Mehdi Zarif, a 23-year-old resident of Shandiz, near Mashhad in Razavi Khorasan Province, is reportedly at risk of imminent execution following his arrest during the January 2026 protests.

According to information provided by his relatives, Zarif participated in peaceful demonstrations in Shandiz on January 8 and 9 without carrying a weapon or engaging in violence. Security forces arrested him in Shandiz on January 10. After being interrogated by intelligence agents, he was transferred to Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.

According to his family, he was charged with setting fire to a mosque, damaging public property, and waging war against God (moharebeh), and he was subsequently sentenced to death. His family also reports that intelligence authorities pressured them to remain silent by suggesting that the sentence could be reduced or overturned.

A recent phone call and notification that the family would be granted a final visit have heightened concerns that the execution may be imminent. If these reports are accurate, Zarif’s life is at immediate risk.

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