Additional Name(s): Abdol Rahim Kouhi, Hafez Abdolrahim Koohi, عبدالرحیم کوهی

Gender: Male

Current Location: Zahedan Prison, Zahedan, Sistan and Baluchestan

Perpetrator: Iran

Ethnic Group: Baluch

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni

Reports of Torture: Yes

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Rejected

Sentence: Death, 10 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: November/20/2015

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials

Abdolrahim Kouhi

Extra Bio Info:

Abdolrahim Kouhi is imprisoned and sentenced to death for his religious belief and activity. 

On November 20, 2015, authorities arrested Kouhi, a Sunni cleric, from his home. Kouhi was reportedly denied access to a lawyer and subjected to prolonged solitary confinement and inhumane detention conditions while detained.  Authorities also reportedly tortured Kouhi into confessing to the alleged crimes they were investigating.

In August/September 2019, it was reported that Kouhi had been sentenced to death and ten years in prison for "armed activity against the Islamic Republic of Iran and sedition."

In January 2020, the Supreme Court reportedly upheld Kouhi's sentence.

In January 2021, reports emerged that Kouhi was at imminent risk of execution; however, there have been no reports of his execution occurring. He is believed to still be in Zahedan Prison.

Kouhi is married with three children.

Related Cases: Amanollah Balochi

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): Amin Mirbalouchzahi, امان‌الله بلوچی

Gender: Male

Current Location: Zahedan Prison, Zahedan, Sistan and Baluchestan

Perpetrator: Iran

Ethnic Group: Baluch

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni

Reports of Torture: Yes

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Rejected

Sentence: Death, 10 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: November/19/2015

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Treason & Sedition

Amanollah Balochi

Extra Bio Info:

Amanollah Balochi is imprisoned and sentenced to death for his religious belief and activity. 

On November 19, 2015, authorities arrested Balochi, a Sunni cleric, on his way home from the Manba-ol-oloom Kouh-e Van seminary. While detained, Balochi was reportedly denied access to a lawyer and subjected to prolonged solitary confinement and inhumane detention conditions.  Authorities also reportedly tortured Balochi into confessing to the alleged crimes they were investigating.

In August/September 2019, it was reported that Balochi had been sentenced to death and ten years in prison for "armed activity against the Islamic Republic of Iran and sedition."

In January 2020, the Supreme Court reportedly upheld Balochi's sentence.

In January 2021, reports emerged that Balochi was at imminent risk of execution; however, there have been no reports of his execution occurring.  He is believed to still be in Zahedan Prison.

Balochi is married with no children.  He is also the son of Habibollah, the Friday Imam for Kiskhour Sarbaz Village.

Related Cases: Abdolrahim Kouhi

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): نازیلا نوری

Gender: Female

Perpetrator: Iran

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sufi

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: Yes

Appeal: Reduced to 1 Year's Imprisonment

Sentence: Originally 5 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: February//2018

Date of Sentencing: May//2019

Date of Release: November/1/2019

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Protesting Religious Freedom Conditions Religious Association

Nature of Charges: Illegal Assembly

Nazila Nouri

Extra Bio Info:

Nazila Nouri was imprisoned for her religious association and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

In February 2018, authorities arrested Nouri following a violent crackdown on people protesting the arrest of Nematollah Riahi. Riahi, a member of the Sufi Gonabadi Order, had come to Tehran earlier in February to participate in a sit-in protesting the house arrest of spiritual leader Noor Ali Tabandeh. Nouri was reportedly charged with "assembling and colluding to act against national security" (Art. 610 IPC). Nouri was reportedly denied access to a lawyer. 

In July 2018, Nouri was reportedly sentenced to five years in prison.

In August 2018, Nouri was released on bail.

In May 2019, Nouri was reportedly arrested again to begin serving her sentence.  It was also reported that the Appeals Court of Tehran reduced her sentence to one year in prison.

On November 1, 2019, Nouri was released.

Nouri was reportedly denied adequate medical care and subjected to attacks and inhumane living conditions during her detention.