HRANA – Varisheh Moradi, a political prisoner held at Evin Prison, has been sentenced to death for the second time by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court. She had previously been sentenced to death by the same court, but the Supreme Court overturned the verdict and referred the case to a parallel branch for retrial.
According to HRANA, citing Emtedad, political prisoner Varisheh Moradi has once again been sentenced to death.
Amir Sajjadi, one of Moradi’s lawyers, provided details of the ruling, stating: “Following the receipt of a notice from Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, one of Ms. Moradi’s lawyers appeared before the court today, October 14, 2026, and was formally notified of the verdict. According to the ruling, which can be appealed to the Supreme Court within 20 days, Ms. Moradi has once again been sentenced to death on charges of membership in a rebel group.”
Keyvan Azizi, another of Moradi’s lawyers, also criticized the ruling, stating: “This verdict was issued despite the fact that the previous death sentence handed down by Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court against Varisheh Moradi had been overturned by the Supreme Court due to serious concerns regarding the investigation. Unfortunately, without conducting the investigations requested by the Supreme Court, the same branch merely changed the designation of the charge and once again sentenced her to death for membership in a rebel group.”
Sajjadi further stated, “In the view of her lawyers, there is insufficient credible evidence to substantiate such a charge against Ms. Moradi.” He added: “Varisheh Moradi has never participated in any operation against the Islamic Republic of Iran. Her activities were related to her involvement in the fight against ISIS in northern Syria and had no connection to the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
In November 2024, Ms. Moradi had previously been sentenced to death by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Abolghasem Salavati, on the charge of baghi (armed rebellion). Late last year, her death sentence was overturned by the Supreme Court, and her case was referred to a parallel branch for retrial.
In late October 2024, Moradi was also sentenced to six months of discretionary imprisonment in a joint judicial case alongside four other prisoners, stemming from incidents inside prison. The sentence was issued by Branch Two of the Qods Judicial Complex Criminal Court in Tehran. “Assaulting an officer and disobedience” were the charges brought against her in that case. The case was opened following events on August 7, 2024, after prisoners in the women’s ward of Evin Prison protested the execution of Reza Rasaei and clashed with prison guards.
Varisheh Moradi was arrested by security forces in the outskirts of Sanandaj in August 2023. On December 26, 2023, following the completion of interrogation procedures, she was transferred from the Ministry of Intelligence detention facility, known as Ward 209 of Evin Prison, to the women’s ward of the prison.
In November 2024, Ms. Moradi had been sentenced to death on the charge of baghi (armed rebellion) by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Abolghasem Salavati.
In October 2024, in a separate joint case opened against her and four other prisoners inside the prison, Ms. Moradi was sentenced by Branch Two of the Qods Judicial Complex in Tehran to six months’ discretionary imprisonment. In that case, she faced charges of assaulting an officer and disobedience. The case stemmed from an incident on August 6, when Evin women’s ward prisoners protested after learning of the execution of Reza Rasaei, leading to confrontations with prison guards.
Varisheh Moradi was arrested in August 2023 by security forces in the outskirts of Sanandaj. She was eventually transferred on December 26 of that year from The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, known as Ward 209 of Evin Prison, after the completion of interrogation, to the women’s ward of the same prison.
