Najmeh Amini, 23, received a death sentence in the Mashhad court on September 16, 2026 after the tribunal found her post insulting the Prophet Muhammad, a crime punishable by capital punishment in Iran.
She first fell under the state’s net in January, amid a nationwide crackdown on protests triggered by economic grievances that saw over 50,000 detainees.
A second arrest on February 3, 2026 followed a cyber‑police sweep by FATA, which flagged Amini’s online activity for alleged blasphemy; the charges she faced included sab ol‑nabi and an additional 12‑year, 6‑month sentence for anti‑state propaganda.
After her transfer to Vakilabad Prison, HRANA reports she endured severe beatings and nearly three months of solitary confinement.
During the trial, the judge questioned her about her hallucinatory state, demanding she also have insulted other figures like America or Israel; the defense’s claim of accidental remarks was dismissed.
Human‑rights organisations, led by Oslo‑based IHRNGO’s director Mahmood Amiry‑Moghaddam, condemned the sentence as a new threat to free expression, noting that 604 executions had already taken place in Iran between January and September 2026.
The Supreme Court is slated to review Amini’s appeal later this month, while activists call for an immediate moratorium on all executions, warning that a broader use of capital punishment could ensue if no international pressure is applied.
Amini’s family, who have lived in constant fear of losing their daughter, are now watching the court’s decision with bated breath, hoping the verdict will be overturned before the rope is drawn.