The Rasht Revolutionary Court once again sentenced Zahra Tabari, a 68-year-old political prisoner, to death. This sentence was issued while reports indicate a short trial, the judge leaving the session, continuous pressures in prison and deprivation of her from regular family visits.
Iran Human Rights Society, Sunday 31 May 2026 – Zahra Tabari, a 68-year-old political prisoner held in Lakan Prison in Rasht, was once again sentenced to death by the Rasht Revolutionary Court. This sentence was notified to her while she had previously been sentenced to death in a short trial without the presence of her chosen lawyer. Informed sources say that the re-examination process of the case not only did not resolve the existing ambiguities but once again repeated the previous sentence. At the same time, reports of continuous pressures in prison, harassment of this political prisoner and deprivation of her from weekly visits have been published.
Why Was Zahra Tabari Sentenced to Death Again?
According to published reports, Branch Two of the Rasht Revolutionary Court once again sentenced Zahra Tabari to death in recent days. This sentence was issued following the referral of the case from the Supreme Court to another branch of the Revolutionary Court.
Zahra Tabari had previously been sentenced to death in October 2025 by Branch One of the Rasht Revolutionary Court, presided over by Ahmad Darvishgoftar, on the charge of “baghy through membership and activity in the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran.”
Following the publication of the news of this sentence and extensive protests by human rights institutions and political activists, the case was referred for re-examination to Branch Two of the Rasht Revolutionary Court. However, the new court ultimately confirmed the same death sentence.
How Was the Retrial Court Held?
The Judge Leaving the Court in the Middle of the Court Session
According to informed sources, the re-examination session of Zahra Tabari’s case was held on 27 April 2026 in Branch Two of the Rasht Revolutionary Court.
This session lasted only about half an hour and as sources have reported, in the middle of the session, Mohammad Ali Darvishgoftar, the judge of the case and the son of Ahmad Darvishgoftar, left the court session.
Human rights activists consider this issue as a sign of disregard for the principles of fair trial and legal formalities. They emphasize that in a case with such sensitivity and importance, full compliance with judicial protocols and careful consideration of the defendant’s defenses is among the most basic requirements of a fair trial.
Also, according to reports, one of the security interrogators after the end of the proceedings told Zahra Tabari that they had been waiting for nearly a month for the final response regarding the case and ultimately the issued sentence was confirmed.
Continuous Pressures on Zahra Tabari in Prison
Simultaneously with the judicial proceedings, reports of intensified pressures against Zahra Tabari in prison have been published.
According to informed sources and some prisoners, prison officials have tried to make conditions more difficult for this political prisoner by using their collaborator prisoners. These sources say that Zahra Tabari has faced harassment, psychological pressure and annoying behaviors from individuals affiliated with prison management many times in recent months.
Human rights activists consider these actions as part of unofficial pressures against political prisoners; pressures that are sometimes applied with the aim of breaking the prisoner’s spirit and increasing her isolation.
Deprivation from Weekly Visits and Communication with Family
Another concern raised regarding Zahra Tabari’s situation is the restriction in her communication with family.
According to published information, the visits of this political prisoner are not carried out regularly and she has been deprived of the weekly visits that are considered for many prisoners.
Depriving a prisoner of regular communication with family members, in addition to its mental and psychological effects on the prisoner, also imposes additional pressure on her relatives.
Civil activists believe that restricting visits and contact with family is one of the tools used in the cases of many political prisoners to increase pressure on them.
Who Is Zahra Tabari?
Zahra Tabari, 68 years old, is an electrical engineer and holds a master’s degree in sustainable energy from Borås University in Sweden.
She was arrested in March 2025 following a raid by security forces on her home in Rasht. This was not the first time she had faced security confrontations. Zahra Tabari had previously been arrested in May 2022 and sentenced to 18 months in prison.
Now, with the re-confirmation of the death sentence, concerns about the fate of this political prisoner have increased and human rights activists have called for the cancellation of the sentence and fair proceedings of her case.
Human Rights Violations in Zahra Tabari’s Case; Unfair Trial, Prison Pressures and Deprivation of Communication with Family
Zahra Tabari’s case contains numerous instances of violation of the fundamental rights of defendants and political prisoners from a human rights perspective. Existing reports show that the judicial proceedings, prison conditions and restrictions applied against her are far from recognized human rights standards.
Violated Articles
- Violation of the Right to a Fair Trial – Article 10 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:Holding a short trial, issuing a death sentence after limited proceedings and the judge leaving the session in the middle of the trial have raised serious questions about compliance with the principles of fair trial.
- Violation of the Right to Benefit from a Chosen Lawyer – Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights:Trial without effective access to a chosen lawyer is considered one of the most important violations of the defense rights of defendants in political cases.
- Violation of the Right to Communication with Family – United Nations Minimum Standard Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Nelson Mandela Rules):Deprivation of weekly visits and restricting regular communication with family is considered an example of violation of prisoners’ rights.
- Violation of the Prohibition of Humiliating Behaviors and Psychological Harassment – Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:Applying pressure, creating harassment through collaborator prisoners and increasing psychological pressures against the prisoner can be an example of inhuman and degrading behaviors.
- Violation of the Right to Life – Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:Issuing and confirming a death sentence in conditions where the proceedings process has been accompanied by numerous ambiguities regarding compliance with defense rights places the fundamental right to life under threat.
See also the below articles:
- Sajjad and Shayan Veysi; Charge of Enmity Against God Against Two Yarsani Activists After Months of Detention in Kermanshah
- Mohammad Zanganeh Was Sentenced to 3.5 Years in Prison; Continuation of Suppression of Detainees from Protests in Mashhad
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