Tag: Kermanshah

Summons and Arrest of a Sunni Cleric in Kermanshah

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Freedom of Expression, News, Religious Minorities
Ayat Gholami, HRANA, Kermanshah

HRANA News Agency – Yesterday, April 23, Ayat Gholami, a Sunni cleric, was arrested after being summoned to and appearing before the Special Clergy Court in Kermanshah.

According to HRANA, quoting Kurdpa, Ayat Gholami was taken into custody following his appearance at the Special Clergy Court in Kermanshah. As of now, no information has been released regarding the reasons for his arrest, his place of detention, or the charges brought against him.

Ayat Gholami is the former imam of a mosque in Kermanshah and a teacher at a religious school.

Three Executions Carried Out in Bandar Abbas Prison

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Executions, News
Bandar Abbas prison, HRANA, Kermanshah

HRANA News Agency – On the morning of Tuesday, April 16, three prisoners were executed in Bandar Abbas Prison, according to a report by Iran Human Rights.

Among those executed was Ayoub Berniaei (Sarhadi), who had previously been sentenced to death on drug-related charges. The two other individuals executed were identified as Peyman Naderi, 28, from Kermanshah, and Karim Esmaeili from Eslamabad-e Gharb.

According to the report, Peyman Naderi had been arrested two years ago and sentenced to death for drug-related offenses. Karim Esmaeili had faced similar charges and was sentenced to death following his arrest three years ago.

At the time of this publication, neither the prison authorities nor relevant government institutions have officially confirmed these executions.

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.

Two Prisoners Executed in Dieselabad Prison, Kermanshah

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News
Dieselabad Prison, Kermanshah, Mehdi Ahmadi, Saeed Gholami

HRANA News Agency – At dawn on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, the death sentences of two prisoners previously convicted of murder were carried out in Dieselabad Prison, Kermanshah.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, the two prisoners, Saeed Gholami and Mehdi Ahmadi, were executed by hanging early Wednesday morning.

HRANA has confirmed that Gholami and Ahmadi had been arrested on murder charges and later sentenced to death by a criminal court.

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

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.

Several Members of a Religious Group Arrested in Javanrud

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News, Other, Religious Minorities
irgc, IRGC Intelligence, Javanrud, Kermanshah

HRANA News Agency – The Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor of Javanrud has announced the arrest of several members of a religious group in northwestern Kermanshah by security forces in the province.

According to IRNA, the Javanrud prosecutor, without revealing the identities or charges of the detainees, described them as members of a “widespread Salafi-Takfiri network.” The report provides no details on the number of those arrested or their whereabouts.

Notably, in recent weeks, IRGC Intelligence forces carried out two separate operations in Kermanshah, leading to the arrest of members of another religious group.

Four Prisoners Executed in Different Prisons Across Iran

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Executions, News
Birjand, Firouzabad, Firuzabad, Hamid Moradian, Kermanshah, Naqadeh, Shiraz, Urmia, Urmia prison

In recent days, four prisoners were executed in prisons in Kermanshah, Urmia, Shiraz, and Birjand on charges related to murder and drug offenses.

At dawn on Saturday, December 21, Hamid Moradian, a resident of Firuzabad, Lorestan, was hanged in Kermanshah Prison. According to information obtained by HRANA, Mr. Moradian had previously been arrested on murder charges and sentenced to death by judicial authorities.

On Monday, December 23, a prisoner convicted of drug-related offenses was executed in Urmia Prison following a Revolutionary Court ruling. HRANA has identified the individual as Loghman Shangeh, a resident of Naqadeh.

Today, December 24, HRANA reported that “Amin Farahmand” was executed in Adelabad Prison, Shiraz, on drug-related charges.

Finally, Haal Vsh reported today the execution of 28-year-old Davood Ghaljaie, a father of one, in Birjand Prison. He was arrested in 2019 on drug-related charges and later sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court of Birjand. According to the report, his execution was carried out without a final family visit.

As of the time of this report, none of these executions have been officially announced by prison authorities or relevant officials.

According to latest HRANA’s annual report over between October 10, 2023, and October 8, 2024, at least 811 individuals were executed by hanging in Iran, rising to 23.06% compared to the same period last year. Of these executions, four were carried out in public. Many of the defendants were denied a fair trial.

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Iranian Jewish Citizen Arvin Ghahremani Executed

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Executions
Amir Shokri, Arvin Ghahremani, Dizelabad Prison, Kermanshah, آروین قهرمانی

At dawn on Monday, November 4, Arvin Ghahremani (also known as Nathaniel), a young Iranian Jewish man, was executed in Dizelabad Prison in Kermanshah. His execution followed a conviction and death sentence stemming from a deadly altercation, as reported by Mizan, the judiciary’s media outlet.

Ghahremani had been arrested in November 2022 after a dispute over financial issues with Amir Shokri, a Muslim citizen, escalated into violence, resulting in Shokri’s death. Following a swift judicial process, Ghahremani was sentenced to death.

The Kermanshah Prosecutor’s Office stated that Ghahremani’s trial included his chosen legal representation, who filed three appeals for a retrial—all denied by the Supreme Court. Despite efforts by prominent figures to negotiate with Shokri’s family for a pardon or to accept blood money (diyah), the family ultimately refused, demanding the death sentence be carried out.

Previously, HRANA reported rising concerns among Iran’s Jewish community and human rights advocates about Ghahremani’s case, particularly the rejection of his retrial requests and the execution’s impending likelihood.

Human rights activists argue that qisas (retributive justice) laws in Iran exhibit systemic discrimination against religious minorities, as these laws are applied unequally. Under Iranian law, qisas mandates capital punishment if a non-Muslim kills a Muslim, but does not apply the same punishment if a Muslim kills a non-Muslim; in such cases, only blood money or lesser punishments are typically imposed. Activists assert that this disparity undermines fair trial standards and the equal rights of non-Muslim citizens.

This lack of legal protection has historically enabled extrajudicial killings of non-Muslim citizens, especially Iran’s Baha’i community, by extremist groups, intensifying concerns about religious discrimination in Iran’s justice system.

Four Prisoners Executed in the Central Prison of Karaj on Drug-Related Charges

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Executions, News
HRANA, Karaj, Kermanshah

At dawn yesterday, October 29, four prisoners convicted on drug-related charges were executed in the Central Prison of Karaj.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, three of the executed prisoners have been identified as Mohammad Nedaei, Ali Akbar (Mohsen) Akhayer, and Akbar Khorram Taj. These individuals were arrested approximately six years ago on drug-related charges and later sentenced to death.

Kurdpa identified the fourth prisoner as Morovat-Ali Karami, from Kermanshah, who was also executed on similar charges on Tuesday morning.

As of this report, prison authorities and relevant institutions have not publicly confirmed these executions.

The reports from the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists for the year 2023 reveal a concerning prevalence of executions for drug offenses in Iran, constituting 56.4% of the total executions. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s report.

Amir Hossein Haghjooyan Arrested by Security Forces

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Freedom of Expression, News, Religious Minorities
Amir Hossein Haghjooyan, Dizelabad Prison, HRANA, Kermanshah, Reza Rasaei, Sahneh

On September 23, 2024, Amir Hossein Haghjooyan, a relative of Reza Rasaei, an executed protester, was arrested by security forces in Sahneh County, Kermanshah province, and transferred to an undisclosed location.

A source close to the family confirmed to HRANA: “Mr. Haghjooyan was detained by several members of IRGC Intelligence in Sahneh and moved to an unknown location.”

As of now, no details have emerged regarding the reasons for his arrest or the charges he may face.

Haghjooyan is the son of Kheirallah Haghjooyan, a member of the Yarsan Civil Activists Consultative Assembly, and a cousin and close companion of Reza Rasaei, who was executed in August 2023.

It’s important to note that Reza (Gholamreza) Rasaei, arrested during the 2022 nationwide protests, was secretly executed at dawn on August 6, 2023, in Dizelabad Prison, Kermanshah, without prior notice to his family or a final meeting with them.

Yarsanism, also known as Ahl-e Haqq, is a syncretic faith founded in western Iran during the 14th century by Sultan Sahak. As a religious minority, followers of Yarsan often face systemic persecution and harassment by Iranian authorities.

Javad Azizi, Retiree Rights Activist, Arrested in Kermanshah

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Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News
Iranian Retirees Council, Javad Azizi, Kermanshah

On Sunday, September 8, Javad Azizi, a retired citizen and retiree rights activist in Kermanshah, was arrested by security forces and transferred to the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, according to Iranian Retirees Council.

The report states that the arrest of the retiree rights activist took place at his private residence on Sunday, September 8, 2024, by security forces. During the arrest, the agents also confiscated Mr. Azizi’s mobile phone.

As of the time of this report, no information has been made available regarding the reasons for his arrest or the charges against him.

Reza Rasaei Executed in Dizelabad Prison, Kermanshah

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Executions, News
Dizelabad Prison, Kermanshah, Masoum Razavi, Reza Rasaei, Sahneh County, رضا رسائی, رضا رسایی

On Tuesday, August 6, Reza Rasaei, arrested during the nationwide protests of 2022, was executed in Dizelabad Prison, Kermanshah.

Mr. Rasaei’s execution took place at dawn today, Tuesday, August 6, in Dizelabad Prison, Kermanshah, without prior notice to his family or the opportunity for a final meeting with them.

Reza (Gholamreza) Rasaei, 34 years old, a follower of the Yarsan faith and a resident of Sahneh County, was sentenced to death by Branch 2 of the Criminal Court of Kermanshah in mid-October last year for the charge of “involvement in the intentional murder of Nader Birami, the head of the IRGC’s intelligence in Sahneh County.”

Following the confirmation of Reza Rasaei’s death sentence by the Seventeenth Branch of the Supreme Court, presided over by Judge Mohammad Barani, his case was referred to the Judgment Enforcement office on December 31, 2023.
A while ago, Branch 1 of the Supreme Court rejected the request for a retrial for this prisoner, calling it “lacking legal requirements.”

In addition to the capital punishment, Rasaei faces other charges, including non-fatal injury, threatening with a knife, and disturbing public order by causing unrest. Initially, he received additional penalties such as Diya (wergild), a year sentence, and 74 lashes.

The judge’s reliance on “forced confessions obtained from Rasaei during interrogation” played a significant role in his conviction and the imposition of the death penalty.

Rasaei was apprehended on November 24, 2022, by the police and subsequently detained in Sahneh County. Following the completion of the interrogation process, he was transferred to Dizel-Abad prison in Kermanshah.

Several other detainees of protests in Sahneh County on the November 18, 2022, also faced charges of murdering the head of the IRGC’s intelligence in this county. Seyed Masoum Razavi and (first name unknown) Beigi were among the other defendants in this case, with Masoum Razavi reportedly acquitted of the charges. The fate of the other defendant in this case remains unknown.