases of confiscation of homes and property, and 10 cases of prevention of economic activity were reported.

*Annual Statistical Comparison of Arrests in the Past Five Years (Religious Minorities’ Rights)*
Year	Number of Arrests	Arrests per Million People	Percentage Change Compared to Previous Year
1400	67	0.76	+ %152.2
1401	175	1.95	– %3.4
1402	148	1.63	+ %14.1
1403	124	1.35	+ %36.2
1404	169	1.83	–

Judicial Authorities Issuing the Most Sentences in Religious Minorities’ Rights
Judge Name	Court Branch	Number of Cases	Prison Sentences (Months)	Fine (Million Toman)
Sabzevari	Branch 2 of Revolutionary Court, Karaj	8	80	–
Abbasali Houzan	Branch 36 of the Court of Appeals, Tehran Province	8	1002	910
Ashkan Ramesh	Branch 1 of Revolutionary Court, Varamin	5	495	–
Abolghasem Salavati	Branch 15 of Revolutionary Court, Tehran	5	660	–
Hassan Fathnejad	Branch 3 of Revolutionary Court, Tabriz	2	288	2000

Protests and Strikes

At least 2,551 protest gatherings took place across Iran. These included 724 labor protests, 757 guild and trade union gatherings, 793 protests related to freedom of thought and expression, 40 demonstrations concerning the right to education, and 32 related to environmental issues.

Additionally, 205 protest gatherings were held across all 31 provinces by citizens—many of them defrauded investors or individuals whose civil rights had been violated. Alongside these demonstrations, at least 41 union strikes and 390 labor strikes were also recorded.

Killing of Citizens

Throughout 1404, a total of 32,820 citizens were targeted by gunfire from military forces. Of these, 6,822 lost their lives, including 15 Kolbars (border porters), 23 Sookhtbars (fuel carriers), and 6,784 other citizens.

Additionally, 25,998 citizens were injured as a result of indiscriminate shootings by military personnel, including 22 Kolbars, 25,963 ordinary citizens, and 13 Sookhtbars.

It should also be noted that 8 other Kolbars were affected by environmental and geographical conditions, such as hypothermia, pursuit by military forces, and falls from height, resulting in 4 being injured and 4 losing their lives. Moreover, 84 Sookhtbars were involved in incidents during pursuits by military forces, of whom 76 were killed and 8 injured.

Furthermore, during the war involving the United States and Israel against Iran, which began on February 28, 2026 (9 Esfand 1404), an attack on the “Shajareh Tayyebeh” girls’ school in Minab resulted in the deaths of a number of students. According to reported figures, at least 168 people were killed and 95 others injured in this attack.

Since the onset of these hostilities, the number of civilian casualties has reached 1,369, including at least 207 children. Additionally, the status of 627 other individuals remains unclear, as it has not been determined whether they were civilians or military personnel.

Landmine and Explosion Victims

Landmines left over from past conflicts continue to threaten the lives of residents in border regions each year. The Iranian government also continues to produce and deploy anti-personnel mines and, contrary to international conventions, maintains that their use is the only effective way to secure the country’s long borders.

According to data from the past year, at least 19 citizens lost their lives due to landmine explosions in border areas, while 20 others were injured.

Flogging and Amputation Sentences

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights explicitly prohibits the use of degrading punishments that violate human dignity, such as flogging and amputation. Nevertheless, according to data collected in 1404, sentences of flogging were carried out for at least 2 defendants, who had been collectively sentenced by Iranian judicial authorities to 48 lashes.

In addition, the judiciary issued sentences totaling 3,684 lashes for at least 82 individuals. Furthermore, amputation sentences were carried out for 6 defendants who had been convicted by Iranian courts, while 5 others were also sentenced to amputation.

Arrests

Over the past year, the arrest of 78,907 citizens in Iran represents a clear violation of the rights to freedom of expression, political freedom, and other fundamental human rights. Among these, 78,126 cases were directly related to the exercise of freedom of thought and expression.

Other notable cases include the arrest of 20 workers and labor activists, 343 individuals under the age of 18, 39 union activists, 169 members of religious minorities, and 207 individuals from ethnic minority backgrounds.

Regarding the latter group, although the charges against 234 individuals remain unclear, these arrests have been classified as violations of ethnic and national minority rights based on available indicators and the documented pattern of conduct by security institutions.

Additionally, at least 3 arrests were recorded for non-compliance with compulsory hijab and for women singing in public spaces.

Statistical Comparison of Arrests over the Past Five Years
Year	Number of Arrests	Arrests per Million People	Percentage Change Compared to Previous Year
1400	1884	21.3	+ %4,088
1401	29,950	33.4	+ %163.4
1402	3,864	42.7	+ %1,942
1403	2,491	27.2	+ %3,067
1404	78,907	847.5	–

Convictions

In 1404, judicial authorities across the country issued rulings in 483 cases, sentencing defendants in political or security-related cases to a total of 20,832 months of discretionary imprisonment and 1,440 months of suspended sentences. Of this total, 15,585 months were issued by lower courts, 5,847 months by appellate courts, and 840 months by the Supreme Court.

In addition, the judiciary imposed fines totaling 7,409.8 million tomans, as well as 3,684 lashes, 59 travel bans, 101 cases of deprivation of social rights, and 900 months of internal exile.

Five-year comparison of convictions based on the number of individuals
Year	Number of individuals Convicted	Percentage Change Compared to Previous Year
1400	310	+ %55.8
1401	1,075	– %55
1402	843	– %42.7
1403	744	– %35
1404	483	–

Five-Year Comparison of Convictions Based on the Total Months of Imprisonment Issued
Year	Number of months of imprisonment	Percentage Change Compared to Previous Year
1400	13,316	+ %67.2
1401	33,671	– %33.8
1402	33,790	– %34
1403	27,857	– %20
1404	22,272	–

Judicial officials with the highest number of sentences issued over the past year
Judge Name	Court Branch	Number of Cases	Prison Sentences (Months)	Fine (Million Toman)
Iman Afshari	Branch 36 of Revolutionary Court, Tehran	17	705	313.3
Ali Ansari	Branch 101 of Criminal Court No. 2, Oshnavieh	15	326	–
Abbasali Houzan	Branch 36 of the Court of Appeals, Tehran Province	13	1371	1110
Ehsan Adibi Mehr	Branch 1 of Revolutionary Court, Ahvaz	11	720	–
Sabzevari	Branch 2 of Revolutionary Court, Karaj	11	172	–
Abolghasem Salavati	Branch 15 of Revolutionary Court, Tehran	11	1296	–
Yaser Guzali	Branch 1 of Revolutionary Court, Mahabad	9	268	–
Velaei	Branch 101 of Criminal Court No. 2, Miandoab	9	27	–
Ahad Siami	Branch 2 of Revolutionary Court, Mahabad	6	720	–
Ashkan Ramesh	Branch 1 of Revolutionary Court, Varamin	5	495	–

In conclusion, it should be noted that the statistics presented in this report cannot be considered a complete reflection of the human rights situation in Iran. This is due to the fact that the Iranian government does not allow independent human rights organizations to operate freely or access necessary sources.

Therefore, these findings should be regarded as a minimum estimate of the human rights situation in Iran, based solely on data reported by civil institutions, including HRANA, and compiled and documented by the organization’s Statistics Center.

For further information, readers are encouraged to consult the organization’s 2025 annual report, which has been recently published.

The Crimson Winter: A 50 Day Record of Iran’s 2025–2026 Nationwide Protests

Posted on February 23, 2026February 25, 2026 by Hrana

Freedom of Expression, News, Other, Publications

Iran 2025–2026 Protests, Mass Protests, nationwide protests, Political Repression, The Crimson Winter

HRANA- Published today, this comprehensive report examines developments during the first fifty days following the eruption of nationwide protests in Iran on December 28, 2025, providing a detailed account of the unfolding events and the state response from December 2025 through February 2026.

Compiled through a coordinated, multi team documentation effort across HRA’s news agency HRANA, Spreading Justice, the Pasdaran Documentation Project, and the Statistics Department, the roughly 1,350 page report preserves a structured record of the opening phase of Iran’s 2025–2026 nationwide protests and the state response.

The findings are derived from more than 143,330 HRANA reports drawn from confidential and open sources, collected, verified, and analyzed during the 50-day window.

Why this report, and why now?

Large scale protest cycles generate two parallel dynamics: an unprecedented volume of documentation and a coordinated effort by state authorities to restrict communications, shape narratives, and intimidate sources. In this environment, the central risk is not only undercounting violations, but losing the ability to verify identities, locations, dates, and patterns while evidence remains recoverable.

This report adopts a disciplined human rights methodology centered on documenting minimum verifiable cases rather than publishing maximal estimates. It presents findings that can be substantiated through corroborated evidence, even where the broader scale of violations likely exceeds what can be confirmed in real time. The publication is intended both as a public record and as an archival foundation for legal analysis and future accountability processes.

What the report contains

The report maps the first fifty days of protests by addressing core accountability questions:

1. How did protests evolve and spread geographically

2. How did state forces respond, and through what structures

3. What forms of harm occurred

4. How did blackout conditions affect the availability, quality, and verification of information

5. How was content authenticated and cross checked in an environment shaped by surveillance, source risk, and restricted access

6. How were risks from manipulated, fabricated, or AI generated content identified and mitigated within the verification process

7. How can documented patterns be legally characterized

8. How can records, especially identities of victims and detainees, be preserved without increasing risk

Sections analyze protest trends and geography, university mobilization, slogans, the structure and tools of repression, patterns of violations including killings, injuries, arrests, coerced confessions, pressure on families, and attacks on medical neutrality, as well as legal analysis, international responses, and how HRA documentation initiatives mobilized.

At the center of the report are two core pillars: the verified accounting of those killed, including children, and the documented accounting of detainees, including minors, students, and individuals subjected to group arrests.

Key Findings

Geographic scope

• Total protest locations: 682

• Unique cities: 203

• Unique provinces: 31

The geographic distribution demonstrates that both protest activity and state response were nationwide in scope.

Student mobilization

• University protests documented: 55

• Protesting universities: 36

Universities emerged as central civic spaces within the broader protest movement and the state response.

Fatalities: scale and composition

Across the first fifty days covered by this report, consolidated documentation records:

• Protesters killed: 6,488

• Children killed, counted separately and not included among protesters: 236

• Civilians killed, non-protester: 76

• Military and government forces killed: 207

• Total fatalities: 7,007

An additional 11,744 cases remain under review and are not included in confirmed totals. Separately, HRA documented eight civilian deaths resulting from clashes between civilians in public. The categorical separation is deliberate. Distinguishing protesters, children, non-protester civilians, and government or pro-government fatalities prevents analytical conflation and enables clearer legal and statistical interpretation. The figures reflect a minimum verifiable record compiled under conditions where comprehensive access is not possible.

Injuries

• Injured military and security forces: 4,884

• Injured civilians: 25,846

These figures contextualize the breadth of harm beyond confirmed fatalities and illustrate the overall magnitude of violence.

Arrests

• Total arrests: 53,777

• Children, teenagers, and school students arrested: 555

• University students arrested: 147

Arrest figures include both individually identified cases and verified group arrests, reflecting documentation realities in which names are often unavailable or unsafe to publish.

Forced confessions

• Documented forced confessions: 369

The report treats coerced confessions as a systematic instrument of intimidation and narrative control within a heavily surveilled and restricted media environment.

Summonses

• Documented summonses: 11,053

Summonses function as a parallel mechanism of legal pressure, extending state control beyond those formally detained.

The List of the Deceased: Methodology and Protection

Appendix A contains the list of the deceased. Publication decisions are governed by a protection centered framework that weighs the public interest in disclosure against the risk of retaliation for relatives, witnesses, and HRANA’s network.

Where names are published, they are paired, where possible, with core identifiers including age, location, and documentation anchors used in verification. Entries are also paired with sources. Where a third-party source is listed as the primary source, HRANA has independently verified the information through its reporting network.

Where publication would create unacceptable risk, cases are reflected in verified totals and preserved within secure documentation systems for accountability purposes.

The list is the product of a structured, cross-checked verification methodology designed to preserve an accurate public record without increasing danger to those inside the country.

Legal Assessment and Accountability Relevance

The report includes a preliminary legal assessment, framing documented patterns as potential violations of international human rights law and, where applicable thresholds are met, international criminal law.

Patterns of lethal force, mass arrests, coerced confessions, and related violations are analyzed against legal standards governing the right to life, due process, freedom of expression and assembly, and protections against torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.

By grounding its legal analysis with verified names, dates, locations, and corroborated patterns, the report connects documentation to concrete pathways for accountability.

Annual Statistical Report of Human Rights Conditions in Iran 2025

Posted on December 26, 2025February 24, 2026 by Hrana

News, Other, Publications

Annual report, Annual Report 2024, Annual Report 2025, annual report 2026

Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA), through the dedicated efforts of its Department of Statistics and Publications, publishes its annual Gregorian calendar-based analytical and statistical report on the human rights situation in Iran for the one-year period (January 1, 2025, to January 1, 2026). This report is the culmination of the organization’s daily endeavors in recent years, forming part of a daily statistical project that began in 2009. It provides an analytical-statistical overview of human rights in Iran.

This annual report on human rights violations in Iran represents a synthesis of 11,192 human rights reports, gathered from 122 legal and news sources within the past calendar year. HRANA (Human Rights Activists News Agency) contributed 50.79% of the reports utilized in this publication, with 23.94% originating from official or government-affiliated Iranian sources, and the remaining 25.28% from other news or human rights sources.

Download the full version of the report in PDF format

In this 83-page report, various aspects such as women’s rights, workers’ rights, children’s rights, prisoners’ rights, etc., are briefly examined and statistically analyzed, accompanied by relevant charts for enhanced reader comprehension. According to this report, the focus of human rights monitoring in Iran, in comparison between the capital and other areas, remains unequal. This long-standing inequality shows that in the last year, reporting from non-central areas has decreased by 16.4% compared to the capital. This situation continues to indicate the lack of adequate monitoring of other areas of the country relative to the center by civil society.

Although this report predominantly reflects the extensive efforts of courageous human rights defenders in Iran, who bear significant costs in pursuit of their humanitarian ideals, it inevitably has limitations. These include restrictions on the activities of human rights organizations by the Iranian government and governmental impediments to the free flow of information. Consequently, while this report strives for accuracy, it cannot be considered entirely error-free or a complete reflection of the human rights situation in Iran. Nevertheless, it stands as one of the most precise, comprehensive, and well-documented reports on human rights violations in Iran, offering valuable insights for organizations and defenders of human rights to better understand the human rights situation in Iran, its challenges, and potential opportunities.

Monitoring Overview

The following information reflects the scope, geographic distribution, and sources of human rights reporting in Iran during the reporting period. These findings illustrate the relationship between reporting volume and civil society capacity across provinces.

Reporting Volume and Sources

The highest number of reports was published in May
The lowest number of reports was published in April

Sources of Reports

• 50.79 percent of reports were produced by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
• 23.94 percent originated from official Iranian government sources or sources close to the government
• 25.28 percent were collected from other human rights news agencies

Protests, Gatherings, and Collective Action

• At least 2,294 protest gatherings were held across all 31 provinces
- • 986 professional union protests
- • 855 labor-related gatherings
- • 257 protests by victims of financial or investment fraud
- • 93 protests related to freedom of thought and expression
- • 51 student union protests
- • 50 environmental protests
- • 1 women’s rights protest
- • 1 children’s rights protest
In addition:
- • 424 labor strikes were recorded
- • 39 professional strikes were documented
- • 49 protest attempts were prevented by authorities

Geographic Distribution of Reporting

A significant disparity exists between Tehran and the rest of the country in terms of reporting volume
According to the 2024 census:
- • Tehran population: 14,425,000
- • Population outside Tehran: 71,536,000
Reporting distribution indicates:
- • 13.36 percent of reporting focused on Tehran
- • 86.64 percent of reporting originated from other parts of the country

Ethnic Rights Overview

The following statistics reflect documented rights violations assessed by HRA as having occurred on the basis of ethnic or national minority status. These figures are drawn from 264 verified reports collected throughout the reporting period.

Key Findings

Arrests and Detention

• 304 individuals were arrested on the basis of ethnic or national minority status
• 188 arrests were carried out without a judicial warrant
• 275 individuals were arrested on charges that remain unknown or undisclosed
• 2 instances of imprisonment sentences were carried out during the reporting period
• 7 interrogations took place inside security or judicial institutions
• 47 individuals were summoned by security or judicial authorities for questioning

Judicial Proceedings

• 20 cases went to trial
- • 7 individuals were sentenced to imprisonment
- Sentences issued to these individuals totaled 287 months of discretionary imprisonment, as follows:
  - 189 months issued by preliminary courts
  - 74 months issued by appellate courts
  - 24 months upheld by the Supreme Court

Searches and Other Violations

• 29 home searches were reported
• 1 case of physical assault was documented

Trends and Comparative Analysis

Arrests of ethnic minority citizens increased by 16 percent compared to 2024
Prison sentences issued relative to the number of individuals tried decreased by 65 percent
The overall issuance of prison sentences declined by 39 percent compared to 2024

Monthly Trends

The highest number of reported violations occurred in January
The steepest decline in reported violations occurred in April

Tolerance and Religious Freedoms Overview

The following statistics reflect documented rights violations assessed by HRA as having occurred on the basis of religious belief or affiliation. These figures are based on 210 verified reports collected during the reporting period.

Key Findings

Arrests and Detention

• 183 individuals were arrested on the basis of religious belief or affiliation
• 7 arrests were carried out without a judicial warrant
• 142 individuals were summoned to security or judicial institutions for questioning
• 50 interrogations took place inside security or judicial institutions
• 54 instances of sentence enforcement were carried out
• 33 travel bans were imposed

Judicial Proceedings

• 48 cases went to trial
• 88 individuals were sentenced to imprisonment
- Sentences issued to these individuals totaled 8,015 months of imprisonment, as follows:
  - 7,277 months of discretionary imprisonment
  - 798 months of suspended imprisonment
  - 3,876 months of imprisonment were issued by the appellate courts
• 14 individuals were fined a total of 5.27 billion tomans
• 35 individuals were sentenced to deprivation of social rights
• 5 individuals were sentenced to 96 months of exile

Searches, Property Violations, and Other Abuses

• 128 home searches were reported
• 33 cases of property or home confiscation were documented
• 5 cases of obstruction of economic activity were recorded
• 1 case involving the destruction of a cemetery was documented
• 4 cases of physical assault were reported

Trends and Comparative Analysis

Arrests related to religious minority rights increased by 101 percent compared to the previous year
Prison sentences issued relative to the number of individuals tried increased by 8.6 percent
The total length of prison sentences increased by 68.7 percent compared to the previous year

Monthly Trends

The highest number of reported violations occurred in June
The lowest number of reported violations occurred in August

Distribution by Religious Group

• Baha’is accounted for 62.41 percent of all reported violations
• Christians accounted for 17.73 percent
• Jews accounted for 7.45 percent
• Other religious groups accounted for 6.21 percent
• Sunni Muslims accounted for 6.21 percent

Freedom of Thought and Expression Overview

The following statistics reflect documented rights violations assessed by HRA as having occurred in relation to freedom of thought and expression. These figures are based on 1,509 verified reports collected during the reporting period.

Key Findings

Arrests and Detention

• 22,062 individuals were arrested in connection with freedom of thought and expression
• At least 180 arrests were carried out without a judicial warrant
• 394 individuals were summoned to security or judicial authorities for questioning
• 62 interrogations were conducted by security agencies
• 97 instances of sentence enforcement were carried out
• 25 travel bans were imposed

Judicial Proceedings

• 175 individuals were tried in judicial institutions
• 405 individuals were sentenced to imprisonment
- Sentences issued to these individuals totaled 14,799 months of imprisonment, as follows:
  - 13,931 months of discretionary imprisonment
  - 868 months of suspended imprisonment
  - 3,005 months were issued by appellate courts
  - 816 months were issued by the Supreme Court
• 66 individuals were fined a total of 3,088,600,000 tomans
• 19 individuals were sentenced to 938 lashes
• At least 3 individuals had corporal punishment sentences of 142 lashes carried out
• 12 individuals were sentenced to a total of 444 months of exile
• 47 individuals were sentenced to deprivation of social rights

Censorship, Searches, and Other Violations

• 15 publications were declared criminal
• 61 home searches were reported
• 2 cases of property confiscation were documented
• 27 cases of internet filtering were recorded
• 1 case of communication disruption was documented
• 40 cases of physical assault against citizens were reported
• 1 instance of forced retirement was recorded
• 3 cases of dismissal or downsizing were documented
• 7 incidents of preventing speeches or public events were reported
• 93 gatherings were held
• 28 gatherings were obstructed by authorities

Trends and Comparative Analysis

Arrests related to freedom of thought and expression increased by 1286.6 percent compared to the previous year
Prison sentences issued relative to the number of individuals tried decreased by 33.6 percent
The total length of prison sentences declined by 44.7 percent compared to the previous year

Monthly Trends

The highest number of reported violations occurred in June
The lowest number of reported violations occurred in September

Rights of Trade Unions and Associations Overview

The following statistics reflect documented rights violations assessed by HRA as having occurred in relation to labor, trade union, and professional association rights. These figures are based on 1,178 verified reports collected during the reporting period.

Key Findings

Arrests and Detention

• 44 labor and union activists were arrested
• 55 individuals were summoned to security or judicial authorities for questioning
• 4 interrogations were conducted by security agencies
• 6 instances of sentence enforcement were carried out
• 3 travel bans were imposed

Judicial Proceedings

• 20 cases went to trial
• 30 individuals were sentenced to imprisonment
- Sentences issued to these individuals totaled 743 months of imprisonment, as follows:
  - 740 months of discretionary imprisonment
  - 3 months of suspended imprisonment
  - 61 months were issued by appellate courts
• 2 individuals were sentenced to 120 months of exile
• 2 individuals were sentenced to 148 lashes
• 9 individuals were fined a total of 679,100,000 tomans

Workplace and Economic Rights Violations

• 219 cases of workplace closures were documented
• 21 cases of dismissal or layoffs were reported
• 407 cases of forced retirement were documented
• At least 66 months of delayed wage payments were reported
• 1 case of license revocation was documented
• 2 case of physical assault was reported
• 1 case of self-immolation was documented
• 4 home searches were carried out

Protests and Collective Action

• At least 986 labor or professional protests were recorded
• 39 strikes were documented
• 6 cases of protest obstruction were reported

Trends and Comparative Analysis

Arrests of labor and union activists increased by 91.3 percent compared to 2024
The total issuance of prison sentences decreased by 16.5 percent
Prison sentencing relative to the number of individuals tried declined by 60 percent compared to 2024

Monthly Trends

The highest number of reported violations occurred in May
The lowest number of reported violations occurred in July

Right to Education Overview

The following statistics reflect documented rights violations assessed by HRA as having occurred in relation to the right to education. These figures are based on 132 verified reports collected during the reporting period.

Key Findings

Arrests, Discipline, and Institutional Actions

• 15 individuals were arrested in connection with education-related activities
• 1 student was denied admission to postgraduate studies
• 1 case of expulsion from university was documented
• 51 protest gatherings related to educational issues were recorded
• 4 protests were obstructed by authorities

Violence, Abuse, and Health-Related Violations

• 3 cases of physical assault were documented
• 32 cases of corporal punishment against students were reported
• At least 9 male elementary school students were subjected to physical and sexual abuse by a teacher
• 141 cases of food poisoning were documented
• Over 167 cases of student poisoning were reported

Systemic Deprivation of Education

• At least one million students were deprived of continuing their education
The highest school dropout rates were reported in:
- • Sistan and Baluchestan Province
- • Golestan Province
- • Razavi Khorasan Province

Monthly Trends

The highest number of reported violations occurred in October
The lowest number of reported violations occurred in July

Right to Life (Death Penalty) Overview

The following statistics reflect documented violations of the right to life assessed by HRA as having occurred through the issuance and implementation of the death penalty. These figures are based on 1,743 verified reports collected during the reporting period.

Key Findings

Death Sentences and Executions

• 172 individuals were sentenced to death
• 2,063 individuals were executed
• 11 executions were carried out in public
• 57 death sentences were upheld by the Supreme Court

Demographic Breakdown

Of those executed whose gender was identified:
- • 1,807 men
- • 61 women
• 2 individuals were under the age of 18 at the time of the alleged offense
Of the recorded death sentences:
- • 155 were issued against men
- • 14 were issued against women
- • 5 death sentences were issued for public execution
- • 2 death sentences were issued against child offenders

Charges Leading to Execution

• 49.01% for murder
• 44.93% for drug-related offenses
• 1.65% for sexual offenses
• 1.55% for unspecified charges
• 1.26% for moharebeh–baghi (political–security charges)
• 0.73% for security-related charges (including espionage, terrorism, or bombing)
• 0.63% for moharebeh (non-political)
• 0.50% for economic crimes
• 0.50% for armed robbery
• 0.15% for corruption on earth

Trends and Comparative Analysis

The implementation of death sentences increased by 119 percent compared to 2024
The issuance of death sentences decreased by 19.6 percent compared to 2024

Monthly Trends

The highest number of reported violations occurred in December
The lowest number of reported violations occurred in March

Geographic and Institutional Distribution

• Alborz Province accounted for 10.52 percent of executions
• Razavi Khorasan Province accounted for 8.53 percent of executions
• Qezel Hesar Prison (Karaj) and Dastgerd Prison (Isfahan) recorded the highest number of executions

Transparency of Executions

• 95 percent of executions were carried out in secret or without public announcement

Long-Term Trends

After a relative decline between 2018 and 2020, executions have shown a sustained upward trend since 2021
In 2025, 2,063 executions were recorded, marking the highest annual figure over the past eleven years

Cultural Rights Overview

The following statistics reflect documented rights violations assessed by HRA as having occurred in relation to cultural rights. These figures are drawn from 19 verified reports collected throughout the reporting period.

Key Findings

Censorship, Restrictions, and Administrative Actions

• 7 cases of obstruction of cultural programs or public speeches were documented
• 2 individuals were summoned to judicial authorities
• 2 cases of censorship or prevention of publication were recorded
• 7 professional bans were imposed
• 1 case of neglect was documented
• 1 case involving the destruction of a historical site was recorded

Judicial Proceedings

• 6 cases went to trial
• 4 individuals were sentenced to suspended imprisonment
- Sentences issued to these individuals totaled 131 months of suspended imprisonment, of which:
  - • 64 months were issued by appellate courts
• 6 individuals were fined a total of 515 million tomans

Trends and Comparative Analysis

Verdicts issued relative to the number of individuals tried increased by 20 percent compared to the previous year
The issuance of imprisonment sentences decreased by 31.7 percent compared to the previous year

Monthly Trends

The highest number of reported violations occurred in April and December
The lowest number of reported violations occurred in June, August, and September

Labor Rights Overview

The following statistics reflect documented rights violations assessed by HRA as having occurred in relation to labor rights. These figures are based on 1,996 verified reports collected during the reporting period.

Key Findings

Arrests, Detention, and Judicial Actions

• 23 individuals were arrested in connection with labor-related activities
• 11 individuals were summoned to judicial or security institutions
• 3 cases went to trial
• 7 interrogations were conducted by judicial or security entities
• 1 instance of imprisonment enforcement was recorded
• 2 travel bans were imposed
• 3 cases of self-immolation were documented
• 1 case of a worker being physically assaulted was reported

Judicial Proceedings

• 2 individuals were sentenced to imprisonment
- Sentences issued to these individuals totaled 75 months of imprisonment, of which:
  - • 72 months were issued by appellate courts
• 1 individual was fined 30 million tomans

Employment, Wages, and Social Protection

• At least 638 months of delayed wage payments were reported across 182 industrial and service units
• 2,458 cases of dismissal or downsizing were documented
• 550 cases of unemployment were reported
• 663 months of lack of insurance coverage were recorded
• 10 factory closures were documented
• 3,761 workers were reported as being in limbo

Workplace Safety and Accidents

• At least 1,232 worker deaths were recorded due to workplace incidents
• 7,328 cases of physical injury to workers were documented

Protests and Collective Action

• At least 855 labor protests were recorded
• 424 labor strikes were documented
• 4 cases of protest obstruction were reported

Trends and Comparative Analysis

Arrests of workers increased by 109 percent compared to the previous year
Verdicts issued relative to the number of individuals tried decreased by 77.7 percent
The issuance of imprisonment sentences declined by 75 percent compared to the previous year

Monthly Trends

The highest number of reported violations occurred in May
The most significant decline in reports occurred in April

Children’s Rights Overview

The following statistics reflect documented rights violations assessed by HRA as having occurred in relation to children’s rights. These figures are based on 595 verified reports collected during the reporting period.

Key Findings

Violence, Abuse, and Loss of Life

• At least 38 cases of child rape or sexual abuse were documented
• 45 child murders were reported
• 4 cases of so-called honor killings involving children were recorded
• 19 child suicides were documented
• At least 23,000 cases of child abuse were reported
• 5 abandoned infants were documented
• 5 deaths and 10 injuries among child laborers were recorded
• 21 deaths and 385 injuries due to official negligence were documented

Child Labor and Exploitation

• Over 70,000 cases of child labor were reported

Child Marriage and Early Motherhood

• At least 27,448 girls under the age of 15 were married between winter 2021 and fall 2022
• 31,646 girls under 15 were married in 2020
• 32,655 girls under 15 were married in 2021
In fall 2022, marriages of girls under 15 increased by 933 cases compared to the previous season
In fall 2022, over 5,500 girls aged 15 to 19 were married compared to summer 2022
• 69,103 babies were born in 2021 to mothers aged 10 to 19
• 1,474 babies were born to mothers aged 10 to 14

Deprivation of Education

• At least one million students were deprived of continuing their education
Contributing factors included poverty, early marriage, lack of access to virtual education, geographic dispersion, and cultural barriers

Use of Children in State-Organized Activities

• At least 105,425 children under 18 were sent to “Rahian-e Noor” camps in former war zones
The highest participation was recorded in Isfahan, Bushehr, Qom, Markazi, and Razavi Khorasan provinces

Arrests and Executions of Children

• At least 35 individuals under 18 were detained by security institutions
• At least 2 juvenile offenders were executed during the reporting period

Monthly Trends

The highest number of reported violations occurred in November
The lowest number of reported violations occurred in June

Women’s Rights Overview

The following statistics reflect documented rights violations assessed by HRA as having occurred in relation to women’s rights. These figures are based on 190 verified reports collected during the reporting period.

Key Findings

Violence, Abuse, and Gender-Based Killings

• At least 63 cases of rape or sexual abuse were documented
• 118 cases of femicide were reported
• 11 cases of so-called honor killings were recorded, including the killing of 5 men
• 1 case of self-immolation was documented
• 11 cases of physical assault were reported
• At least 179 instances of domestic violence were documented
• 8 acid attacks were reported

Arrests, Judicial Actions, and Punishments

• 13 women were arrested for non-compliance with mandatory hijab laws
• 11 individuals were summoned to judicial or security bodies
• 7 interrogations were conducted by security agencies
• 4 individuals were sentenced to imprisonment
- Sentences issued to these individuals totaled 80 months of imprisonment, of which:
  - • 31 months were issued by appellate courts
• 1 individual was sentenced to 178 lashes
• 7 million tomans in fines were imposed

Enforcement of Mandatory Hijab and Discrimination

• 24 cases of enforcement actions were carried out under the pretext of “improper hijab”
• 193 commercial establishments were shut down for failure to enforce mandatory hijab regulations
• 1 case of discrimination in a public setting was documented

Monthly Trends

The highest number of reported violations occurred in April
The lowest number of reported violations occurred in October

Prisoners’ Rights Overview

The following statistics reflect documented rights violations assessed by HRA as having occurred in relation to the treatment of prisoners and detainees. These figures are based on 1,112 verified reports collected during the reporting period.

Key Findings

Physical Abuse, Health, and Conditions of Detention

• 30 cases of physical assault against prisoners were documented
• 225 cases of denial of or failure to provide medical care to prisoners and detainees were recorded
• 2,513 cases of prisoners being held in inappropriate conditions were reported
• 9 cases of psychological or physical torture were documented
• 18 deaths of prisoners due to illness were recorded
• 23 suicides among prisoners were documented
• 5 cases of prisoners being killed were reported

Solitary Confinement, Transfers, and Coercion

• 368 cases of unlawful transfer to solitary confinement were recorded
• 43 forced transfers of prisoners were documented
• 224 cases of threats or pressure exerted on prisoners were reported
• 30 cases of forced confessions were documented
• 3 cases involving the use of handcuffs or shackles were recorded

Due Process and Legal Rights

• 104 cases of denial of access to legal counsel were documented
• 55 cases of denial of visitation rights were reported
• 263 cases of denial of the right to make phone calls were recorded
• 19 cases of denial of medical leave were documented
• 18 cases of failure to separate prisoners based on the nature of their crimes were recorded
• 7 cases of failure to separate defendants from convicted prisoners were documented

Protests, Hunger Strikes, and Collective Actions

• 190 hunger strikes by prisoners or detainees were reported
• 5 sit-ins by prisoners were documented

Detainee-Specific Violations

• 19 cases of failure to address detainee complaints were recorded
• 689 cases of enforced disappearance or lack of information regarding detainees were documented
• 1,189 cases of detainees being held in legal limbo were reported

Monthly Trends

The highest number of reported violations occurred in July
The lowest number of reported violations occurred in June

Environmental Rights Overview

The following statistics reflect documented rights violations assessed by HRA as having occurred in relation to environmental rights. These figures are drawn from 1,728 verified reports collected throughout the reporting period.

Key Findings

Environmental Damage and Mismanagement

• 1,621 reports of environmental pollution were documented, including air pollution and contamination of surface and groundwater
• 13 cases of failure to protect natural resources were recorded
• 17 cases of improper exploitation of natural resources were documented
• 9 cases of animal abuse were reported

Protests and Collective Action

• 50 environmental protest gatherings were recorded
• 2 protest gatherings were obstructed

Harm to Environmental Protection Personnel

• 55 environmental protection officers were involved in reported incidents, including:
- • 7 park rangers killed
- • 37 park rangers injured
- • 1 wildlife warden injured
- • 10 forest rangers injured

Monthly Trends

The highest number of reported violations occurred in May
The lowest number of reported violations occurred in June

Sexual and Gender Minorities Overview

The following information reflects documented violations and structural conditions affecting the rights of sexual and gender minorities in Iran. Due to severe underreporting, cultural taboos, and legal barriers, available data represents only a limited portion of actual violations.

Key Findings

Structural and Legal Discrimination

Same-sex relationships are criminalized under Iranian law
Gender identity is not legally recognized for transgender individuals prior to gender reassignment surgery
State policies and legal frameworks blur the distinction between sexual or gender identity and so-called “moral corruption”
Hate speech and incitement against sexual and gender minorities occur openly and with impunity
Civil society monitoring of violations against sexual and gender minorities remains severely limited due to fear, stigma, and repression

Harassment and Abuse by Authorities

Security and law enforcement agencies have, in some instances, acknowledged the detention and harassment of individuals based on sexual orientation or gender identity

Lethal Violence

In 2025, Sogand Pakdel, a transgender woman approximately 25 years old, was shot and killed by her uncle in Kavar, Fars Province
The killing occurred during a family wedding and was reportedly carried out under a so-called “honor” motive

Unlawful Use of Force and Lethal Force Overview

The following statistics reflect documented rights violations assessed by HRA as having occurred through the unlawful or excessive use of force by military or security forces, as well as related state actions affecting civilian safety. These figures are drawn from verified reports collected throughout the reporting period.

Key Findings

Death and Injury of Civilians by Security Forces

• 193 civilians were shot by military or security forces
- • 93 individuals were killed, including:
  - • 19 kolbars
  - • 21 fuel carriers
  - • 53 other civilians
- • 100 individuals were injured, including:
  - • 26 kolbars
  - • 13 fuel carriers
  - • 61 other civilians

Kolbar-Related Incidents

• 9 kolbars were harmed due to harsh geographical or climatic conditions
- • 3 deaths
- • 6 injuries

Fuel Carrier Incidents

• 82 fuel carriers were involved in incidents related to military chases or road accidents
- • 74 deaths
- • 8 injuries

Victims of Landmines and Explosions

• 20 civilians were killed by landmines in border areas
• 22 civilians were injured due to landmine explosions

Floggings, Amputation, and Corporal Punishment

• 96 individuals were sentenced to a total of 5,041 lashes
• 6 individuals had amputation sentences carried out
• 5 individuals were sentenced to limb retribution (qisas)
• At least 3 individuals had corporal punishment sentences of 142 lashes carried out

Intervention in Personal Affairs

• 76 individuals were arrested for organizing or attending private gatherings

Protests by Victims of Financial and Investment Loss

• 257 protest actions were organized by victims of financial or investment fraud
In 5 cases, their attempts to hold a gathering were prevented.
Protests took place across 31 provinces
The highest number of protests occurred in Tehran, Khuzestan, and Qazvin

Monthly Trends

The highest number of reported violations occurred in August
The lowest number of reported violations occurred in June

Judicial Sentences Overview

The following statistics reflect publicly documented judicial sentences issued by Iranian courts, including primary and appellate courts, across multiple rights categories. These figures are based solely on cases in which specific details of verdicts were made public.

Key Findings

Imprisonment Sentences by Category

• 24,190 total months of imprisonment were issued across all documented categories, including:
- • 287 months related to ethnic minority cases
- • 8,075 months related to religious minority cases
- • 14,799 months related to freedom of thought and expression
- • 743 months related to trade unions and associations
- • 75 months related to labor rights
- • 80 months related to women’s rights
- • 131 months related to cultural rights

Corporal Punishment and Financial Penalties

• 5,041 lashes were issued by judicial authorities
• 5 sentences of limb retribution (qisas) were issued
• 932.47 million tomans in fines were imposed

Trends and Comparative Analysis

Overall convictions of activists and citizens decreased by 27.9 percent compared to the previous year
Convictions related to religious minorities increased by 68.7 percent
Convictions related to ethnic minorities decreased by 39 percent
Convictions related to freedom of thought and expression declined by 44.7 percent
Convictions related to trade unions decreased by 16.5 percent
Convictions in the labor sector declined by 75 percent
Convictions related to cultural rights declined by 31.7 percent
Convictions related to women’s rights increased by 40.35 percent

Monthly Trends

The highest number of reported convictions occurred in January
The lowest number of reported convictions occurred in June
• December data is not included in this comparison

Arrests Overview

The following statistics reflect documented arrests of citizens in connection with civil, ideological, political, or rights-related activities. These figures are drawn from verified reports collected throughout the reporting period.

Key Findings

Arrests by Category

• 22,755 individuals were arrested during the reporting period
- • 22,062 arrests related to freedom of thought and expression
- • 304 arrests involving ethnic and national minorities
- • 183 arrests related to religious minorities
- • 44 arrests related to trade unions and professional associations
- • 23 arrests related to labor rights
- • 15 arrests related to student activities
- • 35 arrests involving children

Arrests Related to Lifestyle and Personal Activities

• 13 women were subjected to judicial prosecution due to their activities or lifestyle
• 76 individuals were arrested for organizing or participating in private gatherings

Trends and Comparative Analysis

Arrests of activists and citizens increased by 717.6 percent compared to the previous year
Category-specific changes compared to 2024 include:
- • Ethnic minority arrests increased by 16 percent
- • Religious minority arrests increased by 101 percent
- • Trade and union sector arrests increased by 91.3 percent
- • Women’s rights–related arrests decreased by 97.9 percent
- • Lifestyle-related arrests decreased by 33.3 percent
- • Children’s rights–related arrests increased by 2.9 percent
- • Labor rights–related arrests increased by 109 percent
- • Freedom of thought and expression–related arrests increased by 1286.6 percent

Monthly Trends

The highest number of reported arrests occurred in June
The sharpest decline in reported arrests occurred in April

Individuals Involved in Human Rights Violations Overview

The following information reflects documented cases in which identifiable individuals or institutions were implicated in human rights violations in Iran. These findings are based on reports jointly compiled by Spreading Justice and HRA’s Statistics Department and cover the period from January 1, 2025, to January 1, 2026.

Key Findings

Distribution by Branch of Power

Out of 2,967 reports in which perpetrators were identifiable:
- • 2,366 cases were attributed to the Judiciary
- • 436 cases were attributed to the Executive branch
- • 165 cases were attributed to the Leadership Authority

Human Rights Violating Entities

In reports containing information on responsible institutions, 480 legal entities were identified. The ten institutions with the highest number of documented violations were:

• Ministry of Intelligence – 235 cases
• FARAJA Intelligence Organization – 174 cases
• Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) – 147 cases
• Branch 26, Tehran Revolutionary Court – 43 cases
• Evin Prison – 36 cases
• Branch 36, Tehran Court of Appeals – 24 cases
• Branch 23, Tehran Revolutionary Court – 14 cases
• Branch 1, Sanandaj Revolutionary Court – 14 cases
• Branch 15, Tehran Revolutionary Court – 13 cases
• Branch 1, Mahabad Revolutionary Court – 13 cases

Individuals Involved in Human Rights Violations

A total of 106 individuals were identified as being directly involved in human rights violations. The ten individuals with the highest number of documented cases—all affiliated with the Judiciary as judges—are listed below:

• Iman Afshari, Judge, Revolutionary Court, Tehran – 43 cases
• Abbasali Houzan, Judge, Court of Appeals, Tehran – 24 cases
• Mohammad Taqi Taqizadeh, Judge, Revolutionary Court, Tehran – 14 cases
• Mostafa Azizi, Judge, Revolutionary Court, Sanandaj – 14 cases
• Abolghasem Salavati, Judge, Revolutionary Court, Tehran – 13 cases
• Sajjad Dousti, Judge, Revolutionary Court, Mahabad – 13 cases
• Mohammad-Reza Tavakoli, Judge, Revolutionary Court, Isfahan – 13 cases
• Qasem Hosseini Kouhkamari, Judge, Supreme Court, Tehran – 11 cases
• Ahmad Darvish Goftar, Judge, Revolutionary Court, Rasht – 11 cases
• Ali Ansari, Judge, Criminal Court, Oshnavieh – 9 cases

Institutional Patterns

Revolutionary courts accounted for a significant share of judicially attributed violations
Intelligence and security bodies, including the Ministry of Intelligence and IRGC Intelligence Organization, were repeatedly identified across multiple categories
Prison authorities, particularly in facilities such as Evin Prison, were implicated in a substantial number of reported violations

Reflection on the year

In 2025, HRA continued to advance strategic international advocacy aimed at securing accountability for serious human rights violations and violations of international law in Iran through a wide range of legal, diplomatic, and policy tools. While HRA sustained its advocacy for targeted human rights sanctions, it also emphasized that sanctions are only one component of a broader accountability ecosystem. Throughout the year, HRA identified more than twenty judicial and quasi-judicial pathways to accountability and worked with international partners and policymakers to elevate these mechanisms as viable and complementary routes to justice.

HRA engaged directly with member states and policymakers across Europe, Asia, and North and South America, emphasizing the need for coordinated, evidence-based approaches to accountability. These engagements focused on addressing jurisdictional gaps, strengthening cooperation between states, and ensuring that accountability efforts are informed by rigorous documentation and legal analysis in collaboration with civil society. HRA consistently underscored the critical role of civil society in supporting these processes, particularly in providing verified information, contextual analysis, and victim-centered perspectives.

As part of this effort, HRA met with members of prosecution teams in multiple jurisdictions, providing evidence, analysis, and information to support ongoing and prospective accountability efforts. These engagements aimed to facilitate the use of existing legal frameworks, including universal jurisdiction and other domestic and international mechanisms, to advance investigations into crimes under international law.

HRA’s contributions were grounded in its extensive documentation work and long-term analysis of patterns of abuse and chains of responsibility that, while took place in 2025, are a product of more than 20 years of organizational expertise.

Advocacy on behalf of victims remained central to HRA’s international engagement in 2025, including sustained efforts to amplify the experiences of women and others disproportionately impacted by state repression at the United Nations, in the United States, the United Kingdom, and in the European Parliament.

During the twelve-day Israel-Iran conflict, HRA was the first organization to document the impacts on civilians and civilian infrastructure. In the immediate aftermath, HRA was present with European policymakers, providing expert insights and concrete recommendations on civilian harm, legal implications, and accountability considerations at a critical moment when reliable information was limited. This engagement reinforced HRA’s role as a trusted interlocutor during periods of heightened regional escalation.

HRA continued to work closely with international partners to strengthen accountability efforts across jurisdictions, contributing to more coherent and strategic responses to human rights violations. Through collaboration with NGOs, legal experts, and policymakers, HRA supported approaches that move beyond symbolic measures and toward concrete, enforceable outcomes grounded in documentation.

HRA’s Spreading Justice initiative continued to document individuals and institutions responsible for human rights violations, supporting advocacy for targeted accountability measures and informing international policy discussions. In parallel, the Pasdaran Documentation Project (PDP) continued to document transnational repression perpetrated by the IRGC, while regularly updating its analysis of the IRGC’s chain of command. This work further strengthened the evidentiary foundation for sanctions, judicial proceedings, and other accountability pathways, efforts that remain ongoing.

Through sustained international engagement, comprehensive documentation, and strategic collaboration, HRA continued in 2025 to advance realistic and impactful pathways to accountability for human rights violations in Iran.

The initial version of this report, covering statistical data from January 1, 2025 to December 20, 2025, was published on December 26, 2025, and was replaced on January 3, 2026 with the full version covering January 1, 2025 to January 1, 2026.

Human Rights Activists in Iran
Department of Statistics and Publications
26 December 2025
info @ hra-iran.org

Human Rights Day: Introducing Imprisoned Civil Activists in Iran and Honoring Their Stand Against Human Rights Violations

Human Rights Day is also an opportunity to reexamine the values that form the foundation of human dignity, values such as justice, freedom, and equality, rooted in international documents and human experience

Posted on December 9, 2025February 24, 2026 by . .

News, Other, Publications

Abbas Lesani, Abbas Vahedian Shahroudi, Abdolaziz Azimi Ghadim, Abolfazl Khoran, Ahmadreza Haeri, Ali Kheirjou, Amirsalar Davoudi, Anisha Asadollahi, Arak prison, Arman Shadivand, Arsham Rezaei, Darreh Shahr Prison, Davoud Rezavi, Ehsan Rostami, Evin Prison, Farhad Fahandezh, Fariba Kamalabadi, Fatemeh Sepahri, Fatemeh Tedrisi, golrokh iraee, Hashem Khastar, Hassan Tozandejani, Human Rights day, Jahangir Rostami, Javad Lal Mohammadi, Karaj Central Penitentiary, Lakan Rasht Prison, Mahbubeh Rezaei, Maryam Akbari-Monfared, Maryam Jalal Hosseini, Masoud Farhikhta, Matin Yazdani, Mehran Raoof, Mohammad Abolhasani, Mohammad Davari, Mohammad Najafi, Mohammad Nourizad, Morteza Parvin, Morteza Seyyedi, Narges Mansouri, Narges Mohammadi, Nasrollah Amirlu, Negin Rezaei, Nima Mahdizadegan, Payam Vali, Peyman Farhangian, Qarchak Varamin Prison, Ramin Rostami, Reza Aghdasi, Reza Mohammadhosseini, Saeed Madani, Salar Taher Afshar, Sara Jahani, Shakila Monfared, Sharifeh Mohammadi, Shiva Shah Siah, Tahir Naqavi, Vadoud Asadi, Vakilabad Prison (Mashhad), Yasaman Hashdari, Yousef Kari, Zahra Dadras, Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb, Zohreh Dadras

HRANA News Agency –Human Rights Day is an opportunity to reflect on the condition of imprisoned civil activists in Iran, individuals who are behind bars solely for defending fundamental human rights. HRANA, by publishing a list of these brave activists, calls on the international community to amplify their voices and demand the immediate release of advocates for freedom and justice.

This day serves as a moment to reconsider the role of human rights defenders and civil activists in societies where fundamental rights are still subject to structural violations. Marked annually on the global calendar, it commemorates the principles laid out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted on December 10, 1948, principles that recognize freedom of expression, the prohibition of torture, the right to a fair trial, and human dignity as inalienable rights of all individuals. Nevertheless, the current reality in Iran highlights a stark gap between these international standards and the domestic situation.

In Iran, many human rights defenders, civil society activists, trade unionists, environmentalists, and advocates for fundamental freedoms face the threat of arrest, harsh sentences, and long-term deprivation, even for entirely peaceful activities conducted within the framework of domestic laws. These individuals, who constitute a significant part of the country’s civil society fabric, consistently encounter security pressures, broad restrictions, and systematic rights violations in their pursuit of transparency, justice, and equality. Most have been sentenced following closed-door trials, with limited access to legal counsel and based on vague or unsubstantiated charges, a process that not only contradicts Iran’s international obligations but also deeply impacts the civic space in the country.

In this report, HRANA publishes a list of over 61 imprisoned human rights defenders and civil activists in Iran, including 8 of whom currently being held in pretrial detention. This list is the result of ongoing collection, verification, and documentation efforts, aiming to provide a clear representation of the various dimensions of human rights violations against these defenders. The publication of this list is not merely the release of names; it tells a part of the story of Iranian civil society, in which the struggle to defend human rights can come at the cost of one’s freedom, health, and personal security.

Beyond commemorating foundational principles, Human Rights Day is also an occasion to consider the role of society and international institutions in supporting these defenders. Raising public awareness, demanding accountability from authorities, and supporting activists’ efforts are essential tools for advancing human rights in Iran. Through this report.

This report, in addition to documenting and reporting on these individuals’ conditions, is a step toward transparent and continuous documentation, aimed at preserving the truth, preventing collective amnesia, and laying the groundwork for accountability. Despite pressures and restrictions, human rights defenders in Iran remain a vital part of the collective effort to achieve a freer and more just society. Human Rights Day is a moment to once again bring their names and efforts to the forefront.

List of names:

	1. Mohammad Najafi, Civil Rights Activist *Charges:* Sending a voice message from Arak Prison and expressing support for the 2022 nationwide protests; spreading falsehoods; propaganda against the regime; insulting the Supreme Leader. *Conviction:* At least six separate cases totaling more than 24 years in prison. *Place of imprisonment:* Evin Prison.
	2. Sharifeh Mohammadi, labor activist Charges: Propaganda against the regime; acting against national security; baghi (armed rebellion) through membership in one of the opposition groups. Conviction: Following an order by the head of the judiciary, her sentence was reduced by one degree and changed to 30 years in prison. Place of imprisonment: Lakan Prison in Rasht.
	3. Fatemeh Sepehri, civil activist Charges: Cooperation with hostile governments; assembly and collusion; insulting the Supreme Leader; propaganda against the regime; spreading falsehoods and disturbing public opinion. *Conviction:* In five separate cases, a total of 41 years and 9 months in prison plus a monetary fine. Place of imprisonment: Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.
	4. Golrokh Iraee, civil activist Charges: Assembly and collusion against national security; propaganda against the regime; disrupting public order. Conviction: Five years in prison and social deprivations. Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.
	5. Maryam Akbari Monfared, civil activist Charges: Propaganda against the regime and assembly and collusion against national security. Conviction: Two years in prison. Place of imprisonment: Qarchak Prison in Varamin.
	6. Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb, civil activist Charges: Propaganda against the regime; assembly and collusion to commit crimes against internal and external security. Conviction: In two separate cases, a total of six years and eight months in prison, social deprivations, and exile. Place of imprisonment: Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.
	7- Payam Vali, Baha’i civil activist Charges: Cooperation with hostile governments; inciting or persuading people to war and killing each other; propaganda against the regime. Conviction: In three separate cases, 11 years and 5 months in prison, social deprivations, and exile. Place of imprisonment: Karaj Central Penitentiary.
	8. Mohammad Davari, labor activist Charges: Insulting the Supreme Leader and propaganda against the regime in favor of anti-regime groups on the Internet. Conviction: Four years and six months in prison, social deprivations, and exile. Place of imprisonment: Adelabad Prison in Shiraz.
	9. Hashem Khastar, civil activist Charges: Insulting the founder of the Islamic Republic; insulting sacred values; insulting the Supreme Leader; disturbing public opinion; cooperation with foreign media; participating in unlawful gatherings; and propaganda against the regime. Conviction: In two separate cases, a total of 18 years and six months in prison, social deprivations, and exile. Place of imprisonment: Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.
	10. Anisha Asadollahi, labor activist Charges: Assembly and collusion against national security and propaganda against the regime. Conviction: Five years and eight months in prison. Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.
	11- Mehran Raoof, labor activist Charges: Participation in running an unlawful group and propaganda against the regime. Conviction: Seven years and six months in prison. Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.
	12- Mohammad Nourizad, civil activist Charges: Sending an audio file out of Evin Prison; disrupting public order; spreading falsehoods; insulting the founder of the Islamic Republic; insulting sacred values; insulting the Supreme Leader; disturbing public opinion; cooperation with foreign media; participating in unlawful gatherings; propaganda against the regime; and damaging the door and window of the ward chief’s office. Conviction: In six separate cases, a total of 28 years and 9 months in prison, 148 lashes, and exile. Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.
	13- Saeed Madani, civil activist Charges: Forming and administering anti-regime groups. Conviction: Four years in prison. Place of imprisonment: Damavand Prison.
	14. Ahmadreza Haeri, civil activist Charges: Assembly and collusion with the intent to commit a crime against national security; propaganda activities against the regime; and spreading falsehoods. Conviction: In two separate cases, a total of six years and three months in prison. Place of imprisonment: Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.
	15. Reza (Gholamreza) Aghdasi, labor activist Charges: Propaganda against the regime and assembly and collusion with the intent to commit a crime against national security. Conviction: Four years and three months in prison. Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison
	16. Arman Shadivand, environmental activist Charges: Propaganda against the regime and insulting the Supreme Leader. Conviction: Two years in prison. Place of imprisonment: Darreh Shahr Prison.
	17. Narges Mansouri, civil activist Charges: Assembly and collusion against national security, and propaganda against the regime. Conviction: Nine years in prison. Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.
	18. Abbas Vahedian Shahroudi, civil activist Charges: Forming a group with the intent to act against national security, and cooperating with groups opposing the regime. Conviction: A total of 24 years in prison and two years of exile in three separate cases. Place of imprisonment: Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.
	19. Mohammad Abolhasani, civil activist Charges: Disrupting public order; assembly and collusion against national security; and propaganda activities against the regime. Conviction: In three separate cases, a total of five years and three months in prison, social deprivations, and 12 lashes. The flogging sentence has been carried out. Place of imprisonment: Choubindar Prison in Qazvin.
	20- Taher Naghavi, attorney and civil activist Charges: Propaganda against the regime and assembly and collusion with the intent to disrupt national security. Conviction: Six years in prison and social deprivations. Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.
	21- Maryam Jalal Hosseini, civil activist Charges: Inciting and persuading people to war and violence against one another with the intent to disrupt national security; propaganda against the regime; insulting the Supreme Leader; and forming a group aimed at undermining national security. Conviction: Six years in prison and exile. Place of imprisonment: Kachouei Prison in Karaj.
	22- Shakila Monfared, civil activist Charges: Membership in anti-regime groups; destruction of public property; disrupting public order and public peace; propaganda activities against the regime; and insulting Islamic sacred values. Conviction: In four separate cases, a total of 15 years and five months in prison, ten lashes, social deprivations, and exile. Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.
	23- Morteza Seydi, labor activist Charges: Forming a group under the name of a labor union with the intent to disrupt national security. Conviction: Two years in prison. Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.
	24. Nasrollah Amirloo, labor activist Charges: Forming a group under the name of a labor union with the intent to disrupt national security. Conviction: Two years in prison. Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.
	25. Morteza Parvin, Azerbaijani-Turk activist Charges: Propaganda against the regime and assembly and collusion with the intent to disrupt national security. Conviction: Six years in prison. Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.
	26. Foad Fathi, labor activist Charges: Membership in anti-regime groups; acting against national security; and propaganda against the regime. Conviction: Four years in prison. Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.
	27. Abdolrasoul Mortazavi, civil activist Charges: Insulting the founder of the Islamic Republic; insulting sacred values; insulting the Supreme Leader; disturbing public opinion; cooperating with foreign media; participating in unlawful gatherings; propaganda against the regime; and disrupting public order. Conviction: In three separate cases, 30 years in prison, with the maximum cumulative sentence stated as 15 years in prison. Place of imprisonment: Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan.
	28. Fariba Kamalabadi, Baha’i civil activist Charges: Administering an organization described by authorities as a “deviant and misguided sect” with the aim of disrupting national security. Conviction: Ten years in prison. Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.
	29. Javad La’al-Mohammadi, civil activist Charges: Giving interviews to foreign media and membership in anti-regime groups. Conviction: In three separate cases, a total of 23 years in prison. Place of imprisonment: Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.
	30- Golareh Abbasi, civil activist Charges: Assembly and collusion against national security, and propaganda against the regime. Conviction: 33 months in prison. Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.
	31. Arsham Rezaei, civil activist Charges: Assembly and collusion with the intent to commit a crime against national security; propaganda activities against the regime; inciting people to clashes and bloodshed; acquiring illicit gains; and spreading falsehoods. Conviction: In two separate cases, a total of 15 years in prison, a monetary fine, 50 lashes, and social deprivations. Place of imprisonment: Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.
	32- Vadood Asadi, Azerbaijani-Turk activist Charges: Propaganda against the regime; membership in opposition groups; insulting the Supreme Leader; and assembly and collusion against national security. Conviction: In two separate cases, a total of six years and three months in prison. Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.
	33- Salar Taher Afshar, Azerbaijani-Turk activist Charges: Assembly and collusion against national security. Conviction: Five years in prison. Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.
	34. Abdolaziz Azimi-Ghadim, Azerbaijani-Turk activist Charges: Propaganda against the regime and assembly, and collusion against national security. Conviction: Six years in prison. Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.
	35. Elham Salehi, civil activist Charges: Propaganda activities against the regime; spreading falsehoods; and appearing in public without a hijab. Conviction: One year in prison and complementary punishments. Place of imprisonment: Qarchak Prison in Varamin.
	36. Abolfazl Khoran, teachers’ union activist Charges: Insulting sacred values and disrupting public order and public peace. Conviction: A total of six years in prison, 74 lashes, and a 40 million toman fine in two separate cases. Place of imprisonment: Arak Prison.
	37- Masoud Farhikhteh, teachers’ union activist Charges: Assembly and collusion with the intent to commit crimes against the country’s internal security, and propaganda activities against the regime. Conviction: Four years, one month, and 17 days in prison. Place of imprisonment: Karaj Central Penitentiary.
	38- Reza Mohammad-Hosseini, civil activist Charges: Membership in anti-regime groups with the aim of disrupting national security; assembly and collusion to commit a crime against national security; and propaganda activities against the regime. Conviction: Initially 41 years and six months, later reduced to five years in prison at the appeals stage. Place of imprisonment: Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.
	39- Mahboobeh Rezaei, civil activist Charges: Membership in anti-regime groups with the aim of disrupting national security; assembly and collusion with the intent to commit a crime against national security; propaganda activities against the regime; insulting Islamic sacred values; unveiling (appearing without hijab); and displaying immoral behavior in cyberspace. Conviction: Initially 19 years and 9 months, later reduced to five years in prison at the appeals stage. Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.
	40. Abbas Lessani, Azerbaijani-Turk activist Charges: Forming an unlawful group; assembly and collusion against national security; and disrupting public order. Conviction: He is being held in pretrial detention and has not yet been tried. Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.
	41. Farhad Fahandej, Baha’i civil activist Charges: No information has yet been made available regarding the charges brought against Mr. Fahandej. Conviction: He is being held in pretrial detention and has not been tried. Place of imprisonment: A Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facilities in Gorgan.
	42. Jahangir Rostami, teachers’ union activist Charges: No information has yet been made available regarding the charges brought against Mr. Rostami. Conviction: He is being held in pretrial detention and has not been tried. Place of imprisonment: The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, known as Ward 209 of Evin Prison.
	43. Ehsan Rostami, cultural activist Charges: No information has yet been made available regarding the charges brought against Mr. Rostami. Conviction: He is being held in pretrial detention and has not been tried. Place of imprisonment: The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, known as Ward 209 of Evin Prison.
	44. Hassan Tozandehjani, cultural activist Charges: No information has yet been made available regarding the charges brought against Mr. Tozandehjani. Conviction: He is being held in pretrial detention and has not been tried. Place of imprisonment: The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, known as Ward 209 of Evin Prison.
	45. Ramin Rostami, cultural activist Charges: No information has yet been made available regarding the charges brought against Mr. Rostami. Conviction: He is being held in pretrial detention and has not been tried. Place of imprisonment: The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, known as Ward 209 of Evin Prison.
	46. Nima Mahdizadegan, cultural activist Charges: No information has yet been made available regarding the charges brought against Mr. Mahdizadegan. Conviction: He is being held in pretrial detention and has not been tried. Place of imprisonment: The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, known as Ward 209 of Evin Prison.
	47. Mehdi Farrahi Shandiz, teachers’ union activist Charges: No information has yet been made available regarding the charges brought against Mr. Farrahi Shandiz. Conviction: He is being held in pretrial detention and has not been tried. Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison.
The following list includes activists who are currently outside prison due to a suspension of their sentences, furlough, or other similar circumstances:
	1. Narges Mohammadi, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and human rights activist Charges: Propaganda activities against the Islamic Republic of Iran through publishing a statement (the statement against executions); staging a sit-in inside the prison office; disobeying the prison warden and officials (for refusing to end the protest sit-in); breaking windows; defamation and causing bodily harm; confrontation with an officer and disobedience; and additional propaganda activities against the regime. Conviction: In seven separate cases, a total of 15 years and six months in prison, 74 lashes, exile, and social deprivations. Place of imprisonment: Evin Prison (currently on medical furlough with the execution of her sentence temporarily suspended).
	2- Amirsalar Davoudi, attorney and human rights activist Charges: Insulting the Supreme Leader; disturbing public opinion; and forming an anti-security group. Conviction: 14 years in prison. Case status: Following the Supreme Court’s Branch 39 decision to accept his request for retrial and refer the case to a parallel branch, the enforcement of his sentence has been halted.
	3- Fatemeh (Mojgan) Tadrisi, civil activist Charges: Inciting and persuading people to war and violence against one another with the intent to disrupt national security; propaganda against the regime; insulting the Supreme Leader; and forming a group aimed at undermining national security. Conviction: Six years in prison and exile. Place of imprisonment: Kachouei Prison in Karaj (currently on medical furlough).
	4. Peyman Farhangian, labor activist Charges: Propaganda against the regime and forming a group with the intent to disrupt public order. Conviction: In two separate cases, a total of 11 years in prison and social deprivations. Place of imprisonment: Azbaram Prison in Lahijan (currently on furlough).
	5. Jelveh Javaheri, women’s rights activist Charges: Propaganda against the regime. Conviction: One year in prison. Case status: Following the request for retrial at the Supreme Court, the execution of her sentence has been temporarily halted, and she has been released on bail pending review.
	6. Yasamin Heshdari, women’s rights activist Charges: Membership in a group and assembly and collusion with the intent to disrupt national security. Conviction: Six years, one month, and 17 days in prison. Case status: Following the request for retrial at the Supreme Court, the execution of her sentence has been temporarily halted, and she has been released on bail.
	7- Sara Jahani, women’s rights activist Charges: Membership in a group and assembly and collusion with the intent to disrupt national security. Conviction: Six years, one month, and 17 days in prison. Case status: Following the request for retrial at the Supreme Court, the execution of her sentence has been temporarily halted, and she has been released on bail.
	8- Matin Yazdani, women’s rights activist Charges: Membership in a group and assembly and collusion with the intent to disrupt national security. Conviction: Six years, one month, and 17 days in prison. Case status: Following the request for retrial at the Supreme Court, the execution of her sentence has been temporarily halted, and she has been released on bail.
	9- Negin Rezaei, women’s rights activist Charges: Membership in a group and assembly and collusion with the intent to disrupt national security. Conviction: Six years, one month, and 17 days in prison. Case status: Following the request for retrial at the Supreme Court, the execution of her sentence has been temporarily halted, and she has been released on bail.
	10- Forough Sami-Nia, women’s rights activist Charges: Membership in a group and assembly and collusion with the intent to disrupt national security. Conviction: Six years, one month, and 17 days in prison. Case status: Following the request for retrial at the Supreme Court, the execution of her sentence has been temporarily halted, and she has been released on bail.
	11- Shiva Shah-Siah, women’s rights activist Charges: Membership in a group and assembly and collusion with the intent to disrupt national security. Conviction: Six years, one month, and 17 days in prison. Case status: Following the request for retrial at the Supreme Court, the execution of her sentence has been temporarily halted, and she has been released on bail.
	12- Azadeh Chavoshian, women’s rights activist Charges: Membership in a group and assembly and collusion with the intent to disrupt national security. Conviction: Six years, one month, and 17 days in prison. Case status: Following the request for retrial at the Supreme Court, the execution of her sentence has been temporarily halted, and she has been released on bail.
	13- Zohreh (Fatemeh) Dadras, women’s rights activist Charges: Forming a group with the aim of disrupting national security, and assembly and collusion with the intent to disrupt national security. Conviction: Nine years, six months, and two days in prison. Case status: Following the request for retrial at the Supreme Court, the execution of her sentence has been temporarily halted, and she has been released on bail.
	14. Zahra Dadras, women’s rights activist Charges: Membership in a group and assembly, and collusion with the intent to disrupt national security. Conviction: Six years, one month, and 17 days in prison. Case status: Following the request for retrial at the Supreme Court, the execution of her sentence has been temporarily halted, and she has been released on bail.

Human Rights Day is also an opportunity to re-examine the values that form the foundation of human dignity, values such as justice, freedom, and equality, rooted in international documents and human experience. The names recorded in this report reflect only a portion of a broader reality, one in which human rights defenders and civil activists in Iran, solely for their commitment to human principles and peaceful activities, face deprivation of liberty, security pressures, and fundamental rights violations.

These individuals, despite the limitations and high costs, embody values recognized by the international community. Silence or indifference toward their condition is not only a disregard for human suffering but also a dismissal of the principles on which the international system is built. In this context, on Human Rights Day, the following are demanded from Iranian authorities and the international community:

• Immediately and unconditionally release all individuals detained for the peaceful exercise of their rights, and review all related convictions to vacate unjust charges and ensure reparations for victims.

• End unlawful restrictions on the freedom of expression, association, assembly, and civic engagement, and halt the use of vague national security charges that criminalize peaceful dissent.

• Guarantee due process and fair trial rights, including access to independent legal counsel from the moment of arrest, transparent legal proceedings, and full access to families, medical care, and communication.

• Prohibit torture and all forms of ill-treatment, end the use of coerced forced confessions, and allow independent monitoring and inspections of all detention facilities.

• Allow independent monitoring and international engagement, including granting access to the UN Fact-Finding Mission, Special Rapporteurs (Thematic and Geographic Mandates), and credible civil society organizations to assess conditions and investigate violations.

• Establish effective accountability and oversight mechanisms to prevent recurrence of abuses, ensure judicial independence, reform vague criminal provisions enabling arbitrary detention, and hold perpetrators who enable the cycle of abuse against activists, responsible.

Finally, civil society as well as citizens across the globe are called upon to continue their support, advocacy, and awareness-raising efforts, ensuring that the situation of these prisoners is not sidelined. Amplifying their voices and demanding adherence to human rights obligations are essential steps toward achieving lasting change and alleviating the suffering of those who have sacrificed their freedom in defense of human rights.

HRANA – May 1st marks International Workers’ Day, offering another opportunity to reflect on the condition of the country’s labor community and their numerous challenges, particularly regarding wages and salaries, unpaid wages, workplace safety, and the right to form labor unions.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

HRANA – On the occasion of World Day for Safety and Health at Work, the Human Rights Activists in Iran have examined the situation of workplace accidents caused by unsafe environments or working conditions over the period from 3 May 2025 to 27 April 2026.

Freedom of Thought and Expression

Workers’ Rights

Trade and Labor Unions

Prisoners’ Rights

Executions

Religious Minority Rights

Protests and Strikes

Killing of Citizens

Landmine and Explosion Victims

Flogging and Amputation Sentences

Arrests

Convictions

HRANA- Published today, this comprehensive report examines developments during the first fifty days following the eruption of nationwide protests in Iran on December 28, 2025, providing a detailed account of the unfolding events and the state response from December 2025 through February 2026.

Monitoring Overview

Ethnic Rights Overview

Tolerance and Religious Freedoms Overview

Freedom of Thought and Expression Overview

Rights of Trade Unions and Associations Overview

Right to Education Overview

Right to Life (Death Penalty) Overview

Cultural Rights Overview

Labor Rights Overview

Children’s Rights Overview

Women’s Rights Overview

Prisoners’ Rights Overview

Environmental Rights Overview

Sexual and Gender Minorities Overview

Unlawful Use of Force and Lethal Force Overview

Judicial Sentences Overview

Arrests Overview

Individuals Involved in Human Rights Violations Overview

Reflection on the year

The following list includes activists who are currently outside prison due to a suspension of their sentences, furlough, or other similar circumstances: