A 23-year-old accounting student, Najmeh Amini, has reported receiving a death sentence from inside Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad. Specifically, an audio recording released from the prison shows Amini stating that authorities issued her capital verdict on September 16, 2026 (25 Shahrivar 1405). Check out our [Internal Link: Latest news on human rights in Iran] to read more about execution trends and political detainee cases.
Security forces originally arrested Amini on January 31, 2026, near the Ferdowsi Bazaar in Mashhad. Consequently, she has remained in custody for over seven months, spending a significant period in solitary confinement and security-controlled wards.
Serious Charges and Lack of Judicial Transparency
State prosecutors have brought multiple heavy charges against Amini throughout her detention:
National Security Offenses: Charged with actions against national security and anti-state propaganda.
Religious Offenses: Accused of “insulting sanctities” and Sabb al-Nabi (insulting the Prophet), which carries the death penalty under Iranian penal law.
Prior Prison Sentence: Earlier reports indicated she received a separate sentence of over 12 years in prison related to other counts in her indictment.
Crucially, authorities have withheld the official indictment and formal court documents from the public. You can read more about secretive judicial proceedings on our Political Prisoners archive.
Calls for Fair Trial Advocacy
In her voice message, Amini urgently appealed to defense attorneys, human rights organizations, and the international community. Indeed, she requested immediate legal advocacy and demanded her fundamental right to a fair trial.
Crucially, independent human rights organizations have not yet gained direct access to the written verdict mentioned in her recording. Furthermore, available details do not indicate whether the Supreme Court has reviewed or affirmed the ruling if issued by a preliminary court. Ultimately, Amini remains detained in Vakilabad Prison amid severe judicial opacity, highlighting the urgent need for legal transparency and international monitoring.
