The death sentence of Arghavan Fallahi, a 24-year-old political prisoner held in the women’s ward of Evin Prison in Tehran, has been upheld by the Supreme Court, and the decision has been formally communicated to her lawyer. The development comes after months of detention, solitary confinement, and reports of psychological pressure and restrictions on her defense, increasing the risk that her death sentence could now be carried out.
According to published reports, Arghavan Fallahi was sentenced to death on July 1 by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Abolghasem Salavati, on the charge of “baghi” (armed rebellion against the state). The sentence has now been upheld on appeal, and the Supreme Court’s decision has been conveyed to her lawyer.
The Supreme Court’s confirmation marks the end of the ordinary appeals process, although other legal avenues, including a request for judicial review, may still be pursued. However, as of the publication of this report, the Supreme Court branch number, the exact date of the ruling, the full text of the judgment, and the court’s legal reasoning have not been made public. It also remains unclear whether Fallahi’s lawyer has been granted access to the complete case file and the full ruling, limiting independent assessment of the judicial process.
Arrest and detention in solitary confinement
Arghavan Fallahi was arrested by security forces on January 25, 2025, and transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison. According to human rights reports, she was interrogated for a period in Wards 209 and 241 while being held in solitary confinement.
A knowledgeable source had previously reported that Fallahi was subjected to severe psychological pressure during her detention and that interrogators questioned her in an effort to obtain a confession regarding the killings of Judges Mohammad Moghiseh and Ali Razini. Reports concerning psychological pressure and interrogation methods, together with uncertainty surrounding the judicial process, have heightened concerns about respect for her right to a defense and access to a fair trial.
Fallahi has denied these allegations, and earlier reports had also described restrictions on her access to a lawyer and the closed-door nature of the judicial proceedings.
Transfers between prisons
Following the attack on Evin Prison in June 2025, Arghavan Fallahi was first transferred to Tehran Greater Prison in Fashafouyeh and then to Qarchak Prison in Varamin. She was later transferred back to Evin Prison, where she is now being held in the women’s ward.
Previous arrest and conviction
Before the current case, Arghavan Fallahi was arrested with her father in 2022. Her case was heard by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, where she was sentenced to two years in prison on charges of “assembly and collusion” and “propaganda against the regime.” She was released after completing her sentence, but was arrested again in January 2025 and this time faced a death sentence.
Political prisoner Arghavan Fallahi was arrested on accusations of supporting the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) and was subjected to pressure and torture.
Death sentence amid judicial uncertainties
The confirmation of Arghavan Fallahi’s death sentence comes at a time when the details of the Supreme Court’s ruling and its judicial documentation have not been made available to the public. At the same time, reports of months in solitary confinement, psychological pressure, alleged attempts to obtain a confession, and restrictions on her defense have raised serious questions about the handling of her case.
Now that the Supreme Court has upheld the sentence, Arghavan Fallahi faces the risk that her execution could be carried out, deepening concerns about the situation of this young political prisoner and the need for greater transparency regarding her case and the judicial process.
