HRANA– Yaghoub Derakhshan, a 50-year-old prisoner from Bandar Anzali, has been sentenced to death by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court in Rasht, presided over by Judge Ahmad Darvish-Goftar. The sentence was formally delivered to him on Thursday, July 24, 2025, in Lakan Prison in Rasht.
Sources familiar with the case told HRANA that during his first arrest in July 2024, Derakhshan was charged with “propaganda against the regime” and was released on bail after several weeks. However, during his second arrest, he was charged with the more serious offense of “armed rebellion (baghi).”
HRANA’s sources say the court proceedings were “unusually fast” and “lacked fair trial standards.” The trial was reportedly held via videoconference without the presence of his chosen defense lawyer, and his family was kept uninformed about the legal process.
These sources also reported that Derakhshan was subjected to intense physical and psychological pressure during interrogation, leading to coerced confessions which were later used as the primary basis for his death sentence.
A source close to the family stated: “The judicial process was neither transparent, nor fair, nor legal. Derakhshan was not given a chance to defend himself, and we were kept in the dark about the case.”
Lakan Prison, where Derakhshan is currently held, has been repeatedly criticized by human rights organizations for housing political prisoners alongside inmates convicted of violent crimes, its lack of access to medical services, and unsanitary conditions.
Due to a lack of transparency from the judiciary, specific details of Mr. Derakhshan’s charges remain unknown.
HRANA’s investigations also show that Judge Ahmad Darvish-Goftar, who presided over this court, has issued similar sentences for political prisoners in Gilan over the past year, including for Manouchehr Fallah, Peyman Farah-Avar and Sharifeh Mohammadi.
Currently, based on data collected by HRANA, at least 56 prisoners in Iran face the death penalty on political and security-related charges.
