Tag: Mahsa Amini

Day 48 of the Protests: Ongoing Arrests, UN Warning, and Rising Number of Forced Confessions

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Freedom of Expression, News
Azar Mansouri, Ebrahim Asgharzadeh, HRANA, Javad Emam, Mahsa Amini, Mojgan Eftekhari

HRANA – According to HRANA’s latest aggregated data as of the end of the forty-eighth day since the beginning of the protests, the total number of confirmed fatalities has reached 7,008. Of these, 6,509 have been recorded under the category of “protesters,” including 219 children under the age of 18. In addition, 214 of those killed fall under the category of “military-government forces,” and 66 have been classified as “non-military, non-protesters.” Another 11,730 cases remain under review. During the same period, the number of injured civilians has reached 25,845.

A total of 53,344 arrests have been recorded, of which 139 involve students. The number of published forced confessions has risen to 351 cases, and the number of summonses has reached 11,051. Furthermore, a total of 676 protest incidents have been recorded across 210 cities in 31 provinces throughout the country.

On this day, four key incidents are noteworthy: the continuation of scattered arrests in various cities, growing legal concerns over violations of fair trial standards, reactions by domestic legal bodies to the situation of detainees, and the continued broadcast of forced confessions in state media.

Continuation of Legal Concerns; Warning by the UN Special Rapporteur

Mai Sato, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, warned that patterns of fair trial violations, sustained pressure on detainees, and the continued use of forced confessions have persisted in the aftermath of the protests. She stressed that reliable and comprehensive data remain unavailable regarding the number of detainees, their places of detention, those sentenced to death, and those executed, noting a considerable discrepancy between official figures and estimates provided by civil society organizations.

She further explained that in the weeks preceding and following the protests, formal communications were exchanged concerning death sentences issued against several protesters, as well as conditions in prisons including Qarchak, Ghezel Hesar, Sheyban, and Lakan Rasht. Allegations raised in these communications include deaths in custody, torture, executions carried out without prior notice, and the denial of detainees’ contact with their families.

Call by the Tehran Bar Association to Defend Detainees

In response to the widespread arrests, the Tehran Bar Association issued a public call urging all lawyers with experience in criminal law to declare their readiness to represent those detained in connection with the protests. The statement highlighted the conflict between Note to Article 48 of the Criminal Procedure Code and Article 35 of the Constitution, emphasizing the necessity of safeguarding the right to defense and upholding the principles of a fair trial.

This initiative comes amid the registration of 53,344 arrests, at a time when many detainees have faced serious restrictions in accessing a lawyer of their choice, and judicial proceedings in numerous cases have remained stalled at the preliminary investigation stage.

Message of Solidarity from Mahsa Amini’s Mother to the Families of the Victims

Mojgan Eftekhari, the mother of Mahsa (Jina) Amini, issued a message referring to the continued deaths of protesters, stating that the grief of families has been renewed. Expressing solidarity with the mothers and families of those killed, she emphasized that the loss of young protesters has left a lasting wound on society.

Eutelsat’s Statement on Satellite Internet

Satellite company Eutelsat announced that it is reviewing projects aimed at enabling direct connections between smartphones and satellite internet. The company’s CEO, referring to the situation in Iran, stated that the company would support the Iranian people protesting. These remarks come amid repeated reports of widespread internet shutdowns and disruptions during the protests.

Judicial Cases Filed and Conditional Release of Reformist Activists

As part of ongoing security measures against political activists, judicial cases have been opened against Azar Mansouri, Javad Emam, and Ali Shakouri-Rad. Azar Mansouri, Javad Emam, and Ebrahim Asgharzadeh were released on bail following their arrests; however, their cases remain under review at the preliminary investigation stage. These arrests reportedly followed their public comments regarding the crackdown on the January 8 and 9 protests, 2026.

Arrests and Crackdowns Continue

In recent days, arrests of citizens have continued across various parts of the country. In Ahvaz, 15-year-old Emad Hamidi was arrested. In Tehran, Rasoul Dowrehgard, 24, and Saman Dowrehgard, 20, two brothers residing in the Atabak neighborhood, were detained. In Malekshahi, Ilam Province, Reza Parak was arrested, and in Sanandaj, Jamal Asadi was taken into custody.

In Sabzevar, Navid Safa, Seyed Hadi Zorqani, Ali Akbar Rezaei, and Mehdi Sadidi were arrested by security forces. In Mashhad, Ali Gholami Khesht; in Quchan, Farzaneh Ramezani; and in Dashtestan, Abbas Saqafi were detained.

In Kohgiluyeh, teacher Sina Karimi Mofrad, and in Langarud, Sajjad Rafiei Pour were arrested. Official media also reported the detention of four citizens in Shahroud and several protesters in Kazerun. At the same time, a video containing the forced confessions of three individuals was published, without any explanation regarding the circumstances under which the recordings were obtained.

With these latest cases, the number of published forced confessions has risen to 351, and the number of arrested students has increased to 139.

Updated (Cumulative) Statistics as of the End of Day 48 Since the Start of the Protests

• Total protest locations recorded: 676

• Number of cities (without repetition): 210

• Number of provinces (without repetition): 31

• Injured civilians: 25,845

• Total arrests: 53,344

• Arrested students: 139

• Forced confessions: 351

• Summonses: 11,051

• Total protesters killed: 6,509

▪️ Including children: 219
▪️ Military/government forces: 214
▪️ Non-military, non-protesters: 66

• Total fatalities: 7,008

• Cases under review: 11,730

It should be noted that the confirmed figures for those killed represent the minimum verifiable numbers, while estimates suggest significantly higher death tolls.

Summary

The forty-eighth day concluded amid a rising death toll and increasing arrests, alongside mounting concerns over widespread violations of fair trial standards and the continued publication of forced confessions. Arrests of minors, teachers, political activists, and citizens across various cities have continued, while at the legal level, efforts have begun to strengthen access to independent legal counsel. Internationally, warnings persist regarding prison conditions and the lack of statistical transparency. Protests have been recorded in 210 cities across 31 provinces, with security-driven measures continuing to cast a shadow over the country’s atmosphere.

Neda Fotoohi and Zohreh Sarv Face Fresh Charges in Prison

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News, Prisoners
Iman Afshari, Mahsa Amini, Neda Fotoohi, Qarchak Prison, Zohreh Sarv, زهره سرو, ندا فتوحی

HRANA – Political prisoners Zohreh Sarv and Neda Fotoohi, held in Qarchak Varamin Prison, are now facing a new case filed against them at the Tehran Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office.

According to information received by HRANA, a recent power outage in Qarchak Prison led some inmates to chant protest slogans. In the aftermath, Branch 39 of the Tehran Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office opened a new case against Sarv and Fotoohi, accusing them of “insulting the Supreme Leader.”

In July of this year, Sarv’s six-year prison sentence was upheld in full after the Supreme Court approved her retrial request and the case was re-examined by another branch of the Revolutionary Court. Earlier, Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court had sentenced her to a total of seven years in prison on charges of “assembly and collusion” and “propaganda against the regime.” Under Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, six years of that sentence remain enforceable.

In October last year, Sarv’s request for conditional release was once again denied, despite the fact that, including her pre-trial detention, she had already served more than one-third of her sentence.

Zohreh Sarv, 39, and active on social media under the name “Mah Far”, was arrested by security forces in August 2022. She has previously faced arrest and conviction.

Neda Fotoohi was also tried by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Iman Afshari. She was sentenced to a total of six years and eight months in prison on charges including “propaganda against the regime,” “membership in the Erfan-e Halgheh group,” and “assembly and collusion against national security” through attending and encouraging others to attend protests related to Mahsa Amini and her anniversary. This political prisoner, a resident of Tehran, was arrested by security forces in October 2023.

Parivash Moslemi on Hunger Strike in Evin Prison

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News, Prisoners
Evin Prison, Mahsa Amini, Parivash Moslemi, Qarchak Varamin, پریوش مسلمی

HRANA News Agency – Parivash Moslemi, a political prisoner held in Evin Prison, has been on a hunger strike since Saturday, June 7, in protest against the opening of a new judicial case against her.

Based on information received by HRANA, Moslemi began her hunger strike on Saturday, June 7. The protest is in response to the opening of a new case against her, in which she is charged with “spreading falsehoods.” This charge relates to a time before she had reported to prison to serve her sentence.

A source close to her family confirmed the news to HRANA and stated: “Ms. Moslemi was initially promised conditional release, but was later informed of a new case filed against her. She began the hunger strike in protest against this abrupt change in legal proceedings and the authorities’ broken promise.”

It is worth noting that Moslemi, who suffers from multiple health conditions, had previously gone on hunger strike to protest the lack of medical attention for her condition.

Moslemi had previously been arrested by security forces in April 2024 in the city of Noor and was released three days later from a security detention facility in the city. She was re-arrested on July 7, 2024, after reporting to the Evin Prosecutor’s Office and was transferred to the women’s ward of Evin Prison.

Moslemi was sentenced by the Tehran Revolutionary Court on August 20, 2024, to a total of three years and eight months in prison. She received two years for “assembly and collusion,” one year for “insulting the Supreme Leader,” and eight months for “propaganda against the regime.”

She was also arrested in September 2023, during the anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death, by security forces and released a month later from Qarchak Varamin Prison after posting bail.

HRANA’s data from the past decade shows that during this ten-year period, over 2,050 political prisoners and prisoners of conscience in Iran prisons have been forced to go on hunger strike in protest of various abuses—including prolonged detention, being held in legal limbo, unfair trials, poor prison conditions, and being held in solitary confinement or alongside inmates convicted of violent crimes.

Revolutionary Court Sentences Samad Pourshah to One Year in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Mahsa Amini, Samad Pourshah, Yasuj, صمد پورشه

HRANA News Agency – Samad Pourshah, a resident of Yasuj, has been sentenced to one year in prison by the city’s Revolutionary Court on charges of “propaganda against the regime.”

According to a verdict issued by the Revolutionary Court of Yasuj and personally delivered to him yesterday, Mr. Pourshah was convicted and sentenced to one year in prison. His trial took place on March 8, 2025, at the same court.

He was initially arrested by security forces in Yasuj in September 2023, during the first anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death. He was later released from Yasuj Prison in November 2023 after posting bail and securing a guarantor’s commitment.

In February 2024, the Revolutionary Court of Yasuj sentenced him to three months and one day in prison for “insulting the Supreme Leader” and a fine as a substitute for an additional three-month prison term for “propaganda against the regime.” Pourshah was transferred to Yasuj Prison in March 2024 to serve his sentence and was later released upon its completion.

Appeals Court Upholds Mehdi Hemmati’s 5-Year Prison Sentence

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News, Prisoners
Abolghasem Salavati, irgc, Jina Amini, Mahsa Amini, Mehdi Hemmati, Tehran

HRANA News Agency – Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals has upheld the five-year prison sentence of Mehdi Hemmati, a political prisoner currently held in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj.

As per the verdict recently issued by Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals and communicated to Hemmati, he has been sentenced to five years in prison on charges of “assembly and collusion to commit a crime against national security.” This sentence was initially handed down by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Abolghasem Salavati.

Additionally, in another part of his case, Branch 1147 of the Tehran Criminal Court sentenced Hemmati to 10 months in prison for “disrupting public order,” five months in prison, and 30 lashes for “possession of explosive materials.” This ruling was later upheld by Branch 34 of the Court of Appeals.

Mehdi Hemmati was arrested during the 40-day memorial ceremony for Mahsa (Jina) Amini in Tehran. He spent time in detention at the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) detention facility in Tehran, where he was subjected to torture and denied access to legal representation. He was later transferred to Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.

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Ghezel Hesar Prison: Update on Mehdi Hemmati, a Detainee from the 2022 Protests

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News, Prisoners
Amir Kamandi, Ghezel Hesar prison, HRANA, irgc, Mahsa Amini, Mehdi Hemmati, Tehran

HRANA News Agency – Mehdi Hemmati, a Tehran resident arrested during the 2022 nationwide protests, is currently serving his sentence in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj. He was previously sentenced by Tehran’s Revolutionary and Criminal Courts to more than six years in prison and 30 lashes.

According to HRANA, Hemmati was sentenced by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Abolghasem Salavati, to five years in prison on charges of “assembly and collusion to commit a crime against national security.” In a separate ruling, Branch 1147 of the Tehran Criminal Court sentenced him to 10 months for “disrupting public order” and an additional five months in prison, along with 30 lashes, for “possession of explosives.”

His Revolutionary Court sentence has been sent to Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals, while the Criminal Court’s ruling was upheld by Branch 34 of the Appeals Court.

Hemmati was arrested alongside four others during the 40th-day memorial service for Mahsa (Jina) Amini in Tehran. The group was initially detained at an IRGC facility in Tehran, where they were subjected to torture and denied access to legal counsel. They were later transferred to Ghezel Hesar Prison. During their interrogation, they faced multiple charges, including “disrupting public order,” “possession of explosives,” and “complicity in the murder of Amir Kamandi,” a member of the IRGC Ground Forces.

In the final indictment, Hemmati was acquitted of all murder-related charges. Before his trial, authorities set his bail at one billion tomans, but case officers opposed his release.

A source close to Hemmati’s family told HRANA that he is a 38-year-old unmarried resident of Tehran. “He suffers from multiple health conditions and has been denied medical care,” the source said.

Davoud Haddadinia Arrested by Security Forces

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Freedom of Expression, News
Bahmai, Boyer-Ahmad County, Davoud Haddadinia, Mahsa Amini, داوود حدادی نیا

HRANA News Agency – On January 17, Davoud Haddadinia, a resident of Bahmai County in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, was arrested by security forces upon his return to Iran and transferred to an undisclosed location.

A source close to Mr. Haddadinia’s family confirmed the arrest to HRANA, stating: “Mr. Haddadinia, who had been residing in Turkey, was detained by security forces in the city of Likak, Bahmai, after his return to Iran.” No details have yet emerged regarding the reasons for his arrest, the charges against him, or his current location.

Previously, on December 19, 2023, the Revolutionary Court of Boyer-Ahmad County sentenced Mr. Haddadinia to six months in prison on charges of “propaganda against the regime.”

In another case, after being arrested on February 17, 2024, Mr. Haddadinia was sentenced by Criminal Court Branch 101 in Likak to three months and one day in prison for “propaganda against the Islamic Republic of Iran on social media, specifically via Instagram.” His sentence was later reduced to two months and nine days following an appeal and accounting for time already served in detention.

Mr. Haddadinia has faced multiple arrests and legal proceedings due to his activities. During the first anniversary of Mahsa (Jina) Amini’s death, he was detained by security forces in Bahmai County. He was released on bail on October 9, 2023.

Nasrin Roshan: Iranian-British Dual National Serving Three-Year Sentence in Evin Prison

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News, Prisoners
Iman Afshari, Mahsa Amini, Nasrin Roshan, Tehran, نسرین روشن

Nasrin Roshan, an Iranian-British dual national, is currently serving a three-year prison sentence in Evin Prison. Her sentence was handed down by the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, the initial ruling against Ms. Roshan was issued by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari. She was originally sentenced to four years for “assembly and collusion against national security” and an additional eight months for “propaganda against the regime.” However, after filing an appeal, her total sentence was reduced to three years.

Sources close to the case have reported that the charges against Ms. Roshan, who resided in the United Kingdom for many years, were based on her participation in protests abroad following the death of Mahsa Amini.

HRANA’s investigation revealed that Ms. Roshan was arrested on November 16, 2023, at Imam Khomeini International Airport while attempting to leave Iran. She was subsequently detained in a solitary confinement cell within the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, known as Ward 209 of Evin Prison.

Born in 1963, Ms. Roshan was transferred to the women’s ward of Evin Prison on January 1, 2024, after completing her interrogation.

This case highlights the ongoing risks faced by dual nationals and activists engaging in protests or dissent abroad.

Reports from the Department of Statistics and Publication of HRA in 2023 indicate a total of 193 cases in which Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, has been involved in issuing verdicts that infringe upon the human rights of defendants.

Revolutionary Court Sentences Four Political Defendants to Over 14 Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
and Mehdi Touhidi, Azam Ahooghalander, Hossein Jafari, Karaj, Kiana Dalvand, Mahsa Amini, Mostafa Narimani, Nematollah Afshar

Azam Ahooghalander, Hossein Jafari, Nematollah Afshar, and Mehdi Touhidi, political defendants, have been collectively sentenced to 14 years and 10 months in prison and additional penalties by Branch 3 of the Revolutionary Court in Karaj. Another defendant in the case, Mohammad Azizi, was acquitted of the charges against him.

On November 26, Branch 3 of the Revolutionary Court in Karaj, presided over by Judge Mostafa Narimani, issued its verdict. Azam Ahooghalander was sentenced to six years and two months in prison for “forming and leading a criminal group aimed at disrupting national security.” The other three defendants were convicted of “membership in a group with the same objective: Nematollah Afshar received three years and six months, Mehdi Touhidi-Asl was sentenced to three years and two months, and Hossein Jafari to two years in prison.

In addition, all four were sentenced to two years of travel bans and a two-year prohibition on online activities as supplementary punishments.

Mohammad Azizi, another defendant in the case, was acquitted of all charges.

The trial for these political defendants was held on November 9, 2023, in Branch 3 of the Revolutionary Court in Karaj.

These individuals were arrested on September 16, 2023, coinciding with the first anniversary of Mahsa (Jina) Amini’s death, during a gathering at Azam Ahooghalander’s home. They were later released temporarily on bail.

Kiana Dalvand, the 16-year-old daughter of Azam Ahooghalander, was also arrested alongside the other defendants. She was detained in Kachouei Prison in Karaj and released after 20 days upon providing a written pledge.

Father of Deceased Protester Mohammad Hassanzadeh Arrested

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ahmad Hassanzadeh, Bukan, Jina Amini, Mahsa Amini

On the second anniversary of Mahsa (Jina) Amini’s death, Ahmad Hassanzadeh, the father of Mohammad Hassanzadeh, who was killed during the 2022 nationwide protests, was arrested by security forces on September 25 in front of his home in Bukan. He was subsequently taken to an undisclosed location.

According to Kolbar News, Mr. Hassanzadeh was detained by security forces directly outside his residence. Approximately an hour after his arrest, he managed to call his family, confirming that he was in custody.

As of this report, there is no information available regarding the reasons for his arrest, his current location, or any charges that may have been brought against him.

This is not the first time Mr. Hassanzadeh has been targeted by authorities. In late July, he and his daughter, Solmaz Hassanzadeh, were detained by security forces while attempting to hold a memorial ceremony for Mohammad’s birthday. He was released the following day on a four-billion-toman bail. Additionally, on September 4, 2023, both he and his daughter were summoned to the Ministry of Intelligence in Bukan and subjected to interrogation.

Mohammad Hassanzadeh, a 28-year-old resident of Bukan, was fatally shot by regime forces during the 2022 nationwide protests and died from his injuries on November 16 of that year.