Iran Sentences Three Prisoners of Conscience, Including Ethnic Minority Woman, to Death in Tehran

Tehran Court Issues Death Sentences

A court in Tehran has handed down death sentences to three prisoners of conscience, including a woman from Iran's ethnic minorities, on charges of 'waging war against God' (Moharebeh). The sentences were reported by the Norway-based rights group Hengaw on Sunday, October 5, 2025. The individuals identified are Nasimeh Eslamzahi, a woman from Iran's Baluch minority; her husband, Arsalan Sheikhi, from a Kurdish minority community; and a third man identified only as Hassan.

Allegations and Judicial Process

According to Hengaw, the defendants were accused of involvement in a 2023 bus bombing that resulted in the death of an infant. However, all three reportedly denied the charges during their trial. The case was overseen by Judge Abolghasem Salavati, a figure known for issuing severe sentences in political cases. Judge Salavati was sanctioned by the United States in 2019 for his role in what Washington described as 'unfair trials' and numerous death sentences.

Conditions of Detention and Broader Context

Details surrounding the detention of the accused reveal harsh conditions. Nasimeh Eslamzahi is currently held in Gharchak prison near Tehran, while Arsalan Sheikhi and Hassan are detained in Evin Prison in northern Tehran. Hengaw reported that Eslamzahi was pregnant at the time of her arrest and subsequently gave birth to her daughter while in prison. Both she and her infant were reportedly held in solitary confinement for 40 days in a cell described as having poor ventilation and inadequate lighting before being transferred to another ward.

This development follows closely on the heels of other executions in Iran. Just a day prior to these sentences, Iran executed seven political prisoners from ethnic minorities, comprising six Arabs and one Kurd. Human rights organizations have voiced grave concerns over the escalating use of the death penalty in the country. According to Amnesty International, Iranian authorities have executed over 1,000 people so far this year, marking the highest annual figure recorded by the group in at least 15 years. The charge of 'waging war against God' is frequently applied in cases involving political dissidents and ethnic minorities in Iran.