Writer: Roman Miraki
Life of Mehrab Abdullahzadeh, a Kurdish citizen from Urmia and one of detainees of “Women, Life, Freedom” uprising in Urmia during Jin Jiyan Azadi movement, is in serious danger after his death sentence was confirmed by judiciary of Islamic Republic of Iran. This political prisoner is now in danger of immediate execution.
Mehrab Abdullazadeh, was born on February 15, 1998 in Urmia. He was kidnapped and arrested by Pasdaran forces Intelligence Agency on October 22, 2022 during “Women, Life, Freedom” uprising at his berber shop in Urmia and transferred to a security detention center in Urmia. After several months of torture and interrogation, he was transferred to Urmia Central Prison.
In October 2024, this Kurdish citizen was sentenced to death by first branch of Islamic Revolutionary Court of Urmia, presided over by Judge Najafzadeh, on charges of “rebelism”, “corruption on earth” and “participation in deliberate murder” of a member of Basij forces his name is Sayyid Abbas Fatmi.
Recently, death sentence of Mehrab Abdullahzadeh, a 27 year old Kurd from Urmia, was confirmed in full by Branch 9 of Supreme Court. This sentence was officially communicated to Mehrab Abdullahzadeh on Thursday, December 17, 2025 and he was asked to submit a “request for pardon.”
In recent years, it has been a common practice for political prisoners to apply for amnesty to relevant provincial commission before being executed. In latter case, two weeks ago, same procedure was followed for Aqeel Kshawarzi; same student from Isfahan who was executed late Friday night, December 19, 2025 in Urmia Central Prison.
This citizen was subjected to severe physical and mental torture for 38 days in order to force him to confess to charge of “participating in murder of a member of Basij forces”. According to a video recorded by security forces, scene of killing of Basij member, he is not at scene and has denied any involvement in murder. Mehrab was forced to accept scenario directed by security officials due to arrest and torture of his girlfriend and threat of arrest of her family members by security forces in order to obtain forced confessions and said that he had beaten him several times in incident of killing the Basiji.
Mehrab denied all charges during all interrogations and court hearings and even asked to be located on his cell phone that day to prove that he was not at scene of murder. His family had not been able to get any information about his fate for 38 days despite their continuous investigations and visits to security and judicial institutions in Urmia. During this time, Mehrab was also denied right to see his family and receive a lawyer.
After interrogation, Mehrab was transferred to Urmia Central Prison and his case was handed over to 7th Branch of Urmia General and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office headed by Judge Sultanzadeh. After prosecutor issued sentence, case was sent to first branch of Islamic Revolutionary Court of Urmia, presided over by Judge Najafzadeh and After three hearings (in person and videoconference), he was sentenced to death. Court’s decision was issued on September 19, 2024 and was officially announced in prison a month later, on October 21, 2024.
After lawyers appealed decision, case was sent to Supreme Court of Iran and was sent to Branch 9 of this court at end of January 2025.
At least eleven Kurdish political prisoners, named Yaqoub Karimpour, Pakhshan Azizi, Warishe Moradi, Hatem Özdemir, Yousef Ahmadi, Mehrab Abdullazadeh, Ali (Soran) Qasemi, Pzhman Sultani, Kawa Salihi, Rzgar Beygzadeh Babamiri and Tifour Salimi Babamiri are currently awaiting the execution of their death sentences in Urmia, Sanandaj and Evin prisons.
