Continued Judicial Pressure on Lawyers: Nine Lawyers in Gilan Sentenced to Prison

Breathing in Confinement, Thursday, 24 September 2026: Nine lawyers in Gilan Province have been sentenced to a combined total of more than 14 years in prison.

According to Breathing in Confinement, the news outlet of the Prisoners’ Rights League in Iran, Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court in Rasht sentenced nine lawyers in Gilan Province to a combined total of 14 years, seven months and 15 days in prison in connection with a joint case.

According to available information, the lawyers subject to these sentences are Masoumeh Pourshahrani, Tahereh Pouresmaeili, Shadi Falahati, Gholamhossein Layeghi, Hesam Ahmadpour, Ladan Asefi-Rad, Mohammadreza Tak, Kian Taherajaroud, and an individual with the surname “Dalili,” whose first name is not known.

The prison sentences in this case come after several of the lawyers had previously been arrested amid security-related measures targeting lawyers in Rasht.

Hesam Ahmadpour, Masoumeh Pourshahrani and Tahereh Pouresmaeili were arrested by security forces in Rasht in late August 2025 and transferred to Lakan Prison. All three were released on bail after several days.

Mohammadreza Tak was also arrested on 30 August 2025 and was released in early October of that year after being held for a period in Lakan Prison in Rasht.

Shadi Falahati was arrested by security forces on 26 August 2025, at the same time as several other lawyers in Rasht, and was released some time later.

At present, full details of the charges brought against each of the nine lawyers, the precise terms of the sentences, and whether they are able to appeal the rulings are not available.

These sentences have been issued amid human rights reports indicating increased judicial and security pressure on lawyers in Iran. According to a report published by HRANA entitled “One Year of Pressure on Lawyers: At Least 135 Lawyers Targeted by Judicial and Security Measures,” at least 135 lawyers in Iran faced measures including arrest, summons, prosecution, prison sentences, bans on practising law, and travel bans between August 2025 and August 2026.

From a human rights perspective, the continuation of such measures against lawyers raises concerns regarding the independence of the legal profession, the right to effective legal representation, and citizens’ access to independent lawyers.