Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); July 29, 2025: A political prisoner named Yaghoub Derakhshan was informed that he has been sentenced to death on the charge of baghy (armed rebellion) in Rasht Central Prison.
According to HRANA News Agency, Yaghoub Derakhshan, a political prisoner held in Rasht (Lakan) Central Prison, was informed of his death sentence on 24 July 2025. Yaghoub was originally arrested and charged with “propaganda against the system” in the summer of 2024, and was released on bail weeks later.
Yaghoub was rearrested in the Spring of this year and charged with baghy (armed rebellion). According to the report, the case was handled with “unusual speed” and “without observing fair trial rights.” He was tried via video conference without his lawyer of choice.
A source close to his family have been quoted as saying, “The judicial process was neither transparent, nor fair or legal. Yaghoub wasn’t given a chance to defend himself, nor were we given accurate information about the status of the case.”
Yaghoub is the fourth political prisoner to receive the death penalty in Rasht Central Prison in the last year. Sharifeh Mohammadi, Manouchehr Fallah and Peyman Farahavar are on death row for security-related charges.
The issuance of death sentences, as well as the implementation of sentences have accelerated since the 12-day war between Israel and the Islamic Republic of Iran.