In the early hours of Saturday, 20 December 2025, the death sentence of Aqil Keshavarz, a 27-year-old architecture student, was carried out in Urmia Central Prison. The execution took place amid serious concerns regarding the circumstances of his arrest, interrogation, and trial, once again drawing attention to the extensive use of the death penalty in security-related cases in Iran.
Personal Background and Case Overview
Aqil Keshavarz, son of Javad, was from Isfahan and a student of architecture at Shahroud University. He was arrested in June 2025, during a period of heightened security across the country, while traveling to Urmia. According to available information, security agencies accused him of a security-related offense.
Arrest in a Highly Securitized Environment
The arrest occurred at a time when security measures had intensified nationwide and intelligence bodies had expanded the scope of detentions. Reports indicate that no clear explanation regarding the specific charges was provided at the time of arrest. Aqil Keshavarz was transferred directly to the detention facility of the Intelligence Organization in Urmia.
Interrogation, Pressure, and Coerced Confessions
According to reports, Aqil Keshavarz was held for approximately one week in the intelligence detention facility, where he was subjected to intensive interrogations. Informed sources state that the interrogations focused on building a security case against him and that he was exposed to severe psychological and physical pressure. Human rights advocates stress that confessions obtained under such conditions lack any legal validity.
Multiple Transfers and Judicial Proceedings
Following the initial interrogation phase, Aqil Keshavarz was transferred to Evin Prison and later moved to another detention facility. He was ultimately returned to Urmia Central Prison.
In late summer 2025, Branch One of the Revolutionary Court in Urmia, presided over by Judge Sajad Dousti, sentenced him to death in connection with a security-related charge. Reports indicate that the trial was marred by serious violations, including restricted access to legal counsel, lack of transparency, and failure to meet minimum standards of a fair trial.
Confirmation of the Sentence and Final Visit
In the days preceding the execution, Aqil Keshavarz was informed that his death sentence had been upheld by the court responsible for security-related cases. On Wednesday, 17 December 2025, he was transferred to solitary confinement in Urmia Central Prison in preparation for execution. At the same time, his family was summoned for a final visit, which relatives described as deeply distressing and fraught with anxiety.
Legal Analysis: Violations of International Human Rights Obligations
The case of Aqil Keshavarz demonstrates multiple and concurrent violations of Iran’s international human rights obligations from the moment of arrest through to execution.
Violation of the Right to Life
Under Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the right to life is the most fundamental human right. Carrying out the death penalty in a case involving a security-related charge without a fair trial constitutes an arbitrary deprivation of life.
Prohibition of Torture and Ill-Treatment
Reports of severe psychological and physical pressure during interrogation constitute violations of Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which absolutely prohibit torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment. Confessions extracted under such conditions are invalid under international law.
Arbitrary Arrest and Detention
The arrest of Aqil Keshavarz without clear charges or legal safeguards violates Article 9 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which prohibit arbitrary arrest and detention.
Denial of the Right to a Fair Trial
Restrictions on effective access to legal counsel, the lack of an independent and impartial tribunal, and the security-driven nature of the proceedings constitute clear violations of Article 10 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Conclusion and Call to Action
The execution of Aqil Keshavarz, a young architecture student, underscores the grave risks associated with the use of the death penalty in security-related cases in Iran.
Human rights organizations, UN special procedures, and governments committed to human rights are urged to:
- Publicly condemn the use of the death penalty in security-related cases in Iran.
- Call for an immediate halt to executions and for independent reviews of such cases.
- Demand accountability for violations of the right to life, the prohibition of torture, and the denial of fair trial guarantees.
Failure to respond decisively will contribute to the continuation of systematic human rights violations and the loss of further lives.
