Tag: Mohammad Mehdi Parsa

January 2026 Protests: Mohammad Mehdi Parsa Sentenced to Death and 20 Years in Prison

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Executions, Freedom of Expression, News
HRANA, January 2026 Protests, Mohammad Mehdi Parsa, moharebeh

HRANA – Branch 1 of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court sentenced Mohammad Mehdi Parsa, one of those arrested during the January 2026 protests, to death on the charge of “moharebeh” (enmity against God) and a total of 20 years in prison on other charges. Parsa is currently held in Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz.

According to HRANA, Mohammad Mehdi Parsa has been sentenced to death and imprisonment. Based on information received by HRANA, Branch 1 of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Ehsan Adibi-Mehr, sentenced Mohammad Mehdi Parsa to death and a total of 20 years in prison. The verdict was issued on November 2, 2026.

According to the verdict, Parsa was sentenced to death on the charge of “moharebeh” (enmity against God) through participation in the destruction of a state-owned bank in Ahvaz. He was also sentenced to 10 years in prison on the charge of participating in illegal gatherings, under provisions prescribing harsher penalties, and an additional 10 years in prison on the charge of collaborating with hostile states.

An informed source close to Parsa told HRANA that he was denied access to a lawyer of his choosing during the judicial proceedings. The source also stated that on the evening of January 8, 2026, during protests in Ahvaz, a state-owned bank was damaged, and following the incident, judicial cases were opened against several protesters.

Mohammad Mehdi Parsa, 21, a resident of Qaleh Tal in Khuzestan Province, was arrested in Ahvaz on January 11, 2026. He was subsequently transferred to Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz, where he remains incarcerated.

Background of the January 2026 Protests

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.