Tag: Salavati

Tension in Ward 7 of Evin Prison; Death Row Prisoner Ehsan Afrashteh Transferred to an Undisclosed Location

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News, Prisoners
Ehsan Afrashteh, Evin Prison, Salavati, احسان افراشته

HRANA – Yesterday, Evin Prison guard forces entered Ward 7 to transfer Ehsan Afrashteh, a death row prisoner. The move triggered protests among inmates, leading to heightened tensions in the ward. Prison authorities removed prisoners from Hall 2 to the yard and, using violence, transferred Afrashteh to an unknown location.

Based on information obtained by HRANA, on the morning of Monday, November 10, Evin Prison guards entered Ward 7 to transfer Afrashteh. The action sparked widespread protest and chanting from prisoners in the ward. In response, prison officials moved the inmates to the yard and locked the exit doors. While in the yard, officers violently transferred Afrashteh to an unknown location, closing off the rest of the halls.

Following Afrashteh’s transfer, tensions escalated in Hall 2, resulting in clashes between prisoners and prison officials. During the confrontation, one prisoner suffered a seizure and was violently taken to the prison infirmary.

A source close to a prisoner’s family told HRANA: “Previously, inmates in this ward had gathered to prevent Ehsan Afrashteh’s transfer for execution.”

Mr. Afrashteh was sentenced to death in June 2025 by Judge Salavati, head of Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, on the charge of “espionage.” The sentence was upheld first by Branch 39 of the Supreme Court during the appeals stage and again by Branch 9 during the first retrial. His case is now under review in the second retrial phase, referred to Branch 29 of the Supreme Court.

Ehsan Afrashteh was arrested in 2024 after returning to Iran from Turkey. Following several months in solitary confinement, he was transferred to the public ward of Evin Prison in October 2024, and he is currently held in Ward 7.

A source close to Afrashteh’s family confirmed to HRANA:
“Recently, prison officials intended to transfer him to Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj, but several inmates tried to prevent it. In response, authorities summoned some of these prisoners to the ward’s administrative office and deprived them of family visits.”

The source added: “Ehsan Afrashteh has been accused of espionage for Israel and sentenced to death. Forced confessions were obtained from him, though the content remains undisclosed. According to the source, these confessions were fabricated, and Afrashteh has denied all charges. Additionally, some of his and his family’s assets have been seized, and his family remains under pressure and threats from security agencies.”

Ehsan Afrashteh, aged approximately 32, is a civil engineering graduate (MSc), an IT and network specialist, and a native of Isfahan who previously resided in Tehran.

Mohsen Langarneshin Executed

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Executions, News
Ghezel Hesar, Langar-Neshin, moharebeh, Mohsen Langarneshin, Salavati, محسن لنگرنشین

HRANA News Agency – Today, April 30, Mizan, the Judiciary’s media center, announced the execution of Mohsen Langarneshin (Langar-Neshin), a prisoner accused of espionage and collaboration with hostile governments. His mother had released a video the previous day stating that she had her final visit with him at Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.

Mizan claimed that Mr. Langarneshin had been arrested and tried on charges of moharebeh (enmity against God) and corruption on earth due to alleged intelligence cooperation and espionage in favor of the “Zionist regime.” The report claimed that “throughout interrogation, prosecution, and trial, he fully confessed to the crimes and detailed the actions he had taken when presented with the flawless evidence in the case.” The statement added that “after completing the full criminal procedure and the Supreme Court’s confirmation, the sentence was carried out.”

These claims come despite a recent statement to HRANA from a source close to the family, who said: “Mohsen had been promised that if he repeated what the interrogators wanted on camera, he would only face imprisonment. As a result, the confessions were extracted under pressure and coercion.”

Earlier this week, Langarneshin had been transferred to a solitary confinement cell in Ghezel Hesar Prison for the execution of his sentence.

The death sentence had previously been issued by Judge Abolghasem Salavati, head of Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, and was upheld by Branch 41 of the Supreme Court. Three requests for a retrial were rejected by the Supreme Court. According to informed sources close to the family, the most recent request, filed in recent days, was dismissed within two days without any legal explanation.

Masoud Langarneshin, Mohsen’s father, also released a video the previous day asserting that his son had been sentenced to death without a fair trial. He emphasized that the case was full of ambiguities and procedural flaws, and he appealed to the public and human rights organizations for support.

His mother, in her video message, expressed grave concern about the impending execution and said she had her final visit with Mohsen on Tuesday, April 29. She too pleaded for help from the public and human rights bodies.

A source close to Langarneshin told HRANA that “during detention, he was pressured to make forced confessions. He was told to say that he had transported a motorcycle to the Pol-e Choobi area and filmed there. He was also accused of having a role in surveillance operations related to General Hassan Sayyad Khodaei, who was assassinated in June 2022. Furthermore, he was taken to the specified location and forced to narrate a prewritten script by interrogators, which was filmed.”

According to the same source, “He was transferred to Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj on February 15, 2025. At that time, the official prison documents only mentioned a sentence of imprisonment, monetary fine, and restitution—there was no mention of a death sentence.”

Mohsen Langarneshin was arrested by security forces on July 3, 2023. He was held for 20 months in Evin Prison, including 12 months in The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, known as Ward 209 of Evin Prison.

Detained Political Activist Akbar Bagheri Held Without Medical Care or Updates

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News, Prisoners
Akbar Bagheri, HRANA, Rajai Shahr Prison, Salavati, اکبر باقری

HRANA News Agency – Akbar Bagheri, a political detainee suffering from multiple health conditions, has been held in detention for over two months, with no information available about his whereabouts. The uncertainty surrounding his health has raised serious concerns among his family and loved ones.

A source close to Mr. Bagheri’s family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “It has been over 60 days since Mr. Bagheri’s arrest. He suffers from blood-related conditions, intestinal issues, liver problems, and hemorrhoids. He has been denied access to his medications and has had no contact with his family.”

Despite the family’s persistent inquiries and his lawyer’s efforts to obtain information from judicial authorities, no clear details about his location or condition have been provided, further intensifying the family’s concerns.

Akbar Bagheri was arrested by security forces in Tehran on November 10, 2024. As of this report, the reasons for his arrest and the charges against him remain unknown.

Mr. Bagheri was previously arrested by security forces in Tehran in 2017 and transferred to Evin Prison. In the summer of 2018, he was sentenced by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Salavati, to nine years in prison on charges of “propaganda against the regime” and “collusion and assembly against national security.” This sentence was upheld in the Court of Appeals.

Following the events at Evin Prison in October 2022, Mr. Bagheri was transferred along with several others to Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj. He was ultimately released from Rajai Shahr Prison on May 8, 2023, under a general amnesty directive.

Vadood Asadi Sentenced to Four Years in Prison

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Ethnic Minorities, News
Azerbaijani Turk activist, ehran Revolutionary Court, Salar Taher Afshar, Salavati, Vadood Asadi

Azerbaijani-Turk activist Vadood Asadi has been sentenced to four years in prison by Tehran’s Revolutionary Court on charges of “assembly and collusion to disrupt national security.” This sentence was issued by Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Salavati, and was recently communicated to Mr. Asadi.

In a separate case, the Rasht Revolutionary Court previously sentenced Mr. Asadi to five years and six months in prison. This verdict was based on charges of “propaganda against the regime, membership in anti-regime groups, and insulting the Supreme Leader.”  Most recently, on October 27, an appeal session for his Rasht sentence was held.

Mr. Asadi was initially detained by security forces in Rasht in February 2024. He was transferred to Evin Prison in March and subsequently released on bail a few days later. His court hearing, conducted alongside fellow activist Salar Taher Afshar, was held on May 21, 2024.

Vadood Asadi, an Azerbaijani-Turk activist, has previously faced judicial actions due to his activism.

Six Political Activists Sentenced to Over 50 Years in Prison

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Ethnic Minorities, Freedom of Expression, News
Abdolaziz Azimi Ghadim, and Araz Aman, Ayaz Seyfkhah, Azerbaijani Turk activist, Bagher Haji-Zadeh, Hossein Piri, Kamal Nouri, Salavati

Kamal Nouri, Ayaz Seyfkhah, Abdolaziz Azimi Ghadim, Bagher Haji-Zadeh, Hossein Piri, and Araz Aman, all Azerbaijani-Turk activists, have been sentenced to a combined 53 years in prison by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

The verdict, issued on Wednesday, October 16, by Judge Abolqasem Salavati, details the following sentences:

  • Hossein Piri: Five years for “assembly and collusion against national security.”
  • Abdolaziz Azimi Ghadim: One year for “propaganda against the regime” and five years for “assembly and collusion against national security.”
  • Araz Aman, Ayaz Seyfkhah, and Bagher Haji-Zadeh: Each sentenced to eight years for “espionage” and five years for “assembly and collusion against national security.”
  • Kamal Nouri: Three years, with two years of his sentence suspended.

Nouri, Seyfkhah, Azimi Ghadim, Haji-Zadeh, and Aman were arrested by security forces in February of last year and subsequently transferred to Evin Prison.

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Political Defendants Varisheh Moradi and Pakhshan Azizi Stage Hunger Strike in Evin Prison

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News, Prisoners
Baha'is Graveyard in Sanandaj, Evin Prison, Mahabad, Pakhshan Azizi, Salavati, Varisheh Moradi

Varisheh (Varisha) Moradi and Pakhshan Azizi have initiated a hunger strike in Evin Prison to protest prolonged detention without a court hearing and Moradi’s relocation to security Ward 209, controlled by the Ministry of Intelligence.

Despite being detained for nine months, there has been no clarity in their legal proceedings.

Confirming their hunger strike, a source close to their families informed HRANA that Moradi was recently banned from making phone calls and family visits by the order of Judge Abolqasem Salavati. She was moved from the Women’s Ward to Ward 209 on May 14, and both Azizi and Moradi initiated their hunger strike the following day.

Moradi was apprehended by security forces on August 1, 2023, in the suburbs of Sanandaj. Later in August, she was transferred from a detention facility in Sanandaj to Ward 209 of Evin Prison. After completing the interrogation process on December 26, 2023, she was relocated to the Women’s Ward within the prison.

In February 2024, Moradi was indicted by Branch 5 of the Public and Revolutionary Court of Tehran on charges of armed rebellion (Baghi) due to suspected membership in a political opposition party. However, the court session was annulled due to the absence of the counselor.

Azizi, a resident of Mahabad, was arrested on August 4, 2023, by security forces in Tehran. She was interrogated for four months in Ward 209 of Evin Prison before being relocated to the Women’s Ward. In February 2024, Azizi was also indicted for “membership in anti-regime groups,” under review by the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Iman Afshari.

This is not the first time Azizi has faced arrest and judicial confrontation, as she was previously arrested by security forces on November 16, 2009, and detained for four months until her release on bail.

Shirin Saeedi Receives Five-Year Sentence on Political Charges

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News, Prisoners
Revolutionary Court of Tehran, Salavati, Shirin Saeedi, شیرین سعیدی

Shirin Saeedi, a political prisoner, has been sentenced to five years in prison by the Revolutionary Court of Tehran.

Currently held in the Women’s Ward of Evin Prison, Saeedi’s conviction stems from charges of “assembly and collusion to act against national security,” as determined by Judge Abolghasem Salavati of Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court. Saeedi retains the option to appeal within a 20-day window.

The specifics of the alleged actions leading to this political charge remain undisclosed at present.

Approximately 53 years old, Saeedi resided in Lebanon for a period before returning to Iran, where she was summoned by judicial authorities on December 23, 2023. Subsequently indicted for “assembly and collusion against national security,” she was detained in Evin Prison.

On April 28, 2024, Mizan, the Judiciary News Agency, released a report erroneously linking Saeedi with another individual outside the prison who shares a similar name, possibly attempting to insinuate that Saeedi was not incarcerated in Evin Prison. In response, HRANA conducted a fact-check and refuted Mizan’s claim, ensuring that Saeedi’s imprisonment was not denied by the authorities.

Eight Protestors Remain in Detention Amid Legal Uncertainty

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Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Alireza Barmarz Pournak, Alireza Kafaie, Amir-Mohammad Khosh Eghbal, Arman Aliverdi, Ekbatan, Hossein Nemati, Mehdi Imani, Milad Armoon, Mohammad-Mehdi Hosseini, moharebeh, Navid Najaran, Qezel Hesar Prison, Salavati

Milad Armoon, Alireza Kafaie, Amir-Mohammad Khosh Eghbal, Alireza Barmarz Pournak, Mohammad-Mehdi Hosseini, Hossein Nemati, Mehdi Imani, and Navid Najaran are detained in Qezel (Ghezel) Hesar Prison with an uncertain legal status.

The arrest of these individuals during the 2022 nationwide protests links them to a legal case stemming from an incident in Ekbatan town, Tehran, resulting in the death of Basij Militia agent Arman Aliverdi.

According to a source with close ties to one defendant’s family, the Tehran Criminal Court had previously confirmed the release of two detainees on bail. However, Judge Salavati, presiding over Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court, rejected their release and asserted control over the entire case. Such discrepancies within Iran’s judicial system contribute to legal insecurity and uncertainty, causing distress for the detainees and their families.

Another source reports that, despite multiple court sessions in October and November of this year, the defendants await a verdict. Earlier, it was revealed that the case had been divided between the Revolutionary and Criminal Courts. The Criminal Court initiated proceedings on October 7, 2023, addressing charges of “assisting in murder, assembly and collusion against national security, and enmity against God (Moharebeh).”

The protests in Ekbatan Town in Tehran in 2022 resulted in the death of Basij Militia agent Arman Aliverdi. Subsequently, in November 2022, police and security forces arrested over 50 young residents of the district, with 14 individuals facing legal action. The indictments detail charges such as “enmity against God” for Azmoon, Hosseini, and Imani, while Kafaie, Khosh Eghbal, Barmarz Pournak, and Nemati face charges of “assisting in murder and disturbing public order.” The charges against Najaran, arrested in Ahvaz, remain unknown.

Journalists Niloofar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi Sentenced to a Combined 25 Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Elahe Mohammadi, Mahsa Amini, Niloofar Hamedi, Salavati, Tehran Revolutionary Court

The Tehran Revolutionary Court has issued sentences of 13 and 12 years to two female journalists, Niloofar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi, respectively. In addition to their prison terms, they have been prohibited from participating in political groups and are subject to restrictions on their social media and media-related activities. These journalists are currently incarcerated in Evin Prison.

Judge Salavati, who presided over the case, sentenced Hamedi to seven years for “collaboration with an adversarial country, the USA,” five years for “assembly and collusion against national security,” and one year for “propaganda against the regime.” Mohammadi received six, five, and one-year sentences for the same charges, respectively.

Should the verdicts be upheld on appeal, the initial jail terms, specifically seven years for Hamedi and six years for Mohammadi, will be enforced.

Hamedi, a reporter for the daily newspaper Shargh, was arrested at her residence in Tehran on September 22, 2022, by security forces. She gained recognition as the first journalist to publish a picture of Mahsa Amini in a coma.

Mohammadi, a reporter for the daily newspaper Ham-Mihan, was arrested on September 29, 2022, after traveling to Saqqez and covering the funeral of Mahsa Amini.

Workers’ Rights Activist Reyhaneh Ansari Receives Four-Year Prison Sentence and Additional Restrictions

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Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News
Anisha Asadollahi, Evin Prison, mohammad habibi, Razieh Zeydi, Reyhaneh Ansari, Salavati, Tehran

The Tehran Revolutionary Court has handed a four-year prison sentence to workers’ rights activist Reyhaneh Ansari. According to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the original charge would have led to a four-year imprisonment.

Ansari’s lawyer, Razieh Zeydi, informed the public that Judge Salavati, who presided over the Tehran Revolutionary Court, sentenced Ansari to four years for “assembly and collusion against national security and acting against national security.” As an additional punishment, she has been prohibited from leaving the country, joining political and civil groups, and engaging in online and media activities for two years.

Ansari, along with several other civil and workers’ rights activists, was apprehended at Mohammad Habibi’s residence just days before International Workers’ Day on April 28, 2023. Subsequently, she, along with Anisha Asadollahi, was released on a one-billion-Toman bail ten days later.

It is important to highlight that Ansari has a history of arrests and convictions related to her activism.