Iran’s regime has sentenced political prisoner Peyman Farahavar to death. This sentence was issued due to his poems, writings, and positions in support of farmers, his protest against environmental destruction, widespread construction of luxury villas, and harmful economic policies in Gilan Province.
Iran Human Rights Society reported on Tuesday, May 6, that political prisoner Peyman Farahavar, a poet from Gilan, was sentenced to death for the charges of “rebellion” (baghi) and “enmity against God” (moharebeh), and to three months of imprisonment for “propaganda against the regime.” This verdict was issued on May 1 in a court session presided over by Judge Ahmad Darvish-Goftar, without the presence of a defense attorney.
Political prisoner Peyman Farahavar, who has a ten-year-old child, was arrested by security forces in August 2024 and, after a period of interrogation by the intelligence department, was transferred to Lakan Prison. He had previously been arrested and sentenced for his activism.
This political prisoner suffers from severe health problems, including complications from gallbladder surgery, lymphatic sensitivity, and intense pain in the surgical area. Despite his critical condition, prison authorities have so far refused to transfer him to medical centers.
Farahavar also suffered internal bleeding during interrogations and remains deprived of proper medical treatment.
He was subjected to severe psychological and physical torture during his detention. Arrested by the IRGC Intelligence on August 17, 2024, he endured a week of intense torture, to the point of losing consciousness and remaining unconscious for 24 hours.
This case is yet another alarming example of death sentences issued against civil and political activists in Iran, without observing the principles of a fair trial and with gross violations of the defendants’ rights.
Judge Ahmad Darvish-Goftar is the head of the Revolutionary Court in Rasht and previously headed the first branch of this court. He has presided over several cases, including those of Manouchehr Fallah and Sharifeh Mohammadi, both of whom were sentenced to death for “rebellion.” Darvish-Goftar also sentenced political prisoner Hamzeh Darvish to 14 years in prison.
According to reports, after Sharifeh Mohammadi’s death sentence was overturned by the Supreme Court, her case was referred to the second branch of the Revolutionary Court in Rasht, where the presiding judge is the son of Ahmad Darvish-Goftar.
