The issuance of heavy prison sentences against 14 civil activists in Tabriz, totaling more than 91 years of imprisonment, has heightened concerns regarding the treatment of civil activism and the application of security-related charges in Iran. Legal observers and human rights advocates consider these verdicts indicative of a broader pattern of pressure on peaceful civic engagement through the use of broadly defined offenses.
Collective Verdicts by the Revolutionary Court
According to information reported by human rights sources, a branch of the Revolutionary Court in Tabriz, presided over by Judge Reza Abdi, sentenced 14 civil activists to lengthy terms of imprisonment. The charges cited in the verdicts include “forming a group” and “assembly and collusion against national security”; provisions that have been repeatedly applied in recent years to prosecute civil, labor, and social activists.
Each defendant received several years of imprisonment. In aggregate, the sentences amount to more than 91 years and one month. From a human rights perspective, the cumulative nature and severity of these penalties raise concerns regarding proportionality and the necessity of criminal sanctions in cases involving non-violent civil activity.
Central Role Attributed to Yurosh Mehralibeyglu
Among the 14 convicted individuals, Yurosh Mehralibeyglu was treated as the principal defendant and occupied a central position in the judicial reasoning. According to the ruling, he was sentenced to six years and two months for “forming a group” and an additional three years and seven months for “assembly and collusion against national security”, resulting in a combined sentence of nearly ten years’ imprisonment.
Yurosh Mehralibeyglu is a long-standing civil activist who has previously faced arrest and imprisonment due to his social and cultural activities. Sources familiar with the case indicate that his prior record of civil activism was relied upon as a key element in intensifying judicial measures and in framing the security-related accusations against the other defendants. Legal observers note that such reliance on past activism, rather than publicly substantiated evidence of criminal conduct, raises concerns about prejudgment and punitive intent.
Arrests and Judicial Proceedings
The 14 civil activists were arrested in 2023 by security forces in connection with a security-related case. Following a period of detention, they were released temporarily on bail. The recent issuance of final verdicts has renewed the risk of their return to prison and the enforcement of long-term custodial sentences.
Informed sources report that the judicial proceedings were subject to notable procedural limitations. Court hearings were conducted behind closed doors, and requests for public hearings and greater transparency were denied. Additionally, the communication of the verdicts and access to the full reasoning of the judgments were reportedly delayed and unclear.
Ambiguity of Charges and Broader Implications
Sources close to the case emphasize that the activities attributed to the defendants were civil, social, and non-violent in nature. Legal experts warn that the use of broadly framed and ambiguous security charges undermines the right to effective defense and facilitates the imposition of severe penalties without adequate evidentiary scrutiny.
Human rights advocate further caution that the continuation of such practices risks narrowing the space for civil society, increasing self-censorship, and discouraging public participation. These effects extend beyond the individuals concerned and have a broader impact on the functioning of civil society.
Conclusion
The heavy sentences imposed on 14 civil activists in Tabriz, particularly the severe punishment attributed to Yurosh Mehralibeyglu, have renewed attention to the judiciary’s approach toward peaceful civil activism in Iran. Observers underscore that the persistence of this approach raises serious questions regarding compliance with fair trial standards and the protection of fundamental freedoms and poses enduring challenges to the future of non-violent civic engagement.
