Tag: Karaj

Hamzeh Savari Launches Hunger Strike at Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj

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News, Prisoners
Ghezel Hesar prison, Hamzeh Savari, Hamzeh Savari Lafteh, Karaj, moharebeh, Mokhtar Al-Bushokeh, حمزه سواری

HRANA – Today, Wednesday, October 14, 2026, Hamzeh Savari Laftah, a political prisoner held at Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj, began a hunger strike in support of Mokhtar Al-Bushokeh, a political prisoner held at Arak Prison. Al-Bushokeh began his hunger strike on Tuesday, October 6, and was subsequently transferred to solitary confinement.

According to HRANA, Hamzeh Savari Laftah has launched a hunger strike at Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.

Based on information received by HRANA, the political prisoner began a week-long hunger strike today, Wednesday, October 14, in solidarity with . Al-Bushokeh has been on hunger strike since Tuesday, October 6, protesting prison authorities’ failure to fulfill their promise to transfer him from Arak Prison to Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz. He is currently being held in a solitary confinement cell at Arak Prison.

was arrested by security forces on September 2, 2005, when he was just 16 years old. He was sentenced to death by the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court on charges of “corruption on earth, moharebeh (enmity against God), and acting against national security.” His death sentence was eventually commuted to life imprisonment. He has now spent more than 21 years behind bars.

Throughout his imprisonment, Savari has been held in several prisons, including Karun Prison in Ahvaz, Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj, Evin Prison, and Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj. During this period, he has repeatedly been placed in solitary confinement and, according to previous HRANA reports, has been subjected to beatings on several occasions. The political prisoner has also staged hunger strikes in previous years to protest his detention conditions and prison transfers.

Over the years, Savari has suffered from numerous health problems, including heart disease, inflammation of the lining of his lungs, knee injuries, chronic stomach pain, cervical osteoarthritis, and spinal problems. According to previous HRANA reports, despite requiring specialized medical attention, he has been denied access to adequate medical care at various times. Restrictions on family visits, access to legal counsel, and prison furlough have also been reported in recent years.

Three Detainees from January 2026 Protests Sentenced to Death

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ghezel Hesar prison, HRANA, January 2026 Protests, Karaj, Khosrow Mohammadiniya, Masoud Tushmalani, Sirvan Shabani

HRANA – Branch 23 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court has sentenced Khosrow Mohammadiniya, Masoud Tushmalani, and Sirvan Shabani, three individuals arrested during the January 2026 protests, to death. The three citizens are currently being held in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, three citizens arrested during the January 2026 protests have been sentenced to death.

According to information received by HRANA, Khosrow Mohammadiniya, Masoud Tushmalani, and Sirvan Shabani were sentenced to death in a joint case by Branch 23 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court. The charges brought against the three citizens in this case include “moharebeh (enmity against God), assembly and collusion with the intent to disrupt national security, and operational activities in support of hostile governments.” The ruling was issued with the signatures of Judge Karimi and Judge Taghizadeh.

The three citizens, who are from Kermanshah, were arrested by security forces on a street in Eslamshahr during the nationwide protests in January 2026.

Following his initial arrest, Masoud Tushmalani was released on bail for a period of time, but was rearrested by security forces several days later.

According to information received by HRANA, a woman has also been prosecuted in connection with the same case and sentenced to five years in prison. HRANA is currently investigating the identity of this citizen and details of the charges brought against her.

Sirvan Shabani is approximately 22 years old, while the other two citizens are between 30 and 50 years old. They are currently being held in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.

Report on the Execution of Seven Death Sentences

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Executions, News
Dastgerd Prison, Ghezel Hesar prison, HRANA, Karaj, Sepidar Prison

HRANA – The death sentence of a juvenile offender was carried out at Sepidar Prison in Ahvaz, along with those of five prisoners at Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj. In addition, with the execution of a female prisoner at Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan, the number of prisoners executed at that facility on September 28, rose to three.

According to HRANA, citing Javan Online, at dawn yesterday, Wednesday, September 30, five prisoners at Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj, who had been sentenced to death in separate cases on murder charges, were executed by hanging.

According to the report, one of the prisoners went to his wife’s workplace in August-September 2020 due to a dispute with her and physically assaulted her. Later, when his wife’s parents went to the couple’s home to follow up on their marital problems, he killed both of them.

Another prisoner killed a young woman in August-September 2019 and subsequently, with the assistance of another individual, transported her body to the deserts near Robat Karim and set it on fire.

The report states that two other prisoners entered the home of an elderly man in Khordad 2020 with the intention of committing robbery and killed him during the robbery.

Another prisoner had been sentenced to death for the fatal shooting of a young man on March 14, 2024. During the investigation, he claimed that the victim had been harassing his sister.

Number of Executions at Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan Rises to Three

According to Iran Human Rights, on Monday, September 28, the death sentence of a woman was carried out at Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan.

According to the report, in addition to the executions of Abdolghani Salarzehi and Reza Sheikhi on that day, a female prisoner was also executed at the prison.

The prisoner was identified as Mahrokh (Roghayeh) Mirzaei, 30, from Khomeyni Shahr and a resident of Isfahan.

The report states that Ms. Mirzaei was arrested approximately three years ago on charges of killing her husband, who was also her maternal cousin, and was subsequently sentenced to death by a criminal court.

Prisoner Executed at Sepidar Prison in Ahvaz

In another report, Iran Human Rights reported that on May 24, 2026, the death sentence of Omid Moradi, a 37-year-old man from Izeh, was carried out at Sepidar Prison in Ahvaz.

According to the report, Mr. Moradi was arrested in early 2005 on a charge of intentional murder when he was under the age of 17 and was subsequently sentenced to death by a criminal court.

The report states: “Mr. Moradi’s friend, who had committed the murder, asked him to take responsibility for the killing so that he would not be executed. Mr. Moradi, who was a child at the time, agreed to the request. After the actual perpetrator was released and fled the country, the court sentenced Mr. Moradi to death on the basis of his initial confession. Throughout the proceedings, however, he rejected that confession and maintained that he had accepted responsibility for another person’s crime. In 2021, Mr. Moradi was also temporarily released for treatment of a severe respiratory illness after the same friend posted substantial bail on his behalf, but he was returned to prison one year later.”

As of the time this report was prepared, the executions of these prisoners had not been announced by prison officials or the relevant authorities.

According to HRA’s Annual Report, in 2025 at least 2,063 citizens, including 61 women and 2 juvenile offenders, were executed. Of these, the sentences of 11 individuals were carried out in public. During the same period, 172 other individuals were sentenced to death.

Teachers’ Union Activist Masoud Farhikhteh Sentenced to Additional Prison Term in New Case

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
HRANA, Karaj, Masoud Farhikhteh, Ramin Safarnia, Teachers union activist, مسعود فرهیخته

HRANA – Masoud Farhikhteh, a teachers’ union activist who is serving his prison sentence at Karaj Central Penitentiary, has been sentenced by the Revolutionary Court in Karaj to one year in prison and additional punishments in connection with a new case opened against him during his incarceration.

According to HRANA, citing the Coordinating Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations, Masoud Farhikhteh has been sentenced to prison and additional punishments.

According to the report, Ramin Safarnia, Mr. Farhikhteh’s attorney, stated that the teachers’ union activist was sentenced to one year in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime.” As additional punishments, he was also sentenced to a two-year ban on leaving the country, a two-year ban on membership in political and social parties, groups, and organizations, and dismissal from government and public service.

The report states that the ruling was based on a report by judicial officers at Karaj Central Penitentiary.

In this new case, which was opened against Mr. Farhikhteh during his incarceration, he was summoned to the Karaj Revolutionary Court after the completion of the interrogation stage.

In July of this year, Masoud Farhikhteh was transferred from Ward 16 of Karaj Central Penitentiary to solitary confinement. He was also deprived of telephone calls and visits with his family after publishing statements concerning prisoners’ demands.

Masoud Farhikhteh was arrested on September 16, 2025, and was subsequently transferred to Karaj Central Penitentiary. He had previously been sentenced by Branch 2 of the Karaj Revolutionary Court to six years in prison and additional punishments. In August 2025, Branch 12 of the Alborz Province Court of Appeals reduced the sentence to four years, one month, and 17 days in prison.

Political Prisoner Ali Zarei Sentenced to Death

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Executions, News
Ali Zarei, Ali Zarei Doozdarrehsi, Ghezel Hesar prison, HRANA, Karaj, علی زارعی

HRANA – Ali Zarei Doozdarrehsi, a political prisoner and one of those injured during the 2022 nationwide protests who is currently held in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj, has been sentenced to death by Branch 23 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court on the charge of “corruption on earth.”

According to HRANA, Ali Zarei Doozdarrehsi, who is being held in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj, has been sentenced to death.

According to information obtained by HRANA, Branch 23 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Zarei Doozdarrehsi to death on the charge of “corruption on earth through extensive engagement in political activities, creating the appearance of fabricated damages, producing false reports, propaganda against the regime, disrupting security, and illegally entering and exiting the country.” The sentence was communicated to him on August 23, 2026.

Zarei Doozdarrehsi, who had previously been residing in Germany, was arrested by Ministry of Intelligence agents on April 28, 2026, after entering Iran.

During the preliminary investigation stage, his case was reviewed by Branch 3 of the Prosecutor’s Office of District 33 in Tehran, also known as the Security Prosecutor’s Office.

He was ultimately transferred to Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj on June 30, 2026. He is currently being held in Unit 3, Ward 37 of the prison.

Ali Zarei Doozdarrehsi, approximately 27 years old and a resident of Tehran, suffered an injury to one of his eyes after being struck by pellet gunfire during the 2022 nationwide protests. He has previously faced arrest and judicial proceedings.

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10 Prisoners Executed in Various Prisons

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Executions, News
Borujerd, HRANA, Isfahan, Karaj, Mashhad, Semnan

HRANA – The death sentences of 10 prisoners who had previously been sentenced to death on murder and drug-related charges were carried out in prisons in Borujerd, Mashhad, Karaj, Semnan, and Isfahan.

According to HRANA, citing Iran Human Rights Organization, eight prisoners were executed in Borujerd Prison, Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad, Karaj Central Penitentiary, Semnan Central Prison, and Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan. Haalvsh also reported the executions of two additional prisoners in Isfahan Prison.

The prisoners have been identified as Sajjad Shirzadi, 34, married and from Kermanshah; Farshad Safari, approximately 40, married, father of one, and from Hashtgerd; Mahmoud Talebi, 44, from Torbat-e Heydarieh and father of one; Seyed Hossein Hesari, 35, from Mashhad; Lotfollah Ahmadvand, 38, from Aligudarz; Faramarz Baghbani, 46, father of two and from Borujerd; Hamed Emami, 39; and Mohammad Ali Kaffashi, 42.

According to the report, at dawn on Tuesday, August 25, Sajjad Shirzadi was executed at Karaj Central Penitentiary. He had been arrested approximately four years earlier on a murder charge and was subsequently sentenced to death by a judicial authority.

At dawn on Wednesday, August 19, Farshad Safari was also executed at Karaj Central Penitentiary. Safari had been arrested five years earlier on a murder charge and subsequently sentenced to death.

At dawn on Sunday, August 23, two prisoners, Mahmoud Talebi and Seyed Hossein Hesari, were executed at Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.

Talebi had been arrested four years earlier and Hesari five years earlier, in separate cases involving murder charges. Both were subsequently sentenced to death by judicial authorities. On Saturday, August 22, the two prisoners were transferred to solitary confinement at Vakilabad Prison in preparation for their executions.

Elsewhere, at dawn on Sunday, August 23, Hamed Emami and Mohammad Ali Kaffashi were executed at Semnan Central Prison. Emami and Kaffashi had been sentenced to death by a Revolutionary Court two years earlier in a joint case involving drug-related charges.

Their executions were carried out without their families being notified and without allowing them a final family visit.

At dawn on Tuesday, August 18, Faramarz Baghbani was executed at Borujerd Prison. He had been arrested three years earlier on drug-related charges, including possession of nine kilograms of heroin, and was subsequently sentenced to death by a Revolutionary Court.

At dawn on Wednesday, August 19, Lotfollah Ahmadvand was executed at Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan. He had been sentenced to death three years earlier on drug-related charges.

Including Ahmadvand, the number of prisoners executed at Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan on Wednesday, August 19, reached five. On the same day, four other prisoners, Mohsen Darabi, Abdolbaset Barahouei, Omidreza Ghanbarian, and Amir Farhadi, were also executed at the prison.

As of the time of this report, the executions of these prisoners have not been officially announced by prison authorities or other relevant institutions.

Two Prisoners Executed in Isfahan

According to Haal Vsh, at dawn on Monday, August 24, two prisoners were executed at a prison in Isfahan.

The prisoners have been identified as Saleh Zeidabadi, approximately 42, and his nephew, Merat Zeidabadi, 31, both from and residing in Fahraj County, Kerman Province.

The two prisoners were arrested in Isfahan in 2021 on drug-related charges and were subsequently sentenced to death. In the days leading up to their executions, they were transferred to the prison’s quarantine section without prior notice to their families. They were executed at dawn on Monday without being allowed a final family visit.

Two Prisoners Executed at Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj

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Executions, News
Ghezel Hesar, Hamid Najafi, Karaj, moharebeh, Saeed Najafi

HRANA – Yesterday, two prisoners who had previously been sentenced to death in a joint case on the charge of moharebeh (enmity against God) through armed robbery were executed at Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, two prisoners were executed at Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.

HRANA has confirmed the identities of the two prisoners, who were hanged yesterday, Tuesday, August 25, as Saeed Najafi and Hamid Najafi, two brothers.

According to information received by HRANA, the two brothers were arrested two years ago. They were subsequently sentenced to death by a Revolutionary Court in a joint case on the charge of moharebeh (enmity against God) through armed robbery.

As of the time of this report, the executions of these two prisoners have not been officially announced by prison authorities or other relevant institutions.

According to HRA’s Annual Report, in 2025 at least 2,063 citizens, including 61 women and 2 juvenile offenders, were executed. Of these, the sentences of 11 individuals were carried out in public. During the same period, 172 other individuals were sentenced to death.

Soheil Arabi Sentenced to Five Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ghezel Hesar prison, Karaj, Soheil Arabi, سهیل عربی

HRANA – Soheil Arabi has been sentenced by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court to five years in prison and a two-year ban on employment involving social media activities.

According to HRANA, Soheil Arabi has been sentenced to imprisonment.

Based on a ruling issued on August 16 by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, Arabi was sentenced to five years of discretionary imprisonment, with time previously served in detention credited toward his sentence, on the charge of “assembly and collusion with the intent to commit a crime against national security,” with the court taking into account provisions concerning repeat offenses. As a supplementary punishment, the court also barred him for two years from “engaging in a specific occupation, profession, or work related to the committed offense (social media activity).”

In part of the ruling, the court cited Arabi’s communications with individuals outside Iran, the contents of the case file, images documenting his social media activities, and reports by judicial officers among the evidence supporting the verdict.

A hearing on the charges against Arabi was held before the same branch on August 10. During the hearing, reports from a security agency, content he had published on social media, and his assistance to several people detained during the January protests were among the matters raised in the case. In his defense, Arabi stated that his support activities were not limited to prisoners or protesters, noting that of more than 200 families covered by the support network, over 100 had no history of arrest or political activity.

In March, Arabi was arrested by security forces and transferred to Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj. He was released from the prison this spring.

Soheil Arabi has previously faced arrest and judicial proceedings in connection with his activities.

Arabi is a blogger and citizen journalist who received the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Prize in 2017. He has previously faced multiple prosecutions and convictions. In 2014, Branch 76 of the Tehran Province Criminal Court sentenced him to death on the charge of “insulting the Prophet of Islam” on Facebook. The death sentence was later overturned and replaced with other punishments.

More recently, Arabi wrote a letter describing detention conditions in Suite 35 of Unit 3 at Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.

Ghezel Hesar Prisoners End Strike Following Officials’ Promise to Halt Executions

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Executions, News, Prisoners
Ghezel Hesar prison, HRANA, Karaj

HRANA – Yesterday, Tuesday, July 28, prisoners in Unit 2 of Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj ended their strike after prison officials and judicial authorities pledged to suspend the execution of death sentences for prisoners convicted in drug-related cases while their requests are under review. The strike had begun on July 13 in protest against the transfer of six death row prisoners in such cases to solitary confinement.

According to HRANA, prisoners held in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj have ended their strike.

Information received by HRANA indicates that prisoners in Unit 2 ended their strike today after meeting with prison officials and judicial authorities. During the meeting, officials promised that executions in drug-related cases at the prison would be suspended until the prisoners’ requests are reviewed. The protesting prisoners stated that their decision to maintain the suspension of the strike depends on whether the authorities fulfill these commitments and honor their promises.

The strike began on Monday, July 13, after six prisoners sentenced to death in drug-related cases were transferred to solitary confinement. Since then, the protesters had refused prison food rations and staged a sit-in, demanding an end to executions. Several prisoners also sewed their lips shut as an act of protest.

The strike continued as, on July 22, Hossein Zolfaghari met with the head of Iran’s judiciary to discuss amendments to the Anti-Narcotics Law and existing legal shortcomings. According to reports from the meeting, discussions focused on the government’s proposed bill to amend the law and the need to review regulations concerning drug-related offenses. A significant number of the protesting prisoners in Unit 2 are on death row in drug-related cases, and one of their principal demands has been to halt executions until the law is revised.

The prisoners had resumed their strike despite similar assurances made in October 2025. At that time, following a seven-day collective hunger strike by prisoners in Unit 2, representatives of the head of the judiciary, the head of the Prisons Organization, and the director of Ghezel Hesar Prison met with the prisoners and promised that executions would be suspended for at least six months, that their cases would be reviewed, and that efforts would be made to amend the Anti-Narcotics Law. Based on those assurances, the prisoners ended their strike but emphasized that the agreement depended on the authorities implementing their commitments. The protesting prisoners now say that the resumption of executions and the current situation amount to a breach of those earlier promises.

Ghezel Hesar Prisoners’ Strike Enters Its Fifteenth Day in Protest Against Death Sentences

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News, Prisoners
Ghezel Hesar prison, HRANA, Hunger Strike, Karaj, Qezel Hesar Prison

HRANA – Yesterday, July 27, 2026, prisoners held in Ward 2 of Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj continued their hunger strike and sit-in protest for the fifteenth consecutive day in opposition to the implementation of death sentences.

According to HRANA, prisoners in Ward 2 have continued refusing their prison food rations while maintaining their sit-in protest.

Based on information received by HRANA, the prisoners continued their strike for the fifteenth straight day on Monday, July 27, 2026. By gathering in the ward’s main hall, staging a sit-in, and refusing to accept prison food rations, the protesting prisoners reiterated their opposition to the implementation of death sentences, particularly in cases related to drug offenses.

Yesterday, on the fourteenth day of the strike, approximately 140 prisoners serving sentences other than death were transferred from Ward 2 to Hall 3 of Ward 1 in Ghezel Hesar Prison. Prison authorities have reportedly decided that only death-row prisoners will remain in Ward 2. Over the past week, hundreds of prisoners have been transferred from Ward 2 to other sections of the prison. However, prison officials have yet to provide any explanation regarding the reason for or manner in which these transfers have been carried out.

In recent days, several reports and images from inside Ghezel Hesar Prison have also been published, documenting parts of the prisoners’ hunger strike and sit-in protest.

The strike began on Monday, July 13, 2026, after six prisoners sentenced to death in drug-related cases were transferred to solitary confinement. Since then, the protesting prisoners have refused to accept prison food rations and have continued their sit-in, demanding an end to executions. As part of the protest, some prisoners have also sewn their lips shut.

The renewed protests come despite commitments made last October, when, following a seven-day collective hunger strike by Ward 2 prisoners, representatives of the Head of the Judiciary, the Head of the Prisons Organization, and the director of Ghezel Hesar Prison met with the prisoners. During that meeting, they reportedly promised that executions would be suspended for at least six months and that there would be an opportunity to review the cases of those sentenced to death, while also pursuing amendments to the Anti-Narcotics Law. Following those assurances, the prisoners ended their strike but stressed that continuation of the agreement depended on the authorities fulfilling their commitments. The protesting prisoners now say that the resumption of executions and the current conditions amount to a disregard for those earlier promises and commitments.

The protests also continue as, on July 22, 2026, Hossein Zolfaghari, the President’s representative and Secretary-General of the Anti-Narcotics Headquarters, met with the Head of the Judiciary to discuss amendments to the Anti-Narcotics Law and existing legal shortcomings in this area. According to the published report of the meeting, the government’s proposed bill to amend the Anti-Narcotics Law and the need to review certain regulations concerning drug-related offenses were among the topics discussed. This is particularly significant given that a substantial number of the protesting prisoners in Ward 2 of Ghezel Hesar are on death row for drug-related offenses, and one of their principal demands is the suspension of executions until the law is revised.