IRAN – Seyed Mohammad-Javad Vafaie
10 June 2024:
06/08/2024 – IRAN. Seyed Mohammad-Javad Vafaie’s death sentence overturned
Political prisoner
In a recent ruling, the Supreme Court overturned for the second time the death sentence of Seyed Mohammad-Javad Vafaie, a 28-year-old boxing coach turned political prisoner. (according to other sources, Vafaie was not a trainer, but a boxer). His case has now been reassigned to another branch for a new trial. Babak Paknia, Vafaie’s lawyer, confirmed the news.
Javad was arrested in Mashhad on February 7, 2020 on charges of “arson and intentional destruction of special buildings, including a government prison building.”
He was sentenced to death in January 2022 on charges of “spreading corruption on earth” (efsad-fil-arz).
Because of their vague definitions, charges of moharebeh (enmity against God), efsad-fil-arz (corruption on Earth), and baghy (armed rebellion) are used for a wide range of crimes. Furthermore, because they fall under the jurisdiction of the revolutionary courts, there is considerable subjectivity in the sentences issued.
The first conviction was overturned by the Supreme Court, but the 2nd Chamber of the Mashhad Revolutionary Court sentenced him to death again in July 2023. This second conviction has now been overturned.
In July 2023, Hands Off Cain joined an appeal launched internationally by the exiled opposition group Pmoi-Mek, also known as the People’s Mojahedin, for the international community to monitor the fate of this political prisoner, who Pmoi-Mek considers one of its own sympathizer.” (On his case, see also NtC of 9 January 2022, 10 January 2022, 19 July 2023 and 12 February 2024).
(Source: Hrana)
