Iran | Political Prisoner Ali Zarei Douzdarehsi at Imminent Risk of Execution

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); 22 September 2026: Ali Zarei Douzdarehsi, a political prisoner on death row for “corruption on earth” charges, is at imminent risk of execution after being transferred to the solitary confinement cells of Ghezel Hesar Prison (Karaj).

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, political prisoner Ali Zarei Douzdarehsi was transferred to the solitary confinement cells of Ghezel Hesar Prison on 19 September 2026, raising concerns about the possibility of his imminent execution.

Ali Zarei Douzdarehsi, a 27-year-old “Woman, Life, Freedom” protester from Tehran, was shot in the eye with pellets on 7 October 2022. He later left Iran for Germany, where he joined protests against the Islamic Republic and in support of Reza Pahlavi.

After returning to Iran, he was arrested by Intelligence Ministry agents on 28 April 2026, transferred to Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj, and sentenced to death by a Revolutionary Court on the charge of efsad-fil-arz (corruption on earth).

Corruption on earth

Under Article 286 of Iran’s Islamic Penal Code, a person can be declared esfad-fil-arz and sentenced to death if they commit certain acts on a large scale and those acts cause severe disruption of public order, insecurity, major harm to people or property, or the widespread spread of “corruption.” In a nutshell, any “extensive” activity judged to destabilize order or the system.

If the court does not find an intent to cause that kind of large-scale disruption, the note to Article 286 allows a lesser prison sentence instead of death. In practice, Revolutionary Courts often treat the “scale” and “intent” requirements very loosely.

That is why the charge is so controversial in political cases. It does not require proof of murder, armed attack, or a specific violent act. Courts have used it against protesters, dissidents, journalists, and people accused of propaganda, “false news,” illegal travel, or opposition activity abroad—as in Ali Zarei’s case, where the court cited extensive political activity, fabricated reports, propaganda against the system, disrupting security, and illegal entry and exit. Punishment, when the charge is fully applied, is execution. Cases are heard in Revolutionary Courts, not ordinary criminal courts.

Human rights groups argue the wording is elastic enough to turn political opposition into a death-penalty offense.

In a voice message sent from prison on 10 September, Ali stated that his sentence had been upheld, appealing for help to stop his execution.

Since 18 March, the Islamic Republic has executed at least 31 protesters (29 arrested in connection to the January protests and two “Woman, Life, Freedom” protesters), 13 political prisoners affiliated with banned opposition groups, and 15 people accused of espionage or collaboration with the foreign states.

Source: Iran Human Rights, Staff; News outlets, September 22, 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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