Tag: Mohammad Movahedi Azad

Day 33 of the Protests: EU Designates IRGC as a Terrorist Organization as Repression Persists

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Freedom of Expression, News
Eskandar Momeni, EU, HRANA, Iman Afshari, irgc, Kaja Kallas, Mohammad Movahedi Azad

HRANA – According to the latest aggregated data compiled by HRANA on the thirty-third day since the start of the protests, the total number of confirmed deaths has reached 6,479. Of these, 6,092 were protesters, 118 were children under the age of 18, 214 were government-affiliated forces, and 55 were non-protester civilians. In addition, 17,091 cases remain under investigation. The number of injured civilians has been reported at 11,020, along with 281 cases of forced confessions and 11,027 summonses to security institutions. Furthermore, a total of 660 protest-related incidents have been recorded across 203 cities in 31 provinces.

Today, two parallel developments unfolded. On the one hand, external reactions and pressure, particularly in Europe, intensified, with a focus on designating the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization and imposing human rights sanctions. On the other hand, repression continued domestically following the street phase of the protests, taking the form of ongoing arrests, the presence of security institutions in schools, and increased pressure in detention centers and medical facilities.

Designating the IRGC as a Terrorist Organization and Sanctions Packages

In recent days, the European Union has pursued pressure on Iran’s repressive apparatus through two parallel tools: placing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on the list of terrorist organizations and expanding targeted human rights sanctions against individuals and entities involved in the crackdown. Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, announced that EU foreign ministers had taken a “decisive” step by designating the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization, stressing that the repression of protesters would not go unanswered.

Simultaneously, the European Union sanctioned 15 individuals and 6 Iranian entities for their “involvement in or responsibility for human rights violations and the repression of protesters.” According to HRANA, these sanctions include asset freezes, travel bans to the European Union, and prohibitions on providing any financial or economic resources to the listed individuals and entities.

Among the announced cases are the names of several key figures and institutions. These include Eskandar Momeni (Minister of Interior), Mohammad Movahedi Azad (Prosecutor General), and Iman Afshari (judge of Branch 26 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court), whom the Council of Europe has linked to roles in the “violent suppression of protests” and “arbitrary arrests.”

In the supplementary sanctions packages tied to digital repression, the Organization for the Regulation of Audio and Visual Media (SATRA), the IRGC’s Center for the Examination of Organized Crimes (Seraj Center), and the Working Group for Determining Criminal Content have also been named as entities playing a direct role in the “control, censorship, and suppression of communications and cyberspace.”

Experts believe that at the political level these measures go beyond mere “sanctions.” The formal redefinition of the IRGC as a terrorist actor in Europe carries broader implications: increasing the risks of financial and legal engagement with affiliated structures, strengthening the legal basis for accountability efforts, and at the same time raising the political cost of normalizing relations with institutions responsible for repression.

Reactions indicate that this process in Europe has moved beyond a purely “symbolic” or media-driven stance. Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, voiced support for the EU’s move to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization, calling it “the right decision” and emphasizing the need to “stand firm.” Meanwhile, Hadja Lahbib (EU Commissioner) referred to the decision to impose new sanctions on individuals involved in the crackdown and spoke of the European Union’s support for investigations and fact-finding mechanisms into the killing of protesters.

Repression and Arrests: Security Agents’ Presence in Schools and Harsh Situation at Mashhad Detention Centers

Despite the subsiding of the street phase of the protests, field reports indicate that arrests and prosecution continue, and in some areas have been accompanied by new waves of mass arrests. According to HRANA, at least 706 citizens were arrested over the past 24 hours in the cities of Dezful, Yazd, Borujen, Borujerd, and Nur. In addition, the Public Security Police of FARAJA reported the arrest of 327 protesters nationwide since December 28, while the General Directorate of Intelligence of Hormozgan Province announced the arrest of 65 citizens in connection with the protests.

Individual arrests by security forces follow the street-level crackdown. HRANA has reported the detention and continued lack of information regarding several detained individuals: Maedeh Dowlatabadi (21) in Urmia, who is being held in a security detention facility; as well as Farhad Jangi-Zehi (Minab) and Ehsan Nedaei-Hour (Ramsar), who were arrested on different dates and remain in custody.

At the same time, arrests among students have also continued. HRANA has reported the detention of Amin Norouzi and Ilya Bakhshaie (two students in Yazd), as well as Yousef Yousefi, a student at Kharazmi University of Technology in Tehran, during the protests.

One indicator of the continuation of repression is the transfer of security pressure into schools. Reports indicate that security agents have been dispatched to schools and have spoken with students in an effort to impose the official narrative of the protests. An 18-year-old student from Bandar Abbas stated that in recent days, agents have been sent to schools and are attempting to promote the government’s official account.

Taken together, these data suggest that the policy of control has shifted from the “street” to universities, schools, and detention centers, aiming to prevent the re-emergence of protests through sustained pressure and the cultivation of lasting fear.

Crackdowns in Medical Facilities and Arrests in Hospitals

Reports related to the treatment of the injured most clearly reflect the intensity of pressure and repression, where seeking medical care can turn into a risk of arrest. According to an account from a source in Tehran, a large number of citizens with pellet-gun injuries to the eyes sought treatment at a specialized ophthalmology hospital in the city. After the protests ended, representatives from the medical sciences university and security institutions visited the hospital, extracted the names of all individuals hospitalized between January 8 and January 12, and took the information with them.

the Deputy for Nursing Affairs at Iran’s Ministry of Health said that if individuals seek treatment and provide a different name, “no one conducts an inspection,” and that identity verification is only required if insurance is used, a claim that effectively acknowledges the presence of fear and the issue of identity checks, even though it does not directly reference security forces entering hospitals. Abbas Abadi, the Ministry’s Deputy for Nursing Affairs, also warned about the consequences of delayed treatment, stating that postponement can lead to wound infections and the need for complex surgeries.

At the international level, the World Health Organization announced that amid the widespread crackdown on protesters, it has confirmed an attack on a hospital in Iran and emphasized the necessity of protecting healthcare facilities and ensuring unhindered access to medical services.

Taken together, these reports indicate that the “space of medical care” has also become part of the security arena, from extracting the names of the injured to heightened fear of seeking treatment, and multiple reports of the abduction or arrest of wounded individuals.

Teachers’ Statement and the Killing of Several Educators

The Coordination Council of Teachers’ Trade Associations of Iran stated in a communiqué that, alongside references to mounting security pressures, several teachers were killed during the protests: Kamran Akbari, Karamali A‘laei, and Reza Karimi-Far (Ansari-Far).

Updated (Aggregated) Statistics Through the End of Day 33 of the Protests

• Total protest locations/incidents in cities: 660
• Number of cities (non-duplicative): 203
• Number of provinces (non-duplicative): 31

• Injured civilians: 11,020
• Arrested children, adolescents, and students: 326
• Arrested students: 70
• Forced confessions: 281
• Summonses: 11,027

• Total protesters killed: 6,092

▪️ Including children: 118
▪️ Military/government-affiliated forces: 214
▪️ Non-protester civilians: 55

• Total deaths: 6,479

• Cases under review: 17,091 cases

Summary

Day 33 of the protests was marked by the continuation of post-crackdown repression, including ongoing arrests, an expanded security presence in schools, and sustained pressure on detention centers and medical facilities. At the same time, international developments, most notably the designation of the IRGC as a terrorist organization and the imposition of targeted European sanctions, underscore that the repression file remains active and is entering a phase of intensified diplomatic and human rights pressure.

International Women’s Day; Key Figures in Violations of Women’s Rights Over the Past Year

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News, Other, Women
Abolghasem Salavati, Ahmad Darvish Goftar, Ahmadreza Radan, Ali Razini, Amirhossein Bankpour Fard, Darvish Goftar, Ghasem Mazinani, Ghasem Rezaei, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, Hajar Chenarani, Hassan Mofakhemi, Heydar Sousani, Heydar Susani, Hossein Mirzaei, Iman Afshari, Mahmoud Hafezi, Mohammad Movahedi Azad, Seyed Mousa Asaf al-Hosseini, Zohreh Elahian

HRANA News Agency – While March 8, International Women’s Day, is a time to honor women’s struggles for equality worldwide, in Iran, it serves as a stark reminder of systematic oppression and ongoing violations of women’s rights. Instead of progress, Iranian women continue to face state-imposed restrictions, harsh punishments, and widespread repression, enforced by officials who use their power to limit freedoms, enforce discriminatory laws, and suppress dissent.

This report sheds light on 18 individuals who, over the past year, have played a key role in the oppression of women in Iran. From judges issuing death sentences and long-term imprisonments to officials implementing repressive policies like the “Noor Plan”, these individuals have been instrumental in violating women’s rights and enforcing systemic gender discrimination.

Women’s Rights Under Attack in Iran

While women in many parts of the world have made strides toward gender equality, in Iran, their fundamental rights continue to be systematically violated. The state’s grip on women’s personal and public lives extends across various domains, including:

  • Legal and social restrictions on marriage, child custody, employment, and personal freedoms
  • The violent suppression of protests and civil activism
  • Compulsory hijab laws, enforced through harsh crackdowns
  • Targeted arrests and severe sentencing of women advocating for change

One of the most blatant aspects of this repression is the direct role of judges, legislators, and government officials in depriving women of their rights, freedoms, and human dignity. These individuals not only enforce restrictive laws but also suppress protesters, issue heavy sentences, and use violence to crush any efforts toward change.

The 18 Officials Behind the Repression of Women

This report, compiled using data from Spreading Justice (SJ), a database of human rights violators, identifies 18 individuals who have played a direct role in enforcing discriminatory policies and punishing women who resist oppression. These include:

  • Judges who have sentenced female protesters to death and lengthy prison terms
  • Officials involved in oppressive programs like the “Noor Plan,” aimed at enforcing compulsory hijab and restricting women’s freedoms
  • Security forces and judicial authorities responsible for violent crackdowns, intimidation, and human rights abuses

This list is not just a collection of names—it serves as evidence of the systematic persecution of women in Iran. Whether through prison sentences, executions, or street-level repression, these officials have weaponized the law to silence women and enforce state control through fear, intimidation, and punishment.

A Call for Global Action

HRANA urges the international community, human rights organizations, and governments committed to human rights principles to treat this report as documented proof of widespread violations of women’s rights in Iran. Targeted sanctions against these individuals, diplomatic pressure, and legal action in international courts are crucial steps in holding them accountable for their role in state-sponsored oppression.

As Iranian women continue to resist and defend their rights, global silence would amount to complicity in their oppression. The international community must stand in solidarity and take concrete action against human rights violators to confront this systematic repression of women.

Publishing this report is a step toward raising awareness and mobilizing global attention to the widespread human rights abuses Iranian women endure—a call to action that cannot be ignored.

1. Abolghasem Salavati

Example of actions taken: Issuance of a death sentence for Varishe Moradi on the charge of “moharebeh” (waging war against God) by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Abolghasem Salavati.

2. Iman Afshari

Example of actions taken: Issuance of a death sentence for Pakhshan Azizi on the charge of “moharebeh” by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari.

3. Ali Razini

Example of actions taken: Approval of Pakhshan Azizi’s death sentence by Branch 39 of the Supreme Court. Razini, who presided over this branch, was shot and killed at his workplace on January 18.

4. Ghasem Mazinani

Example of actions taken: Rejection of Pakhshan Azizi’s request for a retrial by Branch 9 of the Supreme Court, presided over by Ghasem Mazinani.

5. Ahmad Darvish Goftar

Example of actions taken: Issuance of a death sentence for Sharifeh Mohammadi on the charge of “moharebeh” by Branch 1 of the Rasht Revolutionary Court, presided over by him.

6. Darvish Goftar (son of Ahmad Darvish Goftar)

Example of actions taken: After the Supreme Court overturned the death sentence of Sharifeh Mohammadi, Darvish Goftar, as the head of Branch 2 of the Rasht Revolutionary Court, reissued the death sentence.

7. Seyed Mousa Asaf al-Hosseini

Example of actions taken: Issuance of a one-year prison sentence, two years of exile to Rasht, a two-year travel ban, and a two-year ban on using social media for Hamideh Zarei, one of the detainees of the 2022 nationwide protests, by Branch 1 of the Karaj Revolutionary Court, presided over by Seyed Mousa Asaf al-Hosseini.

8. Amirhossein Bankpour Fard

Example of actions taken: One of the architects and supporters of the “Family Protection Bill through the Promotion of Chastity and Hijab” during his tenure in the Cultural Commission of the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Parliament).

9. Hossein Mirzaei

Example of actions taken: One of the drafters, supporters, and voters of laws violating human rights, including the “Family Protection Bill through the Promotion of Chastity and Hijab.” He also supported the “Family Protection and Population Growth Law.”

10. Zohreh Elahian

Example of actions taken: Participated in drafting, supporting, and voting for human rights-violating laws, including the “Family Protection and Population Growth Law.” As a member of the 11th Parliament, she supported the police operation known as “Project Noor” (a campaign initiated by the Islamic Republic’s Law Enforcement Command on April 13, 2024, to enforce mandatory hijab laws) and urged other responsible institutions to fulfill their legal duties in imposing mandatory hijab.

11. Hajar Chenarani

Example of actions taken: As one of the members and the first secretary of the Judicial and Legal Commission of the Parliament, she played a role in drafting and supporting the “Family Protection Bill through the Promotion of Chastity and Hijab.”

12. Hassan Mofakhemi Shahrestani

Example of actions taken: As the law enforcement commander of Mazandaran province, he was responsible for violations of women’s rights during his tenure. In one instance, in early June 2024, law enforcement officers in Noor County, Mazandaran province, fired at a vehicle that was on the impound list due to hijab violations. According to reports, contrary to the police’s claim of shooting at the vehicle’s tires, officers fired at least once “at the driver’s door,” hitting a young woman named Arezou Badri.

13. Heydar Susani

Example of actions taken: As the law enforcement commander of Bushehr province, he was responsible for the arrest of women over their attire and for sending warning messages about non-compliance with mandatory hijab in vehicles in the province.

14. Mahmoud Hafezi

Example of actions taken: As a mid-ranking commander in the Islamic Republic’s Law Enforcement Force, he played a role in violating women’s rights in Rasht. In one instance, a video was published showing a violent altercation between morality police officers and a young woman, highlighting the police’s enforcement of hijab laws in the city.

15. Mohammad Movahedi Azad

Example of actions taken: As the Attorney General, he was one of the key figures in supporting and enforcing “Project Noor” and mandatory hijab policies nationwide. In addition to repeated endorsements of “Project Noor,” the Attorney General’s Office announced that a draft directive had been prepared for the Islamic Republic’s Law Enforcement Command to implement this plan.

16. Ahmadreza Radan

Example of actions taken: As the Chief Commander of the Islamic Republic’s Law Enforcement Force, he was directly responsible for enforcing mandatory hijab policies, including “Project Noor,” across Iran.

17. Gholamhossein Mohseni Eje’i

Example of actions taken: As the head of the Judiciary, he was directly responsible for imposing restrictions, crackdowns, and enforcement measures related to mandatory hijab, the drafting of the “Hijab and Chastity Bill,” and the implementation of “Project Noor.”

18. Ghasem Rezaei

Example of actions taken: As the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Law Enforcement Force, he was responsible for implementing mandatory hijab policies. In one instance, two teenage girls on Vatanpour Shomali Street in Tehran were severely beaten by officers enforcing “Project Noor” due to their lack of hijab. In a published video, officers were seen violently dragging one of the girls to the ground and forcing her into a white police van. The Morality Police later claimed that one of the female officers had broken her finger in the altercation and threatened the girls against filing a complaint.

The individuals named in this report represent only a small fraction of the vast network of officials responsible for the repression, discrimination, and systematic violations of women’s rights in Iran. Through their decisions, policies, and actions, these figures have trampled on fundamental freedoms, reinforcing a system that seeks to control, silence, and punish women for demanding their basic rights.

Yet, despite this relentless oppression, Iranian women continue to resist. Their unwavering fight for justice, freedom, and equality is a testament to their courage and determination in the face of state-imposed restrictions and brutality.

Documenting these violations is not just about bearing witness—it is a crucial step toward accountability. Raising international awareness and applying legal, diplomatic, and economic pressure—including targeted sanctions against those responsible—can play a key role in challenging the Iranian government’s systematic oppression of women.

In addition to this report, HRANA has published a list of female political and ideological prisoners in Iran, detailing the names and cases of women imprisoned for their beliefs and civil activism. Readers are encouraged to refer to that report for a broader understanding of the deep-rooted gender-based persecution Iranian women endure.

The fight for women’s rights in Iran is far from over—but neither is the resolve of those who continue to stand against injustice. Global solidarity and concrete action are imperative to ensure that these violations do not go unanswered.