Mohammad Seifzadeh

Age: 75

Activism/right: Human rights lawyer

Status: Awaiting sentencing

Judicial status: 1 year imprisonment 

Violations: Judicial harassment, torture, arbitrary arrest and detention, lack of due process, unfair trial, denial of medical care

Mohammad Seifzadeh is a veteran lawyer and co-founders of the Centre for the Defence of Human Rights in Iran who has previously jailed 13 times for his human rights work. He was sentenced to nine years imprisonment and a ten-year ban from practicing law for charges of “acting against national security” by establishing the Centre for Human Rights Defenders in October 2010. Two years later, he was sentenced to a further six years imprisonment by “death judge” Salavati for charges of “assembly and collusion against national security” for signing a group letter in defence of Iranian people’s rights from inside prison. In December 2022, following the execution of protester Mohsen Shekari on 8 December, 45 Iranian activists including the lawyer, signed a letter to the UN Secretary-General calling for a strong reaction to stop the execution machine and repression of the “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests. He was sentenced to a year imprisonment for charges of “propaganda against the system” and “publishing lies to disturb public minds” by Branch 29 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court presided by Judge Ali Mazloum. His sentence was upheld by Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals shortly after. Both trials took place in absentia as he refused to attend or send a legal representative. He was summoned to sign a repentance letter and seek the Supreme Leader's amnesty after his sentence was upheld, which he refused to do. He is currently waiting for the Forensic Medical Organisation's assessment of his fitness to serve his sentence. He was previously ruled unfit to serve but was nevertheless forced to complete his sentence.