Breathing in Confinement

Ahmadreza Djalali Transferred to Unknown Location, Fears Mount Over Imminent Execution

25-June-2025

Category: Prisoners

 

25 June 2025
News outlet: Prisoners –
Breathing in Confinement – Ahmadreza Djalali, a death row prisoner, has been transferred to an undisclosed location.

According to Breathing in Confinement, the news outlet of the Prisoners’ Rights League in Iran, Ahmadreza Djalali—a dual Iranian-Swedish national and academic who has been sentenced to death for allegedly spying for Israel—was transferred on Monday from Greater Tehran Prison to an unknown location. This transfer has raised serious concerns about the possible imminent execution of his death sentence.

Previously held in Evin Prison, Djalali was moved to Greater Tehran Prison on Monday, 23 June, along with a number of other political prisoners. However, shortly thereafter, judicial authorities transferred him without any official announcement or explanation.

Mai Sato, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, expressed concern over reports that Djalali’s execution may be carried out in the near future. She warned that such an act could amount to “state hostage-taking.” According to Sato, the legal process in this and similar cases reflects a troubling pattern of using the death penalty as a political tool in Iran’s international dealings.

Ahmadreza Djalali was arrested in 2016 during an academic visit to Iran and later sentenced to death on charges of espionage for Israel. International human rights organisations, including the United Nations and Amnesty International, have repeatedly condemned the case, citing an unfair trial, allegations of torture to extract confessions, and the political use of dual nationals’ cases in Iran.

The recent escalation in tensions between the Islamic Republic and Israel, along with a directive from judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei to expedite similar national security cases, may signal that the execution could be imminent.