TEHRAN, IRAN — The Supreme Court of Iran has confirmed the death sentence of political prisoner Babak Shahbazi, who is currently held in Tehran’s Greater Prison. Shahbazi was convicted of espionage, specifically for allegedly spying for Israel, a charge he has consistently denied.
According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), citing BBC Persian, Iranian authorities have ordered Shahbazi’s transfer to Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj following the final verdict.
Shahbazi was arrested in January 2024 and initially held in Evin Prison. After an Israeli airstrike targeted the prison, he and several other political prisoners were relocated to Tehran’s Greater Prison.
One of the claims reportedly used to support the espionage charge was that Shahbazi had sent a message to the President of Ukraine, though details of the message have not been publicly disclosed. Throughout the judicial process, Shahbazi has rejected all allegations against him.
Human rights organizations have raised concerns about the fairness of his trial and the lack of transparency in espionage cases in Iran.
