Tag: Mohammad Taghavi

Political Prisoners Babak Alipour and Pouya Ghobadi Executed

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Executions, News
Akbar Daneshvar Kar, Babak Alipour, Ghezel Hesar prison, HRANA, Karaj, Mohammad Taghavi, Pouya Ghobadi

HRANA – The Judiciary Media Center has announced the execution of death sentences against Babak Alipour and Pouya Ghobadi, two political prisoners held in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj, carried out at dawn today, Tuesday, March 31.

According to Mizan, the Judiciary Media Center, the executions were carried out this morning after the sentences had been upheld by the Supreme Court and the defendants’ appeals had been rejected.

The death sentences against Babak Alipour and Pouya Ghobadi, along with four others, had previously been issued on the charge of “baghi” (armed rebellion) through alleged membership in groups opposed to the state. In July of last year, the Supreme Court overturned this ruling and referred the case to a parallel branch for reconsideration.

In November 2025, they were retried in Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari. Ultimately, on December 7, 2025, the same branch reissued the death sentences for these political prisoners and formally notified their lawyers.

Regarding Babak Alipour, the Judiciary Media Center has claimed that he had been in contact via cyberspace with one of the “liaisons” of the MEK (People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran). It alleged that, “at this person’s request to carry out an armed operation, he traveled from Gilan to Tehran and fired a projectile weapon (launcher) at the building of one of the country’s institutions. Of the four launchers used, only two functioned.”

As for Pouya Ghobadi, the same institution claimed that he had also “participated in several terrorist actions under the direction of the MEK.” According to the report, Ghobadi “was in a safe house assembling parts of explosive packages.” It further alleged that he had been in contact with one of the group’s liaisons through Telegram and had intended to illegally cross the border in order to receive the training necessary for conducting operations in Tehran.

Babak Alipour was arrested by security forces in Tehran in autumn 2023. On February 23, 2024, Pouya Ghobadi was also arrested in Chaldoran County and transferred to Maku Prison.

These individuals were formally charged in May 2024 in Branch 5 of the Tehran Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office, and were later transferred in the summer of that year to Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.

Yesterday, the death sentences of Akbar Daneshvar-Kar and Seyed Mohammad Taghavi-Sangdehi, other defendants in the same case, were also carried out.

According to HRA’s Annual Report, in 2025, at least 2,063 people were executed in Iran. Based on this report, executions increased by 119% compared to 2024.

Six Death Sentences and Over 54 Years of Imprisonment Issued for Eight Political Prisoners in Tehran

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Executions, Freedom of Expression, News
Abolhassan Montazer, Akbar Daneshvar, Ali Taghavi Sang-Dehi, Babak Alipour, Mohammad Taghavi, Mojtaba Taghavi Sang-Dehi, Pouya Ghobadi, Vahid Bani-Amerian

Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court has sentenced six political prisoners—Akbar Daneshvar Kar, Seyed Mohammad Taghavi Sang-Dehi, Babak Alipour, Pouya Ghobadi Bistoni, Vahid Bani-Amerian, and Seyed Abolhassan Montazer—to death on charges of armed rebellion (Baghi) through membership in anti-regime groups. Additionally, these individuals, along with Seyed Ali Taghavi Sang-Dehi and Seyed Mojtaba Taghavi Sang-Dehi, were collectively sentenced to over 54 years of imprisonment and 20 years of exile.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, Judge Iman Afshari of Branch 26 issued severe sentences for these eight political prisoners.

Details of the Sentences:

  1. Akbar Daneshvar Kar
    • Death sentence for Baghi through membership in anti-regime groups.
    • 5 years in prison for assembly and collusion with intent to disrupt national security.
    • 10 years in prison for forming illegal groups.
  2. Seyed Mohammad Taghavi Sang-Dehi
    • Death sentence for Baghi.
    • 5 years in prison for assembly and collusion.
    • 10 years in prison for forming illegal groups.
  3. Babak Alipour
    • Death sentence for Baghi.
    • 5 years in prison for assembly and collusion.
    • 20 years of exile to the city of Khash for destruction of public property.
  4. Pouya Ghobadi Bistoni
    • Death sentence for Baghi.
    • 1 year in prison for illegal border crossing.
  5. Vahid Bani-Amerian
    • Death sentence for Baghi.
    • 5 years in prison for assembly and collusion.
  6. Seyed Abolhassan Montazer
    • Death sentence for Baghi.
    • 5 years in prison for collusion with intent to disrupt national security.
  7. Seyed Ali Taghavi Sang-Dehi
    • 2 years in prison for membership in anti-regime groups.
  8. Seyed Mojtaba Taghavi Sang-Dehi
    • 3 years and 7 months in prison for assembly and collusion with intent to disrupt national security.
    • 3 years in prison for membership in groups opposing the regime.

 

The court sessions for these individuals, who share a common legal case, were held in mid-October this year.

Vahid Bani-Amerian and Abolhassan Montazer were arrested in December 2023, while Babak Alipour was detained in the fall of 2023 by security forces in Tehran.

On February 23, 2024, Pouya Ghobadi and Seyed Mohammad Taghavi were arrested in Chaldoran County and transferred to Maku Prison, seven days later, being moved to Evin Prison.

Akbar Daneshvar and Mojtaba Taghavi had previously been detained and transferred to Evin Prison. Ali Taghavi had also been arrested earlier but was released on bail.

These individuals were formally charged in late May 2024 at Branch 5 of the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in Tehran.

Notably, Abolhassan Montazer and Seyed Mohammad Taghavi were political prisoners in the 1980s, while Vahid Bani-Amerian, Pouya Ghobadi, and Babak Alipour have prior records of imprisonment for their activism.

Four Political Detainees Face Armed Rebellion Charges

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News, Prisoners
Abolhassan Montazer, armed rebellion, Babak Alipour, Baghi, Mohammad Taghavi, Pouya Ghobadi, Vahid Bani-Amerian

Pouya Ghobadi, Babak Alipour, Abolhassan Montazer, and Seyed-Mohammad Taghavi have been recently indicted of armed rebellion (Baghi) by the Public and Revolutionary Court of Tehran. This charge which carries the potential for severe penalties, including the death penalty, raises concerns.

On May 14, 2024, these individuals were indicted of “armed rebellion” for allegations of their involvement with an anti-regime group” and “assembly and collusion against national security.”

Earlier HRANA reported that another political detainee Vahid Bani-Amerian has also faced the same charges. He has been reportedly moved from Ward 209 of Evin prison to the quarantine section of this prison, following his indictment.

Under the Islamic penal code, Baghi is a grievous offense that can lead to severe punishments, including execution, amputation of the right hand and left foot, and exile.

Abolhassan Montazer and Babak Alipour were arrested separately in Tehran on December 22, 2023. Pouya Ghobadi was detained by security forces in Chaldoran, West Azerbaijan province, on February 23, 2024, and subsequently transferred to Maku and then Evin prison. Seyed Mohammad Taqavi was also detained by security forces late last year.

Prior Arrest and Conviction:

Montazer, 65, a political prisoner from the 1980s, was arrested in 2018, sentenced to five years, and released from Rajai-Shahr Prison in Karaj under a pardon directive after serving three years of his prison term.

Babak Alipour was also previously arrested with his brother Roozbeh while working at a market in Rasht on November 4, 2018. Sentenced to seven years for “membership in anti-regime groups and insulting the Supreme Leader,” he began his sentence at Lakan Prison in Rasht and was released from Evin Prison last spring.

Pouya Ghobadi, an electrical engineering graduate from the University of Sanandaj, was initially arrested in May 2018, sentenced to eighteen years and exile, and was released in 2022 under a pardon directive.

Seyed Mohammad Taqavi, 57, also a former political detainee from the 1980s, holds a bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design from Tehran University and has previously served a prison sentence.