Tag: HRANA

Sima Alipour Arrested After Summons to IRGC Intelligence in Tabriz

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Sima Alipour, Tabriz, سیما علیپور

HRANA News Agency – On Monday, March 17, Sima Alipour, an Azerbaijani-Turk activist, was arrested after appearing at the IRGC Intelligence office in Tabriz and was transferred to the agency’s detention facility.

A source close to Alipour’s family confirmed the arrest in a conversation with HRANA, stating: “After being summoned, Ms. Alipour appeared at the IRGC Intelligence office in Tabriz on the morning of Monday, March 17. Hours later, the family was informed through their contacts that she had been arrested by the agency. They were advised to follow up on the case through the Tabriz Prosecutor’s Office.”

As of this report, no information has been released regarding the reasons for the arrest or the charges against her.

Last week, IRGC Intelligence agents searched Alipour’s home and confiscated several personal belongings, including her mobile phone.

Previously, in April 2023, a court hearing was held for Ms. Alipour and her husband, Davoud Shiri (Derakhshan), regarding their charges.

On May 28, 2022, both were arrested by Tabriz’s Ministry of Intelligence agents and released several days later on bail from the agency’s detention facility.

Sima Alipour has a prior record of arrests and encounters with security forces.

Supreme Court Rejects Retrial Request for Death Row Political Prisoner Hatem Ozdemir

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Executions, News
Hatem Ozdemir, HRANA, Khoy, Najafzadeh, حاتم اوزدمیر

HRANA News Agency – The Supreme Court of Iran has rejected the retrial request of Hatem Ozdemir, a political prisoner on death row who is currently held in Urmia Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, on Thursday, March 13, the Supreme Court informed Ozdemir’s defense attorney that his request for a retrial had been denied.

Ozdemir’s death sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court in September 2024.

In late winter 2021, Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Khoy initially sentenced Ozdemir, a Turkish citizen, to death on charges of “armed rebellion” (Baghi). This verdict was delivered to him on March 15 of that year. However, the Supreme Court later overturned the ruling, sending the case back for a retrial in a parallel court.

Following a re-examination of the case and a new hearing, the Revolutionary Court of Urmia, presided over by Judge Najafzadeh, reaffirmed the death sentence in late May, again on charges of “enmity against God.”

Ozdemir was first arrested by security forces in Maku in the early summer of 2019. After two months, he was transferred to the political ward of Urmia Prison. On September 18 of the same year, he was moved to the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Urmia and, shortly afterward, returned to Urmia Central Prison.

Four Prisoners, Including Two Women, Executed in Urmia Prison

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Executions, News
Arshad Farzadband, Hamed Faraji, HRANA, Kosar Baghernejad, Mojgan Azarpisheh, Urmia prison

HRANA News Agency – On March 16, the death sentences of four prisoners, including two women, were carried out in Urmia Prison. These individuals had previously been convicted of murder in separate cases.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, the executed prisoners have been identified as Arshad Farzadband, Hamed Faraji, his wife Mojgan Azarpisheh, and Kosar Baghernejad.

Based on information obtained by HRANA, Kosar Baghernejad was arrested in 2021 on charges of killing her husband, who was also her cousin. She was later sentenced to death by a criminal court. Arshad Farzadband and Hamed Faraji were also convicted of murder and received death sentences.

Mojgan Azarpisheh and her husband, Hamed Faraji, were arrested in December 2019 for allegedly killing an Iraqi citizen and were subsequently sentenced to execution.

The four prisoners were transferred to solitary confinement the day before their executions.

As of the time of this report, prison authorities and relevant institutions have not publicly confirmed these executions.

Two Citizens Arrested by Security Forces in Masjed Soleyman

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News, Other
Hajjat Susani, HRANA, Karim Jalili Gandaeli, Masjed-Soleyman

HRANA News Agency – Hajat Susani and Karim Jalili Gandaeli, residents of Masjed Soleyman, Khuzestan province, were arrested by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, the identities of the detained individuals have been verified as Hajat Susani and Karim Jalili Gandeli. Based on information received by HRANA, these two citizens were arrested in recent days and transferred to an unknown location.

As of now, no information is available regarding the reasons for their arrest, their whereabouts, or the charges against them.

Prisoner Executed in Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz

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Executions, News
ahvaz, HRANA, Sheiban Prison

HRANA News Agency – At dawn on Thursday,  February 20, 2025, a prisoner convicted of drug-related charges was executed in Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz.

According to HRANA, the news arm of the Human Rights Activists in Iran, the executed prisoner has been identified as Mohsen Sagvand.

Sagvand had previously been arrested on drug-related charges and later sentenced to death by a judicial authority.

As of the time of this report, Iranian authorities and prison officials have not publicly announced his execution.

According to data compiled by HRANA, 52.69% of all executions in Iran in 2024 were related to drug-related charges. Notably, only 6% of the executions were officially announced, highlighting a significant lack of transparency. For a detailed analysis of these executions and the associated statistics, see HRANA’s full report.

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Moslem Alipour Detained by IRGC Intelligence in Masjed Soleyman

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News, Prisoners
HRANA, irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Masjed-Soleyman, Moslem Alipour, مسلم علیپور

HRANA News Agency – Moslem Alipour, a resident of Masjed Soleyman, was arrested five days ago by IRGC Intelligence agents and is currently being held in Masjed Soleyman Prison.

A source close to Alipour’s family confirmed the arrest, telling HRANA: “He was taken into custody outside his home in the evening and later transferred to Ward 2 of Masjed Soleyman Prison.”

According to the source, his detention is linked to social media posts in which he expressed dissent.

As of the time of this report, authorities have not disclosed any official charges against him.

Female Prisoner Executed in Isfahan Prison

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Executions, News
HRANA, Isfahan, Nasrin Barani

HRANA News Agency – At dawn on Saturday, March 1, a female prisoner convicted of murdering her ex-husband was executed in Isfahan Prison.

According to HRANA, citing the Iran Human Rights Organization, the executed prisoner has been identified as Nasrin Barani, 29 years old.

Ms. Barani was arrested four years ago on charges of killing her former husband. She was later sentenced to death by the Criminal Court. Reports indicate that she had lived with her first husband for six years before divorcing him. After remarrying, she was accused of committing the murder due to ongoing harassment from her ex-husband.

As of the time of this report, Iranian authorities and prison officials have not publicly announced her execution.

In 2024, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran documented 812 cases related to the right to life, including the sentencing of 214 individuals to death and the execution of 930 individuals. Among these, 4 executions were carried out in public. Of those executed, 818 were male, 26 were female, and 5 were juvenile offenders—individuals under 18 years old at the time of their alleged crimes.

Karim Jalili Arrested in Masjed Soleyman

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Karim Jalili, Masjed-Soleyman, کریم جلیلی

HRANA News Agency – Karim Jalili, a resident of Masjed Soleyman, was arrested by security forces at his home and taken to an undisclosed location.

Based on information received by HRANA, on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, Mr. Jalili was arrested by security forces at his home in Masjed Soleyman. A source close to his family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating, “It is likely that Mr. Jalili was arrested due to his activities on social media. His online accounts are now being controlled by security forces.”

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

Karim Jalili, 40, has previously faced security-related confrontations due to his activism.

Political Activist Mohsen Ghashghaei-Zadeh Sentenced to Two Years in Prison

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News, Prisoners
Ghashghaei-Zadeh, Ghashghaeizadeh, HRANA, Mehdi Karroubi, Mir Hossein Mousavi, Zahra Rahnavard, محسن قشقایی زاده

HRANA News Agency – Branch 23 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Mohsen Ghashghaei-Zadeh, a political activist currently imprisoned in Evin Prison, to two years in prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of the Human Rights Activists in Iran, the sentence was recently issued by Judge Mohammad Taghi Taghizadeh and formally communicated to Ghashghaei-Zadeh. He has been convicted of “assembly and collusion against national security.”

Ghashghaei-Zadeh was arrested on February 13 during a gathering in front of the University of Tehran, where protesters had assembled to demand an end to the house arrest of Mir Hossein Mousavi, Zahra Rahnavard, and Mehdi Karroubi. He was detained by security forces and transferred to Evin Prison.

Despite tight security measures, the protest took place, resulting in the arrest of several participants.

It is worth noting that Ghashghaei-Zadeh has a history of previous arrests and convictions related to his political activism.

Christian Convert Narges Nasri Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison and Additional Penalties

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Freedom of Expression, News, Religious Minorities
Christian convert, Evin Prison, HRANA, Iman Afshari, Narges Nasri

HRANA News Agency – Narges Nasri, a Christian convert, has been sentenced by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court to 16 years in prison, 15 years of social rights deprivation, and a fine. She was arrested by Ministry of Intelligence agents on November 1nd, while in the first month of pregnancy, and was later released on bail from Evin Prison on December 1st.

According to the verdict issued by Judge Iman Afshari, Nasri has been sentenced to:

10 years in prison for “propaganda activity contrary to Islamic law” due to her alleged “influential connections abroad” and the broad impact of her activities, with an increased degree of severity.
5 years in prison for “membership in anti-regime groups.”
1 year in prison for “propaganda against the regime.”
15 years of social rights deprivation and a fine of 3.3 billion rials.

In addition to her prison sentence, Nasri, now in her fourth month of pregnancy, has been subjected to further restrictions, including a two-year ban on leaving the country, residing in Tehran and neighboring provinces, and joining any social or political groups.

A source familiar with the case told HRANA that her one-year sentence for “propaganda against the regime” was issued due to her online activities, including posts critical of the country’s situation.

Nasri’s trial was held on February 13th at Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, while her initial interrogation sessions took place in January at Branch 3 of the Tehran Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office.

Nasri, a 37-year-old Christian convert and resident of Tehran, was arrested on November 1nd alongside two other Christian converts by Ministry of Intelligence agents for forming a house church in Tehran. She was transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison, a detention facility under the control of the Ministry of Intelligence, where she was subjected to daily interrogations. She was eventually released on December 1st after posting bail set at 2.5 billion tomans.