Tag: irgc

Death Sentences of 9 Prisoners Convicted of Moharebeh Carried Out

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Executions, News
Baghi, General Pakpour, HRANA, irgc, moharebeh

HRANA News Agency – The death sentences of 9 prisoners who had previously been convicted of moharebeh (enmity against God) through baghi (armed rebellion) and armed uprising were carried out.

According to Mizan, Judiciary’s media outlet, after court sessions were held in the presence of the defendants and their lawyers, the court sentenced these 9 individuals to death. Ultimately, after the Supreme Court upheld the verdict, the executions were carried out.

The case against these defendants, based on charges of moharebeh through baghi and armed uprising and possession of military-grade weapons, had been referred to the Tehran Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office via judicial delegation. After investigations were completed and an indictment was issued, the case was sent to court.

Regarding the details of the case, the report claims: “In February 2018, the commander of the IRGC Ground Forces announced the dismantling of a team affiliated with ISIS in western Iran. According to General Pakpour, ISIS had planned to carry out several terrorist operations in Iran’s border and central cities by sending its members into the country. In a military operation, several ISIS-linked individuals were killed and others were arrested. Three military personnel were also killed in the operation. A variety of military weapons, ammunition, machine guns, 50 grenades, several thermal cameras, pistols, and a large quantity of bullets and magazines were reportedly seized from the suspects.”

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.

Student Activist Hamid Bidar Begins Prison Sentence in Evin

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Freedom of Expression, News, Students
Evin Prison, Hamid Bidar, irgc, Mahmoud Momtazpour, حمید بیدار

HRANA News Agency – Hamid Bidar, a former student activist and graduate of Iran University of Science and Technology, has been transferred to Evin Prison to begin serving his prison sentence.

According to information obtained by HRANA, Bidar was recently arrested and taken to Evin Prison to serve an 11-year sentence. The Tehran Revolutionary Court also imposed supplementary punishments, including 74 lashes, a ban on online activity, confiscation of his mobile phone, and a monetary fine.

The sentence was issued on charges including blasphemy, insulting the Supreme Leader, and propaganda against the regime. The initial verdict was handed down by Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court and was recently upheld in full by Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals, presided over by Judge Houzan. According to judicial procedures, five years of the total prison sentence are enforceable.

A source close to Bidar’s family told HRANA that the complainant and arresting authority in the case was the IRGC Intelligence Organization in Tehran.

Hamid Bidar, a computer engineering graduate, was arrested by security forces in Tehran on September 1, 2024. According to the Amirkabir Newsletter, his arrest was linked to his public support for Mahmoud Momtazpour, a dismissed assistant professor at Amirkabir University of Technology.

Bidar has previously faced disciplinary action. In 2013, he was suspended from university for two semesters by the university’s disciplinary committee, with the suspension counting toward his academic record.

Family Concern Grows Over Incommunicado Detention of Farhad Kadkhoda-Ghaderi

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News, Prisoners
Farhad Kadkhoda, HRANA, irgc, Kadkhoda-Ghaderi, Mahabad, فرهاد کدخدا قادری

HRANA News Agency – Farhad Kadkhoda-Ghaderi, a resident of Mahabad, was arrested on Saturday, May 31, by intelligence agents of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and taken to an undisclosed location. His continued incommunicado detention has raised serious concerns among his family and loved ones.

The arrest was carried out violently and without a judicial warrant. Despite five days passing since his detention, his family’s efforts to obtain information about his condition and whereabouts have been unsuccessful, heightening their concerns.

As of the time of this report, the reasons for Kadkhoda-Ghaderi’s arrest and any charges against him remain unknown.

Farhad Kadkhoda-Ghadri is a resident of Sarchenar village, located in the Mahabad region.

Arbitrary arrests, transferring detainees to undisclosed locations, and leaving families in the dark about the fate of their loved ones are routine practices of the Iranian regime’s security agencies, such as the Ministry of Intelligence and the IRGC Intelligence Unit. This pattern of behavior stands in clear violation of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, known as the Nelson Mandela Rules.

Dozens Arrested as Truckers’ Strikes Spread Across Iran

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Freedom of Expression, News
Bandar Imam Khomeini, Bandar Lengeh, Gilan, HRANA, irgc, IRGC officials, Kermanshah, Rasht, Sanandaj, Shiraz

HRANA News Agency –At least 20 truckers and supporters have been arrested in connection with a wave of truckers’ strikes that began on May 22 in cities across Iran, including Sanandaj, Eslamabad-e Gharb, Kermanshah, Rasht, Bandar Imam Khomeini, Bandar Lengeh, and Shiraz.

The strikes, launched in protest of longstanding grievances over working conditions and economic pressures, have drawn a strong security response. Among those detained are Sediq Mohammadi and Shahab Darabi, arrested in Sanandaj and Eslamabad-e Gharb respectively. The whereabouts of Mohammadi remain unknown.

The National Union of Truckers and Drivers has released several statements confirming the arrest of at least 11 drivers in Kermanshah and several others in Sanandaj. The union also reported violent police tactics, including the use of pepper spray against striking drivers at the Sanandaj terminal.

In Rasht, the IRGC’s Gilan provincial office announced the arrest of a citizen for allegedly supporting the strike. The individual was accused of “disrupting the order and security of road transport” and “aiding opposition groups” through negative portrayals of the situation.

The IRGC in Khuzestan Province reported the arrest of two individuals in Bandar Imam Khomeini on similar charges. State media later aired what appeared to be their forced confessions.

Authorities in Bandar Lengeh also arrested a citizen for allegedly producing and distributing videos encouraging strike participation. Police claimed the videos were shared with foreign media outlets.

In Shiraz, the local prosecutor confirmed the detention of several drivers, accusing them of “deliberate and organized disruption” of the transportation system. No specific number of detainees was disclosed.

HRANA previously published a detailed report on the first week of the truckers’ strike, outlining its causes, scale, and the government’s response, including arrests and repression.

Judicial Case Filed Against Women’s Wrestling Medalist Masoumeh Soleimani

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Freedom of Expression, News, Women
HRANA, irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Khorramabad, Masoumeh Soleimani, معصومه سلیمانی

HRANA News Agency – A judicial case has been opened against Masoumeh Soleimani, a world medalist in women’s wrestling. She has been summoned to the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in Khorramabad in connection with the case.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, Soleimani announced in a video that she was recently summoned on charges of “encouraging women to defy mandatory hijab laws.”

In August 2023, she had been sentenced by the Khorramabad Criminal Court to one year of imprisonment on the charge of “inciting violent acts on social media.”

In a separate case, she was sentenced to six months of discretionary imprisonment and six months of suspended imprisonment. Following an appeal, the sentence was reduced to a fine of 50 million tomans and six months of suspended imprisonment.

Soleimani was previously arrested on May 10, 2023, by security forces in Khorramabad and released on bail for days later. She had been held in the IRGC Intelligence Detention Facility.

Masoumeh Soleimani, a mother and world medalist in women’s wrestling, has a history of arrest due to her activism.

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Mehdi Tavakoli Zaniani Sentenced to 8 Years in Prison and Flogging Following Sentence Consolidation

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News, Prisoners
HRANA, irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Mehdi Tavakoli Zaniani, Shahr-e Kord, مهدی توکلی زانیانی

HRANA News Agency – Mehdi Tavakoli Zaniani, a political prisoner held in Shahr-e Kord Prison, has been sentenced to eight years in prison and 74 lashes following the consolidation of his sentences.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, the sentence was issued by Branch 1 of the Criminal Court One of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province.

A source close to Tavakoli’s family confirmed to HRANA that the verdict was issued on charges of insulting the Prophet of Islam (Sab al-Nabi), insulting the Supreme Leader, insulting sacred beliefs, and propaganda against the regime. He received:

5 years for insulting sacred beliefs
2 years for insulting the Supreme Leader
1 year for propaganda against the regime
74 lashes for insulting the Prophet

Previously, in two separate rulings—both later overturned by the case judge—Tavakoli had been sentenced by Revolutionary and Criminal Courts to 3 years and 10 months in prison and 29 lashes on the same charges.

Tavakoli was arrested on December 20, 2023, by IRGC Intelligence agents in Shahr-e Kord.

He is a specialist in painting and insulation for oil and gas projects.

Azerbaijani-Turk Activists Kazem Safabakhsh and Saman Bidar Arrested in Qazvin

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Ethnic Minorities, News
Azerbaijani Turk activists, irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Kazem Safabakhsh, Saman Bidar, Tabriz Prison

HRANA News Agency –On Friday, May 2, Azerbaijani-Turk activists Kazem Safabakhsh and Saman Bidar were arrested in Qazvin and transferred to the city’s prison.

A source close to the families confirmed the arrests and told HRANA, “The two were detained by IRGC Intelligence agents in connection with their support for the Tractor football team during a recent match. Following their arrest, both Safabakhsh and Bidar were transferred to Qazvin Prison.”

Saman Bidar had previously been released on bail from Tabriz Prison on March 13, 2025, after being arrested by IRGC Intelligence agents on March 1 of the same year.

Both activists have a history of prior arrests and convictions related to their activism.

In 2024, HRANA reported the arrest of 262 ethnic activists. Although the specific charges and reasons for these arrests remain unclear in many cases, given the security agencies’ longstanding pattern of conduct, it is believed that most were detained due to their advocacy for ethnic rights. At least 109 of these arrests were carried out without a warrant.

Younes Azadbar Arrested by Security Forces

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Rasht, Rasht County, Younes Azadbar, یونس آزادبر

HRANA News Agency – Younes Azadbar, a resident of Rasht County, was arrested today by IRGC Intelligence agents and transferred to their facility for interrogation.

A source close to Azadbar’s family confirmed the news to HRANA and said: “Mr. Azadbar was arrested a few minutes ago at his home by IRGC Intelligence agents without a court warrant and was taken for questioning. At the same time, his home was searched, and personal belongings, including his mobile phone, were confiscated.”

The source added: “Mr. Azadbar is 62 years old, suffers from epilepsy, and has a mechanical heart valve and a cardiac pacemaker. His physical condition is highly concerning, and his family is worried about the impact of interrogation pressure on his health.”

He was initially arrested on July 19, 2023 and then released on bail in December 2023 to receive medical treatment.

During his previous detention, he appeared before Branch 1 of the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office, where he defended himself against charges including “enmity against God (moharebeh),” propaganda against the regime, and “membership in anti-government groups.”

Younes Azadbar, 62, is a resident of Sangar, a town in Rasht County. He has a prior conviction related to his activism.

Yashar Tabrizi Sentenced to Over 5 Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
aKBAR gHOLIZADEH, irgc, Shahriar, Shahriar Revolutionary Court

Civil rights activist Yashar Tabrizi has been sentenced to five years and eight months in prison by Branch 2 of the Tabriz Revolutionary Court.

Branch 2 of the Tabriz Revolutionary Court sentenced Mr. Tabrizi to three years and seven months in prison for disrupting national security through supporting the Zionist regime. He was also sentenced to one year and five months for insulting the Supreme Leader, and eight months for propaganda against the regime.

Another part of Mr. Tabrizi’s case, concerning the charge of insulting religious sanctities, has been referred to Branch 2 of the Tabriz Criminal Court for further proceedings.

Mr. Tabrizi was released from Tabriz Prison on bail in February 2025. He had been arrested on November 19, 2024, after appearing at the Intelligence Department of the IRGC in Tabriz.

In September 2024, Yashar Tabrizi was also sentenced by the Shahriar Revolutionary Court to one year in prison for propaganda against the regime in connection with another case.

Akbar Gholizadeh (known as Yashar Tabrizi), the civil activist, has previously faced arrest and judicial actions due to his activities.

Poet Faramarz Se-Dehi Sentenced to Over 22 Months in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Faramarz Se-Dehi, irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Khuzestan, Mahshahr, فرامرز سه دهی

HRANA News Agency – Faramarz Se-Dehi, a poet and member of the Iranian Writers’ Association, has been sentenced to more than 22 months in prison by Branch 1 of the Mahshahr Revolutionary Court.

According to the verdict issued on April 13, 2025, Mr. Se-Dehi was sentenced to seven and a half months in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime” and 15 months for “insulting the Supreme Leader.” Under the principle of enforcing the severest punishment, the 15-month sentence will be carried out.

Earlier, on February 18, 2025, Mr. Se-Dehi was formally charged at Branch 2 of the Behbahan Prosecutor’s Office and subsequently released on bail. He had been summoned to the prosecutor’s office following a notice issued on February 12, 2025.

On January 9, 2025, Mr. Se-Dehi was arrested at his private residence by IRGC intelligence agents. He was released after several hours, but during the arrest, the agents searched his home and confiscated his mobile phone and books.

Faramarz Se-Dehi, a Khuzestan-based poet and a member of the Iranian Writers’ Association, has previously faced legal action in connection with his activities.