Yahgoub Derakhshan, a political prisoner and supporter of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) held in Lakan Prison in Rasht, has once again been sentenced to death by Iran’s regime judiciary. The sentence was issued by Branch Two of the Rasht Revolutionary Court, presided over by Mohammad Ali Darvish-Goftar, and has been formally communicated to him.
According to published reports, the proceedings in Yahgoub Derakhshan’s case were conducted via videoconference, and he was denied access to legal counsel during the trial. Human rights sources have described the process as lacking the standards of a fair trial.
Yaqub Derakhshan, 51, was arrested in April 2025 and several months later, in August 2025, was sentenced to death on the charge of baghi (armed rebellion against the state) by Branch One of the Rasht Revolutionary Court, presided over by Ahmad Darvish-Goftar. That trial was also conducted remotely via videoconference.
Following the initial ruling, Iran’s Supreme Court referred the case in November 2025 to Branch Two of the Rasht Revolutionary Court for reconsideration. However, the new branch ultimately upheld and reissued the death sentence.
Human rights activists and organizations have expressed concern about the situation of this political prisoner and warned that the renewed confirmation of the sentence has increased the risk of his execution. Meanwhile, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), an Iranian opposition coalition, has called for intervention by international human rights bodies and urgent action to prevent the implementation of the sentence.
