Seven of the Esfarayen protesters have been transferred to Bojnourd Central Prison, and two defendants under 18 years of age are being held in the Juvenile Correction and Rehabilitation Center of North Khorasan.
Iran Human Rights Society, Friday, August 21, 2026 – At least 9 Esfarayen protesters arrested during the nationwide protests of January and February 2026 remain in judicial uncertainty after several months. Seven of these detainees are held in Bojnourd Central Prison, and two defendants who were under 18 at the time of the alleged events are kept in the Juvenile Correction and Rehabilitation Center of North Khorasan.
A number of these individuals face heavy charges such as “Moharebeh” and “Efsad-e Fel-Arz” (corruption on Earth), titles that could pave the way for the death penalty. Since court proceedings began, no information has been made available regarding their access to case files or the possibility of utilizing a chosen lawyer.
What You Read in This Report
- 9 Esfarayen protesters remain in detention and judicial limbo;
- Seven individuals transferred to Bojnourd Central Prison;
- Two defendants under 18 held in the Juvenile Correction and Rehabilitation Center;
- A number of detainees face charges of “Moharebeh” and “Efsad-e Fel-Arz”;
- Detainees were deprived of chosen lawyers during interrogation and arraignment stages;
- Information regarding charges against three of them has not been published.
Names of the 9 Esfarayen Protesters
The detainees in this case are:
- Mohammad Azari, 35 years old;
- Reza Rezapour;
- Hossein Mehrangiz;
- Ali Babari;
- Amirhossein Nazarzadeh, 27 years old, from Fartan village;
- Sajjad Sang-Sefidi;
- Mostafa Rajabalizadeh;
- Amirhossein Sareban, 16 years old;
- Sajjad Shamsaei, one of the under-18 defendants in the case.
Mohammad Azari, Reza Rezapour, Hossein Mehrangiz, Ali Babari, Amirhossein Nazarzadeh, Sajjad Sang-Sefidi, and Mostafa Rajabalizadeh were transferred from Esfarayen Prison to Bojnourd Central Prison in mid-August 2026. Their cases are scheduled to be handled in the judicial authorities of Bojnourd, including the Revolutionary Court.
Amirhossein Sareban and Sajjad Shamsaei were transferred to the Juvenile Correction and Rehabilitation Center of North Khorasan due to their young age. Published reports concerning their transfer and continued uncertainty have been reflected by several human rights sources.
Charges Leading to Severe Punishments
In the case of the Esfarayen protesters, a set of charges has been raised, including “Moharebeh,” “Efsad-e Fel-Arz,” “premeditated murder,” “participation or complicity in premeditated murder,” “assembly and collusion,” “propaganda activity against the system,” “intentional destruction,” “arson,” “disrupting public order,” and “inciting people to war and killing.” However, it is not clear exactly which of these titles are attributed to which defendant and what evidence formed their basis.
Mohammad Azari has been charged with “Moharebeh and Efsad-e Fel-Arz through brandishing a cold weapon with the goal of causing public fear.”
Reza Rezapour faced charges in the interrogation phase such as destruction and setting fire to a police kiosk with the aim of disrupting security, opposing the system, and inciting people to war and killing.
Sajjad Sang-Sefidi has also been charged with destruction and arson of a police kiosk and “opposing the system equivalent to Moharebeh” and is awaiting his court hearing.
For Amirhossein Nazarzadeh, charges of “Moharebeh and Efsad-e Fel-Arz through drawing a weapon” and destroying and setting fire to a police kiosk have been raised.
Mostafa Rajabalizadeh faces charges of destroying and causing arson to a police kiosk and opposing the system.
The charges against Hossein Mehrangiz, Ali Babari, and Sajjad Shamsaei remain unclear.
Moharebeh Charge Against a 16-Year-Old Juvenile
Amirhossein Sareban, who is 16 years old, faces charges including “Moharebeh,” “Efsad-e Fel-Arz,” destruction and arson of public facilities, assembly and collusion, propaganda against the system, and forming or joining a group aimed at disrupting national security.
Bringing capital punishment charges against a person who was under 18 at the time of the alleged behavior causes serious concern. His transfer to the Juvenile Correction and Rehabilitation Center alone does not signify respect for children’s rights, and all stages of investigation and trial must be conducted in the presence of a specialized lawyer, considering the age of the defendant and prioritizing rehabilitation.
Process of Arrest for Esfarayen Protesters
These 9 citizens were arrested separately in Esfarayen County in connection with the nationwide winter 2026 protests. Hossein Mehrangiz was arrested on January 9, Mohammad Azari on January 14, Ali Babari on January 18, and Amirhossein Nazarzadeh on January 20, 2026.
According to informed sources, following interrogation and arraignment, they were transferred to Esfarayen Prison without effective access to a chosen lawyer. The subsequent transfer of seven individuals to Bojnourd was also carried out without a specified date announced for their trial.
Information Box | Esfarayen Protesters Case
- Number of Detainees: 9 people
- Time of Arrest: January and February 2026
- Location of Arrest: Esfarayen County
- Detention Location for Seven Defendants: Bojnourd Central Prison
- Detention Location for Two Child Defendants: Juvenile Correction and Rehabilitation Center of North Khorasan
- Prominent Charges: Moharebeh and Efsad-e Fel-Arz
- Judicial Status: Undetermined / In Limbo
- Access to Chosen Lawyer: Deprived during interrogation and arraignment stages
- Trial Date: Unannounced
- Main Concern: Risk of heavy sentences and death penalty
Legal Review of Esfarayen Protesters’ Case Based on Domestic Laws
The laws of the dictatorship ruling Iran in past years have been criticized repeatedly due to conflict with standards of fair trial, ambiguity in security cases, and restricting defendant rights. Reviewing the Esfarayen protesters’ case based on domestic laws does not mean confirmation of these laws; the goal is to show instances where even these same laws were not observed by the judiciary.
Legal Ambiguities of the Case
The basis for attributing charges of Moharebeh and Efsad-e Fel-Arz, existing documents in the case file, the manner of conducting interrogations, and the reason for continued detention remain unclear. It is also unknown when the defendants will be tried and whether studying the file and having a chosen lawyer will be permitted.
Related Legal Articles
- Article 32 of the Constitution: Requirement for immediate notification of charges and reasons for arrest;
- Article 35 of the Constitution: Right to have a lawyer;
- Article 37 of the Constitution: Presumption of innocence;
- Article 38 of the Constitution: Prohibition of forced confessions;
- Article 4 of the Code of Criminal Procedure: Emphasis on the presumption of innocence;
- Article 5 of the Code of Criminal Procedure: Right to be informed of the subject and reasons for charges;
- Article 190 of the Code of Criminal Procedure: Right to have a lawyer during preliminary investigations;
- Juvenile Justice Regulations: Obligation for specialized proceedings proportionate to the age of the defendant.
Cases of Law Violation
- Continuation of detention and multi-month uncertainty;
- Deprivation of chosen lawyer during sensitive stages of the case;
- Unclear reasons and documentation for heavy charges;
- Non-announcement of trial date;
- Probable violation of the presumption of innocence and right to effective defense;
- Bringing capital punishment charges against a defendant under 18 years of age.
Reviewing Esfarayen Protesters’ Case from the Perspective of Human Rights and Cases of Violation of International Standards
Prolonged detention, deprivation of a lawyer, and raising capital punishment charges in an opaque process conflict with the right to liberty, the presumption of innocence, the right to life, and fair trial guarantees. Regarding the two defendants under 18, the judiciary is obligated to observe the best interests of the child, rehabilitation, prohibition of the death penalty, and the use of detention only as a measure of last resort.
Related International Documents
- Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Prohibition of torture and inhuman treatment;
- Article 9 of the Universal Declaration: Prohibition of arbitrary arrest;
- Articles 10 and 11 of the Universal Declaration: Right to a fair trial and presumption of innocence;
- Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: Protection of the right to life and prohibition of executing individuals under 18 at the time of the offense;
- Articles 9 and 14 of the Covenant: Prohibition of arbitrary arrest and right to fair trial;
- Article 15 of the Covenant: Principle of legality in crime and punishment;
- Articles 37 and 40 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child: Prohibition of child executions, use of detention as a last resort, and guarantees of specialized juvenile justice;
- Beijing Rules: Priority of welfare, rehabilitation, and age-appropriate handling for juveniles;
- Nelson Mandela Rules: Preservation of dignity and rights for all persons deprived of liberty.
Immediate determination of the legal status of Esfarayen protesters, cancellation of unnecessary detention, full access to an independent lawyer, rigorous examination of evidence, refraining from issuing death sentences, and observing special guarantees regarding Amirhossein Sareban and Sajjad Shamsaei are among the most urgent demands raised in this case.
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