Concern Over Fate of Death Row Espionage Defendants Ehsan Afrashteh and Mehdi Farid
Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); November 22, 2025: Ehsan Afrashteh, a prisoner accused of espionage whose death sentence has been upheld, was violently transferred from the general ward to security ward 241 on 10 November 2025. In addition, Mehdi Farid, another prisoner accused of espionage who has also been sentenced to death, was transferred to Ghezelhesar Prison on the same day.
Recalling the rise in executions of those accused of espionage in recent months, Iran Human Rights expresses concern about the fate of the two death row prisoners and calls on the international community to act to save their lives.
Since 30 April 2025, the Islamic Republic has executed at least 12 people on charges of efsad-fil-arz and moharebeh through espionage for Israel.
Ehsan Afrashteh
Ehsan Afrashteh, 31, is a civil engineering graduate who reportedly worked in cybersecurity, open-source intelligence analysis, penetration testing and scale model building prior to his arrest. According to his cellmate, Mehdi Mahmoudian: “After leaving the country and living in Turkiye, once he realised that foreign services were exploiting him, Ehsan Afrashteh decided, following his father’s talks with security agencies and in coordination with them, to return to Iran voluntarily.” Upon return, Ehsan turned himself in, was arrested and held in solitary confinement for five months. During that time, interrogators reportedly filmed his “confession” by placing a whiteboard in front of him and compelling him to repeat prewritten statements on camera for approximately two hours. He was threatened that, if he did not comply, several assassination operations would be attributed to him. Interrogators allegedly used private images to coerce him and to pressure his family. An examining investigator is said to have told him he would receive between two and ten years, and a television producer or interrogator promised no more than seven years and an early pardon, assurances that were not honoured.
The indictment reportedly alleged the transmission of more than 40 “top secret, secret and highly confidential” documents which Ehsan categorically denies. According to reports, his actual conduct consisted of warning independent websites of impending state cyberattacks. He has stated: “I came of my own accord. My correspondence exists. I was told I would not be harmed. Contrary to the indictment, I did not give any confidential state document to anyone.”
According to reports, Ehsan did not have access to a lawyer of his choice and was represented by a court-appointed lawyer at trial. He was sentenced to death by “Death Judge” Salavati in late June 2025 which was upheld by Branch 39 of the Supreme Court. Branch 9 of the Supreme Court subsequently rejected his first appeal. Ehsan’s father suffered a fatal heart attack after hearing of his son’s death conviction.
Mehdi Farid
Mehdi Farid is a 48-year-old Arak native. He was working at the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran when he was arrested on 31 May 2023. Despite reportedly fully collaborating with authorities, Mehdi was initially sentenced to ten years imprisonment by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court. Upon retrial, he was sentenced to death on charges of espionage for Israel by Branch 23 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court following his trial on 28 July 2025. According to reports, Mehdi is currently awaiting the result of an appeal. He is currently held in Ghezelhesar Prison, where he is under a visitation ban.
Since 30 April 2025, the Islamic Republic has executed 12 people on charges of efsad-fil-arz and moharebeh through espionage for Israel (Article 6 of the Law on Countering Israeli Actions Against Peace and Security).
In order of execution: Mohsen Langarneshin, Pedram Madani, Esmail Fekri, Majid Mosayebi, Mohammad Amin Mahdavi Shayesteh, Edris Ali, Azad Shojaei, Rasoul Ahmad Rasoul, Rouzbeh Vadi, Babak Shahbazi, Bahram Choobi and Javad Naeimi.