In the ongoing crackdown on protesters in Iran, Pejman Soltani, a key figure arrested during the nationwide uprising of 2022, has been sentenced to death by the Juvenile Criminal Court in West Azerbaijan Province. Soltani was charged with “premeditated murder,” a controversial verdict that adds to the growing list of political prisoners facing severe punishment. Alongside him, fellow detainees Rezgar Beigzadeh Babamiri and Ali (Soran) Ghasemi were sentenced to 15 years and 10 years plus one day in prison, respectively, while Kaveh Salehi was acquitted of all charges.
Soltani and four others from Bukan were arrested in late April and early May 2023, following their involvement in protests. They were detained by security forces and subjected to severe physical and psychological torture to extract forced confessions. These detainees were also deprived of basic rights, such as family visits and access to legal representation.
In addition to the death sentence, the Revolutionary Court of Urmia has filed another case against these prisoners, including charges such as “Moharebeh” (waging war against God) and “smuggling Starlink devices.” This case is still under review, amid complaints of torture during interrogation.
The trial, which failed to meet international standards for a fair trial, saw the forced confessions of these detainees published by Tasnim News Agency, which is linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). These confessions were obtained under duress and reflect the regime’s efforts to silence dissent.
The global human rights community has raised alarms about these executions and lengthy sentences, urging action to halt them and call for a fair retrial under international supervision. The case highlights the ongoing repression of political dissidents in Iran, with arbitrary arrests, torture, and unfair trials becoming routine in the country’s justice system.
These developments underscore the urgent need for international attention and intervention to safeguard the rights of political prisoners in Iran, demanding the abolition of death sentences, fair trials, and the release of those unjustly imprisoned for their political views.
