Defense attorney Payam Derafshan announced that the Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence for his client, Ali-Asghar Peyghambari, adding that applications for a retrial and a stay of execution have been prepared.
In an interview with Etedal on Monday, August 31, Derafshan stated that the death sentence was originally handed down by the Tehran Islamic Revolutionary Court pursuant to the “Law on Enhancing Penalties for Espionage and Cooperation with the Zionist Regime” and has now been affirmed on appeal by the Supreme Court.
Ali-Asghar Peyghambari, also known as Alireza Peyghambari, was arrested in Tehran during the nationwide January protests. Human rights organizations, citing informed sources, report that he did not participate in clashes or confront security forces during the demonstrations, having been detained while returning home from work.
Prior to the issuance of the capital sentence, he had been temporarily released on bail due to a lack of sufficient evidence before being rearrested.
Emphasizing key flaws in the verdict, attorney Payam Derafshan stated: “This sentence was issued despite the complete absence of any organizational link or connection of any kind between my client and hostile entities.”
