Tag: Vakilabad

Vakilabad Prison: Death-Row Protester’s Case Under Supreme Court Review

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Executions, News, Prisoners
HRANA, Mohammad Mehdi Soleimani, Vakilabad

HRANA – Mohammad-Mehdi Soleimani, one of those arrested during the 2022 nationwide protests and later sentenced to death, is currently held in Ward 1 of Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.

In November of last year, the Mashhad Criminal Court sentenced him to death on the charge of killing a Basij member. His case is now under review by the Supreme Court.

HRANA first identified him as a death-row prisoner in January 2025. Mr. Soleimani was arrested by security forces in Mashhad in October 2022 and transferred to Ward 1 of Vakilabad Prison in March 2023. After more than two years in legal uncertainty, he was tried in November 2024 at Branch 5 of Criminal Court One in Razavi Khorasan Province. Presiding judge Mohammad Shoja’pour-Fadaki sentenced him to death for the alleged killing of Rasoul Doost-Mohammadi, a Basij member, during the Mashhad protests. His case remains under Supreme Court review.

A source familiar with the case told HRANA: “Mohammad-Mehdi has been denied access to a chosen lawyer at every stage of the legal process.”

In the same case file, he has also been sentenced to pay blood money and serve two and a half years in prison for inflicting bodily harm, and to two years and six months in prison plus 74 lashes for possessing explosive and incendiary materials.

State media previously claimed that on September 22, 2022, Mr. Soleimani stabbed and fatally wounded Rasoul Doost-Mohammadi, a Basij member, on a street in Mashhad.

Mohammad-Mehdi Soleimani is originally from Quchan, lived in Mashhad, and was approximately 20 years old at the time of his arrest.

Arman Oskouei Sentenced to Imprisonment

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News, Prisoners
Mashhad, Seyed Arman Oskouei, Vakilabad

HRANA – Seyed Arman Oskouei, a political prisoner held in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad, has been sentenced to 23 months in prison by the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad.

According to the ruling issued by the Mashhad Revolutionary Court and delivered to Mr. Oskouei last week, he received 15 months and 1 day in prison on the charge of insulting the Supreme Leader and 7 months and 23 days on the charge of propaganda against the regime. He had been formally notified of these charges in October at the Mashhad Prosecutor’s Office.

Oskouei was arrested on September 14, 2025, at his home in Mashhad and was transferred to Vakilabad Prison on September 27, 2025.

According to information obtained by HRANA, he had previously been arrested on July 6, 2025, by Basij forces for walking his dog in a park. During that incident, he was beaten, taken to a police station in Mashhad, and later released.

Seyed Arman Oskouei, 29, had also been arrested by security forces during the 2022 nationwide protests and was released afterward.

Six Executed in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad

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Executions, News
Abdolghaffar Barahouei, Abdolsamad Gorgij, HRANA, Javid Galleh-Bacheh, Mashhad, Mehdi Azizi, Parviz Dastkaleh, Vakilabad

HRANA News Agency – At dawn on Wednesday, April 30, six inmates were executed in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.

HRANA has confirmed the identities of two of the executed individuals as Mehdi Azizi, a resident of Mashhad, and Javid Galleh-Bacheh.

The Baloch-focused outlet Hasl Vsh has identified three others as, Abdolghaffar Barahouei (Lajei), approximately 47 years old and father of nine, Parviz Dastkaleh (Nouraldin Lajei), around 40 years old and father of three, and Abdolsamad Gorgij (Rigi), 39 years old, father of five, and a resident of Zahedan.

All six prisoners had previously been sentenced to death by Revolutionary Courts on drug-related charges.

Details about the sixth executed prisoner, including their identity, are still being investigated by HRANA.

As of the time of this report, the executions have not been officially confirmed by prison authorities or relevant institutions.

According to data compiled by HRANA, 52.69% of all executions in Iran in 2024 were related to drug-related charges. Notably, only 6% of the executions were officially announced, highlighting a significant lack of transparency. For a detailed analysis of these executions and the associated statistics, see HRANA’s full report.

Over 5 Executions Per Day on Average: 26 Prisoners Executed Across Iran Since Start of the Week

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Executions, News
ahvaz, Aligudarz, Bukan, Dezful, Esmail Dahmardeh, Ghezel Hesar, Gonabad, HRANA, Mashhad, Qom prison, Shahram Goodarzi, Shahrud, Shiraz, Taher Shabani, Vakilabad

HRANA News Agency – Since the beginning of this week, Iranian prisons have witnessed a significant surge in executions. Over the past five days, at least 26 prisoners—mostly convicted of murder and drug-related offenses—have been executed across various prisons in Iran. Among them were five prisoners executed on political-security charges.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, executions in Iranian prisons have sharply increased in recent days.

Since the start of the week, at least 26 prisoners have been executed in Ghezel Hesar (Karaj), Shiraz, Kermanshah, Gonabad, Shahrud, Vakilabad (Mashhad), Aligudarz, Bukan, Dezful, Qom, Zanjan, and Sepidar (Ahvaz) prisons. This averages over five executions per day. Vakilabad Prison alone accounted for at least 10 executions in a single day, the highest recorded among these facilities.

On Wednesday, April 9, four prisoners—Bahram Hodavand-Khani, Salar Amir Jalali, Abolfazl Karimi, and another unidentified individual—were executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison for separate murder cases. Also on Wednesday, Esmail Dahmardeh, convicted on drug-related charges by the Revolutionary Court of Gonabad, was executed in Gonabad Prison. Gholamreza Pardakhteh faced a similar fate in Shahroud Prison. Another prisoner, Kambiz Fathi, was hanged in Kermanshah Prison for murder. Two more prisoners, Vahid Ashouri (30) and Afghan national Saud Mirzaei, were executed in Shiraz Prison, both convicted of murder.

On Tuesday, April 8, at least 10 prisoners—including three women—were executed in Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad. Five of them—Farhad Shakeri, Abdolhakim Azim Gorgij, Abdolrahman Gorgij, Taj Mohammad Khormali, and Malek Ali Fadaie Nasab—were executed on political-security charges. Four others, including two women, were executed on drug-related charges. HRANA identified two of them as Ahmad Sanaie and Mohammadreza Damideh. Additionally, one woman convicted of murder was also executed at the same facility.

On Monday, April 7, Shahram Goodarzi (36) and Taher Shabani (35) were executed in Aligudarz Prison in separate murder cases. That same day, Seyed Taha Hassani, a prisoner from Bukan, was executed in Bukan Prison, and Hamid Abdouli was hanged in Dezful Prison—both convicted of murder.

On Sunday, April 6, a prisoner named Samir Ghasemi was executed in Qom Prison. He had been sentenced to death by the criminal court for murder.

On Saturday, April 5, Hossein Molazadeh (29), convicted on drug charges, was executed in Zanjan Prison. Simultaneously, Zahir Shamsi (32), a father of a five-year-old girl from Dezful, was executed in Sepidar Prison, Ahvaz. Shamsi had been arrested four years ago for the alleged murder of his cousin.

This recent escalation in executions has sparked serious concerns over widespread violations of the right to life in Iran. Human rights organizations consider Iran’s extensive use of the death penalty to be in stark violation of its international obligations and have called for an immediate moratorium on capital punishment.

Update on Political Prisoner Shirin Beyraghdar’s Legal Status in Vakilabad Prison

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News, Prisoners
Mashhad, revolutionary court, Vakilabad, Vakilabad prison, شیرین بیرق دار

Shirin Beyraghdar is presently serving her term at Vakilabad Prison.

Initially apprehended by security forces at her shop in Mashhad in June-July 2022, Beyraghdar spent approximately six months in detention before being released on bail amounting to one billion tomans (roughly 20,000 dollars).

Following her release, the Revolutionary Court in Mashhad convicted her on charges including “forming groups to act against national security,” “assembly and collusion against national security,” “insulting the Supreme Leader,” and “propaganda against the regime.” Pursuant to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, she received a sentence of four years and six months for the primary charge.

In June-July 2023, Beyraghdar commenced serving her sentence at Vakilabad Prison.

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French-Irish National Bernard Phelan Sentenced to 6.5 Years

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Freedom of Expression, News
Bernard Phelan, Mashhad, Vakilabad

Detained French-Irish Bernard Phelan was sentenced to six years and six months.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Reuters, French-Irish Bernard Phelan was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison.

Quoting Phelan’s sister, the report mentioned “providing information to another country” as one charge against Phelan.

On October 3, 2022, Phelan, 64, was arrested by security forces during his last trip to Iran.

Earlier, The Irish Times revealed that he is jailed in Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad.

Five Inmates Executed in Mashhad

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Executions, News
Asef Shakib, Avaz Bilrani, Mashhad, Ramezan Mazarzeh, Saeed Shakib, Vakilabad

On Sunday, October 2, five inmates convicted of drug-related crimes were executed in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Haal Vsh, on October 2, 2022, five inmates, of which four have been identified as Asef Shakib, Saeed Shakib, Ramezan Mazarzeh and Avaz Bilrani, were executed in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.

All of these prisoners had been convicted of drug-related crimes.

These executions have not been reported by official sources and media outlets inside Iran so far.

Two Inmates Executed in Kashan and Vakilabad Prisons

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Executions, News
executions, Kashan, Ruhollah Dehghani, Secret executions, v, Vakilabad

On the morning of February 21, two inmates convicted for murder were executed in Kashan and Vakilabad prisons.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting ILNA, an unidentified inmate was executed in Kashan Prison. On the same day, another inmate identified by the first name Reza was executed in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad city.

Regarding the first case, Kashan prosecutor Ruhollah Dehghani stated that “in June 2017, the defendant, age 49, killed a woman with whom he was acquainted on the Internet. Thereafter, he was arrested by the police”.

As for the second case, on September 30, 2014, Reza brought a 29 year old man injured by stabbing to a hospital in Mashhad. When he realized the man had passed away from the injuries, he fled the hospital. In November of 2018, Reza was arrested and sentenced to death.

The most recent report from the Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) states that between January 1 of 2021 and December 20 of 2021, at least 299 citizens, including four juvenile offenders, were executed. In addition, 85 citizens were sentenced to death in this period.

Imprisoned French Tourist Benjamin Briere On Hunger Strike in Vakilabad Prison

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Benjamin Briere, Mashhad City, saeed dehghan, Vakilabad

French Tourist Benjamin Briere, currently imprisoned in Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad City went on hunger strike to protest being deprived of his inalienable right as a prisoner to contact his family on Christmas night.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Briere has been jailed in Vakilabad since May 2020 when he was arrested by security forces.

“What is the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad waiting for in order to proceed Benjamin Briere’s case after 570 days in detention?” his lawyer, Saeed Dehghan, asked on his personal page on social media.

Dehghan was informed about charges of spying and propaganda against the regime against his client. Two other charges of “spreading corruption on earth” and “alcohol drinking” had been already dismissed by the court.

Per Briere’s lawyer, actions such as taking aerial photos with a remote-controlled helicam and posing some questions like “why is the veil (Hijab) forced in Iran but not other Islamic countries” were invoked as examples for charges of “spying” and “propaganda against the regime” respectively during in the last court session held in February 2021.

“A report published by Figaro used the word “drone”, while he had just used a normal helicam. This mistranslation brought about some misunderstanding regarding the charges in the media. Additionally, this report wrongly called him a French-Iranian dual citizen, while he is a French citizen,” Dehghan told HRANA.

Vahedian Shahroudi Still in Detention After 84 Days Despite Poor Health Condition

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News, Prisoners
Abbas Vahedian Shahroudi, Mashhad, Mashhad Prison, Ministry of Intelligence, Revolutionary Court of Mashhad, Rezvanshahr, Rezvanshahr County, Shahroudi, Vahedian, Vakilabad, Vakilabad prison, Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad

After 84 days, writer, educator and civil activist Abbas Vahedian Shahroudi is still in a Ministry of Intelligence detention center in Mashhad.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Shahroudi suffers from a severe infection in the gums and teeth but has been deprived of adequate medical treatment throughout his detention.

In early November of this year, he was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment by Branch 4 of the Mashhad Revolutionary Court. This verdict has been finalized following his refusal to request an appeal.

Shahroudi’s daughter Hengameh Vahedian expressed her deep concern about her father’s health condition in a social media post.

“Two weeks ago, In the last visitation, he had severe infection in the gums, loosen teeth, and acute pain,” Hengameh wrote. “He needs urgent treatment before his disease worsen. Until now, however, he has not received any treatment.”

Earlier, HRANA reported about his poor health condition in a solitary confinement cell in a Detention Center at the disposal of the Ministry of Intelligence.

On September 1 of this year, intelligence agents arrested Vahedian in Rezvanshahr County. Two days later, in a phone call to his family, he informed them about the opening of a new case  against him on a charge of “acting against national security.” Meanwhile, Vahedian’s daughter’s home in Mashhad was searched by security forces and some personal belongings were confiscated.

Vahedian has previously been arrested and convicted for his writings and civil activities. In one case, he was arrested in Mashhad in October 2018 and later charged by Branch 903 of the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad with “acting against national security”, and “attempting to overthrow the regime”. He was released on bail of 350 million tomans from Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad in December 2018.

Shortly after his interrogation, in August 2019, Vahedian was again arrested and transferred to Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad. He was one of the 14 signatories of a letter of request for the resignation of Ayatollah Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran. Mr Vahedian was released on bail from Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad in July 2020.

Vahedian is an author of several books including “The Return of Genghis Khan” published by Khatam Publishing in Mashhad.