Armin Nourmohammadi, a political prisoner held in Evin Prison, sentenced to death
22-January-2026
Category: Prisoners
22 January 2026
News Group: Prisoners –
Breathing in Confinement– Armin Nourmohammadi, a political prisoner currently held in Evin Prison, 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, Ali Sharifzadeh Ardakani, his defence lawyer, stated that Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Abolghasem Salavati, issued the death sentence based on Note 1 of Article 687 of the Islamic Penal Code. The verdict was communicated to his lawyer on Monday, 19 January.
In an interview with the newspaper Shargh, the lawyer explained that Armin Nourmohammadi was arrested in 2023, after the 2022 protests, along with eight other individuals in Islamshahr. The main charge in this case is alleged participation in setting fire to two ATM machines belonging to Bank Sepah; an incident which, according to the lawyer, resulted in limited financial damage, a fact that has also been confirmed. He further emphasised that no solid or credible evidence has been presented regarding the other charges brought against his client.
According to the lawyer, Armin Nourmohammadi’s father fully compensated the damages and obtained the consent of Bank Sepah, thereby concluding the matter of financial loss. Nevertheless, the court ultimately issued a death sentence against him.
Sharifzadeh Ardakani added that the other defendants in this case were sentenced to lengthy prison terms and have all been released on bail, while Armin Nourmohammadi has remained in pretrial detention since 2023.
This ruling is a preliminary verdict and is subject to appeal and review.
Issuing a death sentence in a case where financial damages have been compensated and where the existence of the serious charge of moharebeh is legally questionable is inconsistent with the principle of proportionality between crime and punishment. The application of the death penalty under such circumstances is considered contrary to the right to life and to fair trial standards set out in international human rights instruments.