Full Breakdown
Supreme Court Upholds Third Death Sentence for Kurdish Prisoner Naser Bakrzadeh
4/29/2026, 10:13:05 PM
Court Ruling and Immediate Aftermath
On 25 April 2026 the Supreme Court of Iran, acting through Branch 39, confirmed a death sentence for Naser Bakrzadeh, a 26-year-old Kurdish political prisoner held in Urmia Central Prison. The ruling was delivered in the prison’s sentence-enforcement office, and the official tasked with carrying out the order threatened Bakrzadeh with imminent execution. According to prison sources, Bakrzadeh protested the threat and was subsequently insulted and severely beaten by the same official.
Background and Legal History
Bakrzadeh was first arrested on 9 August 2023 in Urmia by the Intelligence Organization of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). After a brief release, he was re-arrested on 2 January 2024 and transferred to an IRGC detention centre where he was subjected to pressure and torture aimed at extracting forced confessions. He has been repeatedly charged with “spying for Israel.”
The first death sentence was imposed by Branch 3 of the Revolutionary Court of Urmia in November 2024; the Supreme Court overturned it in March 2025, citing legal flaws. A second death sentence followed in September 2025 from Branch 2 of the same court, and the Supreme Court again reversed it in November 2025. In February 2026 Branch 2, presided over by Judge Shahini, issued a third death sentence, which the Supreme Court upheld on 25 April 2026.
Timeline of Key Judicial Actions
- 9 Aug 2023 – Initial arrest by IRGC intelligence.
- 2 Jan 2024 – Re-arrest and transfer to IRGC detention centre.
- Nov 2024 – First death sentence (Branch 3, Revolutionary Court).
- Mar 2025 – Supreme Court overturns first sentence.
- Sep 2025 – Second death sentence (Branch 2, Revolutionary Court).
- Nov 2025 – Supreme Court overturns second sentence.
- Feb 2026 – Third death sentence (Branch 2, Revolutionary Court).
- 25 Apr 2026 – Supreme Court confirms third sentence; notification and beating.
- 27 Apr 2026 – Bakrzadeh’s parents release a video urging authorities to halt the execution.
Official Statements and Human Rights Appeals
The Iranian Human Rights Organization (IHRO) posted the parents’ video on X, calling on religious and human-rights authorities to prevent the execution. Human Rights Watch has previously noted that Bakrzadeh is among several Kurdish citizens accused of spying for Israel and highlighted Iran’s broader use of the death penalty to create societal fear.
Criticism and Opposition
Legal observers stress that Bakrzadeh’s case deviates markedly from fair-trial standards: he was denied timely access to counsel, subjected to physical and psychological torture, and forced confessions formed the primary evidentiary basis for the death sentences. The repeated overturning of rulings by the Supreme Court, followed by renewed death sentences, raises questions about whether lower courts have addressed identified procedural deficiencies.
On-the-Ground Reports
Witnesses inside Urmia Central Prison reported that after the 25 April notification, prison officials physically assaulted Bakrzadeh. The parents’ video, released on 27 April, shows them pleading for clemency and attributing the renewed sentence to “the recent war.”
Conflicting Reports and Information Gaps
Sources differ on the exact legal reasoning behind the Supreme Court’s latest confirmation, and no public record details the evidence supporting the espionage charge. Information on the content of the forced confessions, the identity of interrogators, and the availability of independent legal representation remains absent.
Verbatim Quotes
- “because of the recent war.” — Bakrzadeh’s father, IHRO video
- “Seydad Shirzad, one of Bakrzadeh’s lawyers, had earlier stated that Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court in Urmia issued the death sentence for a third time while disregarding the legal arguments and technical deficiencies previously identified by Branch 39 of the Supreme Court.” — Seydad Shirzad, lawyer
- “After he protested the threats and the unfair handling of his case, he was insulted and severely beaten by the same official.” — Hengaw report
- “According to these reports, the confessions obtained under such conditions have been used as the primary basis for issuing death sentences against him.” — legal observers
- “The Supreme Court confirmed the sentence only ten days after the case was referred to it, despite having twice previously overturned the same ruling because of legal flaws and insufficient evidence.” — Hengaw report
Why It Matters
The case illustrates persistent concerns about Iran’s application of capital punishment in politically sensitive cases, the reliability of evidence obtained under duress, and the vulnerability of Kurdish detainees to procedural violations. It also underscores the impact of heightened security measures during wartime on judicial outcomes.
What’s Next
Human-rights bodies, including UN special rapporteurs on Iran and on extrajudicial executions, have been urged to intervene. Unless a higher-court review overturns the ruling, Bakrzadeh faces execution within weeks, prompting renewed calls for transparent legal review and compliance with international fair-trial standards.
