Tag: January Protests

Report on the Arrest and Broadcast of Forced Confessions of a Woman in Zanjan

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Freedom of Expression, News, Other
January Protests, zanjan

HRANA – A woman in Zanjan has been arrested on charges including insulting religious sanctities, communicating with foreign-based media outlets, and allegedly sending military images and information to those outlets. Simultaneously, a video purportedly showing the woman’s forced confessions has been released, although the circumstances under which the footage was recorded remain unclear.

According to a report by Mehr News Agency, a woman was arrested in Zanjan. Based on the report, the arrest was carried out on charges of insulting religious sanctities, communicating with the media outlets Manoto and Iran International, and sending military images and information to these outlets.

A video containing the forced confessions of this citizen has also been published, though it remains unclear under what circumstances the recording was obtained.

The report does not mention the identity of the arrested individual, the date of her arrest, or the location where she is being held.

It should be noted that protests and strikes by shopkeepers and bazaar merchants began in Tehran on Sunday, December 28, 2025, and within two days spread beyond markets and commercial centers. With the participation of students, citizens, and various social groups, these protests became one of the largest protest movements of recent years. Following the crackdown by security and law enforcement forces, thousands were killed or injured, and tens of thousands were arrested or summoned by security agencies. For more information, readers may refer to HRANA’s comprehensive report titled “Crimson Winter,” documenting the first fifty days following the outbreak of Iran’s nationwide protests.

January Protests: Rasoul Salehi Sentenced to Nine Years and Three Months in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
January Protests, Rasoul Salehi, Yazdanshahr, رسول صالحی

HRANA – Rasoul Salehi, one of the individuals arrested in connection with the January 2026 protests, has been sentenced to 9 years and 3 months in prison by the Revolutionary Court.

Based on the verdict issued by the Revolutionary Court, he was sentenced to five years in prison on the charge of “providing the means for committing assembly and collusion against national security,” two years for “insulting the Supreme Leader,” one year and three months for “propaganda against the regime,” and one year for “spreading falsehoods.”

Under Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, out of the total sentence of 9 years and 3 months, five years of imprisonment will be enforceable for Mr. Salehi.

Rasoul Salehi had previously participated in a protest gathering outside the Najafabad Judiciary Office during the January 2026 protests, following the killing of a teenager in Yazdanshahr. He had demanded the release of detained protesters. In a video circulated on social media, he gave judicial authorities a deadline to release detainees and warned of further protest gatherings.

He was ultimately arrested on January 6, 2026, by security forces at a relative’s home. His arrest took place despite prior attempts by security institutions to pressure organizers into canceling protest gatherings through phone calls.

Following Rasoul Salehi’s arrest, citizens in Yazdanshahr held a protest gathering, which led to clashes after intervention by security and law enforcement forces.

As of the time of this report, no information has been published regarding the prisoner’s current place of detention or his access to legal rights, including access to a lawyer.

It should be noted that protests and strikes by shopkeepers and bazaar merchants began in Tehran on Sunday, December 28, 2025, and within two days spread beyond markets and commercial centers. With the participation of students, citizens, and various social groups, these protests became one of the largest protest movements of recent years. Following the crackdown by security and law enforcement forces, thousands were killed or injured, and tens of thousands were arrested or summoned by security agencies. For more information, readers may refer to HRANA’s comprehensive report titled “Crimson Winter,” documenting the first fifty days following the outbreak of Iran’s nationwide protests.

January Protests: Mehdi Rasouli and Mohammadreza Miri Executed

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Executions, News
January Protests, Mashhad, Mehdi Rasouli, Mohammadreza Miri

HRANA – Mehdi Rasouli and Mohammadreza Miri, two prisoners connected to the January protests, were executed at dawn yesterday, May 3, in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad. The two had previously been sentenced to death in a case related to the killing of a Basij member.

According to HRANA, at dawn on Sunday, May 3, 2026, the death sentences of Mehdi Rasouli, 25, and Mohammadreza Miri, 21, were carried out in Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad.

A source familiar with Mehdi Rasouli’s case told HRANA:
“A video showing the beating of a Basij member during the January protests in Mashhad was found on Mehdi Rasouli’s mobile phone. Security agencies claimed that the attacker was Mehdi Rasouli and another individual, and that the Basij member seen in the video died as a result of the beating.”

The source added:
“Mr. Rasouli had questioned the validity of these claims, but had told his relatives that due to severe beatings and torture, he was forced to accept the charges. These coerced confessions became the main evidence against him in the case.”

According to this source, security agencies had pressured his family and relatives into silence by promising that his sentence would be reduced if they remained quiet. Due to the family’s silence and lack of public information dissemination, these two prisoners had remained unknown to human rights groups.

On Saturday, at around 3:00 PM, Mehdi Rasouli informed his family in a phone call that he was being transferred to solitary confinement. This morning, the families of the two prisoners were informed of the execution of their sons, and their bodies were handed over to the families at around 10:00 AM.

Yesterday afternoon, Mehdi Rasouli’s body was buried under security measures in a village near Kashmar. The execution of the two prisoners has also been confirmed by Marzieh Mohseni, a legal expert.

It should be noted that protests and strikes by shopkeepers and bazaar merchants began in Tehran on Sunday, December 28, 2025, and within two days spread beyond markets and commercial centers. With the participation of students, citizens, and various social groups, these protests became one of the largest protest movements of recent years. Following the crackdown by security and law enforcement forces, thousands were killed or injured, and tens of thousands were arrested or summoned by security agencies. For more information, readers may refer to HRANA’s comprehensive report titled “Crimson Winter,” documenting the first fifty days following the outbreak of Iran’s nationwide protests.

January Protests: Four Defendants, Including One Woman, Sentenced to Death

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Executions, Freedom of Expression, News
Erfan Amiri, Evin Prison, hsan Hosseinipour Hesarlou, January Protests, Maryam Hodavand, Matin Mohammadi, Pakdasht

HRANA – Ehsan Hosseinipour Hesarlou, Matin Mohammadi, Erfan Amiri, and Maryam Hodavand, four individuals arrested during the protests of January 2026, have been sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court of Tehran. These sentences were issued in connection with the case of the fire at the “Seyyed al-Shohada” mosque in Pakdasht.

These individuals were sentenced to death under a ruling issued by Iman Afshari, judge of Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court. The charges include “participation in the killing of two Basij members” named Ali-Akbar and Taha, “intentional arson of a religious site,” “destruction of public property,” and “assembly and collusion against national security.”

According to information received by HRANA, the cited evidence includes alleged participation in protest gatherings on January 8, 2026 in Pakdasht and the throwing of Molotov cocktails into the mosque. A significant portion of the case file is reportedly based on confessions attributed to the defendants, obtained under unclear circumstances, along with reports by case officers and footage said to be from local surveillance cameras.

A source close to the families of the defendants told HRANA that the death sentences of Hosseinipour Hesarlou, Mohammadi, and Amiri have recently been upheld by the Supreme Court and referred to the sentence enforcement branch.

Maryam Hodavand, 45 years old and a mother of two, was transferred to the women’s ward of Evin Prison after her arrest and remains detained there. During the legal proceedings, she was denied access to an independent lawyer, and her case was handled without adherence to fair trial standards.

The status of the other three defendants, including their place of detention, is still under review.

It should be noted that protests and strikes by shopkeepers and bazaar merchants began in Tehran on Sunday, December 28, 2025, and within two days spread beyond markets and commercial centers. With the participation of students, citizens, and various social groups, these protests became one of the largest protest movements of recent years. Following the crackdown by security and law enforcement forces, thousands were killed or injured, and tens of thousands were arrested or summoned by security agencies. For more information, readers may refer to HRANA’s comprehensive report titled “Crimson Winter,” documenting the first fifty days following the outbreak of Iran’s nationwide protests.

January Protests: Nine More Citizens Arrested in Connection with the Killing of a Security Force Member

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Freedom of Expression, News, Other
Farajollah Shushtari, January Protests, Mashhad

HRANA – The Police Information Center announced the arrest of 9 additional citizens in connection with the case of the killing of a security force member during the January protests in Mashhad. Previously, state media had also reported that a number of protesters had been arrested in relation to the same case.

According to Tasnim News Agency, the Information Center of the Law Enforcement Command of the Islamic Republic of Iran stated that, in a “joint operation” between the Khorasan Razavi police and security forces, an individual identified as a suspect in the killing of Farajollah Shushtari, along with eight others, has been arrested.

According to the police’s claims, the detainees have been described as “individuals involved in this crime” and have been handed over to judicial authorities. However, the identities of these individuals, the exact details of how they were arrested, and their place of detention have not been disclosed.

Earlier, state media had also reported the arrest of a number of citizens in Mashhad in connection with the same case. In that report, without mentioning the number or identities of those arrested, the charge of “killing a security force member” was attributed to the detainees.

No independent details are available regarding the legal proceedings of this case, the detainees’ access to legal counsel, or their current condition.

It should be noted that protests and strikes by shopkeepers and bazaar merchants began in Tehran on Sunday, December 28, 2025, and within two days spread beyond markets and commercial centers. With the participation of students, citizens, and various social groups, these protests became one of the largest protest movements of recent years. Following the crackdown by security and law enforcement forces, thousands were killed or injured, and tens of thousands were arrested or summoned by security agencies. For more information, readers may refer to HRANA’s comprehensive report titled “Crimson Winter,” documenting the first fifty days following the outbreak of Iran’s nationwide protests.

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Sentences Issued for 22 Defendants to Long-Term Imprisonment in Two Provinces

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Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, January Protests

HRANA – The Judiciary’s Media Center has announced the issuance of long-term prison sentences for 22 defendants in two provinces of the country. According to the report, eight of them have been sentenced to more than 10 years in prison, while 14 others have received sentences of less than 10 years, along with additional penalties. However, no details have been published regarding the identities of the convicted individuals or the exact charges against them.

According to Mizan, 22 defendants in several cases across two provinces have been sentenced to long-term imprisonment. Based on the report, eight of the defendants received sentences exceeding 10 years in prison, while 14 others were sentenced to less than 10 years, accompanied by supplementary punishments.

The Judiciary’s Media Center stated that these individuals were prosecuted on charges of “cooperation with an enemy,” and the mentioned sentences were issued following proceedings in competent courts.

It should be noted that protests and strikes by shopkeepers and bazaar merchants began in Tehran on Sunday, December 28, 2025, and within two days spread beyond markets and commercial centers. With the participation of students, citizens, and various social groups, these protests became one of the largest protest movements of recent years. Following the crackdown by security and law enforcement forces, thousands were killed or injured, and tens of thousands were arrested or summoned by security agencies. For more information, readers may refer to HRANA’s comprehensive report titled “Crimson Winter,” documenting the first fifty days following the outbreak of Iran’s nationwide protests.

Day Thirty-Six of the Protests; Government Releases List of Names and State TV Insults Those Killed

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ali Shayan-Manesh, Alireza Golchin, HRANA, iran protests, January Protests, Shargh

HRANA – Based on HRANA’s latest aggregated data, by the end of the thirty-sixth day since the start of the protests, the total number of confirmed deaths has reached 6,842. According to these figures, 6,425 of those killed have been recorded as “protesters,” while 146 fall under the category of “children under 18.” In addition, 214 individuals affiliated with the government and 57 “civilian, non-protesters” have been reported. A total of 11,280 cases remain under review.

During the same period, the number of injured civilians was recorded at 11,021, student arrests at 94 cases, forced confessions at 296 cases, and summonses at 11,046 cases. Furthermore, a total of 664 protest-related incidents were recorded across 207 cities in 31 provinces.

On this day, the key incidents include: the continuation of scattered arrests in various cities (particularly among students, adolescents, and civil activists); increased pressure and threats in the area of medical treatment and care for the injured; and, at the media level, widespread reactions to the broadcast of an insulting program on state television. At the same time, the release of a list of the names of those killed by the Office of the President also sparked numerous reactions and questions.

Continued Pressure on Lawyers and Medical Professionals

Aggregated reports indicate that in recent days, security pressure has not been limited solely to street arrests; rather, individuals who play a direct role in supporting citizens during times of crisis have also come under pressure. These include doctors and nurses, as well as, on the legal level, the process of accessing legal defense and pursuing cases.

The Iranian Nursing Organization stated in a statement that during the recent protests, at least three members of the nursing community lost their lives while on duty, while commuting, or after completing their work shifts, and that at least three other nurses were injured. The organization also reported that it had not received any “confirmed” reports of nurses being arrested solely for performing their professional duties; however, it added that so far 18 nurses have been summoned, mostly for reasons cited as activities outside their professional roles.

At the same time, the newspaper Shargh, citing accounts published from medical centers, reported that some members of the medical staff have received warning calls intended to intimidate them about the consequences of treating injured protesters.

From the perspective of some sources, these threats could influence the decision-making of medical staff or lead to a decrease in injured individuals seeking care at medical facilities. Alongside these reports, the arrest of a physician has also been recorded among protest-related detentions, including Alireza Golchin, whose name appears in reports of recent arrests.

In response to these conditions, the Iranian Laparoscopic Surgery Association issued a statement describing “any form of intervention, restriction, or pressure in the treatment process” as contrary to the principles of medical ethics, and called for guarantees of “professional independence” for medical staff. At the international level, more than 130 doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers in the United Kingdom published an open letter condemning the targeting of medical personnel for treating the injured, and referred in the letter to reports of threats, arrests, and imprisonment of healthcare workers.

Following the protests in January, several lawyers who are members of the bar associations of Fars Province and Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad were arrested in Shiraz. Ali Shayan-Manesh, a member of the board of directors of these bar associations, stated that “six lawyers” have been arrested, one of whom has been released while five remain in detention. As of the time of reporting, no information has been released regarding the reasons for their arrests or the charges against them.

Arrests and Security Crackdowns Continue

On the thirty-sixth day, arrests and security measures continued in various locations. A significant portion of the reports focused on the arrest of students, adolescents, and citizens in several provinces. In Tabriz, Mohammad Mohammadzadeh was arrested. In Tehran, Behdad Piri and Reza Vafaei were arrested. In Dehdasht, Erfan Javadi (a 17-year-old student) was detained, and in Ilam, names including Hossein Shokri, Saber Bastami, Noureddin Chelangar, Faraj Arsane, Elias Javanmard, and Ahmad Sheikhi were reported among those arrested.

In another report, the arrest of nine students and one physician in connection with the protests was recorded. Those named include Niyayesh Mozaffari, Amirhossein Heydari, Erfan Parvaresh, Amirmohammad Abrishami, Mohammad Siadat, Hamzeh Alimoradi, and Shayan Khodayar (students residing in Gorgan), as well as Amirsina Mostaghim in Tehran and Mohammad Hossein Talebi in Amol.

As this trend continued, Reza Taheri (a teacher residing in Karaj), Amirhossein Khojandi (a citizen residing in Ramsar), and Hamidreza Vatani were also arrested.

Arrests of adolescents and citizens in other cities have likewise been reported. Saadi Irani was arrested in Piranshahr, and Amirali Babaei (a 17-year-old adolescent) in Gorgan. Aria Sheikhi-Nasab was arrested in Masjed Soleyman, and Erfan Esfandiari (a 17-year-old adolescent) in Isfahan.

On a broader scale, it has been reported that 22 citizens were arrested in the provinces of Golestan, Bushehr, and Yazd. At the same time, the publication of a video containing “forced confessions” from a detained citizen in Golestan was also reported, a video for which no clear information has been provided regarding the conditions of its recording or the validity of the confession process.

In Qazvin, the General Directorate of Intelligence announced the arrest of 158 citizens in connection with the protests. Published reports have claimed that a significant portion of those arrested were “non-local.”

Broadcast of an Insulting Program on State Television About the Bodies of Those Killed

In one of the programs aired by state broadcaster IRIB, a segment was broadcast in the form of a “game” in which a question was posed about the location where the bodies of those killed in the protests are kept, using mocking and humiliating multiple-choice options. The broadcast of this segment triggered widespread public backlash and sparked extensive criticism over the normalization of violence and the disrespect shown toward the deceased and their families.

Following the escalation of reactions, it was announced that the head of Ofogh TV channel had been dismissed and that the program Khat-e Khat had been suspended. While this decision was presented at the managerial level as a response to the criticism, it has nevertheless raised questions about content oversight mechanisms, the responsibility of producers, and the repeatability of such approaches within state media.

Release of a List of Names of Those Killed by the Office of the President

Iran’s Office of the President announced that it has published a list containing the details of 2,986 individuals killed in the “recent incidents.” It had previously been stated that 3,117 people were killed; however, since the identities of the remaining 131 victims have not been determined, they were not included in the list. Due to its unprecedented nature, the publication of this list received wide public attention and was viewed by some observers as an attempt to control the official narrative surrounding the death toll.

However, initial reviews suggest that the released list bears signs of haste: reports have pointed to spelling errors, duplicate entries, and incomplete rows (including cases where national ID numbers were listed without accompanying identity details). Moreover, the published list lacks key information such as the time and place of death, the individual’s status (protester, non-protester, or government-affiliated force), and a description of the circumstances. This absence makes public verification and clear accountability difficult. At the same time, the list may have limited practical value in terms of cross-referencing names with existing data and identifying some cases missing from independent lists.

Updated (Aggregated) Statistics as of the End of the Thirty-Sixth Day Since the Start of the Protests

• Total number of recorded protest-related incidents: 664
• Number of cities (no duplicates): 207
• Number of provinces (no duplicates): 31

• Injured civilians: 11,021
• Student arrests: 94
• Forced confessions: 296
• Summonses: 11,046

• Total number of protesters killed: 6,425
▪️ Including children: 146
▪️ Military/government-affiliated forces: 214
▪️ Non-civilian, non-protesters: 57
• Total number of people killed: 6,842

• Cases under review: 11,280

Summary

The thirty-sixth day ended with the continued wave of arrests, spanning students, adolescents, teachers, and civil activists, remaining a central development. At the same time, security pressure on the healthcare sector and on the treatment of injured protesters persisted. The airing of an insulting segment on state television about the bodies of those killed triggered widespread public backlash, ultimately resulting in the dismissal of a network director and the suspension of the program. Meanwhile, the Office of the President’s unprecedented release of a list of those killed raised fresh questions and doubts due to the absence of key details and indications of haste.

Day Twenty-Eight of the Protests: Arrests, Uncertainty Over Detainees’ Fate, and International Calls for Accountability

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Freedom of Expression, News
Abdollah Rezaei, HRANA, iran protests, January Protests

HRANA – According to HRANA’s latest aggregated data on the twenty-eighth day of the protests, the total number of confirmed fatalities has reached 5,459. Of these, 5,149 were protesters, 60 were children under the age of 18, 208 were government-affiliated forces, and 42 were non-protesters or civilians. The number of deaths currently under investigation stands at 17,031.

The total number of arrests has risen to 40,887, including at least 325 children and 54 university students. The number of severely injured individuals has been reported as 7,403, and 205 cases of forced confessions being broadcast have been documented. The number of individuals summoned by security agencies has reached 11,023. In total, 641 protest-related incidents have been recorded across 195 cities in 31 provinces.

On the twenty-eighth day of the protests, developments focused on the issuance of a resolution by the Human Rights Council, the continued policy of restricting communications, and the rising figures related to the suppression of protesters.

Escalation of Arrests and Targeted Repression

On the twenty-eighth day of the protests, targeted arrests and security pressure on citizens, activists, and the families of protesters continued in an overt, though dispersed, manner. Verified reports from various provinces indicate that security agencies are seeking to monitor and identify protesters or those with prior records, and subsequently summon them. Their focus has been primarily on major cities and areas that have witnessed the highest levels of demonstrations in recent days.

In addition to street and mass arrests, a new pattern of so-called “home arrests” and raids on residences, workplaces, and even schools and universities has been observed. Over the past 24 hours, several arrests have been reported in Tehran, Shiraz, Kerman, Rasht, Semnan, Islamabad-e Gharb, and even smaller towns. The names of a number of detainees, including students and teachers, labor activists, Yarsani and Baha’i citizens, and even adolescents under the age of 18, have been published by human rights media outlets and HRANA News Agency. In some cases, security forces, after making arrests, have confiscated electronic devices, mobile phones, and even books and personal belongings.

Meanwhile, some detainees have faced charges such as “leading protests,” “communicating with foreign media,” or “acting against national security.” At least five new forced confession videos were broadcast over the past day by media outlets affiliated with security institutions. These confessions are often obtained under unclear conditions, without access to an independent lawyer, and under pressure.

Credible reports have also emerged regarding the collective transfer of detained women and teenage girls to the political ward of Adelabad Prison in Shiraz, despite severe shortages of facilities and capacity, raising serious human rights concerns. Families of detainees seeking information about the condition of their loved ones have faced obstruction, threats, and even summonses, and in some cases have been compelled to provide written pledges to remain silent or refrain from speaking to the media.

The pressure has not been limited to arrests; summonses to security institutions and threatening phone calls and text messages have also taken on new dimensions. HRANA’s aggregated data indicate that more than 11,000 individuals have been summoned by security agencies to date. In some cities, teachers, students, workers, and even figures from the arts and sports communities have been targeted.

Continued Internet Disruptions and Shutdowns and Their Negative Impact on Information Flow and Daily Life

On the twenty-eighth day of the protests, widespread disruptions and a nationwide internet shutdown in Iran remained one of the government’s primary security measures. According to updated reports from NetBlocks and field data, Iran has been in a state of “communications blackout” for the third consecutive week, with the total duration of internet outages exceeding 375 hours. Over the past day, only for brief periods were some users able to connect to the international internet through censorship-circumvention methods (tunneling or VPNs), and a limited number of platforms were temporarily exempted from filtering; however, this access was neither stable, nationwide, nor free.

Technical data published by NetBlocks emphasize that, contrary to claims by some state-affiliated media regarding a “40 percent restoration of internet access,” independent evidence and user assessments confirm only very limited, costly, and high-risk connectivity. According to human rights media, the communications blackout and the lack of free internet access have had direct consequences for documenting human rights violations, tracking the situation of detainees and the injured, and for everyday life, from work and education to healthcare services.

Even many field reports (such as the Rasht bazaar fire or the intensity of repression in Ahvaz and certain neighborhoods of Tehran) have been published with delays of several days, as journalists and families have faced extreme difficulty in sending images, videos, or firsthand accounts. Union and civil organizations, including the Tehran Journalists’ Association and the Iranian Sociological Association, warned that this situation has placed the media under pressure and deprived society of independent documentation of events.

Technology experts and digital rights activists assess this blackout not as a technical malfunction, but as a deliberate tool for control, intimidation, and preventing the spread of collective action and the free flow of information. Internet shutdowns have not only disrupted protests, but have also paralyzed the economy, education, healthcare, and even family communication in an unprecedented manner. Some have stressed that aside from Sudan’s 2021 coup, no nationwide internet shutdown of this scale and duration has been recorded.

Overall, on the twenty-eighth day of the protests, Iran remains in a situation where the communications blackout continues to be an inseparable part of the strategy of repression and narrative control, with citizens’ access to a free information space restricted to an unprecedented degree. This situation signals, not only for reporters and independent institutions but for society as a whole, the emergence of a new phase of control and obstruction in response to the wave of protests.

Civil and International Reactions

In recent days, civil and international reactions to the widespread repression of protests in Iran have continued to expand. Reports indicate that the voice of civil society, both inside and outside the country, has grown stronger, emphasizing government accountability and support for the demands of protesters.

At the domestic level, statements and collective responses from various professional and civil groups have continued. In a statement, the Board of Directors of the Iranian Sociological Association, referring to the killing of thousands of citizens and expressing deep concern over the current situation, called for an immediate halt to the cycle of violence, respect for civilian lives, and a serious reassessment of the government’s policy-making paths. The association emphasized that Iranian society is facing an accumulation of crises and an erosion of social cohesion, and that the normalization of death and violence will have devastating effects on public trust and the possibility of future coexistence. The Teachers’ Trade Association of Islamabad-e Gharb also issued a statement condemning the arrest of Abdollah Rezaei, a labor activist and a board member of the Harsin Teachers’ Trade Association, stressing that silence in the face of injustice amounts to complicity with the apparatus of repression.

At the international level, the dimensions of Iran’s crisis have become one of the main focal points for human rights bodies and global media. At an emergency session of the Human Rights Council held yesterday, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights warned of the unprecedented scale of street killings, reported the continued repression and the deaths of thousands of people, including children, and emphasized that violence against protesters has turned into “the deadliest crackdown in Iran’s contemporary history.” The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran and the head of the Human Rights Council’s fact-finding mission, expressing alarm at field observations, called for accountability and independent investigations.

In connection with these developments, the European Parliament also adopted a resolution condemning the repression of protests, calling for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to be designated as a terrorist organization by the European Union and for sanctions to be imposed on officials of the Islamic Republic.

In addition, a number of well-known international figures, artists, athletes, and civil activists, have expressed support for the Iranian people’s protests through messages on social media and warned against the continuation of repression. These widespread reactions, occurring alongside the government’s efforts to restrict access to information and shut down the internet, have further underscored the importance of amplifying independent voices inside and outside the country.

Updated (Aggregated) Statistics as of the End of the Twenty-Eighth Day

Number of recorded gatherings/protests: 641
Number of cities involved (no duplicates): 195
Number of provinces involved (no duplicates): 31
Confirmed fatalities: 5,459

 Protesters: 5,149
 Children (under 18): 60
 Government-affiliated forces: 208
 Non-protesters/civilians: 42

Fatalities under investigation: 17,031
Severely injured: 7,403
Total arrests: 40,887
Arrests of individuals under 18: 325
Arrested university students: 54
Broadcasts of forced confessions: 205 cases
Summonses to security agencies: 11,023 cases

Summary

The twenty-eighth day of the protests passed amid unprecedented levels of repression, a nationwide internet shutdown, widespread arrests, particularly of adolescents and women, economic pressure, and growing concerns over organized crimes. In contrast, civil and international reactions have expanded, with increasing calls for an immediate end to violence and for those responsible to be held accountable. Iranian society, while experiencing one of the most painful junctures of its contemporary history, continues to endure and resist under the heaviest wave of denial and repression.

Day Twenty-Seven of the Protests: Strong Condemnation of Iran’s Regime at the UN Human Rights Council

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Freedom of Expression, News
Abdolreza Ghandehari, Artin Ghazanfari, Danial Bahrami, HRANA, iran protests, January Protests, Mohsen Baver, Netblocks, Saeed Dorudi, Vahid Latifnejad, Yazdan Azizi

HRANA – On the twenty-seventh day of nationwide protests, according to HRANA’s aggregated data, the number of confirmed deaths has reached 5,137, while cases still under review stand at 12,904. In addition, at least 7,402 people have suffered serious injuries during the protests, and the total number of arrests has risen to 27,797. These figures have been recorded as nationwide internet shutdowns and disruptions have entered their third consecutive week. The release of new reports on targeted arrests, the broadcast of forced confessions, and the extension of United Nations human rights mandates were among today’s other major developments, reflecting the government’s efforts to control the narrative and continue its crackdown on protesters.

On the twenty-seventh day of nationwide protests, developments continued along three main axes rather than showing any de-escalation:

1. the continuation of communication restrictions, with NetBlocks reporting the entry into a third week of internet shutdowns (348 hours);

2. the expansion of arrests and summonses, alongside the growing prominence of security-related cases and “forced confessions”; and

3. the intensification of international reactions, centered on a special session of the UN Human Rights Council and the adoption of a resolution extending the mandates of the Special Rapporteur and the fact-finding mission.

NetBlocks Reports 348 Hours of Internet Shutdown and “False Traffic”

One of the main focal points of today’s developments was the continued internet shutdown and the management of communications. According to NetBlocks, Iran’s nationwide internet blackout has entered its third week, reaching 348 hours. While noting a “slight increase in connectivity,” NetBlocks also reported signs of efforts to generate false traffic and to create the impression of a widespread restoration of internet access.

At the same time, media reports present a similar picture: on the one hand, some users have experienced limited connectivity for short periods; on the other hand, monitoring organizations say this access is neither stable nor widespread, and that indicators of a “staged return of the internet” are visible in the data.

The continuation of the internet shutdown has two direct effects on the protest movement:

• A reduction in the speed and accuracy of documenting human rights violations (including identifying victims, recording the time and location of incidents, and enabling communication between families and media outlets or civil society organizations).

• A shift in the form of protests and activism; as internet-based coordination tools are restricted, some actions move toward more fragmented, localized, and lower-cost forms, while at the same time citizens face greater difficulty in warning one another about the risks of arrest and other forms of government repression.

Additionally, in today’s international meetings, “internet shutdowns” were highlighted as one of the key examples of human rights violations, and the UN Human Rights Council emphasized, within its demands and expectations, the necessity of restoring citizens’ access to the internet.

Arrests, Summonses, Forced Confessions, and Fabricated Charges

On the twenty-seventh day, information on arrests and summonses emerged across several layers: HRANA’s field and news reports on scattered arrests in various cities; coverage of specific individual cases; and statistics and claims issued by security institutions regarding the scope of arrests and intelligence operations.

According to the published report, at least 22 citizens were arrested in the cities of Kerman, Tehran, Semnan, and Lumar in Ilam Province. At the same time, a video containing “forced confessions” from five citizens was released, with the circumstances of its recording reported as unclear. Additionally, news emerged of the recent arrests of Abdolreza Ghandehari (a teacher) and Mohsen Baver in Neyshapur and Abdanan.

In addition to the statistics and scattered arrests, there were reports of individual cases of arrest by security forces: HRANA reported that Artin Ghazanfari, a Baha’i citizen and photojournalist, was arrested at his private residence in Tehran on January 19 and transferred to an undisclosed location.

Another report also referred to individual arrests: Saeed Dorudi (a student) in Tehran, Danial Bahrami in Javanrud, and Vahid Latifnejad and Yazdan Azizi in Ilam were arrested. In addition, the commander of the Abdolazim Corps in Rey County announced the arrest of five individuals in the county, labeling them as “leaders of the protests.”

At another level, state-affiliated media also reported mass arrests, including reports of the detention of 148 people in Hamedan on charges such as “manufacturing and distributing hand grenades,” and allegations of links to “Israel and the Iran International network,” as well as news of the arrest of “three four-member teams involved in damaging public property” and two foreign nationals.

Meanwhile, the IRGC Intelligence, in its official narrative, spoke of the arrest and summoning of 735 individuals and the “guidance and admonition of 11,000 people,” while simultaneously making claims about the discovery of weapons and the identification of networks allegedly linked to foreign intelligence services.

In this context, forced confessions continue to be one of the government’s key tools in its “narrative-building project.” The release of confession videos usually serves two functions simultaneously: first, creating a climate of deterrence and social fear; and second, producing media material to attribute the protests to “external/organized agents” and to legitimize repression. Today’s reports indicate that this mechanism, alongside “quiet but large-scale arrests,” is becoming increasingly entrenched.

Special Session of the Human Rights Council: Adoption of a Resolution and Extension of the Mandates of the Special Rapporteur and the Fact-Finding Mission

The most significant international development related to the protests on the twenty-seventh day was the UN Human Rights Council’s special session on Iran, held in Geneva. The session took place on Friday, January 23, 2026, and was specifically dedicated to examining the human rights situation and the suppression of the January protests. During the session, the proposed resolution was adopted with 25 votes in favor. Under the resolution, the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran was extended for one year, and the mandate of the UN fact-finding mission was extended for two years. This session was described as the third special session of the Human Rights Council on Iran over the past three years and was convened at the request of civil society organizations, with the support of 23 Council member states.

According to supplementary accounts, Cuba, Pakistan, Egypt, and China opposed the proposal and called for a vote. Ultimately, the resolution was adopted with 25 votes in favor, 7 votes against, and 14 abstentions.

In terms of substance, at the opening of the session, senior UN human rights officials expressed concern over the “unprecedented scale of violent repression” in reference to the scope of the protests and the Iranian government’s response. They highlighted reports of extrajudicial killings, the lethal and disproportionate use of force, mass arrests, and internet shutdowns as serious examples of human rights violations.

Mai Sato, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, also warned in her remarks that the use of terms such as “terrorist,” “rioter,” and “mercenary” by officials of the Islamic Republic to describe peaceful protesters serves to justify violence and obscure the popular nature of the protests. She emphasized that the use of lethal force must be a “last resort” and carried out in accordance with the principles of necessity, proportionality, and legality, principles which, she said, were widely violated during the January crackdown.

Updated Statistics (Cumulative)

Based on aggregated data recorded through the end of the twenty-seventh day of protests:

• Number of recorded gatherings/protests: 640

• Number of cities involved (no duplicates): 194 cities

• Number of provinces involved (no duplicates): 31 provinces

• Confirmed deaths: 5,137
    Protesters: 4,834
    Children (under 18): 54
    Government/affiliated forces (military and non-military): 208
    Non-protesters/civilians: 41

• Deaths under investigation: 12,904

• Severely injured: 7,402

• Total arrests: 27,797

• Arrests of individuals under 18: 175

• Arrested students: 54

• Broadcasts of forced confessions: 200 cases

Summary of the Twenty-Seventh Day

The twenty-seventh day of protests was marked by the continuation of internet shutdowns into a third week, an increase in arrests, and the growing use of forced confessions. At the same time, the UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution extending the mandates of the Special Rapporteur and the fact-finding mission.

Alongside these developments, the geopolitics of the region and new sanctions have become increasingly intertwined with Iran’s internal crisis, further heightening the diplomatic sensitivity of Iran’s case.

Qarchak Prison; a List of Political Prisoners and Prison Conditions

Posted on by admin-hr
Prisoners
Elnaz Pakravan, Fatemeh (Mary) Mohammadi, Golrokh Ebrahami Iraei, January Protests, Leila (Khadijeh) Mirghafari, Marjan Davari, Maryam Ebrahimvand, November Protests, Prison Condition, Qarchak Prison, Raha Ahmadi, Zahra Sadeghi, Zahra Zare Seraji

Qarchak Women’s Prison also known as Shahre Rey Penitentiary is located in Varamin and has 11 wards. Each ward in this prison holds several female prisoners, disregarding the rules of segregation of prisoners by age and crime.

Political prisoners are transferred to this prison to put them under more pressure. The lack of medical care, dental care, and regular checkups, poor hygiene, and a great number of prisoners has caused several issues. The poor quality of food, drug use and easily accessibility narcotics, not isolating prisoners with a contagious disease from others, rape, and negligence of the prison authorities are some of the issues of this prison.

This report that is gathered by Human Rights Activists (HRANA) examines the conditions in Qarchak Prison and as well, the condition of nine female political prisoners who were kept in this prison. In addition, this report is investigating the condition of arrestees of the recent protests in Iran who are kept in a separate ward of this prison.

The information of this report was gathered from the sources inside the prison. Several prisoners contacted HRANA while incarcerated in Qarchak Prison or after they were released.

Prisoners Classification Regulation

The prison hosts a large number of inmates despite its small size. The prison does not separate inmates according to the crimes committed and this leads to violence; thus, worsening the situation as they are not offered medical services and are subjected to torture.

More than 130 prisoners of this prison are infected with HIV or Hepatitis and are kept in the same ward with others, not having access to medical treatment or medicine. These inmates are usually charged with crimes such as prostitution or drug felony. They threaten other inmates by self-harming with a sharp object or threaten to infect other prisoners by injuring them with the same sharp object or their body. Other prisoners filed several complaints about this issue but were told by the head of the Medical Ward that these diseases are not transferable, and the routine to keep these prisoners with others is practiced all over the world.

The Quarantine Ward of the prison was shut down months ago and therefore, new inmates enter general wards without being tested for diseases. Also, if by any chance, they are tested a few days after they entered, they usually return to the ward from the Medical Ward regardless of the test result being positive or negative.  The prisoners warned the prison authorities especially the head of the prison, Mehdi Mohammadi, and other authorities such as Sakineh Shahali, Zahra Mirzaei, and Maryam Mirzaei about the shortage of a Quarantine Ward but they never received any response.

A prisoner who was released recently from Qarchak Prison told HRANA that six women inmates have Scabies which is a contagious disease. She added that other inmates asked the prison authorities several times to transfer these six women to a separate ward since this disease is easily contagious through skin touch like shaking hands, sheets, or even from their clothes. The prison authorities’ responses were that this disease is not contagious.

 

Number of prisoners and prison’s area

According to the report, the prison’s seven sections contain more than 1400 prisoners with 120-300 prisoners held in each section, although the capacity of each section is 100 inmates. Some of these prisoners are incarcerated along with their children while the number of prisoners increases every year.

Each ward has 10 cubicles where each has four triple bunk beds. Several prisoners have to sleep on the floor.

 

Food

Food is one of the prison’s major problems as the food has a low quality and prison commissary sells low-quality food at a high price. The prison foods contain an unknown ingredient that causes extreme sourness in foods. The high level of acidity of these foods could cause hormonal diseases and other issues. To enrich the prison food with protein, oil cake (its common use is in animal feeding) has been replaced as the main ingredient.

15 prisoners are working in the kitchen from 7 am to 7 pm. They should receive a salary in return for their services but only a few of them received 100-150 thousand Toman [10-15 dollars] in total for six months. They do not have proper clothes, so they have to work with their everyday clothes in the kitchen that destroys their clothes due to the working condition.

 

Hygiene

At least 12 toilets and 10 bathrooms are in each ward. They are always not enough due to the high number of prisoners, facilities being out of order, and shortage of water. Cleaning the prison is prisoners’ responsibility but due to the lack of cleaning products, rubber gloves, and trash bags, inmates run out of these stuff in the first few days of the month and it leaves the bathrooms dirty with a lot of trash. As a result, infectious and skin diseases are common in this prison due to poor hygiene as well, roofless bathrooms increase the occurrence of cold and pneumonia during cold seasons.

In addition, there is no hot water running for the past two months although hot water used to run for one hour in the morning and one hour at night. The rest of the day, prisoners can only take a cold bath. Moreover, the prison water is coming from wells and it is not purified. The water is not proper for drinking and using it for bathing caused women-related diseases especially during menstruation. Even this water was shut off for a few hours in some days and sewer water comes up. Prisoners should buy drinking water from the prison commissary at a high price.

Overall, there are mothers and children in this prison who are suffering from nutrition deficiency, lack of access to child clothes, and poor hygiene. For example, in February 2019 during the prison wardens’ violent attack to this prison after the prisoners protested not having access to medical treatment and other issues in the prison, tear gas was fired in the prison and a 20-day old infant lost his/her life.

 

Visits

The telephone contact allowance of the prisoners is not controlled by the prison authorities which resulted in a chaos of selling and buying telephone allowance between inmates. Prisoners are unable to contact the prison’s supervision office to complain about the prison conditions. Visiting times are only 15 minutes and it should be granted at least two months after the prisoners started serving time there. The visitors can not sit close to the prisoner or hug them.

 

Air condition

Only half of each ward has a heater which forces the prisoner to walk in blankets. The only response the prisoners get when they complain about it is to put on more clothes which leads to another issue which is the difficulty of access to clothes. Bringing clothes to prison was forbidden and inmates should obtain their clothes from the prison commissary. The price of clothes is double or even triple of it outside of prison. Prisoners should purchase their pillow and blanket and the price of the cheapest pillow is 35 thousand Toman.

Because of housing more prisoners than the capacity, the air ventilation and the number of toilets is below the required standards.

 

Prison authorities

Sadegh Deldadeh, the judge supervisor of Branch 1 of Shahriar Court, reportedly insulted or threatened prisoners of Qarchak Prison during trials.

The social services department of Qarchak Prison is inactive, and prisoners could not follow up on their cases from inside the prison. For example, Simin Khosravi, a prisoner of Qarchak, sewed her lips protesting the situation of her case and its lengthy process. She wrote letters to judicial authorities requesting some attention to her case seven months ago and has recently figured out that none of those letters even left the prison. Three days later, she opened her lips after the prison authorities made promises to follow up on her requests.

 

Rape

In addition, several reports indicate that younger prisoners are raped by older prisoners who have more violent crimes. Prison authorities neglect these reports and even stop checking on the wards which have a high rate of violence. Atena Daemi and Monireh Arabshahi wrote open letters about their experience in these prison conditions especially sexual assaults and rapes.

 

Women prisoners arrested during recent protests

Women who were arrested during the last November and January protests were transferred to Qarchak Prison. In order to open up space for these new prisoners, prison authorities shut down the prison gym and place these prisoners there. This new ward does not have required facilities and standards such as proper air ventilation or air conditioning. As a result, 1400 prisoners of Qarchak are deprived of having a gym. Most of the prisoners of this ward were released on bail later but still, 11 prisoners were kept in this ward. Also, Zahra Sadeghi, Mary Mohammadi, and Elnaz Pakravan who were arrested during January protests are still in this ward.

 

Nine political prisoners of Qarchak Prison:

Elnaz Pakravan is an 18-year old prisoner of this prison. She was arrested on January 31, 2020, for attending a demonstration near the Turkish embassy in Tehran, protesting the arrest of an Iranian singer, Amir Hossein Maghsoudlo also known as Tataloo. She was charged with “propaganda against the state” and “assembly and collusion by having a leadership role in an unlawful protest”. She is in the new ward of Qarchak prison (Gym).

Maryam Ebrahimvand’s first arrest was on July 26, 2016, and she was transferred to the IRGC’s Intelligence detention center in Evin Prison. She was released on 300 million Toman [cash] bail after spending 35 days in solitary confinement. On July 22, 2018, she was arrested for the second time by the Intelligence Department officers on the charge of “publishing lies against the IRGC ”, and “using government properties and misusing it”. Her bail was set for 8 billion Toman. She is in Qarchak Prison in a limbo state without trial. She is now in ward 2 of the Qarchak Prison and was banned from entering the cultural part of the prison and receiving books.

Zahra Zare Seraji and her husband, Morteza Nazari Sedehi, were arrested on February 8, 2018. They were transferred to ward 209 of Evin Prison. She was transferred to the general ward of Evin Prison from February 26, 2018, till April 20, 2018, after initial investigations and interrogations. She was released on 200 million Toman bail from Evin Prison. In September 2018, Ms. Zare Seraji was tried along with three others including her husband. She was sentenced to eight years imprisonment and paying fines for the charges of “establishing illegal group”, “publishing lies in cyberspace”, and “propaganda against the state”. In February 2019, the appeals court reduced her sentences to two years imprisonment. She was arrested in September 2019 in Baharestan to serve her sentence. She is now in ward six of Qarchak Prison.

Zahra Sadeghi was an employee of the UN and traveled to Sudan and Iraq for her work. She was arrested by the security forces at the airport after returning from a trip to Iraq. On January 28, 2019, she was transferred to the ward 209 of the Evin Prison. In January 2020, she was transferred to Qarchak Prison. She was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for the charge of espionage by Branch 15 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court. Her sentence was reduced by an appeals court to three years. During her trial, none of her cooperation with the UN was mentioned in her accusations, and she was charged with espionage because of a trip to Turkey with a friend was considered as her accusations.

She was born in 1987 and she was arrested for the first time in 2014 by the Intelligence department agents and was released on bail from ward 209 of the Evin Prison after three months.

She is now in the new ward of Qarchak Prison (Gym).

Fatemeh (Mary) Mohammadi was arrested on January 12, 2020, during the wave of protests erupted in Tehran and other Iranian cities on January 11, after Iran admitted that it shot down a Ukrainian passenger jet, killing 176 people. She was arrested in Azadi square and was transferred to Vozara detention center. She was severely beaten both in Azadi square and at Vozara detention center. On February 26, Ms. Mohammadi was released from Qarchak Prison on 30 million Toman bail. Her trial is scheduled for March 2, 2020, at Branch 1167 of Tehran’s criminal court.

Fatemeh Mohammadi, a former prisoner, and Christian convert was arrested on November 18, 2017, for the first time. She was detained in Tehran and was transferred to Evin prison. On April 7, 2018, Mohammadi, who was 19 years old at that time, was sentenced by Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, presided by judge Ahmadzadeh, to six months imprisonment for the charges of “membership in proselytizing groups,” “Christian activity,” and “acting against the national security through propaganda against the regime.” She was released from Evin Prison’s women’s ward in spring 2018 after completing her sentence. She was charged with “disturbing public order through attending an unlawful protest”. Her trial is not scheduled yet. Although her bail was set for 30 million Tomans [approx. $3000], the prosecutor did not accept her bail. She was being kept in a limbo state for a month. She is now in the new ward of Qarchak Prison (Gym).

Leila (Khadijeh) Mirghafari and six others were arrested by the security forces on December 4, 2019. On November 10, 2019, they were tried at Branch 15 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court presided by Judge Abolghasem Salavati. Ms. Mirghafari was sentenced to five years imprisonment on the charge of “assembly and collusion”. On May 18, 2019, her appeal court hearing was in session without her attendance and the appeals court upheld her sentences in February 2020.

Leila Mirghafari was arrested on October 2, 2018, by the security forces for supporting people who are against mandatory vail and was released after one day. She was sentenced to pay three million and 220 thousand Toman fine and was forced to pay the fine on May 21, 2019.

She is now in the new ward 5 of Qarchak Prison.

 

Raha Ahmadi was arrested on August 4, 2019, by the security forces and was transferred to Qarchak Prison in Varamin in late August. She was initially charged with “propaganda against the state”, “assembly and collusion”, “cooperation with enemy states”, and “promoting corruption and prostitution” in her incitement at the prosecutor’s office of Evin Prison. Although her bail was set after two months, her 600 million Toman [approximately 55 thousand dollars] bail has never been accepted. On November 10, 2019, she was tried at Branch 15 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court presided by Judge Abolghasem Salavati. Ms.  Ahmadi was sentenced to two years imprisonment on the charge of “assembly and collusion”. On May 18, 2019, her appeal court hearing was in session without her attendance and the appeals court upheld her sentences in February 2020. A video was published earlier that shows Ms. Ahmadi handing out flowers and talking to people in the subway.

She is now in the new ward 5 of Qarchak Prison.

 

Marjan Davari was arrested on September 24, 2015, in Mehrshahr of Karaj. After spending one week in Rajai Shahr Prison, she was transferred to ward 209 of Evin Prison. She had been in solitary confinement from September 30 to January 3 (approximately 4 months) and then transferred to the women’s ward of Evin Prison.

She graduated from the Arts Department of Alzahra University in Tehran and is the translator of Islamic, esoteric and Illuminati books and a researcher of Rah-e-Marefat Institute for Metaphysical Studies and Research. She was arrested by the security forces after the Rah-e-Marefat Institute was shut down and its officials were arrested. Her court sessions were held at Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court, presided by Judge Salavati, on 16, 17 and 18 October 2016, as well as on 11 and 12 December 2016. She was accused of “corruption on earth”, “adultery”, “assembly and collusion against the regime”, and “membership in Eckankar mystical sect”. Branch 15 of Tehran Revolutionary Court presided by Judge Salavati sentenced her to death. Her death sentence was rejected twice by the Supreme Court and was returned to Branch 23 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court to try again. Her trial was on January 11, 2019, and she was sentenced to 75 years in prison by Branch 23 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court. Based on Article 134 of Iran’s Islamic Penal Code, the charge with the highest penalty will be considered; this means that he should serve 25 years in prison. She is now in the new ward 1 of Qarchak Prison.

 

Golrokh Ebrahim Iraee was arrested along with her husband on September 6, 2014. First was held at an IRGC safe house for two days, then she spent 20 days in a solitary cell of Evin Prison’s ward 2A, under the IRGC jurisdiction, before being released on a bail of 80 million Toman [approximately $19,000 USD].

On October 24, 2016, the IRGC arrested Ms. Iraee again without a warrant. She was sentenced to six years in prison for “blasphemy” and “assembly and collusion against the state.” She was later granted amnesty per Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, which reduced her prison term to 2.5 years. After finishing her sentence, on April 8, 2019, she was released on bail for her new case.

While she was serving her time in prison, she was sentenced for another case to three years and seven months of imprisonment by Branch 26 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court and she was banned for two years from membership in political groups and parties. Based on Article 134 of Iran’s Islamic Penal Code, the charge with the highest penalty will be considered; this means that she should serve two years and one month in prison. Her sentence was upheld by the appeals court without any hearing. On November 9, 2019, she was arrested without a warrant at her house in Tehran. According to judge Mohammad Berae’s verdict, she should have been transferred to Evin Prison but because Gholamreza Ziaei, the head of Evin Prison, refused to admit her, she was transferred to Qarchak Prison and her house was searched.

She is now in the new ward 1 of Qarchak Prison.