Death Sentences Confirmed for Three Iranian Political Prisoners in Ahvaz

Confirmation of Death Sentences

On November 14, 2025, the death sentences for three political prisoners, Farshad Etemadifar, Masoud Jamei, and Alireza Mardasi, were officially confirmed and communicated to them at Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz, Iran. This development has intensified concerns among human rights organizations regarding their imminent execution. The Supreme Court reportedly upheld these sentences.

The initial sentences were issued on July 11, 2025, by Branch 1 of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Adibimehr. Each of the three men received two death sentences and an additional year in prison.

Charges and Legal Proceedings

The charges leveled against Etemadifar, Jamei, and Mardasi include:

• 'Corruption on earth' (Efsad fel-arz)
• 'Moharebeh' (waging war against God)
• 'Supporting and sympathizing with the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK)'
• 'Propaganda against the state'
• 'Assembly and collusion against national security'

Human rights reports indicate that the legal process has been marred by severe violations of due process. These include prolonged detention, alleged torture, and the extraction of coerced confessions, which reportedly formed the basis for the convictions. The trials were conducted behind closed doors, and the prisoners were allegedly denied access to independent legal counsel.

Profiles of the Prisoners

Farshad Etemadifar, 30 years old and from Basht in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, was arrested on June 16, 2023. He had previously been arrested in 2018 and served 20 months in prison.

Masoud Jamei, 48 years old, is a father of four and a former oil-field guard. He was arrested in August 2023. He reportedly suffers from severe health conditions, including advanced stomach cancer, liver and kidney dysfunction, internal infection, and high blood pressure, and has been denied adequate medical treatment.

Alireza Mardasi, 52 years old, is a veteran schoolteacher from Kuy-e Abuzar in Ahvaz. He was arrested in August 2023. He reportedly suffers from severe respiratory and allergic conditions and has also been denied necessary medical care.

In the same case, two other defendants, Saman Hormatnejad and Davoud Hormatnejad, received prison sentences of 12 and 15 years, respectively.

Human Rights Concerns

The cases of Etemadifar, Jamei, and Mardasi highlight broader concerns about the use of the death penalty against political prisoners in Iran. Human rights organizations consistently report systematic violations of fundamental rights, including the denial of access to independent legal counsel, torture during interrogation, reliance on forced confessions, and non-transparent court proceedings.

The denial of adequate medical care to prisoners, particularly those with critical health conditions like Masoud Jamei and Alireza Mardasi, has also been a recurring point of criticism from international observers.