Breathing in Confinement

9 June 2026
News Category: Death Sentences

Breathing in Confinement: Alireza Peghambari, one of those arrested during the January 2026 protests, has been sentenced to death on the charge of moharebeh (“enmity against God”).

According to Breathing in Confinement, the news outlet of the Prisoners’ Rights League in Iran, Alireza Peghambari, a political prisoner currently held in Greater Tehran Prison, has been sentenced to death by Branch 23 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court on the charge of moharebeh.

Alireza Peghambari, 26, was arrested by security forces on 9 January 2026 during the nationwide protests. After a period in detention, he was temporarily released on bail in March.

The first court hearing in his case was held in early May before Branch 23 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court. A second hearing took place later that month. Following the conclusion of the second session, Mr Peghambari was re-arrested and transferred to Greater Tehran Prison.

According to available information, shortly after the second hearing, the court issued a death sentence against him on the charge of moharebeh. The case is currently under review by Branch 9 of the Supreme Court.

According to published reports, Mr Peghambari was present in the area where he was arrested after finishing work and while returning home. At the time, the streets were reportedly crowded due to gatherings and congestion related to the protests. Informed sources have emphasised that his presence in the area does not necessarily indicate participation in the demonstrations or involvement in the violent acts attributed to him.

As of the time of publication, no detailed information has been made public regarding the evidence presented before the court, the basis of the prosecution’s case, or the manner in which the charge of moharebeh was established. Furthermore, the issuance of a death sentence after the defendant had previously been granted temporary release on bail has raised questions concerning fair trial principles and the proportionality of the pre-trial measures applied in the case.

Under Iranian law, the charge of moharebeh requires the establishment of specific elements, including the use of a weapon with the intention of creating fear and insecurity within society. In the absence of transparency regarding the evidence and documentation in the case, it remains difficult to independently assess whether the conduct attributed to the defendant satisfies the legal elements of this offence.