Babak Shahbazi at Imminent Risk of Execution After Transfer to Solitary Confinement
Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); September 16, 2025: Babak Shahbazi, a death row prisoner accused of espionage for Israel, was transferred to an undisclosed location. His daughter, Yasmin Shahbazi, wrote on her X (Twitter) account: “My father has been moved to solitary confinement, most likely in preparation for his execution. If my father is ever executed, it will be an honour for us that he, an innocent man, was killed by these murderers.”
Iran Human Rights warns of the imminent risk of Babak Shahbazi’s execution and calls on the international community, particularly countries with diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic, to take action to save his life.
IHRNGO Director, Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam said: “Babak Shahbazi’s death sentence was issued without a fair trial and on the basis of confessions extracted under torture. This is not only a breach of international law, but also the Islamic Republic’s own laws. The risk of his execution is serious, and only by raising the political cost of his execution for the authorities can his life be saved."
Babak Shahbazi is a 44-year-old father of two arrested on 6 January 2024. According to reports, he was held in solitary confinement for seven months and threatened to arrest his 16-year-old daughter to force him to confess to their accusations on camera. Babak’s father suffered a heart attack from the pressure and threats he was subjected to while trying to save his son. Babak’s message to President Zelenskyy offering to help in the war against Russia was used as an example of espionage for Israel who they claim taught Babak to use Microsoft Word.
On 4 May 2025, Babak was sentenced to death on charges of moharebeh (enmity against god) and efsad-fil-arz (corruption on earth) by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by “Death Judge” Salavati. The sentence was based on Article 6 of the Law on Countering Israeli Actions Against Peace and Security which states that “any intelligence cooperation or espionage in favour of the Zionist regime is considered as moharebeh (enmity against god) and efsad-fil-arz (corruption on earth), and the perpetrator shall be sentenced to the severest punishment.
Babak was denied access to the lawyer his family had hired prior to trial. The defence lawyer was also denied access to the case file. His death sentence was upheld by Branch 39 of the Supreme Court on 1 July 2025. An appeal filed on 2 August was rejected days later, the second appeal was rejected on 21 August and the third appeal was today reported to have been rejected.
On 3 August 2025, the authorities’ attempt to transfer Babak from the Greater Tehran Penitentiary to Ghezelhesar Prison was stopped by his fellow prisoners’ protests. However, he was ultimately transferred to the execution capital days later. It is not clear whether he has been transferred to the pre-execution solitary confinement cells of Ghezelhesar Prison or another location.
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