Ilya Ben-Rashid held in legal limbo for nearly 100 days on moharebeh charge

Hengaw – Tuesday, April 28, 2026

Ilya Ben-Rashid, a 22-year-old detainee arrested during the December 2025 protests, which continued into January 2026, in Shahin Shahr, has remained in legal limbo for nearly 100 days at Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan. He is now facing the serious charge of moharebeh (waging war against God).

According to information received by Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, a hearing on the charges against him was held by videoconference in mid-April 2026 before Branch Five of the Isfahan Revolutionary Court. During the session, Ben-Rashid defended himself against accusations including “moharebeh through participation in the destruction of public property,” “assembly and collusion to commit crimes against national security,” and “propaganda activity against the state.”

Sources familiar with the case said he has been denied access to a lawyer of his choosing throughout his detention. They added that before his arrest, Ben-Rashid had been living with his elderly grandparents after losing his parents. Due to the family’s health conditions, pursuing his legal case has become extremely difficult.

Ben-Rashid was arrested on Thursday, January 22, 2026, during public protests in Shahin Shahr. He was first taken before Branch Two of the city’s Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office for formal charges and was later transferred to Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan.