Tag: Razavi Khorasan Province

Death Sentence of Hossein Shahoozahi Upheld by the Supreme Court

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Executions, News
irgc, Razavi Khorasan Province, Vakilabad prison, Yousef Mohammad-Hosseini

HRANA – Hossein Shahoozahi, a detainee held in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad, has been sentenced to death by the Mashhad Revolutionary Court, a verdict that has recently been upheld by the Supreme Court.

Following his arrest by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Intelligence Organization, Shahoozahi has been accused of attempting to assassinate the Supreme Leader’s representative in Razavi Khorasan Province and of planning an attack on the governor’s office.

According to Haal Vsh, Mashhad Revolutionary Court had previously issued the initial death sentence against Shahoozahi, which has now been upheld by the country’s highest judicial authority.

Hossein Shahoozahi, 29, a native of Zahedan, is currently being held in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.

He was arrested by IRGC Intelligence forces at the Mashhad bus terminal. On December 9, 2022, the Public Relations Office of the IRGC in Razavi Khorasan Province confirmed the arrest of several individuals, including Shahouzehi, claiming that they were affiliated with an opposition group. The IRGC’s statement further alleged that “a significant quantity of weapons, ammunition, and explosives was discovered and confiscated from these individuals.”

Following his arrest, Shahoozahi faced multiple charges, including possession of weapons, attempting to assassinate Ahmad Alamolhoda -the Supreme Leader’s representative in Razavi Khorasan Province – and planning an attack on the governor’s office in Mashhad. The Revolutionary Court ultimately sentenced him to death. Throughout the judicial process, he was denied the right to access legal counsel.

According to local media reports, Shahouzehi was held for about six months in the IRGC Intelligence detention facility, where he was subjected to pressure and violent treatment by interrogators. During this period, he was also denied any contact or visits with his family.

Local sources further reported that Shahoozahi had been arrested simultaneously with another individual named Yousef Mohammad-Hosseini, 25, and a native of Mirjaveh. To date, there has been no information about Mohammad-Hosseini’s fate, which remains unknown.

Appeals Court Upholds Prison and Exile Sentence for Mehrdad Moghiseh

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Freedom of Expression, News
Darmian, Mehrdad Moghiseh, Razavi Khorasan Province, Sabzevar

HRANA – The Appeals Court of Razavi Khorasan Province has upheld the sentence of Mehrdad Moghiseh, confirming seven months and 15 days in prison and one year of exile.

According to information obtained by HRANA, the ruling—originally issued by Branch 1 of the Sabzevar Revolutionary Court—convicted Moghiseh of “propaganda against the regime” and sentenced him to imprisonment and exile to the town of Darmian. The appeals court affirmed the verdict without modification. His trial took place on March 11, 2025.

Mehrdad Moghiseh was among those arrested during the 2022 nationwide protests in Sabzevar. He has previously faced arrest and conviction related to his activism.

Hamid Haji Abdolpour Sentenced to Prison after Retrial

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Freedom of Expression, News, Students
Amirkabir University of Technology, Hamid Haji Abdolpour, Mashhad, Razavi Khorasan Province, Vakilabad prison

The six years, seven months, and sixteen days prison sentence of Hamid Haji Abdolpour, a graduate of Amirkabir University of Technology, has been fully upheld by Branch 20 of the Appeals Court of Razavi Khorasan Province.

After the acceptance of Mr. Haji Abdolpour’s request for a retrial by Branch 39 of the Supreme Court, his case was sent to a parallel branch. Recently, Branch 20 of the Appeals Court of Razavi Khorasan Province upheld his sentence of six years, seven months, and sixteen days in prison.

Haji Abdolpour was initially sentenced by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad to six years in prison for the charge of “forming a Telegram group with the intent of disrupting national security,” and eight months for the charge of “propaganda against the regime.”

In June-July 2023, Branch 4 of the Appeals Court of Razavi Khorasan Province reduced his sentence for propaganda against the regime by 14 days, resulting in a final sentence of six years, seven months, and sixteen days in prison. Finally, in late November of last year, after spending 46 days in solitary confinement at the IRGC’s detention facility in Razavi Khorasan Province, he was transferred to Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad to serve his sentence.

In separate letters to the Office of the Supreme Leader’s Representative in Universities, the Judiciary’s Intelligence Protection Unit, and the General Inspection Organization of the IRGC, Haji Abdolpour revealed the mistreatment he suffered during interrogations, aimed at extracting forced confessions.

He recently submitted a request for a retrial to the highest judicial authority in the country. After the Supreme Court accepted his request for a retrial and he was temporarily released on bail, the president of Amirkabir University expressed support for him in a letter to the head of the Judiciary in Razavi Khorasan Province. However, these efforts were unsuccessful, and after the case was reviewed again, Mr. Haji Abdolpour was sentenced to prison by the Appeals Court of Razavi Khorasan Province.

Amir Sheibani Zaveh’s Conviction Upheld on Appeal

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Freedom of Expression, News
Amir Sheibani Zaveh, Razavi Khorasan Province, Vakilabad prison

The Court of Appeal of Razavi Khorasan Province upheld the ten-month prison sentence and additional punishments for Amir Sheibani Zaveh, a political prisoner held in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.

Based on a recent ruling issued by Branch 35 of the Court of Appeal of Razavi Khorasan Province and communicated to him, Mr. Sheibani Zaveh has been sentenced to ten months of imprisonment, an eighteen-month travel ban, and an eighteen-month ban on online activities for the charge of “propaganda against the regime through online activities.”

This political prisoner was indicted on May 5 by Branch 901 of the Mashhad Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office.

In January of 2024, Sheibani Zaveh faced another legal case for which he recevied by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad, presided over by Judge Hadi Mansouri, to one year of discretionary imprisonment, a two-year travel ban, and a two-year ban on online activities for the same charge of “propaganda against the regime.” This sentence was later upheld op appeal.

In April of this year, Sheibani was arrested and transferred to Vakilabad Prison to serve his sentence.

Sheibani has a history of arrests and convictions due to his activities.

Execution of Inmate at Neyshabur Prison

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Executions, News
HRANA, Iman Rezaiepour, Neyshabur, Razavi Khorasan Province

On June 2, 2024, an inmate convicted of murder was executed at Neyshabur Prison, located in Razavi Khorasan Province, as reported by the Iran Human Rights Organization.

Iman Rezaiepour, a 40-year-old father of two, had been sentenced to death for murder three years prior. Previously, he had been placed in solitary confinement twice while awaiting execution, but he recevied a reprieve in order to get amnesty from the victim’s family, who demanded five billion tomans (approximately 100,000 dollars) as blood money to spare his life. However, he was unable to raise the required sum.

No official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have provided coverage of these executions at the time of writing. In 2023, 66% of HRANA’s reports on executions lacked official announcements by judicial authorities and went unreported by media inside Iran, highlighting a troubling lack of transparency in due process.

In 2023, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran registered the execution of 767 individuals. Out of these, 7 were carried out in public. Among the executed individuals whose genders were identified, 21 were female. Additionally, 2 juvenile offenders, defined as individuals under the age of 18 at the time of their alleged crimes, were also executed.

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Three Inmates Executed in Taybad for Drug Offenses

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Executions, News
Esmaeil Esmaeil-Zadeh, Mohammad-Amin Mohammad-Pour, Razavi Khorasan Province, Taybad

On April 21, 2024, three inmates convicted of drug-related crimes were executed in Taybad Prison in Razavi Khorasan province, according to a report by Haal Vsh.

Two of the inmates have been identified as Esmaeil Esmaeil-Zadeh, 37, and Mohammad-Amin Mohammad-Pour, around 38, both from Iran’s Sunni community. The third inmate executed is an Afghan national, whose identity has not been disclosed.

These individuals were sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court in Taybad four years ago.

No official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have provided coverage of these executions at the time of writing.

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.

 

Execution of Female Inmate in Sabzevar Prison

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Executions, News
Razavi Khorasan Province, Sabzevar, Zahra Nazarian

In Sabzevar Prison, Razavi Khorasan province, an inmate convicted of murder was executed on January 31, 2024. The hanged individual has been identified as 27-year-old Zahra Nazarian.

A reliable source confirmed Nazarian’s execution, revealing that she had been found guilty of killing her sister’s husband four years ago.

No official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have provided coverage of this execution at the time of writing. The lack of official information raises concerns about transparency and accountability in the execution process.

In 2023, the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran registered the execution of  746 individuals. Out of these, 6 were carried out in public. Among the executed individuals whose genders were identified, 597 were male and 20 were female. Additionally, 2 juvenile offenders, defined as individuals under the age of 18 at the time of their alleged crimes, were also executed. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s annual report.

Baha’i Women Upheld with Three Years and Eight Months Sentence on Appeal

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News, Religious Minorities
Bahais faith, Farideh Moradi, Golnoosh Nasiri, Hadi Mansouri, Iranian Bahais, Mashhad, Razavi Khorasan Province

The Court of Appeal in Razavi Khorasan Province has affirmed the three-year, eight-month sentence for each of Baha’i citizens Golnoosh Nasiri and Farideh Moradi.

According to a source close to these women, who confirmed the news to HRANA, the verdict includes three years for “membership in groups to act against national security” and eight months for “spreading propaganda against the regime.”

The initial judgment was issued by the Mashhad Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Hadi Mansouri, during a court session held on October 11, 2023.

Their investigation procedures took place in late August 2023, during which each was granted bail with five billion tomans, approximately equivalent to 100,000 dollars.

Baha’is are subjected to violations of their religious rights, comprising 82% of reports on infringements against religious minorities, according to HRA’s 2023 annual report.

The Baha’i faith is not recognized as a legitimate religion by Iranian authorities, leading to systematic and longstanding violations of the rights of Baha’is in the country. This includes the denial of their fundamental right to practice their religion, which constitutes a clear breach of both Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The United Nations covenant holds that every person has the right to freedom of religion, freedom of converting religion, as well as freedom of expression, individually or collectively; openly or secretly.

Lawyer Khosrow Alikordi Receives One-Year Prison Sentence

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Freedom of Expression, News
Khosrow Alikordi, Khosrow Alikurdi, Mashhad, Razavi Khorasan Province, Vakilabad prison

The Court of Appeal in Razavi Khorasan Province has confirmed a one-year prison sentence for lawyer Khosrow Alikordi, coupled with a two-year prohibition on practicing law, exile, and restrictions on internet and social media usage.

Alikordi has been found guilty of alleged “propaganda against the regime in favor of anti-regime groups.” Additionally, the court has mandated a two-year residence in Nehbandan, South Khorasan province. During the trial, interviews with media outside Iran were presented as evidence for this charge.

The initial verdict was issued in September 2023 by the Mashhad Revolutionary Court.

Alikordi was arrested on August 1, 2023, after his presence in the Publish and Revolutionary Courthouse in Mashhad. Subsequently, he was detained in Vakilabad prison and released on bail after four days.

In a separate aspect of this legal case, Alikordi had earlier been sentenced to pay a fine for “disseminating false information and breaching confidentiality.”

Baha’i Women’s Three-Year, Eight-Month Prison Sentences Upheld on Appeal

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News, Religious Minorities
Azita Foroughi, Nasim Sabeti, Razavi Khorasan Province, Rouya Ghane Ezabadi, Soheila Ahmadi

In a recent ruling, the Court of Appeal in Razavi Khorasan Province upheld the three-year, eight-month sentences for Baha’i citizens Nasim Sabeti, Azita Foroughi, Rouya Ghane Ezabadi, and Soheila Ahmadi.

The lawyer has been informed that each of them received three years for “membership in groups to act against national security” and eight months for “propaganda against the regime,” with the initial verdict issued by the Mashhad Revolutionary Court.

Reports obtained by HRANA confirm that the court session took place without prior notice to the individuals involved and in the absence of their attorney.

Baha’is are subjected to violations of their religious rights, comprising 82% of reports on infringements against religious minorities,, according to HRA’s 2023 annual report.

The Baha’i faith is not recognized as a legitimate religion by Iranian authorities, leading to systematic and longstanding violations of the rights of Baha’is in the country. This includes denying their fundamental right to practice their religion, which constitutes a clear breach of both Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The United Nations covenant holds that every person has the right to freedom of religion, freedom of converting religion, as well as freedom of expression, individually or collectively; openly or secretly.