Tag: irgc

Appeal Court Upholds 25-Year Prison Sentence for Baha’i Citizen Rouya Sabet

Posted on by . .
News, Religious Minorities
Adelabad Prison, Baha'i citizen, irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Rouya Sabet, Shiraz, رویا ثابت

HRANA – The 25-year prison sentence of Rouya Sabet, a Baha’i citizen residing in Shiraz, has been upheld in full by Branch 37 of the Fars Province Court of Appeals.

The ruling, issued on September 23 by the appellate court, has since been officially communicated to Ms. Sabet. According to the verdict, she received 10 years in prison for each of the charges of “collaboration and communication with Israeli nationals and institutions” and “forming and running a group with the intent to act against national security.” She was also sentenced to five years in prison for “religious propaganda activity contrary to the Sharia of Islam.”

As complementary punishments, Ms. Sabet was handed a two-year travel ban (including passport cancellation), five years’ deprivation of social rights, and a ban on online activity.

The verdict is final. Under Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the heaviest sentence, 10 years of imprisonment, will be enforceable.

On May 28, 2024, Branch 1 of the Shiraz Revolutionary Court had initially sentenced Ms. Sabet to 25 years in prison along with additional penalties on the same charges.

Rouya Sabet, a Baha’i citizen residing in the United Arab Emirates, was summoned and arrested by the IRGC Intelligence Organization in Shiraz on February 15, 2024, while visiting the city. She was released approximately five months later from Adelabad Prison in Shiraz after posting bail.

Younes Azadbar Sentenced to Prison by Rasht Revolutionary Court

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Younes Azadbar, یونس آزادبر

HRANA – Younes Azadbar, a resident of Rasht, has been sentenced to 22 months and 17 days in prison by Branch 2 of the Rasht Revolutionary Court.

According to the Coordinating Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations, the verdict against Mr. Azadbar was recently issued by Branch 2 of the Rasht Revolutionary Court, presided over by Mohammad-Ali Darvish-Goftar.

Mr. Azadbar was sentenced to 7 months and 16 days in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime” and 15 months and 1 day for “insulting the Supreme Leader.”

He had previously received a summons to appear before the same court. On August 19, 2025, he and two other citizens were also summoned to Branch 4 of the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office of Rasht to respond to related charges.

Younes Azadbar was arrested on May 5, 2025, by IRGC intelligence agents at his home and was released six days later after posting bail.

Mr. Azadbar, 62 years old and a resident of Rasht County, has previously been arrested and convicted for his activities.

Family Left in the Dark Nine Days After Saro Yarahmadi’s Arrest by IRGC Intelligence

Posted on by . .
News, Other
irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Kermanshah, Saro Yarahmadi

HRANA – Saro Yarahmadi (Yar-Ahmadi), a dentist residing in Kermanshah, has been held in detention by IRGC Intelligence agents in this city for the past nine days, with no information available about his whereabouts. The uncertainty surrounding his fate has heightened the concerns of his family and relatives.

A source close to his family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “On Wednesday, September 24, 2025, Mr. Yarahmadi was arrested in Kermanshah by IRGC Intelligence agents and transferred to an undisclosed location. Despite the family’s efforts, none of the security or judicial institutions have provided clear answers regarding his situation.”

The lack of information about Mr. Yarahmadi’s condition has caused increasing concern among his family and close relatives.

In 2024, a total of 2,783 Iranian citizens were arrested by security and judicial authorities due to their beliefs, opinions, or political and civil activities. Over the past decade, the number of such arrests has exceeded 56,000. The highest number of arrests occurred in 2022, during the nationwide protests, when HRANA documented 23,977 detentions.

Ongoing Detention: Baha’i Citizen Keyhan Maghsoudi Remains in Limbo

Posted on by . .
News, Religious Minorities
irgc, Keyhan Maghsoudi, Keyhan Maqsoudi, Urmia prison

HRANA – Baha’i citizen Keyhan Maghsoudi, a resident of Urmia, remains in limbo 85 days after his arrest, currently held in one of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) detention facilities in the city.

A source close to his family told HRANA: “Mr. Maghsoudi has been held in detention for 85 days without clarity about his case. He was initially kept in a security detention center in Urmia. On September 4, he was transferred to Urmia Prison, but two days later was returned to an IRGC detention facility for further interrogation. Since his arrest, his family has only been allowed two brief visits, and he continues to be denied access to legal counsel.”

Mr. Maghsoudi was arrested on Friday, June 20, 2025, during the 12-day Iran-Israel war, by security forces at his workplace. Following his arrest, he was transferred between Urmia’s security detention centers and Urmia Prison multiple times. About a month after his arrest, security forces also confiscated his personal vehicle.

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

Keyhan Maghsoudi, 49, is unmarried and works as a photographer and filmmaker in Urmia. A nature enthusiast, he has collaborated on numerous cinema and television projects.

Over the past decade, the Iranian Bahá’í community has been disproportionately targeted by Iran’s security forces and judiciary—more than any other minority group. In the past three years, an average of 72 percent of the reports on religious rights violations collected by HRANA have documented the Iranian regime’s repression of the Bahá’í community.

Amin Dehestani Arrested in Khorramabad

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
Amin Dehestani, HRANA, irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Khorramabad, امین دهستانی

HRANA – Amin Dehestani, a blogger residing in Khorramabad, was arrested yesterday in the city by security forces and transferred to the IRGC Intelligence detention facility.

Based on information received by HRANA, Mr. Dehestani was arrested on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, at his workplace, a drug rehabilitation center, by IRGC Intelligence agents. He was then transferred to the detention facility of this security institution in Khorramabad.

As of the time of this report, no information is available regarding the charges against this citizen.

Amin Dehestani, a 46-year-old blogger from Khorramabad, is the father of one child. He had previously published posts criticizing public services and addressing citizens’ problems.

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.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Now is definitely not the time to stop reading!

Appeals Court Upholds Prison Sentence and Defrocking of Shiite Cleric Mohammad-Taghi Akbarnejad

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Mohammad-Taghi Akbarnejad, Qom prison

HRANA – The Appeals Court of the Special Clerical Court has upheld the prison sentence and defrocking order against Shiite cleric Mohammad-Taghi Akbarnejad. In the initial ruling, he had been sentenced to 23 months and six days in prison, along with three years of defrocking from the clergy.

A page attributed to this cleric reported that the Appeals Court of the Special Clerical Court confirmed in full both his prison sentence and defrocking order. In the lower court, he had been sentenced to eight months and one day in prison on the charge of “acting against the regim,” and to 15 months and five days in prison for “insulting the leaders of the Islamic Revolution.” Additionally, he was sentenced to three years of defrocking on the charge of “dishonoring the clergy.”

Mr. Akbarnejad was released from Qom Prison in March 2024 after posting bail. His arrest had taken place on February 17, 2024, by agents of the IRGC Intelligence.

In an earlier audio message sent to HRANA, Akbarnejad described being pressured to make forced confessions.

Mr. Akbarnejad, a Shiite cleric and former professor at the Qom Seminary, has previously faced judicial action due to his activities.

Mohsen Alizadeh Arrested in Gachsaran

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
Gachsaran, irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Mohsen Alizadeh, Mohsen Alizadeh Benari, محسن عالی زاده

HRANA – Yesterday, Mohsen Alizadeh Benari, a resident of Gachsaran, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, was arrested at his home by agents of the IRGC Intelligence Organization and taken to an undisclosed location.

A source close to his family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “On Tuesday, August 12, Mr. Alizadeh was arrested at his residence in Gachsaran by IRGC Intelligence agents. The agents searched the premises and confiscated his digital devices, including his laptop and mobile phone.”

As of now, there is no information on his whereabouts, the reasons for his arrest, or the charges against him.

Mohsen Alizadeh Benari has previously been arrested and served prison time for his activities. He was detained during the nationwide protests of November 2019 and spent a period in prison.

Andimeshk Resident Ruhollah Korki Arrested by Security Forces

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
ahvaz, Amin Korki, Andimeshk, HRANA, irgc, Ruhollah Korki

HRANA – On Tuesday, August 5, 2025, Ruhollah Korki, a resident of Andimeshk, was arrested by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location.

A source close to the family confirmed the arrest, telling HRANA: “Mr. Korki was detained by plainclothes agents while walking with his young daughter on a street in Andimeshk. His daughter returned home in tears. The arresting agents were reportedly affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).”

It remains unclear whether Korki is being held in Andimeshk or has been transferred to Ahvaz. While the family was informed that the arresting forces had come from Ahvaz, some evidence suggests he may still be held locally.

As of the time of this report, the reasons for Korki’s arrest and any charges brought against him have not been disclosed.

Ruhollah Korki is the brother of Amin Korki, who was arrested during the nationwide protests of December 2017. Amin Korki died under suspicious circumstances in April 2018 following a second arrest.

Three Citizens Arrested in Damavand County

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News, Other
Damavand, HRANA, irgc, IRGC Intelligence

HRANA – The commander of the IRGC in Damavand County, Tehran province, announced the arrest of three citizens on charges of alleged collaboration with Israel and the “Monafeqin” — a term the Iranian government uses to refer to the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MEK). According to the commander, legal cases have been opened and the individuals have been referred to the judiciary.

The local IRGC commander claimed the detainees were “connected to Israeli intelligence services and the MEK” and were “planning acts of sabotage targeting sensitive locations.” According to Mehr News Agency, the arrests were carried out by IRGC Intelligence agents, and their cases are currently under judicial review.

The report does not specify the date of arrest, the identities of the detainees, or where they are being held.

While espionage itself is not considered a human rights issue, the Iranian government has a long history of using such accusations to target political dissidents. Claims of this nature—especially in the absence of transparency and due process—are often met with skepticism.

Teacher Forough Khosravi Arrested by IRGC Intelligence

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
Behbahan, HRANA, irgc, IRGC Intelligence

HRANA – Forough Khosravi, an elementary school teacher and resident of Behbahan, was arrested on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, by agents of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Intelligence.

A source familiar with her situation told HRANA: “On Tuesday morning, Ms. Khosravi received a phone call from an unknown number, instructing her to appear at the courthouse by noon. She declined to comply, citing the absence of an official summons. A few hours later, around 2:30 PM, IRGC Intelligence agents arrived with an arrest warrant, detained her, and transferred her to an undisclosed location.”

As of the time of this report, the reasons for her arrest and the charges brought against her remain unclear.

This arrest follows a previous incident on June 19, when six IRGC Intelligence agents — including two women — entered Ms. Khosravi’s home without presenting a judicial warrant. During the raid, they created a climate of intimidation while conducting a search, and confiscated several personal belongings, including her cellphone. Ms. Khosravi’s daughter, who was home at the time, was reportedly deeply traumatized by the experience.

Subsequently, Ms. Khosravi filed a formal complaint against the agents. However, in what has been described as a one-sided decision in favor of the security apparatus, Judge Ruhollah Farzadnasab of Branch 2 in Behbahan dismissed the case, issuing an order not to pursue prosecution.

Forough Khosravi holds a doctorate in education and works as an elementary school teacher. She was previously expelled from Payam Noor University in Bandar Imam in the aftermath of the 2009 protests.