Civil Rights Activist Baran Saedi Arrested in Sanandaj

HRANA News Agency – Today, Monday, March 10, Baran Saedi, a resident of Sanandaj, was arrested by security forces in the city and taken to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, quoting Kurdpa, Saedi’s arrest took place at her home by security forces without a judicial warrant. The report further mentions that the civil rights activist was detained following her participation in an event commemorating International Women’s Day in Sanandaj.

Baran Saedi had previously been arrested during the nationwide protests of 2022 and was released on bail after about two months.

As of the time of this report, there is no information on her whereabouts or the charges against her.

Workers’ Rights Activist Kamran Sakhtemangar Arrested

HRANA News Agency – On February 5, 2025, security forces in Sanandaj arrested Kamran Sakhtemangar, a labor activist, and transferred him to an undisclosed location.

According to information obtained by HRANA, authorities have not disclosed the reasons for his arrest, his whereabouts, or the charges against him.

In early January, Branch 109 of the Second Criminal Court of Sanandaj tried Mr. Sakhtemangar on defamation and slander charges. The court later released him on bail.

A source close to Sakhtemangar’s family previously told HRANA that the Sanandaj Prosecutor and Jahangir Elyasi, Director General of Kurdistan’s Road and Urban Development Department, filed complaints against him. The complaints stemmed from his efforts to expose misconduct by various officials and provide related evidence.

Sakhtemangar has faced previous arrests and convictions due to his activism.

According to HRANA’s documented reports, in 2024, Iranian authorities arrested 11 workers’ rights activists, while nine others faced a combined total of 301 months in prison.

Seven Citizens Arrested in Kurdistan and West Azerbaijan Provinces

HRANA News Agency – In recent days, seven citizens have been arrested by security forces in the cities of Dehgolan, Sanandaj, Mahabad, and Sardasht and transferred to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, citing Kolbar News, the arrested individuals have been identified as follows:

  • Mehdi Javanmardi, Farhad Zandi, Arsalan Miraki, and Farshad Seyedi – all residents of Dehgolan
  • Mansour Moloudpour – resident of Mahabad
  • Hassan Khalili – resident of Sardasht (released two days after his arrest)
  • Chiako Ghorbehei

Details of the Arrests:

On Monday, January 27, 2025, Mehdi Javanmardi and Farhad Zandi were arrested by Ministry of Intelligence agents in Dehgolan and taken to an unknown location. A day earlier, on Sunday, January 26, Arsalan Mirki and Farshad Seyedi, also from Dehgolan, were detained by security forces and similarly transferred to an undisclosed location.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, January 25, Mansour Moloudpour was arrested by security forces at his workplace in Mahabad. His whereabouts remain unknown.

Additionally, Hassan Khalili, a resident of Sardasht, was arrested on Wednesday, January 22. After two days in custody, he was released on Friday, January 24 following an interrogation.

At the time of this report, no information is available regarding the reasons for these arrests or the charges brought against these individuals.

Hiresh Nowgaran-Zadeh Arrested by Security Forces in Sanandaj

HRANA News Agency – On Monday, January 20, Hiresh Nowgaran-Zadeh, a resident of Sanandaj, was arrested by security forces and transferred to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, citing Kurdpa, Hiresh Nowgaran-Zadeh, a 39-year-old resident of Sanandaj, is married and a father of two children. He is also a member of the campaign against the execution of Pakhshan Azizi.

The report indicates that Mr. Nowgaran-Zadeh was detained by security forces without the presentation of a judicial warrant.

As of now, no information is available regarding the reasons for his arrest, the charges brought against him, or his current place of detention.

It is noteworthy that in 2007, Mr. Nowgaran-Zadeh was sentenced to one year in prison on charges of membership in one of the political parties opposed to the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Beniamin Rahimpour Arrested in Sanandaj

HRANA News Agency – On Tuesday, January 21, 2025, Beniamin Rahimpour, a resident of Sanandaj, was arrested by security forces and transferred to the IRGC Intelligence detention facility in the city (Shahramfar), According to Kurdpa.

Security forces reportedly arrested Mr. Rahimpour at his workplace and transferred him to the IRGC Intelligence detention facility. They then searched his home, seizing some of his electronic devices.

As of the time of this report, no information is available about the reasons for his arrest, the charges against him, or his current location.

Rahimpour, 33, originally from Avihang village and residing in Sanandaj, has a history of previous arrests due to his activism.

From the human rights cases reported and compiled by HRANA, in 2024, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Intelligence has been involved in 117 cases, including arbitrary arrests. For details and statistics read HRANA’s 2024 annual report.

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Kurdistan Shopkeepers’ Strike; 7 Protesters Against Executions Arrested

HRANA News Agency – Yesterday, January 22, 2025, amid a strike by shopkeepers across cities in Kurdistan Province protesting the death sentences of Varisheh Moradi and Pakhshan Azizi, seven citizens were arrested by security forces and taken to unknown locations.

According to HRANA, quoting Kolbar News, Soheila Mataei, previously arrested during the 2022 nationwide protests in Dehgolan, was detained for participating in the strikes. Additionally, six residents of Sanandaj—Amjad Geriakhiz, Naeem Doosti, Mohammad Seif-Panahi, Sina Rezaei, Mohammad Atlasi, and 33-year-old Omid Mohammadi—were arrested without judicial warrants for joining the strike.

As of this report, no information about the charges against these individuals has been released. Soheila Motaei has a history of arrests and legal confrontations due to her activism.

Yesterday, shopkeepers in various cities across Kurdistan, including Sanandaj, Saqqez, Divandarreh, and Marivan, went on strike, halting daily activities in protest against the death sentences of Varisheh Moradi and Pakhshan Azizi.

Teacher Union Activist Masoud Farhikhteh Sentenced to 6 Years in Prison and Additional Punishments

Masoud Farhikhteh, a teacher and union activist, has been sentenced by Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court in Karaj to six years in prison, a two-year travel ban, and additional penalties, including a prohibition on membership in social groups and gatherings, as well as restrictions on movement in the provinces of Alborz, Tehran, Qazvin, Lorestan, and Kurdistan.

According to HRANA, quoting the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations, Masoud Farhikhteh’s sentence was recently issued and communicated to him. Based on the ruling, Farikhteh received:

  • One year in prison for the charge of “propaganda against the regime.”
  • Five years in prison for “assembly and collusion to commit crimes against national security.”
  • Two-year travel ban, prohibition of membership in social groups, and restrictions on movement in specified provinces as supplementary punishments.

The charges were based on allegations including “active participation in illegal gatherings as a leader, organizing riots, publishing statements alongside opponents of the Islamic Republic, and inciting opposition groups nationwide to organize protests.”

Earlier this year, in a separate case, Farhikhteh was sentenced by the Revolutionary Court of Sanandaj to three months of imprisonment for “propaganda against the regime,” which was later converted into an 8 million toman fine. He was acquitted of this charge in August following an appeal in the Kurdistan Appeals Court.

Masoud Farhikhteh, a member of the board of directors of the Islamshahr Teachers’ Union, was arrested on May 1, 2023, by security forces at his home in Karaj and transferred to Ghezel Hesar Prison. He was eventually released on bail in May of the same year.

Afshin Hossein Panahi Arrested in Sanandaj

Yesterday, Wednesday, Afshin Hossein Panahi, the brother of executed political prisoner Ramin Hossein Panahi, was arrested by security forces in Sanandaj and transferred to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, Afshin Hossein Panahi was detained at his workplace by security forces. His brother, Rafigh Hossein Panahi, reported that the arrest took place on Wednesday, January 8, and that the agents later searched his home.

As of this report, no information is available about the reasons for his arrest, the charges against him, or his current whereabouts.

Afshin Hossein Panahi has previously faced legal charges and convictions related to his activism.

On September 8, 2018, Ramin Hossein Panahi was executed alongside two other political prisoners, Zaniar Moradi and Loghman Moradi, under highly controversial circumstances. The executions were carried out without prior notification to their legal counsel, depriving the prisoners of the presence of their representatives at the time of execution. Furthermore, in violation of the law, the authorities refused to return the bodies to their families, instead burying them in undisclosed locations. Families were also subjected to threats aimed at silencing protests and preventing the spread of information about the executions. These actions drew widespread condemnation from human rights organizations and legal advocates alike.

Prolonged Detention and Hunger Strike: Pouria Javaheri’s Case in Sanandaj Prison

Pouria Javaheri, a resident of Kamyaran and one of those arrested during the 2022 nationwide protests in Iran, remains in Sanandaj Prison more than 25 months after his arrest. Frustrated by the lack of resolution in his case, he has started a hunger strike to protest his prolonged detention.

Mustafa Ahmadian, Mr. Javaheri’s lawyer, announced: “My client, Pouria Javaheri, has gone on a hunger strike to protest his extended pre-trial detention in Sanandaj Prison.”

Mr. Javaheri was arrested on November 29, 2022, after being summoned by the IRGC Intelligence office in Kamyaran. Following his arrest, he was held in Kamyaran Prison until late February 2023, before being transferred to Sanandaj Prison in early September 2023.

In early 2023, the Chief Justice of Kurdistan Province publicly announced that Mr. Javaheri had been charged with “moharebeh” (enmity against God). By August 2023, his case had been referred to Branch 1 of the Sanandaj Revolutionary Court, where he now faces multiple allegations, including “moharebeh through the intentional killing of a military officer,” “membership in opposition groups,” “propaganda against the regime,” and “intentional assault on several security officers.”

Edris Menbari Sentenced to 2 Years in Prison

Edris Menbari, arrested during the 2022 nationwide protests, has been sentenced to 2 years in prison by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court in Sanandaj. One year of his sentence has been suspended for three years.

According to HRANA, citing Kurdpa, the court convicted Menbari on charges of “forming groups with the intent to disrupt national security.” The verdict was issued by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court in Sanandaj and communicated to him on December 9, 2023.

In a previous ruling by the same court in October 2023, Menbari was sentenced to 10 years in prison for similar charges. However, the Appeals Court overturned that sentence, and the case was sent back for review.

In another segment of his case, in October 2023, Branch 106 of the Criminal Court of Sanandaj sentenced him to 1 year in prison and 40 lashes.

Menbari, a resident of Sanandaj and a board member of the Nozhin Cultural and Social Association, was originally arrested on December 18, 2022, at his home in Sanandaj during the nationwide protests. He was released on bail in February 2023.