Zahra Shahbaz Tabari, a 68-year-old political prisoner held in Lakan Prison in Rasht, has once again been sentenced to death by Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court of Rasht. The ruling comes after Islamic Republic’s Supreme Court overturned her previous death sentence and referred the case to a parallel court for retrial.

According to the Committee for the Freedom of Political Prisoners, Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court of Rasht, presided over by Mohammad Ali Darvish-Goftar, sentenced Ms. Shahbaz Tabari to death on the charge of armed rebellion against the state (baghy) based on alleged membership in and activities related to the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK). The new verdict was issued on April 14, 2026, and has recently been formally communicated to her.

According to HRANA, Shahbaz Tabari had previously described the proceedings against her as inconsistent with fair trial standards in a letter from prison. She criticized the brief video-conference hearing, the lack of effective access to a lawyer of her choice, and restrictions on her ability to present a meaningful defense.

Shahbaz Tabari was arrested by security forces at her home in Rasht in April 2025. The reimposition of the death sentence after the previous verdict was overturned by the Supreme Court, together with reports of restrictions imposed on her during detention, has heightened concerns among human rights advocates regarding compliance with fair trial guarantees in her case.

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