Tag: Sheiban Prison

Ahvaz: Death Sentences for Three Political Prisoners Upheld by the Supreme Court

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Executions, News, Prisoners
Alireza Mardasi, Davood Hormatnejad, Farshad Etemadifar, irgc, Masoud Jamaei, Saman Hormatnejad, Sheiban Prison

HRANA – The death sentences of Masoud Jamaei, Alireza Mardasi, and Farshad Etemadifar, political prisoners held in Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz, have been upheld by the Supreme Court. These prisoners had previously been sentenced by the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court to two death sentences each, plus one year in prison.

Earlier this year, Branch 1 of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Adibimehr, had sentenced each of them to two death sentences and one year in prison on charges of “corruption on earth,” membership in baghi (insurgent) groups, and “propaganda against the regime.”

In the same case, Saman Hormatnejad and Davood Hormatnejad were sentenced by the same court to 12 and 15 years in prison, respectively, on the aforementioned charges. No new information has been obtained so far regarding the latest status of their cases.

In the text of the rulings, membership in the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MEK) was cited as the basis for the charges. This case is considered one of the heaviest security-related rulings issued in recent months in Khuzestan Province.

A source familiar with the case, who requested anonymity for security reasons, told HRANA: “These individuals spent about the past two years in temporary detention without clarity on their legal status. During their detention, they were denied access to lawyers and adequate medical care. The rulings were communicated to them despite gross violations of fair trial principles. The confessions attributed to the defendants were taken under coercion and in inhumane conditions.”

Farshad Etemadifar, Saman Hormatnejad, and Davood Hormatnejad were arrested on June 16, 2023, by Ministry of Intelligence agents. Masoud Jamaei and Alireza Mardasi were arrested on August 1, 2023, by security forces in Ahvaz and transferred to Sheiban Prison.

Following their arrests, Tasnim, an outlet close to the IRGC, claimed in a report that these citizens were connected to the “Monafeqin (hypocrites) network” and intended to carry out “disruptive operations” in the provinces of Khuzestan, Fars, and Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad.

It should be noted that in the terminology of the Islamic Republic, the terms “Nefaq” and “Monafeqin” refer to the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization, one of the Iranian opposition groups.

Farshad Etemadifar is from Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, and Masoud Jamaei and Alireza Mardasi (Hamidavi) are residents of Ahvaz. Masoud Jamaei, 47, suffers from liver issues and stomach cancer. His physical condition in prison has deteriorated severely, and he requires urgent treatment and transfer to specialized medical facilities outside the prison. Prior to his arrest, he worked for the National Iranian Oil Company. In late March of last year, he, along with his wife Zeinab Hazbapour and their children Nahid, Dalal, and Roghayeh Jamaei, had been tried by the Bavieh Revolutionary Court on charges of links with one of the groups opposing the regime.

Supreme Court Upholds Death Sentence of Political Prisoner Reza Abdali

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Executions, News, Prisoners
ahvaz, moharebeh, Reza Abdali, Sheiban Prison

HRANA – The death sentence and prison term of Reza Abdali, a political prisoner held in Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz, have been upheld by Iran’s Supreme Court, the country’s highest judicial authority.

Abdali had previously been sentenced to death and 15 years in prison by the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court on the charge of “enmity against God” (moharebeh).

According to information obtained by HRANA, the Supreme Court recently confirmed and notified Abdali’s verdict. He had been convicted in June-July 2025 by one of the branches of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court on charges of moharebeh, with “connection with the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MEK)” cited as an instance of the accusation.

Reza Abdali, aged 35 and a resident of Ahvaz, is currently held in Ward 8 of Sheiban Prison.

He was arrested in February 2025 (Bahman 1403) by security forces, and after interrogation, was transferred to Sheiban Prison. During his detention, he has been denied access to a lawyer of his choice.

After 20 Years in Prison, Ali Halafi Granted Medical Furlough

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News, Prisoners
Ali Halafi, HRANA, moharebeh, Sheiban Prison

HRANA – After 20 years in prison and years of being denied adequate medical care, political prisoner Ali Halafi was granted a seven-day medical furlough today from Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz, after posting bail.

According to HRANA, political prisoner Ali Halafi was temporarily released from Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz for medical treatment after serving two decades behind bars. Halafi suffers from gastrointestinal and pulmonary diseases, bleeding hemorrhoids, and knee problems, and has long been deprived of proper medical care. His temporary medical leave was granted upon posting bail of 51 billion rials for a period of seven days.

He was arrested in 2005 in connection with the “Ahvaz Salman Farsi Street explosion” case. Although he was not among the main defendants, he was convicted of “enmity against God (moharebeh)” and sentenced to 30 years in prison, a verdict later upheld on appeal.

Halafi had previously been transferred among several prisons, including Karun Prison in Ahvaz, Gonabad Prison, Masjed Soleiman Prison, and Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz. Due to his deteriorating health, he has now been granted a short-term release from custody.

Ali Halafi, approximately 59, is the father of three daughters and one son. HRANA has previously published a detailed report on his imprisonment conditions and case.

Two Decades Behind Bars, Prisoner Profiles – No. 10: Yahya Naseri

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Executions, News
moharebeh, Sheiban Prison, TwoDecadesBehindBars, Yahya Naseri, یحیی ناصری

HRANA – Numerous political and religious prisoners in Iran have spent more than two decades in detention. To ensure their stories are not lost amid the constant churn of daily news, HRANA publishes a series of reports dedicated to them. Each report reviews the prisoner’s case history, prison conditions, access to basic rights, and urgent needs.

In this installment, HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, reviews the latest situation of Yahya Naseri after two decades in prison.

Prisoner Profile

• Name: Yahya Naseri

• Year of Arrest: 2005

• Charges: “Acting against national security, moharebeh (enmity against God), and efsad fel-arz (spreading corruption on earth)”

• Initial Sentence: Life imprisonment

• Current Sentence: Life imprisonment

• Detention Locations: After sentencing, Mr. Naseri was held in Karun Prison, Ahvaz, before being transferred to Ward 5 of Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz, where he remains detained without respect for the principle of separation of crimes.

• Leave/Access: In recent years, no furlough has been granted; his access to family and legal counsel has been reported as limited.

• Current Status: Still serving a long-term sentence, despite legal reforms that could provide opportunities for retrial or sentence reduction.

Case Background and Judicial Process

On October 2, 2005, Mr. Naseri was arrested by security forces in connection with the so-called “Salman Farsi Street bombing in Ahvaz.” Shortly afterward, Branch 1 of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court sentenced him to life imprisonment on charges of “acting against national security, moharebeh, and efsad fel-arz.”

This life sentence placed him among prisoners with indefinite incarceration, a situation that effectively extends for many years and severely limits access to mechanisms for sentence review.

Key Aspects of the Case:

• Severe Security Charges: The charge of moharebeh is among the most serious in Iran’s political-security cases, usually carrying broad judicial and executive consequences.

• Continued Imprisonment Despite Legal Changes: Although legal reforms have introduced options for retrial, sentence reduction, or parole in some cases, Mr. Naseri remains imprisoned.

Detention Conditions and Transfers

Throughout his imprisonment, Mr. Naseri has been held in Karun and Sheiban prisons in Ahvaz. After receiving his sentence, he was kept in Karun Prison, later transferred to Ward 5 of Sheiban Prison, where he has remained to this day, again without separation of crimes.

Observations on Conditions:

• Frequent Transfers: Moves between wards and prisons can disrupt access to family, legal counsel, and healthcare.

• Exposure to Violence: Reports indicate verbal and physical abuse against him. In February 2019, Mr. Naseri went on hunger strike to protest the lack of separation of crimes and increased pressure from prison officials. Following this protest, he was denied family visits and phone calls. In April 2024, he was reportedly beaten by Sheiban Prison guards in Ward 5. Later that December, he was threatened with solitary confinement or exile to remote prisons after protesting poor conditions, denial of medical care, and the transfer of violent offenders into his ward.

• Denial of Medical Care: Over more than two decades, despite suffering from heart disease and hemorrhoids, prison authorities have repeatedly obstructed his transfer to hospitals and access to specialized treatment. Denial of medical care is a serious violation of the fundamental right to health and, in many cases, constitutes inhumane treatment used as a means of added pressure on prisoners.

Access to Family, Lawyer, and Furlough

In recent years, Mr. Naseri has not received furlough. Reports indicate his access to both family and legal counsel is restricted. These limitations not only have psychological and social impacts but also undermine his right to effective defense and to pursue retrial mechanisms.

Potential Legal Pathways (General Recommendations)

1. Retrial: Review of new evidence or substantial procedural/material errors in the verdict.

2. Sentence reduction or commutation, if legal grounds are available.

3. Conditional release or suspension of sentence: Assessment of criteria such as time served, good behavior, and health condition.

4. Addressing violations during imprisonment: denial of healthcare, exposure to violence, deprivation of visits, and lack of legal access.

5. Independent documentation and international advocacy, should domestic remedies remain blocked.

Timeline Summary

• 2005: Arrest; charges of “acting against national security, moharebeh, and efsad fel-arz.”

• Initial Sentence: Life imprisonment.

• Post-sentencing: Held in Karun Prison, Ahvaz.

• April 2024: Reported beating by Sheiban Prison guards (Ward 5).

• Recent years: No furlough, denial of proper medical care, restricted family and legal access.

• Current Status: Still imprisoned despite legal reforms that could allow for case review.

Conclusion and Importance of Review

Despite legislative changes enabling retrial, sentence reduction, or release for those convicted of moharebeh, Mr. Naseri remains in prison. His case exemplifies the plight of long-term political-security prisoners in Iran, underlining the urgent need for legal review and the application of both domestic and international mechanisms to reduce sentences or secure release.

Immediate Needs

• Regular, unrestricted access to lawyer and family.

• Independent medical evaluation in light of past beatings and long-term health conditions.

• Review of eligibility for retrial or other legal measures to reduce/terminate imprisonment.

• Enforcement of prison regulations regarding visitation, furlough, and communication.

• Access to adequate healthcare and treatment.

About This Series

This report is part of the “More than Two Decades Behind Bars” series, which aims to continuously document long-term imprisonment cases and remind the public of the collective responsibility to ensure they are seen and their conditions are pursued.

More than Two Decades Behind Bars, Prisoner Profiles – No. 9: Ali Halafi

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News, Prisoners
20years, ahvaz, Ali Halafi, Sheiban Prison, TwoDecadesBehindBars, علی حلفی

HRANA – Numerous political and religious prisoners in Iran have spent more than two decades in detention. To ensure their stories are not lost amid the constant churn of daily news, HRANA publishes a series of reports dedicated to them. Each report reviews the prisoner’s case history, prison conditions, access to basic rights, and urgent needs.

In this report, HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, examines the latest situation of Ali Halafi after two decades of imprisonment.

Information Sheet

• Name: Ali Halafi
• Year of Arrest: 2005
• Charges Announced: “Acting against national security, moharebeh (enmity against God), and corruption on earth”
• Initial Sentence: 30 years in prison in exile
• Current Sentence: 30 years in prison in exile
• Prison Locations: After sentencing, he spent one year in Karun Prison in Ahvaz. He was then exiled to Gonabad Prison, where he served ten years. In 2016, Halafi was transferred to Masjed Soleyman Prison and later to Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz, where he has since been held without observance of the principle of separating prisoners by offense.
• Furlough / Access: No furlough has been reported in recent years; access to family and lawyer has been limited.
• Current Status: Still in long-term imprisonment despite legal changes that could allow for review or sentence reduction.

Case Narrative and Judicial Process

Ali Halafi was arrested in 2005 by security forces in connection with the so-called “Salman Farsi Street explosion in Ahvaz.” Although not one of the main defendants in the case, he was later sentenced by the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court to 30 years in prison in exile on charges of “acting against national security, moharebeh, and corruption on earth.” This sentence was upheld in full by the Court of Appeals.

The ruling placed him among prisoners with de facto indefinite terms, a status that can extend incarceration for many years and severely restrict access to mechanisms of legal review.

Key Points in the Process:

• Heavy Security Charges: The “moharebeh” charge is one of the most severe in Iran’s political-security cases, carrying wide-reaching judicial and executive consequences.
• Continued Imprisonment Despite Legal Changes: Although legal reforms have allowed for retrials, sentence reductions, or conditional release in some moharebeh cases, Halafi remains imprisoned.

Prison Conditions and Transfers

Over his imprisonment, Halafi has been held in Karun Prison (Ahvaz), Gonabad Prison, Masjed Soleyman Prison, and Sheiban Prison (Ahvaz). After sentencing, he spent one year in Karun Prison, then ten years in Gonabad Prison. In 2016, he was moved to Masjed Soleyman Prison, and shortly thereafter transferred to Ward 5 of Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz, where he remains, without proper separation of offenses.

Observations on Detention Standards

• Frequent Transfers: Repeated relocations between wards and prisons disrupt family contact, legal access, and medical care.
• Exposure to Violence in Prison: Reports indicate verbal abuse and beatings. During his arrest, Halafi suffered broken ribs from beatings by security agents, requiring surgery. In April 2024, he was reportedly beaten by guards in Ward 5 of Sheiban Prison. In December of the same year, after protesting poor conditions, denial of medical care, and the transfer of violent-crime prisoners to his ward, he was threatened with solitary confinement or exile to a remote prison. These instances highlight the urgent need for independent documentation and legal follow-up.
• Denial of Medical Care: Despite suffering from stomach ulcers, intestinal infections, and lung problems, Halafi has consistently been denied hospital transfers and specialized treatment for over two decades. Denying prisoners access to medical care constitutes inhumane treatment and violates the right to health—and in some cases, even the right to life—recognized under Iranian law, international standards, and human rights instruments. It is also used as a tool of coercion and repression.

Access to Family, Lawyer, and Furlough

Halafi has not received furlough in recent years, and his access to family and legal counsel has been limited. Such restrictions carry severe psychological and social consequences, while also undermining his ability to mount an effective defense or pursue retrial mechanisms.

Potential Legal Avenues (General Recommendations):

1. Retrial: Review based on new evidence or substantive/procedural flaws.

2. Request for Sentence Reduction or Commutation: If legal conditions allow.

3. Conditional Release / Suspension of Sentence: If criteria such as time served, good conduct, or health are met.

4. Addressing Rights Violations in Prison: Including the right to healthcare, protection from violence, regular visitation, and legal counsel.

5. Documentation and International Advocacy: Utilizing international reporting and human rights mechanisms where domestic remedies are blocked.

Timeline Summary

• 2005: Arrest; charges of “acting against national security, moharebeh, corruption on earth.”
• Initial Sentence: 30 years in prison in exile.
• 2005: Reports of beating during arrest; severe rib fractures requiring surgery.
• Post-sentencing: One year in Karun Prison (Ahvaz).
• 2006: Exiled to Gonabad Prison for ten years.
• 2016: Transferred to Masjed Soleyman Prison.
• April 2024: Reported beating in Ward 5 of Sheiban Prison.
• Recent years: No furlough, denial of proper medical care, limited access to family and lawyer.
• Current Status: Continued imprisonment despite legal changes that could affect case review.

Conclusion and Importance of Case Review

Despite legal changes that provide avenues for retrial, sentence reduction, or release for those convicted of moharebeh, Halafi remains imprisoned. His case exemplifies long-term political-security imprisonment in Iran, highlighting the importance of legal review to secure justice and possible release.

His file underscores both the difficulties of accessing fundamental rights in prison (furlough, visits, legal counsel) and the urgent need to employ all available domestic and international mechanisms for sentence review and reduction.

Urgent Needs:

• Regular and non-discriminatory access to lawyer and family.
• Independent medical evaluation for alleged beatings and long-term complications.
• Examination of eligibility for retrial or other mechanisms for sentence reduction/suspension.
• Guarantee of compliance with prison regulations on contact, visits, and furlough.
• Access to adequate medical services and treatment.

About This Series

This report is part of the “More than Two Decades Behind Bars” series, which aims to continuously document long-term imprisonment cases and remind the public of the collective responsibility to ensure they are seen and their conditions are pursued.

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Political Prisoner Yousef Savari Denied Medical Care in Sheiban Prison

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News, Prisoners
ahvaz, RGC Intelligence, Sheiban Prison, یوسف سواری

HRANA – Yousef Savari, a political prisoner held in Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz, has been denied transfer to medical facilities and access to healthcare despite his poor physical condition and suffering from a respiratory illness.

This political prisoner suffers from a lung disease and has recently experienced repeated shortness of breath attacks. According to a family member, Mr. Savari experiences choking sensations when lying down and, due to his lung condition, is unable to sleep. Despite this situation, prison officials have refused to transfer him to a hospital outside the prison. His family has repeatedly requested his transfer to a hospital from both prison authorities and the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court, but these requests remain unanswered.

Mr. Savari was arrested on November 8, 2018, by IRGC intelligence agents at his father’s home and transferred to the IRGC Intelligence’s detention facility in Ahvaz. On April 29, 2020, he was released from Sheiban Prison on bail. Ultimately, last year, the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court sentenced him to 10 years in prison on charges of having ties to groups opposed to the Islamic Republic. He is currently being held in Ward 5 of Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz.

Yousef Savari, 37, married and father of three, is from Dasht-e Azadegan County, Khuzestan Province.

More than Two Decades Behind Bars, Prisoner Profiles – No. 4: Abdul-Zahra Halichi

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News, Prisoners
Abdul-Zahra Halichi, ahvaz, Iran, Karun Prison, moharebeh, Sheiban Prison, TwoDecadesBehindBars, عبدالزهرا هلیچی

HRANA – Many political and religious prisoners in Iran have endured over twenty years behind bars. To prevent their cases from fading from public memory in the flow of daily news, HRANA has launched a series of reports highlighting their situations. Each installment outlines the prisoner’s legal case, detention conditions, access to rights, and immediate needs.

In this installment, HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, examines the latest status of Abdul-Zahra Halichi (Haliji) after more than two decades of imprisonment.

Case Information

• Name: Abdul-Zahra Halichi (Haliji)

• Year of arrest: 2005

• Charges: “Acting against national security, moharebeh (enmity against God), and efsad-e fel-arz (corruption on earth)”

• Initial sentence: Life imprisonment

• Current sentence: Life imprisonment

• Places of detention: Served his sentence in Karun Prison, Ahvaz; currently held in Ward 5 of Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz.

• Leave / access: No prison leave reported in recent years; limited access to family and lawyer.

• Current status: Still serving a life sentence despite legal changes that could allow for review or commutation.

Case Background and Judicial Process

In 2005, Abdul-Zahra Halichi was arrested by security forces. Shortly thereafter, Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Ahvaz convicted him of “acting against national security, moharebeh, and corruption on earth,” sentencing him to life imprisonment. This verdict placed him among those serving indefinite terms, effectively extending incarceration for decades and severely limiting access to judicial review.

Key points in the process:

• Heavy security charges: The charge of moharebeh is among the most severe in Iran’s political-security cases and typically carries wide-ranging judicial and executive consequences.

• Continued imprisonment despite legal reforms: Although legislative changes allow for retrial, sentence reduction, or parole in some cases, Halichi remains incarcerated.

Conditions of Detention and Transfers

Throughout his imprisonment, Halichi has been held in Karun and Sheiban prisons in Ahvaz. He spent several years in Karun Prison following his sentencing.

• Feb 2019: Reports of beatings in Sheiban Prison.

• Apr 2020: Subjected to torture after being transferred to The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in Ahvaz.

• Apr 2024: Reported beatings by prison guards and intelligence protection officers in Ward 5 of Sheiban Prison.

• Dec 2024: Threatened with solitary confinement or exile to remote areas after protesting authorities’ failure to enforce the principle of separation of crimes.
Since then, he has remained imprisoned in Sheiban.

Observations on Detention Standards

• Frequent transfers: Repeated relocations between wards and prisons disrupt access to family, lawyers, and medical care.

• Violence in custody: Multiple reports of beatings (2019, 2020, 2024) highlight the need for independent documentation and legal follow-up.

• Denial of medical care: Despite suffering from right leg infections, knee pain, and requiring urgent surgery to remove a metal rod from his leg, Halichi has been systematically denied hospital transfer and specialized treatment. Denying prisoners access to healthcare constitutes inhuman treatment and a violation of the right to health and even the right to life, often used as a tool of further pressure and repression.

Access to Family, Lawyer, and Leave

In recent years, Halichi has not been granted leave, and his access to family and legal counsel has been restricted. Such limitations not only have psychological and social consequences but also undermine his ability to mount an effective legal defense or pursue retrial procedures.

Potential Legal Avenues (General Recommendations)

1. Retrial: Assessing new evidence or procedural flaws.

2. Sentence reduction or commutation: If legal grounds are met.

3. Conditional release or suspension: Based on time served, good conduct, or health conditions.

4. Addressing rights violations in custody: Including access to treatment, protection from violence, regular visitation rights, and legal access.

International documentation and advocacy: Utilizing UN reporting mechanisms when domestic avenues are blocked.

Timeline (Summary)

• 2005: Arrested; charged with “acting against national security, moharebeh, and corruption on earth.”

• Initial verdict: Life imprisonment.

• Following years: Held in Karun Prison, Ahvaz.

• Feb 2019: Reported beating in Sheiban Prison.

• Apr 2020: Tortured in The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, Ahvaz.

• Apr 2024: Beaten by prison guards and intelligence officers in Sheiban Prison.

• Dec 2024: Threatened with solitary confinement or exile after protesting non-segregation of prisoners.

• Recent years: No leave granted; deprived of adequate medical care; limited access to family and lawyer.

• Current status: Continues to serve life imprisonment despite potential eligibility for legal review.

Conclusion and Need for Review

Despite legal reforms enabling retrial, sentence reduction, or release in moharebeh cases, Halichi remains behind bars. His case exemplifies long-term political-security imprisonment in Iran, underscoring the urgent need for review mechanisms.

Halichi’s situation highlights both the systematic denial of fundamental rights in detention (such as visitation, legal access, and healthcare) and the importance of using all available domestic and international legal avenues to reduce sentences and secure freedom.

Urgent Needs

• Regular, unrestricted access to lawyer and family.

• Independent medical evaluation following allegations of torture and long-term health issues.

• Review of eligibility for retrial or other mechanisms to reduce/terminate his sentence under current law.

• Enforcement of prison regulations regarding visitation, calls, and leave.

• Access to appropriate medical care and treatment.

About this Series

This report is part of the “Two Decades Behind Bars” series, which aims to document the cases of long-term prisoners and to highlight the collective responsibility to ensure their visibility and pursue their rights.

More than Two Decades Behind Bars, Prisoner Profiles – No. 3: Abdolemam Zaeri

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News, Prisoners
20years, Abdolemam Zaeri, ahvaz, Karun Prison, moharebeh, Sheiban Prison, TwoDecadesBehindBars, عبدالامام زائری

HRANA – Many political and religious prisoners in Iran have endured over twenty years behind bars. To prevent their cases from fading from public memory in the flow of daily news, HRANA has launched a series of reports highlighting their situations. Each installment outlines the prisoner’s legal case, detention conditions, access to rights, and immediate needs.

In this installment, HRANA – the news arm of Human Rights Activists in Iran – reviews the current situation of Abdolemam Zaeri after two decades in prison.

Information Summary

• Name: Abdolemam Zaeri

• Year of Arrest: 2005

• Charges Announced: “Acting against national security, moharebeh (enmity against God), and corruption on earth”

• Initial Sentence: Life imprisonment

• Current Sentence: Life imprisonment

• Detention Facilities: Initially held in Karun Prison of Ahvaz; later transferred to Ward 5 of Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz, where he remains.

• Furlough/Access: No furlough reported in recent years; access to family and lawyer reported as limited.

• Current Status: Still serving a life sentence despite legal changes that could allow for review or reduction.

Case History and Judicial Process

Zaeri was arrested by security forces in 2005. Shortly after, Branch 1 of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court sentenced him to life imprisonment on charges of “acting against national security, moharebeh, and corruption on earth.”

This life sentence placed him among prisoners with indefinite incarceration—effectively subjecting him to decades of confinement while restricting his access to review mechanisms.

Key Points:

• Severe security charges: The label moharebeh is one of the most severe charges in political-security cases in Iran and carries broad judicial and executive consequences.

• Continued imprisonment despite legal reforms: Although legal changes allow for retrials, sentence reductions, or parole in some cases, Zaeri has remained in prison.

Detention Conditions and Transfers

Over the course of his imprisonment, Zaeri has been held in Karun and Sheiban prisons in Ahvaz. He spent several years in Karun Prison before being transferred.

Reports from February 2019 and April 2024 indicate that he was beaten by prison guards and the intelligence protection unit of Sheiban Prison. He remains incarcerated in Sheiban.

Observations on Detention Standards

• Frequent transfers: Moving between wards and prisons can disrupt access to family, lawyers, and medical care.

• Exposure to violence: Documented beatings in 2019 and April 2024 highlight the need for independent monitoring and legal follow-up.

• Denial of medical care: Despite suffering from stomach bleeding, prostate inflammation, infection and bleeding in the left ear, and stomach ulcers, Zaeri has repeatedly been denied transfer to a hospital or access to specialized treatment. Prison authorities have obstructed care on various pretexts.
Denial of medical treatment is a violation of the fundamental right to health and can amount to inhumane treatment, even endangering life. It is often used as a tool of additional pressure and repression against prisoners.

Access to Family, Lawyer, and Furlough

Zaeri has not been granted furlough in recent years. His access to family visits and legal counsel has been restricted. These limitations, beyond their psychological and social toll, also undermine his ability to mount an effective defense or pursue retrial mechanisms.

Potential Legal Avenues (General Recommendations)

1. Retrial: Reviewing new evidence or substantive/procedural flaws in the ruling.

2. Sentence reduction or conversion: If legal conditions apply.

3. Parole or suspension: Based on time served, good conduct, health status, etc.

4. Pursuing violations of rights during detention: Including denial of medical care, exposure to violence, right to visits, and lawyer access.

5. International documentation and advocacy: Using reporting and human rights mechanisms if domestic avenues remain blocked.

Timeline Summary

• 2005: Arrest; charged with “acting against national security, moharebeh, and corruption on earth.”

• Initial ruling: Life imprisonment.

• Following years: Held in Karun Prison, Ahvaz.

• Feb 2019: Reported beating in Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz.

• Apr 2024: Reported beating in Ward 5, Sheiban Prison.

• Recent years: No furlough, denied medical care, restricted family and lawyer access.

• Present status: Still serving life imprisonment despite legal reforms that could allow review.

Summary and Importance of Review

Despite legal changes enabling retrial, sentence reduction, or release for those convicted of moharebeh, Zaeri remains imprisoned.

His case exemplifies the plight of political-security prisoners serving long sentences in Iran. Reviewing such cases is a critical step toward justice and securing their rights.

Zaeri’s file highlights both the deprivation of fundamental rights during incarceration (such as furlough, visitation, and legal access) and the urgent need to utilize all domestic and international mechanisms to seek case review and sentence reduction.

Urgent Needs

• Unrestricted and regular access to lawyer and family.

• Independent medical evaluation, especially regarding reported beatings and chronic conditions.

• Assessment of eligibility for retrial or sentence reduction under updated regulations.

• Enforcement of prison regulations on calls, visits, and furloughs.

• Access to adequate medical services and treatment.

About This Series

This report is part of the “Two Decades Behind Bars” series, which aims to document the cases of long-term prisoners and to highlight the collective responsibility to ensure their visibility and pursue their rights.

More than Two Decades Behind Bars, Introducing Prisoners – No. 2: Hamzeh Sawari

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News, Prisoners
20years, Ghezel Hesar, Hamzeh Savari, Hamzeh Sawari Laftah, HRANA, Karun Prison, Sheiban Prison, TwoDecadesBehindBars

HRANA – A large number of political prisoners and the prisoners of conscience have spent more than two decades of their lives in Iran’s prisons. To ensure their names are not forgotten amid daily news cycles, HRANA is publishing a series introducing these prisoners and their conditions. Each report reviews their judicial case, detention situation, access rights, and urgent needs.

In this report, HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, examines the latest situation of Hamzeh Sawari Laftah after two decades of imprisonment.

Information Summary

• Name: Hamzeh Savari Leftah

• Year of Arrest: 2005 (1384 SH)

• Charges Announced: “Corruption on Earth (efsad fel-arz), moharebeh (enmity against God), and acting against national security”

• Initial Sentence: Death penalty

• Current Sentence: Life imprisonment (reduced by one degree)

• Places of Detention: Three months in Sheiban Prison (Ahvaz), eight years in Karun Prison (Ahvaz), transferred to Rajai Shahr Prison (Karaj) until 2023, held in Ward 8 of Evin Prison in August 2023, transferred to Ghezel Hesar Prison (Karaj) in September 2023 where he remains.

• Leave/Access: No furlough reported in recent years; limited access to family and lawyer.

• Current Status: Still serving a life sentence despite legal changes that could allow for review or reduction.

Case History and Judicial Process

On September 2, 2005, at the age of just sixteen, Hamzeh Sawari was arrested by security forces. He was sentenced to death by the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court on charges of “corruption on Earth, moharebeh, and acting against national security.” The sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment. While this change prevented the implementation of the death penalty, it placed him among those condemned to indefinite imprisonment – effectively a punishment that can last for decades and severely limits the possibility of judicial review.

Key points in the process:

• Heavy security charge: The label of “moharebeh” is among the most severe accusations in Iran’s political-security cases, carrying extensive judicial and executive consequences.

• Sentence reduction: The initial death penalty, later converted to life imprisonment, illustrates both the severity of the charges and the possibility of judicial intervention, but does not necessarily mean injustices in the process were remedied.

• Ongoing imprisonment despite legal changes: Although legal reforms could allow for retrial, reduced sentences, or conditional release, Sawari remains in prison.

Detention Conditions and Transfers

Throughout his imprisonment, Hamzeh Savari has been held in multiple prisons: eight years in Karun Prison (Ahvaz), three months in Sheiban Prison (Ahvaz), then transferred to Rajai Shahr Prison (Karaj). In 2014, he was held in Hall 12 of Rajai Shahr, and in 2017 he was violently moved to Ward 10 (Unit 4) of the same prison.

In August 2023, he was transferred to Ward 8 of Evin Prison, but after one month, he was moved to the security unit (Ward 3) of Ghezel Hesar Prison (Karaj). He staged a hunger strike in protest of these transfers and spent some time in solitary confinement. He has remained in Ghezel Hesar since then.

Observations Related to Detention Standards

• Frequent transfers: Repeated relocations between wards and prisons disrupt access to family, legal counsel, and medical care.

• Solitary confinement as punishment: After arrest, Sawari spent nine months in solitary confinement in The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facilities in Ahvaz and Shiraz. He was repeatedly placed in solitary confinement during his years in Karun Prison. He was again sent to solitary in 2017 after protesting his transfer to Ward 10 of Rajai Shahr, in September 2023 after objecting to being moved from Evin to Ghezel Hesar, and once more in August 2025. Such practices conflict with international standards, where solitary confinement must be exceptional, limited, and supervised.

• Exposure to violence in prison: Reports document physical and verbal abuse during his eight years in Karun Prison. In August 2017, he was beaten after being moved from Hall 12 to Ward 10 of Rajai Shahr. In September 2023, he was subjected to violence during his forced transfer from Evin to Ghezel Hesar. In August 2025, following his protest against the transfer of political prisoner Saeed Masouri to Zahedan Prison and the executions of Behrouz Ehsani Eslamloo and Mehdi Hassani, he and several other prisoners were beaten by Ghezel Hesar’s special guard unit. These incidents underscore the need for independent documentation and legal follow-up.

• Deprivation of medical care: Despite suffering from heart disease, lung inflammation, a torn cruciate ligament in his right knee with severe Baker’s cyst, chronic stomach pain, cervical arthritis, and needing spinal surgery, Sawari has been consistently denied hospital transfers and specialist treatment. Denying prisoners access to medical care constitutes inhuman treatment and violates both the right to health and the right to life, often used as a tool of pressure and suppression.

Access to Family, Lawyer, and Leave

In recent years, Sawari has not been granted furlough, and his access to family and lawyer remains limited. These restrictions not only harm his social and psychological well-being but also undermine his ability to mount an effective defense and pursue retrial options.

Potential Legal Avenues (General Recommendations)

1. Retrial (E’adeye Dadrasi): Assessing new evidence or substantive/procedural flaws.

2. Sentence reduction/commutation: If legal grounds are available.

3. Conditional release/suspension: Evaluating eligibility based on time served, conduct, and health.

4. Pursuing rights violations during imprisonment: Including denial of medical care, exposure to violence, lack of visitation, and restricted access to legal counsel.

5. International documentation and advocacy: Turning to human rights mechanisms if domestic remedies are blocked.

Timeline Summary

• 2005 (1384): Arrested at age 16 on charges of “corruption on Earth, moharebeh, and acting against national security.”

• Initial Sentence: Death penalty, later commuted to life imprisonment.

• Post-conviction: Eight years in Karun Prison.

• 2014 (1393): Held in Hall 12 of Rajai Shahr Prison (Karaj).

• 2017 (1396): Beaten; transferred to Ward 10 of Rajai Shahr.

• August 2023 (Mordad 1402): Transferred to Ward 8 of Evin Prison.

• September 2023 (Shahrivar 1402): Violently transferred to Ghezel Hesar; solitary confinement.

• August 2025 (Mordad 1404): Beaten and placed in solitary again in Ghezel Hesar.

• Recent years: No furlough, denied medical care, restricted family and lawyer visits.

• Current status: Life sentence continues despite legal reforms that could allow for review.

Conclusion and Importance of Review

Despite legal changes enabling retrial, reduced sentences, or conditional release for those convicted of moharebeh, Hamzeh Sowari remains imprisoned. His case exemplifies the situation of long-term political-security prisoners in Iran whose cases require urgent review.

It highlights both the denial of fundamental rights during imprisonment (furlough, visits, legal counsel) and the necessity of using all possible domestic and international legal mechanisms to reduce sentences and secure release.

Urgent Needs

• Regular and non-discriminatory access to family and lawyer.

• Independent medical evaluation in cases of alleged abuse or long-term conditions.

• Examination of the possibility of retrial or other mechanisms for reducing/suspending the sentence under updated laws.

• Enforcement of prison regulations regarding contact, visitation, and furlough.

• Access to adequate medical care and treatment.

About this Series

This report is part of the “More than Two Decades behind Bars” series, which aims to document the cases of long-term prisoners and to highlight the collective responsibility to ensure their visibility and pursue their rights.

Following Sentence Consolidation, Shahab Nazari’s Prison Term Increased to 10 Years

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News, Prisoners
Hossein Ali Hatami, Izeh, Khuzestan, Shahab Nazari, Sheiban Prison

HRANA– After the request for sentence consolidation was approved, the Khuzestan Province Court of Appeals increased the prison sentence of Shahab Nazari, a political prisoner held in Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz, to 10 years. He had previously been sentenced to a total of 4 years and 91 days in two separate cases.

According to a ruling issued by Branch 14 of the Khuzestan Court of Appeals, Mr. Nazari has been sentenced to a total of 10 years in prison on four charges. The court sentenced him to five years in prison for the most severe charge, “blasphemy.” He was also sentenced to two years for “spreading falsehoods,” two years for “insulting the Supreme Leader,” and one year for “propaganda against the regime.”

This verdict was issued on July 29, 2025, and was recently communicated to Mr. Nazari’s lawyer, Hossein Ali Hatami.

On Wednesday, April 24, 2025, Shahab Nazari was transferred to Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz after appearing at the Sentence Enforcement Office of the Ahvaz Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office.

Nazari, 24-year-old resident of Izeh, was arrested on April 22, 2023, by security forces in Ahvaz and was eventually released on bail of 500 million tomans from Sheiban Prison on May 21, 2023.

Previously, Branch 1 of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court had sentenced him to two years in prison for “insulting the Supreme Leader” and one year for “propaganda against the regime,” totaling three years of imprisonment. This verdict was upheld in full by Branch 14 of the Khuzestan Court of Appeals. Based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, two years of this sentence are enforceable.

Additionally, in a separate part of the same case, Mr. Nazari was sentenced by Branch 2 of the Ahvaz Criminal Court to one year and 91 days in prison for “spreading falsehoods.” This sentence was also upheld in full by the Khuzestan Court of Appeals.