The death sentence of Sasan Azadvar, a young athlete and one of those arrested in the January 2026 protests, after confirmation in the Supreme Court has been sent to the execution of sentences unit; sources close to the family say the case documents have been based solely on confessions obtained under torture.
Iran Human Rights Society, Wednesday 29 April 2026- The danger of the imminent execution of the death sentence of Sasan Azadvar, the 21-year-old athlete and one of those arrested in the January 2026 protests, has aroused widespread concerns about his fate. This young man, who is being held in Isfahan Central Prison, after the confirmation of the death sentence in the Supreme Court has been placed in danger of execution of the sentence; while sources close to the family and the lawyers of the case emphasize that no independent document has been presented against him and his case has been based solely on confessions that were obtained from him under severe torture and pressure.
Confirmation of Sasan Azadvar’s death sentence in the Supreme Court
According to published reports, the death sentence of Sasan Azadvar, which had previously been issued by Branch One of the Revolutionary Court of Isfahan, has recently been confirmed in the Supreme Court and sent to the execution of sentences unit. This action means that this political prisoner may face the danger of execution of the death sentence at any moment. Informed sources say the final sentence was officially notified to him on 20 April 2026.
Who is Sasan Azadvar?
Sasan Azadvar, 21 years old, is one of the well-known athletes in the karate discipline and the champion of this discipline in Isfahan province. He was arrested by security forces on Friday, 9 January 2026 , during the popular protests in the city of Isfahan. His family and relatives have referred to the manner of his arrest as “abduction by security forces.”
Issuance of the death sentence in a court with extensive ambiguities
Sasan Azadvar’s case was examined in Branch One of the Revolutionary Court of Isfahan under the presidency of Judge Morteza Barati. In the end, this court sentenced him to death. This sentence was issued while, according to legal sources and the lawyer of the case, the trial process faced serious ambiguities and no independent and conclusive evidence was presented against him.
Forced confessions; the only document of the case
Based on information published by sources close to the family, Sasan Azadvar during the period of detention has been subjected to the most severe physical and psychological tortures. The purpose of these pressures has been stated as forcing him to accept the charges and confess against himself. These sources have emphasized that the confessions obtained in such conditions have been the only document cited by the judge for issuing the death sentence. According to them, no independent witness, technical document, visual evidence, or other valid probative reason has been presented in the case.
Torture to build the case
Sources close to Sasan Azadvar’s family have stated that the security interrogators during his detention used physical torture and psychological pressure to construct the scenario of the case. The claim of using torture to obtain confessions in cases related to the nationwide protests in recent months has been raised many times by families, lawyers, and human rights institutions. Legal experts have warned that relying on confessions obtained under torture severely calls into question the legitimacy and validity of any judicial verdict.
Concern about the wave of executions of those arrested in the protests
Sasan Azadvar’s case has reached the stage of execution of the sentence at a time when in recent months a wave of heavy sentences and executions against those arrested in the January 2026 protests has been issued and carried out. Human rights activists say the speed of handling these cases, restriction of access to a lawyer, deprivation of public trial, and repeated reliance on televised confessions or interrogation-based ones have created serious concerns about the fairness of these processes.
Request for immediate halt to the execution of the sentence
Given the referral of Sasan Azadvar’s case to the execution of sentences unit, human rights activists and his relatives have demanded the immediate halt to the execution of the sentence and a complete review of the case. They emphasize that carrying out the death sentence in a case whose basis is confessions obtained under torture constitutes a clear violation of the principles of fair trial and the right to life.
Sasan Azadvar’s case; from torture to issuance of a death sentence based on forced confession
Sasan Azadvar’s case is a clear example of the judicial processes criticized in political and security cases; a process in which torture, forced confession, and lack of independent evidence have replaced the standards of fair trial.
Violated articles:
Violation of the prohibition of torture – Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: No individual shall be subjected to torture or inhuman treatment.
Violation of the right to fair trial – Article 10 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Every accused person has the right to enjoy a fair and independent trial.
Violation of the principle of prohibition of using confession under torture – International Criminal Law: Confessions obtained under torture lack judicial validity.
Violation of the right to life – Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Carrying out the death sentence based on a case lacking valid evidence is a clear violation of the right to life.
See also the below articles:
- Ilya Ben Rashid Remains in Legal Limbo After 100 Days in Dastgerd Prison
- Supreme Court Confirms Death Sentence for Mohammad Abbasi Amid Torture Claims
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