Fourth political activist in Gilan sentenced to death within a year as executions surge across Iran
The Iranian regime has sentenced Yaqoub Derakhshan, a 50-year-old political prisoner from Bandar Anzali, to death on charges of “rebellion against the regime.” The sentence was handed down by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court in Rasht, presided over by notorious judge Ahmad Darvish-Goftar, and officially communicated to Derakhshan on Thursday, July 24, at Lakan Prison.
According to human rights organizations, Derakhshan’s trial was conducted under deeply flawed and unlawful conditions. He was tried via video conference without the presence of a defense attorney, and the judicial process was rushed, raising serious concerns about the fairness and legality of the proceedings.
Escalating Charges Amid Arbitrary Legal Process
Derakhshan was initially arrested in March 2025 and held on charges of “propaganda against the regime.” However, in recent weeks, that charge was escalated to “rebellion,” a capital offense under the Islamic Republic’s legal system. This change mirrors a broader pattern of the regime inflating charges against dissidents to justify harsh sentences and instill fear among the population.
This is not Derakhshan’s first encounter with the regime’s security apparatus. He had previously been arrested on July 5, 2024, on similar charges and was temporarily released on bail after one month in detention.
Death Sentences Mounting Across Iran
Derakhshan’s sentence marks the fourth death verdict issued against political activists in Gilan province in the past year alone. Judge Ahmad Darvish-Goftar, now a prominent figure in the regime’s repressive judiciary, has also sentenced Manouchehr Fallah, Peyman Farah Avar, and Sharifeh Mohammadi to death for political activity.
Nationwide, the trend is grim. In July 2025 alone, the Iranian regime executed at least 74 individuals across various prisons. In the same month, at least 17 new death sentences were issued, and the Supreme Court confirmed the death penalties for at least two other political prisoners. Human rights monitors report that at least 56 political and security prisoners in Iran are currently on death row.
A Growing Human Rights Crisis
The regime’s acceleration of executions and politically motivated death sentences has drawn condemnation from international human rights groups. The Iranian judiciary, under the direct influence of the Supreme Leader and security forces, continues to violate international norms by depriving defendants of fair trial standards and using capital punishment as a tool of political repression.
As Derakhshan now faces imminent execution, his case exemplifies the dire situation of political prisoners in Iran and underscores the urgent need for global action to hold the Iranian regime accountable for its systematic human rights abuses.
