Severe Beating and Solitary Confinement of Mehdi Vafaee Sani; Rising Pressure on Political Prisoners After Recent Executions

According to the Iran Human Rights Society, political prisoner Mehdi Vafaee Sani was abruptly removed from Ward 7 of Evin Prison on April 11, 2026, and transferred to solitary confinement in Unit 3 of Ghezel Hesar Prison. Reports indicate that the transfer involved severe physical assault and denial of access to personal belongings and essential medication.

How the Transfer Occurred

Vafaee Sani was summoned without prior notice and transferred suddenly. Sources report that the reason for the transfer was the holding of a memorial ceremony for six recently executed political prisoners and distributing food among inmates — an act that triggered a harsh security response.

Beatings During Transfer

Vafaee Sani and several other political prisoners — including Miryousef Younesi, Mohsen Pirayesh, Vahid Sorkh‑Gol, and Ali Sheidaei — were reportedly beaten while handcuffed and shackled during the transfer from Evin. Witness accounts describe bleeding from the ears, mouth, and nose due to the severity of the assaults.

Conditions in Ghezel Hesar

The prisoners were taken to Unit 3, reportedly controlled by intelligence agencies. Reports describe forced head‑shaving, torture, restricted access to necessities, and confinement in small, overcrowded cells.

Vafaee Sani is currently held with several others — including Abolfazl Rahbari, Omid Rahbari, Farshid Dolatyari, and two unidentified prisoners — in a single cell. There is no reliable information about their current health conditions.

Increased Pressure After Executions

These developments follow a series of recent executions of political prisoners, after which pressure and restrictions inside prisons have intensified. Observers believe these actions aim to prevent collective protest or memorial gatherings inside detention facilities.

Case Background

Mehdi Vafaee Sani, born in 1984, was arrested in June 2022 and sentenced to six years in prison on charges of “propaganda against the state” and “assembly and collusion.” His mother, Shiva Esmaeili, is serving a ten‑year sentence, and his cousin Mohammad‑Javad Vafaee Sani faces a death sentence.

Human Rights Violations Identified

• Article 5, UDHR – Prohibition of torture
• Article 9 – Right to liberty and security
• Article 25 – Right to health
• Article 1 – Human dignity