Tag: Sari

Report on the Execution of 36 Prisoners in Various Prisons Across Iran

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Executions, News
Bam, Citizen executed, Dezful, Dizelabad, HRANA, Kermanshah, Mahshahr, Quchan, Sari, Saveh, Semnan, Taybad, Yasuj

HRANA – In recent days, a broad wave of executions has continued across Iran, with dozens of prisoners, mostly charged with murder or drug-related offenses, hanged in various prisons throughout the country.

November 16:
According to Iran Human Rights, two prisoners, Sajjad Habibi from Fardis, Karaj, and Mohammadreza Besharat from Tehran, were executed in Qazvin Prison. According to the report, Sajjad Habibi had been arrested about four years ago on charges of intentional murder following a street altercation and was sentenced to death by the Criminal Court. Mohammadreza Besharat, 27, had also been arrested about six years ago on charges of intentional murder and sentenced to death.

Monday, November 17:
According to HRANA, a prisoner of Afghan nationality was hanged in Ferdows Prison on drug-related charges.

Tuesday, November 18:
On this day, HRANA reported that the death sentence of Heydar Tahmasebi, convicted of murder, was carried out in Mahshahr Prison.

Wednesday, November 19:
HRANA reported the executions of Shahrokh Sattari, convicted of murder, in Ardabil Prison, and Mohammadkarim Bastami, convicted on drug-related charges, in Quchan Prison.
Iran Human Rights also reported the execution of Kianoush Shadman, 29, in Lakan Prison of Rasht; Reza Nosrati, 25, and Mansour Deirin, 36, convicted of murder, in Adelabad Prison of Shiraz; and Hamidreza Pirhadi, 37, convicted of murder, in Borujerd Prison.

Thursday, November 20:
HRANA reported the execution of Mahan Sheikhi, convicted of murder, in Saveh Prison.
According to Iran Human Rights, Ne’mat Majidzadeh and Mehran Darabian, 27, were executed in Semnan Prison on charges of murder and rape, respectively; Mobin Ramazani from Yazd and Hassan Shokat, 43, were executed in Yazd Prison on drug-related charges; and Mozaffar Abdolvand, 30, was executed on murder charges in Dorud Prison.

Saturday, November 22:
HRANA reported the execution of Mohammad Tajik, an Afghan national, convicted of murder, in Taybad Prison.
HRANA also reported that on the same day, Sasan Misaghi (murder) in Yasuj Prison, Jassem Aghaei (murder) in Karaj Central Penitentiary, Rastin Baharvand (murder) in Khorramabad Prison, Peyman Alizadeh (drug-related offenses) in Bandar Abbas Prison, and Yaser Abdoli and Yaroli Haseli (drug-related offenses) in Dizelabad Prison in Kermanshah were executed.
HRANA further reported the execution of two additional prisoners on drug-related charges in Hamedan Prison. Details, including confirmation of the prisoners’ identities, are still under investigation by HRANA.
On the same day, Sari Prison witnessed the execution of two prisoners convicted of murder. Iran Human Rights confirmed the identity of one of them as Hooshang Hashemzadeh, 34, and HRANA confirmed the second as Amir Moradi.

Sunday, November 23:
HRANA reported the following executions:

• Ayoub Zeidi, convicted of murder, in Tabriz Prison
• Mousa Golpayegani, drug-related charges, in Semnan Prison
• Mohammad Hossein Akbari, murder, in Dezful Prison
• Amir Nosrat Piriyan, drug-related charges, in Bam Prison
• Mahmoud Ali Soltanabadi and (first name unknown) Maleki, murder, in Qom Prison
• Three prisoners on drug-related charges in Arak Prison, HRANA has confirmed the identity of one, Mirza Janalizadeh.

At the time of this report, the executions had not been announced by prison officials or the relevant authorities.

Baha’i Citizen Leva Samimi Arrested in Sari

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News, Religious Minorities
HRANA, Juybar, Leva Samimi, Novian Hejazi, Sari

HRANA – Leva Samimi, a Baha’i citizen from Juybar and the wife of Noyan Hejazi, was arrested earlier today by security forces outside Kachouei Detention Center in Sari and taken to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, Samimi had been instructed to visit the detention center for a scheduled meeting with her husband. However, upon arriving at the facility, she was detained by security agents and transferred to an unknown location.

Her husband, Noyan Hejazi, also a Baha’i from Juybar, was arrested without a judicial warrant on Wednesday, June 25, at his home. He is currently being held in limbo at Kachouei Detention Center.

As of this report, no information has been made available regarding the charges against Leva Samimi or the reasons for her arrest.

Over the past decade, the Iranian Bahá’í community has been disproportionately targeted by Iran’s security forces and judiciary—more than any other minority group. In the past three years, an average of 72 percent of the reports on religious rights violations collected by HRANA have documented the Iranian regime’s repression of the Bahá’í community.

Report on the Arrest of Christian Convert Somayeh Rajabi in Babol

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News, Religious Minorities
Babol, HRANA, IRGC Intelligence, Sari, Somayeh Rajabi

HRANA News Agency – On the evening of Thursday, February 6, 2025, security forces raided a gathering of dozens of Christian converts in Gatab, a town in Babol County, and arrested Somayeh Rajabi, a Christian convert, transferring her to prison.

According to HRANA, citing Mohabat News, agents from the IRGC Intelligence in Babol stormed the gathering, where around 80 Christian converts were present.

Rajabi was arrested during the raid and, one day later, informed her family in a brief phone call that she had been transferred to a prison in Sari.

Reports indicate that security forces treated the attendees harshly and confiscated all religious books, musical instruments, and digital devices.

No information is currently available regarding the charges against Rajabi.

Notably, while Christianity is officially recognized as a minority religion in Iran, security agencies view the conversion of Muslims to Christianity as a highly sensitive matter and respond with severe crackdowns on those involved in religious activism.

The persecution of Christian converts in Iran persists despite Article 18 of both the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which affirm every individual’s right to freedom of religion, including the right to change their faith and to practice it openly or privately, alone or in community with others.

Prisoner Executed in Sari Prison for Drug-Related Charges

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Executions, News
HRANA, Jamal Asgarabadi, Sari, Sari Prison

The death sentence of a prisoner convicted on drug-related charges was carried out at dawn on Tuesday, December 17, in Sari Prison.

HRANA has identified the individual as Jamal Asgarabadi, 42, a resident of Sharifabad, Sari.

According to information obtained by HRANA, Asgarabadi had previously been arrested on drug-related charges and later sentenced to death by the court.

As of the time of this report, prison authorities and relevant officials have not publicly announced the execution.

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.

Update on Sanaz Jahan Tigh’s Imprisonment in Tir Kala Prison, Sari

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News, Prisoners
HRANA, Sanaz Jahan Tigh, Sari, Tir Kala Prison

Sanaz Jahan Tigh, a political prisoner and one of the detainees during the nationwide protests of 2022, is currently serving a two-year and six-month sentence at Tir Kala Prison in Sari.

Jahan Tigh was detained by security forces in late August 2023 and subsequently sentenced on September 9, 2023, to two years and six months in prison by the Sari Revolutionary Court. The charges against her, as reported by HRANA, include “propaganda against the regime” and “insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran.”

During her arrest, security agents conducted a search of her residence, confiscating various personal items such as books and manuscripts.

Jahan Tigh, who is about 30 years old and hails from Ghaemshahr, has been arrested twice before for her involvement in the 2021 nationwide protests. She has previously spent time in detention facilities in both Sari and Ghaemshahr, released on bail each time.

Additionally, she had been arrested in connection with earlier protests in Khuzestan and subsequently released after securing bail.

 

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Execution of Inmate at Gorgan Prison for Drug Offenses

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Executions, News
Abdolghani Gorgi, Hossein-Ali Sobhani, HRANA, Sari

On April 23, 2024, officials at Gorgan Prison executed an inmate convicted of drug offenses, as reported by the Iran Human Rights Organization.

Hossein-Ali Sobhani, 37, from Sari, was executed for drug-related crimes after serving over two-year prison term.

As of the time of writing, no official sources or domestic media outlets within the country have covered the execution.

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.

 

Iranian Singer Shervin Hajipour Sentenced to Three Years and Eight Months in Prison with Additional Penalties

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Freedom of Expression, News
Mazandaran province, Sari, Shervin Hajipour

Renowned singer Shervin Hajipour has been handed a three-year, eight-month prison sentence and additional penalties by the Revolutionary Court.

The verdict, disclosed by Hajipour, outlines a three-year term for “inciting people to cause unrest against national security,” including the detention period, and an additional eight months for “spreading propaganda against the regime.” Pursuant to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, he will serve three years for the first charge.

In addition to the prison term, the verdict imposes further restrictions. As the court deems the penalties specified in the Islamic Penal Code insufficient, Hajipour is prohibited from leaving the country for two years. He is mandated to compile and share the achievements of the Islamic Revolution in culture, science, and art on his internet platform. Furthermore, he is required to prepare a summary of two books regarding women’s status in Islam, produce a song addressing “USA’s atrocities against humanity,” collect cases of human rights violations by U.S. governments over the past century, and participate in behavior and knowledge skills training courses in the field of art.

Hajipour’s arrest by security forces during the 2022 nationwide protests, specifically for the song “Baraye” (For…), led to his detention in the Ministry of Intelligence detention facility in Sari, Mazandaran Province.
Hajipour was released on bail on October 4, 2023, but subsequent legal proceedings resulted in this verdict.
Notably, Hajipour was honored with the Special Merit Award for Best Song for Social Change for “Baraye” at the 2023 GRAMMYs.

Government Seizes Baha’i Lands in Sari County

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News, Religious Minorities
Ahmadabad Village, Bahais, HRANA, Ivel, Roshan Kouh, Sari

On January 1, 2024, police agents and forest rangers carried out the confiscation of approximately 60 hectares of Baha’i-owned land in the Ahmadabad Village, adjacent to Sari in Mazandaran Province.

Acting on the orders of the Sari Prosecutor, the agents blocked access to the village and took possession of the lands. Ahmadabad Village is predominantly inhabited by Baha’is, and according to a resident who spoke to HRANA, the police have cordoned off the confiscated lands with barbed wire. Of these lands, 25 are already under wheat cultivation, a practice maintained by Baha’is for decades.

In an interview with IRNA, the Representative of the Mazandaran governor attempted to justify the seizure, citing unauthorized use and construction on the lands. However, HRANA’s sources dispute this claim, asserting that there has been no illegal construction, and the landowners have been cultivating these plots since 1947.

A villager shared with HRANA that a few years ago, a dam construction plan near the village was approved, and the landowners were supposed to receive alternative plots in exchange for the lands submerged by the dam construction. Following this recent confiscation, it appears they will receive no compensation.

This incident is part of a pattern of the government confiscating Baha’i lands and properties. In a similar occurrence in 2021 and 2022, the government seized cultivating lands belonging to Baha’is in Ivel, Roshan Kouh, Sari County.

Three Baha’i Citizens Receive Prison Sentences and Social Sanctions in Sari

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News, Religious Minorities
Behrooz Rahmani, Saha Sabeti, Sanaz Alizadeh, Sari, Sari Revolutionary Court

The Sari Revolutionary Court has recently issued a 33-month prison sentence along with additional penalties to Baha’i citizen Saha Sabeti. Two other Baha’i individuals, Behrooz Rahmani and Sanaz Alizadeh Rooshankoohi, have also been fined and subjected to bans on educational and cultural activities.

As per the verdicts issued on November 28, 2023, Saha Sabeti has been sentenced to 33 months in prison for charges of”membership in groups acting against national security” and “engaging in educational activities and propaganda against Islamic Sharia.” Additionally, she faces a fine and a 13-year prohibition from participating in educational and cultural pursuits.

Behrooz Rahmani has been fined and sentenced to a ten-year ban on educational and cultural activities for similar charges. Likewise, Alizadeh Rooshankoohi, found guilty of “engaging in educational activities and propaganda against Islamic Sharia,” has received a parallel punishment to Behrooz Rahmani.

These individuals were indicted in August-September of this year and granted release on bail.
Saha Sabeti, who was arrested by security forces in Sari on July 31, 2022, spent 14 days in detention before being released on bail. In late July of this year, security forces conducted searches of the residences belonging to these citizens.

HRANA’s annual report has highlighted a concerning trend where, in 2022, 64.63% of reported human rights violations against religious minorities are directed toward the Baha’i community.

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.

Mahsa Yazdani Sentenced to 13 Years in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Mahsa Yazdani, Masoumeh Yazdani, Mohammad Javad Zahedi, Sari

Masoumeh (Mahsa) Yazdani, the mother of Mohammad-Javad Zahedi, who lost his life during the 2022 nationwide protests at the hands of regime forces, has received a 13-year prison sentence from the Sari Revolutionary Court.

Yazdani’s attorney, Meysam Mousavi, has publicly disclosed the details of her sentencing. She was given a five-year term for  “blasphemy”, an additional five years of “incitement against national security,” two years for “insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran,” and one more year for “spreading propaganda against the regime,” culminating in a total of 13 years, with five years to be served without parole.

Mousavi has confirmed that Yazdani was acquitted of the charge of “disseminating false information on the Internet” by the Sari Crimiinal Court.

On August 22, 2023, Yazdani was taken into custody by security forces in Sari. She was granted release on bail after spending 45 days in detention.

Her son, Zahedi, tragically lost his life during the protests on September 22, 2022.