Transfer of Three Death Row Prisoners from Urmia Prison to Unknown Locations
2-May-2026
Category: Prisoners
30 April 2026
News Category: Prisoners
Breathing in Confinement: Three prisoners sentenced to death, Nasser Bekrzadeh, Yaghoub Karimpour, and Mehrab Abdollahzadeh, who were being held in Urmia Central Prison, have been transferred separately to undisclosed locations.
According to Breathing in Confinement, the news outlet of the Prisoners’ Rights League in Iran, on the morning of Thursday, 30 April 2026, Nasser Bekrzadeh was summoned to the office responsible for the enforcement of sentences and was subsequently taken out of the ward and transferred to an unknown location. At the same time, Yaghoub Karimpour, a resident of Miandoab and a follower of the Yarsan faith, was taken out of prison under the pretext of being sent to the forensic medicine office, and his current whereabouts remain unknown. Mehrab Abdollahzadeh, who had been held in solitary confinement for the past two days, has also been transferred to an undisclosed location.
The separate and unannounced transfer of these three prisoners has raised concerns about the possible imminent implementation of their death sentences.
Reports indicate that the judicial proceedings in the cases of these three prisoners were marked by shortcomings, including a lack of transparency and restrictions on access to defence rights. It is also reported that they were subjected to pressure during detention to obtain confessions.
Nasser Bakrzadeh, 26, from Urmia, was sentenced to death by Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court on charges of “spying for Israel.” According to reports, his death sentence was upheld by Branch 39 of the Supreme Court and formally communicated to him on 25 April. It has also been reported that he was subjected to pressure and ill-treatment during his detention at the Al-Mahdi detention centre.
Yaghoub Karimpour, a graduate in public law from Miandoab, was sentenced to death by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Urmia on charges of “corruption on earth” through “spying for Israel.” According to the report, his sentence was upheld last month by Branch 9 of the Supreme Court. Sources have stated that he was subjected to pressure during detention to obtain confessions, and that his wife was also detained for a period of time.
Mehrab Abdollahzadeh, 27, from Urmia, was sentenced to death on charges of baghi (“armed rebellion”) by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court. Reports indicate that his request for retrial was recently rejected by Branch 39 of the Supreme Court. It is also reported that, prior to his transfer, he had been held in solitary confinement following a confrontation with prison officers.
Amid rising regional tensions, some officials have referred to exceptional conditions in the security and judicial spheres. In this context, the Head of the Judiciary has announced the adoption of a “wartime posture” and emphasised the acceleration of judicial proceedings and the enforcement of sentences. At the same time, reports indicate an intensification of the security atmosphere, including a significant increase in arrests and a widespread rise in the issuance and implementation of death sentences.