Death Sentences of Two Political Prisoners Arrested During the 2022 Protests Upheld by the Supreme Court
30-May-2026
Category: Death Sentence
30 May 2026
News Category: Death Sentences
Breathing in Confinement: The death sentences of two political prisoners, Raouf Sheikh Maroufi and Mohammad Faraji, who were arrested in connection with the 2022 protests, have been upheld by the Supreme Court.
According to Breathing in Confinement, the news outlet of the Prisoners’ Rights League in Iran, the Supreme Court has upheld the death sentences issued against the two political prisoners, Raouf Sheikh Maroufi and Mohammad Faraji.
The two defendants had previously been sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court of Mahabad. Following the initial ruling, the Supreme Court overturned the verdict and referred the case to the Revolutionary Court of Miandoab for retrial. However, after the court again issued death sentences, the Supreme Court subsequently upheld the verdicts and referred the case to the enforcement branch for implementation.
Raouf Sheikh Maroufi was arrested by security forces in the city of Bukan on 26 December 2022. He was sentenced to death by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Mahabad on charges of moharebeh (“enmity against God”) and efsad-e fel-arz (“corruption on earth”).
Mohammad Faraji, an auto mechanic, was arrested in Bukan on 21 February 2024 and was subsequently sentenced to death by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Mahabad on similar charges, including moharebeh and efsad-e fel-arz.
According to published reports, the two political prisoners were subjected to pressure and torture during their detention in an effort to obtain forced confessions. They were also reportedly denied access to independent legal representation of their choosing, and the proceedings in their case were marked by violations of fair trial standards.