Dr. Sobhan Esmailpour, a dentist from Lahijan and father of two children, has faced security pressures and reports of torture following his arrest during the January 2026 protests; state media have also broadcast a video of his “confessions”
Iran Human Rights Society, Wednesday, September 23, 2026- Dr. Sobhan Esmailpour, a dentist from Lahijan and a political prisoner, has been subjected to security pressures following his arrest during the January 2026 protests. According to received information, Esmailpour—who was arrested for providing medical aid and care to injured protesters—stated during a brief phone call with his family: “They are killing me alive.” Reports also indicate severe physical and psychological conditions during his interrogation period, alongside the broadcast of a forced confession video by state-controlled media outlets.
Arrest of Sobhan Esmailpour Following the January Protests
Sobhan Esmailpour, born in 1989, a dentist residing in Lahijan and father of two children, was arrested during the January 2026 protests according to published information.
The primary charge brought against this physician is cited as providing medical assistance and care to wounded protesters. Based on available reports, his actions were carried out strictly within the scope of his professional and medical duties to treat individuals injured during the demonstrations.
Esmailpour, who is also known by the surname Esmaildoust, has been placed in conditions following his arrest that have raised grave concerns for his family regarding his physical health and location of detention.
“They Are Killing Me Alive”
In a brief phone call with his family regarding his detention status, this political prisoner stated: “They are killing me alive.”
This statement was made amid reports indicating the application of severe pressure during his interrogation process. The family of Sobhan Esmailpour has expressed deep concern regarding his physical and psychological health, with existing information highlighting the improper conditions of his detention.
Independent details regarding his exact location of custody, the progress of interrogations, and his current judicial standing have not been made public.
Arrest of Sobhan Esmailpour’s Mother
In line with continued security pressures against the family of the imprisoned physician, Zahra Heidarpour, the mother of Sobhan Esmailpour, was also arrested on January 25, 2026, and transferred to Lakan Prison in Rasht.
Based on available reports, his family remains uninformed regarding her exact detention site and legal status. Concurrently, reports regarding the deteriorating physical and psychological condition of Sobhan Esmailpour during interrogations continue to emerge.
The detention of a family member alongside ongoing pressures on the primary detainee has intensified concerns regarding the situation of this physician’s family.
Broadcast of Forced Confessions Video
On January 31, 2026, state media broadcast a video showing Sobhan Esmailpour and another citizen making statements regarding the charges leveled against them.
In this video, allegations including “setting fire to the Jameh Mosque” were attributed to these individuals. However, human rights activists have identified these confessions as forced and the result of severe coercion during the interrogation phase.
If reports of torture and pressure during interrogation are accurate, the validity of any statements or confessions extracted under such conditions faces fundamental judicial doubt.
Conflict Between Medical Duty and Security Charges
Sobhan Esmailpour is a physician and father of two young children whose primary reason for arrest, according to reports, was assisting injured protesters.
Providing care and treatment to wounded individuals, regardless of their political views or the origin of their injuries, is an established professional obligation of medical personnel. Therefore, converting the provision of medical care into the foundation for a security case raises serious concerns regarding the protection of rights for both medical professionals and patients.
Information Box | Case Information at a Glance
| Subject | Details |
| Name | Dr. Sobhan Esmailpour (Esmaildoust) |
| Year of Birth / Background | Born 1989 / Dentist residing in Lahijan, father of 2 children |
| Context & Date of Arrest | January 2026 Protests |
| Primary Reason for Arrest | Providing medical aid to injured protesters |
| Detention Status | Incommunicado / Inadequate physical and mental state reported |
| Forced Confessions Video | Broadcast on January 31, 2026 (Attributing charges such as arson) |
| Family Pressure | Mother (Zahra Heidarpour) arrested on Jan 25, 2026; transferred to Lakan Prison |
| Reported Statement | “They are killing me alive” (Brief phone call to family) |
Legal Review of Sobhan Esmailpour’s Case Based on Domestic Laws
The laws applied in such proceedings have been consistently criticized for non-compliance with fair trial standards and restriction of defense rights. Reviewing this case under domestic statutes highlights how authorities fail to comply even with internal legal mandates.
Legal Ambiguities of the Case
- Article 38 of the Constitution: Explicitly prohibits any form of torture or coercion for extracting confessions or acquiring information.
- Article 35 of the Constitution: Formally guarantees the right to retain chosen legal counsel in all courts.
- Procedural Violations: Extracting confessions under physical or psychological pressure, as well as restricting access to independent defense attorneys, violates domestic statutory protections.
Reviewing the Case from the Perspective of Human Rights and International Standards
The prohibition of torture and cruel treatment stands as a peremptory norm of international law. The extraction and broadcast of forced confessions violate fundamental human rights and fair trial guarantees.
Human Rights Ambiguities of the Case
Depriving a defendant of effective defense guarantees, subjecting them to forced statements, and targeting healthcare workers for providing medical treatment constitute severe breaches of international legal codes.
Related International Documents
- Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR): Prohibits torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.
- Article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR): Bans torture, cruel treatment, and non-consensual medical or scientific experimentation.
- Principle of Medical Neutrality: Protects healthcare personnel from prosecution or punishment for fulfilling ethical duties to provide medical care to the injured during conflicts or civil distress.
What specific aspect or follow-up regarding Dr. Sobhan Esmailpour’s case or the situation of medical personnel in Iran would you like to explore next?
See also the below articles:
- Ward 7 of Evin Prison: Severe Overcrowding, Unsanitary Conditions, and Medical Neglect
- Execution of Hossein Pedaran in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan
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