
See the full website archive of Faces of Iran here.
Bypassing regime, U.S. delivers lifesaving medicine to Iranians
The U.S. is ensuring that cancer drugs and other lifesaving medicines reach Iranian patients, part of a broader push to support everyday Iranians and bypass…
Mohammad Reza Nekounam
Name: Mohammad Reza Nekounam Occupation: Cleric Date of Arrest: January 2015 Charge: “Trying to overthrow the Qom Seminary” Sentence: 5 years
Davood Asadi, Afarin Chitsaz, Ehsan Mazandarani, and Saman Safarzaie
Name: Davood Asadi, Afarin Chitsaz, Ehsan Mazandarani, and Ehsan Safarzaie Occupation: Journalists Date of Arrest: November 2015 Charge: “Acting Against National Security” Sentence: 5, 10,…
Habibollah Latifi
Name: Habibollah Latifi Occupation: Engineering Student Date of Arrest: October 22, 2007 Charge: “Corruption on Earth” Sentence: Death, later it was changed to life in…
Nasim (Maryam) Naghash Zargaran
Name: Nasim (Maryam) Naghash Zargaran Occupation: Unknown Date of Arrest: February 2011 Charge: “Propaganda Against the Islamic Regime” and “Gathering and Acting Against National Security…
Mehdi Rajabian, Hossein Rajabian, and Yousef Emadi
Name: Mehdi Rajabian, Hossein Rajabian, and Yousef Emadi Occupation: Music Distributors and Managers of BargMusic Date of Arrest: October 5, 2013 Charge: “Insulting the Sacred”…
Golrokh Irayee
Name: Golrokh Irayee Occupation: Civil Rights Activist Date of Arrest: 2014 Charge: Insulting Sanctities and Propaganda Against the Regime Sentence: 6 Years
Isa Saharkhiz
Name: Isa Saharkhiz Occupation: Journalist Date of Arrest: November 1, 2015 Charge: “Acting Against National Security” and “Propaganda Against the State” Sentence: 21 months jail…
Omid Alishenas
Name: Omid Alishenas Occupation: Civil Engineer and Children’s Rights Activist Date of Arrest: September 4, 2014 Charge: “Colluding Against National Security” and “Insulting the Supreme…
Arash Zad
Name: Arash Zad Occupation: Internet Entrepreneur Date of Arrest: July Charge: Undetermined Sentence: Undetermined He was released in December 2017.
Fatemeh Ekhtesari
Name: Fatemeh Ekhtesari Occupation: Poet Date of Arrest: December 8, 2013 Charge: “Insulting the Sacred” Sentence: 11 and a half Years Jail and 99…
Mostafa Azizi
Name: Mostafa Azizi Occupation: TV/Film Producer and Writer Date of Arrest: February, 1 2015 Charge: “Assembly and Collusion Against National Security,” “Insulting the Supreme Leader,”…
Nasrin Sotoudeh
Name: Nasrin Sotoudeh Occupation: Human Rights Lawyer Date of Imprisonment: September 2010 Charge: Propagation Activities Against the Regime; Cooperating with the Center for Human Rights Defenders; and Endangering National Security…
Saeed Matinpour
Name: Saeed Matinpour Occupation: Civil Activist and Journalist Date of Imprisonment: May 25, 2007 Charge: Connection with Foreigners and Propaganda Against the Regime Sentence: 8 Years He was released on August…
Nahid Gorji
Name: Nahid Gorji Occupation: Civil Rights Activist Online; Degree in Sociology. Date of Arrest: October, 2014 Charge: Held Without Official Charges Sentence: Undetermined She was…
Zeinab Jalalian
Name: Zeinab Jalalian Occupation: Women’s Rights Activist Date of Arrest: March 2008 Charge: Enmity Against God Sentence: Life in Prison
Hamid Reza Moradi Sarvestani
Name: Hamid Reza Moradi Sarvestani Occupation: Religious Minority Practitioner (Gonabadi Dervish), Human Rights Activist Date of Arrest: September 4, 2011 Charge: Propaganda Against the Regime,…
Esmail Gerami Moghaddam
Name: Esmail Gerami Moghaddam Occupation: Iran-Iraq War Veteran, Former Member of Parliament, and Spokesman for Mehdi Karroubi’s Etemad Melli Party Date of Arrest: July 17…
Mohammad Hossein Rafiee Fanood
Name: Mohammad Hossein Rafiee Fanood Occupation: Retired University Chemistry Professor, Activist Date of Arrest: June 16, 2015 Charge: “Propaganda Against the Regime” Sentence: Six Years…
Elham Farahani
Name: Elham Farahani Date of Arrest: May 11, 2013 Charge: Charged as a Religious Minority Practitioner of Bahai’ Faith. Sentence: 4 Years in Prison She…
Omid Kokabee
Name: Omid Kokabee Occupation: PhD Student in Optics at the University of Texas at Austin ِDate of Imprisonment: January 30, 2011 While Visiting Family in Iran…
Farahnaz Misaghian
Name: Farahnaz Misaghian Date of Arrest: April 6, 2015 Charge: Charged as a Religious Minority Practitioner of Bahai Faith. Sentence: 1 Year in Prison and 1…
Atena Farghadani
Name: Atena Farghadani Occupation: Cartoonist, Painter. Date of Arrest: January 10, 2015 Charge: “Coolition Against the Security of the System”, “Propaganda Against the System”, “Insulting…
Hossein Ronaghi Maleki
Name: Hossein Ronaghi Maleki Occupation: Blogger Date of Imprisonment: December 2009 Charge: Spreading Propaganda Against the Regime, Membership of the Internet Group “Iran Proxy”, Insulting the Iranian Supreme…
Mohammad Ali Dadkhah
Name: Mohammad Ali Dadkhah Occupation: Human Rights Lawyer Date of Imprisonment: September 2012 Charge: Spreading Propaganda Against the System Through Interviews with Foreign Media and Membership in the Defenders…
Nazanin Khosravani
Name: Nazanin Khosravani Occupation: Journalist Date of Imprisonment: November, 2009 Charges: “Assembly and Collusion for Activities Against National Security and Propaganda Against the Regime” Sentence: Six Years
Mohammad Seifzadeh
Name: Mohammad Seifzadeh Occupation: Human Rights Lawyer Date of Imprisonment: October 2010 Charge: Collusion and Assembly with Intent to Disrupt Internal Security; Propagation Activities Against the Regime; and Establishing…
Madjid Tavakkoli
Name: Madjid Tavakkoli Occupation: Student Activist Date of Imprisonment: December 7, 2009 Charge: Participating in an Illegal Gathering; Propaganda Against the System; and Insulting Officials Sentence: Eight and a Half Years…
Hootan Dolati
Name: Hootan Dolati Occupation: Engineer, Journalist Date of Arrest: March 15, 2013 Charge: “Propaganda Against the State” and “Membership in a Banned Group” Sentence: One and a Half Years…
Mohammad-Amin Hadavi
Name: Mohammad-Amin Hadavi Occupation: Publisher, Entrepreneur Date of Imprisonment: December 31, 2011 Charge: “Gathering and Colluding to Disturb National Security” Sentence: Six Years in Prison He was released in…
Omid Behrouzi
Name: Omid Behrouzi Occupation: Lawyer Date of Imprisonment: September 8, 2011 Charge: “Forming an Illegal Group,” “Acting Against National Security,” “Propaganda Against the Regime,” “Insulting the Leader of the…
Emad Bahavar
Name: Emad Bahavar Occupation: Student, Political Activist Date of Sentence: January 10, 2011 Charge: “Propaganda Against the State,” “Insulting the Supreme Leader” Sentence: Seven Years in Prison, and a Ten Year Ban…
Khosro and Massoud Kordpour
Name: Khosro and Massoud Kordpour Occupation: Journalists Date of Imprisonment: March 7 and 9, 2013 Charge: “Propaganda Against the Regime” and “Assembly and Collusion” Sentence: 6 Years Imprisonment and 3.5…
Abdolreza Ghanbari
Name: Abdolreza Ghanbari Occupation: Persian Literature Teacher Date of Imprisonment: December 27, 2009 Charge: Moharebeh (“Enmity Towards God”) Through Participation in the Street Gatherings on Ashura Day and Contact with…
Ayatollah Mohammad Hossein Kazemeini Bouroujerdi
Name: Ayatollah Mohammad Hossein Kazemeini Bouroujerdi Occupation: Clergy Date of Imprisonment: October 7, 2006 Charge: Around 30, Including moharebeh (“Enmity Towards God”); Acts Against National Security and Having Links with…
Vahid Asghari
Name: Vahid Asghari Occupation: Blogger and Information Technology Student Date of Imprisonment: May 2008 Charge: Hosting “Obscene and Blasphemous Websites” Sentence: Death; Sentenced in January 2012 He was released in…
Shiva Nazar Ahari
Name: Shiva Nazar Ahari Occupation: Journalist Date of Imprisonment: September 8, 2012 Charge: “Enmity Against God” Sentence: Four Years in Prison
Nassour Naghipour
Name: Nassour Naghipour Occupation: Student, Website Manager Date of Imprisonment: July 9, 2012 Charge: Propaganda Against the Regime Sentence: Seven Years in Prison He was released in July 2015.
Sayed Ziaoddin (Zia) Nabavi
Name: Sayed Ziaoddin (Zia) Nabavi Date of Imprisonment: June 2009 Occupation: Student Charge: Moharebeh (“Enmity Towards God”) Current Status: Imprisoned Sentence: 10 Years He was released in January 2018. Nabavi co-founded the…
Ali Akbar Mohammadzadeh
Name: Ali Akbar Mohammadzadeh Occupation: Student Activist Date of Imprisonment: February 2011 Charge: Propagating Against the State; Assembly and Collusion Against the State; and Disrupting Public Order Sentence: Six…
Bahareh Hedayat
Name: Bahareh Hedayat Occupation: Student and Women’s Rights Activist Date of Imprisonment: December 31, 2009 Charge: Insulting the Supreme Leader; Insulting the President; Actions Against National Security; Propagation of Falsehoods; and…
Adnan Hassanpour
Name: Adnan Hassanpour Occupation: Journalist Date of Imprisonment: January 25, 2007 Charge: Espionage, “Acting Against National Security,” and “Enmity Against God” Sentence: 15 Years in Prison He was released from jail…
Hakimeh Shokri
Name: Hakimeh Shokri Occupation: Human Rights Activist Date of Imprisonment: October 22, 2012 Charge: “Acting Against National Security” and “Propaganda Against the Regime” Sentence: 3 Years in Prison She was…
Ahmed Reza Hashempour
Name: Ahmed Reza Hashempour Occupation: Website Administrator Date of Imprisonment: 2007 Charge: Membership in Anti-Religion and Blasphemous Websites Sentence: Life in Prison
Faran Hesami
Name: Faran Hesami Occupation: Teacher Date of Imprisonment: July 15, 2012 Charge: Membership in the Baha’i Community, “Colluding to Disturb National Security” Sentence: Five Years in Prison She was…
Abdolfattah Soltani
Name: Abdolfattah Soltani Occupation: Human Rights Lawyer Date of Imprisonment: September 2011 Charge: Propagation Activities Against the Regime; Establishing the Center for Human Rights Defenders; and Endangering National Security…
Majid Dorri
Name: Majid Dorri Date of Imprisonment: July 9, 2009 Occupation: Student Activist Charge: Moharebeh (“Enmity Towards God”); Acting Against National Security; Disrupting Public Order; and…
Afshin Karampour
Name: Afshin Karampour Occupation: Human Rights Lawyer Date of Imprisonment: September 2011 Charge: “Spreading Propaganda Against the System, Insulting the Supreme Leader, and Complicity to Disrupt Public Order” Sentence: Seven…
Masoud Bastani
Name: Masoud Bastani Date of Imprisonment: July 5, 2009 Occupation: Reformist Journalist Charge: Propagating Against the Regime and Congregating and Collusion to Create Anarchy Current Status: Imprisoned Sentence: Six Years He was…
Arash Sadeghi
Name: Arash Sadeghi Occupation: Student Date of Arrest: June 7th, 2016 Charge: “collusion against national security,” “propaganda against the state,” “spreading lies in cyberspace” and…
Mohammad Tavassoli
Name: Mohammad Tavassoli Occupation: Reformist Politician Date of Imprisonment: November 2011 Charge: Disrupting National Security and Propagation Activities Against the Regime Sentence: 11 Years in Prison and a Five Year…
Abolfazl Abedini
Name: Abolfazl Abedini Occupation: Journalist, Activist Date of Imprisonment: Unavailable Charge: Propaganda Against the Regime Sentence: 12 Years in Prison
Kasra Nouri
Name: Kasra Nouri Occupation: Unavailable Date of Imprisonment: March 14, 2012 Charge: “Propaganda Against the Regime”, “Acting Against National Security”, “Membership in a Deviant Group” and “Interviews with Foreign Media”…
Mahboubeh Karami
Name: Mahboubeh Karami Occupation: Journalist Date of Imprisonment: May 15, 2011 Charge: “Assembly with Intent to Harm the State” and “Propagating Against the Regime” Sentence: Three Years in Prison
Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Behrouz Tavakkoli, Vahid Tizfahm,
Name: Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Behrouz Tavakkoli, Vahid Tizfahm, and Mahvash Sabet Occupation: Members of Yaran, the Coordinating Group for the Iranian Baha’i…
Zahra Rahnavard
Name: Zahra Rahnavard Occupation: Reformist Politician Date of Imprisonment: February 2011 Charge: Not Charged Sentence: None Current Status: House Arrest
Saeed Malekpour
Name: Saeed Malekpour Occupation: Software Developer Date of Imprisonment: 2008 Charge: Propaganda Against the Regime by Designing Pornographic Sites; Insulting Sanctities; Insulting the Leader and the President; and Corruption on…
Mansoureh Behkish
Name: Mansoureh Behkish Occupation: Member of Mothers for Peace Date of Imprisonment: June 12, 2011 Charge: Assembling and Conspiring with the Intent to Harm National Security; Propaganda Against the…
Abdollah Momeni
Name: Abdollah Momeni Occupation: Student Activist Date of Imprisonment: June 2009 Charge: Presence at Post-Election Gatherings and Activities Against National Security Sentence: Eight Years Current Status: Released
Nargess Mohammadi
Name: Nargess Mohammadi Occupation: Journalist Date of Imprisonment: April 21, 2012 Charge: Assembly and Collusion Against National Security; Membership in the Center for Human Rights Defenders; and Propaganda Against the Regime…
Mahsa Amrabadi
Name: Mahsa Amrabadi Occupation: Journalist Date of Imprisonment: June 2009 Charge: Propaganda Against the Regime Sentence: Five Years, Four Suspended Current Status: Released on September 2013