The Iranian court has sentenced 27-year-old protester Ali Zaree Dozdarresi to death, Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) has confirmed. The sentence was officially served by the 23rd branch of the Revolutionary Court, according to the agency, with the death penalty imposed on charges of "corruption on earth".
For this offence, known in Persian as efsad-e fel-arz, the penalty is execution by hanging. It is a broadly defined provision applied within Iran's judicial system to a range of alleged crimes. Critics of the system warn that such provisions are also used against political opponents, protesters, and activists.
Zaree had participated in the protests of the "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement, which erupted in September 2022 following the death of Mahsa Amini. Amini died after being detained by Iran's morality police for allegedly violating strict rules on mandatory hijab. During the violent crackdown on the protests, Zaree was hit by shots from security forces and, as a result of the injury, lost his right eye.
He subsequently left Iran for Germany for treatment. In a post on Instagram, he stated that he had "given his eye for the freedom of his country", the German organisation reported. He later returned to Iran for reasons that have not been fully clarified to the public.
According to human rights organisations, Iranian intelligence agents arrested him on 28 April, shortly after his return to the country. He is charged with a number of activities that the authorities consider a threat to the regime. The sentence was passed following his return from Germany, where he had been receiving treatment for his eye injury.
In the case of Zaree, it is not yet known when the appeal process will be completed, nor when the sentence, if upheld, might be carried out. His sentence has prompted further reactions from Iranian exiles and international human rights organisations, which are calling for his release.
