Iran sentences 25 Turks to more than 49 years in prison over protests

Hengaw – Friday, August 7, 2026

Iranian authorities have sentenced at least 25 Turks from Ardabil to a combined 49 years and 3 months in prison, continuing the crackdown on protesters arrested during the January 2026 protests.

According to information received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, the 25 individuals were arrested by Iranian security forces during the January 2026 protests and were later sentenced to prison by the Revolutionary and Criminal Courts in Ardabil.

At least 10 of those sentenced are currently serving their prison terms in Ardabil Central Prison.

The verified prison sentences are as follows:

• Ahmad Seifi: 5 years and 3 months.
• Peyman Darolizadeh: 3 years and 6 months.
• Abbas Kosari: 3 years and 6 months.
• Ali Ahmadi: 3 years and 6 months (currently imprisoned in Ardabil Central Prison).
• Teymur Ghaznavi: 3 years (currently imprisoned in Ardabil Central Prison).
• Milad Ashkani: 4 years.
• Yashar Soufi: 2 years.
• Amir Mohammad Zadehkhak: 2 years.
• Alireza Hosseini: 2 years.
• Yavar Farahmand (Farahmand): 2 years (currently imprisoned in Ardabil Central Prison).
• Mehram Azarm: 2 years (currently imprisoned in Ardabil Central Prison).
• Masoud Norouzi: 2 years.
• Sina Farzanehvash: 2 years.
• Amirhossein Habibi: 2 years (currently imprisoned in Ardabil Central Prison).
• Farshad Soltani: 2 years.
• Reza Nabidoust: 1 year and 6 months (currently imprisoned in Ardabil Central Prison).
• Amirreza Sharifi: 1 year and 6 months.
• Amirhossein Baghermaleki: 1 year and 6 months (currently imprisoned in Ardabil Central Prison).
• Mehdi Shirani: 1 year.
• Hossein Nemati: 6 months (currently imprisoned in Ardabil Central Prison).
• Ahura Jafarzadeh: 6 months.
• Farid Hamzehzadeh: 6 months.
• Milad Sabri: 6 months (currently imprisoned in Ardabil Central Prison).
• Behzad Majedi: 6 months (currently imprisoned in Ardabil Central Prison).
• Mehran Abbasi: 6 months.