IRAN - Najmeh Amini sentenced to death for "insulting the Prophet"

September 21, 2026 - IRAN. Najmeh Amini sentenced to death for "insulting the Prophet""

On 16 September 2026, Najmeh Amini, a 23-year-old accounting student, was sentenced to death by Judge Assian of Branch 6 of the Criminal Division of the Revolutionary Court, following eight months of arbitrary detention. She was also sentenced to 12 years and six months in prison in a separate case.

Ms Amini was arrested on 31 January 2026 at Ferdowsi Bazaar in Mashhad amid severe beatings by security forces. She was charged with a range of serious offences, including “Moharebeh” (enmity against God), “cooperation with Israel,” “Sab al-Nabi” (insulting the Prophet), “insulting the Supreme Leader,” and “clashing with security agents”.

According to human rights reports, she was held in isolation in the security ward of Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad for nearly three months.

She remained in a state of severe administrative and judicial limbo for eight months, deprived of basic rights guaranteed to detainees.

During her trial, she was completely denied access to a lawyer of her choice.

Reports indicate that she was at risk of physical and psychological torture in order to extract coerced confessions.

On 18 September 2026, Najmeh Amini sent an audio message from Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad in which she maintained her innocence and called for attention from domestic and international human rights bodies.