Nasser Bakrzadeh, Karim Yaqoubpour and Mihrab Abdollahzadeh, three death-sentenced prisoners in Urmia Prison, have been transferred separately to unknown locations; a development that, in the shadow of the increase in executions of political prisoners after the start of the war, has intensified concerns about the imminent implementation of their sentences.
Iran Human Rights Society, Thursday 30 April 2026 – Simultaneously with the increase in concerns about the intensification of the wave of executions of political prisoners in Iran after the start of the war, reports from Urmia Prison indicate the sudden and separate transfer of three death-sentenced prisoners — Nasser Bakrzadeh, Karim Yaqoubpour and Mihrab Abdollahzadeh — to unknown locations. As of the preparation of this report, none of these three prisoners have returned to their detention wards and informed sources have warned about the possibility of the imminent execution of their sentences.
Suspicious Transfer of Three Prisoners from Urmia Prison
Based on received information, this morning three death-sentenced prisoners were taken out separately from their place of detention in Urmia Prison and transferred to unknown locations. These transfers were carried out without official notification to their families or lawyers and have increased concerns about the possibility of sudden implementation of the death sentences.
Nasser Bakrzadeh; Exit with a Refrigerator Vehicle after Summons to Execution of Sentences
Informed sources have stated that Nasser Bakrzadeh this morning along with two other prisoners was summoned to the prison’s execution of sentences office for a meeting with the head of the public and revolutionary prosecutor’s office execution of sentences. According to these sources, after the end of this visit, the two other prisoners returned to the ward, but Nasser Bakrzadeh was taken out of the prison with a refrigerator vehicle and transferred to an unknown location.
This manner of transfer has aroused serious concerns about his situation and the possibility of secret implementation of the sentence. Nasser Bakrzadeh, 26 years old and from Urmia, has been sentenced to death on the charge of “espionage.” A few days ago, in an open letter, he completely denied the charges, warned about the danger of imminent implementation of his sentence and requested support from public opinion and human rights institutions.
Karim Yaqoubpour; Exit from Prison under the Pretext of Forensic Medicine
Regarding Karim Yaqoubpour, sources have also reported that he left Urmia Prison this morning under the pretext of being sent to forensic medicine, but has not returned to the prison so far. Yaqoubpour, who has a disability, was arrested on 15 June 2025 by Ministry of Intelligence forces.
According to reports, after more than two months of detention in the Ministry of Intelligence detention center, he was subjected to severe physical and psychological pressure to obtain forced confessions. He was then sentenced to death by Branch One of the Urmia Revolutionary Court on the charge of “corruption on earth through espionage” without access to a chosen lawyer and in a short process criticized by legal observers.
Informed sources say his case has not yet been assigned a branch in the Supreme Court and is in a state of limbo.
Mihrab Abdollahzadeh; Disappearance after Transfer to Solitary Confinement
Regarding Mihrab Abdollahzadeh, it has also been reported that two days ago, after a verbal argument with one of the prison visitation hall officers, he was transferred to solitary confinement on the orders of the prison head. This morning, another prisoner who was held with him in the same cell returned to the ward, but there is no information about the fate of Mihrab Abdollahzadeh. This situation has intensified concerns about his possible transfer to another location and the closeness of the time of sentence implementation.
Mihrab Abdollahzadeh was arrested on 22 October 2022 during the nationwide protests and according to informed sources, was subjected to pressure and torture for 38 days to accept participation in the protests and the killing of a Basij member. He was sentenced to death in September 2024 and his sentence was also confirmed in the Supreme Court.
Increase in Executions of Political Prisoners after the Start of the War
Recent developments in Urmia Prison are taking place at a time when human rights institutions have reported a significant increase in the execution of political and security prisoners after the start of the war. Human rights activists believe that the judicial and security apparatus, in the wartime atmosphere and in the shadow of reduced public and international oversight, has accelerated the process of implementing death sentences.
These institutions have warned that the security atmosphere resulting from the war has turned into a tool for intensifying repression and implementing heavy sentences against political prisoners.
Concern about Secret Implementation without Informing Families
Families of death-sentenced prisoners in Iran have repeatedly stated that in numerous cases, the sentence has been carried out without prior notice to the family or lawyer. For this reason, the sudden transfer of these three prisoners from Urmia Prison to unknown locations is considered a serious sign of the possibility of secret implementation of the sentences.
Transfer of Prisoners from Urmia Prison; Enforced Disappearance and Danger of Execution without Judicial Transparency
The sudden transfer of three death-sentenced prisoners from Urmia Prison to unknown locations, without transparent notification to family and lawyer, from a human rights perspective is an example of serious concern about enforced disappearance and violation of the fundamental rights of prisoners.
Violated Provisions:
Violation of the right to life – Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Every human being has the right to life and personal security.
Violation of the prohibition of enforced disappearance – Customary International Law: Secret transfer of prisoners without announcing the place of detention is an example of enforced disappearance.
Violation of the right to a fair trial – Article 10 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Implementation of the sentence before completion of legal procedures or in the absence of judicial transparency violates fair trial.
Violation of the prohibition of torture and forced confession – Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Use of torture to obtain confessions in cases leading to execution is a serious violation of human rights.
See also the below articles:
- Iran Issues Death Sentences for Shiraz Protesters Amid Torture Claims
- Ibrahim Dowlatabadi Faces Death Sentence in Iran
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