Transfer of 6 Political Prisoners Accused of "Moharebeh" to Central Prison of Karaj

Six political prisoners were transferred to the general ward of Karaj Central Prison after enduring a prolonged period in solitary confinement; the charge of “Moharebeh” and their deprivation of family visits and chosen legal counsel have heightened concerns regarding the potential issuance of death sentences

Iran Human Rights Society, Friday, September 4, 2026 – According to reports received by the Iran Human Rights Society, on Thursday, September 3, 2026, six political prisoners were transferred to the general ward of Karaj Central Prison after enduring a long period in solitary confinement. The charge of “Moharebeh” (enmity against God) has been attributed to these prisoners, placing them at risk of receiving death sentences.

Transfer of Prisoners to General Ward of Karaj Central Prison

Prior to their transfer to the general ward of Karaj Central Prison, these six prisoners were held in solitary confinement for an extended duration. To date, the exact duration of their solitary confinement and their initial place of detention have not been specified.

Based on received information, these individuals were deprived of family visits during their detention and had no opportunity to consult with a chosen lawyer. Deprivation of family contact and effective access to legal counsel—particularly in a case that could lead to a death sentence—raises serious concerns regarding the interrogation process and the validity of potential forced confessions.

Hassan Divband and Reza Zanganeh Among the Prisoners

The identities of two of the prisoners transferred to Karaj Central Prison have been confirmed as Hassan Divband and Reza Zanganeh. Until the time of publishing this report, reliable information regarding the identities of the other four prisoners, the adjudicating branch, the date of arrest, and documented details of their charges has not been published.

It is also unclear whether an indictment has been issued, a court session held, or if they remain in the preliminary investigation stage. The Iran Human Rights Society emphasizes that information regarding the identity and judicial status of the other four prisoners will be published upon receipt and verification.

Charge of Moharebeh and the Shadow of Execution Sentences

The charge of “Moharebeh” is among the heaviest charges in the penal laws governing Iran and can pave the way for issuing the death penalty. The judiciary has repeatedly used vague security titles against protesters, political dissidents, and activists over past years.

Prolonged solitary confinement, severance of family contact, and prevention of free access to legal representation increase the risk of coercion to extract forced confessions. Under such circumstances, transferring these individuals to the general ward of Karaj Central Prison does not signify an end to concerns regarding their judicial status and the risk of death sentences.

Information Box | Case Information at a Glance

Subject	Information
Identified Prisoners	Hassan Divband, Reza Zanganeh (Identities of 4 others remain unknown)
Number of Prisoners	6 political prisoners
Current Detention Location	General ward of Karaj Central Prison (Transferred from solitary confinement)
Attributed Charge	Moharebeh (Enmity against God)
Potential Penalty	Death sentence
Procedural Restrictions	Prolonged solitary confinement, deprivation of family visits, denial of chosen lawyer
Current Case Status	Unclear whether indictment is issued or still in interrogation phase

Legal Review of Karaj Central Prisoners’ Case Based on Domestic Laws

The laws of the dictatorship ruling Iran have consistently been criticized due to conflict with fair trial standards and restricting defendants’ rights. Reviewing the case of the Karaj Central prisoners based on domestic laws does not mean confirmation of these laws; rather, it demonstrates that defendants’ rights were not observed even based on these exact regulations.

Legal Ambiguities of the Case

Articles 32, 35, and 37 of the Constitution: Emphasize the legality of arrest, the right to legal counsel, and the presumption of innocence.

Article 38 of the Constitution: Strictly prohibits extracting confessions through coercion, torture, or pressure.

Article 190 of the Code of Criminal Procedure: Recognizes the right to have a lawyer present during preliminary investigations and the necessity of informing the defendant of this right.

Procedural Violations: Prolonged deprivation of chosen legal counsel, severance of family visits, detention in solitary confinement, and lack of transparency regarding proceedings constitute major violations of these prisoners’ legal rights.

Reviewing the Case from the Perspective of Human Rights and Violation of International Standards

The situation of these six political prisoners in Karaj Central Prison conflicts with Articles 3, 5, 9, 10, and 11 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which protect the right to life and security, prohibit inhumane treatment and arbitrary detention, and guarantee fair trials and the presumption of innocence.

Human Rights Ambiguities of the Case

The Nelson Mandela Rules consider confinement exceeding 15 days in solitary to be “prolonged solitary confinement” and prohibit it. Potential issuance of death sentences following interrogations conducted in isolation and without effective access to legal counsel constitutes a severe violation of the right to life and fair trial criteria.

Related International Documents

Articles 3, 5, 9, 10 & 11 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Protect life, prohibit torture/arbitrary detention, and guarantee fair trial rights.

Articles 7, 9 & 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: Prohibit torture, arbitrary detention, and ensure full defense guarantees.