IRAN - Political Prisoner Amirhossein Mousavi Sentenced to Death for Online Activism

November 4, 2026 - IRAN. Political Prisoner Amirhossein Mousavi Sentenced to Death for Online Activism

Amirhossein Mousavi, a 40-year-old political prisoner, has been sentenced to death on the charge of corruption on earth in connection with his online dissent. His conviction follows severe human rights violations, including 148 days of solitary confinement, physical beatings and psychological coercion leveraging the detention of his ill wife, whilst his torture-tainted confessions were aired by state media prior to the commencement of legal proceedings.

According to lawyer Reza Shafakhah, his client “Amirhossein Mousavi has been sentenced to death on the charge of efsad-fil-arz (corruption on earth) through his online activity on the Twitter account 'James Bi-Dean.’” The man, who is currently detained in Evin Prison, was arrested with his wife on 18 December 2024. According to HRANA News Agency, the sentence was issued by “Death Judge” Salavati who presides over Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

On 6 October 2025, his forced confessions were broadcast on Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) Channel 2 during the 20:30 news programme. The state narrative alleged that Amirhossein operated an espionage and psychological warfare network on behalf of Israel's Mossad under the online pseudonym 'James the Faithless' (James Bi-Dean). Citing his alleged confessions and intelligence sources, it is alleged that Amirhossein initially established fictitious accounts on X (Twitter) to incite anti-government sentiment and coordinate street unrest during the 2022 “Woman, Life, Freedom” nationwide protests through an initiative dubbed 'One Hundred Neighbourhoods.' Saberin News claimed that following the collapse of the protests, his network pivoted to espionage after being linked to Israeli intelligence through an intermediary in Australia and an operative known as 'Avi'. The report further alleged that Amirhossein was tasked with gathering and transmitting sensitive intelligence on air defence sites, military installations and Law Enforcement Special Units, and that he subsequently disseminated satellite imagery and explosion aftermath footage following Israeli military strikes to advance foreign psychological operations prior to his arrest by the Ministry of Intelligence.