Tag: HRANA

Execution of a Prisoner in Nahavand Prison

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Executions, News
Bijan Soleimani, HRANA, Nahavand Prison

HRANA – At dawn on Wednesday, September 24, a prisoner previously sentenced to death on a murder charge was executed in Nahavand Prison.

HRANA has confirmed the identity of the prisoner as Bijan Soleimani. Based on information received by HRANA, Mr. Soleimani had previously been arrested on a murder charge and later sentenced to death by a criminal court.

As of the time of this report, the execution has not been announced by prison authorities or judicial officials.

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

Atash Shakarami Sentenced to 38 Lashes

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Freedom of Expression, News
Atash Shakarami, HRANA, Nika Shakarami, آتش شاکرمی, نیکا شاکرمی

HRANA – Atash Shakarami has been sentenced by the Lorestan Province Court of Appeals to receive 38 lashes.

Ms. Shakarami announced in a public statement that her conviction was recently confirmed in full by the Court of Appeals. She had previously been sentenced by Branch 106 of the Khorramabad Criminal Court (Second Class) to 38 lashes on the charge of “spreading falsehoods.”

Without mentioning specifics of the charges, Ms. Shakarami stated that the case was opened following a private complaint.

Atash Shakarami, who has a prior record of arrest, is the aunt of Nika Shakarami, one of those killed during the 2022 nationwide protests.

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) strictly prohibits inhumane and degrading punishments such as flogging and amputation.

Qarchak Varamin Prison: Repeated Deaths Caused by Lack of Medical Care and Treatment Facilities

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News, Prisoners
HRANA, Maryam Akbari-Monfared, Marziyeh Farsi, Parvin Mirasan, Qarchak Prison, Raheleh Rahemipour, Somayeh Rashidi, Sudabeh Asadi, Varamin

HRANA – Repeated Deaths in Qarchak Varamin Prison Amid Medical Neglect and Lack of Treatment Facilities

Systematic violations of prisoners’ rights in Qarchak Varamin Prison, particularly the denial of medical care, continue to result in fatalities. Inadequate access to health services and delays in transferring prisoners to hospitals remain among the most critical issues, repeatedly leading to preventable deaths.

In the most recent case, Somayeh Rashidi, a political detainee, died yesterday after prison doctors misdiagnosed her condition and failed to transfer her to a hospital in time. On Tuesday, September 16, she was eventually taken to Mofatteh Hospital in Varamin after her health deteriorated. By then, her level of consciousness was critically low, and doctors described her condition as beyond recovery.

Less than a week earlier, on Friday, September 19, Jamileh Azizi, a prisoner convicted of financial charges, also died following medical neglect. She was taken to the prison infirmary with symptoms of a heart attack. Despite clear warning signs, doctors dismissed her condition and sent her back to her ward, where she soon died in Moshar 2.

Today, HRANA also confirmed the death of Sudabeh Asadi, another prisoner held on financial charges, further underscoring the lethal consequences of medical deprivation in this facility.

A former staff member of Qarchak told HRANA:

“One of the prison’s most serious problems is poor medical care. The infirmary doesn’t even have a blood pressure monitor. Oxygen tanks are often empty, the ECG machine is broken, and no defibrillator is available. Transfers to hospitals face complicated procedures and are frequently blocked.”

He continued:

“Medical diagnoses are often incorrect, and prisoners are regularly accused of faking illness. Medicine is in short supply—sometimes a single bottle of syrup is given to all prisoners with a common cold. Because of overcrowding, each prisoner is allowed only one infirmary visit per month. Even basic equipment such as stretchers and wheelchairs is missing, severely limiting urgent care.”

A prisoner recently told family members about the behavior of medical staff:

“When we go to the infirmary, not only are we not properly examined, but we’re insulted with comments like, ‘You’re not dead yet,’ ‘Why do you keep coming here?’ and ‘I wish you’d die sooner.’”

According to HRANA’s information, several political prisoners—including Raheleh Rahemipour, Parvin Mirasan, Maryam Akbari Monfared, Marziyeh Farsi, and Shiva Esmaeili—suffer from multiple health problems. The number of non-political prisoners facing similar conditions remains unknown, though investigations are ongoing.

Qarchak Varamin Prison holds at least 1,000 inmates. A former employee told HRANA:

“The prison has at least 11 wards. Political prisoners are held in quarantine, financial prisoners and sick detainees in Moshar 2, and foreign nationals are housed among other prisoners depending on their charges.”

Additional concerns include frequent power and water outages, lack of cooling systems that contribute to widespread skin diseases, broken bathroom facilities that force inmates to queue for long periods, and failed ventilation that worsens already poor hygiene.

Food quality is another major issue. A relative of one inmate explained:

“Meals for prisoners convicted of general crimes are both smaller and of lower quality than those for others. If chicken is on the menu, they only get a few shredded scraps floating in broth—no real pieces of chicken in the stew.”

Following Israeli strikes on Evin Prison, HRANA reported the large-scale transfer of female political prisoners from Evin to Qarchak. Since then, those placed in Ward 11 (formerly the quarantine ward) have faced severe overcrowding, lack of ventilation, shortages of essential items, and discriminatory treatment by officials—conditions that families continue to raise concerns about, but which remain unresolved.

Uncertainty Surrounds the Situation of Detained Citizen Arman Oskouei in Mashhad

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News, Prisoners
Arman Oskooie, Arman Oskouei, HRANA, Mashhad, آرمان اسکویی

HRANA  – Seyed Arman Oskouei, a resident of Mashhad, has been in custody for six days after being arrested by security forces in the city. His whereabouts and current condition remain unknown.

A source close to his family told HRANA:
“On Saturday, September 20, Arman Oskouei was arrested by security forces in Mashhad. Since his arrest, he has had no contact with his family. Efforts by his family to obtain information from judicial and security authorities about his fate have yielded no results. The lack of information has deepened the family’s concern for his safety.”

Further details, including the reasons for his arrest and the charges against him, are still under investigation by HRANA.

Seyed Arman Oskouei, 30, and a resident of Mashhad, was previously arrested by security forces during the nationwide protests of 2022 and later released.

Following Delay in Hospital Transfer; Somayeh Rashidi Dies

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News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, HRANA, Qarchak, Somayeh Rashidi, Varamin, سمیه رشیدی

HRANA- Somayeh Rashidi, a detained citizen, died in hospital on the morning of Thursday, September 25, after prison officials delayed her transfer to medical facilities and failed to provide adequate medical care.

On September 16, her health sharply deteriorated, and she suffered a severe seizure. In a state of severely reduced consciousness, she was transferred from Qarchak Prison in Varamin to Mofatteh Hospital, where she later passed away.

A source close to her family told HRANA:
“Ms. Rashidi had long complained of health problems, but prison officials, despite her repeated visits to the infirmary, refused to take her condition seriously. On some occasions, they even accused her of faking illness. She was only given psychiatric and sedative medications, which further worsened her health. On September 15, she suffered a severe seizure and was taken to Mofatteh Hospital with a consciousness level of five. According to hospital doctors, the delay in her transfer was the primary cause of her irreversible deterioration.”

The Judiciary’s media center, while confirming her death, claimed that upon entering prison, Ms. Rashidi disclosed an addiction to synthetic drugs as well as a history of psychiatric disorders and seizures. Mizan News Agency further alleged that she had been prescribed and received all necessary medications by prison doctors.

The Judiciary also stated that during her detention, Ms. Rashidi was examined eight times by a general practitioner, six times by psychiatric and internal medicine specialists, and was twice referred to forensic authorities for psychological evaluation.

However, information obtained by HRANA indicates that her condition steadily declined throughout detention, and that the medical care provided was inadequate and, at times, substandard. Her family had previously expressed concern over her health, but their warnings went unheeded.

Instead of addressing the circumstances of her death, Judiciary-affiliated outlets focused their reporting on her alleged background, claiming links to the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK) and past arrests on similar accusations. They further alleged involvement in sabotage activities, while failing to acknowledge the delays in her transfer to hospital, the medical neglect she endured, or the state’s legal responsibility for her health and safety in custody. Publishing such claims posthumously, without verifiable evidence, raises concerns that officials are attempting to deflect accountability for her death.

Ms. Rashidi was arrested on April 25 of this year for writing slogans in the Javadieh neighborhood of Tehran. After two days in custody at the 15 Khordad Police Investigation Center, she was transferred to the women’s ward of Evin Prison. Following the Israeli attack on Evin Prison, she and dozens of other women were relocated to Qarchak Women’s Prison in Varamin.

Throughout her detention, Ms. Rashidi struggled with ongoing medical issues and lack of adequate care. A source close to her family told HRANA:
“Somayeh Rashidi had a history of psychiatric disorders that appeared periodically. These episodes caused loss of concentration and impaired movement, at times leaving her unable to walk or manage daily tasks without the help of fellow prisoners.”

Somayeh Rashidi was born in 1983 and lived in Tehran.

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More than Two Decades Behind Bars, Prisoner Profiles – No. 6: Nazem Barihi

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News, Prisoners
20years, ahvaz, HRANA, Nazem Barihi, TwoDecadesBehindBars, ناظم بریهی

HRANA – Many political and religious prisoners in Iran have endured over twenty years behind bars. To prevent their cases from fading from public memory in the flow of daily news, HRANA has launched a series of reports highlighting their situations. Each installment outlines the prisoner’s legal case, detention conditions, access to rights, and immediate needs.

In this report, HRANA, the news arm of Human Rights Activists in Iran, examines the latest situation of Nazem Barihi after two decades of imprisonment.

Profile Information

• Name: Nazem Barihi
• Year of arrest: 2005
• Charges: “acting against national security, moharebeh (enmity against God), and corruption on earth”
• Initial sentence: life imprisonment
• Current sentence: life imprisonment
• Place of detention: Initially held in Karun Prison, Ahvaz; currently in Ward 5 of Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz.
• Furlough/access: No furlough reported in recent years; limited access to family and lawyer.
• Current status: Still serving a life sentence, despite legal changes that could allow for review or commutation.

Case History and Judicial Process

Nazem Barihi, born in 1986, was arrested by security forces in October 2005. Soon after, Branch 1 of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court sentenced him to life imprisonment on charges of “acting against national security, moharebeh, and corruption on earth.”
This sentence placed him among prisoners serving indefinite terms, effectively prolonging incarceration for many years while limiting opportunities for judicial review.

Key Points in the Process

• Severe security charges: The charge of moharebeh is one of the gravest in Iran’s political-security cases, usually carrying harsh judicial and executive consequences.
• Continued imprisonment despite legal changes: Although amendments now allow for retrial, commutation, or conditional release in some cases, Mr. Barihi remains imprisoned.

Detention Conditions and Transfers

During his imprisonment, he has been held in Karun and Sheiban prisons in Ahvaz. After sentencing, he spent several years in Karun Prison. Reports indicate that in February 2019 and January 2025, he was subjected to verbal abuse and violence by Sheiban Prison officials. In January 2025, after protesting the authorities’ failure to uphold the principle of separation of crimes, he was threatened with solitary confinement or exile to remote prisons. Since then, he has remained in Sheiban Prison.

Observations on Standards of Detention

• Repeated transfers: Moves between wards and prisons disrupt access to family, lawyer, and medical services.
• Exposure to violence: In February 2019, Sheiban officials exploited prisoners’ religious differences and ignored separation-of-crimes standards, leading to pressure and violence against him.
• Denial of medical treatment: Despite suffering from a skin condition during his two decades in prison, he has been repeatedly denied hospital transfer and specialist treatment under various pretexts. Denial of medical care violates the right to health and life, and amounts to inhuman treatment often used as a means of further repression.

Access to Family, Lawyer, and Furlough

In recent years, Mr. Barihi has not received furlough, and his access to family and legal counsel remains restricted. Such limitations not only affect his psychological and social well-being but also hinder his right to mount an effective defense and pursue retrial mechanisms.

Potential Legal Avenues (General Recommendations)

1. Request retrial based on new evidence or procedural/substantive flaws in the verdict.

2. Seek commutation or conversion of the sentence if legal grounds exist.

3. Evaluate eligibility for parole or suspension of sentence (considering time served, conduct, and health).

4. Pursue remedies for violations in prison, including denial of medical care, exposure to violence, and restricted visits.

5. Engage international human rights mechanisms if domestic legal routes remain blocked.

Timeline Summary

• 2005: Arrest; charged with “acting against national security, moharebeh, and corruption on earth.”
• Initial sentence: life imprisonment.
• Post-sentencing: several years in Karun Prison, Ahvaz.
• Feb 2019: Reports of assault linked to failure to enforce separation of crimes in Sheiban Prison.
• Jan 2025: Threatened with solitary confinement or exile after protesting the same issue.
• Recent years: No furlough, inadequate medical care, restricted family and lawyer access.
• Current status: Still serving life sentence, despite potential eligibility for legal review.

Conclusion and Need for Review

Although legal changes could enable retrial, commutation, or release for those charged with moharebeh, Mr. Barihi remains in prison. His case highlights both the long-term use of harsh security sentences and the urgent need for consistent review of such cases.

His file underscores the dual challenges of denied fundamental rights in prison (furlough, visits, legal counsel) and the necessity of utilizing all domestic and international mechanisms to secure a reduction of his sentence and eventual release.

Urgent Needs

• Regular and non-discriminatory access to family and lawyer.
• Independent medical evaluation in light of reported violence and ongoing health issues.
• Review of retrial or other legal mechanisms for reduction or suspension of sentence.
• Enforcement of prison regulations regarding contact, visits, and furlough.
• Access to proper medical services and treatment.

About this Series

This report is part of the “Two Decades Behind Bars” series, which aims to document the cases of long-term prisoners and to highlight the collective responsibility to ensure their visibility and pursue their rights.

Death Sentence of Peyman Farah-Avar Upheld by Supreme Court

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Executions, News, Prisoners
Ahmad Darvish Goftar, HRANA, Lakan prison, Peyman Farah-Avar, Peyman Farahavar, Ramin Safarnia, پیمان فرح آور

HRANA – The death sentence of Peyman (Amin) Farah-Avar, a poet from Gilan currently held in Lakan Prison, Rasht, has been upheld by Branch 39 of the Supreme Court.

Ramin Safarnia, Mr. Farah-Avar’s defense lawyer, announced that Branch 39 of the Supreme Court rejected his client’s appeal and confirmed the death sentence. He added that a petition for retrial will be submitted to the country’s highest judicial authority.

Mr. Farah-Avar’s original death sentence was issued by Branch 1 of the Rasht Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Ahmad Darvish Goftar, on charges of “Baghi” (armed rebellion) and “Moharebeh” (enmity against God).

A source close to the prisoner’s family told HRANA: “These charges were leveled against Mr. Farah-Avar based on his poetry and protest activities in the areas of social justice and civil rights.”

Farah-Avar was arrested by security forces in September 2024 and taken to The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility. He was later transferred to Lakan Prison following the interrogation phase.

A father of a 10-year-old boy, Peyman (Amin) Farah-Avar has previously been detained for his activism.

Drug-Related Charges; Three Prisoners Executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj

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Executions, News
Ahmad-Reza Geravand, Farshad Geravand, HRANA, Kuhdasht

HRANA – At dawn on Wednesday, September 24, the death sentences of three prisoners previously convicted on drug-related charges were carried out in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj.

The identities of those executed this morning were confirmed by HRANA as Ahmad-Reza Geravand and Farshad Geravand, both from Kuhdasht, and an individual named Amir (last name unknown).

These prisoners had previously been arrested on drug-related charges and later sentenced to death by Revolutionary Courts.

On September 21, HRANA reported that 14 prisoners in Ghezel Hesar Prison, all convicted on drug-related charges, had been transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for execution.

As of the time of this report, the executions of these prisoners have not been announced by prison officials or relevant authorities.

According to HRANA’s statistics, Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj carried out the highest number of executions among all Iranian prisons, with 150 inmates hanged. This figure has nearly doubled compared to the previous year – a deeply alarming increase that underscores the escalating use of capital punishment in Iran.

More than Two Decades Behind Bars, Prisoner Profiles – No. 5: Saeed Masouri

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News, Prisoners
ahvaz, Evin, Ghezel Hesar, HRANA, Rajai-Shahr, Saeed Masouri, TwoDecadesBehindBars, سعید ماسوری

HRANA – Many political and religious prisoners in Iran have endured over twenty years behind bars. To prevent their cases from fading from public memory in the flow of daily news, HRANA has launched a series of reports highlighting their situations. Each installment outlines the prisoner’s legal case, detention conditions, access to rights, and immediate needs.

In this installment, HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, reviews the current situation of Saeed Masouri after more than two decades in prison.

Profile

• Name: Saeed Masouri

• Year of Arrest: 2000 (1379 in the Iranian calendar)

• Declared Charge: Moharebeh (enmity against God) through membership in the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI)

• Initial Sentence: Death

• Current Sentence: Life imprisonment (commuted by one degree)

• Detention Locations:

◦ 14 months in solitary confinement at the Ahvaz Ministry of Intelligence detention facility

◦ Ward 209 of Evin Prison

◦ Several years in Rajai Shahr Prison (Karaj), including transfers between wards

◦ June 2015: moved to the IRGC-controlled ward of Rajai Shahr

◦ August 2017: forcibly transferred from Ward 12 to Ward 10 of Rajai Shahr

◦ August 2023: after Rajai Shahr’s closure, moved to Ward 8, Hall 10 of Evin Prison, then a month later to Ghezel Hesar Prison

◦ September 2023: transferred from the secure unit (Ward 3) of Ghezel Hesar to Dar al-Quran Hall (Ward 4), designated for drug-related prisoners

◦ August 2025: exiled from Ghezel Hesar to Zahedan Prison; after rejection there, secretly transferred and ultimately returned on August 5, 2025, to solitary confinement in Ghezel Hesar

• Furlough/Access: No furlough reported in recent years; limited access to family and lawyer

• Current Status: Serving life imprisonment despite legal changes that could allow review or sentence reduction

Case History

Dr. Saeed Masouri, born in 1965, lived in Norway for his studies. Upon returning to Iran, he was arrested in Dezful on January 8, 2001, on charges of membership in the PMOI. His family was informed in May 2001.

In 2002, the Revolutionary Court in Tehran sentenced him to death on charges of moharebeh. His sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment. While this prevented execution, it effectively placed him among those serving indefinite sentences, limiting opportunities for judicial review or relief.

Key points in the case:

• Severe security charges: Moharebeh is among the most serious charges in Iran’s political-security cases, carrying broad judicial and punitive consequences.

• Sentence commutation: The initial death sentence and its later reduction to life imprisonment demonstrate both the severity of the charge and the judiciary’s capacity for intervention, but do not necessarily address concerns over fairness of proceedings.

• Continued imprisonment despite legal reforms: Although recent legal changes allow retrial, sentence reductions, or conditional release, Masouri remains imprisoned.

Detention and Transfers

Throughout his imprisonment, Masouri has been repeatedly moved: from solitary confinement in Ahvaz, to Ward 209 of Evin, to Rajai Shahr, and later to Ghezel Hesar and Zahedan. These transfers have often involved violence, including beatings during moves in 2017, 2023, and 2025.

He has staged hunger strikes in protest, including after being beaten and transferred without warning in 2017. Following Zahedan Prison’s refusal to accept him in August 2025, he was held in an unknown location for several days before being returned to Ghezel Hesar.

Observations on Conditions

• Repeated transfers: Frequent relocations disrupt access to family, lawyer, and healthcare.

• Solitary confinement as punishment: He spent 14 months in solitary in Ahvaz, and has repeatedly been returned to solitary in later years, including in 2013, 2017, 2023, and 2025.

• Exposure to violence: Reports document physical and verbal abuse in Ahvaz, Rajai Shahr, Evin, Ghezel Hesar, and during forced transfers.

• Medical neglect: Despite suffering from chronic back pain, eye and dental problems, a broken ankle, urinary bleeding, and needing ultrasound examinations, prison authorities have systematically obstructed his access to specialized care. Denial of medical treatment is considered inhuman treatment and a violation of the right to health and even life.

Access to Family, Lawyer, and Furlough

In recent years, Masouri has been denied furlough. His access to family and his lawyer remains limited, negatively affecting both his mental well-being and his ability to pursue legal remedies.

Potential Legal Avenues (General Recommendations)

1. Retrial (Eda‘e Dadrasi): Based on new evidence or substantive/procedural flaws.

2. Sentence reduction or commutation: If legal grounds exist.

3. Conditional release/suspension: If requirements such as served time, conduct, or health conditions are met.

4. Remedying rights violations in detention: Including access to medical care, freedom from ill-treatment, and regular visitation rights.

5. International documentation and advocacy: In case domestic legal remedies are blocked.

Timeline Summary

• 2000 (1379): Arrest on charges of moharebeh through PMOI membership

• 2002 (1381): Sentenced to death; commuted to life imprisonment

• 2000–2001: 14 months in solitary, Ahvaz Intelligence facility

• 2000s–2010s: Long-term detention in Rajai Shahr Prison

• 2013: Solitary confinement reported; beatings in Rajai Shahr

• 2015: Moved to IRGC ward in Rajai Shahr

• 2017: Beaten and transferred to Ward 10, Rajai Shahr

• 2023: Transferred from Rajai Shahr to Evin, then Ghezel Hesar; solitary confinement and beatings reported

• 2025: Violently exiled to Zahedan Prison; after refusal there, returned to Ghezel Hesar solitary

• Recent years: No furlough, inadequate medical care, restricted access to family/lawyer

• Present: Still serving life sentence

Conclusion

Despite legal reforms enabling retrial, sentence reduction, or release for those convicted of moharebeh, Saeed Masouri remains imprisoned. His case exemplifies the plight of long-term political-security prisoners in Iran. Reviewing such cases is a vital step toward securing their rights and release.

Urgent Needs

• Regular, unrestricted access to lawyer and family

• Independent medical evaluation, especially after reported abuse

• Judicial review of case in light of legal reforms

• Compliance with prison regulations on visits, furloughs, and communication

• Adequate medical treatment

About this Series

This report is part of the “Two Decades Behind Bars” series, which aims to document the cases of long-term prisoners and to highlight the collective responsibility to ensure their visibility and pursue their rights.

Execution of Two Prisoners in Taybad Prison

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Executions, News
HRANA, Mojtaba Mahdavi, Taybad Prison

HRANA – At dawn on Sunday, September 21, two prisoners previously sentenced to death on drug-related charges were executed in Taybad Prison.

The identities of the executed prisoners have been confirmed as Mojtaba Mahdavi and (first name unknown) Ahmadi, an Afghan national.

According to information received by HRANA, the two had been arrested on drug-related charges and later sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court.

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

According to HRANA’s report, in 2024, over 52 percent of executed prisoners had been convicted on drug-related charges. Over the past ten years, individuals convicted of drug trafficking have accounted for 40 percent of all executions. Unfortunately, HRANA’s statistics show no progress in reducing executions for drug-related offenses.