Credible reports from Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad indicate that Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani, a political prisoner sentenced to death, was transferred to solitary confinement yesterday. At the same time, all telephone communications in the prison were cut off, leaving families unable to contact their loved ones. This action—consistent with known patterns in prisons run by the ruling regime in Iran—raises grave concerns that the authorities may be preparing for the imminent execution of the 30-year-old prisoner. His relatives have stated: “His life is in immediate danger.”
Personal Information and Case Overview
- Name: Seyed Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani
- Year of Birth: 1996
- Occupation: Sports coach and boxing champion in Mashhad
- Marital Status: Single
- Arrest: March 2020 (February–March 2020 / Esfand 1398), following the November 2019 protests
- Place of Detention: Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad
- Charges: “Corruption on earth” through “intentional arson and destruction of designated government property, including the Organization for Government Sanctions building,” and alleged links to the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK)
- Sentence: Death penalty issued three times
Vafaei Sani is one of the detained protesters whose case has been marred by severe rights violations, coerced confessions, and politically motivated judicial proceedings.
Arrest, Solitary Confinement, and Torture
He was arrested by the IRGC in March 2020 and held in solitary confinement for 65 days, during which he was subjected to severe physical and psychological torture. Reports from individuals close to his family indicate beatings, sleep deprivation, threats against family members, and forced signing of pre-written statements.
He repeatedly told the court that his confessions were extracted under torture and are invalid.
Three Rounds of Death Sentences and Judicial Irregularities
The case of Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani illustrates the systemic judicial irregularities and security-driven interference within Iran’s judiciary.
First Sentence – January 2022
Branch 4 of the Revolutionary Court in Mashhad, presided over by Judge Mansouri, issued the first death sentence on charges of “corruption on earth.”
Second Stage – December 2022
Branch 9 of the Supreme Court overturned the sentence due to serious legal and evidentiary flaws.
Third Sentence – July/August 2023
Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court reinstated the death sentence. On 19 July 2023, the prison supervisory judge reportedly informed him that his sentence had become “final,” after which he was taken to an undisclosed location.
Fourth Stage – 28 September 2024
For the third time, the Revolutionary Court in Mashhad—signed by Judges Yazdan-Khahar and Saadi-Makan—issued another death sentence.
Human rights defenders have described this repeated cycle of sentencing and annulment as evidence of non-impartial judicial conduct and security pressure influencing the legal process.
Communication Blackout and Sudden Transfer to Solitary Confinement
According to consistent reports, all telephone lines in Vakilabad Prison were abruptly shut down yesterday, without prior notice. Shortly thereafter, Vafaei Sani was taken out of the general ward and placed in solitary confinement, an action frequently used as a pre-execution procedure in Iranian prisons.
His family states:
“We have no information about him. This transfer may signal the start of the execution process.”
Amnesty International’s Actions and Warnings
Amnesty International has repeatedly intervened in the case of Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani, describing his trial as “grossly unfair” and warning that he is at immediate risk of execution.
July 2025 Report
In its report “Horrifying secret executions amid mounting political repression”, Amnesty International listed him among 13 prisoners at imminent risk of execution, citing:
- torture and coerced confessions,
- denial of fair-trial guarantees,
- and the risk of secret executions.
October 2025 Public Statement
In its statement “Scores of people in Iran, including Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani, are at risk of execution”, Amnesty emphasized that:
- his death sentence had been issued for the third time,
- due process was fundamentally violated,
- and UN bodies and states must urgently intervene.
The organization stressed that the ruling regime in Iran uses the death penalty as a tool for political repression, and that his case exemplifies this pattern.
Official Communications (2023–2025)
Amnesty International’s public messages repeatedly identified him as a political prisoner, condemned the unfair trials, and warned of the imminent danger to his life.
Human Rights Analysis Under International Law
Article 6 – Right to Life (ICCPR)
The repeated issuance of death sentences and the risk of secret execution constitute a serious violation of the right to life.
Article 7 – Prohibition of Torture
Sixty-five days of solitary confinement, severe beating, psychological coercion, and forced confessions clearly amount to torture.
Article 9 – Right to Liberty and Security
Arbitrary arrest, lack of access to legal counsel, and enforced incommunicado detention violate Article 9 protections.
Article 14 – Right to a Fair Trial
The judicial process in this case lacked impartiality, transparency, and compliance with fundamental fair-trial standards.
Urgent Call for Action
Given the imminent risk of execution, human rights defenders call on the international community to:
- Demand the immediate halt of the execution of Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani;
- Ensure immediate access for his lawyer and family;
- End solitary confinement and all forms of torture and ill-treatment;
- Secure an independent and impartial review of his case under international standards.
