Third Death Sentence Issued for Political Prisoner Mohammad Javad Vafaei Thani in Mashhad

Reports from Mashhad Prison indicate that the judicial system of the Islamic Republic of Iran has issued a death sentence for political prisoner Mohammad Javad Vafaei Thani for the third time.

Mohammad Javad Vafaei Thani, 29, a boxing champion and coach from Mashhad and a supporter of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), was arrested in March 2020. Since his detention, he has reportedly endured severe physical and psychological torture.

He was first sentenced to death in January 2022 by Branch 4 of the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad on charges of “corruption on earth” and “destruction of government property.” After multiple referrals of his case between the Supreme Court and various Revolutionary Court branches, on September 18, 2024, his death sentence was formally issued for the third time by two judges, Saadi Makan and Yazdan Khahar, and officially communicated to him.

In the same week, Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran also sentenced two other political prisoners, Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani, to death.

Human rights observers say that the escalation of death sentences against political prisoners reflects increasing pressure by the government on political opponents and a flagrant violation of human rights in Iran.

In response, the National Council of Resistance of Iran has called on the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the UN Special Rapporteur on Iran, an international fact-finding committee, and the European Union to take urgent and effective action to save the lives of Mohammad Javad Vafaei Thani, Behrouz Ehsani, Mehdi Hassani, and other political prisoners at risk of execution.

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