Arghavan Falahi, Political Prisoner, After Months of Detention, Solitary Confinement, Security Interrogations, and Transfers Between Several Prisons, Sentenced to Death by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court Presided Over by Judge Salavati. This Ruling Has Increased Concerns About the Situation of Political Prisoners and the Process of Handling Security Cases.
Iran Human Rights Society, Friday 3 July 2026 – Arghavan Falahi, political prisoner and supporter of the Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization, on 2 July 2026 was sentenced to death by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court presided over by Judge Salavati. This ruling was issued after months of detention, long-term imprisonment in solitary confinement, security interrogations, and restrictions on access to a lawyer. Her case during the past months has been accompanied by reports about security pressures, deprivation of contact with family, and transfers between various prisons.
Why Was Arghavan Falahi Sentenced to Death?
Based on published reports, the death sentence for Arghavan Falahi on 2 July 2026 was notified through her lawyer. This ruling was issued in Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court presided over by Judge Salavati. Based on available information, the charges brought against her include “propaganda activity against the regime” and “support for an organization opposed to the regime.” The issuance of this ruling has created fresh concerns about the process of handling security cases and the issuance of heavy sentences against political prisoners.
How Did Arghavan Falahi’s Arrest Process Begin?
Arghavan Falahi was arrested in Tehran on 25 January 2025 by security forces. Based on reports, her arrest, interrogation, and initial handling of the case were carried out directly under the supervision of the intelligence forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the intelligence organization of the judiciary. In the first months of detention, she was held in solitary confinement in Ward 241 of Evin Prison and underwent intensive interrogations. According to human rights sources, her long-term holding in solitary confinement was carried out with the aim of applying psychological pressure and breaking her resistance.
To Which Prisons Was Arghavan Falahi Transferred After Her Arrest?
After the end of the first stage of interrogations, Arghavan Falahi was transferred to solitary confinement in Fashafouyeh Prison (Tehran Great Prison). This prison in recent years has repeatedly been criticized by human rights institutions due to population density, unsuitable sanitary conditions, and reports related to violence against prisoners. During this period, her contact with family was completely cut off and even her lawyer was not allowed to meet with her. Nasrollah Falahi, Arghavan’s father, who is himself serving his sentence, had announced in one of the telephone contacts that a two billion toman bail had been set for his daughter; but the process of handling the case is proceeding in such a way that her temporary release is practically not possible. After about two months of no news, it finally became clear that Arghavan Falahi had been transferred to the women’s political ward of Qarchak Varamin Prison. Although this transfer meant the end of the solitary confinement period, reports indicate that the conditions of Qarchak Prison are still accompanied by extensive problems.
How Has Arghavan Falahi’s Detention Situation in Qarchak Prison Been Reported?
Published reports indicate that the women’s ward of Qarchak Prison faces chronic problems including population density, unsanitary conditions, low quality food, lack of clean water, and restricted access to medical services. Human rights sources have also reported that the principle of separation of crimes is not fully observed in this prison and political prisoners are in some cases held alongside convicts of violent crimes; an issue that has created concerns about their physical safety. Despite the transfer to Qarchak, security restrictions against Arghavan Falahi have continued and she is still deprived of some basic rights of prisoners, including regular contact with family and free access to a lawyer. Informed sources have also reported the continuation of the effects of psychological and mental pressures resulting from months of interrogation and solitary confinement on her physical and mental condition.
What Is the History of Arrests in the Falahi Family?
Arghavan Falahi’s case is not limited to her recent arrest. She was first arrested in November 2022 along with her father Nasrollah Falahi, her brother Ardavan Falahi, and their family friend Parvin Mirasan during a trip from Isfahan to Shiraz. These four people, after transfer to detention centers in Isfahan, according to sources, were subjected to pressure and torture. Their case was examined in a branch of the Tehran Revolutionary Court presided over by Judge Iman Afshari and ultimately the following sentences were issued: Nasrollah Falahi: four years imprisonment Arghavan Falahi: two years imprisonment Ardavan Falahi: one year imprisonment Parvin Mirasan: four years imprisonment The charges raised in that case also included membership in the Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization and propaganda against the regime.
Legal Examination of the Case Based on Domestic Laws Introduction
Before examining this case legally, it should be noted that many criminal laws in the ruling dictatorship, especially in political, security, and death penalty cases, have been criticized by international human rights institutions due to incompatibility with the principles of fair trial, the right to life, and fundamental freedoms. However, even based on these same domestic laws, security and judicial authorities in many cases do not adhere to legal requirements, the defense rights of the accused, and trial formalities, and numerous reports of violation of even those same laws have been published.
Legal Ambiguities of the Case
In Arghavan Falahi’s case, long-term holding in solitary confinement, restriction on access to a lawyer, cutting off contact with family, continuation of security interrogations, and issuance of a death sentence in a political case are among the most important legal ambiguities of this case. Also, reports related to the application of psychological pressures, the possibility of torture to obtain confessions, and continuous restrictions in contact with the lawyer highlight the necessity of an independent examination of the judicial process.
Related Legal Provisions
Principle 32 of the Constitution: The arrest of individuals must be carried out in accordance with the law and with observance of legal formalities. Principle 35 of the Constitution: All accused have the right to choose a lawyer. Principle 37 of the Constitution: The principle is innocence unless the crime is proven in a competent court. Principle 38 of the Constitution: Any torture for obtaining confession or gaining information is prohibited. Principle 39 of the Constitution: Violating the dignity of arrested and imprisoned individuals is prohibited.
Cases of Law Violation
Long-term holding in solitary confinement. Deprivation of effective access to a lawyer. Cutting off contact with family in the initial stages of arrest. Application of severe psychological pressures during the interrogation period. Issuance of a death sentence in a case with numerous ambiguities in the handling process.
Why Does Arghavan Falahi’s Case Matter from a Human Rights Perspective? Arghavan Falahi’s case
from a human rights perspective encompasses a set of concerns about arrest, solitary confinement, restriction on access to a lawyer, the possibility of psychological torture, and the issuance of a death sentence in a political case. Human rights institutions have repeatedly emphasized that the use of long-term solitary confinement, depriving a prisoner of contact with family and lawyer, and issuing death sentences in political cases are incompatible with international human rights standards.
Violated Provisions
Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Every human being has the right to life, liberty, and security of person.
Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.
Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: Prohibition of arbitrary arrest and detention.
Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: The right to a fair trial and effective access to a lawyer. Nelson Mandela Rules: Long-term restriction of a prisoner’s contact with family and the use of long-term solitary confinement are incompatible with these standards.
The issuance of a death sentence for Arghavan Falahi after months of arrest, holding in solitary confinement, security interrogations, and restriction on access to a lawyer has once again drawn attention to the process of handling political cases. The continuation of deprivation from some basic rights of prisoners, reports related to psychological pressures, and detention conditions in various prisons have caused her case to be placed among the cases of attention by human rights institutions.
See also the below articles:
- Shahriar Barati: The One Thousand One Hundredth Day of Imprisonment in Exile
- Evin Prison Ward 7 Faces Severe Health Crisis from Bedbugs and Broken Bathrooms
Follow Iran Human Rights Society on social networks:
Telegram /Twitter /Instagram / YouTube / Facebook
Join Iran Human Rights Society on Twitter
