Tehran Revolutionary Court sentences four January protest detainees to death
Summary
Four men who were detained during the nationwide protests in January have been sentenced to death by the Tehran Revolutionary Courts, as reported by HRANA. Khosrow Mohammadi-Nia, Masoud Tushmalani, and Sirvan Shabani, all hailing from Kermanshah province, were charged with serious offenses including “moharebeh” or “waging war against God.” This sentencing is part of a troubling trend highlighted in HRANA's September report, which documents a significant number of death sentences and executions against political prisoners linked to the January unrest. Rights groups have expressed grave concerns regarding the judicial practices in these revolutionary courts, citing issues related to due process and standards of evidence. The ongoing crackdown reflects a broader pattern of harsh measures against protest participants amid a climate of intensified enforcement by Iranian authorities.
Analysis
HRANA: HRANA, or Human Rights Activists News Agency, is an independent Iranian organization that monitors and reports on human rights violations, executions, arrests, and judicial proceedings inside Iran. It received and published details on the death sentences issued in the January protest cases from sources within the country. Its reporting highlights patterns of capital punishment against protest participants. Karimi: Karimi is a judge on Branch 23 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court who, along with Judge Taghizadeh, issued the death sentences against three January protest detainees in a joint case. Mehdi Nami: Mehdi Nami is one of four men detained during Iran's January 2026 nationwide protests. He was prosecuted separately by a Tehran Revolutionary Court and sentenced to death on the charge of operating in favor of hostile governments. Taghizadeh: Taghizadeh is a judge on Branch 23 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court who, along with Judge Karimi, issued the death sentences against three January protest detainees in a joint case. Sirvan Shabani: Sirvan Shabani is one of four men detained during Iran's January 2026 nationwide protests. He was arrested in Eslamshahr, tried jointly by Branch 23 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, and sentenced to death on charges including moharebeh and activities favoring hostile states. He is held at Qezel Hesar prison in Karaj and is around 22 years old. Masoud Tushmalani: Masoud Tushmalani is one of four men detained during Iran's January 2026 nationwide protests. He was arrested in Eslamshahr, initially released on bail before re-detention, tried jointly by Branch 23 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, and sentenced to death on charges including moharebeh and activities favoring hostile states. He is held at Qezel Hesar prison in Karaj and is between 30 and 50 years old. Khosrow Mohammadi-Nia: Khosrow Mohammadi-Nia is one of four men detained during Iran's January 2026 nationwide protests. He was arrested in Eslamshahr, tried jointly by Branch 23 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, and sentenced to death on charges including moharebeh and activities favoring hostile states. He is held at Qezel Hesar prison in Karaj and is between 30 and 50 years old. Tehran Revolutionary Court: The Tehran Revolutionary Court is a specialized branch of Iran's judiciary that handles cases involving national security, political offenses, and threats to the Islamic Republic. Branch 23 of the court recently tried and sentenced three men jointly in a protest-related case. It plays a central role in the ongoing judicial proceedings against January 2026 protest detainees. Broader Crackdown: Iranian authorities have intensified enforcement against protest detainees, including transfers to facilities known for harsh conditions, amid a wider pattern of capital punishment for security-related offenses. Judicial Practices: Revolutionary courts have issued multiple death sentences in protest-related cases involving charges such as moharebeh, with rights groups raising concerns over due process and evidence standards. Human Rights Monitoring: HRANA's September 2026 report documented dozens of executions and ongoing cases of death sentences against political prisoners and protesters linked to the January unrest.
Categories
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Related sources
- https://x.com/Hrana_English
- https://x.com/HRANA_English/status/2105632945117573569
- https://www.en-hrana.org/tag/hrana/
- https://dockets.justia.com/docket/district-of-columbia/dcdce/1:2024cv01766/269711
- https://www.amnestyusa.org/press-releases/iran-end-escalating-campaign-of-arbitrary-executions-and-death-sentences-against-protesters/
- https://iran-hrm.com/2026/10/01/iran-human-rights-report-mashhad-executions-torture-criminal-record-of-judge-akbari-moghaddam/
- https://iranwire.com/en/news/155415-eu-sanctions-5-iranian-judges-1-hacker/
- https://www.newsgram.com/world/2026/07/20/iran-judge-mohammad-reza-tavakoli-protester-death-sentences
- https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/iran-death-sentence-january-protests-khamenei-regime-glbs-2873669-2026-02-24
- https://www.en-hrana.org/
- https://www.en-hrana.org/tehran-revolutionary-court-sentences-four-protest-detainees-to-death/
- https://iranwire.com/en/features/157551/
- https://www.en-hrana.org/?s=Iran
- https://www.iranintl.com/en/202501180794
- https://www.en-hrana.org/january-protests-four-defendants-including-one-woman-sentenced-to-death/