Naeb Askari

Nayeb Askari resided in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq before returning to Iran in late 2020. On 24 March 2021, he was arrested by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps intelligence forces in Urmia and was held under pressure at the Al-Mahdi detention centre for approximately three months. During this period, he was denied access to a lawyer and family visits.

Following his arrest, it was announced that he had been sentenced to death in absentia in 2018 on charges of membership in the Kurdistan Free Life Party. After appealing this sentence, the charge was changed to "rebellion," and the case was referred back to the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Urmia for review.

In 2023, he was transferred to the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Urmia six times, but only four court sessions were held. The final court session took place on 27 September 2023, and the death sentence on the charge of "rebellion" was communicated to him on 16 October 2023.

Nayeb Askari is currently held in Urmia Central Prison. In August 2021, he was convicted along with two other prisoners for "disturbing prison order." On 26 July 2021, he went on a hunger strike for 32 days. In July 2023, he was moved to Dormitory 3. In October 2023, he went on a hunger strike in protest against the death sentence. On 28 March 2024, following a verbal altercation with prison officials, he was placed in solitary confinement for one day.