On Thursday, June 25, human rights organizations warned of the risk that death sentences against five political prisoners held in Lakan Prison in Rasht could be carried out.
According to reports by human rights activists, Manouchehr Fallah, a political prisoner from Rasht, has been sentenced to death on charges of moharebeh (enmity against God) through actions deemed to be against national security. Peyman Farahavar, a 37-year-old poet from Rasht, has also been sentenced to death on charges of "baghi" (armed rebellion) and "moharebeh", and his sentence has reportedly been upheld by Iran's Supreme Court.
In addition, Karim Khojasteh, a 62-year-old political prisoner from Khomam, has been sentenced to death on charges of baghi, while Yaghoub Derakhshan, a political prisoner from Bandar Anzali, has likewise received a death sentence on the same charge.
Zahra Shahbaz Tabari, a 68-year-old electrical engineer and civil activist from Rasht, is also facing a death sentence on charges of baghi through what authorities have described as membership in the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK).
According the report, the five prisoners were denied full access to legal counsel during judicial proceedings, and their death sentences were issued without transparent or verifiable evidence being publicly presented.
Expressing concern over the increasing number of executions in Iran, They called on the international community to respond to the situation of these prisoners and to the growing trend of issuing and carrying out death sentences in the country.
