Protest detainee Benjamin Naqdi faces possible death sentence in Shiraz

Hengaw – Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Iranian authorities may seek the death penalty against protest detainee Benjamin Naqdi, a 26-year-old athlete held in Adelabad Prison in Shiraz.

According to information obtained by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, Naqdi, who was arrested during the January 2026 protests, has been charged with “Waging war against God” (moharebeh), a charge that can carry the death penalty under Iranian law.

He is currently being held in solitary confinement without family visits.

Naqdi was arrested on January 3, 2026, during protests in Shiraz and was subjected to pressure and torture in detention to extract forced confessions. State-affiliated media later broadcast a video described as his “confession.”

Authorities cited the video and his alleged participation in protests as the basis for the charge.

Naqdi has been denied access to a lawyer and other basic rights since his arrest, and his family has not been informed about the legal proceedings against him.

He is a known athlete in kickboxing and Muay Thai and has won titles in open competitions.

The case comes amid a broader wave of executions. At least 14 political prisoners, including seven detainees from the December protests, have been executed in Iran since the start of the recent conflict.

Hengaw urges international organizations to take immediate action to prevent the issuance and implementation of a death sentence in Naqdi’s case.