HRANA – Iran’s Supreme Court has agreed to halt the execution of Seyed Mohammad Javad Vafaie Sani, a political prisoner held at Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.

Babak Paknia, the defense attorney for this political prisoner, stated earlier today that an order to stop the execution of Mohammad Javad Vafaie Sani had been issued by the Supreme Court. The death sentence had recently been reaffirmed by the Supreme Court following the rejection of a request for retrial.

The death sentence of Javad Vafaie Sani had previously been overturned twice by the Supreme Court. However, in recent months it was upheld by Branch Nine of the Supreme Court. Following this decision, his lawyer submitted another request for retrial, which was ultimately rejected. Mr. Vafaie Sani was most recently sentenced to death in September 2024 by Branch Three of the Mashhad Revolutionary Court on the charge of “corruption on earth.”

This 28-year-old political prisoner and boxing coach was arrested in Mashhad in March 2020 and transferred to Vakilabad Prison. In the initial stage of proceedings, he was also sentenced to death by the Mashhad Revolutionary Court on charges of “corruption on earth through deliberate destruction.” That verdict was overturned by the Supreme Court, and the case was referred to a parallel branch for reconsideration. In the second trial, a death sentence was again issued, which was likewise overturned by the Supreme Court in June 2024.