The judiciary of the Islamic Republic of Iran has issued harsh sentences against two individuals arrested during the nationwide protests of January 2026. Mahnam Navab-Safavi has been sentenced to death, while a 10-year prison sentence for Ali Sanei has been upheld on appeal.
Mahnam Navab-Safavi, currently held in Esfahan’s Dastgerd Prison, was sentenced to death on charges of “moharebeh” (enmity against God) by Branch 5 of the Esfahan Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Hemmatinejad.
The official charges in Navab-Safavi’s case file include “moharebeh through participation in the destruction of public property,” “propaganda against the regime,” “assembly and collusion to act against national security,” and “encouraging citizens to kill one another.”
Concurrently, the 10-year prison sentence of Ali Sanei, a 22-year-old computer science student, was upheld by an appeals court.
Sanei was arrested in Malard in March 2026 and transferred to Greater Tehran Prison. Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Amouzad, originally handed down the 10-year sentence on charges including “insulting the Supreme Leader,” “assembly and collusion against national security,” “propaganda against the regime,” and “cooperation with Israel.”
