January 2026 Protests: Singer Mehdi Pakmehr Sentenced to 6 Years in Prison and 80 Lashes

HRANA – Mehdi Pakmehr, one of those arrested during the January 2026 protests, has been sentenced in two separate cases by the Revolutionary Court and the Criminal Court of Bojnord to a total of six years of discretionary imprisonment and 80 lashes.

According to HRANA News Agency, citing Kolbar News, Mehdi Pakmehr has received prison and flogging sentences in two separate judicial cases.

According to the report, part of his sentence was issued by the Criminal Court of Bojnord and includes a discretionary prison term and 80 lashes. Another part of the rulings was issued by the Revolutionary Court of the city, bringing his total sentence to six years of discretionary imprisonment.

The report states that judicial authorities have so far refused to provide Mr. Pakmehr with written copies of the verdicts. Details regarding the charges against him and the evidence presented in the cases have also not been disclosed.

During the January 2026 protests, Mehdi Pakmehr was wounded in the leg after being struck by pellet gun fire. On January 9, 2026, amid a wave of arrests targeting protesters, he was detained by security forces along with several employees of his café and transferred to Bojnurd Central Prison. He spent approximately two months in detention while continuing to suffer from the effects of his gunshot injuries.

Mehdi Pakmehr, a 41-year-old singer from Bojnurd, has previously been arrested and convicted in connection with his civil and cultural activities.

It should be noted that protests and strikes by shopkeepers and bazaar merchants began in Tehran on Sunday, December 28, 2025, and within two days spread beyond markets and commercial centers. With the participation of students, citizens, and various social groups, these protests became one of the largest protest movements of recent years. Following the crackdown by security and law enforcement forces, thousands were killed or injured, and tens of thousands were arrested or summoned by security agencies. For more information, readers may refer to HRANA’s comprehensive report titled “Crimson Winter,” documenting the first fifty days following the outbreak of Iran’s nationwide protests.