In February 2025, Branch 2 of the Tabriz Revolutionary Court sentenced Ehsan Faridi, a mechanical engineering student at the University of Tabriz to death.

Iranian authorities originally arrested Faridi in March 2024, charging him with “propaganda against the regime.” Faridi was released on bail after about one month. He was later convicted of the charge and sentenced to six months in prison. In June 2024, Faridi was re-arrested; the Tabriz Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office charged him with more serious offenses: “corruption on earth” and “waging war against God.”

In February 2025, the Tabriz Revolutionary Court sentenced Faridi to death. According to Iranian rights groups, the conviction and sentencing was based on insufficient evidence and relied solely on reports provided only by the police intelligence unit. Rights groups also reported that Iranian security forces pressured Faridi’s family to avoid sharing any public information about Faridi’s sentencing by threatening harsher conditions for Faridi.

At the time of writing, Iran’s Supreme Court was reviewing an appeal filed by Faridi’s attorney.

Faridi’s arrest, conviction, and sentencing occurred against the backdrop of an escalating crackdown on students and activists by the Iranian government. Human Rights groups have reported a rise in the number of executions carried out since the beginning of 2025.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about the detention, prosecution, and impending death sentence of a scholar as part of sweeping measures by state authorities to restrict the right to academic freedom and freedom of religion — rights that are expressly protected under international human rights instruments including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran is a signatory. State authorities have a responsibility to refrain from interfering with such conduct, so long as it is carried out peacefully and responsibly. In addition to the harm to the immediate victim, such conduct undermines academic freedom and democratic society generally.

UPDATE: On October 8, 2025, Iran’s Supreme Court upheld Faridi’s death sentence.

Sources:
https://en.iranhrs.org/ehsan-faridi-death-sentence-a-young-students-struggle-amid-threats-to-silence/
https://iran-hrm.com/2025/05/12/death-sentence-for-22-year-old-student-ehsan-faridi-22-year-old/
https://www.ncr-iran.org/en/ncri-statements/statement-human-rights/save-iranian-student-sentenced-to-death-for-supporting-pmoi-urgent-action-needed/
https://www.iranintl.com/en/202505110897
https://iranwire.com/en/news/141117-iranian-student-sentenced-to-death-appeals-court-confirms-verdict/
https://hengaw.net/en/news/2025/05/article-41
https://autnews.org/death-sentence-issued-for-a-22-year-old-student/
https://www.ncr-iran.org/en/ncri-statements/statement-human-rights/iranian-regime-upholds-death-sentence-for-22-year-old-pmoi-supporter-ehsan-faridi/