HRANA – Yaghoub Derakhshan, a political prisoner held in Lakan Prison in Rasht, has once again been sentenced to death by the Rasht Revolutionary Court after his previous death sentence was overturned by the Supreme Court and his case was referred to a parallel court branch for retrial.
Based on information received by HRANA, following a new review of Mr. Derakhshan’s case, Branch 2 of the Rasht Revolutionary Court again sentenced him to death on the charge of “baghi” (armed rebellion against the regime). The ruling was issued last week and was recently communicated to him in prison.
Mr. Derakhshan’s previous death sentence had earlier been overturned by the Supreme Court, and his case was referred to Branch 2 of the Rasht Revolutionary Court for reconsideration.
The initial charge against Yaghoub Derakhshan during his first arrest, which took place in July 2024, was “propaganda against the regime.” After several weeks, he was released on bail. However, following his second arrest, he was charged with the more serious offense of “baghi” and was ultimately sentenced to death in the summer of last year by Branch 1 of the Rasht Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Ahmad Darvish-Goftar.
Sources previously told HRANA that during interrogations, Mr. Derakhshan was subjected to severe psychological and physical pressure and was compelled to make self-incriminating confessions. These confessions were later used as the primary evidence supporting the death sentence.
Due to the judiciary’s lack of transparency regarding the case, details concerning the specific allegations against Mr. Derakhshan remain unknown.
Yaghoub Derakhshan is 50 years old and a resident of Bandar Anzali.
