The Death Sentence Upheld Three Times for Ahad Shokouhian, Detained During This January’s Protests

Breathing in Confinement, Friday, 24 July 2026: The Supreme Court of Iran has upheld the three death sentences imposed on Ahad Shokouhian, one of those arrested during the nationwide protests in Pakdasht in January this year. The sentences, previously issued by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, were confirmed by Branch 9 of the Supreme Court.

According to reporters for Breathing in Confinement, the news outlet of the Prisoners’ Rights League in Iran, Ahad Shokouhian, 38, a worker at the Tehran Flower Market and the sole breadwinner for his family, was arrested on 15 January during the nationwide protests in Pakdasht. He was initially transferred to Khorin Prison in Varamin before being moved to Qezel Hesar Prison in Karaj in June this year.

Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, sentenced Mr Shokouhian to death three times on charges including “acting against national security”, “assembly and collusion to act against national security”, “setting fire to a mosque”, “destruction of public property”, and “participation in the killing of two security personnel”.

According to published reports, the proceedings in his case were marred by serious irregularities. It has been reported that, following his arrest, he was subjected to physical and psychological pressure to obtain forced confessions, and that a substantial part of the prosecution’s case was built upon those alleged confessions.

Reports also indicate that Mr Shokouhian was not present at the scene when the mosque was set on fire and that his arrest resulted from a physical resemblance to another individual alleged to have committed the act. Nevertheless, CCTV footage was not comprehensively examined, and requests for a renewed review of the footage were reportedly rejected.

The case ultimately resulted in three death sentences despite the defendant being denied effective access to legal counsel of his own choosing and the guarantees of a fair and transparent trial. In addition, his medical condition has raised further concerns. Mr Shokouhian suffers from severe asthma, a condition confirmed by the Legal Medicine Organisation, prompting concerns about his detention conditions, his ability to endure imprisonment, and the fairness of the judicial proceedings against him.