Tag: HRANA

Mohammad Kaabi Arrested by Security Forces

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, irgc, Mohammad Kaabi, Shush, محمد کعبی

HRANA – On Saturday, September 12, Mohammad Kaabi, a resident of Shush County, was arrested by IRGC Intelligence Organization forces and transferred to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, Mohammad Kaabi was arrested by security forces.

Based on information received by HRANA, on the afternoon of Saturday, September 12, Mr. Kaabi was arrested by IRGC Intelligence Organization forces and subsequently transferred to an undisclosed location.

As of the time of this report, no information has been obtained regarding the reasons for Mr. Kaabi’s arrest, his place of detention, or the charges brought against him.

Mohammad Kaabi, also known as “Abu Idris,” is a poet and cultural activist from Shush County.

Two Khuzestan Residents Arrested, Two Musicians Summoned Over Song

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Freedom of Expression, News
Aref Naseri, Hossein Ahvazi, HRANA, irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Mehdi Naseri, Mehdi Zaeri

HRANA – Mehdi Naseri and Aref Naseri, two residents of Khuzestan Province, were arrested by IRGC Intelligence forces. Hossein Ahvazi and Mehdi Zaeri, two musicians, were also summoned by the same security agency in connection with the production of a song. No information is currently available regarding the charges against the detained individuals or their whereabouts.

According to HRANA, on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, Mehdi Naseri was arrested by IRGC Intelligence agents in Ahvaz.

According to information received by HRANA, Naseri’s arrest was related to his cultural activities and the production and release of a song titled “From Karun to Olive” (“Az Karun ta Zeytun”).

A source familiar with the matter told HRANA that the work had previously received official authorization; however, its video was removed from online platforms after being released.

Subsequently, on Saturday, September 12, Aref Naseri, Mehdi Naseri’s cousin, was arrested by IRGC Intelligence agents in the Saadi district of Shadegan. Security forces also searched his home during the arrest.

Aref Naseri, also known as “Abu Nayef,” is a poet and host of a cultural program published online.

At the same time, Hossein Ahvazi and Mehdi Zaeri, two musicians who collaborated on the production of “From Karun to Olive,” were summoned by IRGC Intelligence. According to information received by HRANA, the summonses were also related to the production and release of the same work.

As of the time of this report, no precise information has been obtained regarding the specific reasons for the arrests, the charges brought against Mehdi Naseri and Aref Naseri, their legal status, or their place of detention. Further details regarding the summonses and the status of Hossein Ahvazi and Mehdi Zaeri are also unavailable.

January 2026 Protests: Erfan Haj Bonyan Dehaghani Sentenced to Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Erfan Haj Bonyan Dehaghani, HRANA, irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Isfahan

HRANA – Erfan Haj Bonyan Dehaghani, one of those arrested in connection with the January 2026 protests in Isfahan, was sentenced by the city’s Revolutionary Court to one year in prison. In the same case, he was also sentenced to 10 years in prison on non-political charges.

According to HRANA, Erfan Haj Bonyan Dehaghani has been sentenced to prison.

According to a ruling issued on August 11 by Branch 5 of the Isfahan Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Vahid Hemmat-Nejad as an advisory judge, Haj Bonyan Dehaghani was sentenced to one year in prison on the charge of “propaganda activity against the regime through participation in the January 8 gatherings, wearing distinctive clothing bearing writings against national interests, and activity on social media.”

He was also sentenced to 10 years in prison on non-political charges brought against him in the same case. These charges were brought following a search of his home and were based on claims by IRGC Intelligence agents that he possessed prohibited items (six grams of hallucinogenic mushrooms).

During his arrest and the search of his home, security forces confiscated many of his personal and valuable belongings, including digital devices, clothing, cash, and cryptocurrency-related assets.

He was arrested on March 6, 2026, and was released on bail on April 7, 2026.

Erfan Haj Bonyan Dehaghani, aged approximately 26, works in cryptocurrency trading, and resides in Isfahan.

Zahra Naghshineh, Attorney Arrested in Tabriz

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Tabriz, Zahra Naghshineh, زهرا نقشینه

HRANA – Zahra Naghshineh, an attorney and member of the East Azerbaijan Bar Association, was arrested on Wednesday, September 9, after appearing before Branch 15 of the Tabriz Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office.

According to HRANA, Zahra Naghshineh, an attorney and member of the East Azerbaijan Bar Association, has been arrested.

According to information received by HRANA, on Wednesday, September 9, Naghshineh appeared before Branch 15 of the Tabriz Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office after receiving a summons. She was arrested after appearing before the judicial authority.

The summons issued to the attorney listed the charge against her as “lacking a criminal characterization.” A source close to Naghshineh confirmed the news to HRANA and said that her case was opened following a report by the Tabriz Ministry of Intelligence in connection with her activities and her legal and critical writings on various issues.

As of the time of this report, no information is available regarding Naghshineh’s place of detention or the possible charge or charges formally communicated to her after she appeared at the prosecutor’s office.

In addition to practicing law, Zahra Naghshineh has a history of professional association activities within the East Azerbaijan Bar Association. She previously served on the association’s Women’s Commission and was also active in the Secretariat for the Prevention of Violence Against Women.

Nasimeh Eslamzahi Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison

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News, Prisoners
Amanj Karvanchi, Arsalan Sheikhi, HRANA, Nasimeh Eslamzahi, نسیمه اسلام زهی

HRANA – Nasimeh Eslamzahi, a Sunni security-related prisoner held in Evin Prison, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

According to HRANA, Nasimeh Eslamzahi, a Sunni security-related defendant, has been sentenced to imprisonment.

According to a verdict issued by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Abolghasem Salavati, and communicated to Ms. Eslamzehi earlier this week, she was sentenced to 25 years in prison on the charge of “complicity in the crime of baghi (armed rebellion).” Her husband, Arsalan Sheikhi, and Amanj Karvanchi, another defendant in the case, had previously been sentenced to death on the charge of “baghi through membership in ISIS,” and their sentences were carried out.

A source familiar with the case confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “During the proceedings in her case, Nasimeh appeared at three court sessions before the aforementioned branch, presided over by Judge Salavati. She denied all the charges brought against her and emphasized that she had never been a member of or cooperated with any group.”

The source also addressed Ms. Eslamzahi’s access to legal representation, stating that various attorneys had sought to represent her during this period, but Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court refused to accept them, and proceedings in her case were conducted with a court-appointed attorney.

Previously, some state-affiliated media outlets had reported that Nasimeh Eslamzahi and two other defendants in the case had been sentenced to death, and this claim was also reflected in subsequent reports.

It should be noted that Ms. Eslamzahi had previously been sentenced to three years and six months in prison by a criminal court in another part of her case.

Nasimeh Eslamzahi was arrested along with her husband, Arsalan Sheikhi, in September 2023. During the prosecutorial stage, the couple were charged on suspicion of membership in the militant group ISIS. According to a source familiar with the case who spoke to HRANA, Ms. Eslamzehi was merely Arsalan Sheikhi’s wife and was present at their home when security forces arrived to arrest her husband; she was also arrested at the scene.

Nasimeh Eslamzahi is approximately 42 years old and is the mother of two daughters. Ayesha, the couple’s daughter, who was approximately two years old at the time of the arrests, was separated from her mother during the arrest, and the family was informed that the child had been transferred to the state welfare organization. After following up on the matter, Eslamzehi’s family succeeded in obtaining custody of Ayesha.

In late April 2024, Nasimeh Eslamzahi gave birth to her second child, Tasnim, in Evin Prison. The mother and newborn were held for 40 days in a solitary confinement cell under inadequate conditions, without proper ventilation or sufficient light, and were subsequently transferred to the quarantine ward.

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Death-Row Political Prisoner Arghavan Fallahi’s Request for Retrial Rejected

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Executions, News, Prisoners
Arghavan Fallahi, Evin Prison, HRANA, ارغوان فلاحی

HRANA – The Supreme Court has rejected a request for retrial filed by Arghavan Fallahi, a political prisoner held in Evin Prison who had previously been sentenced to death.

According to HRANA, citing Emtedad, the Supreme Court rejected the request for retrial filed by Arghavan Fallahi, a political prisoner held in Evin Prison.

According to the report, Ms. Fallahi’s request for retrial, which had been filed with one of the branches of the Supreme Court, was rejected by the judicial authority this week.

In July of this year, the political prisoner was sentenced to death on the charge of “baghi” (armed rebellion) by Judge Abolghasem Salavati, head of Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court. In late August, her death sentence was upheld by Branch 41 of the Supreme Court.

Arghavan Fallahi, aged approximately 25, was arrested by security forces in late January 2025 and transferred to the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, known as Ward 209 of Evin Prison.

Following the Israeli attack on Evin Prison in June 2025, she was first transferred to the Greater Tehran Prison and later to Qarchak Prison in Varamin. She was subsequently transferred back to Evin Prison.

Previously, a source familiar with the political defendant’s situation told HRANA: “Following her arrest, Ms. Fallahi spent some time detained in Wards 209 and 241 of Evin Prison under the supervision of the Judiciary’s Intelligence Protection Organization. During this period, she was subjected to severe psychological torture, and attempts were made to extract forced confessions from her in connection with the assassination of two judges, Mohammad Moghiseh and Ali Razini.”

Ms. Fallahi had previously been arrested along with her father by security forces in November 2022 and was later transferred to Evin Prison. She was subsequently sentenced to two years in prison by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, on charges of “assembly and collusion” and “propaganda against the regime.” She was released from Evin Prison after completing her sentence.

Saba Sefidi, Baha’i Citizen, Arrested to Begin Prison Sentence

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News, Religious Minorities
Baha'i citizen, HRANA, Saba Sefidi, Tehran, صبا سفیدی

HRANA – Saba Sefidi, a Baha’i citizen residing in Tehran, was arrested on Thursday, September 10, to begin serving her three-year-and-five-month prison sentence and was transferred to Qarchak Prison in Varamin.

According to HRANA,on Thursday, September 10, 2026, Saba Sefidi, a Baha’i citizen, was arrested by security forces outside her home in Tehran.

According to information obtained by HRANA, following her arrest, Ms. Sefidi was initially taken to the Jannat Abad Prosecutor’s Office and was subsequently transferred to Qarchak Prison in Varamin to serve her sentence.

A source familiar with the Baha’i citizen’s situation told HRANA that Ms. Sefidi was arrested despite having previously been granted a two-month period to report to authorities to begin serving her prison sentence.

In December 2023, Branch 36 of the Tehran Province Court of Appeals sentenced Ms. Sefidi to three years and five months in prison on the charge of “membership in groups opposed to the regime.” On appeal, she was acquitted of the charge of “propaganda against the regime.”

At the initial trial stage, in November 2023, Ms. Sefidi had been sentenced to imprisonment by Branch 29 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Seyed Ali Mazloum.

On January 11, 2022, Ms. Sefidi was arrested after appearing before Branch 2 of the Evin Prosecutor’s Office. She was released from Evin Prison on February 23, 2022, after posting bail of 1.5 billion tomans.

Over the past decade, Iran’s Baha’i community has faced more security and judicial actions than any other religious minority in the country. A review of HRA’s annual reports shows that, over the past year, an average of 62.41% of reports concerning religious minorities involved violations of the rights of Baha’i citizens.

Hossein Afrasiab Sentenced to More Than Three Years and Nine Months in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Dastgerd Prison, Hossein Afrasiab, HRANA, Isfahan, حسین افراسیاب

HRANA – The judiciary sentenced Hossein Afrasiab, a detained citizen currently held in Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan, to three years, nine months, and twenty days in prison.

According to HRANA, Hossein Afrasiab has been sentenced to imprisonment.

A social media page attributed to the prisoner wrote: “Hossein Afrasiab was initially sentenced by the judiciary to five years and one month in prison. In the final ruling, his sentence was reduced to three years, nine months, and twenty days.”

Without providing further details, including the charges against the prisoner or the judicial authority that issued the sentence, the page stated that possession of satellite internet equipment (Starlink) was among the alleged grounds for the charges brought against Mr. Afrasiab.

On March 14, 2026, Hossein Afrasiab was arrested by security forces in Shahin Shahr and subsequently transferred to Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan.

HRANA’s inquiries regarding the judicial authority that issued the sentence and the details of this prisoner’s case remain ongoing.

January 2026 Protests: Report on the Latest Status of Aref Assar in Torbat-e Heydarieh Prison

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News, Prisoners
HRANA, January 2026 Protests, Khaf, Torbat-e Heydarieh Prison, عارف حصار

HRANA – Aref Assar, a resident of Khaf and one of those arrested during the January 2026 protests, is currently serving his sentence in Torbat-e Heydarieh Prison. He had previously been sentenced at the initial stage to five years and one day in prison, which was reduced on appeal to two years and six months.

According to HRANA, Aref Assar is serving his sentence in Torbat-e Heydarieh Prison.

According to information received by HRANA, on August 8, 2026, Mr. Assar reported to Torbat-e Heydarieh Prison to begin serving his two-year-and-six-month prison sentence.

At the initial stage, he was sentenced by the Khaf Revolutionary Court to five years and one day of imprisonment. After the case was referred to the Court of Appeals, the sentence was reduced to two years and six months of imprisonment. During the proceedings, he faced multiple charges, including “propaganda against the regime,” “cooperation with hostile countries,” “espionage,” “disrupting public security,” “insulting the Supreme Leader,” and “links with opposition groups.”

An informed source close to his family told HRANA that no specific evidence against Mr. Assar was presented in his case and that a significant portion of the allegations against him was based on statements made by individuals who had reported him. The source added: “Mr. Assar was subjected to mistreatment and torture while in detention, which resulted in a dislocated shoulder. The injury has so far required him to undergo several surgeries on his shoulder.”

Aref Assar, 22, is a resident of Khaf County. He was arrested on January 8, 2026, during nationwide protests and transferred to Torbat-e Heydarieh Prison. He was released approximately one week later after posting bail of 500 million tomans.

Khabat Fadaei Arrested in Marivan

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News, Other
HRANA, Khabat Fadaei, Marivan, Varamin, خبات فدایی

HRANA – On Tuesday, September 8, Khabat Fadaei, a resident of Marivan, was arrested by security forces in the city and transferred to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, citing Kurdpa, Khabat Fadaei was arrested in Marivan.

According to the report, Mr. Fadaei was arrested on Tuesday, September 8, by security forces outside his home in Marivan without the presentation of a judicial warrant.

As of the time of this report, no information has been made available regarding the reasons for his arrest or the charges brought against him. Mr. Fadaei is from the village of Buridar, Sarvabad County.

Previously, on October 8, 2022, Khabat Fadaei was arrested by security forces in Tehran and was released from Evin Prison on bail on November 14 of the same year. He was subsequently sentenced by Branch 1 of the Varamin Revolutionary Court to five years in prison on the charge of “membership in groups opposed to the establishment” and one year in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the establishment.”