Iran | MMA Champion and January Protester Benyamin Naghdi Sentenced to Death

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); 1 June 2026: Benyamin Naghdi, a protester arrested on 3 January, has been sentenced to death by Branch 1 of the Shiraz Revolutionary Court. He was convicted on the charge of efsad-fil-arz (corruption on earth). Benyamin’s coerced confessions were aired by state media a day after his arrest.

According to Emtedad, Benyamin Naghdi, a 26-year-old protester arrested in relation to the December–January protests, has been sentenced to death.

The 26-year-old MMA fighter and kickboxer was arrested at a protest in Shiraz on 3 January. His coerced confessions were aired by state media on 4 January. He was accused of using a fire extinguisher as a makeshift flamethrower, which he used against security forces passing by on motorcycles.

In the interview with Emtedad, Benyamin’s lawyer, Mostafa Nili, reported that he was initially charged with attempted murder, which was subsequently changed to moharebeh (enmity against God).

“Following the conclusion of the preliminary investigation, an indictment was issued against him on charges of moharebeh, membership of groups disrupting national security, assembly and collusion to commit crimes against national security and propaganda activities against the system.

Meanwhile, a non-prosecution order was issued regarding the separate allegations of inflicting bodily injury on officers and possession of a cold weapon,” the lawyer said.

At trial, the judges determined that the sum of these charges collectively amounted to efsad-fil-arz, and issued a death sentence on this basis.

The lawyer concluded: “My colleagues and I will file an appeal against this verdict within the statutory deadline. Given that no individuals were injured during the incident and that my client’s actions do not meet the legal criteria for efsad-fil-arz, we remain hopeful that the ruling will be quashed by the Supreme Court."

Source: iranhr.net, Staff, June 1, 2026

"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,
but by the punishments that the good have inflicted."
— Oscar Wilde

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