Tag: HRANA

Mandatory Hijab Opponent Hamideh Zeraei Arrested

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Freedom of Expression, News
Hamideh Zeraei, HRANA, Kachooei Prison, Karaj, حمیده زراعی

HRANA News Agency – On Monday, February 5, Hamideh Zeraei, a citizen protesting against compulsory hijab who is serving her exile sentence in Rasht, was arrested for refusing to comply with the hijab requirement in court. She was subsequently transferred to Lakan Prison in Rasht.

A source close to her family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “Ms. Zeraei is currently serving her exile sentence in Rasht. Yesterday, when she appeared in court for a mandatory check-in, she was arrested for not wearing a hijab and taken to Lakan Prison. The investigator at the Rasht Revolutionary Court has set her bail at one billion tomans (approximately $12,500).”

On November 16, 2023, Branch 1 of the Karaj Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Mousa Asef-Hosseini, sentenced Zeraei to one year in prison, two years of exile in Rasht, a two-year travel ban, and a two-year prohibition from online activities. After accepting the ruling, her one-year prison sentence was reduced to nine months.

Zeraei was first arrested by security forces at her home on May 29, 2023, and transferred to Kachooei Prison in Karaj. She was eventually released on February 22, 2024, after completing her sentence.

In June 2024, she was summoned to Branch 13 of the Rasht Revolutionary Court to provide further explanations. After appearing in court, she was arrested and transferred to Lakan Prison in Rasht but was later released on bail.

Zeraei had previously been arrested in connection with the 2022 nationwide protests. She was released from Kachooei Prison in Karaj on February 7, 2023, following the issuance of the so-called “pardon and commutation” directive.

Majid Shia Ali Imprisoned on Political Charges

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, Khorasan Razavi Court, Majid Shia Ali, Mashhad, RGC Intelligence, مجید شیعه علی

HRANA News Agency – today, February 4, 2025, Majid Shia Ali, a resident of Mashhad, was arrested and transferred to prison to serve his one-year and six-month sentence.

On January 20, 2025, Branch 991 of the Mashhad Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office ordered this political defendant to report within ten days to serve his sentence.

Previously, in May 2023, the Khorasan Razavi Court of Appeals sentenced him to two years and six months in prison, of which the longest enforceable term—one year and six months—is now being carried out.

In February 2023, the Mashhad Revolutionary Court had initially sentenced Shia Ali to six years and six months in prison on three charges: “membership in a group formed to disrupt national security,” “propaganda against the regime,” and “insulting the Supreme Leader.”

According to HRANA, his case was opened after he posted content on social media related to the 2022 nationwide protests.

Majid Shia Ali, a PhD student at Mashhad’s Azad University, was first arrested in late November 2022 and was released on bail in mid-February 2023 from Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad. During his 56-day detention, he spent 40 days in solitary confinement at one of the IRGC Intelligence detention facilities in Mashhad.

Prisoner Executed in Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad

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Executions, News
Hafez Bani Asadi, HRANA, Kahnuj, Mashhad, Vakilabad prison

HRANA News Agency – On February 3, 2025, the death sentence of a prisoner previously convicted of moharebeh (enmity against God) through armed robbery was carried out in Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad.

HRANA has identified the prisoner as Hafez Bani Asadi, a resident of Kahnuj. According to information obtained by HRANA, he had been sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court on charges of moharebeh through armed robbery.

As of the time of this report, prison authorities and relevant institutions have not officially announced the 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.

Two Prisoners Executed in Dastgerd Prison for Drug-Related Crimes

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Executions, News
Dastgerd Prison, HRANA, Isfahan, Rasht

HRANA News Agency – On January 30, 2025, the death sentences of two prisoners, previously convicted in separate cases on drug-related charges, were carried out in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan.

Iran Human Rights have been identified these hanged prisoners as Mahdi Salehzadeh, 35, from Rasht, and Abdollah Khademi, 41, from Urmia, a father of three who resided near Tabriz.

According to the report, both individuals had been arrested in separate cases on drug-related charges and were sentenced to death by the judiciary. Their executions were carried out without a final visit with their families.

As of the time of this report, prison authorities and relevant institutions have not officially announced the executions.

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.

Two Indian Nationals Arrested in Iran on Charges of Photographing Restricted Areas

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News, Other
HRANA, India, Mohammad Sadeeque, Sumeet Sud, Yogesh Panchal

HRANA News Agency – India’s Ministry of External Affairs announced on Friday, February 1, that three Indian nationals went missing after traveling to Tehran.

Attorney Saeed Naghdi confirmed the arrest of two of them, stating that Yogesh Panchal has been issued a deportation order and must leave Iran, while Mohammad Sadeeque has already flown to Oman. The individuals were reportedly arrested on charges of photographing restricted areas.

Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, said on Friday that the three Indian nationals had traveled to Iran for business purposes in recent months. A few days after arriving in Tehran, their families lost contact with them. Attorney Saeed Naghdi, confirming the detention of Yogesh Panchal and Mohammad Sadeeque, stated that Panchal has been ordered to leave Iran, while Sadeeque has already departed for Oman.

According to Naghdi, the charge of photographing restricted areas was brought against the detainees.

Some Indian media outlets have reported that the identity of the third individual, whose whereabouts remain unknown, is Sumeet Sud.

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Political Prisoner Manouchehr Fallah Sentenced to Death on Moharebeh Charges

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Executions, News, Prisoners
HRANA, Kish Island, Lakan prison, Manouchehr Fallah, moharebeh, Rasht, منوچهر فلاح

HRANA News Agency – Manouchehr Fallah, a political prisoner held in Lakan Prison in Rasht, has been sentenced to death by Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court of Rasht on charges of Moharebeh (enmity against God).

The verdict, issued by Judge Darvish Goftar, was formally communicated yesterday to his defense attorneys, Ms. Khorsandi and Ms. Khojasteh. Fallah was convicted of Moharebeh for allegedly acting against national security.

A source close to Fallah confirmed the ruling to HRANA, stating, “Since the beginning of his legal proceedings, Mr. Fallah has been denied access to a lawyer.” His trial took place on December 11, 2024, via video conference.

Fallah was arrested in June 2023 by security forces at Rasht Airport and transferred to Lakan Prison.

In December 2023, in a separate case, he was sentenced by Branch 3 of the Rasht Revolutionary Court to one year, three months, and one day in prison for insulting the Supreme Leader, as well as seven months and 16 days for propaganda against the regime. After accepting the verdict, one-quarter of his sentence was reduced, and he completed his prison term for this case in May 2024.

Before his arrest, Manouchehr Fallah, a tattoo artist, resided on Kish Island.

Continued Detention and Uncertainty Surrounding Haft-Tappeh Worker Tareq Kaabi

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News, Prisoners
Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company, HRANA, Tareq Kaabi

HRANA News Agency – Twenty-three days after his arrest, Tareq Kaabi, a worker at the Haft-Tappeh Sugarcane Company, remains in limbo, with no information available about his whereabouts. The lack of updates on his condition has heightened concerns among his family and loved ones.

A source close to his family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “Despite 23 days passing since Mr. Kaabi’s arrest and his family’s repeated inquiries with judicial and security authorities, there is still no information on his fate or place of detention. This has deepened his family’s concerns.”

Tareq Kaabi was arrested on January 8, 2025, while on his way to work at the Haft-Tappeh Sugarcane Company. Security forces from the Ministry of Intelligence violently removed him from the workers’ transport vehicle before detaining him.

As of this report, the reasons for his arrest and the charges against him remain unknown.

Tareq Kaabi, 29, is a resident of Shush and a worker at the Haft-Tappeh Sugarcane Company. He is also the brother of Maher Kaabi, a former political prisoner, and Ahmad Kaabi, who is currently incarcerated in Kerman Central Prison.

Prisoner Executed in Yasuj Prison

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Executions, News
HRANA, Mohammad Zaboli, Yasuj Prison

HRANA News Agency – At dawn on Thursday, January 30, a prisoner who had been sentenced to death on murder charges was executed in Yasuj Prison.

HRANA has identified the executed prisoner as Mohammad Zaboli. Based on information obtained by HRANA, Mr. Zaboli was arrested in 2019 on murder charges and later sentenced to death by a criminal court.

As of the time of this report, prison authorities and relevant institutions have not officially announced his 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.

Appeals Court Upholds 10-Year Prison Sentence and Additional Punishments for Reza Valizadeh

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Ministry of Intelligence, Reza Valizadeh

HRANA News Agency – The Tehran Court of Appeals has upheld the 10-year prison sentence and additional punishments for Reza Valizadeh, a journalist currently imprisoned in Evin Prison.

He was previously convicted by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court and sentenced to 10 years in prison, a travel ban, a ban on residing in Tehran and neighboring provinces, and a two-year prohibition on membership in political and social groups.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, the Appeals Court confirmed all aspects of the initial verdict against Reza Valizadeh.

His lawyer, Mohammad-Hossein Aghasi, stated:

“Today, I visited Abdolreza Valizadeh to show him the appeal rejection. I had previously said that the court’s standard procedure is to uphold the original ruling, but perhaps a retrial could finally open the blindfolded eyes of justice.”

In December 2024, Judge Iman Afshari of Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Reza Valizadeh to 10 years in prison on charges of “collaboration with a hostile government (the U.S.)”. Additionally, he was banned from leaving the country, prohibited from residing in Tehran and neighboring provinces, and barred from joining political or social groups for two years.

Background on Reza Valizadeh’s Arrest

  • After living abroad for several years, Reza Valizadeh returned to Iran in March 2023. Upon arrival, he was interrogated by IRGC intelligence and the Ministry of Intelligence, released after signing a commitment, and allowed to remain free.
  • However, a few months later, in early October 2023, he was arrested by security forces and transferred to Evin Prison.
  • According to Voice of America (VOA), he was detained in Ward 209 of Evin Prison, controlled by the Ministry of Intelligence, and denied family visits.

Before emigrating, Reza Valizadeh was previously arrested in 2007 but later released on bail. He reportedly holds dual citizenship and has worked with various media outlets, including Radio France, Voice of America (VOA), Radio Farda, and the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB).

Two Citizens Arrested by Security Forces in Mahabad

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News, Other
HRANA, Jalal Parhizkar, Mahabad, Sarvar Hama Nazdar

HRANA News Agency – Jalal Parhizkar and Sarvar Hama Nazdar, two residents of Mahabad, have been arrested by security forces and transferred to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, citing Kurdpa, the detained individuals have been identified as Jalal Parhizkar, Sarvar Hama Nazdar. Both are residents of Haji Ali Kand village, a rural district of Mahabad, West Azerbaijan Province.

The report states that their arrests took place in recent days, carried out by security forces without a judicial warrant at their private residences.

As of the time of this report, no information is available regarding the reasons for their arrests, their current whereabouts, or any charges brought against them.

In 2024, HRANA documented 561 cases of human rights violations in West Azerbaijan Province, including Mahabad, placing it third among all provinces in Iran for reported violations.