Political Prisoner Arghavan Falahi at Risk of Execution After Supreme Court Confirmation

According to Emtedad, a domestic outlet, Branch 41 of the Supreme Court has upheld Arghavan Falahi’s death conviction. She was sentenced to death for the charge of baghy (armed rebellion) through membership of the People’s Mojahedin Organisation of Iran (PMOI/MEK) by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by “Death Judge” Salavati. A subsequent Article 474 appeal was rejected by the Supreme Court. 

Arghavan Falahi, 24, was arrested with her father, political prisoner Nasrollah Fallahi and brother, Ardavan, while they were staying with their friend in Shiraz on 4 November 2022 during the “Woman, Life, Freedom” nationwide protests. In March 2024, she was sentenced to two years imprisonment for charges of “assembly and collusion against national security.” Arghavan, who was released on bail at the time, was formally released with time served.

According to the Emtedad report, Arghavan was rearrested on 25 January 2025, a week after the assassinations of death judges Moghiseh and Razini. However, according to her lawyer, “no weapons were recovered from her. She was sentenced to death despite the complete lack of evidence establishing her involvement.” 

Per the report, during the 12-day war and the bombing of Evin Prison, Arghavan remained to assist injured staff, despite having the opportunity to escape after the entrance and guard post were struck. She used her own clothing to apply pressure to a staff member's severed artery, effectively saving his life until emergency responders arrived.

Arghavan was subsequently transferred to the Greater Tehran Penitentiary (Fashafuyeh) and Qarchak prisons for a period before being returned to Evin Prison where she is currently held. Nasrollah Fallahi, who is serving a four-year sentence in the Greater Tehran Penitentiary, previously sent an appeal about the situation of his daughter. 

At least nine political prisoners affiliated with the PMOI/MEK were executed in 2026, with all nine executions carried out between 30 March and 23 April.

No executions of female political prisoners had been recorded since 2011 until December 2023, when Nasim Namazi was executed in Urmia Central Prison. 

Iran carries out the highest recorded number of women executions globally. In January 2025, IHRNGO published a report titled “Women and the Death Penalty in Iran; a Gendered Perspective,” which sheds light on the contemporary experiences of women facing the death penalty, focusing on the discriminatory laws and societal factors that perpetuate their suffering.