Bahram Majdi-Fard Sentenced to Over 9 Years in Prison After 10 Months of Interrogation Without a Lawyer
Iran Human Rights Society, Thursday, May 29, 2025 – Bahram Majdi-Fard, a resident of Rajan village in the Margavar region of Urmia, is the latest victim of widespread repression by Iran’s security apparatus. He was arrested and tortured without any judicial warrant for the entry of security forces into his home, and his arrest and trial were marred by serious violations of his basic rights.
Unauthorized Raid and Violent Arrest
According to reliable local sources, on July 23, 2024, Bahram Majdi-Fard was arrested by IRGC Intelligence forces from the “Ziveh” base. Without presenting a judicial warrant, they entered his home through windows and walls using physical violence and detained him. His residence was thoroughly searched during the raid.
Extrajudicial arrests without prior notice or official authorization, particularly in Kurdish regions, have become a common practice in the repressive policies of the ruling dictatorship.
Torture, Denial of Legal Counsel, and Relentless Interrogations
Following his arrest, Mr. Majdi-Fard was first taken to an unknown detention center and later transferred to the “Al-Mahdi” detention facility in Urmia. He endured 15 days of torture and was subjected to inhumane conditions for approximately 10 months, undergoing continuous interrogations without access to a lawyer or family visits. This prolonged pre-trial detention blatantly violates Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which guarantees the right to a fair trial and limited, lawful detention.
Trial in Revolutionary Court and Harsh Prison Sentence
The judiciary, under the influence of security institutions and presided over by the notorious Judge Najafzadeh in Branch 6 of the Urmia Revolutionary Court, sentenced Bahram Majdi-Fard to three years, four months, and one day of enforceable imprisonment, plus six years and eight months of suspended imprisonment, on charges such as “propaganda against the regime” and “collaboration with the Democratic Party.”
The verdict was issued on February 26, 2025, and despite a legal appeal, the Supreme Court’s Branch 39 upheld the ruling without independent review, highlighting the judiciary’s lack of independence and the denial of an effective right to appeal.
Temporary Release on Heavy Bail; Awaiting Sentence Execution
On May 19, 2025, Mr. Majdi-Fard was temporarily released after posting a hefty bail of 500 million tomans. However, he remains at risk of serving his final sentence, with his prior detention counted as part of the punishment.
Judicial pressure and threats of sentence enforcement, even after temporary release, have left this citizen in severe psychological and social distress.
Suppression of Minorities Through Judicial and Security Apparatus
Bahram Majdi-Fard’s case is a stark example of the instrumental use of judicial and security institutions to suppress civil activists, particularly in minority regions such as Kurdistan and West Azerbaijan. Vague and broad charges like “propaganda against the regime” or “collaboration with opposition parties” are routinely used to detain and convict individuals seeking their basic rights.
The Need to Amplify the “No to Execution Tuesdays” Campaign and Confront Judicial Repression
In this context, the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign, as a grassroots protest movement, plays a critical role in exposing the repressive and securitized nature of Iran’s system. Expanding this campaign can help highlight the plight of individuals like Bahram Majdi-Fard, who face severe punishments due to their activism or ethnic identity.
The regime uses tools like executions and heavy prison sentences to suppress the legitimate demands of various societal groups. Resisting this trend requires public awareness, collective solidarity, and widespread support for campaigns combating systematic violence.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Bahram Majdi-Fard’s Case: Violations of Human Rights Under International Covenants
The case of Bahram Majdi-Fard involves multiple human rights violations:
Article 7 of the ICCPR: Prohibition of torture and inhumane treatment, violated by prolonged torture in the Al-Mahdi detention center.
Article 9: Right to liberty and security of person, breached by arrest without a judicial warrant and denial of family contact.
Article 14: Right to a fair trial, violated by Revolutionary Court proceedings and lack of access to a lawyer.
Article 19: Freedom of expression, restricted by the charge of propaganda against the regime, which limits the right to free thought and expression.
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