Tag: Karaj

Seven Prisoners Executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison

Posted on by . .
Executions, News
Behrouz Mohammadi, Ghezel Hesar prison, Karaj, Reza Anzalichi, Sasan Mirhadi

HRANA News Agency – At dawn on February 19, 2025, Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj carried out the execution of at least seven prisoners. Among them, one was convicted of drug-related offenses, two were sentenced for murder in separate cases, one was charged with moharebeh (enmity against God) through armed robbery, and three others were convicted of rape.

HRANA previously confirmed the identities of some of the executed prisoners: Reza Anzalichi, convicted on drug-related charges; Sasan Mirhadi, sentenced for moharebeh through armed robbery; and Behrouz Mohammadi, convicted of murder.

The identities of the remaining four are still under investigation. Three of them were executed on rape charges, and one was sentenced to death for murder. According to Hamshahri, two of these four executed individuals were Afghan nationals convicted of sexually assaulting a woman in western Tehran, a case dating back to October 2019.

According to data gathered by the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists, Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj witnessed the highest number of executions in 2024. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s report

Baha’i Citizen Erfan Eshraghi Arrested in Karaj

Posted on by . .
News, Religious Minorities
Baha'is arrested, Erfan Eshraghi, Erfan Eshraqi, Karaj, عرفان اشراقی

HRANA News Agency – Yesterday, February 18, 2025, Erfan Eshraghi, a Baha’i citizen residing in Golshahr, Karaj, was arrested by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location.

A source close to Mr. Eshraghi’s family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “On the morning of Tuesday, February 18, Mr. Eshraghi was arrested by security forces while leaving his home in Golshahr, Karaj. The agents then searched his residence and confiscated laptops, mobile phones, religious books, and photographs belonging to him and his family. This occurred despite the fact that Mr. Eshraghi was scheduled to undergo kidney surgery at the hospital that same day.”

As of the time of this report, no information is available regarding his whereabouts or the charges against him.

According to the Department of Statistics and Publications of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA), between January 1, 2024, and December 20, 2024, a total of 157 reports were recorded in the category of religious and faith-based minority rights. Among these, Baha’is accounted for 67.54% of the reports, ranking as the most observed group in human rights monitoring.

Mandatory Hijab Opponent Hamideh Zeraei Arrested

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
Hamideh Zeraei, HRANA, Kachooei Prison, Karaj, حمیده زراعی

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

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

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

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

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

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

Three Prisoners Moved to Solitary in Ghezel Hesar Prison for Execution

Posted on by . .
Executions, News
Ghezel Hesar prison, HRANA, Karaj, زندان قزل حصار

HRANA News Agency – Yesterday, January 26, three prisoners in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj, who had previously been sentenced to death on murder charges, were transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for their execution.

The transfer of these prisoners was carried out as part of the process to implement their death sentences. Further details, including the identities of these individuals, are under investigation by HRANA.

According to data gathered by the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists, Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj witnessed the highest number of executions in 2024. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s report.

Journalist Azhdar Piri Sentenced to One Year in Prison

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News
Azhadar Piri, Karaj, Ministry of Intelligence, اژدر پیری

HRANA News Agency – Azhdar (Ajdar) Piri Sarmanlou, editor-in-chief of the Pazhuhesh-e Melal monthly magazine, has been sentenced by Branch 3 of the Revolutionary Court of Karaj to one year in prison and a two-year ban on online activities.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, Mr. Piri was convicted of ‘propaganda against the regime’ and ‘insulting officials and agents.’ The verdict, issued in January by the Revolutionary Court of Karaj, also imposes a two-year prohibition on membership and activity on social media as additional penalties.

Earlier, on October 21, 2024, Mr. Piri was arrested at his residence in Karaj by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence. He was transferred to one of the city’s security detention facilities, where he was denied access to legal counsel throughout his detention. After 21 days, Mr. Piri was moved to Karaj Central Prison upon the completion of interrogations. He was released three days later on a bail of 200 million tomans (approximately 3,300 dollars).

Azhdar Piri Sarmanlou, 36, originally from Urmia and currently residing in Karaj, serves as the editor-in-chief of Pazhuhesh-e Melal magazine.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Now is definitely not the time to stop reading!

Execution of Three Prisoners Carried Out in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj

Posted on by . .
Executions, News
Ghezel Hesar prison, HRANA, Javad Jaberi, Karaj, Omid Besharatlou

HRANA News Agency – Early this morning, January 22, 2025, three prisoners previously sentenced to death on charges of murder were executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj.

The identities of two of the prisoners have been confirmed by HRANA as Omid Besharatlou, a resident of Tehran, and Javad Jaberi, a resident of Bumehen. Both were arrested on murder charges and subsequently sentenced to death by the Criminal Court.

Previously, HRANA had reported on the transfer of these prisoners to solitary confinement in preparation for the execution of their sentences.

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

According to data gathered by the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists, Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj witnessed the highest number of executions in 2024. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s report.

Teacher Union Activist Masoud Farhikhteh Sentenced to 6 Years in Prison and Additional Punishments

Posted on by . .
Freedom of Expression, News
Ghezel Hesar prison, Karaj, Kurdistan, Masoud Farhikhteh, revolutionary court, Sanandaj, Teacher union activist, مسعود فرهیخته

Masoud Farhikhteh, a teacher and union activist, has been sentenced by Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court in Karaj to six years in prison, a two-year travel ban, and additional penalties, including a prohibition on membership in social groups and gatherings, as well as restrictions on movement in the provinces of Alborz, Tehran, Qazvin, Lorestan, and Kurdistan.

According to HRANA, quoting the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations, Masoud Farhikhteh’s sentence was recently issued and communicated to him. Based on the ruling, Farikhteh received:

  • One year in prison for the charge of “propaganda against the regime.”
  • Five years in prison for “assembly and collusion to commit crimes against national security.”
  • Two-year travel ban, prohibition of membership in social groups, and restrictions on movement in specified provinces as supplementary punishments.

The charges were based on allegations including “active participation in illegal gatherings as a leader, organizing riots, publishing statements alongside opponents of the Islamic Republic, and inciting opposition groups nationwide to organize protests.”

Earlier this year, in a separate case, Farhikhteh was sentenced by the Revolutionary Court of Sanandaj to three months of imprisonment for “propaganda against the regime,” which was later converted into an 8 million toman fine. He was acquitted of this charge in August following an appeal in the Kurdistan Appeals Court.

Masoud Farhikhteh, a member of the board of directors of the Islamshahr Teachers’ Union, was arrested on May 1, 2023, by security forces at his home in Karaj and transferred to Ghezel Hesar Prison. He was eventually released on bail in May of the same year.

Execution of Five Prisoners in Ghezel Hesar Prison

Posted on by . .
Executions, News
Ashkan Pirian, Ghezel Hesar prison, Karaj, Reza Azizian, Salman Bozorgmehr

Yesterday, January 8, five prisoners were executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj.

HRANA has identified three of them as Salman Bozorgmehr, Reza Azizian, and Ashkan Pirian. Bozorgmehr and Azizian had previously been arrested on drug-related charges and were subsequently sentenced to death by the judiciary.

According to HRANA’s information, Ashkan Pirian was arrested on charges of murdering a friend during a dispute and was also sentenced to death by the judiciary.

The other two executed prisoners were Afghan nationals, both sentenced to death for murder by Iranian judicial authorities.

As of the time of this report, the executions have not been officially announced by prison officials or relevant authorities.

Reza Azizian

According to data gathered by the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists, Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj witnessed the highest number of executions in 2024. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s report.

At Least 15 Prisoners Executed in Iran on New Year’s Day

Posted on by . .
Executions, News
Bandar Abbas prison, Ghezel Hesar prison, Karaj, Malayer Prison, Yasuj Prison

On the first day of the new year, at least 15 prisoners were executed in various prisons across Iran. The executions, carried out in Malayer, Bandar Abbas, Yasuj, and Ghezel Hesar (Karaj) prisons, involved individuals convicted of drug-related charges and murder.

Details of the Executions

  • Malayer Prison:
    Mohammad Shafi Mousavi, convicted of murder, was hanged at dawn.
  • Bandar Abbas Prison:
    Three prisoners were executed. One was identified as Hedayat Ghasemi from Rudan, convicted on drug-related charges. The other two, Afghan nationals, remain unidentified.
  • Yasuj Prison:
    Pezhman Masoudi Koushk, around 25 years old, was executed at dawn. He had been convicted of murder.
  • Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj:
    Ten prisoners were executed. Two of them, including Mohammad Hossein Mohammadi-Far and an Afghan national named Pasha, were convicted on drug-related charges.

    Eight others had been convicted of murder. Details of three cases, reported by Rokna, are as follows:

    • Arshia, born in the 2000s, killed his stepfather with a handgun during an argument in December 2022.
    • Amir, an Afghan national, was arrested in July 2022 for killing a man during a fight and was sentenced to death.
    • Another prisoner, who killed his brother-in-law in October 2022 over an inheritance dispute, was among those executed.

The executions come amid growing concerns about the rising number of death sentences in Iran.

In 2024, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran documented 812 cases related to the right to life, including the sentencing of 214 individuals to death and the execution of 930 individuals. Among these, 4 executions were carried out in public. Of those executed, 818 were male, 26 were female, and 5 were juvenile offenders—individuals under 18 years old at the time of their alleged crimes.

Eight Death-Row Prisoners on the Verge of Execution in Ghezel Hesar Prison

Posted on by . .
Executions, News
Ghezel Hesar prison, HRANA, Karaj, زندان قزل حصار

Eight prisoners in Ghezel Hesar Prison, located in Karaj, have been transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for the execution of their sentences.

This development brings the total number of prisoners transferred to solitary confinement for execution to eight. Yesterday, HRANA reported the transfer of three of these individuals to solitary confinement.

HRANA is currently investigating further details about this situation, including the identities of the prisoners involved.

According to data compiled by the Department of Statistics and Publications of Human Rights Activists, in 2024, approximately 7 people per 100,000 were executed in Alborz Province. Ghezel Hesar Prison in this province recorded the highest number of executions, with a total of 138.