Tag: Mashhad

Afghan Student Sara Gowhari Held Without Charges in Ministry of Intelligence Facility

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News, Prisoners
Mashhad, Reza Shafakhah, Sara Gohari, Sara Gowhari, Taybad

HRANA – Sara Gowhari (Gohari), an Afghan student residing in Tehran, has been detained for 12 days and remains in legal limbo at the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Mashhad.

Her attorney, Reza Shafakhah, announced yesterday that Sara informed her family during a phone call that she is being held in the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Mashhad. According to Shafakhah, her family has traveled to Mashhad to pursue her case.

Sara Gowhari was arrested on July 6 by security forces at the Taybad border while conducting independent research on the deportation of Afghan migrants from Iran.

As of the time of this report, no information has been released regarding the charges against her.

Sara Gowhari, 29, is an Afghan national and a sociology student at the University of Tehran.

Christian Convert Mehran Shamlooei Arrested in Mashhad

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News, Religious Minorities
Mashhad, Mehran Shamlooei, Tehran

HRANA – Security forces arrested Christian convert Mehran Shamlooei yesterday at Mashhad Airport and transferred him to a security detention facility in the city.

A source close to Shamlooei’s family confirmed to HRANA: “He was arrested upon entering Iran at Mashhad Airport and taken to a local security facility. As he is facing a prison sentence, the on-duty judge has ordered his transfer to Tehran on Monday.”

Shamlooei was previously sentenced by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court to 10 years and 8 months in prison, a fine of 250 million tomans, and an 11-year ban on social rights. The charges against him included “propaganda against Islamic law” and “membership in groups opposing the state.” The verdict was upheld in full by Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals on April 23, 2025.

His trial was held on February 13, 2025, following an earlier interrogation in January at Branch 3 of the Tehran Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office.

Shamlooei was last released from Evin Prison on December 1, 2024, after posting bail. He had been arrested on November 1, 2024, by Ministry of Intelligence agents for establishing a house church in Tehran and was held in Ward 209 of Evin Prison, which is operated by the Ministry.

Based on about 170 reports compiled by HRANA over the past decade, 11% of all victims of religious minority rights violations by Iran’s security-judicial apparatus were Christians—particularly Christian converts. In 2024 alone, Christians made up over 9% of those targeted.

Seyed Javad Hosseini-Nejad Sentenced to Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Fariman Dam, Javad Hosseini Nejad, Mashhad, جواد حسینی نژاد

HRANA – Seyed Javad Hosseini-Nejad, a resident of Mashhad, has been sentenced to three months and one day in prison by the city’s Criminal Court.

On June 30, Branch 133 of the Second Criminal Court of Mashhad County convicted Hosseini-Nejad on the charge of “spreading falsehoods.” The verdict was based on a video he recently produced in response to the drying of the Fariman Dam.

Hosseini-Nejad, approximately 37 years old, is a father of one and resides in Mashhad. He has a history of arrest and conviction related to his activism.

Nine Followers of the “Yamani” Movement Remain in Detention at Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad

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News, Prisoners, Religious Minorities
Alireza Salim Kaviani, Amin-Akbari, Emad Eftetahi, Ghasem Hatami, Mashhad, Mohammad Hossein Nazarnajad, Mohammad Kazem Fathi, Sajjad Rezvan, Seyed Yahya Tarrahomi, Yamani

HRANA – Over a month after their arrests, nine followers of the “Yamani” religious movement remain in pre-trial detention at Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad. The detainees include Emad Eftetahi, Amin Akbari, Seyed Yahya Tarrahomi, Ghasem Hatami, Alireza Salim Kaviani, Sajjad Rezvan, Mohammad Kazem Fathi, Mohammad Hossein Nazarnajad, and one unidentified individual.

They were among 19 “Yamani” adherents detained in Mashhad. According to relatives, the arrests were made without official warrants and in violation of legal procedures.

In Iran, individuals are frequently detained for espousing spiritual or messianic beliefs, especially those claiming a connection to the Shi’a Mahdi. The “Yamani” movement, led by Ahmad al-Hasan Yamani, centers its teachings on Mahdism.

Iran’s security agencies—particularly the Ministry of Intelligence—operate dedicated units to suppress religious, spiritual, and ideological groups that fall outside the bounds of the state-sanctioned doctrine.

Sajad Mashhadi Hemmatabadi Arrested by Security Forces in Mashhad

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Freedom of Expression, News
Mashhad, Mashhadi Hemmatabadi, Sajad Mashhadi, سجاد مشهدی

HRANA News Agency – On Monday, June 16, security forces in Mashhad arrested Sajjad Mashhadi Hemmatabadi, a local resident, and transferred him to an undisclosed location.

According to information received by HRANA, Mashhadi Hemmatabadi was detained at his home. During the arrest, security agents searched his residence and confiscated several personal items, including his laptop and mobile phone.

The reasons for his arrest, the charges he may be facing, and his current whereabouts remain unknown.

Mashhadi Hemmatabadi has previously been arrested and subjected to legal proceedings.

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Two Prisoners Executed in Mashhad for Drug-Related Offenses

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Executions, News
Mashhad, Vakilabad prison, Yashar Haghdoost

HRANA News Agency – The death sentences of two prisoners previously convicted of drug-related offenses were carried out at dawn on Saturday, June 7, in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.

The identity of one of the executed individuals, Yashar Haghdoost, has been confirmed by HRANA. He was hanged at dawn on Saturday, June 7, 2025. The identity of the second individual, an Afghan national, is still being investigated.

Based on information obtained by HRANA, both individuals had been arrested on charges related to drug offenses and later sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court.

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

According to HRANA’s report, in 2024, over 52 percent of executed prisoners had been convicted on drug-related charges. Over the past ten years, individuals convicted of drug trafficking have accounted for 40 percent of all executions. Unfortunately, HRANA’s statistics show no progress in reducing executions for drug-related offenses.

Ongoing Detention of 19 “Yamani” Followers in Mashhad’s Vakilabad Prison

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News, Prisoners, Religious Minorities
Alireza Salim Kaviani, Amin-Akbari, Amir Zohan, Amir Zorami, Emad Eftetahi, Ghasem Hatami, Hamed Nejad-Nik, HRANA, IRGC forces, Mashhad, Mohammad Hossein Nazarnajhad, Mohammad Kazem Fathi, Mostafa Tavana, Reza Ghiasi, Sajjad Rezvan, Seyed Ali Hosseini, Seyed Yahya Tarrahomi, Vakilabad prison, Yamani

HRANA News Agency – Nineteen individuals affiliated with the “Yamani” religious movement, remain in legal limbo in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad, one week after their arrest.

These detainees are Amir Zorami, Amin Akbari, Reza Ghiasi, Amir Zohan, Seyed Yahya Tarrahomi, Hamed Nejad-Nik, Emad Eftetahi, Alireza Salim Kaviani, Ghasem Hatami, Seyed Ali Hosseini, Sajjad Rezvan, Mohammad Hossein Nazarnajhad, Mostafa Tavana, Mohammad Kazem Fathi, and five others.

Based on information received by HRANA, these individuals were arrested by IRGC forces while attending a religious gathering.

As of the time of this report, no information has been released regarding the charges brought against these citizens.

Every year in Iran, individuals are arrested merely for claiming a connection to the Shi’a messianic figure, the Hidden Imam. The “Yemeni” movement, led by Ahmad al-Hasan Yamani, operates based on messianic claims related to Mahdism.

Iran’s security apparatus—particularly the Ministry of Intelligence—maintains dedicated divisions tasked with confronting religions, spiritual groups, and ideological-religious communities that do not align with the state’s official ideology.

Omid Fathi Arrested in Mashhad

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Freedom of Expression, News
Mashhad, Omid Fathi

HRANA News Agnecy– On Tuesday, June 3, Omid Fathi, a resident of Mashhad, was arrested by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, Fathi was detained yesterday by security agents. As of the time of this report, no information is available regarding the reasons for his arrest or his current whereabouts.

Omid Fathi has previously faced security-related pressures and encounters due to his activism.

Between late 2019 and the end of 2024, the number of arrests made by Iran’s security forces for peaceful expression nearly doubled compared to the preceding five-year period (2015–2019), reflecting an intensifying pattern of repression following major protest movements.

Prisoner Executed in Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad

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Executions, News
Mashhad, Mohammad Ebrahim Esfandiari, Vakilabad prison

HRANA News Agency – On Wednesday, May 14, 2025, the death sentence of a prisoner previously convicted of murder was carried out in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.

Iran Human Rights has identified the hanged prisoner as Mohammad Ebrahim Esfandiari, a resident of Mashhad. According to the report, he was arrested four years ago on charges of murder and later sentenced to death by the judiciary.

As of the time of this report, the execution has not been officially announced by prison authorities or relevant institutions.

In 2024, according to 812 reports compiled by HRANA, the Iranian regime executed 930 individuals in its prisons—marking the highest number of executions in the past 12 years. Despite the scale of these executions, prison officials and other relevant authorities publicly acknowledged only 6% of them, highlighting the regime’s lack of transparency and accountability.

Fatemeh Sepehri Transferred from Vakilabad Prison to Hospital

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News, Prisoners
Hossein Sepehri, Mashhad, Mohammad Hossein Sepehri, Vakilabad prison, فاطمه سپهری

HRANA News Agency – Yesterday, Fatemeh Sepehri, a political prisoner, was transferred from Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad to a hospital in the city due to poor physical health.

Ali Sepehri, Fatemeh Sepehri’s brother, stated that his sister was transferred to Shariati Hospital on Wednesday, May 14. According to him, the transfer was made due to severe heart palpitations, chest pain, and low blood pressure.

Mr. Sepehri added that Fatemeh Sepehri had also been transferred to a hospital some time ago by order of the prison infirmary. She was returned to prison just one day later after undergoing an echocardiogram.

In June of 2024, Sepehri and her brothers, Mohammad-Hossein Sepehri and Hossein Sepehri, were sentenced to a total of 18 years and six months in prison. The charges against her included “assembly and collusion against national security,” “insulting the Supreme Leader,” and “propaganda against the regime,” as well as an additional charge of “supporting a hostile government (Israel).”

Sepehri is currently serving a sentence from a prior case in Vakilabad Prison. She was temporarily released on medical leave on October 16, 2023, but was re-arrested at her home in Mashhad just three days later, and returned to prison.

In February 2023, the Mashhad Criminal Court sentenced her to an additional one year of imprisonment and a fine of 20 million tomans for “spreading falsehoods and disturbing public opinion.” She was also arrested on September 21 of that year at her home and transferred to Vakilabad Prison.

Fatemeh Sepehri is one of the signatories of a letter calling for the resignation of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In the initial trial, Branch 4 of the Mashhad Revolutionary Court sentenced her to five years of imprisonment, later reduced to three years and six months on appeal. In May, 2023, this sentence was conditionally suspended for five years, leading to her temporary release.